8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ...................................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ........................ 8-3MR20DD engine model ..................................................... 8-4
Engine cooling system ............................................................. 8-4 Checking engine coolant level .................................... 8-5
Changing engine coolant ................................................ 8-6
Engine oil ........................................................................\
..................... 8-6 Checking engine oil level ................................................. 8-6
Changing engine oil and filter ..................................... 8-6
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ........................................................................\
.................... 8-9
Brake and clutch (if so equipped) fluid ....................... 8-9
Window washer fluid .............................................................. 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
........................ 8-11 Jump starting ........................................................................\
. 8-12
Variable voltage control system ................................... 8-13
Drive belt ........................................................................\
.................. 8-13
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
............. 8-14 Replacing spark plugs ..................................................... 8-14
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
............... 8-15 Windshield wiper blades ..................................................... 8-16
Cleaning ........................................................................\
........... 8-16
Replacing ........................................................................\
........ 8-16
Rear window wiper blade .................................................. 8-17
Brakes ........................................................................\
........................ 8-17 Self-adjusting brakes ..................................................... 8-17
Brake pad wear warning ............................................ 8-17
Fuses ........................................................................\
........................... 8-18 Engine compartment .................................................... 8-18
Passenger compartment ........................................... 8-20
Key fob battery replacement .......................................... 8-21
Intelligent Key battery replacement .......................... 8-23
Lights ........................................................................\
.......................... 8-25 Headlights ........................................................................\
...... 8-25
Exterior and interior lights ........................................ 8-27
Wheels and tires ........................................................................\
8-29
Tire pressure ........................................................................\
8-29
Tire labeling ........................................................................\
.. 8-33
Types of tires ....................................................................... 8-35
Tire chains ........................................................................\
...... 8-36
Changing wheels and tires ...................................... 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.
Move the shift lever to the P
(Park) position (CVT model) or
the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position (MT model).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in
the OFF or LOCK position when
performing any parts replace-
ment or repairs.
. 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.
. 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.
. Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Always turn off
the engine and wait until it cools
down.
. 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.
. Keep smoking materials, flame
and sparks away from fuel and
the battery. .
On gasoline engine models with
the Multiport Fuel Injection (MFI)
system, the fuel filter and fuel
lines should be serviced because
the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine
is turned off. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It
may come on at any time without
warning, even if the ignition
switch is in the OFF position and
the engine is not running. To
avoid injury, always disconnect
the negative battery cable before
working near the fan.
. Avoid direct contact with used
engine oil and coolant. Impro-
perly disposed engine oil, engine
coolant, and/or other vehicle
fluids can hurt the environment.
Always conform to local regula-
tions for disposal of vehicle fluids.
CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
off and wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used
engine oil and coolant. Impro-
perly disposed engine oil, and
engine coolant and/or other ve-
hicle fluids can damage the en-
vironment. Always conform to
local regulations for disposal of
vehicle fluid.
. Never leave the engine or the CVT
related component harnesses
disconnected while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized
component while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
. 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.
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.10-20).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operat-
ing difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect your warranty coverage.
If in
doubt about any servicing, it is recom-
mended you have it done by a NISSAN
dealer.
JVM0610X
Remove the air duct if necessary.
To remove the air duct
:
1. Remove the clips
with a suitable
tool.
2. Loosen the bolt
with a suitable tool.
3. Pull the air duct upward and then sideways.
To install the air duct, perform the in-
stallation procedure in reverse order.
Do-it-yourself8-3
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK LOCATIONS
8-4Do-it-yourself
JVC1070X
MR20DD ENGINE MODEL1. Engine coolant reservoir
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Brake and clutch* fluid reservoir
4. Air cleaner
5. Window washer fluid reservoir
6. Drive belt7. Engine oil dipstick
8. Battery
9. Fuse/fusible link box
*: For Manual Transmission (MT) Model
The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) and 50% water to provide
year-round anti-freeze and coolant pro-
tection. The anti-freeze solution contains
rust and corrosion inhibitors. Additional
engine cooling system additives are not
necessary.
WARNING
. Never remove the radiator or
coolant reservoir cap when the
engine is hot. Wait until the en-
gine and radiator cool down.
Serious burns could be caused
by high pressure fluid escaping
from the radiator. See precau-
tions in “If your vehicle overheats”
(P.6-11) of this manual.
. The radiator is equipped with a
pressure type radiator cap. To
prevent engine damage, use only
a genuine NISSAN radiator cap.
. If the engine was stopped soon
when the engine is hot, the cool-
ing fan may operate for approxi-
mately 10 minutes after the
engine was stopped to cool the
components in the engine com-
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
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 7battery 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, eyes, fabrics or painted surfaces.
After 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, immedi-
ately flush with water 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 battery life,
and in some cases lead to an
explosion.
. When working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye
protection and remove all jew-
elry.
. Battery posts, terminals and re-
lated accessories contain lead
and lead compounds. Wash
hands after handling.
. Keep the battery out of the reach
of children.
Do-it-yourself8-11
BATTERY
8-12Do-it-yourself
DI0137MA
Check the fluid level in each cell. It should
be between the UPPER LEVELand
LOWER LEVELlines.
If it is necessary to add fluid, add only
distilled water to bring the level to the
indicator in each filler opening. Do not
overfill.
SDI1480C
1. Remove the cell plugs.
2. Add distilled water up to the UPPER LEVEL
line.
If the side of the battery is not clear,
check the distilled water level by
looking directly above the cell; the
condition
indicates OK and the
conditionneeds more to be added.
3. Tighten cell plugs
.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures
or under severe conditions require fre-
quent checks of the battery fluid level.
JUMP STARTING
If jump starting is necessary, see “Jump
starting” (P.6-9). If the engine does not
start by jump starting, the battery may
have to be replaced. It is recommended
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
CAUTION
.Do not ground accessories di-
rectly to the battery terminal.
Doing so will bypass the variable
voltage control system and the
vehicle battery may not charge
completely.
. Use electrical accessories with
the engine running to avoid dis-
charging the vehicle battery.
The variable voltage control system mea-
sures the amount of electrical discharge
from the battery and controls voltage
generated by the generator.
SDI1881
1. Alternator
2. Drive belt auto-tensioner
3. Crankshaft pulley
4. Air conditioner compressor
5. Water pump
WARNING
Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position before servi-
cing drive belts. The engine could
rotate unexpectedly.
1. Visually inspect the belt for signs of unusual wear, cuts, fraying or loosen-
ess. If the belt is in poor condition or loose, have it replaced or adjusted. It is
recommended you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
2. Have the belt condition checked reg- ularly.
Do-it-yourself8-13
VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL SYSTEMDRIVE BELT
JVM0415X
Extended storage fuse switch (if so
equipped)
To reduce battery drain, the extended
storage fuse switch comes from the
factory switched off. Prior to delivery of
your vehicle, the switch is pushed in
(switched on) and should always remain
on.
If the extended storage fuse switch is not
pushed in (switched on), the meter may
display a warning message. See “20.
Shipping Mode On Push Storage Fuse
warning” (P.2-33).
If any electrical equipment does not
operate, remove the extended storage
fuse switch and check for an open fuse.NOTE:
If the extended storage fuse switch
malfunctions or if the fuse is open, it is
not necessary to replace the switch. In
this case, remove the extended storage
fuse switch and replace it with a new
fuse of the same rating.
How to remove the extended storage
fuse switch:
1. To remove the extended storage fuse 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
found on
each side of the extended storage
fuse switch.
5. Pull the extended storage fuse switch straight out from the fuse box
.
CAUTION
.Be careful not to allow children to
swallow the battery and removed
parts.
. An improperly disposed battery
can harm the environment. Al-
ways confirm local regulations
for battery disposal.
. When changing batteries, do not
let dust or oil get on the compo-
nents.
. There is danger of explosion if the
lithium battery is incorrectly re-
placed. Replace only with the
same or equivalent type.
Do-it-yourself8-21
KEY FOB BATTERY REPLACEMENT