2023 NISSAN ALTIMA overheating

•Always pay attention to the opera-
tion of the vehicle and be ready to
manually control the proper follow-
ing distance. The ICC system may not
be able to maintain the selected dis-
tance between vehicles (following
distance) or selected vehicle speed
under some circumstances.
• The system may not detect the ve-
hicle in front of you in certain road or
weather conditions. To avoid acci-
dents, never use the ICC system un-
der the following conditions:
– On roads where the traffic is heavy
or there are sharp curves
– On slippery road surfaces such as
on ice or snow, etc.
– During bad weather (rain, fog,
snow, etc.)
– When rain, snow or dirt adhere to
the bumper around the distance
sensor
– On steep downhill roads (the ve-
hicle may go beyond the set ve-
hicle speed and frequent braking
may result in overheating the
brakes)
– On repeated uphill and downhill
roads –
When traffic conditions make it
difficult to keep a proper distance
between vehicles because of fre-
quent acceleration or
deceleration
– Interference by other radar
sources
• Do not use the ICC system if you are
towing a trailer. The system may not
detect a vehicle ahead.
• In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly
come into the sensor detection zone
and cause automatic braking. Al-
ways stay alert and avoid using the
ICC system where not recommended
in this warning section.
The radar sensor will not detect the follow-
ing objects:
• Stationary and slow moving vehicles
• Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
• Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
• Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel lane The sensor generally detects the signals
returned from the vehicle ahead. Therefore,
if the sensor cannot detect the reflection
from the vehicle ahead, the ICC system
may not maintain the selected distance.
The following are some conditions in which
the sensor cannot properly detect a ve-
hicle ahead and the system may not oper-
ate properly:
• When snow or road spray from traveling
vehicles reduces the sensor’s detection.
• When your vehicle is towing a trailer, etc.
• When excessively heavy baggage is loaded in the rear seat or cargo area of
your vehicle.
The ICC system is designed to automati-
cally check the sensor’s operation within
the limitations of the system.
When the sensor is covered with dirt or is
obstructed, the system will automatically
be canceled. If the sensor is covered with
ice, a transparent or translucent vinyl bag,
etc., the ICC system may not detect them.
In these instances, the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance control mode may not cancel and
may not be able to maintain the selected
following distance from the vehicle ahead.
Be sure to check and clean the sensor
regularly.
Starting and driving5-83

•Always pay attention to the opera-
tion of the vehicle and be ready to
manually control the proper follow-
ing distance. The ICC system may not
be able to maintain the selected dis-
tance between vehicles (following
distance) or selected vehicle speed
under some circumstances.
• The system may not detect the ve-
hicle in front of you in certain road or
weather conditions. To avoid acci-
dents, never use the ICC system un-
der the following conditions:
– On roads with heavy, high-speed
traffic or sharp curves
– On slippery road surfaces such as
on ice or snow, etc.
– During bad weather (rain, fog,
snow, etc.)
– When rain, snow or dirt adhere to
the bumper around the distance
sensor
– On steep downhill roads (the ve-
hicle may go beyond the set ve-
hicle speed and frequent braking
may result in overheating the
brakes)
– On repeated uphill and downhill
roads –When traffic conditions make it dif-
ficult to keep a proper distance be-
tween vehicles because of frequent
acceleration or deceleration
–Interference by other radar sources.
• Do not use the ICC system if you are
towing a trailer. The system may not
detect a vehicle ahead.
• In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly
come into the sensor detection zone
and cause automatic braking. Al-
ways stay alert and avoid using the
ICC system where not recommended
in this warning section.
The ICC system will not detect the following
objects:
• Stationary or slow moving vehicles
• Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
• Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
• Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel lane
The following are some conditions in which
the radar sensor cannot properly detect a
vehicle ahead and the system may not op-
erate properly:
• When the sensor detection is reduced (conditions such as rain, snow, fog, dust
storms, sandstorms, and road spray from
other vehicles) • Driving on a steep downhill slope or roads
with sharp curves
• Driving on a bumpy road surface, such as an uneven dirt road
• If dirt, ice, snow or other material is cover- ing the radar sensor area
• A complicated-shaped vehicle such as a car carrier trailer or flatbed truck/trailer is
near the vehicle ahead.
• Interference by other radar sources
• When your vehicle is towing a trailer, etc.
• When excessively heavy baggage is loaded in the rear seat or cargo area of
your vehicle.
The ICC system is designed to automati-
cally check the radar sensor’s operation
within the limitations of the system.
The detection zone of the radar sensor is
limited. A vehicle ahead must be in the de-
tection zone for the ICC system to maintain
the selected distance from the vehicle
ahead. A vehicle ahead may move outside of
the detection zone due to its position within
the same lane of travel. Motorcycles may not
be detected in the same lane ahead if they
are traveling offset from the center line of the
lane. A vehicle that is entering the lane ahead
may not be detected until the vehicle has
completely moved into the lane.
5-112Starting and driving

•HEADED UPHILL WITH CURBOB:
Turn the wheels away from the curb
and move the vehicle back until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb.
• HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB
OC:
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away
from the center of the road if it moves.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.
WARNING
• If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the steering will not work.
Steering will be harder to operate.
• When the power steering warning
light illuminates with the engine run-
ning, there will be no power assist for
the steering. You will still have control
of the vehicle, but the steering will be
much harder to operate. Have the
power steering system checked. It is
recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
The power steering system is designed to
provide power assistance while driving to
operate the steering wheel with light force.
When the steering wheel is operated re-
peatedly or continuously while parking or
driving at a very low speed, the power as-
sist for the steering wheel will be reduced.
This is to prevent overheating of the power
steering system and protect it from getting
damaged. While the power assist is re-
duced, steering wheel operation will be-
come heavy. If the steering wheel opera-
tion is still performed, the power steering
may stop and the power steering warning
light will illuminate. In a safe location, stop the engine and place the ignition switch in
the OFF position. The temperature of the
power steering system will go down af ter a
period of time and the power assist level
will return to normal af ter starting the en-
gine. The power steering warning light will
go off. Avoid repeating such steering wheel
operations that could cause the power
steering system to overheat.
You may hear a noise from the front of the
vehicle when the steering wheel is oper-
ated. This is a normal operational noise
and is not a malfunction.
If the power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the engine is running, it may
indicate the power steering system is not
functioning properly and may need servic-
ing. Have the power steering system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
When the power steering warning light illu-
minates with the engine running, the
power assist for the steering will cease op-
eration but you will still have control of the
vehicle. At this time, greater steering efforts
are required to operate the steering wheel,
especially in sharp turns and at low speeds.
POWER STEERING
5-172Starting and driving

The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions,
you will still have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using
engine vacuum. If the engine stops, you
can stop the vehicle by depressing the
brake pedal. However, greater foot pres-
sure on the brake pedal will be required to
stop the vehicle and stopping distance will
be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will overheat the brakes,
wear out the brake pads faster, and reduce
gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent
the brakes from overheating, reduce speed
and downshif t to a lower gear before going
down a slope or long grade. Overheated
brakes may reduce braking performance
and could result in loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
• While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-
ing or downshif ting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
• If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet. As
a result, your braking distance will be lon-
ger and the vehicle may pull to one side
during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake
pedal to heat up the brakes. Do this until
the brakes return to normal. Avoid driving
the vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced,
in order to assure the best braking
performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
• The ABS is a sophisticated device, but
it cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slip-
pery surfaces. Remember that stop-
ping distances on slippery surfaces
will be longer than on normal sur-
faces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if
you are using tire chains. Always
maintain a safe distance from the ve-
hicle in front of you. Ultimately, the
driver is responsible for safety.
BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-173

CAUTION
• Do not push start this vehicle. The
three-way catalyst may be
damaged.
• Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models cannot be push-
started or tow-started. Attempting
to do so may cause transmission
damage. If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by
an extremely high temperature gauge
reading), or if you feel a lack of engine
power, detect abnormal noise, etc. take the
following steps.
WARNING
• Do not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could cause
engine damage or a vehicle fire.
• To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap while the engine is still
hot. When the radiator or coolant res-
ervoir cap is removed, pressurized
hot water will spurt out, possibly
causing serious injury.
• Do not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, ap- ply the parking brake and move the shif t
lever to P (Park).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed. 3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the ra-
diator before opening the hood. (If
steam or coolant is escaping, turn off
the engine.) Do not open the hood fur-
ther until no steam or coolant can be
seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. Visually check drive belts for damage or looseness. Also check if the cooling fan
is running. The radiator hoses and radia-
tor should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking, the water pump belt is missing
or loose, 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 con-
tact with, or get caught in, engine belts
or the engine cooling fan. The engine
cooling fan can start at any time.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-19

CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir
when the engine is cold. If the coolant
level is below the MIN level
OB, add coolant
to the MAX level
OA.
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 filler opening and also add it to the
reservoir up to the MAX level
OA. Start the
engine and allow the engine coolant tem-
perature gauge to rise until it reaches nor- mal operating temperature. For additional
information, see “Engine coolant tempera-
ture gauge” (P. 2-6). Turn off the engine once
the engine coolant temperature has
reached normal operating range. Allow the
engine coolant to cool to ambient tem-
perature. Recheck the coolant level in the
reservoir and add coolant to the MAX level if
necessary.
This vehicle contains Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue). The life ex-
pectancy of the factory-fill coolant is
105,000 miles (168,000 km) or 7 years. Mixing
any other type of coolant or the use of
non-distilled water will reduce the life ex-
pectancy of the factory-fill coolant. For ad-
ditional information, see the "Maintenance
and schedules" section of this manual.
For additional information on the location
of the engine coolant reservoir, see “Engine
compartment check locations” (P. 8-3).
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
A NISSAN dealer can change the engine
coolant. The service procedure can be
found in the NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine
overheating.
WARNING
• To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
• Never remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns could
be caused by high pressure fluid es-
caping 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 possible.
• Keep coolant out of the reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of prop-
erly. Check your local regulations.
LDI3262
8-6Do-it-yourself

Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle
handling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be per-
formed with the wheels off the vehicle.
Spin balancing the wheels on the vehicle
could lead to mechanical damage.
•For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Care of wheels
• Wash the wheels when washing the ve- hicle to maintain their appearance.
• Clean the inner side of the wheels when the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners when washing the wheels.
• Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or corrosion. Such damage may cause loss
of pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
• NISSAN recommends waxing the road wheels to protect against road salt in ar-
eas where it is used during winter.
Spare tire (TEMPORARY USE ONLY
spare tire) (if so equipped)
When using a wheel without the TPMS such
as the spare tire, the TPMS will not function.
Observe the following precautions if the
TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire must be
used. Otherwise, your vehicle could be
damaged or involved in an accident:
WARNING
• For AWD vehicles - the TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire must be installed
to the rear wheels only. If a front tire
is punctured, install the original rear
tire onto the front wheel, then install
the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire
on the rear. Failure to do so could
cause overheating to the AWD
system
• The spare tire should be used for
emergency use only. It should be re-
placed with the standard tire at the
first opportunity to avoid possible
tire or differential damage.
• Drive carefully while the TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire is installed. Avoid
sharp turns and abrupt braking while
driving. •
Periodically check spare tire inflation
pressure. Always keep the pressure
of the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare
tire at 420 kPa, 4.2 bar (60 psi).
• With the TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare
tire installed do not drive the vehicle
at speeds faster than 50 mph (80
km/h).
• When driving on roads covered with
snow or ice, the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire should be used on the
rear wheels and the original tire used
on the front wheels (drive wheels).
• Tire tread of the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire will wear at a faster
rate than the standard tire. Replace
the spare tire as soon as the tread
wear indicators appear.
• Do not use the spare tire on other
vehicles.
• Do not use more than one spare tire
at the same time.
• Do not tow a trailer when the TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tire is installed.
8-42Do-it-yourself

Fuel containing MMT
MMT, or methylcyclopentadienyl manga-
nese tricarbonyl, is an octane boosting ad-
ditive. NISSAN does not recommend the
use of fuel containing MMT. Such fuel may
adversely affect vehicle performance, in-
cluding the emissions control system. Note
that while some fuel pumps label MMT
content, not all do, so you may have to
consult your gasoline retailer for more
details.
Af termarket fuel additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of
any af termarket fuel additives (for ex-
ample, fuel injector cleaner, octane
booster, intake valve deposit removers,
etc.) which are sold commercially. Many of
these additives intended for gum, varnish
or deposit removal may contain active sol-
vents or similar ingredients that can be
harmful to the fuel system and engine.
Octane rating tips
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than recommended can
cause persistent, heavy “spark knock.”
(“Spark knock” is a metallic rapping
noise.) If severe, this can lead to engine
damage. If you detect a persistent heavy
spark knock even when using gasoline
of the stated octane rating, or if you hear
steady spark knock while holding a
steady speed on level roads, it is recom-
mended that you have a NISSAN dealer
correct the condition. Failure to correct
the condition is misuse of the vehicle, for
which NISSAN is not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing may result in
spark knock, af ter-run and/or overheating,
which may cause excessive fuel consump-
tion or engine damage. If any of the above
symptoms are encountered, have your ve-
hicle checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for servicing.However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is not
a cause for concern, because you get the
greatest fuel benefit when there is light
spark knock for a short time under heavy
engine load.
10-6Technical and consumer information