8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements .....................................8-2
General maintenance .............................................8-3
Explanation of general maintenance
items ..................................................................8-3
Maintenance precautions .......................................8-5
Engine compartment check locations ....................8-7
Engine cooling system ...........................................8-8
Checking engine coolant level ..........................8-8
Changing engine coolant ..................................8-9
Engine oil ...............................................................8-9
Checking engine oil level ..................................8-9
Changing engine oil ........................................8-10
Changing engine oil filter.................................8-11
Automatic transmission fluid ................................8-12
Temperature conditions for checking ..............8-12
Power steering fluid..............................................8-13
Brake fluid ............................................................8-13
Window washer fluid ............................................8-14
Battery ..................................................................8-14
Jump starting ...................................................8-15
Drive belts ............................................................8-16
Spark plugs ..........................................................8-16Replacing spark plugs .....................................8-16
Air cleaner ............................................................8-17
Windshield wiper blades ......................................8-19
Cleaning ..........................................................8-19
Replacing .........................................................8-19
Parking brake and brake pedal ............................8-21
Checking parking brake...................................8-21
Checking brake pedal .....................................8-21
Brake booster ..................................................8-22
Fuses ....................................................................8-22
Engine compartment .......................................8-22
Passenger compartment .................................8-23
Keyfob battery replacement .................................8-24
Lights ....................................................................8-25
Headlights ........................................................8-25
Fog lights .........................................................8-26
Exterior and interior lights ...............................8-27
Wheels and tires ..................................................8-31
Tire pressure ...................................................8-31
Types of tires ...................................................8-32
Tire chains .......................................................8-33
Changing tires and wheels ..............................8-33
ZX
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
Replace the battery as follows:
1. Open the lid using a coin.
2. Replace the battery with a new one.
Insert the batteries as illustrated above.
Recommended battery: Panasonic
CR2025, 3V or equivalent.
3. Close the lid securely.
4. Press the
button, then thebutton
two or three times to check the keyfob
operation.
If the batteries are removed for any reason
other than replacement, perform step 4.
cAn improperly disposed battery can
hurt the environment. Always conform
to local regulations for battery disposal.
cThe keyfob is water-resistant; how-
ever, if it does get wet, immediately
wipe completely dry.
cThe operational range of the keyfob
extends to approximately 30 ft (10 m)
from the vehicle. This range may vary
with conditions.
FCC Notice:
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the manufacturer for com-
pliance could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules and RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not
cause harmful interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.APD1087
KEYFOB BATTERY
REPLACEMENT
8-24Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX
10 Index
A
Accident
Inertia fuel shut-off switch .................... 6-11
After an accident........................................ 6-11
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) ...................................................... 1-31
Air bag warning light .................................. 1-37
Air cleaner housing filter ............................ 8-17
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation ........................ 4-5
Air conditioner service .......................... 4-15
Air conditioner specification label ......... 9-12
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubrication recommendations.................. 9-6
Heater and air conditioner (automatic)
(if so equipped)..................................... 4-11
Heater and air conditioner (manual)....... 4-3
Rear seat air conditioner ...................... 4-14
Air flow charts .............................................. 4-7
Alarm system (See vehicle security
system) ...................................................... 2-12
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).................... 5-14
Anti-lock brake warning light ..................... 2-10
Armrests..................................................... 1-11
Ashtray (See cigarette lighter and
ashtray) ...................................................... 2-23Audio system
Compact disc (CD) player ........... 4-30, 4-32
FM-AM radio with cassette player ........ 4-20
FM-AM radio with cassette player and
compact disc (CD) player ..................... 4-26
Autolamp switch......................................... 2-18
Automatic
Automatic power window switch .......... 2-31
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ...... 8-12
Driving with automatic transmission ....... 5-6
Transmission selector lever lock
release .................................................... 5-7
B
Battery........................................................ 8-14
Battery replacement (See remote keyless
entry system) ............................................... 3-8
Before starting the engine ........................... 5-5
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .............. 5-14
Brake booster ....................................... 8-22
Brake fluid ..................................... 8-13, 9-2
Brake light (See stop light) ................... 8-27
Brake pedal .......................................... 8-21
Brake system ........................................ 5-14
Brake warning light ................................. 2-9
Brake wear indicators ........................... 2-12Parking brake check ............................. 8-21
Parking brake operation ......................... 5-9
Self-adjusting brakes ............................ 8-21
Break-in schedule ...................................... 5-11
Bulb check/instrument panel ....................... 2-8
Bulb replacement ....................................... 8-27
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants...................................................... 9-2
Car phone or CB radio .............................. 4-46
Cargo net ................................................... 2-27
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) ... 9-13
Check engine indicator light
(See malfunction indicator light) ................ 2-11
Child restraint with top tether strap ........... 1-68
Child restraints ........................................... 1-54
Child safety sliding door lock....................... 3-5
Cigarette lighter (accessory) and ashtray .. 2-23Cleaning exterior and interior ...................... 7-2
Clock................................................. 4-21, 4-27
Cold weather driving .................................. 5-16
Compact disc (CD) player ................ 4-30, 4-32
Controls
Audio controls (rear) ............................. 4-35
Audio controls (steering wheel) ............ 4-34
ZX