BRAKE SYSTEM
The brake system has two separate hy- draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still have braking at two wheels. BRAKE PRECAUTIONS Using the brakes Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the brake pads faster, and reduce gas mileage. To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the brakes from overheating, reduce speed and downshift to a lower gear before going down a slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may reduce braking performance and could result in loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
• While driving on a slippery surface, be careful when braking, accelerating or downshifting. Abrupt braking or ac- celerating could cause the wheels to skid and result in an accident.
• If the engine is not running or is turned off while driving, the power assist for the brakes will not work. Braking will be harder.
Wet brakes When the vehicle is washed or driven through water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your braking distance will be lon- ger and the vehicle may pull to one side during braking. To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to heat up the brakes. Do this until the brakes return to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds until the brakes function correctly.
Parking brake break-in Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened or whenever the parking brake shoes are replaced, in order to assure the best braking performance. This procedure is described in the vehicle service manual. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
•The ABS is a sophisticated device, but it cannot prevent accidents resulting from careless or dangerous driving techniques. It can help maintain ve- hicle control during braking on slip- pery surfaces. Remember that stop- ping distances on slippery surfaces will be longer than on normal sur- faces even with ABS. Stopping dis- tances may also be longer on rough, gravel or snow covered roads, or if you are using tire chains. Always maintain a safe distance from the ve- hicle in front of you. Ultimately, the driver is responsible for safety.
•Tire type and condition may also af- fect braking effectiveness.
–When replacing tires, install the specified size of tires on all four wheels.
–When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper size and type as specified on the Tire and Loading Information label. For addi- tional information, see “Tire and Loading Information label” (P. 10-14).
–For additional information, see “Wheels and tires” (P. 8-30).
The ABS controls the brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard braking or when braking on slippery surfaces. The system detects the rotation speed at each wheel and varies the brake fluid pressure to pre- vent each wheel from locking and sliding. By preventing each wheel from locking, the system helps the driver maintain steering control and helps to minimize swerving and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system Depress the brake pedal and hold it down. Depress the brake pedal with firm steady pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The Anti-lock Braking System will operate to prevent the wheels from locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may result in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in- cludes electronic sensors, electric pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests the system each time you start the engine and move the vehicle at a low speed in forward or reverse. When the self- test occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal and does not indicate a mal- function. If the computer senses a mal- function, it switches the ABS off and illumi- nates the ABS warning light on the instrument panel. The brake system then operates normally but without anti-lock assistance. If the ABS warning light illuminates during the self-test or while driving, have the ve- hicle checked. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) oper- ates at speeds above 3 - 6 mph (5 - 10 km/h). The speed varies according to road conditions. When the ABS senses that one or more wheels are close to locking up, the actuator rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres- sure. This action is similar to pumping the brakes very quickly. You may feel a pulsa- tion in the brake pedal and hear a noise from under the hood or feel a vibration from the actuator when it is operating. This is normal and indicates that the ABS is op- erating properly. However, the pulsation may indicate that road conditions are haz- ardous and extra care is required while driving.
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