cWhen installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. For tire
placard location information, refer to
``Tire placard'' in the ªTechnical and
consumer informationº section of
this manual.
cFor additional information, refer to
``Wheels and tires'' in the ``Do-it-
yourself'' section of this manual.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR
LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key be-
fore inserting it in the key hole.
ANTI-FREEZE
In the winter, when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC),
check the anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base)
to assure proper winter protection. For de-
tails, see ``Engine cooling system'' in the
``Do-it-yourself'' section of this manual.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the bat-
tery fluid may freeze and damage the bat-
tery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the
battery should be checked regularly. For
details, see ``Battery'' in the ``Do-it-yourself''
section of this manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by
opening the drain valves located under theradiator and on the engine block. Refill
before operating the vehicle. See ``Chang-
ing engine coolant'' in the ``Do-it-yourself''
section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires is substantially reduced in
snowy and icy conditions. If you operate
your vehicle on snowy or icy roads, NIS-
SAN recommends using MUD & SNOW
or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Please consult your NISSAN dealer for
the tire type, size, speed rating and avail-
ability information.
2.
For additional traction on icy roads, stud-
ded tires may be used. However, some
Canadian provinces and U.S. states pro-
hibit their use. Check local, state and pro-
vincial laws before installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may
be poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
3. Tire chains may be used. Make sure they
are of proper size for the tires on your
vehicle and are installed according to the
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-16Starting and driving
ZX
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
An engine block heater to assist extreme
cold temperature starting is available
through an authorized NISSAN dealer.
WARNING
Do not use your heater with an un-
grounded electrical system or two-
pronged (cheater) adapters. You can be
injured by an electrical shock if you use
an ungrounded connection.
5-18Starting and driving
ZX
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below:
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and
away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the
parking brake. Move the gearshift lever
to the P (Park) position.
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and
to signal professional road assistance
personnel that you need assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the ve-
hicle and stand in a safe place, away
from traffic and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
cMake sure the parking brake is se-
curely applied and the automatic
transmission is shifted into P (Park).
cNever change tires when the vehicle
is on a slope, ice or slippery areas.
This is hazardous.cNever change tires if oncoming traf-
fic is close to your vehicle. Wait for
professional road assistance.
Blocking wheels
Place suitable blocks at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the
flat tire. This prevents the vehicle from roll-
ing when it is jacked up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the ve-
hicle may move and result in personal
injury.
CE1003M
FLAT TIRE
6-2In case of emergency
ZX
Getting the spare tire and tools
Remove the jack jack storage bag located
under the third row seat.1. Locate the cut in the carpet for the hex
nut in the the cargo area. The hex nut is
used to lower and raise the spare tire
located underneath the vehicle.
2. Place the lug wrench over the hex nut
and turn counterclockwise until the cable
extends completely. The spare tire hex
nut rachets when the cable is fully ex-
tended.3. Carefully slide the tire from under the
rear of the vehicle.
ACE1025
ACE1026ACE0006
In case of emergency6-3
ZX
Jacking up the vehicle and remov-
ing the damaged tire
WARNING
cNever get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by the jack.
cUse only the jack provided with your
vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use
the jack provided with your vehicle
on other vehicles. The jack is de-
signed for lifting only your vehicle
during a tire change.cUse the correct jack-up points.
Never use any other part of the ve-
hicle for jack support.
cNever jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
cNever use blocks on or under the
jack.
cDo not start or run engine while
vehicle is on the jack. It may cause
the vehicle to move.
cDo not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.
cNever run the engine with the wheels
off of the ground. It may cause the
vehicle to move.
Carefully read the caution label attached
to the jack body and the following in-
structions.
1. Loosen each wheel nut one or two turns
by turning counterclockwise with the lug
wrench.Do not remove the wheel nuts
until the tire is off the ground.
ACE1021ACE1030
In case of emergency6-5
ZX
Stowing the damaged tire and tools
1. To raise the tire to the stowed position,
install the retainer through the wheel
center and turn the wheel lug wrench
clockwise until the tire is raised to its
original position underneath the vehicle.
The spare tire hex nut ratchets when
the tire is raised. It won't allow you to
over-tighten.
2. Check for proper seating against under-
body supports. If necessary, loosen tire,
reposition and retighten.3. Securely store the jacking equipment in
the vehicle.
WARNING
cAlways make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly
secured after use. Such items can
become dangerous projectiles in an
accident or sudden stop.
cThe spare tire is designed for emer-
gency use. See specific instructions
under the heading ``Wheels and
tires'' in the ``Do-it-yourself'' section
of this manual.To start your engine with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below must
be followed.
WARNING
cIf done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting
in severe injury or death. It could
also damage your vehicle.
cExplosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away
from the battery.
cDo not allow battery fluid to come
into contact with eyes, skin, clothing
or painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a
corrosive sulfuric acid solution
which can cause severe burns. If the
fluid should come into contact with
anything, immediately flush the con-
tacted area with water.
cKeep the battery out of the reach of
children.
cThe booster battery must be rated at
12 volts. Use of an improper rated
battery can damage your vehicle.
WCE0005
JUMP STARTING
6-8In case of emergency
ZX
1. Turn the key in the ignition to OFF.
2. Check under the vehicle for leaking fuel.
3. If you do not see or smell fuel, push down
the red reset button on the inertia fuel
shut-off switch.
4. Turn the ignition key ON for a few sec-
onds, then turn it OFF.
5. Check under the vehicle again for leaking
fuel. If you see or smell fuel, do not start
your vehicle again. If no fuel is detected,
try to start your vehicle again.
WARNING
If you see or smell fuel, do not reset the
switch or try to start your vehicle. You
could injure yourself or others. Have all
the passengers get out of the vehicle
and call the local fire department or a
towing service.When towing your vehicle, U.S. States, Ca-
nadian Provinces and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle.
Towing instructions are available from an
authorized NISSAN dealer. Local service
operators are generally 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.
cNever use a tow bar that attaches to
the bumper when you tow your ve-
hicle. It may damage the bumper and
cause damage to the transmission.
cWhen towing with the front wheels
on dollies:
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 N
(Neutral) position.
cWhen towing front wheel drive, auto-
matic transmission models with the
rear wheels on the ground (if you do
not use towing dollies), release the
parking brake.
cAlways attach safety chains before
towing.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-12In case of emergency
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 P (park).
cBe sure the ignition key is in the OFF
or Lock position when performing
any parts replacement or repairs.
cYour vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always dis-
connect the negative battery cable
before working near the fan.
c
If 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 secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove 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 to escape.
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 the fuel tank and
battery.
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 the bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
cAvoid contact with used engine oil.
Improperly disposed motor oil and/
or other vehicle fluids can damage
the environment. Always conform to
local 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
8-2Do-it-yourself
ZX