2011 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID headlight

8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements..........................8-2
General maintenance ..............................8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items .........8-2
Maintenance precautions . . .........................8-5
Engine compartment check locations ................8-7
Engine cooling system .............................8-8
Checking engine coolant level ...................8-9
Changing engine coolant ........................8-9
Inverter cooling system ............................ 8-10
Checking inverter coolant level ..................8-10
Changing inverter coolant ......................8-11
Engine oil ........................................ 8-11
Checking engine oil level .......................8-11
Changing engine oil ........................... 8-12
Changing engine oil filter .......................8-13
Electronically controlled Continuously Variable
Transmission (eCVT) fluid ......................... 8-14
Brake fluid ....................................... 8-14
Brake fluid .................................... 8-14
Windshield-washer fluid ........................... 8-15
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir ...............8-15
12-volt battery ................................... 8-15
Jump starting ................................. 8-16Drive belt
........................................ 8-16
Spark plugs . ..................................... 8-17
Replacing spark plugs ......................... 8-17
Air cleaner ....................................... 8-17
In-cabin microfilter ............................. 8-18
Windshield wiper blades .......................... 8-18
Cleaning ..................................... 8-18
Replacing .................................... 8-18
Brakes .......................................... 8-19
Self-adjusting brakes .......................... 8-19
Brake pad wear indicators ......................8-19
Fuses ........................................... 8-20
Engine compartment ........................... 8-21
Passenger compartment .......................8-22
Battery replacement .............................. 8-23
NISSAN
Intelligent Key™ ....................... 8-23
Lights ........................................... 8-25
Headlights .................................... 8-25
Front park/turn/sidemarker light .................8-25
Exterior and interior lights .......................8-26
Upper tether anchor covers ........................8-30
Removing covers from rear parcel shelf ..........8-30
Installing covers to rear parcel shelf ..............8-31

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 (lug 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.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and cap
when the tires are replaced due to wear or age.
Wheel alignment and balance
If 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.
● For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield Clean 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 pedal Check 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.
Brake pedal Check the pedal for smooth opera-
tion. If the brake pedal suddenly goes down fur-
ther than normal, the pedal feels spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer to stop, see a
NISSAN dealer immediately. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes
Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Electronically controlled Continuously
Variable Transmission (eCVT) P (Park) po-
sition mechanism: On a fairly steep hill check
that the vehicle is held securely with the shift
selector in the P (Park) position without applying
any brakes.
Parking brake Check the parking brake opera-
tion regularly. The vehicle should be securely held
on a fairly steep hill with only the parking brake
applied. If the parking brake needs adjustment,
see a NISSAN dealer.
Seats Check 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 belts Check 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.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3

ENGINE COMPARTMENT
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than specified on the
fuse box cover. This could damage the
electrical system or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not come on,
check for an open fuse. 1. Be sure the ignition switch and the headlight switch are OFF.
2. Open the engine hood.
3. Locate the two fuse blocks. All Hybrid Sys- tem component fuses are located in fuse
panel
A, all other fuses are located inB.
4. Remove the fuse box cover by pushing the tab and lifting the cover up.
5. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller. The fuse puller is located in the center of the fuse
block in the passenger compartment. 6. If the fuse is open
A, replace it with a new
fuse
B.
7. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical system checked and repaired by a NISSAN
dealer.
Fusible links
If the electrical equipment does not operate and
fuses are in good condition, check the fusible
links. If any of these fusible links are melted,
replace with only Genuine NISSAN parts.LDI0582
WDI0452
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-21

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than specified on the
fuse box cover. This could damage the
electrical system or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse. 1. Be sure the ignition switch and the headlight switch are OFF. 2. Pull the fuse box cover to remove.
3. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
4. If the fuse is open
A, replace it with an
equivalent good fuse
B.
5. Push the fuse box cover to install.
6. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical system checked and repaired by a NISSAN
dealer.
WDI0402
Type A
WDI0452
8-22Maintenance and do-it-yourself

HEADLIGHTS
Replacing the halogen headlight bulb
The headlight is a semi-sealed beam type which
uses a replaceable headlight (halogen) bulb. Be-
cause the headlight assembly must be removed
from the vehicle for bulb replacement, see your
NISSAN dealer.
CAUTION
●Aiming is not necessary after replacing
the bulb. When aiming adjustment is
necessary, contact a NISSAN dealer.
● Do not leave the headlight assembly
open without a bulb installed for a long
period of time. Dust, moisture, smoke,
etc. entering the headlight body may
affect bulb performance. Remove the
bulb from the headlight assembly just
before a replacement bulb is installed.
● Only touch the base when handling the
bulb. Never touch the glass envelope.
Touching the glass could significantly
affect bulb life and/or headlight
performance.
● High pressure halogen gas is sealed
inside the halogen bulb. The bulb may
break if the glass envelope is scratched
or the bulb is dropped. ●
Use the same number and wattage as
shown in the chart.
Fog may temporarily form inside the lens of the
exterior lights in the rain or in a car wash. A
temperature difference between the inside and
the outside of the lens causes the fog. This is not
a malfunction. If large drops of water collect
inside the lens, contact a NISSAN dealer.FRONT PARK/TURN/SIDEMARKER
LIGHT
Bulb replacement requires the removal of the
headlight assembly. If replacement is required,
see your NISSAN dealer.
LIGHTS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-25

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS
ItemWattage (W)Bulb *1
Headlight assembly
Low (Halogen) 55H11
High 65H9
Park 5WY5W
Side marker 5WY5W
Park/Turn 8/273457AK
Step light —194
Rear combination light Tail/Stop 8/273157KX
Turn 273156
Backup (reversing) 8921
Side marker 5168
License plate light 5W5W
High-mounted stop light Inside 18921
Spoiler (if so equipped) See a NISSAN dealer
for assistance. LED
Front map light 8B5
Rear map light 8B5
Trunk light 3.4158
Vanity mirror light —HTU-14V
Glove box light*
2——
*1Always check with the Parts Department at a NISSAN dealer for the latest parts information.
*
2See a NISSAN dealer for assistance.
8-26Maintenance and do-it-yourself

●The original tires have built-in
tread wear indicators. When the
wear indicators are visible, the
tire(s) should be replaced.
● Tires degrade with age and use.
Have tires, including the spare,
over 6 years old checked by a
qualified technician because
some tire damage may not be ob-
vious. Replace the tires as neces-
sary to prevent tire failure and
possible personal injury.
● Improper service of the spare tire
may result in serious personal in-
jury. If it is necessary to repair the
spare tire, contact a NISSAN
dealer.
● For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to “Important
Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information”
(Canada) in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet.Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread
design, speed rating and load carrying capacity
as originally equipped. Recommended types and
sizes are shown in “Wheels and tires” in the
“Technical and consumer information” section of
this manual.
WARNING
● The 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, VDC system, ground clear-
ance, body-to-tire clearance, tire chain
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to acci-
dents and could result in serious per-
sonal injury.
● If your vehicle was originally equipped
with 4 tires that were the same size and
you are only replacing 2 of the 4 tires ,
install the new tires on the rear axle.
Placing new tires on the front axle may
cause loss of vehicle control in some
driving conditions and cause an acci-
dent and personal injury. ●
If 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, affect
the VDC system and/or interference
with the brake discs/drums. Such inter-
ference can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake pad/shoe
wear. Refer to “Wheels and tires” in the
“Technical and consumer information”
section of this manual for wheel off-set
dimensions.
● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, the TPMS will not function
and the low tire pressure warning light
will flash for approximately 1 minute.
The light will remain on after 1 minute.
Contact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by NISSAN could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-41

F.M.V.S.S. certification label...........9-10
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system) ......1-43
Front seats .....................1-2
Fuel Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Fuel economy ................5-17
Fuel-filler door and cap ...........3-20
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever ......3-20
Fuel gauge ...................2-5
Fuel octane rating ...............9-4
Fuel recommendation .............9-3
Loose fuel cap warning ........2-26, 3-20
Fuses .......................8-20
Fusible links ...................8-21
G
Garage door opener, HomeLink Universal
Transceiver ....................2-48
Gascap .....................3-20
Gauge Fuel gauge ...................2-5
High voltage battery status meter . .2-5, HEV-4
Odometer ...................2-3
Power meter .............2-4, HEV-4
Speedometer .................2-3
Trip odometer .................2-3
General maintenance ...............8-2
Glove box .....................2-39
Glove box lock ..................2-39
Grocery hooks ..................2-40 H
Hands-free phone system,
Bluetooth .................4-85, 4-99
Hazard warning flasher switch .........2-34
Headlight and turn signal switch ........2-30
Headlight control switch ............2-30
Headlights ....................8-25
Heated seats ...................2-35
Heater Heater and air conditioner controls .....4-19
Heater

operation ...............4-20
High voltage battery status meter . . . .2-5, HEV-4
High voltage components ...........HEV-8
HomeLink Universal Transceiver ........2-48
Hood release ...................3-18
Horn .......................2-34
Hybrid System Energy flow .................HEV-4
Energy/fuel history .............HEV-5
Stops operating while driving .........6-7
Vehicle does not start .............6-7
Hybrid vehicle characteristics .........HEV-9
I
Ignition Switch Push-Button Ignition Switch .........5-7
Immobilizer system .........2-28, 3-3, 5-10
Important vehicle information label .......9-10
In-cabin microfilter ................8-18
Increasing fuel economy .............5-17 Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders)
.....................2-9
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror ........3-24
Inside mirror ...................3-24
Instrument brightness control ..........2-33
Instrument panel dimmer switch ........2-33
Intelligent Key system Key operating range ..............3-9
Key operation ................3-10
Mechanical key ................3-3
Remote keyless entry operation .......3-13
Troubleshooting guide ............3-17
Warning signals ...............3-17
Interior light ....................2-46
Interior trunk lid release .............3-19
Inverter Checking inverter coolant level .......8-10
Inverter cooling system ...........8-10
iPod Player................4-65,
4-67
ISOFIX child restraints .............1-20
J
Jump starting ...................6-8
K
Keyfob battery replacement ...........8-23
Keyless entry With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system) .........3-13
Keys, For Intelligent Key system .........3-2
10-3