UnderbodyThe 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. For
additional information, refer to the “Appearance
and care” section of this manual.
Windshield–washer fluid* Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir. When performing any inspection or maintenance
work on your vehicle, always take care to prevent
serious accidental injury to yourself or damage to
the vehicle. The following are general precau-
tions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
●
Park the vehicle on a level surface, ap-
ply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the vehicle
from moving. For manual transmission
models, move the shift lever to N (Neu-
tral) . For CVT models, move the shift
lever to P (Park) .
● Be sure the ignition switch is placed in
the OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
● Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come
on at any time without warning, even if
the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position and the engine is not running.
To avoid injury, always disconnect the
negative battery cable before working
near the fan. ●
If you must work with the engine run-
ning, 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 whenever
you work on your vehicle.
● If you must run the engine in an en-
closed 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 neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, support
it with safety stands.
● Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
● The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
even when the engine is off.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-5
HR16DE engine
1. Drive belt location
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Air cleaner
4. Brake and clutch (*1) fluid reservoir
5. Fusible link
6. Battery
7. Engine coolant reservoir
8. Radiator cap
9. Engine oil dipstick
10. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
*1 For Manual Transmission (M/T) model
LDI2377
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-7
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the engine is cold. If the coolant level is below
the MIN level
2, add coolant 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.
For additional information on the location of the
engine coolant reservoir, refer to “Engine com-
partment check locations” in this section. If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
A NISSAN dealer can change the engine coolant.
The service procedure can be found in the
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 en-
gine 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 the 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. Start the engine and let it idle 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. Re- insert it all the way.
SDI1860LDI2038
ENGINE OIL
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-9
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oillevel. It should be between the H (High) and
L (Low) marks
1. This is the normal oper-
ating oil level range. If the oil level is below
the L (Low) mark
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 engine oil be-
tween oil maintenance intervals depending
on the severity of operating conditions or
depending on the property of the engine oil
used. More engine oil is consumed by fre-
quent acceleration/deceleration especially when the engine rpm is high. Consumption
is likely to be higher when the engine is
new. If the rate of oil consumption, after
driving for 3,000 miles (5,000 km), is more
than 0.5 liter per 600 miles (1,000 km), con-
sult a NISSAN dealer
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly. Op-
erating the engine with an insufficient
amount of oil can damage the engine, and
such damage is not covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches operating temperature, then turn it off.
LHA2095
LDI2364
8-10Maintenance and do-it-yourself
CHANGING ENGINE OIL FILTER
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and applythe parking brake.
2. Turn the engine off.
3. Place a large drain pan under the oil filter
B. 4. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter wrench
by turning it counterclockwise. Then remove
the oil filter by turning it by hand.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter sealing surface with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old gasket material
remaining on the sealing surface of the
engine. Failure to do so could lead to
engine damage.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean engine oil .
7. Screw on the oil filter until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten an additional 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque: 11 - 15 ft-lbs (15 - 20 N·m)
8. Start the engine and check for leakage around the oil filter. Correct as required.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10 minutes. Check the oil level. Add engine
oil by removing the oil filler cap
Aif neces-
sary.
CAUTION
● NISSAN recommends using Genuine
NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 ONLY in
NISSAN CVTs. Do not mix with other
fluids.
● Do not use Automatic transmission
fluid (ATF) or Manual transmission fluid
in a NISSAN CVT, as it may damage the
CVT. Damage caused by the use of flu-
ids other than recommended is not cov-
ered under NISSAN’s New Vehicle Lim-
ited Warranty.
● Using fluids that are not equivalent to
Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 may
also damage the CVT. Damage caused
by the use of fluids other than as recom-
mended is not covered under NISSAN’s
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
When checking or replacement of CVT fluid is
required, we recommend your NISSAN dealer for
servicing.
LDI2365
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT) FLUID (if so
equipped)
8-12Maintenance and do-it-yourself
For further brake and clutch fluid specification
information, refer to “Recommended
fluids/lubricants and capacities” in the “Technical
and consumer information” section of this
manual.
WARNING
●Use only new fluid from a sealed con-
tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the brake and clutch
(if so equipped) systems. The use of
improper fluids can damage the brake
and clutch system and affect the vehi-
cle’s stopping ability.
● Clean the filler cap before removing.
● Brake and clutch fluid is poisonous and
should be stored carefully in marked
containers out of reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid is
spilled, immediately wash the surface with
water. Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the level is
below the MIN line
1, add Genuine NISSAN
Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT
3 fluid up to the MAX line
2. If fluid must be
added frequently, the system should be checked
by a NISSAN dealer.
WINDSHIELD-WASHER FLUID
RESERVOIR
Add a washer solvent to the windshield-washer
fluid reservoir for better cleaning. In the winter
season, add a windshield-washer antifreeze. Fol-
low the manufacturer’s instructions for the mix-
ture ratio.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when driving
conditions require an increased amount of
windshield-washer fluid.
Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN
Windshield-Washer Fluid Concentrate Cleaner
& Antifreeze or equivalent.
LDI2683LDI2040
BRAKE AND CLUTCH (if so equipped)
FLUID WINDSHIELD-WASHER FLUID
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-13
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 re-
move the spark plugs. An incorrect socket
can damage the spark plugs.
WARNING
●Operating the engine with the air
cleaner filter off can cause you or others
to be burned. The air cleaner filter not
only cleans the intake air, it also stops
the flame if the engine backfires. If the
air cleaner is not installed and the en-
gine backfires, you could be burned.
Never drive with the air cleaner filter off.
Be cautious working on the engine
when the air cleaner is off.
To remove the filter from the air cleaner, release
the retaining clips
1, then release the holders at
the back of the unit. Pull the unit upward
2. The viscous paper type filter element should not
be cleaned and reused. The dry paper type filter
element may be cleaned and reused. Replace the
air filter according to the maintenance log shown
in a separate maintenance booklet.
When replacing the air filter, wipe the inside of
the air cleaner housing and the cover with a damp
cloth.
LDI2185
AIR CLEANER
8-18Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Be careful not to let anything get into the washer
nozzle
A. This may cause clogging or improper
windshield–washer operation. If something gets
into the nozzle, remove it with a needle or small
pin
B.
Rear window wiper blade
Contact a NISSAN dealer if checking or replace-
ment is required. If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked by a NISSAN dealer.Self-adjusting brakes
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front disc-type brakes self-adjust every time
the brake pedal is applied. The rear drum-type
brakes self-adjust every time the parking brake is
applied.
WARNING
See a NISSAN dealer for a brake system
check if the brake pedal height does not
return to normal.
Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have audible
wear indicators. When a brake pad requires re-
placement, a high pitched scraping or screech-
ing sound will be heard when the vehicle is in
motion. The noise will be heard whether or not the
brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the wear indicator
sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions, occa-
sional brake squeak, squeal or other noise may
be heard. Occasional brake noise during light to
WDI0570
BRAKES
8-20Maintenance and do-it-yourself