1997 NISSAN ALTIMA light

NOTE:
If the vehicle has been driven for a long
time at high speeds, or in city traffic in
hot weather, or if it is being used to pull
a trailer, the accurate fluid level cannot
be read. You should wait until the fluid
has cooled down (about 30 minutes).
Check the fluid level in the reservoir.
The fluid level should be checked using the
HOT range on the dipstick at fluid tempera-
tures of 122É to 176ÉF (50É to 80ÉC) or using
the COLD range on the dipstick at fluid
temperatures of 32É to 86ÉF (0É to 30ÉC).
CAUTION
cDo not overfill.
cRecommended fluid is type
DEXRON
TMIIE, DEXRONTMIII or
equivalent.Check the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
If the fluid level is below the MIN line or the
brake warning light comes on, addDOT 3
fluid up to the MAX line. If fluid must be
added frequently, the system should be
thoroughly checked by your NISSAN
dealer.
ADI0511DI1307
POWER STEERING FLUID BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID
7-11
ZX

Check the clutch fluid level in the reservoir
(manual transmission only). If the fluid level
is below the MIN line, addDOT 3fluid up the
MAX line. If fluid must be added frequently,
the system should be thoroughly checked
by your NISSAN dealer.
For further brake and clutch fluid specifica-
tion information, refer to ``capacities and
recommended fuel/lubricants'' in the ``Tech-
nical and consumer information'' section of
this manual.
WARNING
Use only new fluid. Old, inferior, or
contaminated fluid may damage the
brake and clutch systems. The use of
improper fluids can damage the brake
system and affect the vehicle's stop-
ping ability.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If
fluid is spilled, wash with water.
Canada Only
Add fluid when the low washer fluid warning
light comes on. Add a washer solvent to the
water for better cleaning. In the winter sea-
son, add a windshield washer anti-freeze.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for
the mixture ratio.
CAUTION
Do not substitute engine anti-freeze
coolant for windshield washer solution.
This may result in damage to the paint.
DI1348DI1308
WINDOW WASHER FLUID
7-12
ZX

The front (and rear, if equipped) disc-type
brakes self-adjust every time the brake
pedal is applied. The rear drum- type brakes
also self-adjust every time the brake pedal
is applied.
If the brake pedal goes down farther than
normal, it may be due to a lack of adjust-
ment of the rear drum brakes. Apply the
parking brake several times.
WARNING
See your NISSAN dealer and have it
checked if the brake pedal height does
not return to normal.
Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have
audible wear indicators. When a brake pad
requires replacement, it makes a high
pitched scraping or screeching sound when
the vehicle is in motion whether or not the
brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the wear
indicator sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions,
occasional brake squeak, squeal or other
noise may be heard. Occasional brakenoise during light to moderate stops is nor-
mal and does not affect the function or
performance of the brake system.
The rear drum brakes (if so equipped) do
not have audible wear indicators. Should
you ever hear an unusually loud noise from
the rear drum brakes, have them inspected
as soon as possible by your NISSAN
dealer.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For more information regard-
ing brake inspections, see the appropriate
maintenance schedule information in the
``Maintenance Schedule'' section of this
manual.Check the brake booster function as fol-
lows:
1. With the engine off, press and release
the brake pedal several times. When
brake pedal movement (distance of
travel) remains the same from one pedal
application to the next, continue on to the
next step.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, start
the engine. The pedal height should drop
a little.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop the
engine. Keep the pedal depressed for
about 30 seconds. The pedal height
should not change.
4. Run the engine for one minute without
depressing the brake pedal, then turn it
off. Depress the brake pedal several
times. The pedal travel distance will de-
crease gradually with each depression
as the vacuum is released from the
booster.
If the brakes do not operate properly, see
your NISSAN dealer.
BRAKE BOOSTER
7-19
ZX

Press the pedal by hand and be sure the
free travel is within the limits shown above.
If free travel is out of the range shown
above, see your NISSAN dealer.Engine compartment
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of higher amperage
rating than that specified on the fuse
box cover. This could damage the elec-
trical system or cause a fire.
If the electrical equipment does not come
on, check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch and the head-
light switch are OFF.
2. Open the engine hood.3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller
located on the reverse side of the pas-
senger compartment fuse box cover.
5. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new
fuse.
6. If a new fuse also opens, have the elec-
trical system checked and repaired by
your NISSAN dealer.
ADIO528DI1313
CLUTCH PEDAL FUSES
7-20
ZX

Passenger compartment
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of higher amperage
rating than that specified on the fuse
box cover. This could damage the elec-
trical system or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not oper-
ate, check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch and the head-
light switch are OFF.
2. Open the fuse box cover.3. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
4. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new
fuse.
5. If a new fuse also opens, have the elec-
trical system checked and repaired by
your NISSAN dealer.If the electrical equipment does not operate
and fuses are in good condition, check the
fusible links. If any of these fusible links are
melted, replace only with genuine NISSAN
parts.
ADI0502DI1315
FUSIBLE LINKS
7-21
ZX

HEADLIGHTS
The headlight is a semi-sealed beam type
which uses a replaceable headlight (halo-
gen) bulb.
CAUTION
cHigh pressure halogen gas is sealed
inside the halogen bulb. The bulb
may break if the glass envelope is
scratched or the bulb is dropped.
cWhen handling the bulb, do not
touch the glass envelope.
Replacing the headlight bulb
1. Open the engine hood.
2. Disconnect the negative (Ð) battery
cable.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector from
the rear end of the bulb.
4. Turn the bulb cover counterclockwise,
then remove it.
5. Pull off the rubber cap.
6. Push and turn the retaining pin to loosen
it.7. Remove the headlight bulb. Do not shake
or rotate the bulb when removing it.
8. Install the new bulb in the reverse order
of removal.
cBe sure the lip of the rubber cap
contacts the headlight body.
DO NOT TOUCH THE BULB.
CAUTION
cUse the same number and wattage
as originally installed:
Wattage 60/55
Bulb No. HB2
cAiming is not necessary after replac-
ing the bulb.
cDo not leave the bulb out of the
headlight reflector for a long period
of time as dust, moisture, and smoke
may enter the headlight body and
affect the performance of the head-
light.
DI1316S
LIGHT BULBS
7-22
ZX

HEADLIGHT AIMING
ADJUSTMENT
Before performing aiming adjustment, make
sure of the following:
a. Keep all of the tires inflated to the correct
pressure.
b. Place the vehicle on level ground.
c. See that the vehicle is unloaded (except
for full levels of coolant, engine oil and
fuel, and spare tire, jack, and tools).
Have the driver or an equivalent weight
placed in the driver's seat.
Low beam
1. Open the hood.
2. Adjust the vertical indicator by turning the
adjusting screw with a Phillips screw-
driver. The bubble in the gauge should
be centered on the ``0'' mark.3. Adjust the horizontal indicator by turning
the adjusting screw with a Phillips screw-
driver.
The inner red line with the ``0'' mark
should align with the indicator line. Never
turn screw
sAas indicated in earlier
illustration.
ADI0085ADI0526ADI0096
7-23
ZX

ADJUSTMENT AFTER
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY
REPLACEMENT
If the vehicle has had front body repair and
the headlight assembly has been replaced,
the aiming should be checked using the
aiming chart as shown in the illustration.
a. Adjust headlights so that main axis of
light is parallel to center line of body
and is aligned with point P shown in
the illustration.
b. Dotted lines in illustration show cen-
ter of headlight.
H: Horizontal center line of head-
lights
W: Distance between each headlight
center
L: Distance between the headlights
and the wall that the lights are
tested against. 7.62 m (25 ft)
C: Distance below the horizontal cen-
ter line of the light (ªHº) used in
determining the main axis of light.
106 mm (4.17 in)
H-C=M
M = main axis of lightEven if the horizontal indicator does not
align with the indicator line or the bubble is
not centered in the water level after aiming
by the chart, it is acceptable if the lines are
within the OK ranges.
ADI0505
7-24
ZX