6-18In case of emergency
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open allthe windows, move the heater or air
conditioner temperature control to
maximum hot and fan control to high
speed.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climbing a long hill on a hot day, run
the engine at a fast idle (approxi-
mately 1,500 rpm) until the tempera-
ture gauge indication returns to
normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for steam or coolant escaping from
the radiator before opening the hood.
(If steam or coolant is escaping, turn
off the engine.) Do not open the hood
further until no steam or coolant can
be seen.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent get-
ting burned.
6. Visually check if the cooling fan is running. The radiator hoses and ra-
diator should not leak water. If coolant
is leaking or the cooling fan does not
run, stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands,
hair, jewelry or clothing to come into
contact with, or get caught in, engine
belts or the engine cooling fan. The
engine cooling fan can start at any
time.
7. After the engine cools down, check the coolant level in the reservoir with
the engine running. Add coolant to
the reservoir if necessary. Have your
vehicle repaired. It is recommended
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ...................................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ........................ 8-3VQ37VHR engine model .................................................. 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 and filter ..................................... 8-6
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ............................. 8-8
Power steering fluid ................................................................... 8-8
Brake and clutch fluid ............................................................... 8-9 Brake fluid ........................................................................\
............ 8-9
Clutch fluid (Manual
transmission models) ...................................................... 8-10
Window washer fluid .............................................................. 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
........................ 8-11 Jump starting ........................................................................\
. 8-13
Variable voltage control system ................................... 8-13
Drive belts ........................................................................\
................ 8-14
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
............. 8-14 Replacing spark plugs ..................................................... 8-15
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
............... 8-15 Windshield wiper blades ..................................................... 8-16
Cleaning ........................................................................\
........... 8-16
Replacing ........................................................................\
........ 8-16
Brakes ........................................................................\
........................ 8-17 Self-adjusting brakes ..................................................... 8-17
Brake pad wear warning ............................................ 8-17
Fuses ........................................................................\
........................... 8-18 Engine compartment .................................................... 8-18
Passenger compartment ........................................... 8-19
Intelligent Key battery replacement .......................... 8-20
Lights ........................................................................\
.......................... 8-22 Coupe ........................................................................\
................ 8-22
Roadster ........................................................................\
.......... 8-23
Headlights ........................................................................\
...... 8-23
Exterior and interior lights ........................................ 8-24
Wheels and tires ........................................................................\
8-26
Tire pressure ........................................................................\
8-26
Tire labeling ........................................................................\
.. 8-30
Types of tires ....................................................................... 8-32
Tire chains ........................................................................\
...... 8-33
Changing wheels and tires ...................................... 8-34
Emergency tire puncture repair kit (if
so equipped) ........................................................................\
. 8-37
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.
JVC0785X
VQ37VHR ENGINE MODEL1. Fuse/fusible link holder
2. Battery
3. Radiator filler cap
4. Engine oil dipstick
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Brake fluid reservoir 7. Clutch fluid reservoir (Manual Transmis-
sion models)
8. Power steering fluid reservoir
9. Window washer fluid reservoir
10 Air cleaner
11. Drive belt location
12. Engine coolant reservoir
13. Fuse/fusible link holder
Do-it-yourself8-3
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK LOCATIONS
JVM0087X
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir
when the engine is running and after it
reaches normal operating temperature.
If the coolant level is below the MIN level
,
add coolant up to the MAX level. If the
reservoir 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 radiator filler cap above the radia-
tor upper hose opening and also add it to
the reservoir up to the MAX level
. Put on
the filler cap above the radiator upper
hose and with the reservoir cap open,
start the engine. Run the engine until it
reaches normal operating temperature. Add coolant 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
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
8-6Do-it-yourself
SDI2348
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface andapply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches oper- ating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than
15 minutes for the oil to drain back
into the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the
range
. If the oil level is below,
remove the oil filler cap and pour
recommended oil through the open- ing.
Do not overfill
.
6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the
break-in period, depending on the se-
verity of operating conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not
covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTER
Vehicle set-up
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches oper- ating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suitable floor jack and safety jack
stands.
.Place the safety jack stands underthe vehicle jack-up points.
.A suitable adapter should be at-
tached to the jack stand saddle.
5. Remove the plastic engine under- cover.
a. Remove the small plastic clips at
the center of the undercover.
b. Then remove the bolts that hold the undercover in place.
CAUTION
Make sure the correct lifting and
support points are used to avoid
vehicle damage.
ENGINE OIL
SDI2335
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.
(Perform steps 4 to 7 only when the
engine oil filter change is needed.)
4. 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
(14.7 to 20.5 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 through the oil filler opening, and
install the oil filler cap securely.
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.
After the operation
1. Install the engine undercover intoposition as the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic
clip out.
b. Hold the engine undercover into position.
c. Insert the clip through the under- cover into the hole in the frame,
then push the center of the clip in
to lock the clip in place.
Do-it-yourself8-7
8-8Do-it-yourself
d. Install the bolts that hold the un-dercover in place. Be careful not to
strip the bolts or over-tighten them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
WARNING
. Prolonged and repeated contact
with used engine oil may cause
skin cancer.
. Try to avoid direct skin contact
with used oil. If skin contact is
made, wash thoroughly with soap
or hand cleaner as soon as pos-
sible.
. Keep used engine oil out of reach
of children. When checking or replacement is re-
quired, we recommend a NISSAN dealer
for servicing.
CAUTION
.
It is recommended that you use
only Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF.
Do not mix with other fluids.
. Using automatic transmission
fluid other than Genuine NISSAN
Matic S ATF may cause deteriora-
tion in driveability and automatic
transmission durability, and may
damage the automatic transmis-
sion. Damage caused by the use
of fluid other than as recom-
mended is not covered by the
NISSAN new vehicle limited war-
ranty.
SDI1765A
Check the fluid level in the reservoir.
The fluid level should be checked with the
engine off using the HOT range (
: HOT
MAX.,: HOT MIN.) at fluid temperatures
of 122 to 176°F (50 to 80°C) or using the
COLD range (
: COLD MAX.,: COLD MIN.)
at fluid temperatures of 32 to 86°F (0 to
30°C).
If the fluid is below the MIN line, add
Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent. Re-
move the cap and fill through the open-
ing.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID (ATF)POWER STEERING FLUID
SDI1480E
2. Add distilled water up to the UPPERLEVELline.
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
conditionsneeds 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.6-15). 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.
Do-it-yourself8-13
VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL SYSTEM