1996 NISSAN SENTRA engine coolant

1 Instruments and controls
Meters and gauges .............................................. 1-2
Speedometer and odometer ................................ 1-3
Tachometer (If so equipped) ................................ 1-3
Engine coolant temperature gauge ...................... 1-3
Fuel gauge ........................................................... 1-4
Warning/indicator lights and chimes .................... 1-5
Theft warning (If so equipped) ............................. 1-8
Windshield wiper and washer switch ................... 1-9
Rear window defogger switch ............................ 1-10
Headlight and turn signal switch ........................ 1-11
Instrument brightness control ............................. 1-12
Front fog light switch (If so equipped) ............... 1-12Hazard warning flasher switch ........................... 1-13
Cigarette lighter (accessory) and ashtray .......... 1-13
Cup holder .......................................................... 1-14
Power windows (If so equipped) ........................ 1-15
Sun roof (If so equipped) ................................... 1-16
Interior light......................................................... 1-17
Trunk light (If so equipped) ................................ 1-17
ZX

Speedometer
The speedometer indicates vehicle speed.
Odometer
The odometer records the total distance the
vehicle has been driven.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer records the distance of
individual trips. Before each trip, set the trip
odometer to zero by pushing the reset
button.
Tachometer
The tachometer indicates engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
CAUTION
When engine speed approaches the
red zone, shift to a higher gear. Engine
speed in the red zone may cause seri-
ous engine damage.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
The gauge indicates the engine coolant
temperature.
The engine coolant temperature varies with
the outside air temperature and driving
conditions.
AIC0603AIC0604AIC0699
SPEEDOMETER AND
ODOMETERTACHOMETER (If so equipped) ENGINE COOLANT
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
1-3
ZX

CAUTION
If the gauge indicates engine coolant
temperature over the normal range,
stop the vehicle as soon as safely pos-
sible. If the engine is overheated, con-
tinued operation of the vehicle may
seriously damage the engine. See the
``In case of emergency'' section for the
immediate action required.Fuel Gauge
The gauge indicates theapproximatefuel
level in the tank.
The gauge may move slightly during brak-
ing, turning, acceleration, or going up or
down hills.
The gauge needle remains in approximately
the same position, even after the ignition
key is turned to OFF.
Refill the fuel tank before the gauge
registers Empty (E).
AIC0605MAIC0606
FUEL GAUGE
1-4
ZX

5. Move the temperature control dial to the
desired position.
Dehumidified defogging
This mode is used to defog the windows
and dehumidify.
1. Push the air recirculation button to the
OFF position.
2. Move the air control dial to the
po-
sition.
3. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
4. Push on the air conditioner button. The
indicator light comes on.
5. Move the temperature control dial to the
desired position.
Operating tips
cKeep windows and sun roof closed while
the air conditioner is in operation.
cAfter parking in the sun, drive for two or
three minutes with the windows open to
vent hot air from the passenger compart-
ment. Then, close the windows. This
allows the air conditioner to cool the
interior more quickly.cThe air conditioning system should be
operated for about ten minutes at
least once a month. This helps pre-
vent damage to the system due to lack
of lubrication.
cIf the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates engine coolant tem-
perature over the normal range, turn
the air conditioner off. See ``If your
vehicle overheats'' in the ``In case of
emergency'' section for additional in-
formation.
AIR FLOW CHARTS
The following charts show the button and
dial positions forMAXIMUM AND QUICK
heating, cooling or defrosting.The air recir-
culation switch should always be in the
OFF position for heating and defrosting.
3-6
ZX

Freeing a frozen door lock
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key hole.
If the lock becomes frozen, heat the key
before inserting it into the key hole.
Anti-freeze
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC),
check the anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base)
to assure proper winter protection. For de-
tails, see ``Engine cooling system'' in the
``Do-it-yourself operations'' section.
Battery
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the bat-
tery fluid may freeze and damage the bat-
tery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the
battery should be checked regularly. For
details, see ``Battery'' in the ``Do-it-yourself
operations'' section.
Draining of coolant water
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by
opening the drain valves located under the
radiator and on the engine block. Refillbefore operating the vehicle. See ``Chang-
ing Engine Coolant'' in the ``Do-it-yourself
operations'' section.
Tire equipment
1. The SUMMER tires are of a tread design
to provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced
in snowy and icy conditions. If you oper-
ate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all
four wheels. Please consult your NIS-
SAN dealer for the tire type, size, speed
rating and availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, stud-
ded tires may be used. However, some
provinces and states prohibit their use.
Check local, state and provincial laws
before installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
3. Snow chains may be used if desired.
Make sure they are of proper size for the
tires on your vehicle and are installedaccording to the chain manufacturer's
suggestions.
Use of tire chains may be prohibited
according to location. Check the local
laws before installing tire chains. When
installing tire chains, make sure they are
of proper size for the tires on your vehicle
and are installed according to the chain
manufacturer's suggestions.Use only
SAE Class ªSº chains.Use chain ten-
sioners when recommended by the tire
chain manufacturer to ensure a tight fit.
Loose end links of the tire chain must be
secured or removed to prevent the pos-
sibility of whipping action damage to the
fenders or underbody. If possible, avoid
fully loading your vehicle when using tire
chains. In addition, drive at a reduced
speed, otherwise, your vehicle may be
damaged and/or vehicle handling and
performance may be adversely affected.
Never install tire chains on T-type and
small size spare tires. Do not use the
chains on dry roads.
Special winter equipment
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
CAUTIONS
4-18
ZX

If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by
an extremely high temperature gauge read-
ing), or if you feel a lack of engine power,
detect abnormal noise, etc., take the follow-
ing steps:
WARNING
To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator cap while the
engine is still hot. When the radiator
cap is removed, pressurized hot water
will spurt out, possibly causing serious
injury.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road,
apply the parking brake and move the
gearshift lever to Neutral (automatic
transmission to P).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioning. Open all the
windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed.
3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the ra-
diator before opening the hood. Wait until
no steam or coolant can be seen before
proceeding.4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. If engine overheating is caused by climb-
ing a long hill on a hot day, run the engine
at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm)
until the temperature gauge indication
returns to normal.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan
is running. The radiator hoses and radia-
tor should not leak water.
WARNING
cBe careful not to allow your hands,
hair or clothing to come into contact
with, or to get caught in, the running
fan, belts, or fan motor. The fan motor
can start at any time when the cool-
ant temperature is high.
cIf coolant is leaking, the water pump
belt is missing or loose, or the cool-
ing fan does not run, stop the engine.7. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the reservoir tank with the
engine running. Add coolant to the res-
ervoir tank if necessary. Have your ve-
hicle repaired at the nearest NISSAN
dealer.
IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS
5-9
ZX

The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a high-quality, year-round, anti-
freeze coolant solution. The anti-freeze so-
lution contains rust and corrosion inhibitors,
therefore additional cooling system addi-
tives are not necessary.
CAUTION
When adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only an ethylene glycol
anti-freeze with the proper mixture ra-
tio. Examples are shown below:
Outside tempera-
ture down toAnti-
freezeSoft wa-
ter
ÉC ÉF
þ35 þ30 50% 50%
The use of other types of coolant solu-
tions may damage your cooling system.
The radiator is equipped with a pressure
cap. Use a genuine NISSAN cap or its
equivalent when replacement is re-
quired.
Never remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. Serious burns could becaused by high pressure fluid escaping
from the radiator.
Wait until the engine and radiator cool
down. See precautions in ``If your ve-
hicle overheats'' found in the ``In Case Of
Emergency'' section.
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
With coolant reservoir
Check the coolant level in the reservoir tank
when the engine is cold. If the coolant level
is below MIN, add coolant up to the MAX
level. If the reservoir tank is empty, check
the coolant level in the radiatorwhen the
engine is cold.If there is insufficient cool-
ant in the radiator, fill the radiator with
coolant up to the filler opening and also add
it to the reservoir tank up to the MAX level.
DI1210M
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
7-5
ZX

If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have the cooling system
checked by your NISSAN dealer.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
cMajor cooling system repairs should be
performed by your NISSAN dealer. The
service procedures can be found in the
appropriate NISSAN Service Manual.cImproper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine over-
heating.
WARNING
cTo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
cNever remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
DI1211M
7-6
ZX