General information
The cars considered in this Guide are equipped with a set of tools designed to protect the driver and passengers in the event of a traffic accident. This includes seat belts installed on all vehicle seats and other devices that effectively complement the belts.
Some components of the security system, being an integral part of the vehicle structure, do not require additional attention from the vehicle owner. These include a strong steel frame that forms the structure of the cabin, inside which the salon is located; front and rear deformation zones that absorb impact energy in a collision; safety folding steering column upon impact; as well as automatic seat belt tensioners (additional equipment), which automatically tension the belts in the event of an impact.
Seat belts
General information
Fastened and correctly adjusted seat belts protect the driver and passengers from possible injury in the event of an accident or significantly reduce their severity. Nissan strongly recommends that drivers and passengers always fasten their seat belts before driving, even if the seat is equipped with an airbag. In some countries and regions, wearing seat belts while driving is strictly required.
Seat belts are designed in such a way as to evenly distribute the load on the human body. The lumbar section of the belt should cover the top of the seated thighs, the shoulder section is thrown over the chest and shoulder. Wearing seat belts incorrectly greatly increases the risk of serious injury in a traffic accident.
Under no circumstances should the seat belts be modified or redesigned as this may interfere with the function of the belt slack adjustment mechanism.
Seat belts should be adjusted for comfort, but as tight as possible, to be effective. A loose belt significantly reduces the effectiveness of the occupant's protection.
Avoid contact with polishing agents, oils, chemicals and especially battery acid on the belt web. Belts can be cleaned with a mild soapy solution. If worn, heavily soiled or damaged, the belts must be replaced.
It is strongly recommended to replace the entire set of seat belts that have been heavily impacted in an accident, even if the belts are not visibly damaged.
Make sure that the seat belts are not twisted.
A set of seat belts per seat should only be used by one person. It is not allowed to fasten a child sitting on the passenger's lap with a seat belt.
The use of seat belts while driving is strictly mandatory for both the driver and all passengers. When transporting infants and young children, use special child seats.
After a vehicle collision in a traffic accident, even if the impact was minor, all belt sets, including inertia drums and fasteners, must be inspected by a Nissan workshop. Nissan recommends that all belt assemblies that are impacted by a vehicle collision be replaced unless the impact was relatively minor, there is no evidence of damage, and the belts continue to function properly. Seat belt sets installed in the vehicle but not in use at the time of the collision should also be checked and replaced if damaged or malfunctioning.
Once activated, the belt tensioner cannot be reused. It must be replaced together with the inertial drum - contact an authorized workshop.
The car is equipped with five seats and five sets of seat belts - two in the front seats and three in the rear seats. All people in the vehicle must wear seat belts while driving.
The shoulder section of the belt must pass over the shoulder and chest. It is not allowed to pass it at hand. Wearing seat belts incorrectly greatly increases the risk of serious injury in a traffic accident.
In no case do not pass the lumbar section of the belt over the waist!
Older children should wear standard seat belts. According to traffic accident statistics, it is safer for children to sit in the back seat than in the front. If the shoulder belt is too close to the child's face or neck, it is recommended to use a special additional seat, which can be purchased separately. It is designed to raise the child in such a way that the shoulder belt lies exactly in the middle of the shoulder, and the waist belt - on the hips. The accessory seat must be compatible with the installed seat. If after a while it appears that the shoulder belt no longer passes close to the child's face and neck when he is sitting in the main seat, then the additional seat should be discarded. Children must not be allowed to stand or kneel or be in the cargo area while the vehicle is in motion.
Pregnant women should also wear seat belts. You can get specific advice from your doctor. The waist belt must be fastened so that it does not interfere and is as low as possible on the hips.
When transporting injured passengers, the seat belt must be laid according to the nature of the injury. Consult with your doctor.
Seat belt maintenance
Use a brush and a mild soapy solution or any solution recommended for cleaning upholstery and carpets to clean the webbing. After cleaning, wipe the straps with a cloth and let dry in the shade. Do not wind up the belts until they are completely dry.
Periodically inspect the web of belts and metal parts: buckle, tongue, inertial coil, flexible wiring and mounting bolts. If scuffs, deformations, cuts and other damage to the web are found, the entire set of belts must be replaced.
Rules for using a three-anchor inertia-type seat belt
Fastening
1. Adjust the seat. The seat back should not be tilted more than necessary to ensure the comfort of the seated person. The seat belts work most effectively when the occupant's back is upright and firmly pressed against the seatback. Excessive inclination of the backrest should be avoided, as this could lead to the risk of slipping of the seat belt under the lumbar section in the event of an accident.
2. Slowly pull the belt out of the recoil cover, loop the sections over the pelvic and thoracic torso, and snap the shackle tab into the buckle lock. The design of the return device stops the inertial drum during overloads that occur during sudden braking or collision. At the same time, when slowly pulled out, the drum rotates without interference and the belt does not restrict the freedom of movement of the seated person.
3. Place the lap section of the belt down on your hips, pulling up the shoulder section, allow the return mechanism to take up any slack in the belt. Make sure the shoulder section goes over the shoulder and not across the neck. Remember that the belt must not be twisted.
Undoing
To unfasten the belt, press the button on the buckle. After releasing the lock, the belt is automatically wound onto the return device drum.
Functional check and seat belt adjustment
1. The design of the return device ensures that the belt is blocked in two cases:
- a) When the belt is quickly unwound from the drum;
- b) When the car brakes hard.
2. Grasp the shoulder section of the belt and pull sharply - the return device should block, otherwise contact a service station.
3. To adjust the position of the upper anchor of the shoulder section of the seat belt, press the release button and remove the anchor assembly along the guide in the desired direction (up or down). Remember that the belt must go over the shoulder.
Rules for using the double anchor rear seat belt
Fastening
1. The middle rear seat belt is of double anchor design. Snap the tab of the shackle into the lock of the buckle with the inscription "CENTRE".
2. To extend the belt, pull it out while holding the clip at a right angle to the belt webbing. To shorten the strap, pull the free end of the strap away from the shackle and move the tie to take up any slack. Slide the belt down over your hips.
Unfastening the belt
1. To release the belt buckle, press the button on the buckle.
2. To avoid pinching in the doors, fasten the belt even when not in use.
3. When snapping the belt, be careful - the buckle of the two-anchor belt is marked with the inscription "CENTRE", the clip tongue only fits this buckle.
Additional security system (SRS)
Among the devices and components that form the additional security system (SRS) includes:
- a) Two front airbags. The driver's airbag module is housed in the steering wheel hub. The front passenger airbag is placed in a special cavity on the right side of the car's instrument panel. The locations of both cushions are marked with warning labels "SRS/AIRBAG";
- b) Sensors of directional overloads, triggered by a strong frontal / side impact;
- c) An electronic self-diagnostic system that, with the ignition on, provides continuous testing of overload sensors, the control unit, airbag gas generators and the connecting wiring of the corresponding circuits;
- d) Automatic emergency tensioners for front seat belts (see above);
- e) The control lamp of refusals of SRS which is built in in the panel of devices;
- f) A spare autonomous power source designed to back up the main power system in the event of its failure during a collision.
Driver and Passenger Airbags
General information
1. SRS, more commonly known as airbags, is standard on some models to protect the driver and front passenger from head or chest impact on the steering wheel/dashboard in the event of a severe frontal impact.
2. Additional equipment may also include side airbags that provide protection for the driver and front passenger in side impacts.
3. The owner of a car equipped with the SRS system must know the most important information about the design and operation of the system elements:
- a) The presence of airbags can in no way be used as an excuse for neglecting the use of seat belts. SRS should only be used in conjunction with seat belts and other passive safety equipment;
- b) The front airbags do not provide protection in the event of a side impact or a rear impact. In addition, the modules are triggered only during high-intensity directed impacts, i.e. the system does not provide protection for weak frontal collisions;
- c) Side airbags do not provide protection in the event of a frontal collision and rear impact, in addition, they also work only when the side impact energy exceeds a certain intensity threshold, which is not always the case when the car is turned over;
- d) Deployment of the airbag can cause injury.
4. In order to effectively perform its protective function, the airbag must deploy from the folded state to the working state in a very short time. Therefore, the airbag, while protecting the driver/front passenger from serious injury, in some cases saving their lives, can cause injury and sometimes serious injury or death if the driver or front passenger was not properly fastened with seat belts or was in an emergency. seating position.
5. To reduce the risk of airbag injury, always wear your seat belts and position yourself in your seat as far away from the steering wheel/dashboard as possible.
The principle of operation of the front airbags
Directional g-force sensors respond to exceeding a certain limit value, which can be reached by an overload in a severe frontal collision. At the signal of the sensors, the control unit turns on the gas generators of the airbags, causing them to instantly fill.
Attention! It is also possible that the front airbags will deploy if you hit a curb at high speed, hit a deep pothole, or drive off/fall off a ledge.
During a collision, the seat belt keeps the occupant's lower torso from moving. Front airbags help prevent injury to the driver and front passenger from head and chest impacts on the steering wheel/dashboard.
Since the signals for deployment of both airbags come from the same sensors, they are initiated simultaneously. However, the possibility of initiation of only one of the pillows is not ruled out. This becomes possible when the magnitude of the directional overloads that occurred during the collision was on the verge of the range of operation of the gas generators. In this case, the seat belts provide sufficient protection for the driver and front passenger, while the effect of airbag deployment will be minimal.
Immediately after the airbags are deployed and perform their functions, gas is released from them, which allows the driver to maintain visibility and freely manipulate all vehicle controls.
The total duration of the process from the moment the signal is given by the overload sensors to the release of gas from the pillows takes a fraction of a second. The airbags deploy so quickly that the human ear is simply unable to perceive the sound of gas generators.
After a traffic accident in which the safety modules were triggered, the interior of the car looks slightly smoky. In fact, this is a suspension of finely dispersed powder, which is usually sprinkled with pillow shells in the folded state. People with respiratory disease may experience some discomfort from airborne products emitted by airbag inflators.
Side airbags
On some models, side airbags for the driver and front passenger can be installed as an option. Cushion modules are built into the outer ends of the front seat backs. The locations of both side airbags are labeled "SIDE AIRBAG". The SRS warning lamp on the vehicle's instrument panel also comes on when there is a malfunction in the side airbag initiation circuits.
In case of a strong side impact, the sensors of directional overloads record the excess of the emerging loads of a certain threshold value and issue an information signal to the control unit, which generates a command to deploy the gas generator of the corresponding side airbag. Moreover, if the impact came from the side of the passenger seat, the passenger side airbag will work even in the absence of a passenger.
For the most effective protection provided by airbags, the driver and front seat passenger must be in an upright position and must be wearing their seat belts.
Automatic emergency belt tensioners
On some models, for added driver/passenger protection, the front seat belts are equipped with devices that, when deployed, automatically tension the belts, helping to prevent dangerous movement of the driver and passenger in the event of an accident.
The automatic emergency tensioners are activated by directional overloads that occur during a severe frontal collision. At the same time, the front airbags are deployed.
When the device is activated, the seat belt remains in a taut position until the buckle of its buckle is removed from the buckle last.
Operation of a control lamp of systems of additional safety (SRS) warns the driver about possible malfunctions in the devices of the automatic emergency belt tensioners.
Order of functioning of a control lamp of failures SRS
1. The SRS indicator lamp is built into the vehicle's instrument panel and is designed to warn the driver about failures detected by the self-diagnosis system in the additional security system. On some modifications of the car, the operation of the warning lamp indicates possible malfunctions in the side airbag units or automatic emergency seat belt tensioners. 2. When the ignition is turned on (turn key to position "ON") the control lamp lights up for a short time, then immediately goes out, which confirms that all system components are functioning correctly.
3. If the warning light comes on randomly at any other time, the vehicle owner should seek assistance from a Nissan dealer as soon as possible. Such situations include the following:
- a) The control lamp does not turn on when the ignition key is turned to the position (ON);
- b) The control lamp continues to burn after implementation of start of the engine;
- c) The control lamp turns on and burns in a constant or flashing mode while the car is moving.
If the symptoms listed above are present, the additional safety system may fail in an emergency. Caution: Neglecting the SRS warning light signals can lead to the most serious consequences if the airbags fail during an accident.
Maintenance of SRS elements
- Airbags and automatic emergency retensioners require little to no regular checks and maintenance. However, the owner of a properly equipped vehicle should keep in mind the following points:
- a) After the airbags have deployed, they must be replaced together with the system control unit. Do not attempt to dismantle used airbags yourself. These operations should be performed only in the conditions of a car service workshop;
- b) If the activation of the SRS warning light indicates a system failure, contact the nearest Nissan workshop without delay for a complete diagnosis and necessary reconditioning of the system. Otherwise, the airbags may not deploy in an accident and fail to perform their protective function;
- c) Only specially trained personnel are allowed to work with the nodes of the additional security system. It is forbidden to dismantle the airbags and emergency seat belt pretensioners from the vehicle. In the event of an SRS failure, or after an emergency deployment of the airbags and seat belt tensioners, contact a Nissan Dealership to have the system repaired or replaced;
- d) Do not open the modules and do not change the wiring of the airbag systems and automatic emergency tensioner of seat belts - such intervention can lead to involuntary operation of the airbags and tensioners and cause injury to the performer or people nearby;
- e) Do not replace the front seats without first consulting a Nissan Dealership. Careless or incorrect replacement or removal of the covers may cause the side airbags to fail to deploy in the event of an accident.
The position of the seats and their backs
The design of car seats guarantees maximum comfort for the person sitting in them, while at the same time providing conditions for the most effective performance of their functions by seat belts and airbags. The soft padding of the cushions and backrests provides additional protection for the seated person in emergency situations.
Adjusting the position of the seat also has an impact on the safety of the person sitting in it. For example, seating too close to the steering wheel/dashboard increases the risk of injury from airbag deployment, as well as the risk of being thrown through the windshield.
Increasing the recline of the seatback will worsen the seatbelt's body retention - the more the backrest is tilted back, the more likely the body is to slip under the lap section of the seatbelt in a severe frontal impact, and the more severe the injuries can be.
Fix the position of the front seat in the position as far as possible from the steering wheel / instrument panel, bring the backrest to a vertical position.
Headrests
Head restraints prevent injury to the cervical spine and head in a rear impact. The head restraint must be adjusted in height so that its upper cut is flush with the upper edge of the ear of the seated person.
Rules for the use of passive safety equipment for the driver and passengers
General information
The following instructions will guide the reader on how to ensure maximum protection for all occupants of the vehicle.
Doors
After the driver and all passengers have taken their seats in the cabin, make sure that all vehicle doors are tightly closed.
The car is equipped with a special control lamp that lights up when one or more car doors are not closed tightly.
Front seats
A driver sitting too close to the instrument panel is at increased risk of injury, including serious injury or death from hitting the steering wheel or deploying an airbag in the event of an accident.
To avoid the risk of injury, properly fasten your seat belt, return the seatback to an upright position and press your back firmly against it while moving the seat as far away from the steering wheel as possible. In this case, of course, the driver must provide himself with a good overview and the ability to conveniently manipulate all the controls of the car. Make sure the front passenger seat is also as far away from the instrument panel as possible. Caution: If the driver's and front passenger's seats are too close to the steering wheel/dashboard in the event of an accident, serious injury or even death can result.
Try to always position the front seats as far away from the airbag modules as possible.
The vast majority of drivers (even short stature) can move the driver's seat as far as possible from the steering wheel, while freely reaching the pedals. However, if you are concerned about the position of the driver's seat being too close to the steering wheel, the compilers of this Guide recommend that you pay attention to some types of auxiliary equipment - Nissan branded service stations can always get comprehensive information on this issue.
Adjust the height of the steering wheel. After making sure that the seat is in the correct position, check the security of its fixation. See Section 3 for front seat adjustment instructions.
Adjust the backrest of the driver's seat, bringing it to the most convenient position for your physique, as close as possible to the vertical position, while leaving enough space between the chest and the steering wheel hub, which is mounted on the airbag. Be aware that placing the driver/front passenger too close to the instrument panel greatly increases the risk of injury from airbag deployment.
Too much backrest tilt causes the shoulder section of the belt not to be pressed against the chest, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of the protective functions of the belt. The more the seat back is tilted back, the more likely the occupant's body will slip under the lumbar section in a severe frontal vehicle impact, and the more severe the injuries can be.
Headrests
Before driving, make sure that the position of the head restraints on each of the seats meets the necessary requirements, providing adequate protection of the cervical spine and the head of the occupant in a rear impact. The head restraint must be adjusted in height so that its central part is flush with the back of the head. If this cannot be achieved, the head restraint should be set to its highest position.
Warning! Improperly positioned head restraints reduce their effectiveness and increase the risk of serious injury in a crash.
Steering column
The steering column must be adjusted so that the steering wheel is against the driver's chest. The position in which the steering wheel hub is opposite the driver's face is incorrect, since it reduces the protective functions of the front airbag mounted in it.
Landing on the seat
After the driver and all passengers have taken their seats in the car, adjusted their seats and put on their seat belts, they should put their body in the correct position, pressing their backs firmly against the seat back and placing their feet firmly on the floor of the cabin. Feet should not come off the floor until the car comes to a complete stop and the engine is turned off.
Poor seating while driving increases the risk of injury in a crash. For example, if passengers are crouched, lying down, turning sideways, leaning forward or sideways, or climbing into the seat with their feet, the risk of serious injury as a result of an accident increases significantly.
In addition, front passengers sitting in the wrong seating position can be seriously injured by the interior trim parts breaking as a result of a crash or by the front airbag deploying.
In a vehicle equipped with side airbags, if the front passenger's head is tilted to the side while driving and is in the airbag deployment area, the risk of serious injury and injury in an accident is greatly increased.
Try to maintain the correct seating position throughout the ride, keeping your back firmly pressed against the seat back and placing your feet on the floor. Remember that upright seating and the proper use of seat belts increase the effectiveness of all safety features that the car is equipped with.
Danger of carbon monoxide poisoning (SO)
Engine exhaust gases contain highly toxic carbon monoxide (SO). With a working exhaust system and correct operation of the car, the exhaust gases of the engine should not enter the car interior. Try to check the technical condition of the exhaust system and the tightness of the connections of its pipelines in the following cases:
- a) At the next change of engine oil, when the car is installed on a lift;
- b) With a noticeable change in the nature of the noise emitted by the exhaust system;
- c) After an accident in which parts located under the bottom of the car could be damaged.
Attention! Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas. Inhalation of CO causes loss of consciousness and can be fatal. Beware of being in a closed, unventilated area or performing work in which you will be forced to breathe air containing high concentrations of carbon monoxide! In enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, such as a garage, the CO concentration can quickly increase to dangerous levels. Therefore, it is forbidden to leave the engine running with the garage door closed (even with the gate open, do not leave the engine running for a long time). Immediately after starting the engine, you should leave the garage and continue warming up the unit on the street.
When driving with the luggage compartment lid open, engine exhaust gases can enter the vehicle interior and create a dangerous situation. If closing the lid is not possible for any reason, fully open all windows and turn on the ventilation and air conditioning system
When inside a vehicle with the engine idling (even outdoors), make the following inclusions:
- a) Turn on the interior ventilation system in fresh air mode;
- b) Turn on the heater fan at maximum speed;
- c) Set the temperature control to a comfortable level.