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
3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the ra-
diator before opening the hood. Wait until
no steam or coolant can be seen before
proceeding.
4. Open the hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. Visually check if the cooling fan is run-
ning. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is leak-
ing or the cooling fan does not run, stop
the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair
or clothing to come into contact with,
or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling
fan can start at any time when the
coolant temperature is high.
6. After the engine cools down completely,
check the coolant level in the reservoir
tank with the engine running. Add coolant
to the reservoir tank, if necessary. Have
your vehicle repaired at an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
INERTIA FUEL SHUT-OFF
SWITCH
When the vehicle is involved in a collision,
the inertia fuel shutoff switch is designed to
automatically stop the flow of fuel to the
engine. The impact forces needed to trigger
the switch do not have to be great. Parking
lot bumping or road impacts (such as driving
over potholes) may trigger the switch.
Once the inertia fuel shutoff switch is trig-
gered, it must be reset before the engine
can be started. If your engine cranks but
does not start after a collision, take the
ACE1020
AFTER AN ACCIDENT
In case of emergency6-11
ZX
CAUTION
cNever tow automatic transmission
models with the front wheels on the
ground or four wheels on the ground
(forward or backward), as this may
cause serious and expensive dam-
age to the transmission. If it is nec-
essary to tow the vehicle with the
rear wheels raised always use tow-
ing dollies under the front wheels.
cWhen towing with the front wheels
on towing dollies:
cTurn the ignition key to the OFF
position, and secure the steer-
ing wheel in a straight ahead
position with a rope or similar
device. Never secure the steer-
ing wheel by turning the igni-
tion key to the LOCK position.
This may damage the steering
lock mechanism.
cMove the shift lever to the N
(Neutral) position.cWhen towing with the rear wheels on
the ground (if you do not use towing
dollies): Always release the parking
brake.
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.
cDo not tow with a sling type truck,
either from the front or rear. It may
cause body damage.
cNever utilize the rear tie down brack-
ets or slots to tow another vehicle as
this may cause body damage.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (Freeing a
stuck vehicle)
cTow chains or cables must only be at-
tached to the main structual members of
the vehicle.
cPulling devices should be routed so they
do not touch any part of the suspension,
steering, brake or cooling systems.
cAlways pull the cable straight out from
the front or rear of the vehicle. Never pullthe vehicle at an angle.
cPulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
cStand clear of a stuck vehicle.
WARNING
Do not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode and
result in serious injury. Parts of your
vehicle could also overheat and be
damaged.
6-14In 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 ............................................................8-13
Cabin air filter ..................................................8-14Windshield wiper blades ......................................8-17
Cleaning ..........................................................8-17
Replacing .........................................................8-17
Parking brake and brake pedal ............................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
Fog lights .........................................................8-24
Exterior and interior lights ...............................8-25
Wheels and tires ..................................................8-29
Tire pressure ...................................................8-29
Types of tires ...................................................8-30
Tire chains .......................................................8-31
Changing tires and wheels ..............................8-31
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
and coolant. Improperly disposed
engine oil, engine coolant, and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage 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
8-2Do-it-yourself
ZX
The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a high-quality, year-round, anti-
freeze coolant solution. The anti-freeze so-
lution contains rust and corrosion inhibitors,
therefore additional engine cooling system
additives are not necessary.
CAUTION
When adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only a Genuine Nissan
anti-freeze coolant (green) or equiva-
lent with the proper mixture ratio of
50% anti-freeze and 50% demineralized
or distilled water. The use of other
types of coolant solutions or coolant
colors, such as orange, may damage
the engine cooling system.
Outside tempera-
ture down toGenuine
NISSAN
Anti-freeze
Coolant or
equivalentDemineral-
ized or Dis-
tilled water
ÉC ÉF
þ35 þ30 50% 50%
WARNING
c
Never remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
cThe radiator is equipped with a pres-
sure cap. To prevent engine damage,
use only a genuine NISSAN radiator
cap.
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant level in the reservoir tank
when the engine is cold. If the coolant level
is below MIN, add coolant up to the MAX
level. If the reservoir tank is empty, check
the coolant level in the radiatorwhen the
engine is cold.If there is insufficient cool-
ant in the radiator, fill the radiator with
coolant up to the filler opening and also add
it to the reservoir tank up to the MAX level.
ADI1083
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
8-4Do-it-yourself
ZX
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
An authorized NISSAN dealer can change
the engine coolant. The service procedure
is found in NISSAN's service manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine
overheating.
WARNING
cTo avoid danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
cNever remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
cAvoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made,
wash thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
cKeep coolant out of reach of children
and pets.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it
reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off.Wait a few minutes
for the oil to drain back into the oil
pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
Reinsert it all the way.5. Remove the dipstick again and check the
oil level. It should be between the H
(High) and L (Low) marks. If the oil level
is below the L (Low) mark, remove the oil
filler cap and pour recommended oil
through the opening.Do not overfill.
6. Recheck the oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the
break-in period, depending on the sever-
ity of operating conditions.
ADI1084ADI0009
ENGINE OIL
Do-it-yourself8-5
ZX
WARNING
cWhen the engine is running, keep
hands, jewelry and clothing away
from any moving parts such as the
cooling fan and drive belts.
cAutomatic transmission fluid is poi-
sonous and should be stored care-
fully in marked containers out of the
reach of children.
TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS
FOR CHECKING
cCheck the fluid level using the HOT
range on the dipstick after the following
conditions have been met:
Ð The engine is warmed up to operating
temperature.
Ð The vehicle is driven at least 15 minutes.
Ð The automatic transmission fluid is
warmed to between 150ÉF and 170ÉF
(66ÉC and 77ÉC).
cThe fluid can be checked at fluid tem-
peratures of 70ÉF to 95ÉF (21ÉC to 35ÉC)
using the COLD range on the dipstick
after the engine is warmed up and before
driving. However, the fluid should be
re-checked using the HOT range.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
set the parking brake.
2. Start the engine, then move the shift
selector lever through the range of gears,
ending in P (Park).3. Check the fluid level with the engine
idling.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean
with a lint-free cloth.
5. Reinsert the dipstick into the dipstick
tube as far as it goes.
6. Remove the dipstick and note the read-
ing. If the level is at the low side of either
range, add fluid through the dipstick tube.
WDI0004ADI1085
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID
8-8Do-it-yourself
ZX