2001 NISSAN SENTRA stop start

hot and fan control to high speed.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climb-
ing a long hill on a hot day, run the engine
at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm)
until the temperature gauge indication
returns to normal.
4. 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.
5. Open the hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan
is running. The radiator hoses and radia-
tor should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking, the water pump belt is missing or
loose, or the cooling fan does not run,
stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry 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.
7. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the reservoir tank with the
engine running. Add coolant to the res-
ervoir tank if necessary. Have your ve-
hicle repaired at an authorized NISSAN
dealer.When towing your vehicle, all State (Provin-
cial in Canada) 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 having a service operator tow
your vehicle. It is advisable to have the
service operator carefully read the following
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.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
In case of emergency6-11
ZX

4. Close the drain plugs on the radiator and
the engine block securely.
5. See the ``Technical and consumer infor-
mation'' section for cooling system ca-
pacity. Fill the radiator slowly with the
proper mixture of coolant and water. Fill
the reservoir tank up to the MAX level.
6. Open and close the air release plug(s) to
release air. Then fill the radiator again
and install the radiator cap.
7.
Start the engine, and warm it up until it
reaches normal operating temperature.
Then race the engine two or three times
under no load. Watch the engine coolant
temperature gauge for signs of overheating.
8. Stop the engine. After it completely
cools down, refill the radiator up to the
filler opening. Fill the reservoir tank up to
the MAX level.
9. Open and close the air release plug(s)
to release air. Then fill the radiator again
and install the radiator cap.
10. Check the drain plugs on the radiator
and the engine block for any sign of
leakage. Also check the air release plug
for any sign of leakage.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.
ADI0615DI1249MWDI0014
ENGINE OIL
Do-it-yourself8-9
ZX

5. Holding the boot, reconnect each high
tension cable to its proper spark plug by
pushing it on until you feel a snap.
6. On the 1.8L engine, install the ignition
coil bolt.
Ignition coil bolt tightening torque:
33 to 44 in-lb (3.8 - 5.0 Nzm)
Connect the ignition coil connector.
The air cleaner filter should not be cleaned
and reused. Replace it according to the
maintenance intervals shown in the ``Main-
tenance'' section of this manual. When re-
placing the filter, wipe the inside of the air
cleaner housing and the cover with a damp
cloth.
WARNING
cOperating the engine with the air
cleaner removed can cause you or
others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops theflame if the engine backfires. If it
isn't there, and the engine backfires,
you could be burned. Do not drive
with the air cleaner removed and be
careful when working on the engine
with the air cleaner removed.
cNever pour fuel into the throttle body
or attempt to start the engine with
the air cleaner removed. Doing so
could result in serious injury.
ADI0631
AIR CLEANER
Do-it-yourself8-21
ZX

If the brake pedal goes down farther than
normal, it may be due to a lack of adjust-
ment of the rear drum brakes. To adjust,
apply the parking brake several times.
WARNING
See an authorized NISSAN dealer for a
brake system check if the brake pedal
height does not return to normal.
Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have
an audible wear indicator. When a brake
pad requires replacement, it makes a high
pitched scraping or screeching sound when
the vehicle is in motion whether or not the
brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the wear
indicator sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions,
occasional brake squeak, squeal or other
noise may be heard. Occasional brake
noise during light to moderate stops is nor-
mal and does not affect the function or
performance of the brake system.
The rear drum brakes (if so equipped) do
not have audible wear indicators. Shouldyou ever hear an unusually loud noise from
the rear drum brakes, have them inspected
as soon as possible by an authorized NIS-
SAN dealer.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For more information regard-
ing brake inspections, see the appropriate
maintenance schedule information in the
``Maintenance'' section of this manual.
BRAKE BOOSTER
Check the brake booster function as fol-
lows:
1. With the engine off, press and release
the brake pedal several times. When
brake pedal movement (distance of
travel) remains the same from one pedal
application to the next, continue on to the
next step.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, start
the engine. The pedal height should drop
a little.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop the
engine. Keeping the pedal depressed for
about 30 seconds, the pedal height
should not change.
4. Run the engine for one minute withoutdepressing the brake pedal, then turn it
off. Depress the brake pedal several
times. The pedal travel distance will de-
crease gradually with each depression
as the vacuum is released from the
booster.
If the brakes do not operate properly, see an
authorized NISSAN dealer.
8-24Do-it-yourself
ZX

cDo not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc. to install
a trailer hitch.
cTo reduce the possibility of addi-
tional damage if your vehicle is
struck from the rear, where practical,
remove the hitch and/or receiver
when not in use.
cAfter the hitch is removed, seal the
bolt holes to prevent exhaust fumes,
water or dust from entering the pas-
senger compartment.
cRegularly check that all hitch mount-
ing bolts are securely mounted.
Tire pressures
cWhen towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle
tires to the recommended cold tire pres-
sure indicated on the tire placard (lo-
cated on the driver's side rear door
pillar).
cTrailer tire condition, size, load rating
and proper inflation pressure should be
in accordance with the trailer and tire
manufacturers' specifications.
Safety chains
Always use suitable safety chains between
your vehicle and the trailer. Safety chains
should be crossed and should be attached
to the hitch, not to the vehicle bumper or
axle. Be sure to leave enough slack in the
chains to permit turning corners.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights should comply with federal
and/ or local regulations. When wiring the
vehicle for towing, connect the stop and tail
light pickup into the vehicle electrical circuit.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to federal
and/or local regulations and that it is prop-
erly installed.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
cBe certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloadedtrailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if
it has an abnormal nose-up or nose- down
condition; check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other pos-
sible causes of either condition.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
cBe certain your rear view mirrors con-
form to all federal, state or local regula-
tions. If not, install any mirrors required
for towing before driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding
of the vehicle's behavior, you should prac-
tice turning, stopping and backing up in an
area which is free from traffic. Steering,
stability, and braking performance are
somewhat different than under normal driv-
ing conditions.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
c
Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
Technical and consumer information
10-17
ZX

11 Index
A
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) ........................................................ 1-6
Air bag warning light .......................... 1-16, 2-9
Air cleaner housing filter ............................ 8-21
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation ........................ 4-5
Air conditioner specification label ....... 10-12
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubrication recommendations ................ 10-7
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 4-3
Servicing air conditioner ......................... 4-9
Air flow charts .............................................. 4-6
Alarm system (See vehicle security
system) ...................................................... 2-11
Anchor point locations ............................... 1-34
Antenna...................................................... 4-23
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).................... 5-19
Anti-lock brake warning light ....................... 2-7
Ashtray (See cigarette lighter and
ashtray) ...................................................... 2-20
Audio system
Compact Disc (CD) changer ................ 4-20
FM-AM radio with cassette player ........ 4-10
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player .................................................... 4-15Automatic
Automatic power window switch .......... 2-25
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ...... 8-13
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 5-7
Transmission selector lever lock
release .................................................. 5-10
B
Battery........................................................ 8-17
Battery
Charge warning light .............................. 2-8
Battery replacement (See multi-remote
control system) ............................................ 3-8
Before starting the engine ........................... 5-6
Belts (See drive belts) ............................... 8-19
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .............. 5-19
Brake booster ....................................... 8-24
Brake fluid............................................. 8-15
Brake light (See stop light) ................... 8-33
Brake pedal .......................................... 8-23
Brake system ........................................ 5-18
Brake warning light ................................. 2-8
Brake wear indicators ................. 2-11, 8-24
Parking brake check ............................. 8-23
Parking brake operation ....................... 5-13
Self-adjusting brakes ............................ 8-23Break-in schedule ...................................... 5-16
Bulb check/instrument panel ....................... 2-7
Bulb replacement ....................................... 8-33
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants.................................................... 10-2
Car phone or CB radio .............................. 4-23
Cargo (See vehicle loading
information) .............................................. 10-14
Child restraint with top tether strap ........... 1-34
Child restraints ........................ 1-20, 1-25, 1-32
Child safety rear door lock .......................... 3-4
Cigarette lighter (accessory) and
ashtray ....................................................... 2-20
Cleaning exterior and interior ...................... 7-2
Clock................................................. 4-11, 4-16
Clutch
Clutch fluid ............................................ 8-16
Clutch pedal.......................................... 8-25
Cold weather driving .................................. 5-20
Controls
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 4-3
Coolant
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants .............................................. 10-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 8-8
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 ............................................... 3-15
Instrument brightness control .................... 2-17
Interior light ................................................ 2-27
Interior trunk lid release ............................. 3-12
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
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for
Children) System ....................................... 1-32
License plate
Installing the license plate .................. 10-13
Light
Air bag warning light ..................... 1-16, 2-9
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 ........................................... 2-27Light bulbs ............................................ 8-29
Low washer fluid warning light ............... 2-9
Spotlights (See map light) .................... 2-27
Trunk light ............................................. 2-28
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 ............. 3-13
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 ........................................ 2-25
Meters and gauges ...................................... 2-2
Mirror
Inside mirror.......................................... 3-15
Outside mirror control ........................... 3-16
Vanity mirror ......................................... 3-15
Multi-remote control system ........................ 3-5
11-3
ZX

Manual transmission............................. 5-11
Shoulder belt height adjustment ................ 1-24
Spark plug replacement............................. 8-20
Speedometer ............................................... 2-3
Spotlights (See map light) ......................... 2-27
SRS warning label ..................................... 1-16
Starting
Before starting the engine ...................... 5-6
Jump starting .......................................... 6-8
Precautions when starting and driving ... 5-2
Push starting......................................... 6-10
Starting the engine ................................. 5-7
Steering
Power steering fluid .............................. 8-15
Power steering system ......................... 5-18
Tilting steering wheel............................ 3-14
Stop light .................................................... 8-33
Storage ...................................................... 2-21
Sunroof ...................................................... 2-26
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system).................... 1-6
Switch
Automatic power window switch .......... 2-25
Front fog light switch ............................ 2-18
Hazard warning flasher switch ............. 2-18
Headlight and turn signal switch .......... 2-16
Ignition switch ......................................... 5-4
Overdrive switch ................................... 5-10
Rear window defogger switch .............. 2-16
Turn signal switch................................. 2-17
Windshield wiper and washer switch ... 2-15T
Tachometer .................................................. 2-4
Three-way catalyst....................................... 5-2
Tilting steering wheel ................................. 3-14
Tire
Flat tire.................................................... 6-2
Spare tire....................................... 6-3, 8-40
Tire chains ............................................ 8-38
Tire placard......................................... 10-12
Tire pressure ........................................ 8-36
Tire rotation .......................................... 8-38
Types of tires ........................................ 8-37
Uniform tire quality grading ................ 10-19
Wheels and tires................................... 8-36
Wheel/tire size ...................................... 10-9
Towing
Tow truck towing .................................. 6-11
Towing load/specification chart .......... 10-16
Trailer towing ...................................... 10-15
Transmission
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ...... 8-13
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 5-7
Driving with manual transmission ......... 5-11
Selector lever lock release ................... 5-10
Travel (See registering your vehicle in
another country)....................................... 10-10
Trip odometer .............................................. 2-4
Trunk access through the rear seat ............ 1-4
Trunk lid lock opener lever ........................ 3-10
Trunk light .................................................. 2-28
Turn signal switch ...................................... 2-17U
Uniform tire quality grading ..................... 10-19
V
Vanity mirror .............................................. 3-15
Vehicle dimensions and weights ............... 10-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(chassis number) ..................................... 10-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
plate ......................................................... 10-10
Vehicle loading information ..................... 10-14
Vehicle recovery ........................................ 6-13
Vehicle security system ............................. 2-11
Ventilators .................................................... 4-2
W
Warning
Air bag warning light ..................... 1-16, 2-9
Hazard warning flasher switch ............. 2-18
Vehicle security system ........................ 2-11
Warning labels (for SRS) ..................... 1-16
Warning/indicator lights and chimes ...... 2-7
Weights (See dimensions and weights) .... 10-9
Wheels and tires ........................................ 8-36
Wheel/tire size ........................................... 10-9
When traveling or registering your vehicle
in another country .................................... 10-10
Window washer fluid.................................. 8-16
11-5
ZX