5.Use Cruise Control
∙ Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady
speed.
∙ Cruise control is particularly effective in providing fuel savings when driving
on flat terrains.
6. Plan for the Shortest Route
∙ Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save
time.
7. Avoid Idling
∙ Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30–60 seconds
saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an Automated Pass for Toll
Roads
∙ Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruis-
ing speed through the toll and avoid
stopping and starting. 9.
Winter Warm Up
∙ Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
∙ Vehicles typically need no more than 30 seconds of idling at start-up to
effectively circulate the engine oil be-
fore driving.
∙ Your vehicle will reach its ideal oper- ating temperature more quickly
while driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your Vehicle Cool
∙ Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever pos-
sible.
∙ When entering a hot vehicle, opening the windows will help to reduce the
inside temperature faster, resulting in
reduced demand on your A/C sys-
tem. ∙ Keep your engine tuned up.
∙ Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
∙ Keep the tires inflated to the correct pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
∙ Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Improper alignment increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
∙ For vehicles equipped with
, use
4H or 4L position only when necessary.
4-Wheel Drive operation lowers fuel
economy.
∙ Use the recommended viscosity engine oil. For additional information, refer to
“Engine oil and oil filter recommenda-
tions” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
Starting and driving5-25
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions.......................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ...........8-3
Engine cooling system ..........................8-5
Checking engine coolant level ................8-6
Changing engine coolant .....................8-6
Engine oil ........................................8-7
Checking engine oil level .....................8-7
Changing engine oil and oil filter ..............8-8
5-speed Automatic Transmission
(if so equipped) Fluid (ATF) ......................8-12
Power Steering Fluid (PSF) ......................8-12
Brake and clutch (if so equipped) fluid ..........8-13
Brake fluid ................................... 8-13
Clutch (if so equipped) fluid ..................8-14
Windshield-washer fluid ........................8-14
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir ............8-14
Battery......................................... 8-15
Jump starting ............................... 8-16
Variable voltage control system ................8-17
Drive belt ....................................... 8-17
Spark plugs .................................... 8-18
Replacing spark plugs .......................8-18Air cleaner
...................................... 8-19
In-cabin microfilter .......................... 8-20
Windshield wiper blades ........................8-21
Cleaning .................................... 8-21
Replacing ................................... 8-21
Brakes.......................................... 8-22
Fuses ........................................... 8-23
Engine compartment .......................8-24
Passenger compartment ....................8-25
Battery replacement ........................... 8-26
Key fob (if so equipped) ......................8-27
Lights .......................................... 8-28
Headlights ................................... 8-28
Fog lights (if so equipped) ...................8-29
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-30
Wheels and tires ................................ 8-33
Tir e
pressure ................................ 8-33
Tire labeling ................................. 8-36
Types of tires ................................ 8-39
Tire chains .................................. 8-40
Changing wheels and tires ..................8-41
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 vehicle
from moving. For manual transmission
models, move the shif t lever to N (Neu-
tral). For Automatic Transmission (A/T)
move the shif t lever to P (Park)
∙ Be sure the ignition key is in the OFF orLOCK position when performing 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.
∙ On gasoline engine models, the fuel filter or fuel lines should be serviced
because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off.
It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
CAUTION
∙ Do not work under the hood while theengine 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
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the en-
gine, and such damage is not covered
by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND OIL
FILTER
For additional information on engine oil
and oil filter change, refer to the instruc-
tions outlined in this section.
Vehicle set-up
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface andapply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operat- ing temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait for 15 min- utes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suitable floor jack and safety jack
stands.
∙ Place the safety jack stands under the vehicle jack-up points.
∙ A suitable adapter should be attached to the jack stand saddle.
CAUTION
Make sure the correct lif ting and sup-
port points are used to avoid vehicle
damage.
1Oil filler cap (QR25DE)
LDI3360
8-8Do-it-yourself
Removal of under-engine
protectors (if so equipped)
1. Remove boltsAand plate.
Engine oil and filter
1. Place a large drain pan under the drainplug and oil filter.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug with a wrench by turning it counterclockwise and
completely drain the oil.
3Oil filter (QR25DE)
LDI3364
3Oil filter (VQ40DE)
LDI3363
4Plate (VQ40DE)
LDI3368
8-10Do-it-yourself
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
WARNING
∙Prolonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin cancer.
∙ Try to avoid direct skin contact withused oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
∙ Keep used engine oil out of reach of children. 4. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter
wrench by turning it counterclockwise.
Remove the oil filter by turning it by
hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting sur- face with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old gasket mate-
rial remaining on the sealing surface of
the engine. Failure to do so could lead to
an oil leak and engine damage.
∙ The dipstick must be inserted in placeto prevent oil spillage from the dip-
stick hole when filling the engine with
oil.
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 ad-
ditionally more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque: 11 to 15 f t-lb (14.7 to 20.6 N·m) 8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with
a new washer. Securely tighten the
drain plug with a wrench. Do not use
excessive force.
Drain plug tightening torque: 22 to 29 f t-lb (29 to 39 N·m)
9. Refill the engine with the recom- mended oil through the oil filler open-
ing, and install the oil filler cap securely.
For additional information about drain and
refill capacity, refer to “Recommended
fluids/lubricants and capacities” in the
“Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual. The drain and refill ca-
pacity depends on the oil temperature and
drain time. Use these specifications for ref-
erence only. Always use the dipstick to de-
termine the proper amount of oil in the
engine.
10. Start the engine and check for leakage around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required. Turn the engine off
and wait more than 15 minutes. Check
the oil level with the dipstick. Add en-
gine oil if necessary.
LDI3366
Do-it-yourself8-11
Af ter the operation
1. Reinstall plate in reverse order of re-moval.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
∙ Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
∙ Check your local regulations. When checking or replacement is required,
it is recommend that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
CAUTION
∙ Use Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. If
Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF is not
available, Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF
may also be used.
∙ Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S
ATF or Matic J ATF (or their equiva-
lents) will cause deterioration in
driveability and automatic transmis-
sion durability, and may damage the
automatic transmission, which is not
covered by the NISSAN New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
The specified automatic transmission fluid
is also described on caution labels located
in the engine compartment. The fluid level should be checked using the
HOT MAX range on the power steering fluid
reservoir at fluid temperatures of 122° -
176°F (50° - 80°C) or using the COLD MAX
range on the power steering fluid reservoir
at fluid temperatures of 32° - 86°F (0° - 30°C).
If the fluid is at or below the MIN line, add
Genuine NISSAN PSF-II or equivalent to HOT
MAX or COLD MAX depending on system
fluid temperature. Remove the cap and fill
through the opening.
WDI0256
5-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION (if so equipped)
FLUID (ATF)
POWER STEERING FLUID (PSF)
8-12Do-it-yourself
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.
Evaporative emissions control vapor
lines*: Check vapor lines for leaks or loose-
ness. Tighten connections or replace parts
as necessary.
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 same type as origi-
nally 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 and rotors: Check for wear,
deterioration and fluid leaks. Replace any
deteriorated or damaged parts immedi-
ately.
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 “Explanation of general
maintenance items” in this section. When
rotating tires, check for damage and un-
even wear. Replace if necessary.
Transmission fluid/oil, differential oil: Vi-
sually inspect for signs of leakage at speci-
fied intervals.
9-6Maintenance and schedules