7-6Appearance and care
.Use only genuine NISSAN floor
mats or equivalent floor mats
that are specifically designed for
use in your vehicle model and
model year.
. Properly position the mats in the
floorwell using the floor mat po-
sitioning hooks. See “Floor mat
installation” (P.7-6).
. Make sure the floor mat does not
interfere 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 maintained with regular clean-
ing and replaced if they become exces-
sively worn.
SAI0038
Front (example)
Floor mat installation
Your vehicle is equipped with floor mat
positioning hook(s). The number and
shape of the floor mat positioning hooks
for each seating position varies depend-
ing on the vehicle.
When installing genuine NISSAN floor
mats, follow the installation instructions
provided with the floor mat and the
following:
1. Position the floor mat in the floorwell so that the 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 and
the shift lever in the P (Park) position,
fully apply and release all pedals. The
floor mat must not interfere with
pedal operation or prevent the pedal
from returning to its normal position.
It is recommended you see a NISSAN
dealer for details about installing the
floor mats in your vehicle.
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.
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.10-35).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operat-
ing difficulties or excessive emissions, and
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
JVM0733X
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir
when the engine is cold. If the coolant
level is below MIN
, open the reservoir
tank cap and add coolant up to the MAX
level. 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
.
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 appropriate NISSAN Service
Manual.
Improper servicing can result in re-
duced heater performance and engine
overheating.
WARNING
.
To avoid the danger of being
scalded, never change the cool-
ant when the engine is hot.
. Never remove the radiator cap or
coolant reservoir 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 pos-
sible.
. Keep coolant out of reach of
children and pets. Engine coolant must be disposed of
properly. Check your local regulations.
Do-it-yourself8-5
SDI2528
Engine oil and filter
1. Place a large drain pan under thedrain plug.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
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.
4. (Perform steps 4 to 7 only when the engine oil filter change is needed.)
Loosen the oil filter
with an oil filter
wrench. Remove the oil filter by turn-
ing it by hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old rubber
gasket remaining on the mounting
surface of the engine. Failure to do
so could lead to engine damage.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean engine oil.
7. 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
(15 to 21 N·m)
8. 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.
9. Refill engine with recommended oil and install the oil filler cap securely.
CAUTION
The dipstick must be inserted in
place to prevent oil spillage from
the dipstick hole while filling the
engine with oil.
See “Capacities and recommended
fluids/lubricants” (P.10-2) for drain
and refill capacity. The drain and refill
capacity depends on the oil tempera-
ture and drain time. Use these speci-
fications for reference only. Always
use the dipstick to determine the
proper amount of oil in the engine.
10. Start the engine and check for leak- age around the drain plug and the oil
filter. Correct as required.
11. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes. Check the oil level
with the dipstick. Add engine oil if
necessary.
Do-it-yourself8-7
Add a washer solvent to the washer for
better cleaning. In the winter season, add
a windshield washer antifreeze. Follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for the
mixture ratio.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when
driving conditions require an increased
amount of window washer fluid.
Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN
Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner
& Antifreeze or equivalent.
CAUTION
.Do not substitute engine anti-
freeze coolant for window
washer solution. This may result
in damage to the paint.
. Do not fill the window washer
reservoir tank with washer fluid
concentrates at full strength.
Some methyl alcohol based
washer fluid concentrates may
permanently stain the grille if
spilled while filling the window
washer reservoir tank.
. Pre-mix washer fluid concen-
trates with water to the manu-
facturer’s recommended levels
before pouring the fluid into the
window washer reservoir tank. Do not use the window washer re-
servoir tank to mix the washer
fluid concentrate and water.
.
Keep the battery surface clean and
dry. Clean the battery with a solution
of baking soda and water.
. Make certain the terminal connec-
tions are clean and securely tightened.
. If the vehicle is not to be used for 30
days or longer, disconnect the nega-
tive (−) battery terminal cable to pre-
vent discharging it.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start condi-
tions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume
battery power when the engine is
not running (Phone chargers, 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.
WARNING
. Do not expose the battery to
flames or electrical sparks. Hy-
drogen gas generated by the
battery is explosive. Do not allow
battery fluid to contact your skin,
Do-it-yourself8-11
BATTERY
8-14Do-it-yourself
loose, have it replaced or adjusted. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for condition and tension in accordance
with the maintenance schedule
shown in the “9. Maintenance and
schedules” section.
WARNING
Be sure the engine and the ignition
switch are off and that the parking
brake is engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
SDI2020
REPLACING SPARK PLUGS
If replacement is required, it is recom-
mended you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs
It is not necessary to replace the iridium-
tipped spark plugs as frequently as the
conventional type spark plugs since they
will last much longer. Follow the main-
tenance schedule shown in the “9. Main-
tenance and schedules” section, but do
not reuse them by cleaning or regapping.
Always replace spark plugs with recom-
mended or equivalent ones.
SPARK PLUGS
8-22Do-it-yourself
SDI2451
Replace the battery as follows:
1. Release the lock knob at the back ofthe Intelligent Key and remove the
mechanical key.
2. Insert a small screwdriver into the slit of the corner and twist it to separate
the upper part from the lower part. Use a cloth to protect the casing.
3. Replace the battery with a new one. Recommended battery: CR2025 or
equivalent.
.Do not touch the internal circuitand electric terminals as it could
cause a malfunction.
.Hold the battery by the edges.
Holding the battery across the
contact points will seriously deplete
the storage capacity.
.Make sure that the + side faces the bottom of the case.
SDI2452
4. Align the tips of the upper and lower
parts, and then push them together
until it is securely closed.
5. Push the buttons two or three times to check its operation.
If you need any assistance for replace-
ment, it is recommended you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including inter-
tires. Skid and traction capabilities of
studded snow tires, on wet or dry sur-
faces, may be poorer than that of non-
studded snow tires.
TIRE CHAINS
Use of tire chains may be prohibited
according to location. Check the local
laws before installing tire chains. When
installing tire chains, make sure they are
the proper size for the tires on your
vehicle and are installed according to
the chain manufacturer’s suggestions.
Use only SAE Class S chains.Class “S”
chains are used on vehicles with re-
stricted tire to vehicle clearance. Vehicles
that can use Class “S” chains are designed
to meet the SAE standard minimum
clearances between the tire and the
closest vehicle suspension or body com-
ponent required to accommodate the
use of a winter traction device (tire chains
or cables). The minimum clearances are
determined using the factory equipped
tire size. Other types may damage your
vehicle. Use chain tensioners when re-
commended by the tire chain manufac-
turer to ensure a tight fit. Loose end links
of the tire chain must be secured or
removed to prevent the possibility of
whipping action damage to the fenders
or underbody. If possible, avoid fully load-
ing your vehicle when using tire chains. In addition, drive at a reduced speed. Other-
wise, your vehicle may be damaged and/
or vehicle handling and performance may
be adversely affected.
Tire chains must be installed only on
the rear wheels and not on the front
wheels.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
Driving with tire chains in such conditions
can cause damage to the various me-
chanisms of the vehicle due to some
overstress.
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
SDI1662
Tire rotation
NISSAN recommends rotating the
tires every 5,000 miles (8,000 km).
(See “Flat tire” (P.6-3) for tire repla-
cing procedures.)
As soon as possible, tighten the
wheel nuts to the specified torque
with a torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:98 ft-lb (133 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept
tightened to the specification at
all times. It is recommended that
Do-it-yourself8-37