2003 NISSAN SENTRA warning

Welcome to the growing family of new NISSAN
owners. This vehicle is delivered to you with
confidence. It was produced using the latest
techniques and strict quality control.
This manual was prepared to help you under-
stand the operation and maintenance of your
vehicle so that you may enjoy many miles (kilome-
ters) of driving pleasure. Please read through this
manual before operating your vehicle.
A separate Warranty Information Booklet
explains details about the warranties cov-
ering your vehicle. The “NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide” explains details
about maintaining and servicing your ve-
hicle. Additionally, a separate Customer
Care/Lemon Law Booklet (U.S. only) will
explain how to resolve any concerns you
may have with your vehicle, as well as
clarify your rights under your state’s lemon
law.
Your NISSAN dealership knows your vehicle
best. When you require any service or have any
questions, they will be glad to assist you with the
extensive resources available to them.Before driving your vehicle please read this Own-
er’s Manual carefully. This will ensure familiarity
with controls and maintenance requirements, as-
sisting you in the safe operation of your vehicle.
WARNING
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION RE-
MINDERS FOR SAFETY!
Follow these important driving rules to
help ensure a safe and complete trip for
you and your passengers!
cNEVER drive under the influence of al-
cohol or drugs.
cALWAYS observe posted speed limits
and never drive too fast for conditions.
cALWAYS use your seat belts and appro-
priate child restraint systems. Preteen
children should be seated in the rear
seat.
cALWAYS provide information about the
proper use of vehicle safety features to
all occupants of the vehicle.
cALWAYS review this owner’s manual for
important safety information.
MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
This vehicle should not be modified.
Modification could affect its
performance, safety or durability, and
may even violate governmental
regulations. In addition, damage or per-
formance problems resulting from
modifications may not be covered un-
der NISSAN warranties.
FOREWORD READ FIRST—THEN DRIVE SAFELY
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The inside pages of this manual contain
a minimum of 50% recycled fibers,
including 10% post-consumer fibers.

This manual includes information for all options
available on this model. Therefore, you may find
some information that does not apply to your
vehicle.
All information, specifications and illustrations in
this manual are those in effect at the time of
printing. NISSAN reserves the right to change
specifications or design without notice and with-
out obligation.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THIS MANUAL
You will see various symbols in this manual. They
are used in the following ways:
WARNING
This is used to indicate the presence of a
hazard that could cause death or serious
personal injury. To avoid or reduce the
risk, the procedures must be followed
precisely.
CAUTION
This is used to indicate the presence of a
hazard that could cause minor or moder-
ate personal injury or damage to your ve-
hicle. To avoid or reduce the risk, the pro-
cedures must be followed carefully.If you see this symbol, it means“Do not do this”
or“Do not let this happen.”
If you see a symbol similar to these in an illustra-
tion, it means the arrow points to the front of the
vehicle.
Arrows in an illustration that are similar to these
indicate movement or action.
Arrows in an illustration that are similar to these
call attention to an item in the illustration.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING
WARNING
Engine exhaust, some of its constituents,
and certain vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth de-
fects or other reproductive harm. In addi-
tion, certain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component wear
contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
© 2003 NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
GARDENA, CALIFORNIA
All rights reserved. No part of this Owner’s
Manual may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form, or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior written
permission of Nissan North America, Inc., Gar-
dena, California.
APD1005
WHEN READING THE MANUAL
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The inside pages of this manual contain
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1 Seats, restraints and supplemental air
bag systems
Seats............................................1-2
Front manual seat adjustment....................1-2
Folding rear seat...............................1-4
Head restraint adjustment.......................1-5
Supplemental restraint system......................1-6
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system........................................1-6
Supplemental air bag warning labels.............1-16
Supplemental air bag warning light..............1-17
Seat belts.......................................1-18
Precautions on seat belt usage..................1-18
Child safety...................................1-20
Pregnant women..............................1-21Injured persons................................1-21
Three-point type seat belt with retractor..........1-22
Seat belt extenders............................1-25
Seat belt maintenance.........................1-25
Child restraints...................................1-25
Precautions on child restraints..................1-25
Installation on rear seat center or outboard
positions.....................................1-27
LATCH~lower anchors and tether for children!
system..........................................1-33
Top tether strap child restraint..................1-34
Installation on front passenger seat..............1-35
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0
WARNING
cDo not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will not
be against your body. In an accident,
you could be thrown into it and receive
neck or other serious injuries. You
could also slide under the lap belt and
receive serious internal injuries.cFor the most effective protection when
the vehicle is in motion, the seat should
be upright. Always sit well back in the
seat and adjust the seat properly. See
“Precautions on Seat Belt Usage” later
in this section.
FRONT MANUAL SEAT
ADJUSTMENT
WARNING
cDo not adjust the driver’s seat while
driving so full attention may be given to
vehicle operation. The seat may move
suddenly and could cause loss of con-
trol of the vehicle.
cAfter adjustment, gently rock in the seat
to make sure it is securely locked.
ARS1152
SEATS
1-2Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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Forward and backward
Pull the lever up and hold it while you slide the
seat forward or backward to the desired position.
Release the lever to lock the seat in position.
Reclining
To recline the seatback, pull the lever up and lean
back. To bring the seatback forward, pull the lever
up and lean your body forward. Release the lever
to lock the seatback in position.
WARNING
After adjustment, gently rock in the seat to
make sure it is securely locked.
Seat lifter (if so equipped for driver’s
seat)
Turn either dial to adjust the angle and height of
the seat cushion to the desired position.
WRS0175WRS0176WRS0131
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-3
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FOLDING REAR SEAT
Interior trunk access
The trunk can be accessed from the rear seat for
loading and unloading, as shown.
s1Pull the knob in the trunk to release the rear
seatback.
s2Fold down the rear seatback.
WARNING
cNever allow anyone to ride in the cargo
area or on the rear seat when it is in the
fold-down position. Use of these areas
by passengers without proper restraints
could result in serious injury in an acci-
dent or sudden stop.
cProperly secure all cargo with ropes or
straps to help prevent it from sliding or
shifting. Do not place cargo higher than
the seatbacks. In a sudden stop or col-
lision, unsecured cargo could cause
personal injury.cWhen returning the seatbacks to the
upright position, be certain they are
completely secured. If they are not com-
pletely secured in the latched position,
passengers may be injured in an acci-
dent or sudden stop.
cClosely supervise children when they
are around cars to prevent them from
playing and becoming locked in the
trunk where they could be seriously in-
jured. Keep the car locked, with the rear
seatback and trunk lid securely latched
when not in use, and prevent children’s
access to car keys.
WRS0132
1-4Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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When using the fold down rear seatback, the rear
center seat belt retractor may lock up and prevent
folding down the seatback.
If the rear center seat belt retractor has inadvert-
ently locked up, push the seat belt webbing to-
ward the retractor as shown in the above illustra-
tion. This will unlock the seat belt retractor and
allow the rear seatback to fold down.HEAD RESTRAINT ADJUSTMENT
To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To lower,
push and hold the lock knob and push the head
restraint down.
WARNING
Head restraints should be adjusted prop-
erly as they may provide significant pro-
tection against injury in an accident. Do
not remove them. Check the adjustment
after someone else uses the seat.Adjust the head restraint so the center is level
with the center of your ears.
LRS0058WRS0133WRS0134
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems1-5
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PRECAUTIONS ON
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM
This Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) sec-
tion contains important information concerning
the driver and passenger supplemental front air
bags, supplemental side air bags and preten-
sioner seat belts.
Supplemental front impact air bag system:
This system can help cushion the impact force to
the face and chest of the driver and front passen-
ger in certain frontal collisions.
Supplemental side-impact air bag system
(if so equipped):This system can help cushion
the impact force to the chest area of the driver
and front passenger in certain side impact colli-
sions. The supplemental side air bag is designed
to inflate on the side where the vehicle is im-
pacted.
These supplemental restraint systems are de-
signed tosupplementthe crash protection pro-
vided by the driver and front passenger seat belts
and arenot a substitutefor them. Seat belts
should always be correctly worn and the driver
and front passenger seated a suitable distance
away from the steering wheel, instrument paneland front door finishers. (See “Seat belts” later in
this section for instructions and precautions on
seat belt usage.)
The supplemental air bags operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.
After turning the ignition key to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the system is operational.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM
1-6Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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