1997 NISSAN SENTRA automatic transmission

the parking brake, transmission damage
could occur.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, down-
shift the transmission to a lower gear
and reduce speed to reduce chances of
engine overloading and/or overheating.
cIf the engine temperature coolant rises
to an extremely high temperature when
the air conditioning system is on, turn off
the air conditioner. Coolant heat can be
additionally vented by opening the win-
dows, switching the fan control to high
and setting the temperature control to
the HOT position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than
normal circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle's
first 500 miles (800 km).
cHave your vehicle serviced more often
than at intervals specified in the recom-
mended Maintenance Schedule.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels
will be closer to the inside of the turn
than your vehicle wheels. To compen-
sate for this, make a larger than normal
turning radius during the turn.cCrosswinds and rough roads adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being
passed by larger vehicles, be prepared
for possible changes in crosswinds that
could affect vehicle handling. If swaying
does occur, firmly grip the steering
wheel, steer straight ahead, and imme-
diately (but gradually) reduce vehicle
speed. This combination helps to stabi-
lize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember the length of the
trailer must also pass the other vehicle
before you can safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency
and electrical charging performance, do
not use fifth gear (manual transmission)
or overdrive (automatic transmission).
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause
the brakes to overheat, resulting in re-
duced braking efficiency.
When towing a trailer, change the oil in
the transmission more frequently.
See the Maintenance Schedule.DOT Quality Grades: All passenger car tires
must conform to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.
Treadwear
Treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on tire wear rate when tested under
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test courses. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1-1/2) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100. However,
relative tire performance depends on actual
driving conditions, and may vary signifi-
cantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices and differ-
ences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction A, B and C
Traction grades are A (the highest), B and C.
They represent a tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled con-
ditions, on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
with a C may have poor traction performance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to your
vehicle tires is based on straight line
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING
9-17
ZX

10 Index
A
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) ...................................................... 2-16
Air bag warning light .......................... 1-6, 2-22
Air cleaner housing filter ............................ 7-19
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation ........................ 3-5
Air conditioner specification label ......... 9-12
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubrication recommendations.................. 9-7
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 3-3
Servicing air conditioner ......................... 3-9
Air flow charts .............................................. 3-6
Alarm system (See theft warning) ............... 1-9
Anchor point locations ............................... 2-35
Antenna (manual) ...................................... 3-14
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).................... 4-17
Anti-lock brake warning light ....................... 1-7
Ashtray (See cigarette lighter and
ashtray) ...................................................... 1-14
Audio system
AM-FM radio with cassette
player........................................... 3-11, 3-13
Automatic
Automatic power window switch .......... 1-17
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ...... 7-11
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 4-6B
Battery........................................................ 7-15
Before starting the engine ........................... 4-5
Belts (See drive belts) ............................... 7-17
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .............. 4-17
Brake booster ....................................... 7-22
Brake fluid............................................. 7-14
Brake light (See stop light) ................... 7-26
Brake pedal .......................................... 7-21
Brake system ........................................ 4-17
Brake warning light ................................. 1-7
Brake wear indicators ................... 1-8, 7-22
Parking brake check ............................. 7-21
Parking brake operation ....................... 4-11
Break-in schedule ...................................... 4-14
Bulb check/instrument panel ....................... 1-5
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants...................................................... 9-2
Cargo (See vehicle loading
information) ................................................ 9-13
Cassette player (See audio
system) ............................................. 3-11, 3-13
CB radio or car phone ............................... 3-15Check engine indicator light (See
malfunction indicator light) ........................... 1-8
Child restraints for infants and small
children ...................................................... 2-31
Child safety rear door lock .......................... 2-6
Cigarette lighter (accessory)
and ashtray ................................................ 1-14
Cleaning exterior and interior ...................... 6-2
Clock-radio ................................................. 3-11
Clutch
Clutch pedal.......................................... 7-23
Cold weather driving .................................. 4-19
Controls
Audio controls ....................................... 3-11
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 3-3
Coolant
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 7-6
Checking engine coolant level ............... 7-5
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 1-3
Corrosion protection .................................... 6-5
Cruise control............................................. 4-12
Cup holder ................................................. 1-15
ZX

D
Daytime running light system (Canada
only) ........................................................... 1-12
Defogger switch
Rear window defogger switch .............. 1-11
Dimensions and weights.............................. 9-9
Door ajar warning light ................................ 1-6
Door locks .................................................... 2-2
Drive belts .................................................. 7-17
Driving
Cold weather driving............................. 4-19
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 4-6
Driving with manual transmission ........... 4-9
Precautions when starting and
driving ..................................................... 4-2
E
Economy - fuel........................................... 4-14
Emission control information label............. 9-12
Emission control system warranty ............. 9-18
Engine
Before starting the engine ...................... 4-5
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 7-6
Changing engine oil................................ 7-9
Changing engine oil filter...................... 7-10
Checking engine coolant level ............... 7-5
Checking engine oil level ....................... 7-8Engine compartment check
locations .......................................... 7-3, 7-4
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 1-3
Engine cooling system ........................... 7-5
Engine oil ................................................ 7-8
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ..................................... 9-5
Engine oil pressure warning light ........... 1-5
Engine oil viscosity ................................. 9-5
Engine serial number ........................... 9-11
Engine specifications .............................. 9-8
Starting the engine ............................... 4-11
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ................. 4-2
F
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher
switch) ........................................................ 1-14
Flat tire ......................................................... 5-2
Floor mat positioning aid ............................. 6-4
Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ...... 7-11
Brake fluid............................................. 7-14
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Engine coolant ........................................ 7-5
Engine oil ................................................ 7-8
Power steering fluid .............................. 7-13
Window washer fluid ............................ 7-14
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ..................... 9-11
Front fog light switch ................................. 1-13
Front seats ................................................. 2-12Fuel
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Fuel economy ....................................... 4-14
Fuel filler cap ........................................ 2-10
Fuel filler lid lock opener lever ............. 2-10
Fuel gauge.............................................. 1-4
Fuel octane rating................................... 9-3
Fuel recommendation ............................. 9-3
Fuses ......................................................... 7-23
Fusible links ............................................... 7-23
G
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 1-3
Fuel gauge.............................................. 1-4
Speedometer .......................................... 1-3
Tachometer............................................. 1-3
Trip odometer ......................................... 1-3
General maintenance .................................. 8-2
Glove box..................................................... 2-8
H
Hazard warning flasher switch .................. 1-14
Head restraints .......................................... 2-14
Headlight aiming adjustment ..................... 7-26
Headlight and turn signal switch ............... 1-12
Headlights .................................................. 7-25
10-2
ZX

Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ..................................... 9-5
Engine oil viscosity ................................. 9-5
Opener lever for trunk lid............................. 2-8
Outside mirror control ................................ 2-38
Overdrive switch .......................................... 4-8
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats ...................... 5-10
Owner's manual order form ....................... 9-20
P
Parking
Parking brake check ............................. 7-21
Parking brake operation ....................... 4-11
Parking/parking on hills ........................ 4-15
Periodic maintenance schedules ................. 8-5
Power
Power door lock...................................... 2-3
Power steering fluid .............................. 7-13
Power windows..................................... 1-16
Rear power windows ............................ 1-17
Precautions
Maintenance precautions ....................... 7-2
Precautions on seat belt usage............ 2-24
Precautions when starting and
driving ..................................................... 4-2
Push starting ................................................ 5-9R
Radio
AM-FM radio with cassette player ....... 3-11,
3-13
CB radio or car phone .......................... 3-15
Readiness for inspection maintenance (I/M)
test ............................................................. 9-19
Rear power windows ................................. 1-17
Rear seat ................................................... 2-15
Rear window defogger switch ................... 1-11
Refrigerant recommendation ....................... 9-7
Registering your vehicle in another
country ....................................................... 9-10
Remote keyless entry system (See
multi-remote control system) ....................... 2-3
Reporting safety defects (USA) ................. 9-18
S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock ..................... 2-6
Reporting safety defects (USA) ............ 9-18
Seat adjustment ......................................... 2-12
Seat belt
2-point type without retractor (rear center
lap belt) ................................................. 2-29
3-point type with retractor..................... 2-27
Precautions on seat belt usage............ 2-24
Seat belt extenders .............................. 2-30
Seat belt maintenance.......................... 2-30
Seat belts.............................................. 2-24Shoulder belt height adjustment ........... 2-28
Seat belt warning light ................................. 1-6
Seats
Front seats............................................ 2-12
Rear seat .............................................. 2-15
Service manual order form ........................ 9-20
Servicing air conditioner .............................. 3-9
Shifting
Automatic transmission .......................... 4-7
Manual transmission............................... 4-9
Shoulder belt height adjustment ................ 2-28
Spark plug replacement............................. 7-18
Speedometer ............................................... 1-3
SRS warning label ..................................... 2-22
Starting
Before starting the engine ...................... 4-5
Jump starting .......................................... 5-7
Precautions when starting and
driving ..................................................... 4-2
Push starting........................................... 5-9
Starting the engine ............................... 4-11
Steering
Power steering fluid .............................. 7-13
Tilting steering wheel............................ 2-37
Stop light .................................................... 7-26
Sunroof ...................................................... 1-18
Supplemental restraint system (Supplemental
air bag system) .......................................... 2-16
Switch
Automatic power window switch .......... 1-17
Front fog light switch ............................ 1-13
Hazard warning flasher switch ............. 1-14
10-4
ZX

Headlight and turn signal switch .......... 1-12
Ignition switch ......................................... 4-4
Overdrive switch ..................................... 4-8
Rear window defogger switch .............. 1-11
Windshield wiper and washer
switch .................................................... 1-10
T
Tachometer .................................................. 1-3
Theft warning ............................................... 1-9
Three way catalyst....................................... 4-2
Tilting steering wheel ................................. 2-37
Timing chain ................................................ 9-8
Tire
Flat tire.................................................... 5-2
Spare tire....................................... 5-3, 7-35
Tire chains ............................................ 7-33
Tire placard........................................... 9-12
Tire pressure ........................................ 7-32
Tire rotation .......................................... 7-33
Types of tires ........................................ 7-32
Uniform tire quality grading .................. 9-17
Wheels and tires................................... 7-32
Wheel/tire size ........................................ 9-9
Towing
Tow truck towing .................................. 5-11
Towing load/specification chart ............ 9-15
Trailer towing ........................................ 9-14
Transmission
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ...... 7-11
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 4-6Driving with manual transmission ........... 4-9
Travel (See registering your vehicle in
another country)......................................... 9-10
Trip odometer .............................................. 1-3
Trunk lid lock opener lever .......................... 2-8
Trunk light .................................................. 1-19
U
Uniform tire quality grading ....................... 9-17
V
Vanity mirror .............................................. 2-39
Vehicle dimensions and weights ................. 9-9
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) ....................................... 9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
plate ........................................................... 9-10
Vehicle recovery ........................................ 5-12
Ventilators .................................................... 3-2
W
Warning
Air bag warning light ..................... 1-6, 2-22
Hazard warning flasher switch ............. 1-14
Theft warning .......................................... 1-9
Warning labels (for SRS) ..................... 2-22
Warning/indicator lights and chimes ...... 1-5
Weights (See dimensions and weights) ...... 9-9Wheels and tires ........................................ 7-32
Wheel/tire size ............................................. 9-9
When traveling or registering your vehicle
in another country ...................................... 9-10
Window washer fluid.................................. 7-14
Windows
Locking passengers' windows .............. 1-16
Manual windows ................................... 1-16
Power windows..................................... 1-16
Rear power windows ............................ 1-17
Windshield wiper and washer switch ........ 1-10
Wiper
Windshield wiper and washer
switch .................................................... 1-10
Wiper blades......................................... 7-20
10-5
ZX