2000 NISSAN SENTRA maintenance

10 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants ......10-2
Fuel recommendation...........................................10-3
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation..............10-5
Recommended SAE viscosity number.................10-7
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ..................................10-7
Specifications .......................................................10-8
Engine ..................................................................10-8
Wheels and tires ..................................................10-9
Dimensions and weights ......................................10-9
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country ..................................................10-10
Vehicle identification ..........................................10-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate...........10-10
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) ................................................10-10
Engine serial number .........................................10-11
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ..............................10-11
Emission control information label .....................10-12Tire placard ........................................................10-12
Air conditioner specification label.......................10-12
Installing front license plate................................10-13
Vehicle loading information ................................10-14
Terms .................................................................10-14
Determining vehicle load capacity .....................10-14
Loading tips ........................................................10-14
Trailer towing ......................................................10-15
Maximum load limits...........................................10-15
Towing load/specification chart ..........................10-16
Towing safety .....................................................10-16
Uniform tire quality grading ................................10-19
Emission control system warranty .....................10-20
Reporting safety defects (US only) ....................10-20
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M)
test (US only) .....................................................10-20
Owner's manual/service manual order
information ..........................................................10-22
ZX

ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER
RECOMMENDATION
Selecting the correct oil
It is essential to choose engine oil with the
correct quality and viscosity to ensure sat-
isfactory engine life and performance. NIS-
SAN recommends the use of a low friction
oil (energy conserving oil) in order to im-
prove fuel economy and conserve energy.
Oils which do not have the specified quality
label should not be used as they could
cause engine damage.
Only those engine oils with the AmericanPetroleum Institute (API) CERTIFICATION
MARK on the front of the container should
be used. This type of oil supersedes the
existing API SG, SH, or SJ and Energy
ConservingI&IIcategories.
If you cannot find engine oil with the API
CERTIFICATION MARK, use an API grade
SG/SH, Energy ConservingI&IIorAPI
grade SJ, Energy Conserving oil. An oil with
a single designation SG or SH, or in combi-
nation with other categories (for example,
SG/CC or SG/CD) may also be used if one
with the API CERTIFICATION MARK can-
not be found. An ILSAC grade GF-I & GF-II
oil can also be used.Mineral based or synthetic type oils may be
used in your NISSAN vehicle. However,
these oils must meet the API quality and
SAE viscosity ratings specified for your ve-
hicle. Do not mix mineral based and syn-
thetic type oils in the engine.
Oil additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of oil
additives. The use of an oil additive is not
necessary when the proper oil type is used
and maintenance intervals are followed.
Oil which may contain foreign matter or has
been previously used should not be used.
Oil viscosity
The engine oil viscosity or thickness
changes with temperature. Because of this,
it is important to select the engine oil viscos-
ity based on the temperatures at which the
vehicle will be operated before the next oil
change. The chart ``Recommended SAE
viscosity number'' shows the recommended
oil viscosities for the expected ambient tem-
peratures. Choosing an oil viscosity other
than that recommended could cause seri-
ous engine damage.
ATI0645
Technical and consumer information10-5
ZX

Selecting the correct oil filter
Your new NISSAN vehicle is equipped with
a high-quality genuine NISSAN oil filter.
When replacing, use a genuine NISSAN oil
filter or its equivalent for the reason de-
scribed in ``Change intervals''.
Change intervals
The oil and oil filter change intervals for your
engine are based on the use of the specified
quality oils and filters. Oil and filter other
than the specified quality, or oil and filter
change intervals longer than recommended
could reduce engine life. Damage to the
engine caused by improper maintenance or
use of incorrect oil and filter quality and/or
viscosity is not covered by the new NISSAN
vehicle warranties.
Your engine was filled with a high quality
engine oil when it was built. You do not have
to change the oil before the first recom-
mended change interval. Oil and filter
change intervals depend upon how you use
your vehicle.Operation under the following conditions
may require more frequent oil and filter
changes:
Ð repeated short distance driving at cold
outside temperatures,
Ð driving in dusty conditions,
Ð extensive idling,
Ð towing a trailer.
10-6Technical and consumer information
ZX

slope is not recommended; however, if
you must do so, and if your vehicle is
equipped with an automatic transmission,
first block the wheels and apply the park-
ing brake, and then move the transmis-
sion shift selector lever into the P (Park)
position. If you move the shift selector
lever to the P (Park) position before block-
ing the wheels and applying the parking
brake, transmission damage could occur.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, down-
shift the transmission to a lower gear
and reduce speed to reduce chances of
engine overloading and/or overheating.
cIf the engine temperature coolant rises
to an extremely high temperature when
the air conditioning system is on, turn off
the air conditioner. Coolant heat can be
additionally vented by opening the win-
dows, switching the fan control to high
and setting the temperature control to
the HOT position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than
normal circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle's
first 500 miles (800 km).cHave your vehicle serviced more often
than at intervals specified in the recom-
mended Maintenance Schedule.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels
will be closer to the inside of the turn
than your vehicle wheels. To compen-
sate for this, make a larger than normal
turning radius during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being
passed by larger vehicles, be prepared
for possible changes in crosswinds that
could affect vehicle handling. If swaying
does occur, firmly grip the steering
wheel, steer straight ahead, and imme-
diately (but gradually) reduce vehicle
speed. This combination helps to stabi-
lize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember the length of the
trailer must also pass the other vehicle
before you can safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency
and electrical charging performance, do
not use fifth gear (manual transmission)
or overdrive (automatic transmission).cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause
the brakes to overheat, resulting in re-
duced braking efficiency.
When towing a trailer, change the oil in
the transmission more frequently. For
additional information see the ``Mainte-
nance'' section earlier in this manual.
10-18Technical and consumer information
ZX

Your NISSAN is covered by the following
emission warranties.
For US
1) Emission Defects Warranty
2) Emission Performance Warranty
For Canada
Emission Control System Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found
with other vehicle warranties in your War-
ranty Information and Maintenance Log
Booklet that comes with your NISSAN. If
you did not receive a Warranty Information
and Maintenance Log Booklet, or it has
become lost, you may obtain a replacement
by writing to:
cNissan North America, Inc.
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 191
Gardena, CA. 90248-0191
cNissan Canada Inc.
5290 Orbitor Drive
Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4Z5If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
(NHTSA)in addition to no-
tifying NISSAN.
If
NHTSAreceives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However,
NHTSAcannot be-
come involved in individual problems be-
tween you, your dealer, or NISSAN.
To contact
NHTSA, you may either call the
Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-
9393 (or 366-0123 in the Washington, D.C.
area) or write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Depart-
ment of Transportation, Washington, D.C.
20590. You can also obtain other informa-
tion about motor vehicle safety from the
Hotline.
You may notify NISSAN by contacting our
Consumer Affairs Department, toll-free, at
1-800-NISSAN-1.
In Hawaii call (808) 836-0888.Due to legal requirements in some states
and Canadian provinces, your vehicle may
be required to be in the ready condition for
an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of the
emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the ready condition
when it is driven through certain driving pat-
terns. Usually, the ready condition can be
obtained by ordinary usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired
or the battery is disconnected, the vehicle
may be reset to a not ready condition. Before
taking the I/M test, drive the vehicle through
the following pattern to set the vehicle to the
ready condition. If you cannot or do not want
to perform the driving pattern, an authorized
NISSAN dealer can conduct it for you.
WARNING
Always drive the vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner according to traffic
conditions and obey all traffic laws.
1. Start the engine when the engine coolant
temperature gauge needle points to C.
Allow the engine to idle until the gauge
needle points between the C and H (nor-
mal operating temperature).
EMISSION CONTROL
SYSTEM WARRANTYREPORTING SAFETY
DEFECTS (US only)READINESS FOR
INSPECTION/MAINTENANCE
(I/M) TEST (US only)
10-20Technical and consumer information
ZX

Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 2-5
Corrosion protection .................................... 7-5
Cruise control............................................. 5-14
Cup holders ............................................... 2-21
D
Daytime running light system (Canada
only) ........................................................... 2-17
Defogger switch
Rear window defogger switch .............. 2-16
Dimensions and weights............................ 10-9
Door locks .................................................... 3-3
Door open warning light .............................. 2-8
Drive belts .................................................. 8-19
Driving
Cold weather driving............................. 5-20
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 5-7
Driving with manual transmission ......... 5-11
Precautions when starting and driving ... 5-2
E
Economy - fuel........................................... 5-16
Emission control information label........... 10-12
Emission control system warranty ........... 10-20
Engine
Before starting the engine ...................... 5-6
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants .............................................. 10-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 8-8Changing engine oil.............................. 8-10
Changing engine oil filter...................... 8-12
Checking engine coolant level ............... 8-6
Checking engine oil level ....................... 8-9
Engine compartment check
locations .......................................... 8-4, 8-5
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 2-5
Engine cooling system ........................... 8-6
Engine oil ................................................ 8-9
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ................................... 10-5
Engine oil pressure warning light ........... 2-7
Engine oil viscosity ............................... 10-5
Engine serial number ......................... 10-11
Engine specifications ............................ 10-8
Starting the engine ................................. 5-7
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ................. 5-2
Explanation of maintenance items .............. 9-2
F
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher
switch) ........................................................ 2-18
Flat tire ......................................................... 6-2
Floor mat positioning aid ............................. 7-4
Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ...... 8-13
Brake fluid............................................. 8-15
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants .............................................. 10-2
Clutch fluid ............................................ 8-16
Engine coolant ........................................ 8-6Engine oil ................................................ 8-9
Power steering fluid .............................. 8-15
Window washer fluid ............................ 8-16
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ................... 10-11
Front fog light switch ................................. 2-18
Front seats ................................................... 1-2
Fuel
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants .............................................. 10-2
Fuel economy ....................................... 5-16
Fuel filler cap ........................................ 3-12
Fuel filler lid lock opener lever ............. 3-12
Fuel gauge.............................................. 2-5
Fuel octane rating................................. 10-3
Fuel recommendation ........................... 10-3
Fuses ......................................................... 8-25
Fusible links ............................................... 8-25
G
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 2-5
Fuel gauge.............................................. 2-5
Odometer ................................................ 2-3
Speedometer .......................................... 2-3
Tachometer............................................. 2-4
Trip odometer ......................................... 2-4
General maintenance .................................. 9-2
Glasses case ............................................. 2-21
Glove box................................................... 2-22
11-2
ZX

H
Hazard warning flasher switch .................. 2-18
Head restraints ............................................ 1-5
Headlight aiming adjustment ..................... 8-30
Headlight and turn signal switch ............... 2-16
Headlights .................................................. 8-29
Heater
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 4-3
Heater operation ..................................... 4-4
Hood release ............................................... 3-9
Horn ........................................................... 2-19
I
Ignition switch .............................................. 5-4
Immobilizer system ..................... 2-11, 3-2, 5-6
Increasing fuel economy............................ 5-16
Indicator lights and chimes (See warning/
indicator lights and chimes) ......................... 2-7
Inside mirror ............................................... 3-14
Instrument brightness control .................... 2-17
Interior light ................................................ 2-28
J
Jump starting ............................................... 6-8K
Key ............................................................... 3-2
Keyless entry system (See multi-remote
control system) ............................................ 3-5
L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label ....... 10-12
Emission control information label...... 10-12
Engine serial number ......................... 10-11
F.M.V.S.S. certification label .............. 10-11
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
plate .................................................... 10-10
Warning labels (for SRS) ..................... 1-16
License plate
Installing the license plate .................. 10-13
Light
Air bag warning light ..................... 1-16, 2-8
Brake light (See stop light) ................... 8-33
Bulb check/instrument panel .................. 2-7
Bulb replacement.................................. 8-33
Charge warning light .............................. 2-8
Front fog light switch ............................ 2-18
Headlight aiming adjustment ................ 8-30
Headlight and turn signal switch .......... 2-16
Headlights ............................................. 8-29
Interior light ........................................... 2-28
Light bulbs ............................................ 8-29
Low washer fluid warning light ............... 2-8Spotlights (See map light) .................... 2-28
Trunk light ............................................. 2-29
Warning/indicator lights and chimes ...... 2-7
Lock
Child safety rear door lock ..................... 3-4
Door locks............................................... 3-3
Fuel filler lid lock opener lever ............. 3-12
Power door locks .................................... 3-4
Trunk lid lock opener lever ................... 3-10
M
Maintenance
General maintenance ............................. 9-2
Inside the vehicle.................................... 9-3
Maintenance precautions ....................... 8-2
Outside the vehicle ................................. 9-2
Periodic maintenance schedules ............ 9-5
Seat belt maintenance.......................... 1-24
Under the hood and vehicle ................... 9-4
Malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) ............... 2-10
Manual windows ........................................ 2-26
Meters and gauges ...................................... 2-2
Mirror
Inside mirror.......................................... 3-14
Outside mirror control ........................... 3-15
Vanity mirror ......................................... 3-14
Multi-remote control system ........................ 3-5
11-3
ZX

N
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system
(NVIS) ......................................... 2-11, 3-2, 5-6
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating) ...... 10-3
Odometer ..................................................... 2-3
Oil
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants .............................................. 10-2
Changing engine oil.............................. 8-10
Changing engine oil filter...................... 8-12
Checking engine oil level ....................... 8-9
Engine oil ................................................ 8-9
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ................................... 10-5
Engine oil viscosity ............................... 10-5
Opener lever for trunk lid........................... 3-10
Outside mirror control ................................ 3-15
Overdrive switch ........................................ 5-10
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats ...................... 6-10
Owner's manual order form ..................... 10-22
Owner's manual/service manual order
information ............................................... 10-22P
Parking
Parking brake check ............................. 8-23
Parking brake operation ....................... 5-13
Parking/parking on hills ........................ 5-17
Periodic maintenance schedules ................. 9-5
Power
Power door locks .................................... 3-4
Power socket ........................................ 2-19
Power steering fluid .............................. 8-15
Power steering system ......................... 5-18
Power windows..................................... 2-25
Rear power windows ............................ 2-26
Precautions
Maintenance precautions ....................... 8-2
Precautions on seat belt usage............ 1-18
Precautions when starting and driving ... 5-2
Push starting .............................................. 6-10
R
Radio
Car phone or CB radio ......................... 4-23
Compact Disc (CD) changer ................ 4-20
FM-AM radio with cassette player ........ 4-10
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player .................................................... 4-15
Readiness for inspection maintenance
(I/M) test................................................... 10-20
Rear power windows ................................. 2-26Rear window defogger switch ................... 2-16
Refrigerant recommendation ..................... 10-7
Registering your vehicle in another
country ..................................................... 10-10
Remote keyless entry system
(See multi-remote control system) .............. 3-5
Reporting safety defects (USA) ............... 10-20
S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock ..................... 3-4
Reporting safety defects (USA) .......... 10-20
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment................ 1-2
Rear seat adjustment ............................. 1-4
Seat belt
Precautions on seat belt usage............ 1-18
Seat belt extenders .............................. 1-24
Seat belt maintenance.......................... 1-24
Seat belts.............................................. 1-18
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........... 1-24
Three-point type with retractor ............. 1-21
Seat belt warning light ................................. 2-8
Seats
Front seats.............................................. 1-2
Security systems (see theft warning) ........ 2-11
Self-adjusting brakes ................................. 8-23
Service manual order form ...................... 10-22
Servicing air conditioner .............................. 4-9
Shift lock release ....................................... 5-10
11-4
ZX