light NISSAN 370Z COUPE 2013 Z34 Owners Manual

Black plate (314,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
5-28Starting and driving
GUID-DB1EF854-9E66-4871-AEF9-9DF110D4B99BThe Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
uses various sensors to monitor driver inputs
and vehicle motion. Under certain driving con-
ditions, the VDC system helps to perform the
following functions.
.Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel
slip on one slipping drive wheel so power is
transferred to a non slipping drive wheel on
the same axle.
. Controls brake pressure and engine output
to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function) .
. Controls brake pressure at individual wheels
and engine output to help the driver maintain
control of the vehicle in the following
conditions:
— understeer (vehicle tends to not follow
the steered path despite increased
steering input)
— oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain road or driving conditions) .
The VDC system can help the driver to maintain
control of the vehicle, but it cannot prevent loss
of vehicle control in all driving situations.
When the VDC system operates, the VDC
warning light
in the instrument panel flashes
so note the following:
. The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help keep the vehicle on the steered path.
. You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under the
hood. This is normal and indicates that the
VDC system is working properly.
. Adjust your speed and driving to the road
conditions.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” (P.2-14).
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the VDC
warning light
illuminates in the instrument
panel. The VDC system automatically turns off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC off indicator
illuminates to
indicate the VDC system is off. When the VDC
switch is used to turn off the system, the VDC
system still operates to prevent one drive wheel
from slipping by transferring power to a non
slipping drive wheel. The VDC warning light
flashes if this occurs. All other VDC functions
are off, and the VDC warning light
will not
flash. The VDC system is automatically reset to
on when the ignition switch is placed in the off
position then back to the on position.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” (P.2-14) and “Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-16).
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. 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
the driver maintain stability but
does not prevent accidents due to
abrupt steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful
when driving and cornering on slip-
pery surfaces and always drive care-
fully.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs,
stabilizer bars, bushings and
wheels are not NISSAN recom-
mended for your vehicle or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
system may not operate properly.
This could adversely affect vehicle
handling performance, and the VDC
warning light
may illuminate.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM

Black plate (315,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
.If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are extre-
mely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate.
. If engine control related parts are
not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the VDC
warning light
may illuminate.
. When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked
corners, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
. When driving on an unstable sur-
face such as a turntable, ferry,
elevator or ramp, the VDC warning
light
may illuminate. This is not
a malfunction. Restart the engine
after driving onto a stable surface.
. If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate. .
The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow covered road.
Starting and driving5-29

Black plate (320,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
6-2In case of emergency
GUID-3E9E938E-A3E3-423E-B834-CC8CEDED686DTo shut off the engine in an emergency situation
while driving, perform the following procedure:
.Rapidly push the push-button ignition switch
3 consecutive times in less than 1.5
seconds, or
. Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds.
GUID-5DE4E947-B84D-4D47-B2EC-879369E4200DTIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYS-
TEM (TPMS)
GUID-798990E0-F0C8-4003-8F39-B9227314C28FThis vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) . It monitors tire
pressure of all tires except the spare. When
the low tire pressure warning light is lit and the
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning appears on
the vehicle information display, 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. This system will
activate only when the vehicle is driven at
speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h). For more
details, see “Warning/indicator lights and audi-
ble reminders” (P.2-9) and “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” (P.5-3) .
WARNING
.If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates while driving, avoid sud-
den steering maneuvers or abrupt
braking, reduce vehicle speed, pull
off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle as soon as possi-
ble. Driving with under-inflated tires
may permanently damage the tires
and increase the likelihood of tire failure. Serious vehicle damage
could occur and may lead to an
accident and could result in serious
personal injury. Check the tire pres-
sure for all four tires. Adjust the tire
pressure to the recommended COLD
tire pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light
OFF. If the light still illuminates
while driving after adjusting the tire
pressure, a tire may be flat. 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 ori-
ginally specified by NISSAN could
affect the proper operation of the
TPMS.
. Do not inject any tire liquid or
aerosol tire sealant into the tires,
EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFF FLAT TIRE

Black plate (326,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
6-8In case of emergency
WARNING
.Always make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly
secured after use. Such items can
become dangerous projectiles in an
accident or sudden stop.
. The spare tire is designed for emer-
gency use. See specific instructions
under the heading “Wheels and
tires” (P.8-31) .
REPAIRING FLAT TIRE (for models with
emergency tire puncture repair kit)
GUID-CFB63E13-B11F-4747-9699-7C1F65B9D347
WARNING
.After using Emergency Tire Sealant
to repair a minor tire puncture, do
not drive the vehicle at speeds
faster than 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
. Immediately after using the Emer-
gency Tire Sealant to repair a minor
tire puncture, take your vehicle to a
NISSAN dealer to inspect, and re-
pair or replace the tire. The Emer-
gency Tire Sealant cannot
permanently seal a punctured tire. Continuing operation of the vehicle
without a permanent tire repair can
lead to a crash.
. If you used the Emergency Tire
Sealant to repair a minor tire punc-
ture, your NISSAN dealer will also
need to replace the TPMS sensor in
addition to repairing or replacing
the tire.
. NISSAN recommends using only
NISSAN Genuine Emergency Tire
Sealant provided with your vehicle.
Other tire sealants may damage the
valve stem seal which can cause the
tire to lose air pressure.
This vehicle does not have a spare tire. The
emergency tire puncture repair kit (Emergency
Tire Sealant) is supplied with the vehicle instead
of a spare tire. It can be used to temporarily
repair minor tire punctures.
If possible, have the vehicle towed to a facility
that can repair or replace the flat tire. Using the
emergency tire puncture repair kit may cause a
malfunction of the tire pressure sensor and
cause the low tire pressure warning light to
illuminate.
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.
CAUTION
. To avoid the emergency tire punc-
ture kit being damaged during sto-
rage or use:
— Only use the emergency tire
puncture repair kit on your ve-
hicle. Do not use it on other
vehicles.
— Only use the kit to inflate the tires of your vehicle and to
check the vehicle’s tire pressure.
— Only plug the compressor into a 12V DC car power point.
— Keep the kit free of water and dirt.
— Do not disassemble or modify the kit.
— Do not drop the kit or allow hard impacts to the kit.
. Do not use the emergency tire
puncture repair kit under the follow-
ing conditions. Contact a NISSAN
dealer or professional road assis-
tance.

Black plate (328,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
6-10In case of emergency
ging a flat tire (for models with spare tire)”
(P.6-3) for usage of jacking tools and tire
replacement.
Before using emergency tire puncture
repair kit
GUID-9F5059ED-1AF3-4162-BEBE-B8FBB17A3190.If any foreign object (for example, a screw or
nail) is embedded in the tire, do not remove
it.
. Check the expiration date of the sealant
(shown on the label attached to the bottle) .
Never use a sealant whose expiration date
has passed.
Repairing tireGUID-13AA0834-2C22-475D-A716-6A989874535A
WARNING
Observe the following precautions
when using the tire repair compound.
.Swallowing the compound is dan-
gerous. Immediately drink as much
water as possible and seek prompt
medical assistance.
. Rinse well with lots of water if the
compound comes into contact with
skin or eyes. If irritation persists,
seek prompt medical attention. .
Keep the repair compound out of
the reach of children.
. The emergency repair compound
may cause a malfunction of the tire
pressure sensors and cause the low
tire pressure warning light to illumi-
nate. Have the tire pressure sensor
replaced as soon as possible.
NOTE:
Do not remove any nails or screws that
have penetrated the tire when performing
repairs.
SCE0867
1. Open the lid of the air compressor and take out the speed restriction sticker, then put it
in a location where the driver can see it while
driving.
CAUTION
Do not put the speed restriction label
on the steering wheel pad, the speed-
ometer or the warning light locations.

Black plate (333,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
SCE0791
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause
personal injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
*A, position the two vehicles (*Aand*B)
to bring their batteries into close proximity to
each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch. 2. Apply parking brake. Move the selector lever
to the P (Park) position (Automatic transmis-
sion models). Move the shift lever to the N
(Neutral) position (Manual transmission
models) . Switch off all unnecessary elec-
trical systems (light, heater, air conditioner,
etc.).
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so equipped) . Cover the battery with a firmly
wrung out moist cloth*Cto reduce
explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
*1?*2?*3?*4) .
CAUTION
.Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (−) to body
ground (as illustrated) — not to the
battery.
. Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that clamps do
not contact any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
*A
and let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster
vehicle
*Aat about 2,000 rpm, and start
the engine of the vehicle being jump started
*B.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, push the
ignition switch to the OFF position
and wait 10 seconds before trying
again.
In case of emergency6-15

Black plate (342,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
7-2Appearance and care
GUID-CE55D8F2-6D69-4F2B-AD8A-176FA812B9ABIn order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
To protect the paint surface, wash your vehicle
as soon as you can:
.after a rainfall to prevent possible damage
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 surface
Whenever possible, store or park your vehicle
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 surface
when putting on or removing the body
cover.WASHINGGUID-DF00DDC0-1473-4AF0-AD3F-4722397FD5F7Wash dirt off the vehicle with a wet sponge and
plenty of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly
using 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,
especially 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 func-
tion 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
detergents, gasoline or solvents.
. Do not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight 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 be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
. For Roadster models, observe the
following:
— Do not use an automatic car
wash or a high pressure car
wash. The soft top may be
damaged.
— Avoid applying direct water pressure, such as high pres-
sured water from household
hoses, on the lining of the soft
top and vehicle body. Avoid
applying continuous water on
the parts around the soft top
and the windows. These may
cause water to leak into the
inside of your vehicle.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of clean
water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable to
the effects of road salt. Therefore, these areas
CLEANING EXTERIOR

Black plate (345,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
CAUTION
Do not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
Aluminum alloy wheelsGUID-F067E84F-FE8D-4C96-ADE0-559A71AFAE46Wash regularly with a sponge dampened in a
mild soap solution, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheels if not removed.
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 re-
move the cleaner within 15 minutes
after the cleaner is applied.
CHROME PARTSGUID-DFE79010-03B4-48D8-8365-C6E55AA358EFClean chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
TIRE DRESSINGGUID-E2268C54-2157-4EB4-A599-D414B210C5B8NISSAN does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating to
the tires to help reduce discoloration of the
rubber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires, it
may react with the coating and form a com-
pound. 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 coat-
ing on the tire dissolves more easily with an
oil-based tire dressing.
. Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help
prevent it from entering the tire tread/
grooves (where it would be difficult 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 tire dressing manufacturer.
GUID-7DE8D5B9-10B7-466F-BFBC-EB1B135163B1Occasionally remove loose dust from the interior
trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum
cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe the vinyl and
leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth dam-
pened 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.
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 classifica-
tion sensor. This can also affect the
operation of the air bag system and
result in serious personal injury.
Appearance and care7-5
CLEANING INTERIOR

Black plate (349,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirement...
........................................................ 8-3
Scheduled maintenance ...
.................................................... 8-3
General maintenance ...
......................................................... 8-3
Where to go for service ...
.................................................... 8-3
General maintenance ...
............................................................... 8-3
Explanation of maintenance items ...
................................... 8-3
Maintenance precautions ...
........................................................ 8-6
Engine compartment check locations ...
.................................. 8-8
VQ37VHR engine model ...
.................................................. 8-8
Engine cooling system ...
............................................................. 8-9
Checking engine coolant level ...
...................................... 8-10
Changing engine coolant ...
............................................... 8-10
Engine oil ...
........................................................................\
......... 8-11
Checking engine oil level ...
............................................... 8-11
Changing engine oil and filter ...
....................................... 8-11
Automatic transmission fluid ...
............................................... 8-13
Power steering fluid ...
............................................................... 8-13
Brake and clutch fluid ...
........................................................... 8-14
Brake fluid ...
........................................................................\
.. 8-14
Clutch fluid (Manual transmission models) ...
............... 8-15
Window washer fluid ...
............................................................ 8-15
Battery ...
........................................................................\
............... 8-16
Jump starting ...
..................................................................... 8-18 Variable voltage control system
...
......................................... 8-18
Drive belts ...
........................................................................\
....... 8-19
Spark plugs ...
........................................................................\
..... 8-19
Replacing spark plugs ...
.................................................. 8-20
Air cleaner ...
........................................................................\
....... 8-20
Windshield wiper blades ...
..................................................... 8-21
Cleaning ...
........................................................................\
... 8-21
Replacing ...
........................................................................\
. 8-21
Brakes ...
........................................................................\
.............. 8-22
Self-adjusting brakes ...
.................................................... 8-22
Brake pad wear warning ...
.............................................. 8-22
Fuses ...
........................................................................\
................ 8-23
Engine compartment ...
..................................................... 8-23
Passenger compartment ...
.............................................. 8-24
Intelligent Key battery replacement ...
................................... 8-25
Lights ...
........................................................................\
................ 8-27
Coupe ...
........................................................................\
....... 8-27
Roadster ...
........................................................................\
... 8-28
Headlights ...
........................................................................\
8-29
Exterior and interior lights ...
............................................ 8-29
Wheels and tires ...
................................................................... 8-31
Tire pressure ...
................................................................... 8-31
Tire labeling ...
..................................................................... 8-34

Black plate (351,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 4/ 11 Model: Z34-D ]
GUID-C6A6C654-CD6B-4A03-8D41-8C09BD98539ASome day-to-day and regular maintenance is
essential to maintain your NISSAN’s fine me-
chanical condition, as well as its emission and
engine performance.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure that
the scheduled maintenance, as well as general
maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one who
can ensure that your vehicle receives the proper
maintenance care. You are a vital link in the
maintenance chain.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCEGUID-3146CDDB-2D70-4AF2-89B9-76388E547DE2For your convenience, both required and op-
tional scheduled maintenance items are de-
scribed and listed in your “NISSAN Service and
Maintenance Guide”. You must refer to that
guide to ensure that necessary maintenance is
performed on your NISSAN at regular intervals.
GENERAL MAINTENANCEGUID-F51DD742-720D-4A79-9C18-4319AA51D5BDGeneral maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normal day-
to-day operation. They are essential for proper
vehicle operation. It is your responsibility to
perform these procedures regularly as pre-
scribed.
Performing general maintenance checks re-
quires minimal mechanical skill and only a few
general automotive tools.These checks or inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician or, if you prefer, a
NISSAN dealer.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICEGUID-48C2225E-1FD2-4687-A9CA-4A98735B9A6DIf maintenance service is required or your vehicle
appears to malfunction, have the systems
checked and serviced by a NISSAN dealer.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained specialists
and are kept up to date with the latest service
information through technical bulletins, service
tips, and in-dealership information systems.
They are completely qualified to work on
NISSAN vehicles
beforework begins.
You can be confident that a NISSAN dealer’s
service department performs the best job to
meet the maintenance requirements on your
vehicle.
GUID-1E23874A-C671-46FF-9CEB-58100062AF80During the normal day-to-day operation of the
vehicle, general maintenance should be per-
formed regularly as prescribed in this section. If
you detect any unusual sounds, vibrations or
smell, be sure to check for the cause or have a
NISSAN dealer do it promptly. In addition, you
should notify a NISSAN dealer if you think that
repairs are required.
When performing any checks or maintenance
work, see “Maintenance precautions” (P.8-6) .
EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMS
GUID-4EAFBB47-E88C-47A9-B0F8-679EAC1FC7DCAdditional information on the following
items with “*” is found later in this section.
Outside the vehicleGUID-F0FDB03E-E3CD-483A-8453-B2D59010F033The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Doors and engine hood: Check that all doors
and the engine hood, operate properly. Also
ensure that all latches lock securely. Lubricate
hinges, latches, latch pins, rollers and links if
necessary. Make sure that the secondary latch
keeps the hood from opening when the primary
latch is released.
When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication frequently.
Lights*: Clean the headlights on a regular basis.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT GENERAL MAINTENANCE