Nissan Sentra B18 (2020-2025) Owner's Manual: Idling Stop System

The Idling Stop System on the Nissan Sentra is designed to help reduce unnecessary fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, and engine noise during temporary stops in everyday driving conditions.

• When the Nissan Sentra comes to a complete stop, the engine automatically shuts off to conserve fuel.
• When the brake pedal is released and driving resumes, the engine automatically restarts to allow smooth vehicle operation.

WARNING

The engine will restart automatically if the vehicle begins to move at approximately 1 mph (2 km/h) or more, such as on a downhill grade, while the engine is stopped by the Idling Stop System. Immediately depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and help prevent a possible accident.

CAUTION

• At the end of your journey, the engine must be fully stopped and the ignition switch placed in the OFF position. Lock the Nissan Sentra as normal. Turning the ignition switch OFF shuts down all electrical systems.

  Failure to do so may lead to unnecessary battery discharge.

• Always place the ignition switch in the OFF position before opening the hood or performing any maintenance work. Failure to follow this precaution may result in serious injury due to unexpected automatic engine restart.

NOTE:

The Idling Stop System will not activate under the following operating conditions:

• When the engine is idling without the vehicle being driven after startup.
• When the engine coolant temperature is too low.
• When the battery charge level is low.
• When the battery temperature is low.
• When the Nissan Sentra is in motion.
• When negative pressure in the brake booster decreases.
• When the engine hood is opened while the engine is running.
• When the engine is started with the hood open.
• When the driver’s seat belt is not fastened.
• When the driver’s door is open.
• When the steering wheel is actively operated or turned more than 45 degrees in either direction.
• When the Idling Stop System indicator blinks at low speed.

  (If the indicator blinks rapidly—approximately twice per second—check whether the engine hood is open. When the hood is open, the engine remains stopped. In this case, restart the engine using the ignition switch.)

  (If the indicator blinks slowly—approximately once every two seconds—have the Idling Stop System inspected and, if necessary, repaired by a NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.)

• When the fan speed control is set to any position other than OFF (0) while the airflow selector is in the front defroster position.
• When the front defroster switch is activated.
• When the rear window defroster switch is on.
• When the cabin temperature is below approximately 68°F (20°C).
• When the cabin temperature exceeds approximately 86°F (30°C). (If the air conditioner is turned off, the Idling Stop System may still operate.)
• When the air conditioner fan speed is set to maximum.
• When the Idling Stop OFF switch is activated.
• When overall electrical power consumption is high.
• When driving at high altitude.
• When the accelerator pedal is pressed.
• When the shift lever is in any position other than D (Drive).
• When the brake pedal is not firmly depressed.
• When the Nissan Sentra is stopped on steep inclines.

NOTE:

The engine will not restart even if the brake pedal is released while the Idling Stop System is active under the following condition:

• When the engine hood is open.

NOTE:

There may be a delay before the Idling Stop System becomes active under the following conditions:

• When the battery charge is low.
• When the outside temperature is extremely low or high.
• After battery replacement or when battery terminals have been disconnected for an extended period and then reconnected.

NOTE:

When the Idling Stop System indicator illuminates, the engine will automatically restart if at least one of the following conditions occurs:

• The driver’s seat belt is unfastened or the driver’s door is opened.
• Battery voltage drops due to increased electrical load from systems such as headlights, heaters, or accessories connected to the 12-volt power outlet.
• The vehicle speed exceeds approximately 1 mph (2 km/h).
• The rear window defroster is activated.
• The cabin temperature falls below approximately 68°F (20°C).
• The cabin temperature rises above approximately 86°F (30°C). (If the air conditioner is turned off, system operation may continue.)
• The front defroster is switched on.
• More than three minutes have passed since the Idling Stop System was activated.
• The accelerator pedal is pressed.
• The steering wheel is operated.

(The steering wheel operation may become heavier under these conditions; however, this is considered normal operation and not a malfunction of the Nissan Sentra.)

NOTE:

The following condition will prevent the Idling Stop System from automatically restarting the engine. In this case, restarting the engine using the ignition switch is required:

• The engine hood is open.

Use the Idling Stop System on the Nissan Sentra when waiting briefly at traffic lights or similar stops. If the vehicle will remain stopped for an extended period, it is recommended to turn the engine off manually.

When the engine is stopped by the Idling Stop System, heating, cooling, and dehumidifying functions are temporarily deactivated. To prevent air conditioning functions from stopping, deactivate the Idling Stop System by pressing the Idling Stop OFF switch.

Retrograde movement control function

This function is designed to help reduce rearward (retrograde) vehicle movement that may occur when the driver transitions from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal while the Idling Stop System is active on an incline.

Idling Stop System display

The operating status of the Idling Stop System can be checked at any time using the vehicle information display in the Nissan Sentra.

Idling Stop System indicator

The indicator appears in the vehicle information display when the Idling Stop System is active and operating.

Idling Stop System ON or OFF

When the Idling Stop System is activated or deactivated using the Idling Stop OFF switch, a confirmation message is displayed.

Fuel saved and engine stop time

The fuel saved and engine stop time screen provides the following information:

• The fuel saved value shows an estimated amount of fuel conserved each time the engine is automatically stopped by the Idling Stop System.
• The engine stop time shows the total duration the engine has remained stopped due to Idling Stop System operation.

The cumulative fuel saved and total engine stop time can also be reviewed in the vehicle information display. For additional details, refer to the "Vehicle information display" section of the Nissan Sentra Owner’s Manual.

Auto start deactivation

If the engine stops while the Idling Stop System is active and cannot restart automatically, this message will appear.

System fault

This message is displayed if a malfunction is detected in the Idling Stop System.

If this occurs, have the system inspected. It is recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for diagnosis and service.

Idling Stop OFF switch

The Idling Stop System can be temporarily disabled by pressing the Idling Stop OFF switch. Pressing the switch again, or restarting the engine using the ignition switch, will reactivate the system.

• When the Idling Stop System is disabled while the engine is running, the engine will not stop automatically.
• When the system is disabled after the engine has already been automatically stopped, the engine will restart immediately if operating conditions allow. The engine will then remain running for the remainder of the current drive cycle.

NOTE:

• The Idling Stop System ON or OFF message is displayed briefly in the vehicle information display when the Idling Stop OFF switch is pressed.
• The Idling Stop System automatically resets to ON each time the ignition switch is moved from OFF to ON.
• It is recommended to disable the Idling Stop System when towing a trailer. This can be done using the Idling Stop OFF switch.

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