Page 400 of 497

7 Appearance and care
Cleaning exterior..................................7-2
Washing ......................................7-2
Waxing ........................................7-2
Removing spots ................................7-3
Underbody ....................................7-3
Glass .........................................7-3
Aluminum alloy wheels (if so equipped) ...........7-3
Chrome parts ..................................7-4
Tire dressings ..................................7-4
Cleaning interior ...................................7-4 Air fresheners
..................................7-5
Floor mats . . ...................................7-5
Seat belts .....................................7-6
Corrosion protection ...............................7-7
Most common factors contributing to vehicle
corrosion ......................................7-7
Environmental factors influence the rate of
corrosion ......................................7-7
Protect your vehicle from corrosion...............7-7
Page 405 of 497

●Properly position the mats in the floor-
well using the floor mat positioning
hook. For additional information, refer
to Floor mat installation in this
section.
● Make sure the floor mat does not inter-
fere with pedal operation.
● Periodically check the floor mats to
make sure they are properly installed.
● After cleaning the vehicle interior,
check the floor mats to make sure they
are properly installed.
The use of Genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and make it
easier to clean the interior. Mats should be main-
tained with regular cleaning and replaced if they
become excessively worn.
Floor mat installation
Your vehicle is equipped with floor mat position-
ing hook(s) . The number and shape of the floor
mat positioning hooks for each seating position
varies depending on the vehicle.
When installing Genuine NISSAN floor mats,
follow the installation instructions provided with
the mat and the following: 1. Position the floor mat in the floorwell so that
the floor mat grommet holes are aligned with
the hook(s) .
2. Secure the grommet holes into the hook(s) and ensure that the floor mat is properly
positioned.
3. Make sure the floor mat does not interfere with pedal operation. With the ignition in the
OFF position, the selector lever in the P
(Park) position (Automatic Transmission
models) or the shift lever in the N (Neutral)
position (Manual Transmission models) fully
apply and release all pedals. The floor mat
must not interfere with pedal operation or
prevent the pedal from returning to its nor-
mal position.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for details about installing the floor mats in your
vehicle. The illustration shows the location of the floor mat
positioning hooks.
SEAT BELTS
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping them
with a sponge dampened in a mild soap solution.
Allow the belts to dry completely in the shade
before using them. For additional information,
refer to “Seat belt maintenance” in the “Safety-
–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint
system” section of this manual.
Positioning hooks
LAI2045
7-6Appearance and care
Page 406 of 497

WARNING
Do not allow wet seat belts to roll up in the
retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye or
chemical solvents to clean the seat belts,
since these materials may severely
weaken the seat belt webbing.
MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION
Most vehicle corrosion is caused by:● The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt
and debris in body panel sections, cavities,
and other areas.
● Damage to paint and other protective coat-
ings caused by gravel and stone chips or
minor traffic collisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the ve-
hicle body underside can accelerate corrosion.
Wet floor coverings will not dry completely inside
the vehicle and should be removed for drying to
avoid floor panel corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of high
relative humidity, especially those areas where
the temperatures stay above freezing and where
atmospheric pollution exists and road salt is
used.
Temperature
High temperatures accelerate the rate of corro-
sion to those parts which are not well ventilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in the air
in coastal areas, or heavy road salt use acceler-
ates the corrosion process. Road salt also accel-
erates the disintegration of paint surfaces.
PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM
CORROSION
● Wash and wax your vehicle often to keep the
vehicle clean.
● Always check for minor damage to the paint
and repair it as soon as possible.
● Keep drain holes at the bottom of the doors
open to avoid water accumulation.
● Check the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with water
as soon as possible.
CORROSION PROTECTION
Appearance and care7-7
Page 408 of 497

8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions...........................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ................8-3
Engine cooling system .............................8-5
Checking engine coolant level ...................8-6
Changing engine coolant ........................8-6
Engine oil .........................................8-7
Checking engine oil level ........................8-7
Changing engine oil ............................8-8
Changing engine oil filter .......................8-10
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid ......8-11
Power steering fluid ............................... 8-11
Brake 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 ...................................... 8-17
Replacing spark plugs ......................... 8-17
Air cleaner ....................................... 8-18In-cabin microfilter (if so equipped)
..............8-18
Windshield wiper blades .......................... 8-19
Cleaning ..................................... 8-19
Replacing .................................... 8-19
Brakes .......................................... 8-20
Fuses ........................................... 8-21
Engine compartment ........................... 8-21
Passenger compartment .......................8-22
Battery replacement .............................. 8-23
NISSAN Intelligent Key® .......................8-24
Lights ........................................... 8-25
Headlights .................................... 8-25
Fog lights (if so equipped) ......................8-25
Exterior and interior lights .......................8-27
Wheels and tires ................................. 8-30
Tire pressure .................................. 8-30
Tire
labeling ................................... 8-33
Types of tires .................................. 8-36
Tire chains .................................... 8-37
Changing wheels and tires .....................8-38
Page 409 of 497

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. Move the shift lever to P
(Park) .
● Be sure the ignition key is in the OFF or
LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
● 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. ●
Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come on
at any time without warning, 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.
● 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.
● On gasoline engine models, the fuel
filter or fuel lines should be serviced. It
is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service because
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 contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine
oil, 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 transmis-
sion related component harness con-
nector disconnected while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
● Never connect or disconnect the battery
or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
This “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 avail-
able. For additional information, refer to “Owner’s
Manual/Service Manual order information” in the
“Technical and consumer information” section of
this manual.
You should be aware that incomplete or improper
servicing may result in operating difficulties or
excessive emissions, and could affect warranty
coverage. If in doubt about any servicing, it
is recommended that you have it done by a
NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself
Page 410 of 497
QR25DE engine
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Engine coolant reservoir
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Air cleaner
6. Fuse/Fusible link box
7. Battery
8. Engine oil dipstick
9. Radiator cap
10. Drive belt location
11. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
LDI2111
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
Do-it-yourself8-3
Page 411 of 497
VQ35DE engine
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Engine coolant reservoir
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Air cleaner
6. Fuse/Fusible link box
7. Battery
8. Engine oil dipstick
9. Radiator cap
10. Drive belt location
11. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
LDI2112
8-4Do-it-yourself
Page 423 of 497
The current sensor is located near the battery
along the negative battery cable. If you add elec-
trical accessories to your vehicle, be sure to
ground them to a suitable body ground such as
the frame or engine block area.
1. Crankshaft pulley
2. Drive belt automatic tensioner pulley
3. Water pump pulley
4. Generator pulley
5. Air compressor pulley1. Crankshaft pulley
2. Drive belt automatic tensioner pulley
3. Generator pulley
4. Air compressor pulley
WARNING
Be sure the ignition switch is placed in the
OFF or LOCK position before servicing
drive belt. The engine could rotate
unexpectedly.
QR25DE engine
LDI2130
VQ35DE engine
LDI2131
DRIVE BELT
8-16Do-it-yourself