1998 NISSAN SENTRA headlights

Key reminder chime
A chime sounds if the driver side door is
opened while the key is left in the ignition
switch. Remove the key and take it with you
when leaving the vehicle.
Light reminder chime
A chime sounds when the driver side door is
opened if the headlights or parking lights
are on (ignition switch is turned off).
Turn the headlight control switch off before
leaving the vehicle.
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires re-
placement, it makes a high pitched scraping
sound when the vehicle is in motion,
whether or not the brake pedal is de-
pressed. Have the brakes checked as soon
as possible if the warning sound is heard.
Malfunction indicator light
(MIL)
If the malfunction indicator light comes on
steady or blinks while the engine is running,it may indicate a potential emission control
problem.
The malfunction indicator light may also
come on steady or blink if the fuel filler cap
has not been closed tightly or if the fuel tank
is nearly empty. Check to make sure the
fuel cap is secure and that you have at least
three gallons of fuel in the fuel tank.
After driving for a while, the light should
remain off if no other potential emission
control system problem exists.
Operation
The malfunction indicator light will come on
in one of two ways:
1. Malfunction indicator light on steady - An
emission control system malfunction has
been detected. Have the vehicle in-
spected by an authorized NISSAN
dealer. You do not need to have your
vehicle towed to the dealer.
2. Malfunction indicator light blinking - An
engine misfire has been detected which
may damage the emission control sys-
tem. To reduce or avoid emission control
system damage:cdo not drive at speeds above 45 MPH
(72 km/h).
c
avoid hard acceleration or deceleration.
cavoid steep uphill grades.
cif possible, reduce the amount of cargo
being hauled or towed.
The malfunction indicator light may stop
blinking and come on steady. Have the
vehicle inspected by an authorized NISSAN
dealer. You do not need to have your vehicle
towed to the dealer.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation without
having the emission control system
checked and repaired as necessary
could lead to poor driveability, reduced
fuel economy, and possible damage to
the emission control system.
Some conditions may cause the malfunc-
tion indicator light to come on steady or
blink. Examples are as follows:
cvehicle ran out of fuel, which caused the
engine to misfire.
2-8Instruments and controls
ZX

activate with all doors, hood, and
trunk lid locked and ignition key off.
Turn the ignition key to ACC or ON to
turn the system off.
The theft warning system is NOT activated if
one of the following occurs:
cA door is unlocked or the ignition key is
turned to the ACC or ON position during
the 30 seconds in which the SECURITY
light stays on.
cThe SECURITY light blinks at a steady
1/2 second on - 1/2 second off rate (a
door, the trunk, or the hood is open and
the key is not in the ACC or ON position).
When the ignition key is turned to the
ACC or ON position, the SECURITY light
turns off.
Theft warning system operation
The theft warning system emits the follow-
ing alarm:
cThe headlights blink and the horn sounds
intermittently. In addition, the starter mo-
tor does not operate.
cThe alarm automatically turns off after 2
to 3 minutes. However, the alarm reacti-
vates if the vehicle is tampered withagain. The alarm can be shut off by
unlocking a door or trunk lid with the key
or by pressing the
buttonon the
multi-remote controller.
The alarm is activated by:
copening the door or trunk lid without
using the key (even if the door is un-
locked by releasing the door inside lock
switch) or opening the trunk lid by oper-
ating the opener lever.
copening the hood.
cpushing in or pulling out the key cylinder
on the door or trunk lid.
How to stop the alarm
The alarm stops only by unlocking a door or
the trunk lid with the key or by pressing
the
buttonon the multi-remote control-
ler.The alarm does not stop if the ignition
switch is turned to ACC or ON position.
Silencing the horn beep feature
If desired, the horn beep feature can be
deactivated using the multi-remote controller.
To deactivate:Press and hold theand
buttonsfor at least two seconds.
The hazard lights will quickly flash three
times to confirm that the horn beep feature
has been deactivated.
To activate:Press and hold the
and
buttonsfor at least two seconds once
more.
AIC1037
2-10Instruments and controls
ZX

Lighting
Turn the switch to theposition:
The front parking, tail, license plate and
instrument panel lights come on.
Turn the switch to the
position:
The headlights come on and all the other
lights remain on.
To select the high beam function, push the
lever forward. The high beam lights come
on and the
light illuminates. Pull it
back to select the low beam.
Passing signal
Pulling and releasing the lever flashes the
headlight high beams on and off.
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT
SYSTEM (Canada only)
The headlights automatically illuminate at a
reduced intensity when the engine is started
with the parking brake released. The day-
time running lights operate with the head-
light switch in the OFF position or in the
position. Turn the headlight switch
to theposition for full illumination
when driving at night.If the parking brake is applied before the
engine is started, the daytime running lights
do not illuminate. The daytime running lights
illuminate once the parking brake is re-
leased. The daytime running lights will re-
main on until the ignition switch is turned off.
WARNING
When the daytime running light system
is active, tail lights on your vehicle are
not on. It is necessary at dusk to turn
on your headlights. Failure to do so
could cause an accident injuring your-
self and others.
AIC1038
HEADLIGHT AND TURN
SIGNAL SWITCH
Instruments and controls2-13
ZX

Turn signal
Move the lever up or down to signal the
turning direction. When the turn is com-
pleted, the turn signals cancel automati-
cally.
Lane change signal
To signal a lane change, move the lever up
or down to the point where the indicator light
begins to flash, but the lever does not latch.
The instrument brightness control operates
when the headlight switch is in the
orposition.
Turn the control to adjust the brightness of
instrument panel lights.To turn the front fog lights on, rotate the
switch to theposition.
To turn them off, rotate the switch to the
OFF position.
The headlight switch must be in the
position (low beam headlights on) for
the fog lights to operate. The fog lights
automatically turn off whenever the high-
beam headlight function is selected.
AIC0608AIC0618
INSTRUMENT BRIGHTNESS
CONTROLFRONT FOG LIGHT SWITCH
(if so equipped)
2-14Instruments and controls
ZX

Unlocking doors
1. Push thebutton on the multi-remote
controller. Only the driver side door un-
locks.
2. Push the
button on the multi-remotecontroller again within 5 seconds. The
passenger doors unlock.
3. The interior light illuminates for approxi-
mately 30 seconds.
The interior light can be turned off without-waiting for 30 seconds by turning the igni-
tion ON or by pressing the
button on
the multi-remote controller.
Using the panic alarm
If you are near your vehicle and feel threat-
ened, you may activate the panic alarm to
call attention as follows:
1. Push the
button on the remote con-
troller forlonger than 0.8 seconds.
2. The theft warning alarm and headlights
stay on for 30 seconds.
3. The panic alarm stops when any of the
key functions are used. For example,
when the
,,orthebutton is
pushed on the multi-remote controller.
APD1050
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-5
ZX

Manual control type
The outside mirror can be moved in any
direction for a better rear view.
Objects viewed in the outside mirror on
the passenger side are closer than they
appear.The night position reduces glare from the
headlights of vehicles behind you at night.WARNING
Use the night position only when nec-
essary, because it reduces rear view
clarity.Your vehicle may be equipped with a pas-
senger side vanity mirror. To access, pull
the sun visor down.
PD1183MAPD0612APD1028
INSIDE MIRROR VANITY MIRROR (if so
equipped)
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-15
ZX

8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions .......................................8-2
Engine compartment check locations -
GA engine .............................................................8-3
Engine compartment check locations -
SR engine ..............................................................8-4
Engine cooling system ...........................................8-5
Checking engine coolant level ...............................8-5
Changing engine coolant .......................................8-6
Engine oil ...............................................................8-8
Checking engine oil level .......................................8-8
Changing engine oil ...............................................8-9
Changing engine oil filter .....................................8-10
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ......................8-11
Temperature conditions for checking ATF ...........8-12
Power steering fluid..............................................8-13
Brake fluid ............................................................8-14
Window washer fluid ............................................8-14
Battery ..................................................................8-15Jump starting ........................................................8-16
Drive belts ............................................................8-17
Spark plug replacement .......................................8-18
Air cleaner housing filter ......................................8-19
Wiper blades ........................................................8-20
Parking brake check.............................................8-21
Brake pedal ..........................................................8-21
Brake booster .......................................................8-22
Clutch pedal .........................................................8-23
Fuses and fusible links.........................................8-23
Light bulbs ............................................................8-25
Headlights ............................................................8-25
Headlight aiming adjustment ................................8-26
Bulb replacement .................................................8-26
Front fog light bulb replacement
(if so equipped) ....................................................8-31
Wheels and tires ..................................................8-32
ZX

HEADLIGHTS
The headlight is a semi-sealed beam type
which uses a replaceable headlight (halo-
gen) bulb. A bulb can be replaced from
inside the engine compartment without re-
moving the headlight assembly.
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.
Removing the headlight bulb
1. Open the engine hood.
2. Disconnect the negative (-) battery cable.
3.
If removing the right-hand (passenger
side) headlight bulb, it is necessary to first
reposition the engine coolant reservoir.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector from
the rear end of the bulb.
5. Push down the spring retainer.
6. Pull out the headlight bulb and socket as
an assembly. Do not shake or rotate thebulb when removing it. Do not handle the
glass envelope.
Replacing the headlight bulb
1. Insert the bulb and socket assembly into
the headlight.
DO NOT TOUCH THE BULB.
2. Install the spring retainer.
3. Push the electrical connector into the
bulb plastic base until it snaps and stops.
4. If installing the right-hand (passenger
side) headlight bulb, be sure to reposition
the engine coolant reservoir.
5. Connect the negative (-) battery cable.
6. Close the engine hood.
CAUTION
cUse the same number and wattage
as originally installed:
2 DOOR
Wattage 65/55
Bulb no. 9007
4 DOOR
Wattage 65/45
Bulb no. 9004
ADI0607
LIGHT BULBS
Do-it-yourself8-25
ZX