1996 NISSAN QUEST Owners Manual

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6 Appearance and interior care
Cleaning exterior and interior ............................... 6-2
Corrosion protection ............................................. 6-4
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In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of
it.
In the following cases, please wash your
vehicle as soon as possible to protect the
paint surface.
cAfter a rainfall
cAfter driving on coastal roads
cWhen things such as soot, bird drop-
pings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs
get on the paint surface
c
When dust or mud builds up on the surface
Whenever possible, store or park your ve-
hicle inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in
a shady area or protect the vehicle with a
body cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint sur-
face
when putting on or removing a body
cover.
Washing
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly using
a mild soap or detergent (a special vehicle
soap or general purpose dish-washing liq-
uid) mixed with clean, lukewarm (never hot)
water.
CAUTION
Do not use strong household soap,
strong chemical detergents, gasoline
or solvents.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the
doors, hatches and hood are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of road salt. There-fore, these areas must be regularly cleaned.
Take care that the drain holes in the lower
edge of the door are open. Spray water
under the body and in the wheel wells to
loosen the dirt and wash away road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the
vehicle to avoid water spots.
Waxing
Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
After waxing, polishing is recommended to
remove built-up residue and to avoid a
``weathered'' appearance.
Your NISSAN dealer can assist you in
choosing the proper product.
cWax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
cDo not use a wax containing any abra-
sives, cutting compounds or cleaners
that may damage the vehicle finish.
cIf the surface does not polish easily, use
a ``road tar'' remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
AI1002M
CLEANING EXTERIOR AND
INTERIOR
6-2
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may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
Removing spots
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the surface of the paint to avoid lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning prod-
ucts are available at your NISSAN dealer or
any automotive accessory store.
Underbody
In areas where road salt is used in winter,
the underbody must be cleaned regularly.
This prevents dirt and salt from building up
and causing underbody and suspension
corrosion. Before the winter period and
again in the spring, the underseal must be
checked and, if necessary, re-treated.
Cleaning glass
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is nor-
mal for glass to become coated with a film
after the vehicle is parked in the hot sun.
Glass cleaner and a soft cloth easily remove
this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the win-
dow, do not use sharp-edged tools,
abrasive cleaners or chlorine-based
disinfectant cleaners. They could dam-
age electrical conductors or rear win-
dow defogger elements.
Cleaning alloy wheels
Wash regularly, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used.
Salt could discolor the wheel if not removed.
Chrome parts
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a
non-abrasive chrome polish to maintain the
finish.
Plastic parts
Plastic parts can be cleaned with a mild
soap solution. If the dirt cannot be easily
removed, use a plastic cleaner. Do not use
solvents.
Cleaning interior
Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim and seats using a vacuumcleaner or soft brush. Wipe the vinyl and
leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth
dampened in mild soap solution, then wipe
clean with a dry, soft cloth. Before using any
fabric protector, read the manufacturer's
recommendations. Some fabric protectors
contain chemicals that may stain or bleach
the seat material.
CAUTION
cNever use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.
cLeather seats should be regularly
coated with a leather wax like saddle
soap. Never use car wax.
cNever use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
Front floor mat positioning aid
This model includes a front floor mat
bracket to act as a floor mat positioning aid.
NISSAN floor mats, specially designed for
your vehicle, incorporate grommets. To in-
stall, simply position the mat using the floor
mat bracket hook through the floor mat
grommet hole while centering the mat in the
floor pan contour.
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Periodically check to make certain the mat
is properly positioned.
Floor mats
The use of genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and
make it easier to clean the interior. No
matter what mats are used, be sure they are
fitted for your vehicle and are properly posi-
tioned in the footwell to prevent interference
with pedal operation. Mats should be main-
tained with regular cleaning and replaced if
they become excessively worn.
Seat belts
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping
them with a sponge dampened in a mild
soap solution. Allow the belts to dry com-
pletely before using them. Do not allow wet
belts to roll up in the retractor. NEVER use
bleach, dye, or chemical solvents since
these may severely weaken the seat belt
webbing.
Most common factors contributing
to vehicle corrosion:
1. The accumulation of moisture-retaining
dirt and debris in body panel sections,
cavities, and other areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective
coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor traffic accidents.
Environmental factors influence the
rate of corrosion:
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the
vehicle body underside can accelerate cor-
rosion. Wet floor coverings do not dry com-
pletely inside the vehicle, and should be
removed for drying to avoid floor panel
corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated:
cin areas of high relative humidity
cespecially in those areas where the tem-
peratures stay above freezing
cwhere atmospheric pollution existscwhere road salt is used
Temperature
A temperature increase accelerates the rate
of corrosion to those parts which are not
well ventilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in
the air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt
use accelerates the corrosion process.
Road salt also accelerates the disintegra-
tion of paint surfaces.To protect your vehicle from corro-
sion:
cWash and wax your vehicle often to keep
the vehicle clean.
cAlways check for minor damage to the
paint and repair it as soon as possible.
cKeep drain holes at the bottom of the
doors open to avoid water accumulation.
cCheck the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with
water as soon as possible.
cNEVER remove dirt, sand or other
debris from the passenger compart-
CORROSION PROTECTION
6-4
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ment by washing it out with a hose.
Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner or
broom.
cNever allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electronic com-
ponents inside the vehicle.
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7 Do-it-yourself operations
Maintenance precautions ..................................... 7-2
Engine compartment check locations .................. 7-3
Engine cooling system ......................................... 7-4
Engine oil ............................................................ 7-5
Automatic transmission fluid ................................ 7-8
Power steering fluid.............................................. 7-9
Brake fluid .......................................................... 7-10
Window washer fluid .......................................... 7-10
Battery ................................................................ 7-11
Drive belts .......................................................... 7-12Spark plug replacement ..................................... 7-12
Air cleaner housing filter .................................... 7-13
Wiper blades ...................................................... 7-14
Parking brake check........................................... 7-16
Brake pedal ........................................................ 7-16
Brake booster ..................................................... 7-17
Fuses .................................................................. 7-17
Fusible links........................................................ 7-18
Light bulbs .......................................................... 7-19
Wheels and tires ................................................ 7-24
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