1999 NISSAN QUEST Owners Manual

In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of
it.
In the following cases, please wash your
vehicle as soon as possible to protect the
paint surface:
cafter a rainfall to prevent possible dam-
age from acid rain.
cafter driving on coastal roads.
cwhen contaminants such as soot, bird
droppings, tree sap, metal particles or
bugs get on the paint surface.c
when dust or mud builds up on the surface.
Whenever possible, store or park your ve-
hicle inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in
a shady area or protect the vehicle with a
body cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint sur-
face
when putting on or removing a body
cover.
Washing
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly using
a mild soap, a special vehicle soap or
general purpose dishwashing liquid mixed
with clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
cDo not use strong household soap,
strong chemical detergents, gaso-
line or solvents.
cDo not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight or while the vehicle body is
hot, as the surface may become wa-
terspotted.cAvoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths such as washing mitts. Care
must be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the
doors, hatches and hood are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of road salt. There-
fore, these areas must be regularly cleaned.
Take care that the drain holes in the lower
edge of the door are open. Spray water
under the body and in the wheel wells to
loosen the dirt and wash away road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the
vehicle to avoid water spots.
Waxing
Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
After waxing, polishing is recommended to
remove built-up residue and to avoid a
``weathered'' appearance.
An authorized NISSAN dealer can assist
AI1002M
CLEANING EXTERIOR AND
INTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care
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you in choosing the proper product.
cWax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
cDo not use a wax containing any abra-
sives, cutting compounds or cleaners
that may damage the vehicle finish.
cIf the surface does not polish easily, use
a ``road tar'' remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
Removing spots
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the surface of the paint to avoid lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning prod-
ucts are available at an authorized NISSAN
dealer or any automotive accessory store.
Underbody
In areas where road salt is used in winter,
the underbody must be cleaned regularly.
This prevents dirt and salt from building up
and causing underbody and suspension
corrosion. Before the winter period andagain in the spring, the underseal must be
checked and, if necessary, re-treated.
Cleaning glass
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is nor-
mal for glass to become coated with a film
after the vehicle is parked in the hot sun.
Glass cleaner and a soft cloth easily remove
this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the win-
dow, do not use sharp-edged tools,
abrasive cleaners or chlorine-based
disinfectant cleaners. They could dam-
age the rear window defogger.
Cleaning aluminum alloy wheels
Wash regularly, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used.
Salt could discolor the wheel if not removed.
Chrome parts
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a
non-abrasive chrome polish to maintain the
finish.
Cleaning interior
Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim, plastic parts and seats using a
vacuum cleaner or soft brush. Wipe the
vinyl and leather surfaces with a clean, soft
cloth dampened in mild soap solution, then
wipe clean with a dry, soft cloth. Before
using any fabric protector, read the manu-
facturer's recommendations. Some fabric
protectors contain chemicals that may stain
or bleach the seat material.
CAUTION
cNever use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.
cLeather seats should be regularly
coated with a leather wax like saddle
soap. Never use car wax.
cNever use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
Front floor mat positioning aid
This model includes a front floor mat
bracket to act as a floor mat positioning aid.
NISSAN floor mats, specially designed for
your vehicle, incorporate grommets. To in-
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7-3
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stall, simply position the mat using the floor
mat bracket hook through the floor mat
grommet hole while centering the mat in the
footwell.
Periodically check to make certain the mat
is properly positioned.
Floor mats
The use of genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and
make it easier to clean the interior.No
matter what mats are used, be sure they
are fitted for your vehicle and are prop-
erly positioned in the footwell to prevent
interference with pedal operation.Mats
should be maintained with regular cleaning
and replaced if they become excessively
worn.
Seat belts
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping
them with a sponge dampened in a mild
soap solution. Allow the belts to dry com-
pletely before using them.
WARNING
Do not allow wet belts to roll up in the
retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye, or
chemical solvents since these may se-
verely weaken the seat belt webbing.Most common factors contributing
to vehicle corrosion:
1. The accumulation of moisture-retaining
dirt and debris in body panel sections,
cavities, and other areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective
coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor traffic accidents.
Environmental factors influence the
rate of corrosion.
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the
vehicle body underside can accelerate cor-
rosion. Wet floor coverings do not dry com-
pletely inside the vehicle, and should be
removed for drying to avoid floor panel
corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated:
cin areas of high relative humidity.
cin areas where the temperatures stay
above freezing.
cwhere atmospheric pollution exists.
CORROSION PROTECTION
7-4Appearance and care
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cwhere road salt is used.
Temperature
A temperature increase accelerates the rate
of corrosion to those parts which are not
well ventilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in
the air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt
use accelerates the corrosion process.
Road salt also accelerates the disintegra-
tion of paint surfaces.
To protect your vehicle from corro-
sion:
cwash and wax your vehicle often to keep
the vehicle clean.
calways check for minor damage to the
paint and repair it as soon as possible.
ckeep drain holes at the bottom of the
doors open to avoid water accumulation.
ccheck the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with
water as soon as possible.
CAUTION
cNEVER remove dirt, sand or other
debris from the passenger compart-
ment by washing it out with a hose.
Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner
or broom.
cNever allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electronic com-
ponents inside the vehicle.
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MEMO
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8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions .......................................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ....................8-3
Engine cooling system ...........................................8-4
Checking engine coolant level ...............................8-4
Changing engine coolant .......................................8-5
Engine oil ...............................................................8-5
Checking engine oil level .......................................8-5
Changing engine oil ...............................................8-6
Changing engine oil filter .......................................8-7
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........................8-8
Temperature conditions for checking ATF .............8-8
Power steering fluid................................................8-9
Brake fluid ............................................................8-10
Window washer fluid ............................................8-10
Battery ..................................................................8-11
Jump starting ........................................................8-12Drive belts ............................................................8-12
Spark plug replacement .......................................8-12
Air cleaner housing filter ......................................8-13
Cabin air filter .......................................................8-14
Wiper blades ........................................................8-17
Parking brake check.............................................8-19
Brake pedal ..........................................................8-19
Brake booster .......................................................8-20
Fuses and fusible links.........................................8-20
Light bulbs ............................................................8-22
Headlights ............................................................8-22
Bulb replacement .................................................8-23
Wheels and tires ..................................................8-27
Types of tires........................................................8-28
Tire chains ............................................................8-29
ZX

When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The
following are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
cPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the gear-
shift lever to N (neutral).
cBe sure the ignition key is OFF when
performing any replacement or re-
pair.
c
Be sure to turn the ignition key to the
OFF or LOCK position. When the igni-
tion key is in the ON or ACC position,
the cooling fan may start to operate
suddenly even when the engine is not
running. To avoid injury always dis-
connect the negative battery cable
before working near the fan.
cIf you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans,
belts and any other moving parts.
cIt is advisable to remove ties and any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
cAlways wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
cIf you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases.
cNever get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
cKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and the bat-
tery.
cOn gasoline engine models with the
multiport fuel injection (MFI) system,
the fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by an authorized NISSAN
dealer because the fuel lines are
under high pressure even when the
engine is off.CAUTION
cDo not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn off the engine
and wait until it cools down.
cNever connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized
component connector while the igni-
tion is ON.
cAvoid contact with used engine oil.
Improperly disposed motor oil and/
or other vehicle fluids can hurt the
environment. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations for disposal of ve-
hicle fluid.
This ``Do-it-yourself'' section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect your warranty coverage.If in
doubt about any servicing, have it done
by an authorized NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
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ADI1082
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
CHECK LOCATIONS
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