2003 NISSAN 350Z light

8 Maintenance and do-it-yourselfMaintenance requirements .................................................. 8-2
General maintenance ............................................................ 8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items ................ 8-2
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 ............................................................................... 8-10
Checking engine oil level ............................................ 8-10
Changing engine oil and filter .................................... 8-10
Automatic transmission fluid ............................................. 8-12
Power steering fluid ............................................................ 8-13
Brake and clutch fluid ........................................................ 8-13
Brake fluid ....................................................................... 8-13
Clutch fluid ...................................................................... 8-14
Window washer fluid.......................................................... 8-14
Battery .................................................................................... 8-15
Jump starting .................................................................. 8-16
Drive belts ............................................................................. 8-17
Spark plugs ........................................................................... 8-17Replacing spark plugs.................................................. 8-17
Air cleaner ............................................................................. 8-18
Windshield wiper blades ................................................... 8-19
Cleaning ........................................................................... 8-19
Replacing ......................................................................... 8-20
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 ....................................................................... 8-26
Exterior and interior lights............................................ 8-27
Wheels and tires ................................................................. 8-29
Tire pressure ................................................................... 8-29
Types of tires .................................................................. 8-30
Tire chains ....................................................................... 8-31
Changing wheels and tires ......................................... 8-31
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Tire rotation*:Tires cannot be rotated in this
vehicle.
Wheel alignment and balance:If the vehicle
pulls 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 wheel align-
ment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at normal
highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires, refer to
ªImportant Tire Safety Informationº (US) or ªTire
Safety Informationº (Canada) in the Warranty
Information booklet.
Windshield:Clean the windshield on a regular
basis. Check the windshield at least every six
months for cracks or other damage. Have a
damaged windshield repaired by a qualified re-
pair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*:Check for cracks
or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Doors and engine hood:Check that all doors
and the engine hood operate smoothly as well as
the trunk lid or back hatch. Also make sure that
all latches lock securely. Lubricate if necessary.
Make sure that 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 that the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights, and other lights are all
operating properly and installed securely. Also
check headlight aim.
Inside the vehicleThe maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing periodic maintenance, cleaning the
vehicle, etc.
Warning lights and chimes:Make sure that all
warning lights and chimes are operating prop-
erly.
Windshield wiper and washer*:Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and that
the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defroster:Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and
in good quantity when operating the heater or air
conditioner.
Steering wheel:Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free play,
hard steering or strange noises.
Seats:Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to ensurethey operate smoothly and that all latches lock
securely in every position. Check that the head
restraints move up and down smoothly and that
the locks (if equipped) hold securely in all
latched positions.
Seat belts:Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjusters
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt web-
bing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Accelerator pedal:Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal does
not catch or require uneven effort. Keep the floor
mat away from the pedal.
Clutch pedal*:Make sure the pedal operates
smoothly and check that it has the proper free
play.
Brakes:Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Brake pedal and booster*:Check the pedal
for smooth operation and make sure it has the
proper distance under it when depressed fully.
Check the brake booster function. Be sure to
keep floor mat away from the pedal.
Parking brake*:Check that the lever has the
proper travel and make sure that the vehicle is
held securely on a fairly steep hill when only the
parking brake is applied.
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IA suitable adapter should be attached to the
jack stand saddle.
5. Remove the plastic engine undercover.
a. Remove the small plastic clip at the center
point of the undercover.
b. Then remove the other bolts that hold the
undercover in place.
CAUTION
Make sure the correct lifting and sup-
port points are used to avoid vehicle
damage.
Engine oil and filter1. Place a large drain pan under the drain plug.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug with a wrench and
completely drain the oil.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
IWaste oil must be disposed of properly.
ICheck your local regulations.4. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter wrench.
Remove the oil filter by turning it by hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface
with a clean rag.
Be sure to remove any old rubber gas-
ket remaining on the mounting surface
of the engine.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.
7. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a slight
resistance is felt, then tighten additionally
more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:
11 to 15 ft-lb
(14.7 to 20.5 N×m)
8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a new
washer. Securely tighten the drain plug with a
wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N×m)
Do not use excessive force.
9. Refill engine with recommended oil and in-
stall the cap securely.
SDI1520
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Check the fluid level in the reservoir tank.
The fluid level should be checked using the HOT
range at fluid temperatures of 122 - 176ÉF (50 -
80ÉC) or using the COLD range at fluid tem-
peratures of 32 - 86ÉF (0 - 30ÉC).
CAUTION
IDo not overfill.
IUse Genuine Nissan PSF II or equiva-
lent.
BRAKE FLUIDCheck the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid is
below the MIN line or the brake warning light
comes on, addDOT 3fluid up to the MAX line.
If fluid must be added frequently, the system
should be thoroughly checked by your NISSAN
dealer.
WARNING
Use only new fluid. Old, inferior, or con-
taminated fluid may damage the brakesystem. Do not add synthetic brake
fluid. The use of improper fluids can
damage the brake system and affect the
vehicle's stopping ability.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid
is spilled, wash with water.
SDI1443
SDI0847
POWER STEERING FLUID BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID
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CLUTCH FLUIDCheck the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid
level is below the MIN. line, add Genuine Nissan
Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3 fluid up to the
MAX. line.
If fluid is added frequently, the system should be
thoroughly checked by your NISSAN dealer.
WARNING
Use only new fluid from a sealed con-
tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the clutch system.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid
is spilled, wash the surface with water.
Open the cap and add fluid when the low
washer fluid warning light comes on. Add a
washer solvent to the water for better cleaning.
In the winter season, add a windshield washer
anti-freeze. Follow the manufacturer's instruc-
tions for the mixture ratio.
SDI1478
SDI1444
WINDOW WASHER FLUID
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CHECKING PARKING BRAKEFrom the released position, pull the parking
brake lever up slowly and firmly. If the number of
clicks is out of the range listed above, see your
NISSAN dealer.
CHECKING BRAKE PEDALWith the engine running, check the distance
between the upper surface of the pedal and the
metal floor. If it is out of the range shown above,
see your NISSAN dealer.Self-adjusting brakesYour vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The disc-type brakes self-adjust every time the
brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
See your NISSAN dealer and have it
checked if the brake pedal height does
not return to normal.Brake pad wear indicatorsThe disc brake pads on your vehicle have au-
dible wear indicators. When a brake pad re-
quires replacement, it will make 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, occa-
sional brake squeak, squeal or other noise may
be heard. Occasional brake noise during light to
moderate stops is normal and does not affect
the function or performance of the brake system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For additional information, see the
appropriate maintenance log shown in the Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide.
SDI1447
DI1020MI
PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE
PEDAL
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BRAKE BOOSTERCheck the brake booster function as follows:
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 without de-
pressing the brake pedal, then turn it off.
Depress the brake pedal several times. The
pedal travel distance will decrease gradually
with each depression as the vacuum is re-
leased from the booster.
If the brakes do not operate properly, see your
NISSAN dealer.
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of higher amperage
rating than that specified on the fuse
box cover. This could damage the elec-
trical system or cause a fire.
ENGINE COMPARTMENTIf any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition key and headlight switch
are OFF.
2. Open the engine hood and remove the cover
on the battery and the fuse/fusible link holder.
3. Remove the fuse/fusible link holder cover.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
5. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new fuse.
6. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical
SDI1479
FUSES
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system checked and repaired by your
NISSAN dealer.
Fusible linksIf any electrical equipment does not operate and
fuses are in good condition, check the fusible
links. If any of these fusible links are melted,
replace only with genuine NISSAN parts.
PASSENGER COMPARTMENTIf any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition key and the headlight
switch are OFF.
2. Open the fuse box lid.
3. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
4. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new fuse.
5. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical
system checked and repaired by your
NISSAN dealer.
SDI1393
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