
Engine coolant level*Check the coolant
level when the engine is cold.
Radiator and hosesCheck the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects,
leaves, etc., that may have accumulated.
Make sure the hoses have no cracks, de-
formation, rot, or loose connections.
Engine drive belts*Make sure the drive
belts are not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Battery*Check the fluid level in each cell. It
should be between the MAX and MIN lines.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or
under severe conditions require frequent
checks of the battery fluid level.
Exhaust systemMake sure there are no
loose supports, cracks, or holes. If the
sound of the exhaust seems unusual or
there is a smell of exhaust fumes, immedi-
ately have the exhaust system inspected by
an authorized NISSAN dealer. See the car-
bon monoxide warning in the ``Starting and
driving'' section of this manual.
UnderbodyThe underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control dust. It
is very important to remove these sub-
stances from the underbody, otherwise rustmay form on the floor pan, frame, fuel lines
and exhaust system. At the end of winter,
the underbody should be thoroughly flushed
with plain water, in those areas where mud
and dirt may have accumulated. See the
``Appearance and care'' section of this
manual.
Fluid leaksCheck under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks after the
vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner after use is
normal. If you should notice any leaks or if
gasoline fumes are evident, check for the
cause and have it corrected immediately.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.
MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-5
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
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-9
ZX

Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to Federal
and/or local regulations and it is properly
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 unloaded
trailer 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 possible causes of either condi-
tion.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
cBe certain your rear view mirrors conform
to all federal, state or local regulations. 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.
cAlways block the wheels on both vehicle
and trailer when parking. Parking on a
slope is not recommended; however, if
you must do so, first block the wheels
and apply the parking brake, and then
move the transmission shift selector le-
ver into the P (Park) position. If you move
the shift selector lever to the P (Park)
position before blocking the wheels and
applying the parking brake, transmission
damage could occur.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lowergear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, downshift
the transmission to a lower gear and
reduce speed to reduce chances of en-
gine overloading and/or overheating.
cIf the engine coolant rises to an ex-
tremely high temperature when the air
conditioning system is on, turn the air
conditioner off. Coolant heat can be ad-
ditionally vented by opening the win-
dows, switching the fan control dial to
high and setting the temperature control
dial to the WARM position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than
normal circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for the first 500
miles (800 km) of the vehicle's life.
cHave your vehicle serviced more often
than at intervals specified in the recom-
mended Maintenance Schedule in the
``NISSAN Service and Maintenance
Guide''.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels
will be closer to the inside of the turn than
your vehicle wheels. To compensate for
this, make a larger than normal turning
radius during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads adversely
9-18Technical and consumer information
ZX

If 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 (888) 327-
4236. If you reside in Hawaii, please call
(808) 836-0888. You may also write to:
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transporta-
tion, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also
obtain other information 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).2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88
km/h), then quickly release the accelera-
tor pedal completely and keep it released
for at least 6 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for
a moment, then drive the vehicle at a
speed of 53 to 60 MPH (86 to 96 km/h)
for at least 5 minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle.
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 mph (55
km/h) and maintain the speed for 20
seconds.
6. Repeat steps four through five at least
three times.
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 mph (88
km/h) and maintain the speed for at least
3 minutes.
8. Stop the vehicle (shift lever in the ``P'' or
``N'' position).
9. Rev the engine up between 2,500 and
3,500 rpm and hold it for 3 consecutive
minutes, then release the accelerator
pedal completely.
10. Wait 5 seconds at idle.
11. Rev the engine up between 2,000 and
REPORTING SAFETY
DEFECTS (US only)READINESS FOR
INSPECTION/MAINTENANCE
(I/M) TEST (US only)
Technical and consumer information9-21
ZX

Heater and air conditioner controls
(automatic) ............................................ 4-11
Heater and air conditioner controls
(manual).................................................. 4-3
Rear seat air conditioner ...................... 4-14
Coolant
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 8-9
Checking engine coolant level ............... 8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 2-6
Cornering light ........................................... 2-19
Corrosion protection .................................... 7-4
Cruise control............................................. 5-10
Cup holders ............................................... 2-25
D
Daytime running light system (Canada
only) ........................................................... 2-17
Defogger switch
Rear window defogger switch .............. 2-16
Dimensions and weights.............................. 9-9
Door locks .................................................... 3-2
Door open warning light .............................. 2-9
Drive belts .................................................. 8-16
Driving
Cold weather driving............................. 5-16
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 5-6
Precautions when starting and driving ... 5-2E
Economy - fuel........................................... 5-12
Emission control information label............. 9-11
Emission control system warranty ............. 9-20
Engine
Before starting the engine ...................... 5-5
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 8-9
Changing engine oil.............................. 8-10
Changing engine oil filter...................... 8-11
Checking engine coolant level ............... 8-8
Checking engine oil level ....................... 8-9
Engine compartment check locations .... 8-7
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 2-6
Engine cooling system ........................... 8-8
Engine oil ................................................ 8-9
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ..................................... 9-4
Engine oil pressure warning light ........... 2-8
Engine oil viscosity ................................. 9-5
Engine serial number ........................... 9-11
Starting the engine ................................. 5-5
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ................. 5-2
F
Family entertainment system..................... 4-37
Five passenger seating ............................. 1-28
Five passenger seating with cargo room .. 1-29Flashers (See hazard warning flasher
switch) ........................................................ 2-19
Flat tire ......................................................... 6-2
Flexible seating .......................................... 1-12
Floor mat positioning ........................ 1-27, 1-30
Floor mat positioning aid ........................... 1-30
Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ...... 8-12
Brake fluid ..................................... 8-13, 9-2
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Engine coolant ........................................ 8-8
Engine oil ................................................ 8-9
Power steering fluid ...................... 8-13, 9-2
Window washer fluid ............................ 8-14
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ..................... 9-11
Fuel
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................ 9-2
Fuel economy ....................................... 5-12
Fuel filler lid and cap ............................ 3-10
Fuel filler lid lock opener lever ............. 3-10
Fuel gauge.............................................. 2-6
Fuel octane rating................................... 9-3
Fuel recommendation ............................. 9-2
Inertia fuel shut-off switch .................... 6-11
Fuses ......................................................... 8-22
10-2
ZX

G
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge ........ 2-6
Fuel gauge.............................................. 2-6
Odometer ................................................ 2-5
Speedometer .......................................... 2-5
Tachometer............................................. 2-5
General maintenance ........................... 8-2, 8-3
Glove box................................................... 2-26
H
Hazard warning flasher switch .................. 2-19
Head restraints .......................................... 1-10
Headlight control switch............................. 2-16
Headlights .................................................. 8-25
Heated seats.............................................. 2-20
Heater
Heater and air conditioner (automatic)
(if so equipped)..................................... 4-11
Heater and air conditioner (manual)....... 4-3
Rear seat air conditioner ...................... 4-14
Homelink Transceiver
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver
(If so equipped) .................................... 2-35
Hood release ............................................... 3-9
Horn ........................................................... 2-20I
Ignition switch .............................................. 5-4
Important vehicle information label............ 9-11
Increasing fuel economy............................ 5-12
Indicator lights and chimes (See warning/
indicator lights and audible reminders) ....... 2-8
Inertia fuel shut-off switch.......................... 6-11
Instrument brightness control .................... 2-17
Integrated child safety seats...................... 1-73
Interior lights .............................................. 2-34
J
Jump starting ...................................... 6-8, 8-15
K
Key ............................................................... 3-2
Keyless entry system (See remote keyless
entry system) ............................................... 3-6
L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label ......... 9-12
Emission control information label........ 9-11
Engine serial number ........................... 9-11
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ................ 9-11
Vehicle identification number (VIN) ...... 9-10Vehicle identification number (VIN)
plate ...................................................... 9-10
Warning labels (for SRS) ..................... 1-37
License plate
Installing the license plate .................... 9-12
Light
Air bag warning light............................. 1-37
Brake light (See stop light) ................... 8-27
Bulb check/instrument panel .................. 2-8
Bulb replacement.................................. 8-27
Cornering light ...................................... 2-19
Headlight control switch ....................... 2-16
Headlights ............................................. 8-25
Interior lights ......................................... 2-34
Light bulbs ............................................ 8-25
Luggage compartment lights ................ 2-34
Spotlights (See map light) .................... 2-35
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ................................................ 2-8
Lock
Child safety sliding door lock ................. 3-5
Door locks............................................... 3-2
Fuel filler lid lock opener lever ............. 3-10
Power door locks ............................ 3-2, 3-4
Rear door lock ...................................... 3-10
Luggage compartment lights ..................... 2-34
Luggage rack ............................................. 2-30
Luggage (See vehicle loading
information) ................................................ 9-13
10-3
ZX