ignition NISSAN 370Z COUPE 2012 Owners Manual

8-6Maintenance and do-it-yourself
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or
damage to the vehicle. The following 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 vehicle from moving. For man-
ual transmission models, move the
shift lever to N (Neutral) . For auto-
matic transmission models, move
the selector lever to P (Park) .
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized com-
ponent while the ignition switch is
in the ON position.
. Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component
harnesses disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position. .
If you must work with the engine
running, 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.
. If you must run the engine in an
enclosed 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
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel tank and the
battery.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, 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 working near the fan.
. The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer be-
cause 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 direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly
disposed engine oil, coolant, and/
or other vehicle fluids can damage
the environment. Always conform to
local regulations for disposal of
vehicle fluid.
This “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items
which are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s Manual/Service Man-
ual order information” (P.9-24).)
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

8-18Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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.
The variable voltage control system measures
the amount of electrical discharge from the
battery and controls voltage generated by the
generator.
SDI2119
VQ37VHR engine
1. Power steering fluid pump
2. Alternator
3. Crankshaft pulley
4. Air conditioner compressor
5. Drive belt auto-tensioner
WARNING
Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF
or LOCK position before servicing drive
belts. The engine could rotate unex-
pectedly. 1. Visually inspect the belt for signs of unusual
wear, cuts, fraying or looseness. If the belt is
in poor condition or loose, have it replaced
or adjusted by a NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belt condition checked regularly.
VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL
SYSTEM DRIVE BELTS

WARNING
Be sure the engine and the ignition
switch are off and that the parking
brake is engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
SDI2020
REPLACING SPARK PLUGS
If replacement is required, see a NISSAN dealer
for servicing.
Iridium-tipped spark plugs
It is not necessary to replace the iridium-tipped
spark plugs as frequently as the conventional
type spark plugs since they will last much longer.
Follow the maintenance schedule in “NISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guide”, but do not
reuse them by cleaning or regapping.
Always replace spark plugs with recom-
mended or equivalent ones.
SDI2350
Remove the retainers*1as illustrated and pull
out the filter element
*2.
The filter element should not be cleaned and
reused. Replace it according to the maintenance
intervals. See “NISSAN Service and Mainte-
nance Guide” for maintenance intervals. When
replacing the filter, wipe the inside of the air
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-19
SPARK PLUGS AIR CLEANER

8-22Maintenance and do-it-yourself
If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked by a NISSAN dealer.
SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The disc-type brakes self-adjust every time the
brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
See a NISSAN dealer for a brake
system check if the brake pedal height
does not return to normal.
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
The disc brake pads have audible wear warn-
ings. When a brake pad requires replacement, it
will make a high pitched scraping sound when
the vehicle is in motion. This scraping sound will
first occur only when the brake pedal is
depressed. After more wear of the brake pad
the sound will always be heard even if the brake
pedal is not depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the wear warning
sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions,
occasional brake squeak, squeal or other noise
may be heard. Occasional brake noise duringlight to moderate stops is normal and does not
affect the function or performance of the brake
system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.
For additional information, see the
maintenance log section of your “NISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guide”.
SDI1479A
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than that specified on
the fuse box cover. This could damage
the electrical system or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch is pushed to the OFF or LOCK position and the headlight
switch is turned to OFF.
BRAKES FUSES

8-24Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI2361
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than that specified on
the fuse box cover. This could damage
the electrical system or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch is pushed to the OFF or LOCK position and the headlight
switch is turned to OFF. 2. Open the fuse box lid.
3. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller
*A.
4. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new fuse. Spare fuses are stored in the fuse box.
5. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical system checked and repaired by a NISSAN
dealer.
SDI2704
Extended storage switch (if so equipped)
To reduce battery drain, the extended storage
switch comes from the factory switched off.
Prior to delivery of your vehicle, the switch is
pushed in (switched on) and should always
remain on.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
remove the extended storage switch and check
for an open fuse.
NOTE:
If the extended storage switch malfunc-
tions, or if the fuse is open, it is not
necessary to replace the switch. In this
case, remove the extended storage switch

and replace it with a new fuse of the same
rating.
How to remove the extended storage
switch:
1. To remove the extended storage switch, besure the ignition switch is in the OFF or
LOCK position.
2. Be sure the headlight switch is in the OFF position.
3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Pinch the locking tabs
*1found on each
side of the storage switch.
5. Pull the storage switch straight out from the fuse box
*2.
SDI2451
CAUTION
Be careful not to allow children to
swallow the battery and removed parts. Replace the battery as follows:
1. Remove the mechanical key from the key.
2. Insert a small screwdriver into the slit of the
corner and twist it to separate the upper part
from the lower part. Use a cloth to protect
the casing.
3. Replace the battery with a new one. Recommended battery:
CR2032 or equivalent
.Do not touch the internal circuit andelectric terminals as doing so could
cause a malfunction.
.Hold the battery by the edges. Holdingthe battery across the contact points will
seriously deplete the storage capacity.
.Make sure that the +side faces the
bottom case.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-25
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY
REPLACEMENT

blends may cause fuel system damage
and/or vehicle performance problems.
At this time, sufficient data is not
available to ensure that all methanol
blends are suitable for use in NISSAN
vehicles.
If any undesirable driveability problems such as
engine stalling or hard hot starting are experi-
enced after using oxygenate-blend fuels, im-
mediately change to a non-oxygenate fuel or a
fuel with a low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during
refueling. Gasoline containing oxygenates
can cause paint damage.
E-85 fuel
E-85 fuel is a mixture of approximately 85% fuel
ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. E-85 can
only be used in a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) . Do
not use E-85 fuel in your vehicle. U.S. govern-
ment regulations require fuel ethanol dispensing
pumps to be identified by a small, square,
orange and black label with the common
abbreviation or the appropriate percentage for
that region.
Aftermarket fuel additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of any
aftermarket fuel additives (Example: 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
solvent 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 above 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, 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 will result in knocking,
after-run or overheating. This in turn may cause
excessive fuel consumption or damage to the
engine. If any of the above symptoms are
encountered, have your vehicle checked at a
NISSAN dealer or other competent service facility.
However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is no
cause for concern, because you get the
greatest fuel benefit when there is light
spark knock for a short time under heavy
engine load.
Technical and consumer information9-5

9-8Technical and consumer information
ENGINE
ModelVQ37VHR
Type Gasoline, 4-cycle
Cylinder arrangement 6-cylinder, V-slanted at 608
Bore 6Stroke in (mm) 3.76063.385 (95.5 686.0)
Displacement cu in (cm
3) 225.54 (3,696)
Firing order 1-2-3-4-5-6
Idle speed rpm
No adjustment is necessary.
Ignition timing (B.T.D.C.) degree/rpm
Spark plug Standard FXE24HR-11
Spark plug gap (Normal) in (mm) 0.043 (1.1)
Camshaft operation Timing chain
This spark ignition system complies with
the Canadian standard ICES-002.
STI0425
VQ37VHR engine
SPECIFICATIONS

(French speakers).
To notify NISSAN of any safety concerns
please contact our Consumer Information
Centre toll free at 1-800-387-0122.Due to legal requirements in some states and
Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be
required to be in what is called the “ready
condition” for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
test of the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when
it is driven through certain driving patterns.
Usually, the “ready condition” can be obtained
by ordinary usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be
reset to a “not ready condition”. Before taking
the I/M test, check the vehicle’s inspection/
maintenance test readiness condition. Place the
ignition switch in the ON position without
starting the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds and
then blinks for 10 seconds, the I/M test
condition is “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink after 20 seconds, the I/M test condition is
“ready”.
Contact a NISSAN dealer to set “ready condi-
tion” or to prepare the vehicle for testing.This vehicle is equipped with an Event
Data Recorder (EDR) . The main purpose of
an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data
that will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is
designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to
record such data as:
.
How various systems in your vehicle
were operating;
. Whether or not the driver and passen-
ger safety belts were buckled/fas-
tened;
. How far (if at all) the driver was
depressing the accelerator and/or
brake pedal; and,
. How fast the vehicle was traveling.
. Sounds are not recorded.
These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE:
EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only
if a nontrivial crash situation occurs; no
data are recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal
Technical and consumer information9-23
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)

G
Garage door opener, HomeLink®
Universal Transceiver.................................................. 2-49
Gas cap......................................................................... 3-34
Gauge .............................................................................. 2-5 Engine coolant temperature gauge .................... 2-7
Fuel gauge................................................................ 2-7
Odometer.................................................................. 2-6
Speedometer............................................................ 2-6
Tachometer ............................................................... 2-6
Trip computer........................................................ 2-22
General maintenance ................................................... 8-3
Glove box...................................................................... 2-41
H
Hands-free phone system, Bluetooth®
(models with navigation system)............................. 4-81
Hands-free phone system, Bluetooth®
(models without navigation system) ....................... 4-91
Hatch, Rear hatch....................................................... 3-16
Hazard warning flasher switch................................. 2-35
Head restraints .............................................................. 1-5
Headlights Bulb replacement................................................. 8-29
Headlight switch................................................... 2-32
Xenon headlights.................................................. 2-31
Heated seats................................................................ 2-36
Heater Engine block heater............................................. 5-32
Heater and air conditioner operation.............. 4-24
HomeLink
®Universal Transceiver ........................... 2-49
Hood release................................................................ 3-16
Horn................................................................................ 2-36
I
Ignition switch (Push-button) ........................................................... 5-8
Manual transmission models............................. 5-16
Immobilizer system...................................................... 2-28
In-cabin microfilter ...................................................... 4-30
Indicator lights.............................................................. 2-14
INFO button.................................................................... 4-8
Inside mirror.................................................................. 3-37
Inspection/maintenance (I/M) test .......................... 9-23
Instrument brightness control .................................. 2-34
Instrument panel............................................................ 2-4
Instrument pocket ....................................................... 2-40
Intelligent Key................................................................. 3-2
Intelligent Key battery discharge indicator............ 2-19
Intelligent Key removal indicator.............................. 2-18
Intelligent Key system .................................................. 3-6 Battery replacement ............................................ 8-25
Intelligent Key system warning light................ 2-11
Key operating range ............................................... 3-8
Key operation ........................................................... 3-9
Warning signals.................................................... 3-11
Interior light control switch ....................................... 2-47
Interior light replacement........................................... 8-29
Interior lights................................................................. 2-46
Interior trunk lid release............................................. 3-19
iPod
®player operation............................................... 4-68
J
Jump starting................................................................ 6-14
K
Keyless entry (See remote keyless
entry system)................................................................ 3-13
Keys.................................................................................. 3-2 For Intelligent Key system..................................... 3-6
L
LabelsAir bag warning labels........................................ 1-40
Air conditioner specification label.................... 9-13
Emission control information label................... 9-12
Engine serial number........................................... 9-12
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label ........ 9-12
Tire and Loading information label ....... 8-32, 9-13
Vehicle identification number (VIN) ................. 9-11
License plate, Installing front license plate .......... 9-14
Light Air bag warning light........................................... 1-41
Bulb replacement................................................. 8-27
Cargo area courtesy light .................................. 2-48
Cargo light............................................................. 2-48
Fog light switch.................................................... 2-35
Headlight switch................................................... 2-32
Headlights bulb replacement............................ 8-29
Indicator lights....................................................... 2-14
Interior light control switch ................................ 2-47
Interior lights.......................................................... 2-46
Map lights .............................................................. 2-46
Replacement.......................................................... 8-27
Trunk light............................................................... 2-49
Vanity mirror lights ............................................... 2-48
Warning/indicator lights and
audible reminders................................................. 2-10
Xenon headlights.................................................. 2-31
10-3