
cAccelerate slowly and smoothly. Main-
tain cruising speeds with a constant ac-
celerator position.
cDrive at moderate speeds on the high-
way. Driving at high speed lowers fuel
economy.
cAvoid unnecessary stopping and brak-
ing. Maintain a safe distance behind
other vehicles.
cUse a proper gear range which suits road
conditions.
cAvoid unnecessary engine idling.cKeep your engine tuned up.
cFollow the recommended periodic main-
tenance schedule.
cKeep the tires inflated at the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and wastes fuel.
cKeep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment causes not only tire
wear but also lower fuel economy.
cAir conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only
when necessary.
cWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is
more economical to use the air condi-
tioner and leave the windows closed to
reduce drag.
SD1001M
INCREASING FUEL
ECONOMY
5-12Starting and driving
ZX

on slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies the
brake fluid pressure to prevent each wheel
from locking and sliding. By preventing wheel
lockup, the system helps the driver maintain
steering control and helps to minimize swerv-
ing and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Normal operation
The anti-lock brake system does not operate
at speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h).
(The speeds vary according to road condi-
tions.) When the anti-lock brake system
senses one or more wheels are close to
locking up, the actuator (under the hood)
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres-
sure (like pumping the brakes very quickly).
While the actuator is working, you may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise
or vibration from the actuator under the hood.
This is normal and indicates the anti-lockbrake system is working properly. However,
the pulsation may indicate road conditions are
hazardous and extra care is required while
driving.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic
solenoids controlled by a computer.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time
you start the engine and move the ve-
hicle at a low speed in forward or reverse.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a
``clunk'' noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of any malfunction. If the com-
puter senses any malfunction, it switches
the anti-lock brake system OFF and turns
on the ABS brake warning light in the dash-
board. The brake system then operates
normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self-test, or
while driving, take the vehicle to an authorized
NISSAN dealer for repair.
WARNING
The anti-lock brake system is a
sophisticated device, but it cannot pre-
vent accidents resulting from careless
or dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces, but re-
member that the stopping distance on
slippery surfaces will be longer than on
normal surfaces, even with the anti-
lock brake system. Stopping distances
may also be longer on rough, gravel or
snow covered roads, or if you are using
tire chains. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from the vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the responsibility for safety
of self and others rests in the hands of
the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may
also affect braking effectiveness.
cWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
Starting and driving
5-15
ZX

Installing the spare tire
The spare tire is designed for emergency
use. See specific instructions under the
heading ``Wheels and tires'' in the ``Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself'' section of
this manual.
1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface
between the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the wheel on and tighten
the lug nuts finger tight.
3. With the lug wrench, tighten the lug nuts
alternately and evenly until they are tight.4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire
touches the ground. Then, with the lug
wrench, tighten the lug nuts securely in
the sequence as illustrated. Lower the
vehicle completely.
WARNING
cIncorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
cDo not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the
nuts to become loose.
cRetighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.)
As soon as possible, tighten the lug nuts
to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.
Lug nut tightening torque:
80 ft-lb (108 Nzm)
Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pres-
sure.COLD pressure:
After the vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more or driven less than 1
mile (1.6 km).
COLD tire pressures are shown on the
tire placard affixed to the inside of the
glove box.
CE1003
In case of emergency6-7
ZX

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

During the normal day-to-day operation of
the vehicle, general maintenance should be
performed regularly as prescribed in this
section. If you detect any unusual sounds,
vibrations or smells, be sure to check for the
cause or have an authorized NISSAN
dealer do it promptly. In addition, you should
notify an authorized NISSAN dealer if you
think repairs are required.
When performing any checks or mainte-
nance work, closely observe the ``Mainte-
nance precautions'' later in this section.
EXPLANATION OF GENERAL
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with an ``*'' can be found later in
this section.
Outside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be performed from time to time, unless
otherwise specified.
Tires*Check the pressure with a gauge at
least once a month and always prior to long
distance trips, including the spare, and ad-
just to the specified pressure if necessary.Check carefully for damage, cuts or exces-
sive wear.
Wheel nuts*When checking the tires,
make sure no wheel nuts are missing, and
check for any loose wheel nuts. Tighten if
necessary.
Tire rotation*Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km).
Wheel alignment and balanceIf the ve-
hicle should pull to either side while driving
on a straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may be
a need for a wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at
normal highway speeds, wheel balancing
may be needed.
cFor additional information regarding tires,
refer to ``Important Tire Safety Informa-
tion'' in the Warranty Information Booklet
(US) or ``Tire Safety Information'' in the
Warranty and Roadside Assistance Infor-
mation booklet (Canada).
WindshieldClean the windshield on a
regular basis. Check the windshield at least
every six months for cracks or other dam-
age. Have a damaged windshield repairedby a qualified repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*Check for
cracks or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Doors and hoodCheck that all doors and
the hood operate properly. Also ensure that
all latches lock securely. Lubricate hinges,
latches, rollers and links if necessary. Make
sure the secondary latch keeps the hood
from opening when the primary latch is
released.
When driving in areas using road salt or
other corrosive materials, check lubrication
frequently.
Lights*Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure the headlights, stop lights,
tail lights, turn signal lights, and other lights
are all operating properly and installed se-
curely. Also check headlight aim.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked on a regular basis, such as
when performing periodic maintenance,
cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Additional information on the following
items with an ``*'' is found later in this
section.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
ZX

TIRE PRESSURE
If you have a flat tire, see the ``In case of
emergency'' section of this manual.
Maximum inflation pressure
Do not exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sure shown on the side wall of the tire.
Tire inflation pressure
Check the tire pressure (including the
spare) at least once a month and always
prior to long distance trips. Incorrect tire
pressure may adversely affect tire life and
vehicle handling. Tire pressure should be
ADI1095
DI1033M
WHEELS AND TIRES
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-31
ZX

checked when tires are COLD. Tires are
considered COLD after the vehicle has
been parked for three or more hours, or
driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). COLD tire
pressures are shown on the tire placard
affixed to the inside of the glove box.
WARNING
cImproperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident.
cThe vehicle capacity weight is indi-
cated on the tire placard. Do not load
your vehicle beyond this capacity.
Overloading your vehicle may result
in reduced tire life, unsafe operating
conditions due to premature tire fail-
ure, or unfavorable handling charac-
teristics and could also lead to a
serious accident. Loading beyond
the specified capacity may also re-
sult in failure of other vehicle com-
ponents.
c
Before taking a long trip, or whenever
you have loaded your vehicle heavily,
use a tire pressure gauge to ensure
that the tire pressures are at the
specified level.cDo not drive your vehicle over 85
MPH (140 km/h) unless it is equipped
with high speed rated tires. Driving
faster than 85 MPH (140 km/h) may
result in tire failure, loss of control
and possible injury.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance Information
booklet (Canada).
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e., summer, all season or snow) and
construction. An authorized NISSAN
dealer may be able to help you with
information about tire type, size, speed
rating and availability. Replacement
tires may have a lower speed rating
than the factory equipped tires, andmay not match the potential maximum
vehicle speed. Never exceed the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tire.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance Information
booklet (Canada).
All season tires
NISSAN specifies All Season tires to pro-
vide good performance all year, including
snowy and icy road conditions. All Season
Tires are identified by ``ALL SEASON''
and/or ``M&S'' on the tire sidewall. Snow
tires have better snow traction than All
Season tires and may be more appropriate
in some areas.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating
to the original equipment tires. If you do not,
it can adversely affect the safety and han-
dling of your vehicle.
8-32Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX

WARNING
cAfter rotating the tires, check and
adjust the tire pressure.
cRetighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
cDo not include the spare tire in the
tire rotation.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance Information
booklet (Canada).
Tire wear and damage
WARNING
cTires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging,
or objects caught in the tread. If
excessive wear, cracks, bulging, or
deep cuts are found, the tire(s)
should be replaced.
cThe original tires have a built-in
tread wear indicator. When the wear
indicator is visible, the tire(s) should
be replaced.cImproper service of the spare tire
may result in serious personal in-
jury. If it is necessary to repair the
spare tire, contact an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ``Important Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet (US) or ``Tire Safety
Information'' in the Warranty and
Roadside Assistance Information
booklet (Canada).
Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
tread design, speed rating and load carrying
capacity as originally equipped. Recom-
mended types and sizes are shown in
``Wheels and tires'' in the ``Technical and
consumer information'' section of this manual.
WARNING
cThe use of tires other than those
recommended, or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construc-
tion (bias, bias-belted or radial), or
tread patterns can adversely affect
the ride, braking, handling, ground
DI1035M
8-34Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZX