2018 NISSAN SENTRA check engine

Parking brake:Check the parking brake
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only
the parking brake applied. If the parking
brake needs adjustment, it is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
Seats: Check seat position controls such
as seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc., to
ensure they operate smoothly and all
latches lock securely in every position.
Check that the head restraints/headrests
move up and down smoothly and the locks
(if so equipped) hold securely in all latched
positions.
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 webbing 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 prop-
erly 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. The fluid
should be at the bottom of the filler open-
ing. Vehicles operated in high tempera-
tures 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 dis-
charge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume bat-
tery 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.
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 belt*: Make sure the drive belt
is not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*: Check the level af ter
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, immedi-
ately have the exhaust system inspected. It
is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Exhaust gas (carbon mon-
oxide)” in the “Starting and driving” section
of this manual.
9-4Maintenance and schedules

Fluid leaks:Check under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks af ter the
vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner af ter use
is normal. If you should notice any leaks or if
fuel fumes are evident, check for the cause
and have it corrected immediately.
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, defor-
mation, rot or loose connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control dust. It
is very important to remove these sub-
stances 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 where mud and dirt may have accu-
mulated. 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.
In addition to scheduled maintenance,
your vehicle requires that some items be
checked during normal day-to-day opera-
tion. For additional information, refer to
“General maintenance” in this section.
Items marked with
“*”are recommended
by NISSAN for reliable vehicle operation.
You are not required to perform mainte-
nance on these items in order to maintain
the warranties which come with your
NISSAN. Other maintenance items and in-
tervals 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 af termarket flush-
ing systems and strongly advises
against performing these services on a
NISSAN product. Many of the af termar-
ket flushing systems use non-OEM ap-
proved chemicals or solvents, the use of
which has not been validated by NISSAN.
For recommended fuel, lubricants, fluids,
grease, and refrigerant, refer to “Recom-
mended fluids/lubricants and capaci-
ties” in the “Technical and consumer in-
formation” section of this manual.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
MAINTENANCE:
Drive belt*:
Check engine drive belt for
wear, fraying or cracking and for proper
tension. Replace any damaged drive belt.
Engine air filter: Replace at specified inter-
vals. When driving for prolonged periods in
dusty conditions, check/replace the filter
more frequently.
EXPLANATION OF SCHEDULED
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Maintenance and schedules9-5

Engine coolant*:Replace coolant at the
specified interval. When adding or replac-
ing 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 mix-
ture 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 re-
duce the recommended service interval
of the coolant.
Engine oil and oil filter: Replace engine oil
and oil filter at the specified intervals. For
recommended oil grade and viscosity refer
to “Recommended fluids/lubricants and
capacities” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
Engine valve clearance*: Inspect only if
valve noise increases. Adjust valve clear-
ance if necessary.
Evaporative emissions control vapor
lines*: Check vapor lines for leaks or loose-
ness. Tighten connections or replace parts
as necessary.
Fuel filter: Periodic maintenance is not re-
quired. (in-tank type filter) Fuel lines*:
Check the fuel hoses, piping
and connections for leaks, looseness, or
deterioration. Tighten connections or re-
place 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, rotors, drums and linings:
Check for wear, deterioration and fluid
leaks. Replace any deteriorated or dam-
aged parts immediately.
Exhaust system: Visually inspect the ex-
haust pipes, muffler and hangers for leaks,
cracks, deterioration, and damage. Tighten
connections or replace parts as necessary.
In-cabin microfilter: Replace at specified
intervals. When driving for prolonged peri-
ods in dusty conditions, replace the filter
more frequently. Steering gear and linkage, axle and sus-
pension parts, drive shaf t boots:
Check
for damage, looseness, and leakage of oil
or grease. Under severe driving conditions,
inspect more frequently.
Tire rotation: Tires should be rotated every
5,000 miles (8,000 km) according to the in-
structions under “General maintenance” in
this section. When rotating tires, check for
damage and uneven wear. Replace if nec-
essary.
Transmission fluid/oil: Visually inspect for
signs of leakage at specified intervals. If
using a car-top carrier, or driving on rough
or muddy roads:
∙ Replace the manual transaxle gear oil every 20,000 miles or 24 months.
∙ Replace the CVT fluid every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or request the dealer to in-
spect the fluid deterioration data using
a CONSULT. If the deterioration data is
more than 210000, replace the CVT fluid.
9-6Maintenance and schedules

Af termarket fuel additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of
any af termarket fuel additives (for ex-
ample, fuel injector cleaner, octane
booster, intake valve deposit removers,
etc.) which are sold commercially. Many of
these additives intended for gum, varnish
or deposit removal may contain active sol-
vents or similar ingredients that can be
harmful to the fuel system and engine.
Octane rating tips
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than recommended can
cause persistent, heavy “spark knock.”
(“Spark knock” is a metallic rapping
noise.) If severe, this can lead to engine
damage. If you detect a persistent heavy
spark knock even when using gasoline
of the stated octane rating, or if you hear
steady spark knock while holding a
steady speed on level roads, it is recom-
mended that you have a NISSAN dealer
correct the condition. Failure to correct
the condition is misuse of the vehicle, for
which NISSAN is not responsible.Incorrect ignition timing may result in
spark knock, af ter-run and/or overheating,
which may cause excessive fuel consump-
tion or engine damage. If any of the above
symptoms are encountered, have your ve-
hicle checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for servicing.
However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is not
a cause for concern, because you get the
greatest fuel benefit when there is light
spark knock for a short time under heavy
engine load.
10-6Technical and consumer information

Due to legal requirements in some states
and Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may
be required to be in what is called the
“ready condition” for an
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of the
emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition”
when it is driven through certain driving
patterns. Usually, the ready condition can
be obtained by ordinary usage of the ve-
hicle.
If a powertrain system component is re-
paired or the battery is disconnected, the
vehicle may be reset to a “not ready” condi-
tion. Before taking the I/M test, check the
vehicle’s inspection/maintenance test
readiness condition. Place the ignition
switch in the ON position without starting
the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds
and then blinks for 10 seconds , the I/M test
condition is “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink af ter 20 seconds, the I/M test condi-
tion is “ready”. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer to set the “ready con-
dition” or to prepare the vehicle for testing.This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data
Recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an
EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data
that will assist in understanding how a ve-
hicle’s systems performed. The EDR is de-
signed to record data related to vehicle dy-
namics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to re-
cord such data as:
∙ How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
∙ Whether or not the driver and passen- ger safety belts were buckled/fastened;
∙ How far (if at all) the driver was depress- ing the accelerator and/or brake pedal;
and,
∙ How fast the vehicle was traveling.
∙ Sounds are not recorded. These data can help provide a better un-
derstanding of the circumstances in which
crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data
are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-
trivial crash situation occurs; no data are
recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g.
name, gender, age and crash location) are
recorded. However, other parties, such as
law enforcement, could combine the EDR
data with the type of personally identif ying
data routinely acquired during a crash in-
vestigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special
equipment is required and access to the
vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to
the vehicle manufacturer and NISSAN
dealer, other parties, such as law enforce-
ment, that have the special equipment, can
read the information if they have access to
the vehicle or the EDR. EDR data will only be
accessed with the consent of the vehicle
owner or lessee or as otherwise required or
permitted by law.
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST
EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)
Technical and consumer information10-21

Brakewarninglight............2-14
Brakewearindicators.......2-22,8-21
Self-adjustingbrakes...........8-21
Brakeandclutchfluid.............8-12
Brake assist ...................5-74
Brakefluid....................8-12
Brakes......................8-21
Brake system ..................5-72
Break-in schedule ...............5-68
Brightness/contrast button .........4-9
Brightness control Instrument panel .............2-45
Bulb check/instrument panel ........2-14
Bulb replacement ...............8-33
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants....................10-2
Cargo
(See vehicle loading information) .....10-14
Car phone or CB radio ............4-79
CDcareandcleaning.............4-71
CD player
(See audio system) ........4-46,4-51,4-58
Check tire press .................2-6
Check tire pressure ..............2-34
Childrestraints........1-21, 1-22, 1-23, 1-26 LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren)System..............1-26
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-23, 1-30, 1-36, 1-41
Top tether strap anchor point
locations.................. .1-28
Child safety rear door lock ..........3-7Chimes, audible reminders
.........2-22
Cleaningexteriorandinterior......7-2,7-4
Clock
(models without navigation system). .4-50
Clockset ....................4-50
Clock set/adjustment .............4-7
Clock setting (models with Navigation
System)......................4-7
Clock setting (models without Navigation
System)...........4-44,4-45,4-49,4-50
Clutch Clutchfluid.................8-12
C.M.V.S.S. certification label .........10-12
Cold weather driving .............5-77
Compact disc (CD) player . . .4-46, 4-51, 4-58
Connect phone ................4-74
Console box ..................2-53
Console light ..................2-61
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) .....................5-9,5-17
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ..................8-11
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) ..........5-9,5-17
Control panel buttons .............4-4
Back button .................4-7
Brightness/contrast button .......4-9
Enterbutton.................4-4
Settingbutton................4-7
Controls Audio controls (steering wheel) .....4-72
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-24,4-32
Coolant Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2 Changing engine coolant
.........8-6
Checking engine coolant level ......8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge. . .2-7
Corrosionprotection..............7-8
Cruisecontrol.................5-45
Cupholders...................2-55
Curtain side-impact air bag system
(See supplemental side air bag and curtain
side-impact air bag system) ........1-59
D
Daytime Running Light System ......2-44
Defroster switch Rear window and outside mirror
defrosterswitch..............2-40
Dimensions and weights ..........10-10
Dimmer switch for instrument panel . . .2-45
Display controls
(see control panel buttons) ..........4-4
Door locks ....................3-5
Door open warning light ...........2-15
Drivebelt ....................8-16
Driving Coldweatherdriving...........5-77
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) ..........5-9,5-17
Driving with manual
transmission .............5-10,5-23
Precautions when starting and
driving .....................5-2
Driving the vehicle ...............5-17
11-2

E
E-CALL (SOS) SWITCH .............2-49
ECO mode switch ...............5-26
Economy - fuel .................5-70
Emergency engine shutoff ..........5-13
Emission control information label . . . .10-12
Emission control system warranty . . . .10-19
Engine Before starting the engine ........5-14
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2
Changing engine coolant .........8-6
Changing engine oil ............8-8
Changing engine oil filter .........8-10
Checking engine coolant level ......8-6
Checking engine oil level .........8-7
Engine compartment check
locations...................8-3
Engine coolant temperature gauge. . .2-7
Engine cooling system ..........8-5
Engine oil ...................8-7
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation .............10-7
Engine oil pressure warning light ....2-15
Engine oil viscosity .............10-7
Engine serial number ..........10-12
Engine specifications ...........10-9
Starting the engine ............5-15
Engine Block Heater .............5-78
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-7
Enterbutton...................4-4
EventDatarecorders ............10-21
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .......5-2
Explanation of maintenance items .....9-2Explanation of scheduled maintenance
items .......................9-5
Extended storage switch
..........8-25
Eyeglasscase.................2-54
F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) ....6-2
Flattire....................6-3,6-3
Floormatpositioningaid...........7-7
Fluid Brakefluid..................8-12
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2
Clutchfluid.................8-12
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid......................8-11
Engine coolant ...............8-5
Engine oil ...................8-7
F.M.V.S.S. certification label .........10-12
Foglightswitch................2-46
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system) . . . .1-51
Front-door pocket ..............2-50
Front power seat adjustment ........1-5
Frontseats....................1-2
Fuel Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...............10-2
Fuel economy ...............5-70
Fuel-filler cap ................3-28
Fuel-filler door lock opener lever ....3-27
Fuel-filler lid .................3-28
Fuel gauge ..................2-8 Fueloctanerating.............10-6
Fuel recommendation
..........10-4
Loose fuel cap warning .......2-6, 2-33
Fuelefficientdrivingtips...........5-68
Fuel-filler door .................3-27
Fuel gauge ....................2-8
Fuses.......................8-22
Fusiblelinks...................8-23
G
Gar

age door opener, HomeLink® Universal
Transceiver . .2-63, 2-64, 2-65, 2-66, 2-66, 2-67
Gascap.....................3-28
Gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge. . .2-7
Fuel gauge ..................2-8
Odometer ..................2-5
Speedometer ..............2-4,2-5
Tachometer .................2-7
Trip computer ................2-9
Trip odometer .............2-4, 2-5
General maintenance .............9-2
Glovebox................... .2-53
H
Hands-free phone system, Bluetooth® . .4-79
Hazardwarningflasherswitch........6-2
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-41
Headlightcontrolswitch...........2-41
Headlights ...................8-29
Headrestraints..................1-7
Heatedseats..................2-47
11-3

Heated seat switches.............2-47
Heater Heater and air conditioner (automatic)
(if so equipped) ...............4-31
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-24,4-32
Heater and air conditioner
(manual) ...................4-23
Heater operation ....4-17,4-19,4-25,4-33
Heater and air conditioner (automatic) . .4-31
HomeLink® Universal
Transceiver . .2-63, 2-64, 2-65, 2-66, 2-66, 2-67
Hood .......................3-25
Horn.......................2-47
I
Ignition switch ..................5-9
Push-button ignition switch .......5-11
Immobilizer system ........2-38,5-11, 5-14
Important vehicle information label . . .10-12
In-cabinmicrofilter ..............8-19
Increasing fuel economy ...........5-70
Indicator NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery discharge
indicator...................5-13
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders) .................2-19,3-21
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror .....3-32
Instrument brightness control .......2-45
Instrument panel .............0-6,2-2
Instrument panel dimmer switch .....2-45Intelligent cruise control (ICC) system
Brake assist .................5-47
Intelligent Key system Key operating range ............3-13
Key operation ................3-14
Mechanical key ...............3-4
Remote keyless entry operation . .3-9, 3-18
Troubleshooting guide .......3-23,3-24
Warning signals ...........3-23,3-24
Interiorlight...............2-60,2-62
Interiortrunklidrelease...........3-26
iPod®Player...............4-63,4-66
ISOFIX child restraints .............1-26
J
Jumpstarting...............6-9,8-15
K
Key.........................3-2
Key fob battery replacement .....8-25,8-26
Keyless entry With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system) .....3-9,3-18
Without Intelligent Key system
(See remote keyless entry system) . . .3-8
Keys NISSAN Intelligent Key® ........3-2,3-11
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
keys......................3-4 L
Labels Air conditioner specification label . . .10-13
C.M.V.S.S. certification label .......10-12
Emission control information label . .10-12
Engine serial number ..........10-12
F.M.V.S.S. certification label .......10-12
Tire and Loading Information label . .10-13
Vehicle identification number (VIN) . .10-11
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
plate.....................10-11
Warning labels (for SRS) ..........1-62
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren)System................1-26
License plate Installing the license plate .......10-13
Light Airbagwarninglight........1-63, 2-19
Brakelight(Seestoplight)........8-33
Bulb check/instrument panel ......2-14
Bulb replacement .............8-33
Charge warning light ...........2-15
Console light ................2-61
ExteriorandInteriorlights........8-33
Foglights..................8-31
Foglightswitch..............2-46
Headlight and turn signal switch ....2-41
Headlightcontrolswitch.........2-41
Headlights .................8-29
Interiorlight.............2-60,2-62
Lightbulbs.................8-29
Low tire pressure warning light .....2-16
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light ..................2-18,2-34
11-4