“Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning light”
(P.2-12) .)
WARNING
.Your brake system may not be
working properly if the warning light
is on. Driving could be dangerous. If
you judge it to be safe, drive care-
fully to the nearest service station
for repairs. Otherwise, have your
vehicle towed because driving it
could be dangerous.
. Pressing the brake pedal with the
engine stopped and/or low brake
fluid level may increase your stop-
ping distance and braking will re-
quire greater pedal effort as well as
pedal travel.
. If the brake fluid level is below the
minimum or MIN mark on the brake
fluid reservoir, do not drive until the
brake system has been checked. It
is recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
Charge warning light
If the light comes on while the engine is running,
it may indicate the charging system is not
functioning properly. Turn the engine off and
check the alternator belt. If the belt is loose,
broken, missing or if the light remains on, have
your vehicle serviced immediately. It is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving if the alternator
belt is loose, broken or missing.
Engine oil pressure warning light
This light warns of low engine oil pressure. If the
light flickers or comes on during normal driving,
pull off the road in a safe area, stop the engine
immediately and call a NISSAN dealer or other
authorized repair shop.
The engine oil pressure warning light is
not designed to indicate a low oil level.
Use the dipstick to check the oil level. (See
“Engine oil” (P.8-5).)
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil
pressure warning light on could cause
serious damage to the engine almost
immediately. Such damage is not cov-
ered by warranty. Turn off the engine as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Hydraulic pump electric power
steering warning light
When the ignition switch is in the ON position,
the hydraulic pump electric power steering
warning light illuminates. After starting the
engine, the hydraulic pump electric power
steering warning light turns off. This indicates
that the electric power steering is operational.
If the hydraulic pump electric power steering
warning light illuminates while the engine is
running, it may indicate the hydraulic pump
electric power steering is not functioning prop-
erly and may need servicing. It is recommended
you have the hydraulic pump electric power
steering checked by a NISSAN dealer. (See
“Hydraulic pump electric power steering” (P.5-
30) .)
Instruments and controls2-13
5-28Starting and driving
.Recirculating the cool air in the cabinwhen the A/C is on reduces cooling load.
4. Drive at economical speeds and distances.
.Observing the speed limit and not ex- ceeding 60 MPH (97 km/h) (where
legally allowed) can improve fuel effi-
ciency due to reduced aerodynamic
drag.
.Maintaining a safe following distancebehind other vehicles reduces unneces-
sary braking.
.Safely monitoring traffic to anticipatechanges in speed permits reduced brak-
ing and smooth acceleration changes.
.Select a gear range suitable to road conditions.
5. Use cruise control.
.Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady speed.
.Cruise control is particularly effective in providing fuel savings when driving on
flat terrains.
6. Plan for the shortest route.
.Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save time.
7. Avoid idling.
.Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30-60 seconds saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruising speed
through the toll and avoid stopping and
starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no more than 30seconds of idling at start-up to effectively
circulate the engine oil before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal operatingtemperature more quickly while driving
versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, opening thewindows will help to reduce the inside
temperature faster, resulting in reduced
demand on your A/C system. .
Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled main-
tenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
(See “Engine oil and oil filter recommenda-
tion” (P.10-5) .)
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tiretouches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts securely
in the sequence illustrated. Lower the
vehicle completely.
5. Securely store the flat tire, jack and tools in the vehicle.
WARNING
.Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
. Do not use oil or grease on the
wheel studs or nuts. This could
cause the nuts to become loose.
. Retighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600
miles (1,000 km) (also in cases of a
flat tire, etc.) .
.As soon as possible, tighten the
wheel nuts to the specified torque
with a torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque: 80 ft-lb (108 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tigh- tened to specification at all times. It
is recommended that wheel nuts be
tightened to specifications at each
lubrication interval.
.Adjust tire pressure to the COLD
pressure.
COLD pressure:
After the vehicle has been parked
for three hours or more or driven
less than 1 mile (1.6 km) .
COLD tire pressures are shown on
the Tire and Loading Information
label affixed to the driver side center
pillar.
Stowing the spare tire and the tools
Securely store the spare tire, jack and tools in
their original location.
WARNING
. Always make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly
secured after use. Such items can
become dangerous projectiles in an
accident or sudden stop.
. The T-type spare tire and small size
spare tire are designed for emer- gency use. See specific instructions
under the heading
“Wheels and
tires” (P.8-27) .
In case of emergency6-9
7-4Appearance and care
TIRE DRESSING
NISSAN does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating to
the tires to help reduce discoloration of the
rubber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires, it
may react with the coating and form a com-
pound. This compound may come off the tire
while driving and stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:
.Use a water-based tire dressing. The coat-
ing on the tire dissolves more easily with an
oil-based tire dressing.
. Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help
prevent it from entering the tire tread/
grooves (where it would be difficult to
remove) .
. Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry
towel. Make sure the tire dressing is
completely removed from the tire tread/
grooves.
. Allow the tire dressing to dry as recom-
mended by tire dressing manufacturer. Occasionally remove loose dust from the interior
trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum
cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe the vinyl and
leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth dam-
pened in mild soap solution, then wipe clean
with a dry soft cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in order to
maintain the appearance of the leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer’s recommendations. Some fabric
protectors contain chemicals that may stain or
bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water, to clean
the meter and gauge lens.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classifica-
tion sensor. This can also affect the
operation of the air bag system and
result in serious personal injury.
CAUTION
.
Never use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.
. For cleaning, use a soft cloth, dam-
pened with water. Never use a rough
cloth, alcohol, benzine, thinner or
any kind of solvent or paper towel
with a chemical cleaning agent.
They will scratch or cause discolora-
tion to the lens.
. Do not spray any liquid such as
water on the meter lens. Spraying
liquid may cause the system to
malfunction.
. Small dirt particles can be abrasive
and damaging to the leather sur-
faces and should be removed
promptly. Do not use saddle soap,
car waxes, polishes, oils, cleaning
fluids, solvents, detergents or am-
monia-based cleaners as they may
damage the leather’s natural finish.
. Never use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
. Do not use glass or plastic cleaner
on meter or gauge lens covers. It
CLEANING INTERIOR
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.
. 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.
. Because the fuel lines on gasoline
engine models are under high pres-
sure 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, and 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 CVT
related component harnesses dis-
connected while the ignition switch
is in the ON position.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized com-
ponent while the ignition switch is
in the ON position.
. 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.
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 manual
order information” (P.10-27) .)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
difficulties or excessive emissions, and could
affect warranty coverage.If in doubt about
any servicing, it is recommended you have
it done by a NISSAN dealer.
SDI2715
VQ35DE ENGINE
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Drive belt location
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Air cleaner
6. Fuse/fusible link holder 7. Window washer fluid reservoir
8. Engine coolant reservoir
9. Radiator filler cap
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. Battery
Do-it-yourself8-3
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
SDI2691
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, open the reservoir cap and
add coolant up 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.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, 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 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 reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.SDI2174
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine 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. Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the range
*1. If the
oil level is below
*2, remove the oil filler cap
and pour recommended oil through the
Do-it-yourself8-5
ENGINE OIL
SDI2717
Engine oil and filter
1. Place a large drain pan under the drain plug
*A.
2. Remove the oil filler cap
*B.
3. Remove the drain plug with a wrench and completely drain the oil.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
.Waste oil must be disposed of
properly.
.Check your local regulations.
Perform steps 4 to 9 when the engine oil
filter change is needed.
4. Remove the plastic cover over the oil filter location by removing the small plastic clips
as illustrated.
5. Loosen the oil filter
*Cwith an oil filter
wrench. Remove the oil filter by turning it by
hand.
6. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old gasket
material remaining on the mounting
surface of the engine. Failure to do so
could lead to engine damage. 7. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.
8. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten additionally
more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:
11 to 15 ft-lb (14.7 to 20.5 N·m)
9. Install the plastic cover.
10. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a new washer. Securely tighten the drain plug
with a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:22 to 29 ft-lb (29 to 39 N·m)
Do not use excessive force.
11. Refill engine with recommended oil through the oil filler opening, and install the oil filler
cap securely.
See “Capacities and recommended fluids/
lubricants” (P.10-2) for drain and refill
capacity. The drain and refill capacity
depends on the oil temperature and drain
time. Use these specifications for reference
only. Always use the dipstick to determine
the proper amount of oil in the engine.
12. Start the engine and check for leakage around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required.
Do-it-yourself8-7