2004 NISSAN 350Z soft top

In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
In the following cases, please wash your vehicle
as soon as possible to protect the paint surface.

After a rainfall to prevent possible damage
from acid rain

After driving on coastal roads

When contaminants such as soot, bird drop-
pings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs get on
the paint surface

When dust or mud builds up on the surface
Whenever possible, store or park your vehicle
inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body
cover.WASHINGThoroughly rinse surface dirt off the vehicle with
a wet sponge and plenty of clean water. Clean
the vehicle thoroughly using a mild soap such as
Nissan Car Wash, or a general purpose dish-
washing liquid mixed with clean, lukewarm
(never hot) water.
CAUTION

Do not use strong household soap,
strong chemical detergents, gasoline
or solvents.

Do not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight or while the vehicle body is
hot, as the surface may become
water-spotted.

Avoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths, such as washing mitts. Care
must be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so that the paint surface is
not scratched or damaged.

For Roadster models, observe the
following:
•Do not use an automatic car wash
or a high pressure car wash. The
soft top may be damaged.
•Avoid applying direct water pres-
sure, such as high pressured water
from household hoses, on the lin-
ing of the soft top and vehiclebody. Avoid applying continuous wa-
ter on the parts around the soft top
and the windows. These may cause
water to leak into the inside of your
vehicle.
Rinse the vehicle again with plenty of clean
water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable to
the effects of road salt. Therefore, these areas
must be regularly cleaned. Make sure that the
drain holes in the lower edge of the door are
open. Spray water under the body and in the
wheel wells to loosen the dirt and wash away
road salt.
Avoid leaving water spots on the paint surface
by using a damp chamois to dry the vehicle.
Soft top care and cleaning (Roadster
models)Proper care and handling should be observed to
maintain a good appearance of the soft top.
Improper care may cause the top cloth’s surface
to stiffen, stain, or mat. Follow the instructions
shown in this section.
It is not necessary to wash the soft top every
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time you wash the vehicle body, but clean the
top regularly before it becomes quite dirty. Leav-
ing the soft top dirty or soiled for a long period
will cause deterioration to the quality of the top
material.
Remove dust or dirt on the soft top with a soft
brush or sponge, then rinse it with plenty of
clean water. When the top is quite dirty, wash
using a mild detergent, such as a general
cleaner especially made for a cloth top or a
general purpose dish-washing liquid, mixed with
clean, lukewarm (never hot) water. Rinse the top
again with plenty of clean water to remove all
traces of soap.
CAUTION

Do not use strong household soap,
strong chemical detergents, gaso-
line, solvents or any other similar
material.

If glass cleaner gets on the soft top,
immediately wash it off with clean
water.

Do not apply direct water pressure,
such as high pressured water fromhousehold hoses, on the lining of the
soft top and vehicle body, as this may
cause water to leak into the inside of
your vehicle.
After cleaning, always be sure the top and its
storage are completelydrybefore opening the
top. Opening the top while it is wet or damp may
cause interior water damage, water stains or
mildew on the top.
WAXINGRegular waxing protects the paint surface and
helps retain new vehicle appearance. After wax-
ing, polishing is recommended to remove
built-up residue and to avoid a weathered ap-
pearance.
If you wish to wax your vehicle, only use a wax
specified for use over clear coats, such as
Nissan Liquid or Spray Wax. Your NISSAN
dealer can assist you in choosing the proper
product.

Wax your vehicle only after a thorough wash-
ing. Follow the instructions supplied with the
wax.

Do not use a wax containing any abrasives,
cutting compounds or cleaners that maydamage the vehicle finish.

If the surface does not polish easily, use a
road tar remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint
finish may dull the finish or leave swirl
marks.
REMOVING SPOTSRemove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, insects,
and tree sap as quickly as possible from the
surface of the paint to avoid lasting damage or
staining. Special cleaning products are available
at your NISSAN dealer or any automotive acces-
sory store.UNDERBODYIn areas where road salt is used in winter, the
underbody must be cleaned regularly. This will
prevent dirt and salt from building up and caus-
ing underbody and suspension corrosion. Be-
fore the winter period and again in the spring, the
underseal must be checked and, if necessary,
re-treated.GLASSUse glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust film
from the glass surfaces. It is normal for glass to
become coated with a film after the vehicle is
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parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner and a soft
cloth will easily remove this film.
CAUTION

When cleaning the inside of the win-
dow, do not use sharp-edged tools,
abrasive cleaners or chlorine based
disinfectant cleaners. They could
damage the electrical conductors or
rear window defroster elements.

If glass cleaner gets on the soft top,
immediately wash it off with clean
water. (Roadster models)ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELSWash regularly, especially during winter months
in areas where road salt is used. Salt could
discolor the wheel if not removed.CHROME PARTSClean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.Occasionally remove loose dust from the interior
trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum
cleaner or soft brush. Wipe the vinyl and leather
surfaces with a clean, soft cloth dampened in
mild soap solution, then wipe clean with a dry
soft cloth. Before using any fabric protector,
read the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Some fabric protectors contain chemicals that
may stain or bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water, to clean
the meter and gauge lens.
CAUTION

Never use gasoline, thinner, or any
similar material.

The leather seats should be regularly
coated with a leather wax like saddle
soap. Never use car wax.

Never use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.

Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on
meter or gauge lens covers. It may
damage the lens cover.
FLOOR MATSThe use of genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and make it
easier to clean the interior.No matter what
mats are used, be sure they are fitted for
your vehicle and are properly positioned in
the footwell to prevent interference with
pedal operation.Mats should be maintained
with regular cleaning and replaced if they be-
come excessively worn.
CLEANING INTERIOR
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Appearance and care


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S
Safety
Child seat belts ................................................... 1-25
Reporting safety defects (US only)................ 9-22
Towing safety....................................................... 9-17
Seat
Belt warning light................................................ 1-23
Lever, Tilting passenger’s seat .......................... 1-7
Seat belt(s)
Child safety .......................................................... 1-25
Infants and small children ................................. 1-25
Injured persons.................................................... 1-26
Larger children .................................................... 1-26
Pre-tensioner seat belt system ....................... 1-19
Precautions on seat belt usage ...................... 1-23
Pregnant women ................................................. 1-26
Seat belt cleaning ................................................. 7-5
Seat belt extenders ............................................ 1-28
Seat belt maintenance ...................................... 1-29
Seat belts ............................................................. 1-23
Three-point type.................................................. 1-26
Seat(s)
Heated seats........................................................ 2-26
Seats ........................................................................ 1-2
Ventilated net seats .............................................. 1-6
Secondary rear hatch release ................................ 3-10
Secondary trunk lid release .................................... 3-13
Security system, Vehicle security system ........... 2-17
Security systems (Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer
System), Engine start ............................................... 2-18
Servicing air conditioner ................................... 4-3, 4-6
Shift lock release ....................................................... 5-12
ShiftingAutomatic transmission .............................. 5-6, 5-9
Manual transmission ................................. 5-7, 5-12
Side air bag system (See supplemental side air bag
and curtain air bag system) .................................... 1-17
Soft top
Soft top care and cleaning ................................. 7-2
Soft top indicator light ........................... 2-16, 3-22
Soft top operation .............................................. 3-18
Care of the soft top and the vehicle body... 3-27
If the top does not open or close
electrically ............................................................. 3-24
Spark plugs................................................................. 8-17
Speed, Average speed............................................... 2-9
Speed, Speed indicator ............................................. 2-8
Speedometer ................................................................ 2-4
Starting
Before starting the engine .................................. 5-8
Jump starting .......................................................... 6-7
Precautions when starting and driving ............ 5-2
Push starting .......................................................... 6-9
Starting the engine ............................................... 5-8
Steering
Power steering fluid ........................................... 8-13
Power steering system ...................................... 5-19
Tilting steering wheel......................................... 3-15
Stopwatch ..................................................................... 2-9
Storage ........................................................................ 2-29
Stowing golf bags ..................................................... 2-34
Sun visor, Extension ................................................. 3-16
Sunglasses holder .................................................... 2-30
Supplemental air bag warning labels................... 1-20
Supplemental air bag warning light .......... 1-21, 2-14
Supplemental restraint system............................... 1-10Precautions on supplemental restraint
system.................................................................... 1-10
Supplemental side and curtain air bag
system .......................................................................... 1-17
Switch
Hazard warning flasher switch ........................ 2-25
Headlight switch ................................................. 2-23
Ignition switch ........................................................ 5-6
Ignition switch automatic transmission
models ............................................................ 5-6, 5-9
Ignition switch manual transmission
models .......................................................... 5-7, 5-12
Power door lock switch....................................... 3-4
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch..................................................................... 2-21
Traction control system (TCS) off switch .... 2-27
Turn signal switch .............................................. 2-24
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch ... 2-27
T
Tachometer.................................................................... 2-5
Temperature gauge, Engine coolant temperature
gauge .............................................................................. 2-5
Theft (Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System), Engine
start ............................................................................... 2-18
Three way catalyst ....................................................... 5-3
Tilting passenger’s seat ............................................. 1-7
Tilting steering wheel ............................................... 3-15
Tire
Flat tire ..................................................................... 6-2
Low tire pressure warning system........... 5-3, 6-2
Pressure indicator............................................... 2-10
Pressure, Low tire pressure warning light ... 2-13


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Uniform tire quality grading .............................. 9-21
Tires
Spare tire .............................................................. 8-36
Tire chains ............................................................ 8-34
Tire pressure ........................................................ 8-30
Tire rotation .......................................................... 8-34
Types of tires ....................................................... 8-33
Wheel/tire size ....................................................... 9-9
Wheels and tires ................................................ 8-30
Top
If the top does not open or close
electrically ............................................................. 3-24
Soft top operation .............................................. 3-18
Top latch lever ..................................................... 3-21
Top tether strap child restraint........................ 1-36
Towing
Tow truck towing ................................................ 6-10
Towing a trailer.................................................... 9-16
Towing load/specification chart ...................... 9-16
Towing safety....................................................... 9-17
Traction control system (TCS)............................... 5-22
Traction control system (TCS) off switch ........... 2-27
Trailer towing .............................................................. 9-16
Transceiver, HomeLink
Universal
Transceiver .................................................................. 2-39
Transmission
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ................ 8-12
Driving with automatic transmission........ 5-6, 5-9
Driving with manual transmission .......... 5-7, 5-12
Transmission selector lever lock release ...... 5-12
Transmitter (See remote keyless entry system) ... 3-4
Traveling or registering your vehicle in another
country ......................................................................... 9-10
Trip computer ............................................................... 2-8Trip odometer ............................................................... 2-9
Trunk
Interior trunk lid release .................................... 3-12
Secondary trunk lid release ............................. 3-13
Turn signal switch ..................................................... 2-24
U
Underbody cleaning .................................................... 7-3
Uniform tire quality grading .................................... 9-21
Up-shift indicator (M/T models) ............................ 5-13
Up-shift indicator setting (rpm) (M/T models) ... 2-10
V
Vanity mirror light ...................................................... 2-38
Vehicle
Dimensions and weights ..................................... 9-9
Identification number (VIN)............................... 9-10
Loading information............................................ 9-14
Recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) ................. 6-12
Security system ................................................... 2-17
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch ... 2-27
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system ........ 5-22
Ventilated net seats..................................................... 1-6
Ventilators ...................................................................... 4-2
Volt meter ...................................................................... 2-7
W
Warning labels, Air bag warning labels .............. 1-20
Warning light
Air bag warning light .............................. 1-21, 2-14Anti-lock brake warning light ........................... 2-11
Brake warning light ............................................ 2-12
Door open warning light ................................... 2-12
Low tire pressure warning light ...................... 2-13
Warning lights ............................................................ 2-11
Warning, Hazard warning flasher switch ............ 2-25
Warning, Low tire pressure warning
system.................................................................... 5-3, 6-2
Warning, Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ..................................................................... 2-11
Warranty, Emission control system warranty ..... 9-22
Washer switch
Rear window wiper and washer switch........ 2-21
Windshield wiper and washer switch ........... 2-20
Washing ......................................................................... 7-2
Waxing............................................................................ 7-3
Weights (See dimensions and weights) ............... 9-9
Wheel/tire size.............................................................. 9-9
Wheels and tires ....................................................... 8-30
Cleaning aluminum alloy wheels ....................... 7-4
Window washer fluid ............................................... 8-14
Window(s)
Automatic adjusting function ........................... 2-37
Cleaning................................................................... 7-3
Power windows................................................... 2-35
Windshield wiper and washer switch .................. 2-20
Wiper
Rear window wiper and washer switch........ 2-21
Windshield wiper and washer switch ........... 2-20
Wiper blades ....................................................... 8-19
X
Xenon headlights....................................................... 2-22


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QUICK REFERENCE1. Engine oil (P.8-10)
2. Brake fluid (P.8-13)
3. Meters and gauges (P.2-3)
4. Fuel filler lid release (P.3-13)
5. Hood release (P.3-9)
6. Seat belt (P.1-23)
7. Door lock/key (P.3-2)
8. Rear hatch release (Coupe) (P.3-10) or
Trunk lid release (Roadster) (P.3-11)
9. Engine coolant (P.8-8)
10. Windshield washer fluid (P.8-14)
11. Power steering fluid (P.8-13)
12. Battery (P.8-15)
13. Audio system (P.4-6)/
Heater and air conditioner (P.4-3)
14. Soft top (Roadster models) (P.3-18)
15. Fuel (P.3-13, P.9-3)
16. Spare tire (P.6-3, P.8-36)
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