8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements ...................................................... 8-3Scheduled maintenance .................................................... 8-3
General maintenance ......................................................... 8-3
Where to go for service .................................................... 8-3
General maintenance ............................................................... 8-3 Explanation of maintenance items ................................... 8-3
Maintenance precautions ........................................................ 8-6
Engine compartment check locations .................................. 8-7 VQ37VHR engine model .................................................. 8-7
Engine cooling system ............................................................. 8-8
Checking engine coolant level ......................................... 8-9
Changing engine coolant .................................................. 8-9
Engine oil ........................................................................\
......... 8-10
Checking engine oil level ............................................... 8-10
Changing engine oil and filter ....................................... 8-10
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) .................................. 8-12
Power steering fluid ............................................................... 8-12
Brake and clutch fluid ........................................................... 8-13 Brake fluid ........................................................................\
.. 8-13
Clutch fluid (Manual transmission models) ............... 8-14
Window washer fluid ............................................................ 8-14
Battery ........................................................................\
............... 8-15 Jump starting ..................................................................... 8-17 Variable voltage control system ......................................... 8-17
Drive belts ........................................................................\
....... 8-18
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
..... 8-18
Replacing spark plugs .................................................. 8-19
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
....... 8-19
Windshield wiper blades ..................................................... 8-20
Cleaning ........................................................................\
... 8-20
Replacing ........................................................................\
. 8-20
Brakes ........................................................................\
.............. 8-21 Self-adjusting brakes .................................................... 8-21
Brake pad wear warning .............................................. 8-21
Fuses ........................................................................\
................ 8-22 Engine compartment ..................................................... 8-22
Passenger compartment .............................................. 8-23
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................................... 8-24
Lights ........................................................................\
................ 8-26
Coupe ........................................................................\
....... 8-26
Roadster ........................................................................\
... 8-27
Headlights ........................................................................\
8-27
Exterior and interior lights ............................................ 8-28
Wheels and tires ................................................................... 8-30 Tire pressure ................................................................... 8-30
Tire labeling ..................................................................... 8-33
8-4Maintenance 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.
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 cannot be rotated, as the
front tires are a different size from the rear tires
and the direction of wheel rotation is fixed in
each tire.
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If
necessary, 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: Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and cap
when the tires are replaced due to wear or age.
Tire, 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
NISSAN 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
damaged 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
performing scheduled maintenance, cleaning
the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort. Keep
the floor mat away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mechan-
ism: On a fairly steep hill, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the shift lever in the
P (Park) position without applying any brakes. 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, 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.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only the
parking brake applied. If the parking brake needs
adjusted, see a NISSAN dealer.
Seat belts: Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjuster
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt
webbing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Seats: Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to ensure
they operate smoothly and that all latches lock
securely in every position. Check that the head
restraints move up and down smoothly and that
the locks (if so equipped) hold securely in all
latched positions.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free play,
hard steering or strange noises.
8-22Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI1479A
SDI2566
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.
2. Open the engine hood.
3. Remove the fuse/fusible link holder cover.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller located in the passenger compartment fuse box.
SDI1754
5. If the fuse is open*A, replace it with a new
fuse
*B. Spare fuses are stored in the
passenger compartment fuse box.
6. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical system checked and repaired by a NISSAN
dealer.
Fusible links
If any electrical equipment does not operate and
fuses are in good condition, check the fusible
links. If any of these fusible links are melted,
replace only with genuine NISSAN parts.
FUSES
SDI2361
PASSENGER 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. 2. Open the fuse box lid.
3. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller
*A.
4. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new fuse. Spare fuses are stored in the fuse box.
5. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical system checked and repaired by a NISSAN
dealer.
SDI2704
Extended storage fuse switch
To reduce battery drain, the extended storage
fuse switch comes from the factory switched off.
Prior to delivery of your vehicle, the switch is
pushed in (switched on) and should always
remain on.
If the extended storage fuse switch is not
pushed in (switched on), the “SHIPPING MODE
ON, PUSH STORAGE FUSE” warning may
appear on the vehicle information display. See
“Warnings and alerts” (P.2-21) .
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
remove the extended storage fuse switch and
check for an open fuse.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-23
8-24Maintenance and do-it-yourself
NOTE:
If the extended storage fuse switch mal-
functions, or if the fuse is open, it is not
necessary to replace the switch. In this
case, remove the extended storage fuse
switch and replace it with a new fuse of the
same rating.
How to remove the extended storage fuse
switch:
1. To remove the extended storage fuse switch,be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF or
LOCK position.
2. Be sure the headlight switch is in the OFF position.
3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Pinch the locking tabs
*1found on each
side of the storage fuse switch.
5. Pull the storage fuse switch straight out from the fuse box
*2.
SDI2451
CAUTION
Be careful not to allow children to
swallow the battery and removed parts. Replace the battery as follows:
1. Remove the mechanical key from the key.
2. Insert a small screwdriver into the slit of the
corner and twist it to separate the upper part
from the lower part. Use a cloth to protect
the casing.
3. Replace the battery with a new one. Recommended battery:
CR2032 or equivalent
.Do not touch the internal circuit andelectric terminals as doing so could
cause a malfunction.
.Hold the battery by the edges. Holdingthe battery across the contact points will
seriously deplete the storage capacity.
.Make sure that the +side faces the
bottom case.
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY
REPLACEMENT
8-26Maintenance and do-it-yourself
JVM0467X
COUPE1. Headlight (high- and low-beam)
2. Map light
3. Daytime running light (except for NISMO mod-els)
4. Front parking light
5. Front side marker light
6. Front turn signal light
7. Side turn signal light (if so equipped)
8. High-mounted stop light
9. Cargo light
10. Rear combination light (rear turn signal/tail/stop/ side marker/back-up light)
11. License plate light
12. Rear fog light (if so equipped)
13. Daytime running light (NISMO models)
LIGHTS
JVM0140X
ROADSTER1. Headlight (high- and low-beam)
2. Map light
3. Daytime running light
4. Front parking light
5. Front side marker light
6. Front turn signal light
7. Side turn signal light
8. High-mounted stop light
9. Trunk light
10. Cargo area courtesy light
11. Rear combination light (rear turn signal/tail/stop/side marker/back-up light)
12. License plate light
13. Rear fog light (if so equipped)
HEADLIGHTS
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.
Replacing
WARNING
HIGH VOLTAGE
When xenon headlights are on, they
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-27
8-28Maintenance and do-it-yourself
produce a high voltage. To prevent an
electric shock, never attempt to modify
or disassemble. Always have your xe-
non headlights replaced at a NISSAN
dealer. For additional information, see
“Headlight and turn signal switch” (P.2-
33) .
Use the same number and wattage shown in the
following chart as originally installed.
If replacement is required, see a NISSAN dealer.EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS
Item Wattage (W)Bulb No.
Headlight*
High/Low beams (Xenon) 35D2S
Front turn signal light* 28/87444NA
Front parking light* 5W5W
Front side marker light* LED—
Side turn signal light (if so equipped)* LED—
Daytime running light* LED—
Rear combination light*
back-up 16W16W
turn signal 21WY21W
stop/tail/side marker LED—
Rear fog light (if so equipped)* 21W21W
License plate light* 5W5W
Map light 8—
Vanity mirror light 2—
Cargo area courtesy light (Roadster)* 5—
Cargo light (Coupe)* 3.4—
Trunk light (Roadster)* 3.4—
High-mounted stop light* LED—
*: See a NISSAN dealer for replacement.
NOTE: Always check with the Parts Department at a NISSAN dealer for the latest information about parts.