2013 NISSAN GT-R brake

8-6Maintenance and do-it-yourself
notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected
immediately.
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, other-
wise rust will form on the floor pan, frame, fuel
lines and around the exhaust system. At the end
of winter, the underbody should be thoroughly
flushed with plain water, being careful to clean
those areas where mud and dirt may accumu-
late. (
“Underbody” page 7-3)
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.
When 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
shift lever to the
&Pposition.
. 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.
. 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.
. The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer because the fuel lines are
under high pressure even when the
engine is off.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

8-8Maintenance and do-it-yourself
1. Fuse/fusible link holder
2. Battery
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Strut support bar
5. Engine oil dipstick
6. Brake fluid reservoir7. Air cleaner
8. Power steering fluid reservoir
9. Radiator filler cap
10. Coolant reservoir cap (pressure type)
11. Coolant reservoir
12. Window washer fluid reservoir
NOTICE
The coolant reservoir is equipped with a
pressure type cap, and the radiator is
equipped with a non-pressure type cap.
Do not switch the radiator filler cap and
the coolant reservoir cap. Doing so will
cause substandard cooling perfor-
mance and overheating.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS

8-12Maintenance and do-it-yourself
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
If major cooling system repairs are required,
contact a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer. The
service procedures can be found in the appro-
priate 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 filler cap
and the coolant reservoir cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator and
reservoir.
. 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.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait at least 5
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan before checking the oil.
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
ENGINE OIL

For further brake fluid information, see the
following section. (“Capacities and recom-
mended fuel/lubricants” page 9-2)
WARNING
. Use only new fluid from a sealed
container. Old, inferior or contami-
nated fluid may damage the brake
system. The use of improper fluids
can damage the brake system and
affect the vehicle’s stopping ability.
. Clean the filler cap before removing.
. Brake fluid is poisonous and should
be stored carefully in marked con-
tainers out of the reach of children.
CAUTION
Genuine NISSAN Brake Fluid R35 Spe-
cial II is the factory fill brake fluid. The
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) unit and
other related parts were specially de-
signed for this brake fluid and NISSAN
cannot ensure proper operation of the
vehicle if other brake fluid is used.
NOTICE
Do not spill the fluid on any painted
surfaces. This will damage the paint. If
fluid is spilled, wash the surface with
water.
Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid is
below the MIN line
*1or the brake warning
light comes on, add Genuine NISSAN Brake
Fluid R35 Special II fluid up to the MAX line
*2.
If fluid must be added frequently, the system
should be checked by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-15
BRAKE FLUID

1. Power steering fluid pump
2. Alternator
3. Crankshaft pulley
4. Air conditioner compressor
5. Drive belt auto-tensioner
WARNING
Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF
or LOCK position before servicing drive
belts. The engine could rotate unex-
pectedly.
1. Visually inspect each belt for signs of unusual wear, cuts, fraying or looseness. If the belt is in poor condition or loose, have it
replaced or adjusted by a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for condi- tion and tension in accordance with the
maintenance schedule in your NISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guide.
WARNING
Be sure the engine and the ignition
switch are off and that the parking
brake is engaged securely.
NOTICE
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-19
DRIVE BELTS SPARK PLUGS

8-22Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Be careful not to clog the washer nozzle*A.
This may cause improper windshield washer
operation. If the nozzle is clogged, remove any
objects with a needle or small pin
*B.Be
careful not to damage the nozzle.
If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked by a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer.
SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The disc-type brakes self-adjust every time the
brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
See a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer for
a brake system check if the brake pedal
height does not return to normal.
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
The disc brake pads have audible wear warn-
ings. When a brake pad requires replacement, it
will make a high pitched scraping sound when
the vehicle is in motion. This scraping sound will
first occur only when the brake pedal is
depressed. After more wear of the brake pad,
the sound will always be heard even if the brake
pedal is not depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the wear warning
sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions, occasional brake squeak, squeal or other noise
may be heard. Occasional brake noise during
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 for mainte-
nance intervals.
HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKE SYS-
TEM
This vehicle is equipped with high performance
brake pads that provide appropriate braking
force in a broad range of driving environments.
Due to the material used for the brake pads, the
road wheels may become more easily covered
by brake dust, however this does not indicate
that there is a malfunction.
The GT-R brake pads use material that contains
a lot of iron to maintain steady braking perfor-
mance even in high and low temperatures.
However, if the brake system is wet and the
parking brake is applied for a long time, the iron
in this material may get rusty and the brake pad
and disc rotor may be fixed together. This may
cause noise and vibration while driving. Before
parking the vehicle, dry the brake by driving on a
BRAKES

dry road, especially after washing the vehicle or
driving in rain. Contact a GT-R certified NISSAN
dealer if the noise and vibration continue.
Frequent hard braking may cause scorching of
the brake pads. This will require the brake pads
to be replaced, even if the wear limit has not
been reached. Have the brake pads and disc
rotors inspected at the regular vehicle inspec-
tions.
For more details, contact a GT-R certified
NISSAN dealer.
REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS
NISSAN generally recommends to replace all
four sets of brake pads and disc rotors at the
same time to maintain maximum brake perfor-
mance.
However, replacing only the brake pads may be
allowed in some cases (four wheels or only front
wheels depending on the conditions). A GT-R
certified technician must inspect the vehicle and
determine that only the brake pads need to be
replaced. In this case, replacing all brake pads
and disc rotors as a set is not necessary.
Note that the replacement of brake pads and the
disc rotors as a set on all four wheels should be
performed when a GT-R certified technician
determines that this is the correct repair.If the inside of the disc rotors are cold during the
winter and the surface becomes hot due to a
heavy force being applied repeatedly to the
brakes, cracks may occur near the coolant hole
on the surface of the disc rotor. Cracks may also
occur due to a heavy force being repeatedly
applied to the brakes during high performance
driving. In these cases it may be necessary to
replace the disc rotors or brake pads depending
on the condition of the crack. Contact a GT-R
certified NISSAN dealer for replacement.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
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 is pushed to the OFF or LOCK position and the headlight
switch is turned to OFF.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-23
FUSES

changer, cracks and deformation
may occur on the bead portion of
the tires meaning that the tires
cannot be reused.
. Make sure the tire valve stem cap is
installed and that the valve stem is
tight. When installing the cap, make
sure to tighten the cap by hand. If a
tool is used to tighten the cap, the
cap may be damaged.
WARNING
.The use of tires other than those
specified or the mixed use of tires of
different brands, construction (bias,
bias-belted, radial or run-flat) , or
tread patterns can adversely affect
the ride, braking, VDC system, hand-
ling, ground clearance, body-to-tire
clearance, tire chain clearance,
speedometer calibration, headlight
aim and bumper height. Some of
these effects may lead to accidents
and could result in serious 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, affect the VDC system and/or
cause interference with the brake
discs. Such interference can lead to
decreased braking efficiency and/or
early brake pad wear. (
“Wheels
and tires” page 9-9)
. When a wheel is replaced, tire
pressure will not be indicated, the
TPMS will not function and the low
tire pressure warning light will flash
for approximately 1 minute and
remain on after the 1 minute. Con-
tact a GT-R certified NISSAN dealer
as soon as possible for tire replace-
ment 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. .
Never use retread tires.
. For additional information regard-
ing tires, refer to “Important Tire
Safety Information” (US) or “Tire
Safety Information” (Canada) in the
Warranty Information Booklet.
. Always use tires of the specified
type, size, brand, construction (bias,
bias-belted, radial or run-flat) , and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between
tires on the front and rear axles
which will cause excessive tire wear
and may damage the transmission,
transfer case and differential gears.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced 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 performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balancing
the rear wheels on the vehicle could lead to
mechanical damage.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-41