2008 NISSAN VERSA tow

6 In case of emergency
Flat tire...........................................6-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
(if so equipped)................................6-2
Changing a flat tire.............................6-2
Jump starting.....................................6-7Push starting......................................6-9
If your vehicle overheats...........................6-10
Towing your vehicle...............................6-11
Towing recommended by NISSAN..............6-11
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle).........6-13
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CAUTION
cAlways connect positive (1) to positive
(1) and negative (2) to body ground (for
example, strut mounting bolt, engine
lift bracket, etc.) — not to the battery.
cMake sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and
let it run for a few minutes.
For Intelligent Key system equipped models,
use the mechanical key to start the engine.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster ve-
hicle at about 2,000 rpm, and start the en-
gine of the vehicle being jump started.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine does
not start right away, turn the key off and
wait 3 to 4 seconds before trying again.
7. After starting the engine, carefully discon-
nect the negative cable and then the positive
cable.8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped) . Be
sure to dispose of the cloth used to cover
the vent holes as it may be contaminated
with corrosive acid.
CAUTION
cDo not push start this vehicle. The
three-way catalyst may be damaged.
cAutomatic Transmission (AT) or Con-
tinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
models cannot be push-started or tow-
started. Attempting to do so may cause
transmission damage.
cFor manual transmission models, never
try to start the vehicle by towing it.
When the engine starts, the forward
surge could cause the vehicle to collide
with the tow vehicle.
PUSH STARTING
In case of emergency6-9
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When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial in
Canada) and local regulations for towing must be
followed. Incorrect towing equipment could dam-
age your vehicle. Towing instructions are avail-
able from a NISSAN dealer. Local service opera-
tors are generally familiar with the applicable laws
and procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage to your
vehicle, NISSAN recommends having a service
operator tow your vehicle. It is advisable to have
the service operator carefully read the following
precautions:
WARNING
cNever ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
cNever get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
cWhen towing, make sure that the trans-
mission, axles, steering system and
powertrain are in working condition. If
any unit is damaged, dollies must be
used.
cAlways attach safety chains before
towing.For information about towing your vehicle behind
a recreational vehicle (RV) , refer to “Flat towing”
in the “Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be towed
with the driving (front) wheels off the ground or
place the vehicle on a flat bed truck as illustrated.
ACE0511
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
In case of emergency6-11
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CAUTION
cNever tow Automatic Transmission (AT)
or Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models with the front wheels on
the ground or four wheels on the
ground (forward or backward) , as this
may cause serious and expensive dam-
age to the transmission. If it is neces-
sary to tow the vehicle with the rear
wheels raised always use towing dollies
under the front wheels.
cWhen towing Automatic Transmission
(AT) or Continuously Variable Transmis-
sion (CVT) models with the front wheels
on towing dollies, or when towing
manual transmission models with the
front wheels on the ground:
– Turn the ignition key to the OFF po-
sition, and secure the steering wheel
in a straight-ahead position with a
rope or similar device. Never secure
the steering wheel by turning the ig-
nition key to the LOCK position. This
may damage the steering lock
mechanism.
– Move the gearshift lever to the N
(Neutral) position.cWhen towing Automatic Transmission
(AT) or Continuously Variable Transmis-
sion (CVT) or manual transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground (if you do not use towing dol-
lies): Always release the parking brake.
SCE0199A
6-12In case of emergency
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VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
Front (if so equipped)
Do not use the hook to tow the vehicle.
WARNING
cStand clear of a stuck vehicle.
cDo not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode and
result in serious injury. Parts of your
vehicle could also overheat and be
damaged.
CAUTION
cTow chains or cables must be attached
only to the main structural members of
the vehicle or the towing hooks (if so
equipped) . Otherwise, the vehicle body
will be damaged.
cDo not use the vehicle tie downs to free
a vehicle stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.
Never tow the vehicle using the vehicle
tie downs or recovery hooks.
cAlways pull the cable straight out from
the front or rear of the vehicle. Never
pull the vehicle at an angle.
cPulling devices should be routed so
they do not touch any part of the sus-
pension, steering, brake or cooling
systems.
cPulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use the following procedure:
1. Make sure the area in front and behind the
vehicle is clear of obstructions.
2. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear
an area around the front tires.3. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and back-
ward.
cShift back and forth between R (reverse)
and D (drive) (AT and CVT models) or 1st
(low) and R (reverse) (manual transmis-
sion models) .
cApply the accelerator as little as possible
to maintain the rocking motion.
cRelease the accelerator pedal before
shifting between R and D (AT and CVT
models) or 1st and R (manual transmis-
sion models) .
cDo not spin the tires above 35 mph (55
km/h) .
4. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few
tries, contact a professional towing service
to remove the vehicle.
WCE0132
In case of emergency6-13
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Rear (if so equipped)
Do not use the hook to tow the vehicle.
SCE0578
6-14In case of emergency
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REMOVING SPOTS
Remove 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 a NISSAN dealer or any automotive accessory
store.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter, it is
necessary to clean the underbody regularly in
order to prevent dirt and salt from building up and
causing the acceleration of corrosion on the un-
derbody and suspension. Before the winter pe-
riod and again in the spring, the underseal must
be checked and, if necessary, retreated.
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 chlorine-based disinfectant
cleaners. They could damage the electri-
cal conductors, radio antenna elements or
rear window defroster elements.
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS
Wash the wheels regularly with a sponge damp-
ened in a mild soap solution, especially during
winter months in areas where road salt is used. If
not removed, road salt can discolor the wheels.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:
cDo not use a cleaner that uses strong
acid or alkali contents to clean the
wheels.
cDo not apply wheel cleaners to the
wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as am-
bient temperature.
cRinse the wheel to completely remove
the cleaner within 15 minutes after the
cleaner is applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
TIRE DRESSINGS
NISSAN does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating to
the tires to help reduce discoloration of the rub-
ber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires, it may
react with the coating and form a compound. This
compound may come off the tire while driving and
stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:
cUse a water-based tire dressing. The coat-
ing on the tire dissolves more easily with an
oil-based tire dressing.
cApply a light coat of tire dressing to help
prevent it from entering the tire
tread/grooves (where it would be difficult to
remove) .
cWipe off excess tire dressing using a dry
towel. Make sure the tire dressing is com-
pletely removed from the tire tread/grooves.
cAllow the tire dressing to dry as recom-
mended by tire dressing manufacturer.
Appearance and care7-3
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cTire tread of the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire will wear at a faster rate
than the standard tire. Replace the
spare tire as soon as the tread wear
indicators appear.
cDo not use the spare tire on other
vehicles.
cDo not use more than one spare tire at
the same time.
cDo not tow a trailer when the TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire is installed.
CAUTION
cDo not use tire chains on a TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire. Tire chains
will not fit properly and may cause dam-
age to the vehicle.
cBecause the TEMPORARY USE ONLY
spare tire is smaller than the original
tire, ground clearance is reduced. To
avoid damage to the vehicle, do not
drive over obstacles. Also, do not drive
the vehicle through an automatic car
wash since it may get caught.
8-42Maintenance and do-it-yourself
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Versa(vrs)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
01/03/08Ðdebbie
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