2009 NISSAN SENTRA manual transmission

Capacity (Approximate) Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Multi-purpose grease — — — NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant — — — HFC-134a (R-134a) *5
Air conditioning system oil — — — NISSAN A/C System Oil Type S or equivalent *5
Windshield washer fluid — — — Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Antifreeze
or equivalent
*1: For further details, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendations.”
*2:Use only Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2-V Using transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2-V will damage the CVT transmission, which is
not covered by the NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
*3: If Genuine NISSAN gear oil is not available, API GL-4, Viscosity SAE 75W-80 may be used as a temporary replacement. However, use Genuine NISSAN gearoil as soon as it is
available.
*4: Available in mainland USA through your NISSAN dealer.
*5: For further details, see “Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil recommendations.”
*6: For further details, see “Engine Oil” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
*7: See your NISSAN dealer for service.
Technical and consumer information9-3
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Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


●Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
●When 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.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
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.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the downhill
side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly
release the brake pedal until the blocks ab-
sorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
6. Turn off the engine.To drive away:
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
●While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descend-
ing a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness
and could cause overheating. Shifting to a
lower gear instead provides “engine brak-
ing” and reduces the need to brake as fre-
quently.
●If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this owner’s manual.
●Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.●Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
●For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
●Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
●When 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.
●Crosswinds 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.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to
allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle.
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or
applying the brakes.
9-24Technical and consumer information
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Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-
anced as described earlier in this section.
●Be 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.
●Use the Tow Mode or downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear for engine braking
when driving down steep or long hills. This
will help slow the vehicle without applying
the brakes.
●Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
●Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
●NISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer.●Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.
●Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
●When launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
●Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, transmission fluid
should be changed more frequently. For
additional information, see the “Mainte-
nance 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
●Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
●Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
●DO NOT tow any continuously variable
transmission vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground (flat towing) . Do-
ing so WILL DAMAGE internal transmis-
sion parts due to lack of transmission
lubrication.
●For emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Continuously Variable Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with a continuously
variable transmission, an appropriate vehicle dolly
MUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels.Alwaysfollow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.
Technical and consumer information9-25
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Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


Manual Transmission
●Always tow with the manual transmission in
Neutral.
●After towing 500 miles (805 km) , start and
idle the engine with the transmission in Neu-
tral for two minutes. Failure to idle the engine
after every 500 miles (805 km) of towing
may cause damage to internal transmission
parts.DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature A, B and C
The temperature grades are A (the highest) , B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat, and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the
tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and exces-
sive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
9-26Technical and consumer information
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Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


Clock ......................4-24
(models without navigation system).....4-5
Clockset.....................4-5
Clutch
Clutchfluid .................8-14
C.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-12
Cold weather driving..............5-26
Compact disc (CD) player.......4-25,4-29
Console box...................2-29
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). . .5-12
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid .....................8-13
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT).............5-12
Transmission selector lever lock
release....................5-15
Control panel buttons
Clockset...................4-5
Setting button................4-5
Tripbutton ..................4-3
Without navigation system..........4-2
Controls
Audio controls (steering wheel)......4-37
Heater and air conditioner controls.....4-7
Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant..........8-9
Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Corrosionprotection...............7-6
Cruise control..................5-19
Cupholders...................2-27
Curtain side-impact air bag system
(See supplemental side air bag and curtain
side-impact air bag system)..........1-52D
Daytime running light system
(Canada only)..................2-21
Defroster switch
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-19
Dimensionsandweights............9-10
Dimmer switch for instrument panel......2-21Display controls (see control panel buttons)...4-2
Distance to empty................4-3
Door locks....................3-4
Door open warning................4-6
Door open warning light............2-10
Drive belt....................8-17
Driving
Cold weather driving............5-26
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT).............5-12
Driving with manual transmission.....5-17
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
E
Economy-fuel .................5-21
Emission control information label.......9-13
Emission control system warranty.......9-27
Engine
Before starting the engine.........5-10
Blockheater.................5-27
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changingenginecoolant ..........8-9
Changingengineoil ............8-11Changing engine oil filter..........8-12
Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Checking engine oil level..........8-9
Engine compartment check locations....8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Engine cooling system............8-8
Engine oil...................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-6
Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-10
Engine oil viscosity..............9-6
Engine serial number............9-12
Engine specifications.............9-8
Starting the engine.............5-10
Engine oil pressure gauge............2-6
Eventdatarecorders..............9-29
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide)........5-2
Eyeglass case..................2-25
F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch)......2-22
Flat tire......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid.............7-5
Fluid
Brake fluid..................8-13
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Clutch fluid.................8-14
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid.....................8-13
Engine coolant................8-8
Engine oil...................8-9
Window washer fluid............8-14
F.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-12
10-2
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


Precautions
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Precautions on child
restraints............1-20,1-28,1-35
Precautions on seat belt usage.......1-9
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-40
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Programmable features.............4-5
Push starting..................6-10
R
Radio
Car phone or CB radio...........4-39
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-34
FM/AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-23
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc (CD)
changer...................4-31
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-27
Steering wheel audio control switch....4-37
Readiness for inspection maintenance (I/M)
test........................9-28
Rear center seat belt..............1-16
Rear power windows..............2-33
Rearseat................1-3,1-4,1-5
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch......................2-19
Recorders
Eventdata..................9-29
Refrigerant recommendation..........9-7
Registering your vehicle in another
country......................9-11Reporting safety defects (US only)......9-27
Resetting average speed............4-4
Resetting the fuel economy...........4-4
Resetting trip time................4-5
S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock..........3-6
Child seat belts........1-20,1-28,1-35
Reporting safety defects (US only)....9-27
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment........1-2
Seat belt
Child safety.................1-12
Infants and small children.........1-12
Injured Person................1-13
Larger children...............1-12
Precautionsonseatbeltusage.......1-9
Pregnant women..............1-13
Rear center seat belt............1-16
Seat belt extenders.............1-19
Seat belt maintenance...........1-19
Seatbelts...................1-9
Shoulder belt height adjustment......1-19
Three-point type with retractor.......1-13
Seat belt warning light.............2-12
Seatback pockets................2-27
Seats
Adjustment..................1-2
Frontseats..................1-2
Heated seats................2-23
Manual front seat adjustment........1-2
Rear seat..............1-3,1-4,1-5
Security indicator light.............2-14Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start........2-17,3-2,5-10
Self-adjusting brakes..............8-21
Service manual order form...........9-29
Servicing air conditioner............4-16
Setting button..................4-5
Shift lock release................5-15
Shifting
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) ....................5-13
Manual transmission............5-17
Shoulder belt height adjustment........1-19
Side air bag system (See supplemental side
air bag and curtain side-impact air bag
system).....................1-52
Spark plug replacement............8-18
Speedometer...................2-3
Spotlights(Seemaplight)...........2-38
SRSwarninglabel...............1-55
Starting
Before starting the engine.........5-10
Jump starting.................6-8
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Push starting................6-10
Starting the engine.............5-10
Steering
Power steering system...........5-23
Tilting steering wheel............3-26
Steering wheel audio control switch......4-37
Stoplight ....................8-29
Storage.....................2-25
Storagebin...................2-25
Storage tray...................2-26
Sunglasses case................2-25
Sunglasses holder...............2-25
Sunroof (see Moonroof)............2-35
10-5
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks


Supplemental air bag warning labels.....1-55
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-55, 2-13
Supplemental front impact air bag system. . .1-47
Supplemental restraint system
Information and warning labels.......1-55
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system....................1-40
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system).........1-40
Supplemental side and curtain side-impact
air bag system..................1-52
Switch
Automatic power window switch.....2-33
Foglightswitch...............2-22
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-22
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-20
Headlightcontrolswitch..........2-20
Ignition switch................5-7
Power door lock switch...........3-5
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch....................2-19
Turn signal switch..............2-22
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-18
T
Tachometer....................2-4
Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
enginestart.............2-17,3-2,5-10
Three-way catalyst................5-2
Tilting steering wheel..............3-26
Tire
Flat tire....................6-2Spare tire................6-3,8-41
Tire and Loading Information label.....9-13
Tire chains..................8-38
Tireplacard.................9-13
Tire pressure................8-31
Tirerotation.................8-38
Types of tires................8-37
Uniform tire quality grading.........9-26
Wheels and tires..............8-31
Wheel/tire size................9-9
Tire pressure
Low tire pressure warning light......2-11
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) . . .5-3
Top tether strap child restraint.........1-23
Towing
Flattowing..................9-25
Towtrucktowing..............6-11
Towing load/specification.........9-21
Trailer towing................9-18
Transmission
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid .....................8-13
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT).............5-12
Driving with manual transmission.....5-17
Selector lever lock release.........5-15
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country).....................9-11
Tripbutton ....................4-3
Trip odometer...................2-4
Triptime......................4-5
Trunk access through the rear seat....1-4,1-5
Trunk lid lock opener lever...........3-23
Trunklight....................2-39
Turn signal switch................2-22U
Uniform tire quality grading...........9-26
V
Vanity mirror...................3-26
Vehicle dimensions and weights........9-10
Vehicle identification..............9-11
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number)................9-11
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . . .9-11
Vehicle loading information...........9-14
Vehicle recovery.............6-12,6-13
Vehicle security system.............2-16
Vehicle security system
(NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start.............2-17,3-2,5-10
Ventilators.....................4-7
W
Warning
Airbagwarninglight.........1-55,2-13
Anti-lock brake warning light........2-9
Battery charge warning light........2-10
Brake warning light..............2-9
Door open warning light..........2-10
Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-10
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-22
Lowfuelwarninglight ...........2-10
Low tire pressure warning light......2-11
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-12
10-6
REVIEW COPY—2009 Sentra(sen)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/27/08—tbrooks