•Never lean over the battery while jump-start-
ing.
•Never allow battery fluid to come into contact
with eyes, skin, clothes or the vehicle’s
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a corrosive
sulphuric acid which can cause severe burns.
If the fluid comes into contact with anything,
immediately flush the contacted area with
plenty of water.
•Keep the battery out of the reach of children.
•The booster battery must be rated at 12 volts.
Use of an incorrectly rated battery will dam-
age your vehicle.
•Never attempt to jump-start a frozen battery.
It could explode and cause serious injury.
1. Prepare vehicle
jA with the booster battery for
the vehiclejB being jump-started.
CAUTION
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the handbrake.
3. Shift the gear lever (MT models) into the N (Neu-
tral) position [AT models, move the selector lever
to the P (Park) position].
4. Switch off all unnecessary electrical systems
(headlights, hazard lights etc,).
5. Ensure that the ignition switch of the vehicle be-
ing jump-started is in the LOCK position.6. Open the bonnet. For details, see “Bonnet
release” in the “3. Pre-driving checks and
adjustments” section.
7. Remove the vent caps (where fitted) on the bat-
tery and cover the battery with an old cloth.
8. Connect the jump leads in the sequence (
j1→j2→j3→j4 ) as illustrated.
CAUTION
•Always connect positivej+ to positivej+
and negativej- to body ground (for ex-
ample, engine lift bracket, etc.) – not to
the battery’s negative
j-.
•An incorrect connection could damage the
charging system.
•Be sure that the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine compart-
ment.
•Be careful not to allow contact between
the positive jump lead connector and the
vehicle or the negative lead during con-
nection and disconnection.
9. Start the engine of the other vehicle
jA and let it
run for a few minutes. Keep the engine speed at
about 2,000 rpm.
10. Start the engine of your vehicle
jB in the nor-
mal way.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged formore than 10 seconds. If the engine does not
start immediately, turn the ignition switch to
“OFF” and wait 10 seconds before trying
again.
11. After starting the engine of your vehicle, care-
fully disconnect the negative lead and then the
positive lead (
j4→j3→j2→j1).
12. Remove and dispose of the cloth that was used
to cover the vent holes as it may be contami-
nated with corrosive acid.
13. Install the vent caps (where fitted).
14. Close the bonnet.
6-10In case of emergency
CAUTION
•Three-way catalyst equipped models should
not be started by pushing the vehicle as the
three-way catalyst may be damaged.
•Automatic transmission (AT) models cannot
be started by pushing the vehicle. This may
cause transmission damage.
•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 ve-
hicle.
WARNING
•Never continue driving if the engine of your
vehicle overheats. Doing so could cause a ve-
hicle fire.
•Never open the bonnet if steam is coming
out.
•Never remove the radiator cap (where fitted)
or engine coolant reservoir cap when the en-
gine is hot. If the radiator cap (where fitted) or
engine coolant reservoir cap is removed while
the engine is hot, pressurised hot water will
spurt out and possibly cause burning, scald-
ing or serious injury.
•If steam or coolant is coming out of the en-
gine, stand clear of the vehicle to prevent get-
ting injured.
•The engine cooling fan will start whenever the
coolant temperature exceeds preset degrees.
•Be careful not to allow your hands, hair, jewel-
lery or clothing to come into contact with, or
get caught in, the cooling fan or drive belts.
If the engine of your vehicle is overheating (indi-
cated by the engine coolant temperature warning
light (red)) or if you feel a lack of engine power,
detect an unusual noise, etc., proceed as follows:
1. Move and park the vehicle safely off the road and
away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flasher lights.
3. Apply the handbrake.4. Shift the gear lever (M/T models) into the N (Neu-
tral) position [AT models, move the selector lever
to the P (Park) position].
DO NOT STOP THE ENGINE.
5. Open all windows.
6. Switch off the air conditioner system (where fit-
ted).
7. Set the heater or air conditioner temperature
control to maximum “HOT” and fan speed con-
trol to maximum speed.
8. Exit the vehicle.
9. Visually inspect and listen for steam or coolant
escaping from the radiator before opening the
bonnet. Wait until no steam or coolant can be
seen before proceeding.
10. Open the bonnet. For details, see “Bonnet
release” in the “3. Pre-driving checks and
adjustments” section.
11. Visually check if the cooling fan is running.
12. Visually check the radiator and radiator hoses
for leakage.
WARNING
If coolant is leaking, the cooling fan belt is
missing or loose or the cooling fan is not run-
ning, stop the engine.
PUSH-STARTING ENGINE OVERHEAT
In case of emergency6-11
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
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
Your new NISSAN has been designed to have mini-
mum maintenance requirements with longer service
intervals, to save you both time and money. How-
ever, some day-to-day and regular maintenance is
essential to maintain your NISSAN’s good mechani-
cal condition, as well as its emission and engine
performance.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure that the
specified maintenance, as well as general mainte-
nance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one who can
ensure that your vehicle receives the proper mainte-
nance care.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
For your convenience, the required scheduled main-
tenance items are described and listed in the sepa-
rately provided Warranty Information and Mainte-
nance booklet. You must refer to that booklet to
ensure that necessary maintenance is performed on
your NISSAN vehicle at regular intervals.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
General maintenance includes those items which
should be checked during normal day-to-day opera-
tion of the vehicle. They are essential if your vehicle
is to continue to operate properly. It is your respon-
sibility to perform these procedures regularly as pre-
scribed.
Performing general maintenance checks requires
minimal mechanical skill and a few general automo-
tive tools.These checks or inspections can be done by your-
self, a qualified technician or, if you prefer, your
NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICE
If maintenance service is required or your vehicle
appears to malfunction, have your vehicle checked
and tuned by an authorised NISSAN dealer or quali-
fied workshop.During the normal day-to-day operation of the ve-
hicle, general maintenance should be performed
regularly as prescribed in this section. If you detect
any unusual sounds, vibrations or smell, be sure to
check for the cause or have a NISSAN dealer or
qualified workshop do it promptly. In addition, you
should notify a NISSAN dealer or qualified work-
shop if repairs are required.
When performing any checks or maintenance work,
closely observe the “Maintenance precautions” later
in this section.
EXPLANATION OF GENERAL
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following items with
an asterisk (*) is found later in this section.
The maintenance items listed here should be per-
formed from time to time, unless otherwise speci-
fied.
Outside the vehicle
Back door, doors and bonnet:
Check that the back door, all doors and the bonnet
operate properly. Also ensure that all latches lock
securely. Lubricate hinges and latches if necessary.
Make sure that the secondary latch keeps the bon-
net from opening when the primary latch is released.
When driving in areas using road salt or other cor-
rosive materials, check for lubrication frequently.
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS GENERAL MAINTENANCE
8-2Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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.
Tyres*:
Check the pressure with a gauge periodically when
at a service station (including the spare) and adjust
to the specified pressure if necessary. Check care-
fully for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Tyre rotation*:
Tyres should be rotated at least every 10,000 km
(6,000 miles). However, the timing for tyre rotation
may vary according to your driving habits and road
surface conditions.
Wheel alignment and balance:
If the vehicle pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect uneven or
abnormal tyre 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.
Wheel bolts:
When checking the tyres, make sure no wheel bolts
are missing, and check for any loose wheel bolts.
Tighten if necessary.Windscreen:
Clean the windscreen on a regular basis. Check the
windscreen at least every six months for cracks or
other damage. Have a damaged windscreen re-
paired by a qualified repair facility.
Wiper blades*:
Check for cracks or wear if they do not wipe prop-
erly.
Under the bonnet and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically, e.g. each time you check the
engine oil or refuel.
Battery*:
Check if the green indicator on the top of the main-
tenance free battery is visible. If it is not visible,
replace the battery as soon as possible.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or under
severe conditions, check the fluid level frequently.
Brake and clutch fluid level*:
Make sure that the brake and clutch fluid level is
between the MAX and MIN lines on the reservoir.
Engine coolant level*:
Check the coolant level when the engine is cold.
Engine drive belts*:
Make sure that the drive belts are not frayed, worn,
cracked or oily.Engine oil level*:
Check the level after parking the vehicle on a level
surface and turning off the engine.
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
petrol fumes are evident, check for the cause and
have it corrected immediately.
Window washer fluid*:
Check that there is adequate fluid in the tank.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when perform-
ing periodic maintenance, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal:
Check the pedal for smooth operation and make
sure that the pedal does not catch or require uneven
effort. Keep the floor mats away from the pedal.
Brake pedal*:
Check the pedal for smooth operation. If the brake
pedal suddenly goes down further than normal, the
pedal feels spongy or the vehicle seems to take
longer to stop, contact a NISSAN dealer or qualified
workshop immediately. Keep the floor mat away
from the pedal.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
WARNING
•To avoid the danger of being scalded, never
change the coolant when the engine is hot.
•Avoid direct skin contact with used coolant. If
skin contact is made, wash thoroughly with
soap or hand cleaner and plenty of water as
soon as possible.
•Keep coolant out of reach of children and
pets.
NISSAN GREEN PROGRAM
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
CR14DE or HR16DE engine
1. Set the heater or air conditioner temperature
control to the maximum “HOT” position.
2. Open the bonnet. For details, see “Bonnet
release” in the “3. Pre-driving checks and
adjustments” section.
3. Open the radiator cap
j1 (where fitted) or en-
gine coolant reservoir cap to help to drain the
coolant.
4. Slacken off the radiator lower hose clip
j2and
remove the lower hosej3 to drain the coolant.
5. Flush the cooling system by running clean water
through the radiator filler opening (where fitted)
or engine coolant reservoir.
6. Install the radiator lower hose on the radiator
securely.7. Fill the radiator through the filler opening (where
applicable) slowly with coolant and fill the cool-
ant reservoir up to the MAX level. See “Capaci-
ties and recommended fuel/lubricants” in the
“9. Technical information” section for cooling
system capacity.
8. Install the radiator cap (where fitted) and the en-
gine coolant reservoir cap.
9. Start the engine, and warm it up until the radiator
fan operates. Then rev the engine two or three
times under no load. Observe the coolant tem-
perature warning light for signs of overheating.
10. Stop the engine. After it has completely cooled
down, refill the radiator up to the filler opening
(where fitted). If the coolant level lowered, fill
the engine coolant reservoir up to the MAX level.
11. Check radiator lower hose for any signs of leak-
age.
12. Close the bonnet.
K9K engine
1. Set the heater or air conditioner temperature
control to the maximum “HOT” position.
2. Open the bonnet. For details, see “Bonnet
release” in the “3. Pre-driving checks and
adjustments” section.
3. Disconnect the radiator lower hose
j1 and open
the drain plugj2 on the engine block.
4. Open the engine coolant reservoir cap to help to
drain the coolant.
5. Flush the cooling system by running fresh water
through the radiator.
6. Install the radiator lower hose to the radiator and
securely tighten the engine block drain plug.
7. Fill the reservoir up to the MAX level with cool-
ant. See “Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants” in the “9. Technical information”
section for cooling system capacity.
8. Install the engine coolant reservoir cap.
9. Start the engine and run the engine at about
2,000 rpm for 1 minute.
10. Stop the engine and check coolant level, allow
to cool and refill up to the MAX level.
11. Warm up the engine at about 2,000 rpm until it
reaches the normal operational temperature
(fan cycles).
Check heater core (below instrument panel) for
gurgling, refill if necessary.
NDI671Z
K9K engine
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-7
A.CR14DE or HR16DE engine
B.K9K engine
1.Normal range
2.MIN level
3.MAX level
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
CAUTION
The oil level should be checked regularly. Oper-
ating with an insufficient amount of oil can dam-
age the engine, and such damage is not covered
by warranty.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the
handbrake.
2. Start the engine. If the engine is cold, start and
let the engine idle until it reaches the operational
temperature.3. Turn the engine off.
4. Wait at least 10 minutes for the engine oil to
drain back into the oil pan.
5. Open the bonnet. For details, see “Bonnet
release” in the “3. Pre-driving checks and
adjustments” section.
6. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
7. Reinsert it all the way.
8. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level.
It should be in the normal range
j1.
9. If the oil level is below MIN
j2 , remove the en-
gine oil filler cap and pour the recommended oil
through the opening.Do not overfill
j3.
10. Re-check the oil level with the dipstick.
11. Install the engine oil filler cap securely.
12. Close the bonnet.
It is normal to add some engine oil between oil
maintenance intervals depending on the severity
of operating conditions or depending on the prop-
erty of the engine oil used. More engine oil is
consumed by frequent acceleration/deceleration
especially when the engine rpm is high. Con-
sumption is likely to be higher when the engine
is new. If the rate of oil consumption, after hav-
ing driven for 5,000 km (3,000 miles), is more
than 0.5 litre per 1,000 km (621 miles), consult a
NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL
NDI957Z
SDI1104Z
CR14DE engine
NDI653Z
HR16DE engine
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-9