8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions.......................8-2
Engine compartment check locations...........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..........................8-7
Changing engine oil filter.....................8-8
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid (if so equipped).............................8-9
Brake and clutch (if so equipped) fluid...........8-9
Brake fluid...................................8-10
Clutch (if so equipped) fluid..................8-10
Windshield-washer fluid........................8-10
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir............8-10
Battery..........................................8-11
Jump starting...............................8-13
Variable voltage control system
(if so equipped).................................8-13
Drive belt.......................................8-14
Spark plugs....................................8-14Replacing spark plugs.......................8-14
Air cleaner......................................8-15
Windshield wiper blades........................8-16
Cleaning....................................8-16
Replacing...................................8-16
Brakes..........................................8-17
Fuses...........................................8-18
Engine compartment.......................8-18
Passenger compartment....................8-19
Battery replacement...........................8-20
Key fob (if so equipped)......................8-21
Lights..........................................8-22
Headlights...................................8-22
Fog lights (if so equipped)...................8-23
Exterior and interior lights...................8-24
Wheels and tires................................8-28
Tire pressure................................8-28
Tire labeling
.................................8-31
Types of tires................................8-34
Tire chains..................................8-35
Changing wheels and tires..................8-36
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 fol-
lowing are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
∙ Park the vehicle on a level surface, ap-
ply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. For manual trans-
mission models, move the shif t lever
to N (Neutral). For CVT models, move
the shif t lever to P (Park).
∙ Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when perform-
ing any parts replacement or repairs.
∙ If you must work with the engine run-
ning, 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 jew-
elry, such as rings, watches, etc. be-
fore working on your vehicle.
∙ Always wear eye protection whenever
you work on your vehicle.∙ If you must run the engine in an en-
closed 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 neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands.
∙ Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
∙
Because the fuel lines on gasoline en-
gine models are under high pressure
even when the engine is off, it is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for service of the fuel filter or fuel lines.
∙ Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come
on at any time without warning, 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 work-
ing near the fan.
CAUTION
∙ Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.∙
Avoid contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine
oil, 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 trans-
mission related component harness
connector disconnected while the ig-
nition switch is in the ON position.
∙ Never connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized component
while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
This “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. For additional information, refer
to “Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order
information” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect warranty coverage.If in doubt
about any servicing, it is recommended
that you have it done by a NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself
HR16DE engine
1. Drive belt location
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Air cleaner
4. Brake and clutch (if so equipped)
fluid reservoir
5. Fusible link
6. Battery
7. Engine coolant reservoir
8. Radiator cap
9. Engine oil dipstick
10. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
LDI3055
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
Do-it-yourself8-3
CAUTION
∙ Do not substitute engine antifreeze
coolant for windshield-washer solu-
tion. This may result in damage to the
paint.
∙ Do not fill the windshield-washer fluid
reservoir with washer fluid concen-
trates at full strength. Some methyl
alcohol based washer fluid concen-
trates may permanently stain the
grille if spilled while filling the
windshield-washer fluid reservoir.
∙ Pre-mix windshield-washer fluid con-
centrates with water to the manufac-
turer’s recommended levels before
pouring the fluid into the windshield-
washer fluid reservoir. Do not use the
windshield-washer fluid reservoir to
mix the washer fluid concentrate and
water.∙ Keep the battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the battery with a solution of bak-
ing soda and water.
∙ Make certain the terminal connections
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 prevent
discharge.
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.
WARNING
∙ Do not expose the battery to flames,
an electrical spark or a cigarette. Hy-
drogen gas generated by the battery
is explosive. Explosive gases can
cause blindness or injury. Do not allow
battery fluid to contact your skin,
eyes, fabrics or painted surfaces. Sul-
furic acid can cause blindness or in-
jury. Af ter touching a battery or bat-
tery cap, do not touch or rub your
eyes. Thoroughly wash your hands. If
the acid contacts your eyes, skin or
clothing, immediately flush with wa-
ter for at least 15 minutes and seek
medical attention.
∙ Do not operate the vehicle if the fluid
in the battery is low. Low battery fluid
can cause a higher load on the battery
which can generate heat, reduce bat-
tery life, and in some cases lead to an
explosion.
∙ When working on or near a battery,
always wear suitable eye protection
and remove all jewelry.
BATTERY
Do-it-yourself8-11
∙ Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands af ter
handling.
∙ Keep battery out of the reach of
children.
∙ Do not tip the battery. Keep the vent
caps tight and the battery level.
1. Remove the vent caps with a screw-
driver as shown.
2. Check the fluid level in each cell. If it is
necessary to add fluid, add only dis-
tilled water to bring the level up to the
bottom of the filler opening.Do not
overfill.Reinstall the vent caps.
WDI0528
WDI0529
8-12Do-it-yourself
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or
under severe conditions require frequent
checks of the battery fluid level.
JUMP STARTING
If jump starting is necessary, refer to “Jump
starting” in the “In case of emergency” sec-
tion of this manual. If the engine does not
start by jump starting, the battery may
have to be replaced. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this ser-
vice.
CAUTION
∙ Do not ground accessories directly to
the battery terminal. Doing so will by-
pass the variable voltage control sys-
tem and the vehicle battery may not
charge completely.
∙ Use electrical accessories with the en-
gine running to avoid discharging the
vehicle battery.Your vehicle is equipped with a variable
voltage control system. This system mea-
sures the amount of electrical discharge
from the battery and controls voltage gen-
erated by the generator.
The current sensor
Ais located near the
battery along the negative battery cable. If
you add electrical accessories to your ve-
hicle, be sure to ground them to a suitable
body ground such as the frame or engine
block area.
LDI2250
VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
Do-it-yourself8-13
Extended storage switch
If any electrical equipment does not oper-
ate, remove the extended storage switch
and check for an open fuse.
NOTE:
The extended storage switch is used for
long term vehicle storage. Even if the ex-
tended storage switch is broken it is not
necessary to replace it. Replace only the
open fuse in the switch with a new fuse.How to replace the extended storage
switch:
1. To remove the extended storage
switch, be sure the ignition switch is in
the OFF or LOCK position.
2. Be sure the headlight switch is in the
OFF position.
3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Pinch the locking tabs
AandBfound
on each side of the storage switch.
5. Pull the storage switch straight out
from the fuse box
C.
CAUTION
Be careful not to allow children to swal-
low the battery or removed parts.
LDI2747
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
8-20Do-it-yourself
KEY FOB (if so equipped)
Replace the battery in the key fob as fol-
lows:
1. Remove the screw
A.2. Insert a small screwdriver into the slit of
the corner
Band 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.
∙ Do not touch the internal circuit and
electric terminals as doing so could
cause a malfunction.
∙ Make sure that the + side faces the
bottom of the case
C.
Recommended battery: CR1620 or equiva-
lent.
4. Close the lid and install the screw se-
curely.
5. Operate the buttons to check its op-
eration.
If you need assistance for replacement, it is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
If the battery is removed for any reason
other than replacement, perform step 5.
∙An improperly disposed battery can
hurt the environment. Always con-
firm local regulations for battery dis-
posal.∙The key fob is water-resistant; how-
ever, if it does get wet, immediately
wipe completely dry.
∙The operational range of the key fob
extends to approximately 33 f t (10 m)
from the vehicle. This range may vary
with conditions.
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 interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.
FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Note:
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s author-
ity to operate the equipment.
SDI2134A
Do-it-yourself8-21