8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements..........................8-2
General maintenance ..............................8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items .........8-2
Maintenance precautions ...........................8-5
Engine compartment check locations ................8-6
Engine cooling system .............................8-7
Checking engine coolant level ...................8-8
Changing engine coolant ........................8-8
Engine oil .........................................8-9
Checking engine oil level ........................8-9
Changing engine oil ........................... 8-10
Changing engine oil filter .......................8-11
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid
(if so equipped) .................................. 8-11
Brake and clutch (if so equipped) fluid ..............8-12
Windshield-washer fluid ........................... 8-12
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir ...............8-12
Battery .......................................... 8-13
Jump starting ................................. 8-15
Variable voltage control system .....................8-15
Drive belt ........................................ 8-16
Spark plugs ...................................... 8-16Replacing spark plugs
......................... 8-16
Air cleaner ....................................... 8-17
Windshield wiper blades .......................... 8-18
Cleaning ..................................... 8-18
Replacing .................................... 8-18
Brakes .......................................... 8-19
Fuses ........................................... 8-20
Engine compartment ........................... 8-20
Passenger compartment .......................8-21
Battery replacement .............................. 8-22
Key fob (if so equipped) ........................ 8-23
NISSAN Intelligent Key® (if so equipped) ........8-23
Lights ........................................... 8-25
Headlights .................................... 8-25
Fog lights (if so equipped) ......................8-26
Exterior and interior lights .......................8-27
Wheels
and tires ................................. 8-31
Tire pressure .................................. 8-31
Tire labeling ................................... 8-34
Types of tires .................................. 8-37
Tire chains .................................... 8-38
Changing wheels and tires .....................8-38
When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication frequently.
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.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)* When checking
the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are missing,
and check for any loose wheel nuts. Tighten if
necessary.
Tire rotation* Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km).
Tires* Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If neces-
sary, adjust the pressure in all tires, including the
spare, to the pressure specified. Check carefully
for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components (if so equipped)
Replace the TPMS transmitter grommet seal,
valve core and cap when the tires are replaced
due to wear or age.
Wheel alignment and balance If the vehicle
should pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect uneven or
abnormal tire 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.
● For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield Clean the windshield on a regular
basis. Check the windshield at least every six
months for cracks or other damage. Have a dam-
aged windshield repaired by a qualified repair
facility.
Windshield wiper blades* Check for cracks or
wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when per-
forming periodic maintenance, cleaning the ve-
hicle, etc.
Additional information on the following
items with an “*” is found in this section.
Accelerator pedal Check the pedal for smooth
operation and make sure the pedal does not bind
or require uneven effort. Keep the floor mat away
from the pedal.
Brake pedal Check the pedal for smooth opera-
tion. If the brake pedal suddenly goes down fur- ther than normal, the pedal feels spongy or the
vehicle seems to take longer to stop, see a
NISSAN dealer immediately. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes
Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
P (Park) position mechanism (if so
equipped) On a fairly steep hill check that the
vehicle is held securely with the shift lever in the P
(Park) position without applying any brakes.
Parking brake Check the parking brake opera-
tion regularly. The vehicle should be securely held
on a fairly steep hill with only the parking brake
applied. If the parking brake needs adjustment,
see a NISSAN dealer.
Seats Check seat position controls such as seat
adjusters, seat back recliner, etc. to ensure they
operate smoothly and all latches lock securely in
every position. Check that the head
restraints/headrests move up and down
smoothly and the locks hold securely in all
latched positions.
Seat belts Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjusters
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt web-
bing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
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. NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery discharge
and potential no-start conditions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electronic accessories that consume battery power
when the engine is not running (Phone char-
gers, GPS, DVD players, etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or only driven short distances. In these cases, the
battery may need to be charged to maintain
battery health.
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. Refer to
the carbon monoxide warning 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 (if so equipped) after use is nor-
mal. If you should notice any leaks or if gasoline
fumes are evident, check for the cause and have
it corrected immediately.
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. 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.
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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 ap-
proved by the party responsible for compli-
ance could void the user’s authority to op-
erate the equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with Industry Canada
licence-exempt RSS standard(s) . Opera-
tion is subject to the following two condi-
tions: (1) this device may not cause inter-
ference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference, including interference that
may cause undesired operation of the de-
vice.HEADLIGHTS
Replacing the halogen headlight bulb
The headlight is a semi-sealed beam type which
uses a replaceable headlight (halogen) bulb.
They can be replaced from inside the engine
compartment without removing the headlight as-
sembly.
CAUTION
●High-pressure halogen gas is sealed in-
side the bulb. The bulb may break if the
glass envelope is scratched or the bulb
is dropped.
● Aiming should not be necessary after
replacing the H4 bulb. When aiming ad-
justment is necessary, contact a
NISSAN dealer.
● Do not leave the headlight assembly
open without a bulb installed for a long
period of time. Dust, moisture, smoke,
etc. entering the headlight body may
affect bulb performance. Remove the
bulb from the headlight assembly just
before a replacement bulb is installed. ●
Only touch the base when handling the
bulb. Never touch the glass envelope.
Touching the glass could significantly
affect bulb life and/or headlight
performance.
● Use the same number and wattage as
shown in the chart.
LIGHTS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-25
1. Disconnect the battery negative cable.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector
Afrom
the rear end of the bulb.
3. Pull off the rubber cap
B. 4. Push and turn the retaining pin
Cto loosen
it.
5. Remove the headlight bulb. Do not shake or rotate the bulb when removing it.
6. Install the new bulb in the reverse order of removal.
Fog may temporarily form inside the lens of the
exterior lights in the rain or in a car wash. A
temperature difference between the inside and
the outside of the lens causes the fog. This is not
a malfunction. If large drops of water collect
inside the lens, contact a NISSAN dealer.
FOG LIGHTS (if so equipped)
Replacing the fog light bulb (if so
equipped)
CAUTION
If replacement is required, see your
NISSAN dealer.
● High pressure halogen gas is sealed
inside the halogen bulb. The bulb may
break if the glass envelope is scratched
or the bulb is dropped.
● When handling the bulb, do not touch
the glass envelope. ●
Use the same number and wattage as
originally installed as shown in the
chart.
● Do not leave the bulb out of the fog light
for a long period of time as dust, mois-
ture and smoke may enter the fog light
body and affect the performance of the
fog light.
JVM0002X
8-26Maintenance and do-it-yourself
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS
ItemWattage (W)Bulb No.
Headlight assembly High/low (Halogen) 60/55HB2
Turn/position light 27/7P21W
Side Marker 5W5W
Fog light (if so equipped) 55H11
Room light 8WAL34
Map light (if so equipped) 5W5W
Trunk compartment light 3.4158
High-mounted stop light (if so equipped) 16W16W
Spoiler-mounted stop light* (if so equipped) ——
Rear combination light* Turn signal light 21PY21W
Stop/Tail 21/5P21/5W
Backup (reversing) 21P21W
License plate light* 5W5W
Always check with the Parts Department at a NISSAN dealer for the latest parts information.
* If replacement is required contact a NISSAN dealer.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-27
1. Map lights (if so equipped)
2. Room light
3. Fog light (if so equipped)
4. Headlight assembly
5. Stop/tail light
6. High-mounted stop light(if so equipped)
7. Trunk light
8. License plate light
LDI2059
8-28Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Replacement procedures
All other lights are either type A, B, C or D. When
replacing a bulb, first remove the lens, lamp
and/or cover.
Indicates bulb removal
Indicates bulb installationUse a cloth to protect the housing.
Use a cloth to protect the housing.
SDI1805
Interior light
SDI1499A
Map lights (if so equipped)
LDI2044
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-29