Page 488 of 638

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 ignition 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 ve-
hicle fluids can damage the environ-
ment. Always conform to local regula-
tions 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, see
“Owner's Manual/Service Manual order in-
formation” (P. 10-60).
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
Page 503 of 638

• 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
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 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-yourself8-17
Page 505 of 638

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
5.6L 8 cylinder (VK56VD engine model)
VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL
SYSTEM (if so equipped) DRIVE BELT
Do-it-yourself8-19
Page 506 of 638

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, see 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
8-20Do-it-yourself
Page 510 of 638

If any electrical equipment does not oper-
ate, check for an open fuse.
Fuses are used in the passenger and en-
gine compartment. Spare fuses are pro-
vided and can be found in the passenger
compartment fuse box.
When installing a fuse make sure the fuse is
installed in the fuse box securely.ENGINE 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 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.
LDI2385LDI2962
5.6L 8 cylinder (VK56VD engine model)
LDI3073
5.6L 8 cylinder (VK56VD engine model) (non-XD model)
FUSES
8-24Do-it-yourself
Page 512 of 638
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.
5. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller
OA. 6. If the fuse is openOB, replace it with an
equivalent good fuse
OC.
7. Push the fuse box cover to install.
If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical
system checked and repaired. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
LDI2884LDI2760
8-26Do-it-yourself
Page 516 of 638

Replacing the fog light bulb
CAUTION
• High pressure halogen gas is sealed
inside the halogen bulb. The bulb
may break if the glass envelope is
scratched or the bulb is dropped.
• When handling the bulb, do not touch
the glass envelope.
• Use the same number and wattage
as originally installed as shown in the
chart. •
Do not leave the bulb out of the fog
light for a long period of time as dust,
moisture and smoke may enter the
fog light body and affect the perfor-
mance of the fog light.
NOTE:
The fog light is accessible in front of the
front tire and behind the bumper.
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF posi- tion and wait 2 minutes.
2. Disconnect the negative (-) battery cable.
3. Disconnect the bulb connector.
4. Rotate the bulb
OAcounterclockwise
and remove.
5. Remove by pulling it straight out of the fog light assembly. Do not shake or ro-
tate the bulb when removing it. Do not
touch the glass envelope.
6. Install in the reverse order of removal.
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL)
(if so equipped)
For additional information on the DRL bulb
replacement, refer to the instructions out-
lined in this section.
LDI2924
Fog light (Type B) (if so equipped)
8-30Do-it-yourself
Page 517 of 638
Replacing the daytime running
light bulb (Canada only)
NOTE:
The daytime running light is accessible
in front of the front tire and behind the
bumper.
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF posi-tion and wait 2 minutes.
2. Disconnect the negative (-) battery cable. 3. Disconnect the daytime running light
bulb connector.
4. Rotate the daytime running light bulbOAcounterclockwise and remove.
5. Remove by pulling it straight out of the fog light assembly. Do not shake or ro-
tate the bulb when removing it. Do not
touch the glass envelope.
6. Install in the reverse order of removal.
LDI2925
Fog light assembly (Type A)
(if so equipped) (Canada only)
LDI2954
Daytime running light (if so equipped) (Canada only)
Do-it-yourself8-31