
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ........................................................ 8-2
Engine compartment check locations .................................. 8-3VK56VD engine ................................................................... 8-3
Engine cooling system ............................................................. 8-4 Checking engine coolant level ......................................... 8-5
Changing engine coolant .................................................. 8-5
Engine oil ........................................................................\
............ 8-6 Checking engine oil level .................................................. 8-6
Changing engine oil and filter .......................................... 8-6
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ..................................... 8-8
Power steering fluid .................................................................. 8-8
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
........... 8-9
Window washer fluid ............................................................ 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
............... 8-11 Jump starting ..................................................................... 8-13
Variable voltage control system .......................................... 8-13
Drive belts ........................................................................\
........ 8-13
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
..... 8-14 Replacing spark plugs .................................................... 8-14
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
........ 8-15 Windshield wiper blades ..................................................... 8-16
Cleaning ........................................................................\
... 8-16
Replacing ........................................................................\
. 8-16
Rear window wiper blades ................................................. 8-17
Brakes ........................................................................\
.............. 8-17 Self-adjusting brakes .................................................... 8-17
Brake pad wear warning .............................................. 8-17
Brake booster ................................................................. 8-18
Fuses ........................................................................\
................ 8-18 Engine compartment ..................................................... 8-19
Passenger compartment .............................................. 8-20
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................................... 8-21
Lights ........................................................................\
................ 8-24
Headlights ........................................................................\
8-25
Exterior and interior lights ............................................ 8-26
Wheels and tires ................................................................... 8-30
Tire pressure ................................................................... 8-30
Tire labeling ..................................................................... 8-34
Types of tires ................................................................... 8-36
Tire chains ....................................................................... 8-36
Changing wheels and tires .......................................... 8-37

8-2Do-it-yourself
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 P (Park) .
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized com-
ponent while the ignition switch is
in the ON position.
. Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component
harnesses disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
. 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. .
Because the fuel lines are under
high pressure even when the engine
is off, it is recommended you visit a
NISSAN dealer for service of the
fuel filter or fuel lines.CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine
off and wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly
disposed engine oil, coolant, and/
or other vehicle fluids can damage
the environment. Always conform to
local regulations for disposal of
vehicle fluid.
This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s Manual/Service Man-
ual order information” (P.10-33).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

8-4Do-it-yourself
The engine cooling system is filled at the factory
with a pre-diluted mixture of 50% Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) and
50% water to provide year-round anti-freeze
and coolant protection. The antifreeze solution
contains rust and corrosion inhibitors. Additional
engine cooling system additives are not neces-
sary.
WARNING
.Never remove the radiator or cool-
ant reservoir cap when the engine is
hot. Wait until the engine and
radiator cool down. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
See precautions in “If your vehicle
overheats” (P.6-14) .
. The radiator is equipped with a
pressure type radiator cap. To pre-
vent engine damage, use only a
genuine NISSAN radiator cap.
CAUTION
.Never use any cooling system ad-
ditives such as radiator sealer. Ad-
ditives may clog the cooling system
and cause damage to the engine,
transmission and/or cooling sys-
tem.
. When adding or replacing coolant,
be sure to use only Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) or equivalent. Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) is pre-diluted to provide
antifreeze protection to í348 F
( í378C) . If additional freeze protec-
tion is needed due to weather where
you operate your vehicle, add Gen-
uine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) concentrate follow-
ing the directions on the container.
If an equivalent coolant other than
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-
freeze/Coolant (blue) is used, fol-
low the coolant manufacturer’s
instructions to maintain minimum
antifreeze protection to í348 F
( í378C) . The use of other types of
coolant solutions other than Genu- ine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) or equivalent may
damage the engine cooling system.
. The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 105,000 miles (168,000
km) or 7 years. Mixing any other
type of coolant other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) , including Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (green) , or the use of non-
distilled water will reduce the life
expectancy of the factory-fill cool-
ant. Refer to the “9. Maintenance
and schedules” section of this man-
ual for more details.
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM

JVM0733X
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the engine is cold. If the coolant level is below
MIN
*2, open the reservoir tank cap and add
coolant up to the MAX
*1level. If the reservoir
tank 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 tank up to the MAX level
*1.
Tighten the cap securely after adding engine
coolant.
If the cooling system requires coolant
frequently, have it checked. It is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
It is recommended that major cooling system
repairs be performed by a 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 cap or
coolant reservoir cap when the en-
gine is hot. Serious burns could be
caused by high pressure fluid es-
caping 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 reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly. Check your local regulations.
Do-it-yourself8-5

The following descriptions are provided to give
you a better understanding of the scheduled
maintenance items that should be regularly
checked or replaced. The maintenance sche-
dule indicates at which mileage/time intervals
each item requires service.
In addition to scheduled maintenance, your
vehicle requires that some items be checked
during normal day-to-day operation. Refer to
“General maintenance” (P.9-2) .
Items marked with “*” are recommended by
NISSAN for reliable vehicle operation. You are
not required to perform maintenance on these
items in order to maintain the warranties which
come with your vehicle. Other maintenance
items and intervals are required.
When applicable, additional information can be
found in the “8. Do-it yourself” section of this
manual.
NOTE:
NISSAN does not advocate the use of non-
OEM approved aftermarket flushing sys-
tems and strongly advises against per-
forming these services on a NISSAN
product. Many of the aftermarket flushing
systems use non-OEM approved chemicals
or solvents, the use of which has not been
validated by NISSAN.For recommended fuel, lubricants, fluids,
grease, and refrigerant, refer to
“Capaci-
ties and recommended fluids/lubricants”
(P.10-2) of this manual.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM MAIN-
TENANCE
Drive belts*:
Check engine drive belts for wear, fraying or
cracking and for proper tension. Replace any
damaged drive belts.
Engine air filter:
Replace at specified intervals. When driving for
prolonged periods in dusty conditions, check/
replace the filter more frequently.
Engine coolant*:
Replace coolant at the specified interval. When
adding or replacing coolant, be sure to use only
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant
(blue) or equivalent with the proper mixture.
(Refer to “Engine cooling system” (P.8-4) to
determine the proper mixture for your area.)
NOTE:
Mixing any other type of coolant or the use
of non-distilled water may reduce the
recommended service interval of the cool-
ant. Engine oil and oil filter:
Replace engine oil and oil filter at the specified
intervals. For recommended oil grade and vis-
cosity refer to “Capacities and recommended
fluids/lubricants” (P.10-2) .
Evaporative Emissions Control Vapor
Lines*:
Check vapor lines for leaks or looseness.
Tighten connections or replace parts as neces-
sary.
Fuel lines*:
Check the fuel hoses, piping and connections
for leaks, looseness, or deterioration. Tighten
connections or replace parts as necessary.
Spark plugs:
Replace at specified intervals. Install new plugs
of the type as originally equipped.
CHASSIS AND BODY MAINTENANCE
Brake lines and cables:
Visually inspect for proper installation. Check for
chafing, cracks, deterioration, and signs of
leaking. Replace any deteriorated or damaged
parts immediately.
Brake pads and rotors:
Check for wear, deterioration and fluid leaks.
Replace any deteriorated or damaged parts
immediately.
Maintenance and schedules9-5
EXPLANATION OF SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE ITEMS

11-2
Seat belt warning light and chime .................. 2-16
Circuit breaker, Fusible link ..................................... 8-19
Cleaning exterior and interior ........................... 7-2, 7-4
Climate control ............................................................ 4-52
Coat hooks ................................................................... 2-55
Cockpit ............................................................................ 2-3
Cold weather driving .............................................. 5-140
Compact Disc (CD) player (See
audio system) .............................................................. 4-72
Console box ................................................................. 2-54
Controller, Center multi-function control panel .... 4-5
Controls Control panel button .............................................. 4-4
Multi-function controller ........................................ 4-5
Coolant Capacities and
recommended fluids/lubricants ........................ 10-2
Changing engine coolant ..................................... 8-5
Checking engine coolant level ............................ 8-5
Corrosion protection .................................................... 7-7
Cruise control .............................................................. 5-67 Fixed speed cruise control (on
ICC system) .......................................................... 5-87
Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) ..................... 5-69
Cup holders ................................................................. 2-50
D
Daytime running light system .................................. 2-40
Dimensions ................................................................... 10-9
Distance Control Assist (DCA) .............................. 5-91
Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
warning light ................................................................ 2-13
Drive belts .................................................................... 8-13
Drive positioner ........................................................... 3-33
Driving Cold weather driving ........................................ 5-140 Driving with automatic transmission ............... 5-18
On-pavement and off-road driving ..................... 5-9
Precautions when starting and driving ............. 5-4
Safety precautions .............................................. 5-10
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player operation ..... 4-74
DVD Entertainment System ..................................... 4-92
E
Economy, Fuel .......................................................... 5-122
Elapsed time ................................................................ 2-28
Emission control information label ...................... 10-11
Emission control system maintenance .................... 9-8
Emission control system warranty ....................... 10-30
Engine Before starting the engine ................................ 5-15
Break-in schedule .............................................. 5-121
Capacities and
recommended fluids/lubricants ........................ 10-2
Changing engine coolant ..................................... 8-5
Changing engine oil and filter ............................. 8-6
Checking engine coolant level ............................ 8-5
Checking engine oil level ..................................... 8-6
Coolant temperature gauge ................................. 2-7
Emergency engine shut off ............................... 5-14
Engine block heater .......................................... 5-141
Engine compartment check locations ............... 8-3
Engine cooling system .......................................... 8-4
Engine oil .................................................................. 8-6
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ....... 10-6
Engine oil replacement indicator ..................... 2-26
Engine oil viscosity .............................................. 10-7
Engine serial number ........................................ 10-11
Engine specifications .......................................... 10-8
Engine start operation indicator ...................... 2-23
If your vehicle overheats .................................... 6-14
Oil pressure gauge ................................................ 2-8 Protection mode .................................................. 5-17
Remote engine start operation indicator ....... 2-23
Starting the engine ............................................. 5-16
Entry/exit function, Automatic drive positioner .... 3-33
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................... 10-33
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ............................... 5-4
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items ....... 9-5
Extended storage fuse warning .............................. 2-24
Extended storage switch .......................................... 8-21F
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label ............ 10-11
Filter Air cleaner housing filter .................................... 8-15
Changing engine oil and filter ............................. 8-6
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher switch) ...... 6-2
Flat tire ............................................................................ 6-3
Flat towing ................................................................. 10-29
Flexible seating ............................................................ 1-11
Floor mat cleaning ........................................................ 7-5
Fluid Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) .................. 8-8
Brake fluid ................................................................ 8-9
Capacities and
recommended fluids/lubricants ........................ 10-2
Engine coolant ........................................................ 8-4
Engine oil .................................................................. 8-6
Power steering fluid ............................................... 8-8
Window washer fluid .......................................... 8-10
FM-AM-SAT radio with Compact Disc
(CD) player ................................................................... 4-70
Fog light switch .......................................................... 2-42
Forward Emergency Braking (FEB) .................. 5-105
Forward Emergency Braking system
warning light ................................................................ 2-14
Front auxiliary input jacks ......................................... 4-88