JVE0415X
TOWING MANUAL TRANSMISSION
RECOMMENDED BY NISSAN (except
for NISMO models)
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (rear) wheels off
the ground or place the vehicle on a flat
bed truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
If you have to tow manual transmis-
sion models with the rear wheels on
the ground (if you do not use towing
dollies) or four wheels on the ground:.
Push the ignition switch to the ON
position and turn off all acces-
sories.
. Always release the parking brake.
. Move the transmission shift lever
to the N (Neutral) position.
. Observe the following restricted
towing speeds and distances for
manual transmission models
only:
— Rear wheels on the ground:
Speed: Below 50 MPH (80
km/h)
Distance: Less than 50 miles
(80 km) — Four wheels on the ground:
Speed: Below 70 MPH (112
km/h)
Distance: Less than 500 miles
(800 km)
. If the speed or distance must
necessarily be greater, remove
the propeller shaft before towing
to prevent damage to the drive-
train.
In case of emergency6-21
6-22In case of emergency
SCE0836
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN (NISMO models)
CAUTION
Do not tow NISMO models with any
wheel on the ground, or with the
front or rear wheels raised, because
this may cause damage to the front
bumper with an aerodynamic split-
ter, rear bumper with an aerody-
namic diffuser or exhaust pipes.
NISSAN recommends that you place the
vehicle on a flatbed truck as illustrated.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious
personal injury or death when reco-
vering a stuck vehicle:
. Contact a professional towing
service to recover the vehicle if
you have any questions regard-
ing the recovery procedure.
. Tow chains or cables must be
attached only to main structural
members of the vehicle. .
Do not use the vehicle tie-downs
to tow or free a stuck vehicle.
. Only use devices specifically de-
signed for vehicle recovery and
follow the manufacturer’s in-
structions.
. Always pull the recovery device
straight out from the front of the
vehicle. Never pull at an angle.
. Route recovery devices so they
do not touch any part of the
vehicle except the attachment
point.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device
designed specifically for vehicle recovery.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for the recovery device.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use the following procedure:
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstruc-
tions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear an area around the front tires.
7 Appearance and care
Cleaning exterior ........................................................................\
.... 7-2Washing ........................................................................\
.................. 7-2
Soft top care and cleaning
(Roadster models) .................................................................. 7-3
Waxing ........................................................................\
..................... 7-4
Removing spots ....................................................................... 7-4
Underbody ........................................................................\
............ 7-4
Glass ........................................................................\
.......................... 7-4
Wheels ........................................................................\
...................... 7-4
Chrome parts ........................................................................\
..... 7-5
Tire dressing ........................................................................\
....... 7-5 Cleaning interior ........................................................................\
.... 7-5
Air fresheners ........................................................................\
.. 7-6
Floor mats ........................................................................\
.......... 7-6
Seat belts ........................................................................\
............. 7-7
Corrosion protection ................................................................. 7-8 Most common factors contributing to
vehicle corrosion ................................................................... 7-8
Environmental factors influence the rate
of corrosion ........................................................................\
....... 7-8
To protect your vehicle from corrosion ............. 7-8
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty
of clean water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the
doors, hatches and hood are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of road salt.
Therefore, these areas must be regularly
cleaned. Make sure that the drain holes in
the lower edge of the door are open.
Spray water under the body and in the
wheel wells to loosen the dirt and wash
away road salt.
Avoid leaving water spots on the paint
surface by using a damp chamois to dry
the vehicle.
JVA0019X
NISMO models
CAUTION
Do not use an automatic car wash for
NISMO models. The rear spoiler may
be damaged.
SOFT TOP CARE AND CLEANING
(Roadster models)
Proper care and handling should be
observed to maintain a good appearance
of the soft top. Improper care may cause
the top cloth’s surface to stiffen, stain, or
mat. Follow the instructions shown in this
section.
It is not necessary to wash the soft top
every time you wash the vehicle body, but
clean the top regularly before it becomes
quite dirty. Leaving the soft top dirty or
soiled for a long period will cause dete-
rioration to the quality of the top material.
Remove dust or dirt on the soft top with a
soft brush or sponge, then rinse it with
plenty of clean water. When the top is
quite dirty, wash using a mild detergent,
such as a general cleaner especially made
for a cloth top or a general purpose dish-
washing liquid, mixed with clean, luke-
warm (never hot) water. Rinse the top
again with plenty of clean water to
remove all traces of soap.
CAUTION
.Do not use strong household
soap, strong chemical deter-
gents, gasoline or solvents.
Appearance and care7-3
7-4Appearance and care
.If glass cleaner gets on the soft
top, immediately wash it off with
clean water.
. Do not apply direct water pres-
sure, such as high pressured
water from household hoses, on
the lining of the soft top and
vehicle body, as this may cause
water to leak into the inside of
your vehicle.
After cleaning, always be sure the top and
its storage are completely drybefore
opening the top. Opening the top while
it is wet or damp may cause interior water
damage, water stains or mildew on the
top.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
Polishing is recommended to remove
built-up wax residue and to avoid a
weathered appearance before reapplying
wax.
A NISSAN dealer can assist you in choos-
ing the proper product.
. Wax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions sup-
plied with the wax. .
Do not use a wax containing any
abrasives, cutting compounds or clea-
ners that may damage the vehicle
finish.
Machine compound or aggressive polish-
ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possi-
ble from the paint surface to avoid lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning
products are available at a NISSAN dealer
or any automotive accessory stores.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter,
the underbody must be cleaned regularly.
This will prevent dirt and salt from build-
ing up and causing the acceleration of
corrosion on the underbody and suspen-
sion. Before the winter period and again
in the spring, the underseal must be
checked and, if necessary, re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is
normal for glass to become coated with a
film after the vehicle is parked in the hot
sun. Glass cleaner and a soft cloth will
easily remove this film.
CAUTION
. When cleaning the inside of the
windows, do not use sharp-
edged tools, abrasive cleaners or
chlorine-based disinfectant clea-
ners. They could damage the
electrical conductors, radio an-
tenna elements or rear window
defroster elements.
. If glass cleaner gets on the soft
top, immediately wash it off with
clean water (Roadster models).
WHEELS
Wash the wheels when washing the
vehicle to maintain their appearance.
.Clean the inner side of the wheels
when the wheel is changed or the
underside of the vehicle is washed.
. Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents
or corrosion. Such damage may cause
loss of pressure or poor seal at the tire
bead.
. NISSAN recommends that the road
wheels be waxed to protect against
road salt in areas where it is used
during winter.
CAUTION
Do not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
Aluminum alloy wheels
Wash regularly with a sponge dampened
in a mild soap solution, especially during
winter months in areas where road salt is
used. Salt could discolor the wheels if not
removed.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:
.Do not use a cleaner that uses
strong acid or alkali contents to
clean the wheels.
. Do not apply wheel cleaners to
the wheels when they are hot.
The wheel temperature should be
the same as ambient tempera-
ture.
. Rinse the wheel to completely
remove the cleaner within 15
minutes after the cleaner is ap-
plied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the
finish.
TIRE DRESSING
NISSAN does not recommend the use of
tire dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a
coating to the tires to help reduce dis-
coloration of the rubber. If a tire dressing
is applied to the tires, it may react with
the coating and form a compound. 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
coating 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
recommended by tire dressing manu-
facturer. 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 dampened 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 materi-
al.
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
classification sensor. This can also
affect the operation of the air bag
system and result in serious perso-
nal injury.
Appearance and care7-5
CLEANING INTERIOR
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ....................................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ......................... 8-3VQ37VHR engine model .................................................... 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 and clutch fluid ................................................................ 8-9 Brake fluid ........................................................................\
............. 8-9
Clutch fluid (Manual transmission models) ..... 8-10
Window washer fluid ............................................................... 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
........................... 8-11
Jump starting ........................................................................\
... 8-13
Variable voltage control system ..................................... 8-13
Drive belts ........................................................................\
.................. 8-14
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
............... 8-14
Replacing spark plugs ....................................................... 8-15
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
................. 8-15 Windshield wiper blades ....................................................... 8-16
Cleaning ........................................................................\
............. 8-16
Replacing ........................................................................\
.......... 8-16
Brakes ........................................................................\
.......................... 8-17 Self-adjusting brakes ....................................................... 8-17
Brake pad wear warning .............................................. 8-17
Fuses ........................................................................\
............................. 8-18 Engine compartment ...................................................... 8-18
Passenger compartment ............................................. 8-19
Intelligent Key battery replacement ........................... 8-20
Lights ........................................................................\
........................... 8-22 Coupe ........................................................................\
................. 8-22
Roadster ........................................................................\
........... 8-23
Headlights ........................................................................\
....... 8-23
Exterior and interior lights ......................................... 8-24
Wheels and tires ........................................................................\
. 8-26
Tire pressure ........................................................................\
. 8-26
Tire labeling ........................................................................\
.. 8-30
Types of tires ........................................................................\
8-32
Tire chains ........................................................................\
....... 8-33
Changing wheels and tires ....................................... 8-33
Emergency tire puncture repair kit (if
so equipped) ........................................................................\
.. 8-37
8-2Do-it-yourself
When performing any inspection or main-
tenance 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 sur-
face, apply the parking brake
securely and block the wheels to
prevent the vehicle from moving.
For manual transmission models,
move the shift lever to N (Neutral).
For automatic transmission mod-
els, move the shift lever to P
(Park).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in
the OFF or LOCK position when
performing any parts replace-
ment or repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized
component while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
. Never leave the engine or auto-
matic transmission related com-
ponent harnesses disconnected
while the ignition switch is in the
ON position. .
If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, cloth-
ing, hair and tools away from
moving fans, belts and any other
moving parts.
. It is advisable to secure or re-
move any loose clothing and
remove any jewelry, such as
rings, watches, etc. before work-
ing on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection
whenever you work on your ve-
hicle.
. 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
warning, even if the ignition key is
in the OFF position and the en-
gine is not running. To avoid injury, always disconnect the ne-
gative battery cable before work-
ing 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
engine oil and coolant. Impro-
perly 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 in-
structions 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.10-26).)
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS