WARNING
Do not leave children, unreliable
adults, or pets alone in your vehicle.
They could accidently injure them-
selves or others through inadvertent
operation of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
EXHAUST GAS (Carbon
Monoxide)
WARNING
Do not breathe exhaust gases; they
contain colorless and odorless carbon
monoxide. Carbon monoxide is dan-
gerous. It can cause unconsciousness
or death.
cIf you suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering the vehicle, drive with
all windows fully open, and have the
vehicle inspected immediately.
cDo not run the engine in closed
spaces such as a garage for any
longer than is absolutely necessary.c
Do not park the vehicle with the en-
gine running for any extended length
of time.
cKeep the rear door and flip-up rear
window closed while driving, other-
wise exhaust gases could be drawn
into the passenger compartment. If
you must drive in this manner for
some reason, take the following
steps.
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the air recirculate switch to
``OFF'' and the fan control dial at 4
(high) to circulate the air.
cIf electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass to a trailer
through a seal on the body, follow
the manufacturer's recommendation
to prevent carbon monoxide entry
into the vehicle.
cThe exhaust system and body
should be inspected by a qualified
mechanic whenever:
a. The vehicle is raised for service.b. You suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering into the passenger
compartment.
c. You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust system.
d.
You have had an accident involv-
ing damage to the exhaust system,
underbody, or rear of the vehicle.
THREE WAY CATALYST
The three way catalyst is an emission con-
trol device installed in the exhaust system.
Exhaust gases in the three way catalyst are
burned at high temperatures to help reduce
pollutants.
WARNING
cThe exhaust gas and the exhaust
system are very hot. While the en-
gine is running, keep people or flam-
mable materials away from the ex-
haust pipe.
cDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags, as they
may burn easily.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN
STARTING AND DRIVING
4-2
ZX
7. After the engine cools down completely,
check the coolant level in the reservoir
tank with the engine running. Add coolant
to the reservoir tank if necessary. Have
your vehicle repaired at the nearest NIS-
SAN dealer.
Inertia fuel shut-off switch
When the vehicle is involved in a collision,
the inertia fuel shutoff switch is designed to
automatically stop the flow of fuel to the
engine. The impact forces needed to trigger
the switch do not have to be great. Parking
lot bumping or road impacts (such as driving
over potholes) may trigger the switch.
Once the inertia fuel shutoff switch is trig-
gered, it must be reset before the engine
can be started. If your engine cranks but
does not start after a collision, take the
following stops to correctly reset the switch:1. Turn the key in the ignition to OFF.
2. Check under the vehicle for leaking fuel.
3. If you do not see or smell fuel, push down
the red reset button on the fuel pump
shut-off switch.
4. Turn the ignition key ON for a few sec-
onds, then turn it OFF.
5. Check under the vehicle again for leaking
fuel. If you see or smell fuel, do not start
your vehicle again. If no fuel is detected,
try to start your vehicle again.
WARNING
cIf you see or smell fuel, do not reset
the switch or try to start your ve-
hicle. You could injure yourself or
others. Have all the passengers get
out of the vehicle and call the local
fire department or a towing service.ACE0018
AFTER AN ACCIDENT
5-10
ZX
When towing your vehicle, all state (provin-
cial in Canada) and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle.
Towing instructions are available from your
NISSAN dealer. Local service operators are
generally familiar with the applicable laws
and procedures for towing. To assure
proper towing and to prevent accidental
damage to your vehicle, NISSAN recom-
mends that you have a service operator tow
your vehicle. It is advisable to have the
service operator carefully read the following
precautions.
CAUTION
cWhen towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working con-
dition. If any unit is damaged, dollies
must be used.
cNever use a tow bar that attaches to
the bumper when you tow your ve-
hicle. It may damage the bumper and
cause damage to the transmission.cWhen towing with the front wheels
on dollies:
Turn the ignition key to the OFF
position and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
place the ignition key in the LOCK
position. This will result in damage
to the steering lock mechanism.
Move the gearshift lever to the N
(Neutral) position.
cWhen towing with the rear wheels on
the ground, release the parking
brake.
cAttach safety chains for all towing.
TOW TRUCK TOWING
5-11
ZX
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The
following are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
cPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the gearshift
lever to neutral (N).
cBe sure the ignition key is OFF when
performing any replacement or repair.
cDo not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn off the engine and
wait until it cools down.
cBe sure to turn the ignition key to the
OFF or LOCK position. When the igni-
tion key is in the ON or ACC position,
the cooling fan may start to operate
suddenly even when the engine is not
running.
cIf you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts and any other moving parts.cIt is advisable to remove ties and any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
cIf you must run the engine in an en-
closed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases.
cNever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands.
cKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and the battery.
cNever connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized com-
ponent connector while the ignition is
on.
cOn gasoline engine models with the
multiport fuel injection (MFI) system,
the fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
even when the engine is off.
cFailure to follow these or other com-
mon sense guidelines may lead to
serious injury or vehicle damage.cImproperly disposed motor oil and/or
other vehicle fluids can hurt the envi-
ronment. Always conform to local
regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
This ``Do-it-yourself operations'' section
gives instructions regarding only those
items which are relatively easy for an owner
to perform.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect your warranty coverage.If in
doubt about any servicing, have it done
by your NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
7-2
ZX
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by your NISSAN
dealer.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
Your NISSAN dealer can change the engine
coolant. The service procedure is found in
NISSAN's service manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine
overheating.
WARNING
To avoid danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating
temperature.
3. Turn the engine off.Wait a few minutes
for the oil to drain back into the oil
pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
Reinsert it all the way.5. Remove the dipstick again and check the
oil level. It should be between the H and
L marks. If the oil level is below the L
mark, remove the oil filler cap and pour
recommended oil through the opening.
Do not overfill.
6. Recheck the oil level with the dipstick.
ADI0008ADI0009
ENGINE OIL
7-5
ZB13-DX
Tire wear and damage
WARNING
cTires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging,
or objects caught in the tread. If
excessive wear, cracks, bulging, or
deep cuts are found, the tire should
be replaced.
cThe original tires have a built-in
tread wear indicator. When the wear
indicator is visible, the tire should be
replaced.cImproper service for a T-type spare
tire may result in serious personal
injury. If it is necessary to repair the
T-type spare tire, contact your NIS-
SAN dealer.
Changing tires and wheels
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
speed rating and load carrying capacity as
originally equipped. Recommended types
and sizes are shown in ``Wheels and tires''
in the ``Technical and consumer informa-
tion'' section. The use of tires other than
those recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construction (bias,
bias-belted or radial), or tread patterns can
adversely affect the ride, braking, handling,
ground clearance, body-to-tire clearance,
snow chain clearance, speedometer cali-
bration, headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to acci-
dents and could result in serious per-
sonal injury.
If the wheels are changed for any reason,
always replace with wheels which have the
same offset dimension. Wheels of a differ-
ent offset could cause early tire wear, pos-
sibly degraded vehicle handling character-istics and/or interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference can lead to
decreased braking efficiency and/or early
brake pad/shoe wear.
WARNING
Do not install a deformed wheel or tire
even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warning.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balanc-
ing the front wheels on the vehicle could
lead to transmission damage.
Care of wheels
cWash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance.
cClean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
DI1035M
7-28
ZB13-DX
Your new NISSAN has been designed to
have minimum maintenance requirements
with longer service intervals to save you
both time and money. However, some day-
to-day and regular maintenance is essential
to maintain your NISSAN's good mechani-
cal condition, as well as its emission and
engine performance.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure
the specified maintenance, as well as gen-
eral maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one
who can ensure that your vehicle receives
the proper maintenance care. You are a
vital link in the maintenance chain.
General maintenance
General maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normal
day-to-day operation of the vehicle. They
are essential if your vehicle is to continue to
operate properly. It is your responsibility to
perform these procedures regularly as pre-
scribed.
These checks or inspections can be done
by yourself, a qualified technician or, if you
prefer, your NISSAN dealer.
Periodic maintenance
The maintenance items listed in this section
must be serviced at regular intervals.
However, under severe driving conditions,
additional or more frequent maintenance is
required.
Where to go for service
If maintenance service is required or your
vehicle appears to malfunction, have the
systems checked and tuned by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists and are kept up to date with the
latest service information through technical
bulletins, service tips, and in-dealership
training programs. They are completely
qualified to work on NISSAN's vehiclesbe-
forethey work on your vehicle, rather than
after they have worked on it.
You can be confident that your NISSAN
dealer's service department performs the
best job to meet the maintenance require-
ments on your vehicle Ð in a reliable and
economic way.During the normal day-to-day operation of
the vehicle, general maintenance should be
performed regularly as prescribed in this
section. If you detect any unusual sounds,
vibrations or smells, be sure to check for the
cause or have your NISSAN dealer do it
promptly. In addition, you should notify your
NISSAN dealer if you think repairs are re-
quired.
When performing any checks or mainte-
nance work, closely observe the precau-
tions in the ``Do-it-yourself operations'' sec-
tion.
Additional information on the following
items with ``*'' can be found in the ``Do-it-
yourself operations'' section.
OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE
The maintenance items listed here should
be performed from time to time, unless
otherwise specified.
Tires*Ð Check the pressure with a gauge
periodically when at a service station, in-
cluding the spare, and adjust to the speci-
fied pressure if necessary. Check carefully
for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Wheel nuts*Ð When checking the tires,
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
8-2
ZX
To ensure smooth, trouble-free, safe and
economical driving, NISSAN provides two
different maintenance schedules that may
be used, depending upon the conditions in
which you usually drive. These schedules
contain both distance and time intervals, up
to 60,000 miles (96,000 km)/48 months. For
most people, the odometer reading indi-
cates when service is needed. However, if
you drive very little, your vehicle should be
serviced at the regular time intervals shown
in the schedule.After 60,000 miles (96,000
km) or 48 months, continue periodic
maintenance at the same mileage/time
intervals.
SCHEDULE 1
Follow Periodic Maintenance Schedule 1 if
your driving habits frequently include one or
more of the following driving conditions:
cRepeated short trips of less than 5
miles (8 km).
cRepeated short trips of less than 10
miles (16 km) with outside tempera-
tures remaining below freezing.
cOperating in hot weather in stop-
and-go ``rush hour'' traffic.cExtensive idling and/or low speed
driving for long distances, such as
police, taxi or door-to-door delivery
use.
cDriving in dusty conditions.
cDriving on rough, muddy, or salt
spread roads.
cTowing a trailer, using a camper or a
car-top carrier.
SCHEDULE 2
Follow Periodic Maintenance Schedule 2 if
none of the driving conditions shown in
Schedule 1 apply to your driving habits.
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULES
8-5
ZX