1998 NISSAN SENTRA warning

Foreword
Welcome to the growing family of new NISSAN owners. This vehicle is delivered to you with confidence. It was produced using the latest
techniques and strict quality control.
This manual was prepared to help you understand the operation and maintenance of your vehicle so that you may enjoy many miles of
driving pleasure. Please read through this manual before operating your vehicle.
A separate Warranty Information and Maintenance Log Booklet explains details about the warranties covering your vehicle and
vehicle maintenance schedules. Additionally, a separate Customer Care/Lemon Law Booklet will explain how to resolve any
concerns you may have with your vehicle, as well as clarify your rights under your state's lemon law.
Your NISSAN dealership knows your vehicle best. When you require any service or have any questions, they will be glad to assist you with
the extensive resources available to them.
WARNING
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
REMINDERS FOR SAFETY!
Follow these important driving rules to help ensure a safe and
complete trip for you and your passengers!
cNEVER drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
cALWAYS observe posted speed limits and never drive too
fast for conditions.
c
ALWAYS use your seat belts and appropriate child restraint
systems. Pre-teen children should be seated in the rear seat.
cALWAYS provide information about the proper use of
vehicle safety features to all occupants of the vehicle.
cALWAYS review this Owner's Manual for important safety
information.
1997 NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA
All rights reserved. No part of this Owner's Manual may be reproduced
or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior written permission of Nissan North America, Inc.
NOTES ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THIS OWNER'S MANUAL
This Owner's Manual contains descriptions and operating in-
structions for all systems, features and optional equipment that
might appear in any model of this vehicle built for any destina-
tion in North America, including the continental United States,
Canada and Hawaii. Therefore, you may find information in this
manual that does not apply to your vehicle.
MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
This vehicle should not be modified. Modification could affect
its performance, safety or durability, and may even violate
governmental regulations. In addition, damage or perfor-
mance problems resulting from modifications may not be
covered under NISSAN warranties.
All information, specifications and illustrations in this manual are
those in effect at the time of printing. NISSAN reserves the right to
change specifications or design without notice and without obligation.
The inside pages of this manual contain
a minimum of 50% recycled fibers,
including 10% post-consumer fibers.

You will see various symbols in this manual.
They are used in the following ways:
WARNING
This is used to indicate the presence of
a hazard that could cause death or
serious personal injury. To avoid or
reduce the risk, the procedures must
be followed precisely.
CAUTION
This is used to indicate the presence of
a hazard that could cause minor or
moderate personal injury or damage to
your vehicle. To avoid or reduce the
risk, the procedures must be followed
carefully.If you see this symbol, it means ``Do not do
this'' or ``Do not let this happen.''
APD1005
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS MANUAL
ZX

1 Seats, restraints and supplemental air
bag systems
Front seats .............................................................1-2
Seat adjustment .....................................................1-2
Tilting front seat (Two-door model) ........................1-4
Head restraints .......................................................1-4
Rear seat ................................................................1-5
Supplemental restraint system (air bag
system) ...................................................................1-5
Supplemental air bag system.................................1-9
Warning labels......................................................1-11
Supplemental air bag warning light......................1-11
Seat belts .............................................................1-13Precautions on seat belt usage ...........................1-13
Child safety...........................................................1-15
Pregnant women ..................................................1-15
Injured persons ....................................................1-15
Three-point type with retractor .............................1-16
Two-point type without retractor (rear center
lap belt).................................................................1-18
Seat belt extenders ..............................................1-20
Seat belt maintenance .........................................1-20
Child restraints .....................................................1-21
Top strap child restraint .......................................1-29
ZX

WARNING
cDo not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will
not be against your body. In an acci-
dent, you could be thrown into it and
receive neck or other serious inju-
ries. You could also slide under the
lap belt and receive serious internal
injuries.cFor the most effective protection
when the vehicle is in motion, the
seat should be upright. Always sit
well back in the seat and adjust the
seat belt properly. See ``Precautions
on seat belt usage'' later in this sec-
tion.
SEAT ADJUSTMENT
WARNING
cDo not adjust the driver's seat while
driving. The seat may move sud-
denly and could cause loss of con-
trol of the vehicle.
cAfter adjustment, gently rock in the
seat to make sure it is securely
locked.
ARS1037ARS1038
FRONT SEATS
1-2Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

TILTING FRONT SEAT (Two-door
model)
The front passenger seat can be tilted to
make it easier for the rear seat passengers
to get in and out of the vehicle.
To tilt the front seatback forward, pull the
reclining lever up or depress the tilt lever.
The seat back tilts and the seat moves
forward automatically.
To return the seat, move the whole seat
backward, then push the seat back up until
it locks.
CAUTION
When returning the seat to its original
position, check that the seat and seat-
back are properly locked.
HEAD RESTRAINTS
Adjust the head restraints so the top is level
with the tops of your ears.
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To
lower, press the lock knob down while push-
ing the head restraint down.
WARNING
Head restraints should be adjusted
properly as they may provide significant
protection against injury in an accident.
Do not remove them. Check the adjust-
ment after someone else uses the seat.
APD0615ARS1023
1-4Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

REAR SEAT
Interior trunk access
(if so equipped)
The trunk can be accessed from the rear
seat for loading and unloading, as shown.
WARNING
cNever allow anyone to ride in the
luggage area or on the rear seat
when it is in the fold-down position.
Use of these areas by passengers
without proper restraints couldresult in serious injury in an accident
or sudden stop.
c
Properly secure all cargo to help pre-
vent it from sliding or shifting. Do not
place cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause per-
sonal injury.
cWhen returning the seatbacks to the
upright position, be certain they are
completely secured in the latched
position.This Supplemental Restraint System sec-
tion contains important information concern-
ing the driver and passenger supplemental
air bags. The Supplemental Restraint Sys-
tem Air Bag can help reduce impact force to
the driver and to the front passenger in
certain frontal collisions. The supplemental
air bags are designed tosupplementthe
crash protection provided by the driver and
front passenger seat belts and arenot a
substitutefor them. The seat belts should
always be correctly worn and the driver and
front passenger seated a suitable distance
from the steering wheel and instrument
panel. (See ``Seat belts'' for instructions and
precautions on seat belt usage.)
The supplemental air bags operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.
ARS1022
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (AIR BAG SYSTEM)
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-5
ZX

WARNING
cThe supplemental air bags ordinarily
will not inflate in the event of a side
impact, rear impact, roll over, or
lower severity frontal collision. Al-
ways wear your seat belts to help
reduce the risk or severity of injury
in various kinds of accidents.
c
The seat belts and the supplemental
air bags are most effective when you
are sitting back and upright in the
seat. Supplemental air bags inflate
with great force. If you are unre-strained, leaning forward, sitting
sideways or out of position in any
way, you are at greater risk of injury
or death in a crash and may also
receive serious or fatal injuries from
the supplemental air bag if you are up
against it when it inflates. Always sit
back against the seatback and as far
away as practical from the steering
wheel or instrument panel. Always
use the seatbelts.cKeep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could increase
the risk that they are injured when the
air bag inflates.
ARS1030ARS1039
1-6Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX

WARNING
cNever let children ride unrestrained.
Do not attempt to hold them in your
lap or arms. Some examples of dan-
gerous riding positions are shown in
the previous illustrations.
cChildren may be severely injured or
killed when the supplemental air bag
inflates if they are not properly re-
strained.
cAlso, never install a rear-facing child
restraint in the front seat. An inflat-
ing supplemental air bag could seri-
ously injure or kill your child. See
``Child Restraints'' for details.
ARS1043
ARS1044
ARS1045
ARS1046
1-8Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
ZX