Two-Wheel Drive models with
automatic transmission
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (rear) wheels off the
ground or place the vehicle on a flatbed
truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
• Never tow automatic transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground or four wheels on the ground
(forward or backward), as this may
cause serious and expensive dam-
age to the transmission. If it is neces-
sary to tow the vehicle with the front
wheels raised always use towing dol-
lies under the rear wheels.
• When towing automatic transmis-
sion models with the front wheels on
the ground or on towing dollies: –
Place the ignition switch in the
OFF position and secure the steer-
ing wheel in a straight-ahead po-
sition with a rope or similar de-
vice. Never secure the steering
wheel by placing the ignition
switch in the LOCK position. This
may cause damage to the lock
mechanism (for models with a
steering lock mechanism).
NOTE:
If the battery is dead the transmission
will not shif t into neutral.
When towing long distances or speeds in
excess of 50 mph (80 km/h), remove the
propeller shaf t before towing to prevent
damage to the transmission. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
additional information.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a
stuck vehicle)
There are two options to recover a stuck
vehicle: pulling and rocking. For additional
information regarding these options,
please refer to the following sections.
LCE2311
In case of emergency6-15
FLOOR MATS (if so equipped)
WARNING
To avoid potential pedal interference
that may result in a collision, injury or
death:
• NEVER place a floor mat on top of
another floor mat in the driver front
position or install them upside down
or backwards.
• Use only Genuine NISSAN floor mats,
or equivalent floor mats, that are
specifically designed for use in your
vehicle model and model year. •
Properly position the mats in the
floorwell using the floor mat posi-
tioning hook. For additional informa-
tion, refer to "Floor mat installation"
in this section.
• Make sure the floor mat does not in-
terfere with pedal operation.
• Periodically check the floor mats to
make sure they are properly
installed.
• Af ter cleaning the vehicle interior,
check the floor mats to make sure
they are properly installed.
The use of Genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and
make it easier to clean the interior. Mats
should be maintained with regular clean-
ing and replaced if they become exces-
sively worn.
Floor mat installation
Your vehicle is equipped with floor mat po-
sitioning hook(s). The number and shape of
the floor mat positioning hooks for each
seating position varies depending on the
vehicle. When installing Genuine NISSAN floor mats,
follow the installation instructions provided
with the mat and the following:
1. With the ignition in the OFF position, the
shif t lever in P (Park) position and with
the parking brake fully applied, position
the floor mat in the floorwell so that the
floor mat grommet holes are aligned
with the hook(s).
2. Secure the grommet holes into the hook(s) and ensure that the floor mat is
properly positioned.
3. Make sure the floor mat does not inter- fere with pedal operation. With the igni-
tion still in the OFF position, the shif t le-
ver in the P (Park) position and with the
parking brake applied, fully apply and re-
lease all pedals. The floor mat must not
interfere with pedal operation or prevent
the pedal from returning to its normal
position.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for details about installing the floor
mats in your vehicle.
LPD2417
7-6Appearance and care
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,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the shif t le-
ver 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
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
• Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
• The automatic engine cooling fan (if
so equipped) may come on at any
time without warning, even if the ig-
nition switch 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.
• 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 nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
• Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
• Because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off,
it is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for service of the fuel
filter or fuel lines.
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. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
• Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component
harnesses disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
• Never connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.
NOTE:
If the battery is dead the transmission
will not manually shif t to other positions.
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
• If the battery is labeled "do not open" it ismaintenance free and battery fluid
should not be checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer or
a qualified specialist workshop to con-
firm the battery’s performance.
• 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.
• Push the ignition switch to the OFF posi- tion and wait 2 minutes before discon-
necting the battery.
• If the vehicle is not to be used for 30 days or longer, disconnect the negative (-) bat-
tery 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 run-
ning (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 al-
low 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 bat-
tery which can generate heat, reduce
battery 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 posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands af ter
handling.
• This vehicle uses a special battery. If
the 12-volt battery needs to be re-
placed, use a 12-volt battery of the
same design.
• Keep battery out of the reach of
children.
• Do not tip the battery. Keep the vent
caps tight and the battery level.
Do-it-yourself8-15
CAUTION
• Do not ground accessories directly 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 discharging
the vehicle battery.
NOTE:
If the battery is dead the transmission
will not manually shif t into another
position.
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 is located near the bat-
tery along the negative battery cable. If you
add electrical accessories to your vehicle,
be sure to ground them to a suitable body
ground such as the frame or engine block
area.
1. Power steering fluid pump pulley
2. Automatic belt tensioner pulley
3. Water pump pulley
4. Cooling fan pulley
5. Air conditioner compressor pulley
6. Crankshaf t pulley
7. Generator pulley
WARNING
Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF
or LOCK position before servicing drive
belt. The engine could rotate unexpect-
edly.
LDI2132WDI0661
VK56VD engine
VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL
SYSTEM (if so equipped) DRIVE BELT
Do-it-yourself8-17
1. Visually inspect the belt for signs of un-usual wear, cuts, fraying or looseness. If
the belt is in poor condition or is loose,
have it replaced or adjusted. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service.
2. Have the belt checked regularly for con- dition and tension in accordance with
the maintenance schedule. For addi-
tional information, refer to the "Mainte-
nance and schedules" section of this
manual.
REPLACING SPARK PLUGS
Iridium-tipped spark plugs
It is not necessary to replace iridium-
tipped spark plugs as frequently as con-
ventional type spark plugs because they
last much longer. Follow the maintenance
log shown in the “Maintenance and sched-
ules” section of this manual. Do not service
iridium-tipped spark plugs by cleaning or
regapping.
•Always replace spark plugs with rec-
ommended or equivalent ones.
WARNING
Be sure the engine and ignition switch
are off and that the parking brake is
engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to re-
move the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
If replacement is required, it is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
LDI2972
SPARK PLUGS
8-18Do-it-yourself
If any electrical equipment does not come
on, check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch and the head-light switch are OFF.
2. Open the engine hood. 3. Remove the fuse box cover by pushing
the tab and lif ting the cover up.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller. The fuse puller is located in the center of
the fuse block in the passenger
compartment. 5. If the fuse is openOA, replace it with a
new fuse
OB.
6. If a new fuse also opens, have the elec- trical system checked and repaired. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
LDI3073
VK56VD engine (non-XD model)
LDI3074
VK56VD engine (XD model)
LDI2826
Do-it-yourself8-23
Fusible links
If the electrical equipment does not oper-
ate and fuses are in good condition, check
the fusible links. If any of these fusible links
are melted, replace with only Genuine
NISSAN parts.
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT
WARNING
Never use a fuse of higher or lower am-
perage rating than that specified on
the fuse box cover. This could damage
the electrical system or electronic con-
trol units or cause a fire. If any electrical equipment does not oper-
ate, check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch and the head-
light switch are OFF.
2. Open the glove box.
3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Locate the fuse that needs to be replaced.
LDI0456LDI2883
8-24Do-it-yourself