
Jacking up vehicle and removing the
damaged tire
WARNING
cNever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by the jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands.
cUse only the jack provided with your
vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use the
jack provided with your vehicle on other
vehicles. The jack is designed for lifting
only your vehicle during a tire change.cUse the correct jack-up points. Never
use any other part of the vehicle for jack
support.
cNever jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
cNever use blocks on or under the jack.
cDo not start or run the engine while
vehicle is on the jack. It may cause the
vehicle to move. This is especially true
for vehicles with limited slip
differentials.
cDo not allow passengers to stay in the
vehicle while it is on the jack.
cNever run the engine with a wheel(s) off
the ground. It may cause the vehicle to
move.
CE1089
6-4In case of emergency
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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.
Road 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) .
Tires*Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If neces-
sary, adjust the pressure in all tires, including the
spare, to the pressure specified. Check carefully
for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Wheel alignment and balanceIf the vehicle
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 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 Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet .WindshieldClean the windshield on a regular
basis. Check the windshield at least every six
months for cracks or other damage. Have a dam-
aged windshield repaired by a qualified repair
facility.
Windshield wiper blades*Check for cracks or
wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when per-
forming periodic maintenance, cleaning the ve-
hicle, etc.
Additional information on the following
items with an “*” is found later in this sec-
tion.
Accelerator pedalCheck the pedal for smooth
operation and make sure the pedal does not bind
or require uneven effort. Keep the floor mat away
from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) position
mechanismOn a fairly steep hill check that your
vehicle is held securely with the selector lever in
the P (Park) position without applying any brakes.
Brake pedal and booster*Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure it has the proper
distance under it when depressed fully. Checkthe brake booster function. Be certain to keep the
floor mat away from the pedal.
BrakesCheck that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Clutch pedal*Make sure the pedal operates
smoothly and check that it has the proper free
travel.
Parking brake*Check that the lever has the
proper travel and confirm that your vehicle is held
securely on a fairly steep hill with only the parking
brake applied.
SeatsCheck seat position controls such as seat
adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to ensure they
operate smoothly and all latches lock securely in
every position. Check that the head restraints
move up and down smoothly and the locks (if so
equipped) hold securely in all latched positions.
Seat beltsCheck 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.
Steering wheelCheck for changes in the steer-
ing system, such as excessive freeplay, hard
steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimesMake sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating properly.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
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WARNING
cThe use of tires other than those recom-
mended or the mixed use of tires of
different brands, construction (bias,
bias-belted or radial) , or tread patterns
can adversely affect the ride, braking,
handling, ground clearance, body-to-
tire clearance, tire chain clearance,
speedometer calibration, headlight aim
and bumper height. Some of these ef-
fects may lead to accidents and could
result in serious personal injury.
cIf the wheels are changed for any rea-
son, always replace with wheels which
have the same off-set dimension.
Wheels of a different off-set could
cause premature tire wear, degrade ve-
hicle handling characteristics and/or
interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference can
lead to decreased braking efficiency
and/or early brake pad/shoe wear. Re-
fer to “Wheels and tires” in the “Techni-
cal and consumer information” section
of this manual for wheel off-set
dimensions.cDo not install a deformed wheel or tire
even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warning.
cThe use of retread tires is not
recommended.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle handling
and tire life. Even with regular use, wheels can get
out of balance. Therefore, they should be bal-
anced as required.
Wheel balance service should be per-
formed with the wheels off the vehicle.
Spin balancing the wheels on the vehicle
could lead to mechanical damage.
cFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet .
Care of wheels
cWash the wheels when washing the vehicle
to maintain their appearance.
cClean the inner side of the wheels when the
wheel is changed or the underside of the
vehicle is washed.
cDo not use abrasive cleaners when washing
the wheels.
cInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. Such damage may cause loss of
pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
cNISSAN recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in areas
where it is used during winter.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-43
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Trailer lights
CAUTION
When splicing into the vehicle electrical
system, a commercially available power-
type module/converter must be used to
provide power for all trailer lighting. This
unit uses the vehicle battery as a direct
power source for all trailer lights while
using the vehicle tail light, stoplight and
turn signal circuits as a signal source. The
module/converter must draw no more
that 15 milliamps from the stop and tail
lamp circuits. Using a module/converter
that exceeds these power requirements
may damage the vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem. See a reputable trailer dealer to ob-
tain the proper equipment and to have it
installed.
Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. For assistance in hooking up
trailer lights, contact a NISSAN dealer or repu-
table trailer dealer.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal and/or local
regulations and that it is properly installed.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system di-
rectly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
cBe certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if it
has an abnormal nose-up or nose-down
condition; check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other possible
causes of either condition.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cLoad the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half.
cCheck your hitch, trailer tire pressure, ve-
hicle tire pressure, trailer light operation, and
trailer wheel lug nuts every time you attach a
trailer to the vehicle.
cBe certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free
from traffic. Steering stability and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than under
normal driving conditions.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed. Some states or provinces have spe-
cific speed limits for vehicles that are towing
trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
cWhen backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
c
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so,
and if your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic transmission, first block the wheels and
apply the parking brake, and then move the
9-18Technical and consumer information
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transmission shift selector lever into the P
(Park) position. If you move the shift selector
lever to the P (Park) position before blocking
the wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When going up a long grade, downshift the
transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
cIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioner
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cFor the first 500 miles that you do tow, do
not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
cHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight ahead,
and immediately (but gradually) reduce ve-
hicle speed. This combination will help sta-
bilize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
5th gear (manual transmission) or overdrive
(automatic transmission) .
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.cIncrease your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
cDo not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
cCheck your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
cWhen stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.
When towing a trailer, transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
Technical and consumer information9-19
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10 Index
A
Active head restraint...............1-9
Air bag
(See supplemental restraint
system).....................1-35
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system)...............1-42
Air bag warning light...........1-50, 2-12
Air cleaner housing filter............8-16
Air conditioner
Air conditioner service...........4-20
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil
recommendations..............9-6
Servicing air conditioner..........4-20
Alarm system (See vehicle security system). .2-15
Anchor point locations.............1-27
Antenna.....................4-33
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).........5-18
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-10
Armrests.....................1-7
Audible reminders................2-15
Audio system..................4-20
AM-FM radio with cassette player.....4-28
Cassette player...............4-28
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-30
Compact disc (CD) player.........4-29
FM-AM-SAT radio with cassette player
and compact disc (CD) changer......4-24FM-AM-SAT radio with cassette player
and compact disc (CD) player.......4-24
Radio....................4-20
Steering wheel audio control switch. . . .4-33
Autolight switch.................2-22
Automatic
Automatic drive positioner.........3-19
Automatic power window switch.....2-38
Driving with automatic transmission.....5-7
Transmission selector lever lock
release....................5-10
B
Battery......................8-13
Charge warning light............2-11
Before starting the engine............5-6
Belts (See drive belts).............8-15
BluetoothThands-free phone system.....4-35
Booster seats..................1-31
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).......5-18
Brake booster................8-22
Brake fluid..................8-12
Brake light (See stop light).........8-28
Brake pedal.................8-21
Brake system................5-17
Brake warning light.............2-11
Brake wear indicators........2-15, 8-22
Parking brake check............8-21
Parking brake operation..........5-12Self-adjusting brakes............8-22
Break-in schedule................5-14
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-24
Brightness/Contrast button........4-6, 4-16
Control panel buttons.........4-6, 4-16
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-10
Bulb replacement................8-28
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...................9-2
Car phone or CB radio.............4-34
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
Cassette player (See audio system)......4-28
CD care and cleaning.............4-32
CD changer (See audio system)........4-30
CD player (See audio system).........4-29
Child restraint with top tether strap......1-26
Child restraints.......1-12, 1-13, 1-18, 1-25
Precautions on child restraints . . .1-18, 1-31
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-27
Child safety rear door lock............3-5
Chimes, audible reminders...........2-15
Cigarette lighter.................2-30
Cleaning exterior and interior..........7-2
Clock
(models with navigation system)......4-14
(models without navigation system).....4-4
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Lock
Child safety rear door lock..........3-5
Door locks..................3-3
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever......3-11
Glove box lock...............2-33
Power door locks...............3-4
Trunk lid lock opener lever..........3-9
Low fuel warning light.............2-12
Low washer fluid warning light.........2-12
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
M
Maint (maintenance) button
Control panel buttons..........4-5, 4-9
Maint (Maintenance) button, control panel
display....................4-5, 4-9
Maintenance
General maintenance............8-2
Inside the vehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Outside the vehicle..............8-2
Seat belt maintenance...........1-17
Under the hood and vehicle.........8-4
Malfunction indicator light...........2-13
Manual front seat adjustment..........1-2
Map pocket...................2-31
Meters and gauges................2-3
Instrument brightness control.......2-24
Mirror
Outside mirror control...........3-17
Outside mirrors...............3-17
Vanity mirror.................3-15
Multi-remote control system
(See remote keyless entry system).......3-5N
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system . . .2-17, 3-2,
5-5
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating).....9-4
Odometer.....................2-4
Oil
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine oil.............8-9
Changing engine oil filter..........8-10
Checking engine oil level..........8-8
Engine oil...................8-8
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Outside mirror control.............3-17
Outside mirrors.................3-17
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats...........6-9
Owner’s manual order form..........9-23
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information....................9-23
P
Parking
Parking brake check............8-21
Parking brake operation..........5-12
Parking/parking on hills...........5-16
Personal lights.................2-43Power
Power door locks...............3-4
Power outlet.................2-29
Power rear windows............2-38
Power steering fluid.............8-11
Power steering system...........5-17
Power windows...............2-37
Rear power windows............2-38
Precautions
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Precautions on child restraints . . .1-18, 1-31
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-10
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-35
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
PREV button.................4-3, 4-8
Prev button
Control panel buttons..........4-3, 4-8
Programmable features.......4-8, 4-5, 4-11
Push starting...................6-8
R
Radio
AM-FM radio with cassette player.....4-28
Car phone or CB radio...........4-34
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-30
Steering wheel audio control switch. . . .4-33
Readiness for inspection maintenance (I/M)
test........................9-22
Rear power windows..............2-38
Rear seat.....................1-6
Rear sun shade.................2-41
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch......................2-20
10-4
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