or speak directly into the microphone when
calling.
To do so could detract from the driving
operation and cause an accident.
See the manual for car phone operation.
Pre-wired and antenna for phone
installed model
Some models are pre-wired to accept the
genuine NISSAN cellular phone.
In addition, the same model has the phone
antenna built into the rear glass window.
When installing a CB ham radio, a car
phone or other transmitters in your NISSAN,
be sure to observe the following cautions,
otherwise the new equipment may ad-
versely affect the MFI (Multiport Fuel Injec-
tion) system and other electronic parts.
WARNING
cA cellular telephone should not be
used while driving so full attention
may be given to vehicle operation.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the use
of cellular telephones while driving.
cIf you must make a call while your
vehicle is in motion, the hands free
cellular phone operational mode (if
so equipped) is highly recom-
mended. Exercise extreme caution
at all times so full attention may be
given to vehicle operation.cIf a conversation in a moving vehicle
requires you to take notes, pull off
the road to a safe location and stop
your vehicle before doing so.
CAUTION
cKeep the antenna as far away as
possible from the Electronic Control
Module (ECM).
cKeep the antenna wire more than 8
in. (20 cm) away from the Multiport
Fuel Injection harness. Do not route
the antenna wire next to any har-
ness.
cAdjust the antenna standing-wave
ratio as recommended by the manu-
facturer.
cConnect the ground wire from the
CB radio chassis to the body.
cFor details, consult an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
AHA1049
4-36Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
ZX
CAUTION
cDo not use leaded gasoline. Depos-
its from leaded gasoline seriously
reduce the three way catalyst's abil-
ity to help reduce exhaust pollut-
ants.
cKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-
rich fuel flow into the three-way cata-
lyst, causing it to overheat. Do not
keep driving if the engine misfires,
or if noticeable loss of performance
or other unusual operating condi-
tions are detected. Have the vehicle
inspected promptly by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
cAvoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three way catalyst.
cDo not race the engine while warm-
ing it up.
cDo not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss
of control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden
steering maneuvers, because these driving
practices could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle.As with any vehicle, loss of
control could result in a collision with
other vehicles or objects, or cause the
vehicle to roll over, particularly if the
loss of control causes the vehicle to
slide sideways.Be attentive at all times,
and avoid driving when tired. Never drive
when under the influence of alcohol or
drugs (including prescription or over-the-
counter drugs which may cause drowsi-
ness). Always wear your seat belt as out-
lined in the ªSeats, restraints and
supplemental air bag systemsº section of
this manual, and also instruct your passen-
gers to do so.
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the blood-
stream reduces coordination, delays
reaction time and impairs judgement.
Driving after drinking alcohol increases
the likelihood of being involved in an
accident injuring yourself and others.
Additionally, if you are injured in an
accident alcohol can increase the se-
verity of the injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving. How-
ever, you must choose not to drive under
the influence of alcohol. Every year thou-
sands of people are injured or killed in
alcohol related accidents. Although the local
laws vary on what is considered to be
legally intoxicated, the fact is alcohol affects
all people differently and most people un-
derestimate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don't mix!
And that's true for drugs, too (over the
counter, prescription, and illegal drugs).
Don't drive if your ability to operate your
vehicle is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or
some other physical condition.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS
AND DRIVING
Starting and driving5-3
ZX
Accelerator downshift--
In D position--
For rapid passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into third gear, second gear
or first gear, depending on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the Fail-safe operation occurs, the
next time the key is turned to the ON
position, the O/D OFF light blinks for ap-
proximately 8 seconds after coming on for 2
seconds. While the vehicle can be driven
under these circumstances, please note
that the transmission will remain in 3rd gear.
NOTE: If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the Fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur even
if all electrical circuits are functioning properly.
In this case, turn the ignition key OFF and wait
for 3 seconds. Then turn the key back to the
ON position. The vehicle should return to its
normal operating condition. If it does not re-
turn to its normal operating condition, have an
authorized NISSAN dealer check the trans-
mission and repair, if necessary.
Overdrive switch
Each time your vehicle is started, the trans-
mission is automatically ``reset'' to overdrive
ON.
ON: For normal driving the overdrive
switch is engaged. The transmission
is upshifted into overdrive as the
vehicle speed increases.
The overdrive does not engage until the
engine has reached operating tempera-
ture.
OFF: For driving up and down long slopes
where engine braking is necessary,push the overdrive switch once. The
O/D OFF indicator light illuminates at
this time.
When cruising at a low speed or climbing a
gentle slope, you may feel uncomfortable
shift shocks as the transmission shifts be-
tween 3rd gear and overdrive repeatedly. In
this case, press the overdrive switch.
When driving conditions change, press the
overdrive switch to turn the overdrive on.
The O/D OFF indicator light goes out.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the O/D OFF
light illuminated. This reduces the fuel
economy.
ASD0561
5-8Starting and driving
ZX
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.
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 wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment causes not only tire
wear but also lower 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
INCREASING FUEL
ECONOMY
5-12Starting and driving
ZX
The anti-lock brake system controls the
brakes at each wheel so the wheels do not
lock when braking abruptly or when braking
on slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies the
brake fluid pressure to prevent each wheel
from locking and sliding. By preventing wheel
lockup, the system helps the driver maintain
steering control and helps to minimize swerv-
ing and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Normal operation
The anti-lock brake system does not operate
at speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h).
(The speeds vary according to road condi-
tions.) When the anti-lock brake system
senses one or more wheels are close to
locking up, the actuator (under the hood)
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres-
sure (like pumping the brakes very quickly).
While the actuator is working, you may feel apulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise
or vibration from the actuator under the hood.
This is normal and indicates the anti-lock
brake system is working properly. However,
the pulsation may indicate road conditions are
hazardous and extra care is required while
driving.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic
solenoids controlled by a computer.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time
you start the engine and move the ve-
hicle at a low speed in forward or reverse.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a
``clunk'' noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of any malfunction. If the com-
puter senses any malfunction, it switches
the anti-lock brake system OFF and turns
on the ABS brake warning light in the dash-
board. The brake system then operates
normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self-test, or
while driving, take the vehicle to an authorized
NISSAN dealer for repair.
WARNING
The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent
accidents resulting from careless or
dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces, but re-
member that the stopping distance on
slippery surfaces will be longer than on
normal surfaces, even with the anti-
lock brake system. Stopping distances
may also be longer on rough, gravel or
snow covered roads, or if you are using
tire chains. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from the vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the responsibility for safety
of self and others rests in the hands of
the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may
also affect braking effectiveness.
cWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS)
Starting and driving5-15
ZX
cWhenever working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye pro-
tectors (for example, goggles or in-
dustrial safety spectacles) and
remove rings, metal bands, or any
other jewelry. Do not lean over when
jump starting.
cDo not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.
cYour vehicle has an automatic en-
gine cooling fan. It could come on at
any time. Keep hands and other ob-
jects away from it.
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause per-
sonal injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another ve-
hicle, position the two vehicles to bring
their batteries close to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. Move the gear-
shift lever to the P (Park) position. Switch
off all unnecessary electrical systems
(lights, heater, air conditioner, etc.).3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so
equipped). Cover the battery with an old
cloth to reduce explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence
as illustrated.
CAUTION
cAlways connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (þ) to body
ground (for example, the strut
mounting bolt, engine lift bracket,
etc.)Ðnot to the battery.
ACE1009
In case of emergency6-9
ZX
cMake sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that the clamps do
not contact any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the other vehicle and
let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the other ve-
hicle at about 2,000 RPM, and start the
engine of the vehicle being jump started.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, turn the key
off and wait 3 to 4 seconds before
trying again.
7. After starting your engine, carefully dis-
connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable.
8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped).
Be sure to dispose of the cloth used to
cover the vent holes as it may be con-
taminated with corrosive acid.
CAUTION
Automatic transmission models cannot
be push or tow started. This may cause
transmission or other vehicle damage.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
gearshift lever to the P (Park) position.
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner switch. Open
all the windows, move the temperature
control dial to warm and fan control dial
to four.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS
6-10In case of emergency
ZX
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 ..................................8-8
Temperature conditions for checking .....................8-8
Power steering fluid................................................8-9
Brake fluid ..............................................................8-9
Window washer fluid ............................................8-10
Battery ..................................................................8-10
Jump starting ........................................................8-11
Drive belts ............................................................8-12
Spark plugs ..........................................................8-12
Replacing spark plugs ..........................................8-12
Air cleaner ............................................................8-13Cabin air filter .......................................................8-14
Windshield wiper blades ......................................8-17
Cleaning ...............................................................8-17
Replacing .............................................................8-17
Parking brake and brake pedal ............................8-19..........................................8-19
Checking parking brake .......................................8-19
Checking brake pedal ..........................................8-19
Brake booster .......................................................8-20
Fuses ....................................................................8-20
Engine compartment ............................................8-20
Passenger compartment ......................................8-21
Multi-remote controller battery replacement ........8-22
Lights ....................................................................8-23
Headlights ............................................................8-23
Exterior and interior lights ....................................8-24
Wheels and tires ..................................................8-28
Tire pressure ........................................................8-28
Types of tires........................................................8-29
Tire chains ............................................................8-30
Changing tires and wheels...................................8-30
ZX