2012 NISSAN ALTIMA ECU

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 chimes Make sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating properly.
Windshield wiper and washer* Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and that
the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defroster Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and in
sufficient quantity when operating the heater or
air conditioner.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically (for example, each time you
check the engine oil or refuel) .
Battery* Check the fluid level in each cell. It
should be between the MAX and MIN lines. Ve-
hicles operated in high temperatures or under
severe conditions require frequent checks of the
battery fluid level.
Brake and clutch (if so equipped) fluid lev-
els* Make sure that the brake and clutch fluid
level is between the MIN and MAX lines on the
reservoir. Engine coolant level*
Check the coolant level
when the engine is cold.
Engine drive belts* Make sure the drive belts
are not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level* Check the level after parking
the vehicle on a level surface with the engine off.
Wait more than 10 minutes for the oil to drain
back into the oil pan.
Exhaust system Make sure there are no loose
supports, cracks or holes. If the sound of the
exhaust seems unusual or there is a smell of
exhaust fumes, immediately have the exhaust
system inspected by a NISSAN dealer. See “Ex-
haust gas (carbon monoxide)” in the “Starting
and driving” section of this manual.
Fluid leaks Check under the vehicle for fuel, oil,
water or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. Water dripping from the
air conditioner after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected imme-
diately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines Check
the level when the fluid is cold, with the engine
off. Check the lines for proper attachment, leaks,
cracks, etc. Radiator and hoses
Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure the
hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or loose
connections.
Underbody The underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances from the
underbody, otherwise rust may form on the floor
pan, frame, fuel lines and exhaust system. At the
end of winter, the underbody should be thor-
oughly flushed with plain water, in those areas
where mud and dirt may have accumulated. See
the “Appearance and care” section of this
manual.
Windshield-washer fluid* Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself

WARNING
Be sure the engine and ignition switch are
off and that the parking brake is engaged
securely.

If a type A fuse is used to replace a type B fuse,
the type A fuse will not be level with the fuse
pocket as shown in the illustration. This will not
affect the performance of the fuse. Make sure the
fuse is installed in the fuse box securely.
Type B fuses cannot be installed in the under-
hood fuse boxes. Only use type A fuses in the
underhood fuse boxes.ENGINE COMPARTMENT

Replace the battery in the Intelligent Key as fol-
lows:1. Remove the mechanical key from the Intelli- gent Key.
2. Insert a small screwdriver
Ainto the slitB
of the corner and twist it to separate the
upper part from the lower part. Use a cloth to
protect the casing.
3. Replace the battery with a new one. Recommended battery: CR2032 or equiva-
lent.
●Do not touch the internal circuit and elec-
tric terminals as doing so could cause a
malfunction.
● Hold the battery by the edges. Holding
the battery across the contact points will
seriously deplete the storage capacity.
● Make sure that the + side faces the bot-
tom of the case. 4. Close the lid securely as illustrated
CD.
5. Operate the buttons to check the operation.
See a NISSAN dealer if you need assistance for
replacement.
FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions: (1) This device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may
cause undesired operation. Note: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with RSS-210 of In-
dustry Canada. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device
may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference, in-
cluding interference that may cause unde-
sired operation of the device.

WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system di-
rectly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
●Be 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.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
● Keep the cargo load as low as possible in
the trailer to keep the trailer center of gravity
low.
● Load the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half. Also make sure the load is
balanced side to side.
● Check 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. ●
Be certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
● Determine the overall height of the vehicle
and trailer so the required clearance is
known.
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.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
● Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadver-
tently becoming unlatched.
● Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
● Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
● 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:

Additional information concerning motor
vehicle safety may be obtained from
Transport Canada’s Road Safety Informa-
tion Centre at 1-800-333-0371 or online
at www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety (English
speakers) or
www.tc.gc.ca/securiteroutiere (French
speakers) .
To notify NISSAN of any safety concerns
please contact our Consumer Information
Centre toll free at 1-800-387-0122.Due to legal requirements in some states and
Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be re-
quired to be in what is called the “ready condi-
tion” for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of
the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when it
is driven through certain driving patterns. Usually,
the ready condition can be obtained by ordinary
usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be
reset to a “not ready” condition. Before taking the
I/M test, check the vehicle’s
inspection/maintenance test readiness condi-
tion. Place the ignition switch in the ON position
without starting the engine. If the Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) comes on steady for 20
seconds and then blinks for 10 seconds , the I/M
test condition is “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink after 20 seconds, the I/M test condition is
“ready”. Contact a NISSAN dealer to set the
“ready condition” or to prepare the vehicle for
testing.This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data Re-
corder (EDR) . The main purpose of an EDR is to
record, in certain crash or near crash-like situa-
tions, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understand-
ing how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR
is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this
vehicle is designed to record such data as:
● How various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
● Whether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were buckled/fastened;
● How far (if at all) the driver was depressing
the accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,
● How fast the vehicle was traveling.
● Sounds are not recorded.
These data can help provide a better understand-
ing of the circumstances in which crashes and
injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data are recorded by
your vehicle only if a nontrivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal data
(e.g. name, gender, age and crash location) are
recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)
9-26Technical and consumer information

Emission control information label.....9-11
Engine serial number ............9-10
F.M.V.S.S. certification label .........9-10
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-11
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-9
Warning labels (for SRS) ..........1-56
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System ......................1-24
License plate Installing the license plate ..........9-12
Light Air bag warning light .........1-56, 2-14
Brake light (See stop light) .........8-30
Bulb check/instrument panel ........2-10
Bulb replacement ..............8-30
Charge warning light ............2-11
Console light .................2-49
Fog light switch ...............2-34
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-29
Headlight control switch ..........2-31
Headlights ..................8-29
Interior light ..................2-48
Light bulbs ..................8-29
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light ......................2-24
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-51
Personal lights ................2-49
Security indicator light ............2-16
Spotlights (See map light) .........2-50
Trunk light ..................2-50
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ...................2-10
Lights Map lights ..................2-50 Lock
Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Door locks ...................3-4
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever ......3-25
Glove box lock ................2-41
Power door locks ...............3-5
T

runk lid lock opener lever ..........3-23
Loose fuel cap warning ..........2-25, 3-25
Low fuel warning light ..........2-13, 2-24
Low tire pressure warning light .........2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning light . . .2-24
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
M
Maintenance General maintenance .............8-2
Inside the vehicle ...............8-3
Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Outside the vehicle ..............8-2
Seat belt maintenance ............1-19
Under the hood and vehicle .........8-4
Malfunction indicator light ............2-15
Manual front seat adjustment ...........1-2
Map lights ....................2-50
Map pocket ....................2-37
Meters and gauges ................2-3
Instrument brightness control ........2-33
Mirror Automatic anti-glare inside mirror ......3-30
Inside mirror .................3-29
Outside mirrors ...............3-31
Vanity mirror .................3-29
Moonroof .....................2-46
Music Box hard-disk drive audio system . . .4-77 N
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ ............3-17
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system . . .2-27, 3-3, 5-10
NISSAN voice recognition system ......4-117
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating) ......9-4
Odometer .....................2-4
Oil Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine oil .............8-11
Changing engine oil filter ..........8-12
Checking engine oil level ..........8-10
Engine oil ...................8-10
Engine
oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-5
Outside mirrors .................3-31
Overheat If your vehicle overheats ...........6-10
Owner’s manual order form ...........9-27
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information ....................9-27
P
Parking Parking brake operation ...........5-19
Parking/parking on hills ...........5-23
Personal lights ..................2-49
10-4

Phone, Bluetoothhands-free
system ..................4-92, 4-106
Power Power door locks ...............3-5
Power outlet .................2-36
Power rear windows .............2-45
Power steering fluid .............8-14
Power steering system ...........5-24
Power windows ...............2-43
Rear power windows ............2-45
Precautions Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Precautions on child restraints . . .1-22, 1-28,
1-33, 1-37
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-13
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-41
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Programmable features ..............4-6
Push starting ...................6-10
R
Radio Car phone or CB radio ...........4-91
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player .....................4-44
FM/AM/SAT radio with CD/DVD player . .4-54
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player ..................4-48
Readiness for inspection maintenance
(I/M) test .....................9-26
Rear parcel shelf Refitting covers ...............8-37
Removing covers ...............8-36 Rear power windows
..............2-45
Rear seat ......................1-8
RearView Monitor ................4-13
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .......................2-29
Recorders Event data ..................9-26
Refrigerant recommendation ...........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country . . .9-9
Reporting safety defects (US only) .......9-25
S
Safety Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Child seat belts .....1-22, 1-28, 1-33, 1-37
Reporting safety defects (US only) .....9-25
Seat adjustment Front
manual seat adjustment ........1-2
Front power seat adjustment .........1-4
Rear seat adjustment .............1-8
Seatback pockets ................2-38
Seat belt Child safety ..................1-20
Infants and small children ..........1-21
Injured Person ................1-16
Larger children ................1-21
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-13
Pregnant women ...............1-16
Seat belt extenders .............1-19
Seat belt maintenance ............1-19
Seat belts ...................1-13
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-18
Three-point type with retractor .......1-16
Seat belt warning light ..............2-14 Seats
Adjustment ...................1-2
Front seats ...................1-2
Heated seats .................2-35
Manual front seat adjustment .........1-2
Rear seat ....................1-8
Security indicator light ..............2-16
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start ........2-27, 3-3, 5-10
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-23
Service manual order form ...........9-27
Servicing air conditioner .............4-28
Setting button ...................4-6
Shifting Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) .....................5-13
Manual transmission .............5-18
Shift lock release .................5-16
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-18
Spark plug replacement .............8-19
Speedometer ...................2-4
Spotlights

(See map light) ...........2-50
SRS warning label ................1-56
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 .............5-11
Steering Power steering fluid .............8-14
Power steering system ...........5-24
Stop light .....................8-30
Storage ......................2-37
Sunglasses case .................2-38
Sunglasses holder ................2-38
10-5