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.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering system, such as excessive free play,
hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure all
warning lights and chimes are operating properly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and in
sufficient quantity when operating the heater or
air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and that
the wipers do not streak.
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* (for serviceable batteries): Check
the fluid level in each cell. It should be between
the MAX and MIN lines. Vehicles 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
level*: Make sure that the brake and clutch fluid
levels are 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 15 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. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Exhaust gas (carbon
monoxide)” 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 after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks or if fuel fumes are evident,
check for the cause and have it corrected imme-
diately.
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
9-4Maintenance and schedules
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. 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 schedule
indicates at which mileage/time intervals each
item requires service.
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 NISSAN. Other maintenance
items and intervals are required.
When applicable, additional information can be
found in the “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 performingthese services on a NISSAN product. Many of theaftermarket flushing systems use non-OEM ap-proved chemicals or solvents, the use of whichhas not been validated by NISSAN.
For recommended fuel, lubricants, fluids, grease,
and refrigerant, refer to “Recommended
fluids/lubricants and capacities” in the “Technical
and consumer information” section of this
manual.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
MAINTENANCE:
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. (For
additional information on the proper mixture for
your area, refer to “Engine cooling system” in the
“Do-it-yourself” section of this manual.)
NOTE: Mixing any other type of coolant or
the use of non-distilled water may reduce
the recommended service interval of the
coolant.
EXPLANATION OF SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Maintenance and schedules9-5
To help ensure smooth, safe and economical
driving, NISSAN provides two maintenance
schedules that may be used, depending upon the
conditions in which you usually drive. These
schedules contain both distance and time inter-
vals, up to 120,000 miles
(192,000 km)/144 months. For most people, the
odometer reading will indicate when service is
needed. However, if you drive very little, your
vehicle should be serviced at the regular time
intervals shown in the schedule.
After 120,000 miles (192,000 km)/144 months,
continue maintenance at the same
mileage/time intervals.
ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS
FOR SEVERE OPERATING
CONDITIONS
Additional maintenance items for severe
operating conditionsshould be performed on
vehicles that are driven under especially de-
manding conditions. Additional maintenance
items should be performed if you primarily oper-
ate your vehicle under the following conditions:
● Repeated short trips of less than 5 miles
(8 km) .
● Repeated short trips of less than 10 miles
(16 km) with outside temperatures remain-
ing below freezing.
● Operating in hot weather in stop-an-go
“rush hour” traffic. ●
Extensive idling and/or low speed driving for
long distances, such as police, taxi or door-
to-door delivery use.
● Driving in dusty conditions.
● Driving on rough, muddy or salt spread
roads.
● Using a car-top carrier.
NOTE:
For vehicles operated in Canada, both
standard and severe maintenance items
should be performed at every interval.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES
Maintenance and schedules9-7
10 Technical and consumer information
Recommended fluids/lubricants and capacities......10-2
Fuel recommendation .......................... 10-4
Engine oil and oil filter recommendations .........10-6
Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil
recommendations ............................. 10-7
Specifications .................................... 10-8
Engine ....................................... 10-8
Wheels and tires .............................. 10-9
Dimensions and weights .......................10-9
When traveling or registering in another country .....10-10
Vehicle identification ............................. 10-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate ........10-10
Vehicle identification number
(chassis number) ............................. 10-10
Engine serial number .......................... 10-11
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label .........10-11
Emission control information label ..............10-11 Tire and Loading Information label . .
............10-12
Air conditioner specification label ...............10-12
Installing front license plate .......................10-13
Vehicle loading information .......................10-13
Terms ....................................... 10-13
Determining vehicle load capacity . . ............10-14
Loading tips ................................. 10-16
Measurement of weights ......................10-16
Towing a trailer .................................. 10-17
Flat towing ................................... 10-17
Uniform tire quality grading .......................10-17
Emission control system warranty .................10-18
Reporting safety defects ......................... 10-19
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M) test ....10-20
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ......................10-20
Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order information . .10-21
FUEL RECOMMENDATION
Use unleaded regular gasoline with an octane
rating of at least 87 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) num-
ber (Research octane number 91) .
CAUTION
●Using a fuel other than that specified
could adversely affect the emission
control system, and may also affect the
warranty coverage.
● Under no circumstances should a
leaded gasoline be used, because this
will damage the three-way catalyst.
● Do not use E-15 or E-85 fuel in your
vehicle. Your vehicle is not designed to
run on E-15 or E-85 fuel. Using E-15 or
E-85 fuel in a vehicle not specifically
designed for E-15 or E-85 fuel can ad-
versely affect the emission control de-
vices and systems of the vehicle. Dam-
age caused by such fuel is not covered
by the NISSAN New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. ●
Do not use fuel that contains the octane
booster methylcyclopentadienyl man-
ganese tricarbonyl (MMT) . Using fuel
containing MMT may adversely affect
vehicle performance and vehicle emis-
sions. Not all fuel dispensers are la-
beled to indicate MMT content, so you
may have to consult your gasoline re-
tailer for more details. Note that Fed-
eral and California laws prohibit the use
of MMT in reformulated gasoline.
● U.S. government regulations require
ethanol dispensing pumps to be identi-
fied by a small, square, orange and
black label with the common abbrevia-
tion or the appropriate percentage for
that region.
Gasoline specifications
NISSAN recommends using gasoline that meets
the World-Wide Fuel Charter (WWFC) specifi-
cations where it is available. Many of the automo-
bile manufacturers developed this specification
to improve emission control system and vehicle
performance. Ask your service station manager if
the gasoline meets the WWFC specifications.
Reformulated gasoline
Some fuel suppliers are now producing reformu-
lated gasolines. These gasolines are specially designed to reduce vehicle emissions. NISSAN
supports efforts towards cleaner air and sug-
gests that you use reformulated gasoline when
available.
Gasoline containing oxygenates
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing oxy-
genates such as ethanol, Methyl Tert-butyl Ether
(MTBE) and methanol with or without advertising
their presence. NISSAN does not recommend
the use of fuels of which the oxygenate content
and the fuel compatibility for your NISSAN can-
not be readily determined. If in doubt, ask your
service station manager.
If you use oxygenate-blend gasoline, please take
the following precautions as the usage of such
fuels may cause vehicle performance problems
and/or fuel system damage.
● The fuel should be unleaded and have
an octane rating no lower than that
recommended for unleaded gasoline.
● If an oxygenate-blend other than
methanol blend is used, it should con-
tain no more than 10% oxygenate.
(MTBE may, however, be added up to
15%.)
10-4Technical and consumer information
Oil viscosity
The engine oil viscosity or thickness changes
with temperature. Because of this, it is important
to select the engine oil viscosity based on the
temperatures at which the vehicle will be oper-
ated before the next oil change. Choosing an oil
viscosity other than that recommended could
cause serious engine damage.
Selecting the correct oil filter
Your new NISSAN vehicle is equipped with a
high-quality Genuine NISSAN oil filter. When
replacing, use a Genuine NISSAN oil filter or its
equivalent for the reason described in “Change
intervals.”
Change intervals
The oil and oil filter change intervals for your
engine are based on the use of the specified
quality oils and filters. Using engine oil and filters
that are not of the specified quality, or exceeding
recommended oil and filter change intervals
could reduce engine life. Damage to the engine
caused by improper maintenance or use of incor-
rect oil and filter quality and/or viscosity is not
covered by the NISSAN New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.Your engine was filled with a high-quality engine
oil when it was built. You do not have to change
the oil before the first recommended change
interval. Oil and filter change intervals depend
upon how you use your vehicle.
Operation under the following conditions may
require more frequent oil and filter changes:
● repeated short distance driving at cold out-
side temperatures
● driving in dusty conditions
● extensive idling
● towing a trailer
● stop and go commuting
For additional information, refer to the “Mainte-
nance and schedules” section of this manual.
AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND OIL
RECOMMENDATIONS
The air conditioner system in your NISSAN
vehicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and NISSAN A/C
system oil Type DH-PR or the exact equiva-
lents.
CAUTION
The use of any other refrigerant or oil will
cause severe damage to the air condition-
ing system and will require the replace-
ment of all air conditioner system
components.
The refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) in your
NISSAN vehicle does not harm the earth’s ozone
layer. Although this refrigerant does not affect the
earth’s atmosphere, certain government regula-
tions require the recovery and recycling of any
refrigerant during automotive air conditioner sys-
tem service. A NISSAN dealer has the trained
technicians and equipment needed to recover
and recycle your air conditioner system refriger-
ant.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for service.
Technical and consumer information10-7
Do not tow a trailer with your vehicle.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
●Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
● Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
● Never tow your front wheel drive vehicle
with the front tires on the ground. Doing
so may cause serious and expensive
damage to the powertrain.
● DO NOT tow any continuously variable
transmission vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground (flat towing) . Do-
ing so WILL DAMAGE internal transmis-
sion parts due to lack of transmission
lubrication.
● For emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Manual Transmission (if so equipped)
● Always tow with the manual transmission in
N (Neutral) .
● After towing 500 miles (805 km) , start and
idle the engine with the transmission in N
(Neutral) for two minutes. Failure to idle the
engine after every 500 miles (805 km) of
towing may cause damage to internal trans-
mission parts.
Continuously Variable Transmission (if
so equipped)
To tow a vehicle equipped with a continuously
variable transmission, an appropriate vehicle
dolly MUST be placed under the towed vehicle’s
drive wheels. Alwaysfollow the dolly manufac-
turer’s recommendations when using their prod-
uct. DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
TOWING A TRAILER
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
Technical and consumer information10-17
Genuine NISSAN Service Manuals for this model
year and prior can be purchased. A Genuine
NISSAN Service Manual is the best source of
service and repair information for your vehicle.
This manual is the same one used by the factory-
trained technicians working at NISSAN dealer-
ships. Genuine NISSAN Owner’s Manuals can
also be purchased.
For USA
For current pricing and availability of Genuine
NISSAN Service Manuals,contact:
www.nissan-techinfo.com
For current pricing and availability of Genuine
NISSAN Owner’s Manuals, contact:
1-800-247-5321
For Canada
To purchase a copy of a Genuine NISSAN Ser-
vice Manual or Owner’s Manual, for this model
year and prior, please contact your nearest
NISSAN dealer. For the phone number and loca-
tion of a NISSAN dealer in your area, call the
NISSAN Information Center at 1-800-387-0122
and a bilingual NISSAN representative will assist
you.
OWNER’S MANUAL/SERVICE
MANUAL ORDER INFORMATION
Technical and consumer information10-21