engine NISSAN 350Z 2008 Z33 Repair Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: NISSAN, Model Year: 2008, Model line: 350Z, Model: NISSAN 350Z 2008 Z33Pages: 313
Page 209 of 313
system turned off, all VDC system functions will
be turned off. The ABLS system and ABS will
still operate with the VDC system off. When the
ABLS system is activated, the “SLIP” indicator
light will blink and you may hear a clunk noise
and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and is not an indication of a malfunction.
While the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
feel a vibration from under the hood. This is
normal and indicates that the VDC system is
working properly.
The VDC system computer has a built-in diag-
nostic feature that tests the system each time
you start the engine and move the vehicle at a
low speed forward or backward. When the
self-test occurs, you may hear a clunk noise
and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and is not an indication of a malfunction.
WARNING
The VDC system is designed to help
improve driving stability but does not
prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or
due to careless or dangerous drivingtechniques. Reduce vehicle speed
and be especially careful when driv-
ing and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs, sta-
bilizer bars and bushings and wheels
are not NISSAN-approved or are ex-
tremely deteriorated the VDC system
may not operate properly. This could
adversely affect vehicle handling per-
formance, and the “VDC OFF” indica-
tor or “SLIP” indicator or both indica-
tor lights may illuminate.
If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
standard equipment or are extremely
deteriorated, the “VDC OFF” indica-
tor or “SLIP” indicator or both indica-
tor lights may illuminate.
If engine related parts such as a muf-
fler are not standard equipment or
are extremely deteriorated, the “VDC
OFF” indicator or “SLIP” indicator orboth indicator lights may illuminate.
When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly and the “VDC OFF” indi-
cator or “SLIP” indicator or both
indicator lights may illuminate. Do
not drive on these types of roads.
When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the “VDC OFF” indicator or
“SLIP” indicator or both indicator
lights may illuminate. This is not a
malfunction. Restart the engine after
driving onto a stable surface.
If wheels or tires other than those
recommended are used, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and the
“VDC OFF” indicator or “SLIP” indi-
cator or both indicator lights may
illuminate.
The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow-covered road.5-24
Starting and driving
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FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCKTo prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer or glycerin to it through the key hole. If the
lock becomes frozen, heat the key before insert-
ing it into the key hole.ANTI-FREEZEIn the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C), check
anti-freeze to assure proper winter protection.
For additional information, see “Engine Cooling
System” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section.BATTERYIf the battery is not fully charged during extremely
cold weather conditions, the battery fluid may
freeze and damage the battery. To maintain
maximum efficiency, the battery should be
checked regularly. For additional information,
see “Battery” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section.DRAINING OF COOLANT WATERIf the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-
freeze, drain the cooling system by opening the
drain plug located under the radiator. Refill
before operating the vehicle. See “Engine cool-
ing system” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section for changing engine coolant.
TIRE EQUIPMENT1. SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your vehicle
on snowy or icy roads, NISSAN recommends
the use of MUD & SNOW or ALL SEASON
tires on all four wheels. Consult a NISSAN
dealer for the tire type, size, speed rating and
availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some provinces
and states prohibit their use. Check local,
state and provincial laws before installing
studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of stud-
ded snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces,
may be poorer than that of non-studded
snow tires.
3. Tire chains may be used. For details, see
“Tire chains” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENTIt is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
a scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
a sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
a shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-drifts.
extra window washer fluid to refill the reser-
voir tank.DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” un-
der these conditions. Try to avoid
driving on wet ice until the road is
salted or sanded.
Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving
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with care. If accelerating or down-
shifting too fast, the drive wheels will
lose even more traction.
Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while on
the ice, and avoid any sudden steer-
ing maneuvers.
Do not use cruise control on slippery
roads.
Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)Engine block heaters are available through
NISSAN dealers to assist in cold temperature
starting. The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20°F (−7°C) or
lower.
To use the engine block heater:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine block
heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a
grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault
Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded 110-volt
AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be plugged in
for at least2-4hours, depending on outside
temperatures, to properly warm the engine
coolant. Use an appropriate timer to turn the
engine block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and prop-
erly store the cord to keep it away from
moving parts.
WARNING
Do not use your engine block heater
with an ungrounded electrical system
or a 2-pronged adapter. You can be
seriously injured by an electrical
shock if you use an ungrounded con-
nection.
Disconnect and properly store the
engine block heater cord before
starting the engine. Damage to the
cord could result in an electrical
shock and can cause serious injury.
Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged
extension cord rated for at least 10 A.
Plug the extension cord into a
Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) pro-
tected, grounded 110-VAC outlet.
Failure to use the proper extension
cord or a grounded outlet can result
in a fire or electrical shock and cause
serious personal injury.
5-26
Starting and driving
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TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS). It monitors tire pres-
sure of all tires except the spare. When the low
tire pressure warning light is lit, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated. If the
vehicle is being driven with low tire pressure, the
TPMS will activate and warn you of it by the low
tire pressure warning light (in the meter panel).
This system will activate only when the vehicle is
driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h). For
more details, refer to “Warning/indicator lights
and audible reminders” in the “2. Instruments
and controls” section and “Tire pressure moni-
toring system (TPMS)” in the “5. Starting and
driving” section.
WARNING
If the light illuminates while driving,
avoid sudden steering maneuvers or
abrupt braking, reduce vehicle speed,
pull off the road to a safe location
and stop the vehicle as soon as pos-
sible. Driving with under-inflated
tires may permanently damage thetires and increase the likelihood of
tire failure. Serious vehicle damage
could occur and may lead to an acci-
dent and could result in serious per-
sonal injury. Check the tire pressure
for all four tires. Adjust the tire pres-
sure to the recommended COLD tire
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label to turn the
low tire pressure warning light OFF.
If you have a flat tire, replace it with a
spare tire as soon as possible.
When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, the TPMS will not
function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash for approxi-
mately 1 minute. The light will remain
on after 1 minute. Contact your
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible
for tire replacement and/or system
resetting.
Replacing tires with those not origi-
nally specified by NISSAN could af-
fect the proper operation of the
TPMS.Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pres-
sure sensors.
CHANGING A FLAT TIREIf you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.Stopping the vehicle1. Safely move the vehicle off the road away
from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking
brake. Shift the manual transmission into R
(Reverse) position (automatic transmission in
P (Park) position).
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and to
signal professional road assistance person-
nel that you need assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle
and stand in a safe place, away from traffic
and clear of the vehicle.
FLAT TIRE6-2
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Roadster models:
1. Spare tire — Turn the retainer counterclock-
wise to remove.
2. Jack — Unfasten the belt and lift the jack up
to remove.
3. Jacking tools — They are in the tool bag.
Jacking up the vehicle and removing
the damaged tire
WARNING
Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by the jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
Use only the jack provided with your
vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use
the jack provided with your vehicle
on other vehicles. The jack is de-
signed for lifting only your vehicle
during a tire change.
Use the correct jack up points. Never
use any other part of the vehicle for
jack support.
Never jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
Never use blocks on or under the
jack.
Do not start or run the engine while
vehicle is on the jack, as it may causethe vehicle to move. This is especially
true for vehicles with limited slip dif-
ferentials.
Do not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.
Carefully read the caution label attached to
the jack body and the following instruc-
tions.
SCE0491
Roadster models
6-4
In case of emergency
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accident or sudden stop.
The spare tire is designed for emer-
gency use. See specific instructions
under the heading “Wheels and tires”
in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.To start your engine with a booster battery, the
instructions and precautions below must be
followed.
WARNING
If done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting
in severe injury or death. It could also
damage your vehicle.
Explosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away
from the battery.
Do not allow battery fluid to come
into contact with eyes, skin, clothing
or painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a
corrosive sulfuric acid solution which
can cause severe burns. If the fluid
should come into contact with any-
thing, immediately flush the con-
tacted area with water.
Keep battery out of the reach of chil-
dren.
The booster battery must be rated at12 volts. Use of an improperly rated
battery can damage your vehicle.
Whenever working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye protec-
tors (for example, goggles or indus-
trial safety spectacles) and remove
rings, metal bands, or any other jew-
elry. Do not lean over the battery
when jump starting.
Do not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.JUMP STARTING
In case of emergency
6-7
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WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause per-
sonal injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle,
position the two vehicles to bring their bat-
teries into close proximity to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply parking brake. Move the selector leverto the P (Park) position (automatic transmis-
sion models) or move the shift lever to the N
(Neutral) position (manual transmission mod-
els). Switch off all unnecessary electrical
systems (light, heater, air conditioner, etc.).
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so
equipped). Cover the battery with an old
cloth to reduce explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as
illustrated. (
1
-4)
CAUTION
Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (−) to body
ground (for example, strut mounting
bolt, etc. — not to the battery).
Make sure that the jumper cables do
not touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that the cable
clamps do not contact any other
metal.
5. Start the engine of the other vehicle and let it
run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the other vehicle at
about 2,000 rpm, and start your engine in the
normal manner.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, turn the key
off and wait 3 to 4 seconds before trying
again.
SCE0664
6-8
In case of emergency
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7. After starting your engine, carefully discon-
nect the negative cable and then the positive
cable.
8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped). Be
sure to dispose of the cloth used to cover the
vent holes as it may be contaminated with
corrosive acid.Do not attempt to start the engine by pushing.
CAUTION
Automatic transmission models can-
not be push started. Attempting to do
so may cause transmission damage.
Three-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three-way catalyst may be
damaged.
Never try to start the vehicle by tow-
ing it; when the engine starts, the
forward surge could cause the ve-
hicle to collide with the tow vehicle.
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 cap while
the engine is still hot. When the ra-
diator cap is removed, pressurized
hot water will spurt out, possibly
causing serious injury.
Do not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
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:
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply the
parking brake and move the shift lever to the
N (Neutral) position (automatic transmission
to the P (Park) position).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency
6-9
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windows, and move the temperature control
to maximum hot and the 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 (approximately 1,500 rpm) until the tem-
perature 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 getting
burned.
6. Visually check if the cooling fan is running.
The radiator hoses and radiator 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 when the coolant tempera-
ture is high.
7. After the engine cools down, check the cool-
ant level in the reservoir tank with the engine
running. Add coolant to the reservoir tank if
necessary. Have your vehicle repaired at a
NISSAN dealer.When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial 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 appli-
cable laws and procedures for towing. To assure
proper towing and to prevent accidental damage
to your vehicle, NISSAN recommends having a
service operator tow your vehicle. It is advisable
to have the service operator carefully read the
following precautions.
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-TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-10
In case of emergency
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8 Maintenance and do-it-yourselfMaintenance requirements ................................................. 8-2
General maintenance ........................................................... 8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items ............... 8-2
Maintenance precautions ................................................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ............................. 8-7
Engine cooling system ........................................................ 8-8
Checking engine coolant level .................................... 8-8
Changing engine coolant ............................................. 8-9
Engine oil ................................................................................ 8-9
Checking engine oil level .............................................. 8-9
Changing engine oil and filter ................................... 8-10
Automatic transmission fluid ........................................... 8-12
Power steering fluid .......................................................... 8-12
Brake and clutch fluid ....................................................... 8-13
Brake fluid ....................................................................... 8-13
Clutch fluid ..................................................................... 8-14
Window washer fluid ........................................................ 8-14
Battery ................................................................................... 8-15
Jump starting ................................................................. 8-16
Drive belts ............................................................................ 8-17
Spark plugs ......................................................................... 8-17Replacing spark plugs ................................................ 8-17
Air cleaners .......................................................................... 8-18
Windshield wiper blades ................................................. 8-19
Cleaning ......................................................................... 8-19
Replacing ....................................................................... 8-20
Brakes ................................................................................... 8-21
Self-adjusting brakes .................................................. 8-21
Brake pad wear indicators ......................................... 8-21
Fuses ..................................................................................... 8-21
Engine compartment ................................................... 8-22
Passenger compartment ............................................ 8-23
Keyfob battery replacement .............................................. 8-24
Lights ..................................................................................... 8-26
Headlights ...................................................................... 8-27
Exterior and interior lights .......................................... 8-28
Wheels and tires ................................................................ 8-30
Tire pressure ................................................................. 8-30
Tire labeling ..................................................................... 8-34
Types of tires ................................................................. 8-36
Tire chains ...................................................................... 8-37
Changing wheels and tires ........................................ 8-37
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