Nissan Maxima (2018 year). Instruction - part 21

6. After the engine cools down, check the

coolant level in the engine coolant res-
ervoir tank with the engine running.
Add coolant to the engine coolant res-
ervoir tank if necessary. Have your ve-
hicle repaired. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this ser-
vice.

When towing your vehicle, all State (Provin-
cial in Canada) and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle.
Towing instructions are available from a
NISSAN dealer. Local service operators are
generally familiar with the applicable laws
and procedures for towing. To assure
proper towing and to prevent accidental
damage to your vehicle, NISSAN recom-
mends having a service operator tow your
vehicle. It is advisable to have the service
operator carefully read the following pre-
cautions:

WARNING

∙ Never ride in a vehicle that is being

towed.

∙ Never get under your vehicle after it

has been lifted by a tow truck.

CAUTION

∙ When towing, make sure that the

transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working condi-
tion. If any of these conditions apply,
dollies or a flatbed tow truck must be
used.

∙ Always attach safety chains before

towing.

For additional information, refer to “Flat
towing” in the “Technical and consumer in-
formation” section of this manual.

TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN

NISSAN recommends towing your vehicle
based upon the type of drivetrain. For addi-
tional information, refer to the diagrams in
this section to ensure that your vehicle is
properly towed.

TOWING YOUR VEHICLE

In case of emergency

6-11

2WD models with Continuously
Variable Transmission (CVT)

NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (front) wheels off the
ground or place the vehicle on a flatbed
truck as illustrated.

CAUTION

∙ Never tow CVT models with the front

wheels on the ground or four wheels
on the ground (forward or backward),
as this may cause serious and expen-
sive damage to the transmission. If it
is necessary to tow the vehicle with
the rear wheels raised always use
towing dollies under the front wheels.

∙ When towing CVT models with the

rear wheels on the ground or on tow-
ing dollies:

– Place the ignition switch in the OFF

position, and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
secure the steering wheel by plac-
ing the ignition switch in the LOCK
position. This may damage the
steering

lock

mechanism

(for

models

with

steering

lock

mechanism).

VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a
stuck vehicle)

WARNING

To avoid vehicle damage, serious per-
sonal injury or death when recovering a
stuck vehicle:

∙ Contact a professional towing service

to recover the vehicle if you have any
questions

regarding

the

recovery

procedure.

∙ Tow chains or cables must be at-

tached only to main structural mem-
bers of the vehicle.

∙ Do not use the vehicle tie-downs to

tow or free a stuck vehicle.

LCE2369

6-12

In case of emergency

∙ Only use devices specifically designed

for vehicle recovery and follow the
manufacturer’s instructions.

∙ Always

pull

the

recovery

device

straight out from the front of the ve-
hicle. Never pull at an angle.

∙ Route recovery devices so they do not

touch any part of the vehicle except
the attachment point.

If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device de-
signed specifically for vehicle recovery. Al-
ways follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for the recovery device.

Rocking a stuck vehicle

WARNING

∙ Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.

∙ Do not spin your tires at high speed.

This could cause them to explode and
result in serious injury. Parts of your
vehicle could also overheat and be
damaged.

If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use the following procedure:

1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control

(VDC) system.

2. Make sure the area in front and behind

the vehicle is clear of obstructions.

3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to

clear an area around the front tires.

4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and

backward.

∙ Shift back and forth between R (Re-

verse) and D (Drive).

∙ Apply the accelerator as little as pos-

sible to maintain the rocking motion.

∙ Release the accelerator pedal before

shifting between R (Reverse) and D
(Drive).

∙ Do not spin the tires above 35 mph

(55 km/h).

5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a

few tries, contact a professional towing
service to remove the vehicle.

In case of emergency

6-13

MEMO

6-14

In case of emergency

7 Appearance and care

Cleaning exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

Cleaning interior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4

Air fresheners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7

Corrosion protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Most common factors contributing to
vehicle corrosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Environmental factors influence the
rate of corrosion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Protect your vehicle from corrosion . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

In order to maintain the appearance of
your vehicle, it is important to take proper
care of it.

To protect the paint surfaces, wash your
vehicle as soon as you can:

∙ After a rainfall to prevent possible dam-

age from acid rain.

∙ After driving on coastal roads.

∙ When contaminants such as soot, bird

droppings, tree sap, metal particles or
bugs get on the paint surface.

∙ When dust or mud builds up on the sur-

face.

Whenever possible, store or park your ve-
hicle inside a garage or in a covered area.

When it is necessary to park outside, park in
a shady area or protect the vehicle with a
body cover.

Be careful not to scratch the paint sur-
face when putting on or removing the
body cover.

WASHING

Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly us-
ing a mild soap, a special vehicle soap or
general purpose dishwashing liquid mixed
with clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.

CAUTION

∙ Do not use car washes that use acid in

the detergent. Some car washes, es-
pecially brushless ones, use some
acid for cleaning. The acid may react
with some plastic vehicle compo-
nents, causing them to crack. This
could affect their appearance, and
also could cause them not to function
properly. Always check with your car
wash to confirm that acid is not used.

∙ Do not wash the vehicle with strong

household soap, strong chemical de-
tergents, gasoline or solvents.

∙ Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun-

light or while the vehicle body is hot,
as

the

surface

may

become

water-spotted.

∙ Avoid using tight-napped or rough

cloths, such as washing mitts. Care
must

taken

when

removing

caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.

Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.

Inside edges, seams and folds on the
doors, hatches and hood are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of road salt. There-
fore, these areas must be cleaned regularly.
Take care that the drain holes in the lower
edge of the door are open. Spray water
under the body and in the wheel wells to
loosen the dirt and wash away road salt.

A damp chamois can be used to dry the
vehicle to avoid water spots.

WAXING

Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
Polishing is recommended to remove
built-up wax residue and to avoid a weath-
ered appearance before re-applying wax.

A NISSAN dealer can assist you in choosing
the proper product.

CLEANING EXTERIOR

7-2

Appearance and care

∙ Wax your vehicle only after a thorough

washing. Follow the instructions sup-
plied with the wax.

∙ Do not use a wax containing any abra-

sives, cutting compounds or cleaners
that may damage the vehicle finish.

Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint fin-
ish may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.

REMOVING SPOTS

Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the surface of the paint to avoid last-
ing damage or staining. Special cleaning
products are available at a NISSAN dealer
or any automotive accessory store. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for these products.

UNDERBODY

In areas where road salt is used in winter, it
is necessary to clean the underbody regu-
larly in order to prevent dirt and salt from
building up and causing the acceleration of
corrosion on the underbody and suspen-
sion. Before the winter period and again in
the spring, the underseal must be checked
and, if necessary, re-treated.

GLASS

When cleaning the rear window, it may be
easier to clean if the high-mounted stop
light (if so equipped) is removed first.

Be careful when removing the high-
mounted stop light to reduce the risk of
damaging the high-mounted stop light
wires.

To remove the high-mounted stop light:

䊊

Push toward rear of vehicle.

䊊

Lift to remove.

The high-mounted stop light must be
properly reinstalled before driving your ve-
hicle.

Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is nor-
mal for glass to become coated with a film
after the vehicle is parked in the hot sun.
Glass cleaner and a soft cloth will easily
remove this film.

CAUTION

When cleaning the inside of the win-
dows, do not use sharp-edged tools,
abrasive cleaners or chlorine-based
disinfectant cleaners. They could dam-
age the electrical conductors, radio an-
tenna elements or rear window de-
froster elements.

ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS

Wash the wheels regularly with a sponge
dampened in a mild soap solution, espe-
cially during winter months in areas where
road salt is used. If not removed, road salt
can discolor the wheels.

WAI0007

Appearance and care

7-3

CAUTION

Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:

∙ Do not use a cleaner that uses strong

acid or alkali contents to clean the
wheels.

∙ Do not apply wheel cleaners to the

wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as
ambient temperature.

∙ Rinse the wheel to completely remove

the cleaner within 15 minutes after
the cleaner is applied.

CHROME PARTS

Clean all chrome parts regularly with a
non-abrasive chrome polish to maintain
the finish.

TIRE DRESSINGS

NISSAN does not recommend the use of
tire dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a
coating to the tires to help reduce discolor-
ation of the rubber. If a tire dressing is ap-
plied to the tires, it may react with the coat-
ing and form a compound. This compound
may come off the tire while driving and
stain the vehicle paint.

If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:

∙ Use a water-based tire dressing. The

coating on the tire dissolves more easily
than with an oil-based tire dressing.

∙ Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help

prevent

from

entering

the

tire

tread/grooves (where it would be diffi-
cult to remove).

∙ Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry

towel. Make sure the tire dressing is
completely

removed

from

the

tire

tread/grooves.

∙ Allow the tire dressing to dry as recom-

mended by the tire dressing manufac-
turer.

Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim, plastic parts and seats using a
vacuum cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe
the vinyl and leather (if so equipped) sur-
faces with a clean, soft cloth dampened in
mild soap solution, then wipe clean with a
dry, soft cloth.

Regular care and cleaning is required in
order to maintain the appearance of the
leather (if so equipped).

Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer’s recommendations. Some
fabric protectors contain chemicals that
may stain or bleach the seat material.

Use a cloth dampened only with water to
clean the meter and gauge lens.

WARNING

Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classifi-
cation sensor (if so equipped). This can
also affect the operation of the air bag
system and result in serious personal
injury.

CLEANING INTERIOR

7-4

Appearance and care

CAUTION

∙ Never use benzine, thinner or any

similar material.

∙ Small dirt particles can be abrasive

and damaging to leather surfaces
and should be removed promptly. Do
not use saddle soap, car waxes, pol-
ishes, oils, cleaning fluids, solvents,
detergents or ammonia-based clean-
ers as they may damage the leather’s
natural finish.

∙ Never use fabric protectors unless

recommended by the manufacturer.

∙ Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on

meter or gauge lens covers. It may
damage the lens cover.

For Alcantara® (if so equipped)

Water Soluble Stains

Stains Not Soluble in Water

Resistant Stains

Stain

Cleaning Method

Stain

Cleaning Method

Repeat as Necessary

Don’t Know What Caused the Stain?

Fruit juice, jam, jelly,
syrup, ketchup,
chocolate, ice cream
and mustard

Use a white towel
damped in lukewarm
water; rinse by dab-
bing with a damped
white towel in clean
water.

Makeup (Lipstick,
foundation, mascara,
eye shadow), perfume,
shoe polish, grease or
oil (in general), grass
stain

Rub with ethyl alcohol
(remember not to rub
too hard), wipe with
water and rinse by
dabbing with clean
water.

Repeat treatments as
often as necessary.
Even stains that are
not soluble in water
will often require to be
treated with water
afterwards.

Treat with lukewarm water first, then
rinse by dabbing with clean water. If
the stain begins to dissolve in the
water, repeat the treatment as often
as necessary. Allow to dry and if
necessary, treat with ethyl alcohol

Blood, eggs, excre-
ment or urine

Wipe with water at
room temperature,
rinse with clean water.
AVOID the use of
warm water because
it will make these sub-
stances coagulate.

Chewing gum

Put a plastic bag full of
ice on top of the gum,
when the gum has
become hard remove
the pieces, then treat
with ethyl alcohol.

Vinegar, tomato
sauce, coffee or hair
gel

Pre-treat with lemon
juice, then wipe with
lukewarm water, rinse
by dabbing with clean
water.

Appearance and care

7-5

AIR FRESHENERS

Most air fresheners use a solvent that
could affect the vehicle interior. If you use
an air freshener, take the following precau-
tions:

∙ Hanging-type air fresheners can cause

permanent discoloration when they
contact vehicle interior surfaces. Place
the air freshener in a location that al-
lows it to hang free and not contact an
interior surface.

∙ Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip

on the vents. These products can cause
immediate damage and discoloration
when spilled on interior surfaces.

Carefully read and follow the manufactur-
er’s instructions before using the air fresh-
eners.

FLOOR MATS

WARNING

To avoid potential pedal interference that
may result in a collision, injury or death:

∙ NEVER place a floor mat on top of an-

other floor mat in the driver front po-
sition or install them upside down or
backwards.

∙ Use only Genuine NISSAN floor mats,

or equivalent floor mats, that are spe-
cifically designed for use in your ve-
hicle model and model year.

∙ Properly position the mats in the

floorwell using the floor mat position-
ing hook. For additional information,
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.

∙ After 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.

LAI0009

7-6

Appearance and care

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

shift 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 shift
lever in the P (Park) position and with
the parking brake applied, fully apply
and release all pedals. The floor mat
must not interfere with pedal opera-
tion or prevent the pedal from return-
ing to its normal position.

It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for details about installing the floor
mats in your vehicle.

The illustration shows the location of the
floor mat positioning hooks.

SEAT BELTS

The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping
them with a sponge dampened in a mild
soap solution. Allow the belts to dry com-
pletely in the shade before using them. For
additional information, refer to “Seat belt
maintenance” in the “Safety—Seats, seat
belts and supplemental restraint system”
section of this manual.

WARNING

Do not allow wet seat belts to roll up in
the retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye or
chemical solvents to clean the seat
belts, since these materials may se-
verely weaken the seat belt webbing.

Positioning hooks

LAI2045

Appearance and care

7-7

MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION

Most vehicle corrosion is caused by:

∙ The

accumulation

moisture-

retaining dirt and debris in body panel
sections, cavities, and other areas.

∙ Damage to paint and other protective

coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor traffic collisions.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION

Moisture

Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on
the vehicle body underside can accelerate
corrosion. Wet floor coverings will not dry
completely inside the vehicle and should
be removed for drying to avoid floor panel
corrosion.

Relative humidity

Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of
high relative humidity, especially those ar-
eas where the temperatures stay above

freezing and where atmospheric pollution
exists and road salt is used.

Temperature

High temperatures accelerate the rate of
corrosion to those parts which are not well
ventilated.

Air pollution

Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in
the air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt
use accelerates the corrosion process.
Road salt also accelerates the disintegra-
tion of paint surfaces.

PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM
CORROSION

∙ Wash and wax your vehicle often to

keep the vehicle clean.

∙ Always check for minor damage to the

paint and repair it as soon as possible.

∙ Keep drain holes at the bottom of the

doors open to avoid water accumula-
tion.

∙ Check the underbody for accumulation

of sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with
water as soon as possible.

CAUTION

∙ NEVER remove dirt, sand or other de-

bris from the passenger compart-
ment by washing it out with a hose.
Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner or
broom.

∙ Never allow water or other liquids to

come in contact with electronic com-
ponents inside the vehicle as this may
damage them.

Chemicals used for road surface de-icing
are extremely corrosive. They accelerate
corrosion and deterioration of underbody
components such as the exhaust system,
fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor pan
and fenders.

winter,

the

underbody

must

cleaned periodically.

For additional protection against rust and
corrosion, which may be required in some
areas, it is recommended that you consult
a NISSAN dealer.

CORROSION PROTECTION

7-8

Appearance and care

8 Do-it-yourself

Maintenance precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Engine compartment check locations . . . . . . . . . . . 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Changing engine oil filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Power steering fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Windshield-washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-11

Windshield-washer fluid reservoir. . . . . . . . . . . . .8-11

Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12

Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14

Drive belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14
Spark plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-15

Replacing spark plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-15

Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-15

In-cabin microfilter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16

Windshield wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16
Replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16

Brakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-17
Fuses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18

Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18
Passenger compartment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-19

Battery replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-21

NISSAN Intelligent Key® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-21

Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-23

Headlights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-23
Front park/turn signal/side marker
light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-23
Fog lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-23
Exterior and interior lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-24

Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26

Tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
Tire labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-31
Types of tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-33
Tire chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
Changing wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35

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, ap-

ply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Move the shift le-
ver to P (Park).

∙ Be sure the ignition key is in the OFF or

LOCK position when performing 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 jew-
elry, such as rings, watches, etc. be-
fore working on your vehicle.

∙ Always wear eye protection whenever

you work on your vehicle.

∙ Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-

matic engine cooling fan. It may come
on at any time without warning, even
if the ignition key 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 neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands.

∙ Keep smoking materials, flame and

sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.

∙ On gasoline engine models, the fuel

filter or fuel lines should be serviced. It
is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
even when the engine is off.

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. Al-
ways conform to local regulations for
disposal of vehicle fluid.

∙ Never leave the engine or the trans-

mission related component harness
connector disconnected while the ig-
nition switch is in the ON position.

∙ Never connect or disconnect the bat-

tery or any transistorized component
while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.

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

8-2

Do-it-yourself

VQ35DE engine

Engine coolant reservoir

Drive belt location

Engine oil filler cap

Brake fluid reservoir

Air cleaner

Fuse box

Fuse box/Fusible links

Fusible links

Battery

10.

Engine oil dipstick

11.

Radiator cap

12.

Power steering fluid reservoir

13.

Windshield-washer fluid reservoir

LDI2749

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS

Do-it-yourself

8-3

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 antifreeze and coolant
protection. The antifreeze solution con-
tains rust and corrosion inhibitors. Addi-
tional engine cooling system additives are
not necessary.

WARNING

∙ Never remove the radiator or coolant

reservoir cap when the engine is hot.
Wait until the engine and radiator cool
down. Serious burns could be caused
by high pressure fluid escaping from
the radiator. For additional informa-
tion on precautions, refer to “If your
vehicle overheats” in the “In case of
emergency” section of this manual.

∙ The radiator is equipped with a pres-

sure type radiator cap. To prevent en-
gine damage, use only a Genuine
NISSAN radiator cap.

CAUTION

∙ Never use any cooling system addi-

tives such as radiator sealer. Additives
may clog the cooling system and
cause damage to the engine, trans-
mission and/or cooling system.

∙ When adding or replacing coolant, be

sure to use only Genuine NISSAN Long
Life

Antifreeze/Coolant

(blue)

equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant

(blue)

pre-

diluted to provide antifreeze protec-
tion to -34° F (-37° C). If additional
freeze protection is needed due to
weather where you operate your ve-
hicle, add Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant

(blue)

concen-

trate following the directions on the
container. If an equivalent coolant
other than Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is used, fol-
low the coolant manufacturer’s in-
structions to maintain minimum anti-
freeze protection to -34° F (-37° C). The
use of other types of coolant solu-
tions other than Genuine NISSAN Long
Life

Antifreeze/Coolant

(blue)

equivalent may damage the engine
cooling system.

∙ The life expectancy of the factory-fill

coolant is 105,000 miles (168,000 km)
or 7 years. Mixing any other type of
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue),
including Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (green), or the use
of non-distilled water will reduce the
life expectancy of the factory-fill cool-
ant. For additional information, refer
to the “Maintenance and schedules”
section of this manual.

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM

8-4

Do-it-yourself

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