1998 NISSAN ALTIMA tow

During the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km),
follow these recommendations for the future
reliability and economy of your new vehicle.
Failure to follow these recommendations
may result in vehicle damage or shortened
engine life.
cDo not drive over 55 MPH (90 km/h) and
do not run the engine over 4,000 rpm.
Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow.
cDo not accelerate at full throttle in any
gear.
cAvoid quick starts.
cAvoid hard braking as much as possible.
cDo not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km).cAccelerate slowly and smoothly. Main-
tain cruising speeds with a constant ac-
celerator position.
cDrive at moderate speeds on the high-
way. Driving at high speed lowers fuel
economy.
cAvoid unnecessary stopping and brak-
ing. Maintain a safe distance behind
other vehicles.
cUse a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
cAvoid unnecessary engine idling.cKeep your engine tuned up.
cFollow the recommended periodic main-
tenance schedule.
cKeep the tires inflated at the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and wastes fuel.
cKeep the front wheels in correct align-
ment. Improper alignment increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
cAir conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only
when necessary.
cWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is
more economical to use the air condi-
tioner and leave the windows closed to
reduce drag.
SD1001M
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL
ECONOMY
5-14Starting and driving
ZX

WARNING
Do not park the vehicle over flammable
materials such as dry grass, waste pa-
per or rags. They may ignite and cause
a fire.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2.Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the R (Reverse)
position. When parking on an uphill
grade, place the shift lever in 1 (First)
gear.Automatic transmission models:
Move the gearshift lever to the P (Park)
position.
WARNING
Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) posi-
tion (automatic) or in the appropriate
gear (manual). Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpect-
edly or roll away and result in an acci-
dent. Make sure the shift lever has beenpushed as far forward as it can go and
cannot be moved without depressing
the button at the end of the lever.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling
into traffic when parked on an incline, it is
a good practice to turn the wheels as
illustrated.
cHEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
s1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
s2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
cHEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
s3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away from
the center of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK posi-
tion and remove the key.
SD1006M
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-15
ZX

6 In case of emergency
Flat tire ...................................................................6-2
Jump starting ..........................................................6-7
Push starting ..........................................................6-9If your vehicle overheats ........................................6-9
Tow truck towing ..................................................6-10
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) ...........6-12
ZX

CAUTION
cAutomatic transmission models can-
not be push started. This may cause
transmission damage.
cThree way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three way catalyst may be
damaged.
cNever try to start the vehicle by tow-
ing it; when the engine starts, the
forward surge could cause the ve-
hicle to collide with the tow vehicle.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
cDo not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could
cause a vehicle fire.
cTo 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.
cDo not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road,
apply the parking brake and move the
shift lever to N (Neutral) (manual trans-
mission) or to P (Park) (automatic trans-
mission).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the
windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximumhot and fan control to high speed.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
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. If coolant is
leaking, the water pump belt is missing or
loose, or the cooling fan does not run,
stop the engine.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-9
ZX

WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry 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 coolant temperature is high.
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 an authorized NISSAN
dealer.When towing your vehicle, U.S. States,
Canadian Provinces and local regulations
for towing must be followed. Incorrect tow-
ing equipment could damage your vehicle.
Towing instructions are available from an
authorized NISSAN dealer. Local service
operators will generally be familiar with the
applicable laws and procedures for towing.
To assure proper towing and to prevent
accidental damage to your vehicle, NISSAN
recommends that you have a service opera-
tor tow your vehicle. It is advisable to have
the service operator carefully read the fol-
lowing precautions:
WARNING
cNever ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
cNever get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.
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.cWhen towing with the front wheels
on the ground:
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 Neu-
tral (N position).
On automatic transmission models,
to move the shift lever to the Neutral
position, turn the ignition key to the
ACC position. After moving the shift
lever to the Neutral position, be sure
to turn the ignition key to the OFF
position.
c
When towing with the rear wheels on
the ground, release the parking brake.
On automatic transmission models,
to move the shift lever to the Neutral
position, turn the ignition key to the
ACC position. After moving the shift
lever to the Neutral position, be sure
to turn the ignition key to the OFF
position.
cAttach safety chains for all towing.
TOW TRUCK TOWING
6-10In case of emergency
ZX

NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (front) wheels off the
ground as illustrated.
CAUTION
cNever tow an automatic transmis-
sion model with the rear wheels
raised (with the front wheels on the
ground) as this may cause serious
and expensive damage to the trans-
mission. If it is necessary to tow the
vehicle with the rear wheels raised,
always use towing dollies under the
front wheels.cIf you have to tow an automatic
transmission model with four wheels
on ground, observe the following re-
stricted towing speeds and dis-
tances:
cSpeed: Below 30 MPH (50 km/h)
cDistance: Less than 40 miles (65
km)
cNever tow an automatic transmis-
sion model from the rear (for ex-
ample, backward) with four wheels
on the ground as this may cause
serious and expensive damage to
the transmission.
ACE0511
ACE1001
In case of emergency6-11
ZX

cTow chains or cables must be attached
only to the main structual members of the
vehicle.
cPulling devices should be routed so they
do not touch any part of the suspension,
steering, brake or cooling systems.
cAlways pull the cable straight out from
the front or rear of the vehicle. Never pull
on the vehicle at an angle.
cPulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
cStand clear of a stuck vehicle.
WARNING
Do not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode and
result in serious injury. Parts of your
vehicle could also overheat and be
damaged.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (Freeing
a stuck vehicle)
6-12In case of emergency
ZX

the vehicle is washed.
cDo not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
cInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. Such damage may cause loss
of pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
cNISSAN recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.
Spare tire (T-type spare tire)
Observe the following precautions if the
T-type spare tire must be used, otherwise
your vehicle could be damaged or involved
in an accident:
CAUTION
cThe T-type spare tire should be used
only for an emergency. It should be
replaced by the standard tire at the
first opportunity.
cDrive carefully while the T-type
spare tire is installed. Avoid sharp
turns and abrupt braking while driv-
ing.cPeriodically check tire inflation pres-
sure, and always keep it at 60 psi
(420 kPa, 4.2 bar).
cDo not drive your vehicle at speeds
faster than 50 MPH (80 km/h).
cDo not use tire chains on a T-type
spare tire. Tire chains will not fit
properly on the T-type spare tire and
may cause damage to the vehicle.
cWhen driving on roads covered with
snow or ice, the T-type spare tire
should be used on the rear wheel
and the original tire used on the front
wheels (drive wheels). Use tire
chains only on the front two original
tires.
cTire tread of the T-type spare tire will
wear at a faster rate than the original
tire. Replace the T-type spare tire as
soon as the tread wear indicators
appear.cBecause the T-type spare tire is
smaller than the original tire, ground
clearance is reduced. To avoid dam-
age to the vehicle do not drive over
obstacles. Also do not drive the ve-
hicle through an automatic car wash
since it may get caught.
cDo not use the T-type spare tire on
other vehicles.
cDo not use more than one T-type
spare tire at the same time.
cDo not tow a trailer while the T-type
spare tire is installed.
8-32Do-it-yourself
ZX