2008 NISSAN NOTE Owners Manual

RECOMMENDED TOWING
CAUTION
NEVER tow automatic transmission (AT) models
with the front wheels on the ground or with all
four wheels on the ground (forwards or back-
wards), this may cause serious and expensivedamage to the transmission. If it is necessary to
tow the vehicle with the rear wheels raised al-
ways use towing dollies under the front wheels.
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle should be
towed with the driving (front) wheels off the ground
or be placed on a flat bed lorry as illustrated.
TOWING EYE
The towing eye is stored with the vehicle tools and
located in the spare wheel recess (luggage com-
partment area).
1) Remove the cover from the bumper.
2) Securely install the towing eye, as illustrated.
NCE178
NCE281Z
Automatic transmission models
NCE195
Front
In case of emergency6-13

Make sure that the towing eye is properly stored in
its designated location after use.
FREEING THE VEHICLE FROM SAND,
SNOW OR MUD
WARNING
•Never allow anyone to stand near the towing
line during the pulling operation.
•Never spin the tyres at high speed. This could
cause them to explode and result in serious
injury. Parts of the vehicle could also overheat
and be damaged.
Towing hook or towing eye usage
The towing hook/eye should be used in the event
that your vehicle becomes trapped in sand, snow or
mud, and is unable to drive away without being
pulled, use the towing hook or — eye.
•Use the towing hook/eyeonly, not other parts of
the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle body will be
damaged.
•Onlyuse the towing hook/eye to free a vehicle
stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.
•Never tow the vehicle for a long distance using
only the towing hook/eye.
•The towing hook/eye is under tremendous force
when used to free a stuck vehicle. Always pull
the cable straight out from the front of the ve-
hicle. Never pull on the towing hook/eye at a
sideways angle.
CAUTION
In order not to break the towing line, tension it
slowly.
NCE181Z
Rear (towing hook)
6-14In case of emergency

7Appearance and careAppearance and care
Cleaning exterior...................................................... 7-2
Washing ............................................................. 7-2
Removing spots .................................................. 7-2
Waxing ............................................................... 7-2
Cleaning glass .................................................... 7-3
Underbody ......................................................... 7-3
Care of wheels ................................................... 7-3
Cleaning alloy wheels ......................................... 7-3
Chrome parts ..................................................... 7-3
Cleaning interior ...................................................... 7-3Floor mats .......................................................... 7-4
Cleaning Glass ................................................... 7-4
Plastic parts........................................................ 7-4
Seat belts ........................................................... 7-4
Corrosion protection ................................................ 7-4
Most common factors contributing to vehicle
corrosion ............................................................ 7-4
Environmental factors influence the rate of
corrosion ............................................................ 7-4
To protect your vehicle from corrosion ................ 7-5

In order to maintain the appearance of your vehicle,
it is important to take proper care of it.
Whenever possible, park your vehicle inside a ga-
rage or in a covered area to minimise the chances
of damaging the paint surface of your vehicle.
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 put-
ting on or removing the body cover.
WASHING
In the following instances, 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 insects get on
the paint surface.
•When dust or mud builds up on the paint sur-
face.
1. Wash the vehicle surface with a wet sponge and
plenty of water.
2. Clean the vehicle surface gently and thoroughly
using a mild soap or a special vehicle wash sham-
poo mixed with clean, lukewarm (never hot) wa-
ter.CAUTION
•Do not wash the vehicle with strong house-
hold soap, strong chemical detergents, petrol
or solvents.
•Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight or
while the vehicle body is hot, as the paint sur-
face 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
substances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
3. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of clean
water.
4. Use a damp chamois to dry the paint surface to
avoid leaving water spots.
When washing the vehicle, take care of the follow-
ing:
•Inside flanges, joints and folds on the doors, back
door and bonnet are particularly vulnerable to
the effects of road salt. Therefore, these areas
must be cleaned regularly.
•Be sure that the drain holes in the lower edge of
the doors are not clogged.
•Spray water to the underbody and in the wheel
wells to loosen the dirt and/or wash away road
salt.
•If using a high pressure washer always follow
the recommendations on the equipment (pres-
sure and spraying distance).
•If there are damaged areas on the vehicle (e.g.
painted bumpers or headlamp assembly), it is
not recommended to direct the high pressure jet
on to them. Carefully wash these areas by hand.
•Avoid the entry of water into the locks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, insects,
and tree sap as quickly as possible from the paint
surface to avoid lasting damage or staining. Special
cleaning products are available at a NISSAN dealer
or any automotive accessory store.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface and helps
to retain a new vehicle appearance.
After waxing, polishing is recommended to remove
built-up residue.
A NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop can assist
you in choosing the appropriate waxing products.
CAUTION
•Wash your vehicle thoroughly and completely
before applying wax to the paint surface.
•Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
supplied with the wax.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care

•Do not use a wax containing any abrasives,
cutting compounds or cleaners that may dam-
age the vehicle finish.
•If the vehicle surface cannot polish easily, ap-
ply a road tar remover prior to waxing the ve-
hicle.
•Machine compounding or aggressive polish-
ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish may
dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
CLEANING GLASS
Use 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 parked
in the hot sun. Glass cleaner and a soft cloth will
easily remove this film.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in the winter, the
vehicle’s underbody must be cleaned regularly. This
will prevent dirt and salt from building up and caus-
ing underbody and suspension corrosion.
Before the winter period and again in the spring, the
underseal must be checked and, if necessary, re-
treated.
CARE OF WHEELS
•Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle to
maintain their appearance.
•Clean the inner side of the wheels when the
wheel is changed or the underside of the vehicle
is washed.
•Do not use abrasive cleaners when washing the
wheels.
•Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or corro-
sion. This may cause loss of pressure or damage
the tyre bead.
•NISSAN recommends that the road wheels be
waxed to protect against road salt in areas where
it is used during winter.
CLEANING ALLOY WHEELS
Wash the wheels regularly with a sponge damp-
ened in a mild soap solution, especially during win-
ter in areas where road salt is used. The salt residue
from road salt could discolour the wheels if it is not
washed off regularly.
CAUTION
Follow the directions as described below in order
to avoid staining or discolouring of the wheels.
•Do not use a cleaner that contains strong con-
tents of acid or alkali to clean the wheels.
•Do not apply wheel cleaner when the wheels
are hot. The wheel temperature should be the
same as ambient temperature.
•Rinse the wheel to completely remove the
cleaner within 15 minutes after the cleaner
has been applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a nonabrasive
chrome polish to maintain the finish.Occasionally remove loose dust from the interior
trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum cleaner
or soft bristled brush. Wipe the vinyl and leather sur-
faces with a clean, soft cloth dampened in mild soap
solution, then wipe clean with a dry, soft cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in order to
maintain the appearance of the leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the manu-
facturer’s recommendations. Some fabric protec-
tors contain chemicals that may stain or bleach the
seat material.
Use a soft cloth dampened only with water to clean
the meter and gauge lens covers.
CAUTION
•Never use benzine, thinner or any similar ma-
terial.
•Small dirt particles can be abrasive and dam-
aging to leather surfaces and should be re-
moved promptly. Do not use saddle soap, car
waxes, polishes, oils cleaning fluids, solvents,
detergents or ammonia based cleaners as
they may damage the leather’s natural finish.
•Never use fabric protectors unless recom-
mended by the manufacturer.
•Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on meter
or gauge lens covers. It may damage the lens
covers.
CLEANING INTERIOR
Appearance and care7-3

FLOOR MATS
The use of NISSAN floor mats can extend the life of
your vehicle carpet and make it easier to clean the
interior. Regardless of what mats are used, be sure
they are fitted for your vehicle and are properly posi-
tioned in the foot well to prevent interference with
pedal operation. Mats should be maintained with
regular cleaning and replaced if they become exces-
sively worn.
WARNING
When additional floor mats are used, be sure that
they are correctly secured and that they cannot
interfere with the accelerator pedal. Mats not
adapted to the vehicle may prevent proper op-
eration of the speed limiter.
CLEANING GLASS
Use 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 parked
in the hot sun. Glass cleaner and a soft cloth will
easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the windows, do not
use sharp-edged tools, abrasive cleaners or chlo-
rine-based disinfectant cleaners. They could
damage elements in the rear windows (such as
the window defogger).
PLASTIC PARTS
Plastic parts can be cleaned with a mild soap solu-
tion. If the dirt cannot be easily removed, use a plas-
tic cleaner. Do not use any solvents.
SEAT BELTS
WARNING
•Do not allow wet seat belts to roll up in the
retractor.
•Never use bleach, dye or chemical solvents to
clean the seat belts, since these materials
may severely weaken the seat belt webbing.
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping them with
a sponge dampened in a mild soap solution.
Allow the belts to dry completely in the shade before
using them.
MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION
•The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt and
debris in body panel sections, cavities, and other
areas.
•Damage to the paint surface and other protec-
tive coatings caused by gravel and stone chips
or minor traffic accidents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the vehicle
body underside can accelerate corrosion. Wet floor
coverings will not dry completely inside the vehicle,
and should be removed for drying to avoid floor pan-
els corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of high rela-
tive humidity, especially those areas where the tem-
peratures stay above freezing, where atmospheric
pollution exists and road salt is used.
Temperature
A temperature increase will accelerate the rate of
corrosion to those parts which are not well venti-
lated.
CORROSION PROTECTION
7-4Appearance and care

Corrosion will also accelerate in areas where the
temperatures stay above freezing.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in the air in
coastal areas, or heavy road salt use will accelerate
the corrosion process. Road salt will also acceler-
ate the disintegration of paint surfaces.
TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM
CORROSION
•Wash and wax your vehicle often to keep the
vehicle clean.
•Always check for minor damage to the paint sur-
face and if any exists, repair it as soon as pos-
sible.
•Keep the drain holes at the bottom of the doors
and back door opened to avoid water accumula-
tion.
•Check the vehicle underbody for accumulation
of sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with water
as soon as possible.
CAUTION
•Never remove dirt, sand or other debris from
the passenger compartment by washing it out
with a hose. Remove dirt with a vacuum
cleaner or broom.
•Never allow water or other liquids to come in
contact with electronic components inside the
vehicle as this may damage them.
Chemicals used for road surface de-icing are ex-tremely corrosive. They accelerate corrosion and
deterioration of underbody components such as the
exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables,
floor pan and fenders.
In the winter, the underbody must be cleaned
periodically.
For additional protection against rust and corrosion,
which may be required in some areas, consult a
NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop.
Appearance and care7-5

8Maintenance and do-it-yourselfMaintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements ....................................... 8-2
Scheduled maintenance...................................... 8-2
General maintenance .......................................... 8-2
Where to go for service ...................................... 8-2
General maintenance ............................................... 8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items ........... 8-2
Maintenance precautions ......................................... 8-4
Engine compartment ................................................ 8-5
Engine cooling system ............................................. 8-6
Checking engine coolant level............................. 8-6
Changing engine coolant .................................... 8-6
Engine oil................................................................. 8-8
Checking engine oil level .................................... 8-9
Changing engine oil ............................................ 8-9
Changing engine oil filter .................................... 8-11
Protect the environment ...................................... 8-12
Fuel filter (Diesel engine models) ............................. 8-12
Bleeding the fuel system ..................................... 8-12
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........................... 8-13
Brakes ..................................................................... 8-13
Checking brake pedal......................................... 8-13
Checking handbrake........................................... 8-13
Brake and clutch fluid .............................................. 8-13
Window washer fluid/headlight cleaner fluid
(where fitted) ........................................................... 8-14
Battery..................................................................... 8-15
Vehicle battery .................................................... 8-15
Reinitialisation procedure after battery
reconnection....................................................... 8-16
Jump-starting ...................................................... 8-16Integrated Keyfob/Intelligent Key battery
replacement........................................................ 8-17
Drive belts ............................................................... 8-18
Spark plugs (Petrol engine models).......................... 8-18
Air cleaner filter........................................................ 8-19
Viscous paper type ............................................. 8-19
Dry paper type (where fitted) .............................. 8-19
Wiper blades ........................................................... 8-19
Cleaning ............................................................. 8-19
Front window wiper replacement ........................ 8-20
Back door window wiper replacement ................ 8-20
Windscreen washer nozzle ................................. 8-20
Fuses ...................................................................... 8-21
Passenger compartment ..................................... 8-21
Engine compartment ........................................... 8-22
Lights ...................................................................... 8-23
Headlights .......................................................... 8-23
Exterior lights ...................................................... 8-24
Interior lights....................................................... 8-24
Light locations .................................................... 8-25
Wheels and tyres ..................................................... 8-29
Tyre inflation pressure......................................... 8-29
Types of tyres ..................................................... 8-29
Snow chains....................................................... 8-30
Tyre rotation ....................................................... 8-30
Tyre wear and damage ....................................... 8-30
Tyre age ............................................................. 8-31
Changing tyres and wheels ................................. 8-31
Wheel balance.................................................... 8-31
Spare tyre .......................................................... 8-31