Black plate (265,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 7/ 19 Model: Z12-D ]
GUID-E2F897EE-C3F1-4C74-A916-5034D75F6B48When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or
damage to the vehicle. The following are general
precautions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
.Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely
and block the wheels to prevent
the vehicle from moving. Move the
selector lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion or the shift lever to the N
(Neutral) position.
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving
fans, belts and any other moving
parts.
. It is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle. .
Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
. If you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
. Never get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel tank and the
battery.
. The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer be-
cause the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is
off.
CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine
off and wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly
disposed engine oil, and engine coolant and/or other vehicle fluids
can damage the environment. Al-
ways conform to local regulations
for disposal of vehicle fluid.
. Never leave the engine or the CVT
related component harnesses dis-
connected while the ignition switch
is in the ON position.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized com-
ponent while the ignition switch is
in the ON position.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always
disconnect the negative battery
cable before working near the fan.
This “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items
which are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s Manual/Service Man-
ual order information” (P.9-20).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-5
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Condition:
Black plate (268,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 7/ 19 Model: Z12-D ]
8-8Maintenance and do-it-yourself
.The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 105,000 miles (168,000
km) or 7 years. Mixing any other
type of coolant other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) , including Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (green) , or the use of non-
distilled water will reduce the life
expectancy of the factory-fill cool-
ant. Refer to the NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide for more
details.
SDI2385
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LEVELGUID-E22C4226-8039-4298-A054-1C9C633C3520Check the coolant level in the reservoir when
the engine is cold. If the coolant level is below
the MIN level
*2, open the reservoir cap and
add coolant up to the MAX level
*1. If the
reservoir is empty, check the coolant level in the
radiator when the engine is cold. If there is
insufficient coolant in the radiator, fill the radiator
with coolant up to the filler opening and also add
it to the reservoir up to the MAX level
*1.
Tighten the cap securely after adding engine
coolant.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANTGUID-74307420-81CE-4DE4-BAA8-1DB9D32DB34CMajor cooling system repairs should be per-
formed by a NISSAN dealer. The service
procedures can be found in the appropriate
NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
. To avoid the danger of being
scalded, never change the coolant
when the engine is hot.
. Never remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
. Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made,
wash thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
. Keep coolant out of reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
Condition:
Black plate (269,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 7/ 19 Model: Z12-D ]
GUID-3E0E050B-1540-44A8-8ECF-B186EB4ABEBE
SDI2386
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVELGUID-98262BB3-4DD2-42F1-8473-B727C58010961. Park the vehicle on a level surface and applythe parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the range
*1. If the
oil level is below
*2, remove the oil filler cap
and pour recommended oil through the opening.
Do not overfill
*3.
6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the break-
in period, depending on the severity of
operating conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not cov-
ered by the warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTERGUID-B039BF76-B308-4ACC-B286-278280AFEACEChange the engine oil and filter according to the
maintenance log shown in the NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide.
Vehicle set-upGUID-092FA821-9536-4A62-AC63-BD970A17C2E71. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches the operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10 minutes. 4.
Raise and support the vehicle using a
suitable floor jack and safety jack stands.
.Place the safety jack stands under the
vehicle jack-up points.
.A suitable adapter should be attached tothe jack stand saddle.
CAUTION
Make sure the correct lifting and sup-
port points are used to avoid vehicle
damage.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-9
ENGINE OIL
Condition:
Black plate (276,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 7/ 19 Model: Z12-D ]
8-16Maintenance and do-it-yourself
in poor condition or loose, have it replaced
or adjusted by a NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belt condition checked regularly.
GUID-46E8ACCB-5EC1-4F2C-92B0-5F601C4995E6
WARNING
Be sure the engine and ignition switch
are off and that the parking brake is
engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
SDI2020
REPLACING SPARK PLUGSGUID-EA884B1F-B15D-4F28-86D5-A84E0198FF6BIf replacement is required, see a NISSAN dealer
for servicing.
Iridium-tipped spark plugsGUID-BE0A3142-FE84-4367-9878-8F75CFFD3273It is not necessary to replace the iridium-tipped
spark plugs as frequently as the conventional
type spark plugs since they will last much longer.
Follow the maintenance log shown in the
“NISSAN Service and Maintenance Guide”. Do
not reuse the iridium-tipped spark plugs by
cleaning or regapping.
Always replace spark plugs with recom-
mended or equivalent ones.
SPARK PLUGS
Condition:
Black plate (277,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 7/ 19 Model: Z12-D ]
GUID-0151FC5F-DBF7-4DCD-B119-9C36290952D0
SDI2106
To remove the air cleaner filter, push the tabs*1
and pull the filter upward*2.
The air cleaner filter should not be cleaned and
reused. Replace it according to the maintenance
shown in the “NISSAN Service and Mainte-
nance Guide”. When replacing the filter, wipe
the inside of the air cleaner housing and the
cover with a damp cloth.
WARNING
. Operating the engine with the air
cleaner removed can cause you or
others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it stops flame if the engine backfires. If it
is not there, and the engine back-
fires, you could be burned. Do not
drive with the air cleaner removed,
and be careful when working on the
engine with the air cleaner removed.
. Never pour fuel into the throttle
body or attempt to start the engine
with the air cleaner removed. Doing
so could result in serious injury.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-17
AIR CLEANER
Condition:
Black plate (280,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 7/ 19 Model: Z12-D ]
8-20Maintenance and do-it-yourself
light to moderate stops is normal and does not
affect the function or performance of the brake
system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For additional information, see the
maintenance log section of your “NISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guide”.
GUID-DD7525EB-FBCE-47BB-84DB-A4DCC38E0B7E
SDI1959
ENGINE COMPARTMENTGUID-7418E363-32CB-4361-A166-BCACA8AC6AFB
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than that 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 turned off. 2. Open the engine hood.
3. Remove the resonator. (See “Engine com-
partment check locations” (P.8-6) .)
4. Remove the fuse/fusible link holder cover by pushing the tab
*1and lifting the cover
from the right side
*2, then the left side
*3.
5. Locate the fuse that needs to be replaced.
6. Remove the fuse using the fuse puller
located in the passenger compartment fuse
box.
FUSES
Condition:
Black plate (297,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 7/ 19 Model: Z12-D ]
SDI1663
1.Wear indicator
2.Wear indicator location mark
Tire wear and damageGUID-A81F2377-F3ED-45FB-9821-5BF3711F3625
WARNING
.Tires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bul-
ging or objects caught in the
tread. If excessive wear, cracks,
bulging or deep cuts are found,
the tire(s) should be replaced. .
The original tires have built-in
tread wear indicators. When
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
obvious. Replace the tires as
necessary to prevent tire failure
and possible personal injury.
. Improper service of the spare
tire may result in serious perso-
nal injury. 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” (Cana-
da) in the Warranty Information
Booklet.
Replacing wheels and tiresGUID-1DFF1A73-BD27-4D38-9336-C2D1F4CB47B1When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread
design, speed rating and load carrying capacity
as originally equipped. (See “Specifications”
(P.9-7) for recommended types and sizes of
tires and wheels.)
WARNING
. The use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construc-
tion (bias, bias-belted or radial) , or
tread patterns can adversely affect
the ride, braking, handling, ground
clearance, body-to-tire clearance,
tire chain clearance, speedometer
calibration, headlight aim and bum-
per height. Some of these effects
may lead to accidents and could
result in serious personal injury.
. If your vehicle was originally
equipped with 4 tires that were the
same size and you are only repla-
cing 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
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-37
Condition:
Black plate (298,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 7/ 19 Model: Z12-D ]
8-38Maintenance and do-it-yourself
accident and personal injury.
. If the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same off-set dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different off-set
could cause premature tire wear,
degrade vehicle handling character-
istics and/or interference with the
brake discs/drums. Such interfer-
ence can lead to decreased braking
efficiency and/or early brake pad/
shoe wear. See “Wheels and tires”
(P.9-7) 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 approxi-
mately 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 ori-
ginally specified by NISSAN could
affect the proper operation of the
TPMS.
. Do not install a damaged or de-
formed wheel or tire even if it has been repaired. Such wheels or tires
could have structural damage and
could fail without warning.
. The use of retread tire is not re-
commended.
. For additional information regard-
ing tires, refer to “Important Tire
Safety Information” (US) or “Tire
Safety Information” (Canada) in the
Warranty Information Booklet.
Wheel balanceGUID-CCFB66F7-C623-4918-B994-9CED88C89563Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle handling
and tire life. Even with regular use, wheels can
get out of balance. Therefore, they should be
balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be per-
formed with the wheels off the vehicle.
Spin balancing the wheels on the vehicle
could lead to mechanical damage.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
to “Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in the War-
ranty Information Booklet.
Care of wheelsGUID-319CE08F-8458-40B3-A98F-727153C49F45See “Cleaning exterior” (P.7-2) for details about
care of the wheels.
Spare tireGUID-8235CC8F-BCE0-4A23-97F9-A142E926996FWhen a spare tire is mounted (TEMPORARY
USE ONLY) , the TPMS will not function.
Observe the following precautions if the TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY spare tire must be used,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged or
involved in an accident.
WARNING
.The TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare
tire should be used for emergency
use. It should be replaced with the
standard tire at the first opportunity
to avoid possible tire or differential
damage.
. Drive carefully while the TEMPOR-
ARY USE ONLY spare tire is in-
stalled. Avoid sharp turns and
abrupt braking while driving.
. Periodically check spare tire infla-
tion pressure. Always keep the
pressure of the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire at 60 psi (420 kPa,
4.2 bar) .
Condition: