NISSAN ALTIMA 1997 U13 / 1.G Owners Manual

CAUTION
cAutomatic transmission models can-
not be push started. This may cause
transmission damage.
cThree way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three way catalyst may be
damaged.
cNever 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.If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by
an extremely high temperature gauge read-
ing), or if you feel a lack of engine power,
detect abnormal noise, etc., take the follow-
ing steps:
WARNING
cDo not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could
cause a vehicle fire.
cTo avoid the danger of being
scalded, never remove the radiator
cap while the engine is still hot.
When the radiator cap is removed,
pressurized hot water will spurt out,
possibly causing serious injury.
cDo not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road,
apply the parking brake and move the
shift lever to Neutral (automatic transmis-
sion to P).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the
windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed.3. If engine overheating is caused by climb-
ing a long hill on a hot day, run the engine
at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm)
until the temperature gauge indication
returns to normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the ra-
diator before opening the hood. Wait until
no steam or coolant can be seen before
proceeding.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan
is running. The radiator hoses and radia-
tor should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking, the water pump belt is missing or
loose, or the cooling fan does not run,
stop the engine.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS
5-9
ZX

WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or to get caught in, the running
fan, belts, or fan motor.
The fan motor can start at any time
when the coolant temperature is high.
7. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the reservoir tank with the
engine running. Add coolant to the res-
ervoir tank if necessary. Have your ve-
hicle repaired at the nearest NISSAN
dealer.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. Tow-
ing instructions are available from your NIS-
SAN dealer. Local service operators will gen-
erally be familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage to
your vehicle, NISSAN recommends that you
have a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator care-
fully read the following precautions:
WARNING
cNever ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
cNever get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
cWhen towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working con-
dition. If any unit is damaged, dollies
must be used.
cWhen towing with the front wheels
on the ground:Turn the ignition key to the OFF
position and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
place the ignition key in the LOCK
position. This will result in damage
to the steering lock mechanism.
Move the gearshift lever to the Neu-
tral (N position).
On automatic transmission models,
to move the shift lever to the Neutral
position, turn the ignition key to the
ACC position. After moving the shift
lever to the Neutral position, be sure
to turn the ignition key to the OFF
position.
c
When towing with the rear wheels on
the ground, release the parking brake.
On automatic transmission models,
to move the shift lever to the Neutral
position, turn the ignition key to the
ACC position. After moving the shift
lever to the Neutral position, be sure
to turn the ignition key to the OFF
position.
cAttach safety chains for all towing.
TOW TRUCK TOWING
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ZX

NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (front) wheels off the
ground as illustrated.
CAUTION
cNever tow an automatic transmis-
sion model with the rear wheels
raised (with the front wheels on the
ground) as this may cause serious
and expensive damage to the trans-
mission. If it is necessary to tow the
vehicle with the rear wheels raised,
always use towing dollies under the
front wheels.cIf you have to tow an automatic
transmission model with four wheels
on ground, observe the following re-
stricted towing speeds and
distances:
cSpeed: Below 30 MPH (50 km/h)
cDistance: Less than 40 miles (65
km)
cNever tow an automatic transmis-
sion model from the rear (for ex-
ample, backward) with four wheels
on the ground as this may cause
serious and expensive damage to
the transmission.
ACE0511
CE1052
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ZX

cTow chains or cables must be attached
only to the main structual members of the
vehicle.
cPulling devices should be routed so they
do not touch any part of the suspension,
steering, brake or cooling systems.
cAlways pull the cable straight out from
the front or rear of the vehicle. Never pull
on the vehicle at an angle.
cPulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
cStand clear of a stuck vehicle.
WARNING
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.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (Freeing
a stuck vehicle)
5-12
ZX

6Appearance and interior care
Cleaning exterior and interior .................................6-2 Corrosion protection ...............................................6-5
ZX

In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of
it.
In the following cases, please wash your
vehicle as soon as possible to protect the
paint surface:
cAfter a rainfall to prevent possible dam-
age from acid rain
cAfter driving on coastal roads
cWhen contaminants such as soot, bird
droppings, tree sap, metal particles or
bugs get on the paint surfacec
When dust or mud builds up on the surface
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 using a
mild soap, a special vehicle soap or general
purpose dish-washing liquid mixed with
clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
cDo not use strong household soap,
strong chemical detergents, gaso-
line or solvents.
cDo not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight or while the vehicle body is
hot, as the surface may become
water-spotted.cAvoid 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 that the paint surface is
not scratched or damaged.
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. There-
fore, these areas must be regularly cleaned.
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.
After waxing, polishing is recommended to
remove built-up residue and to avoid a
``weathered'' appearance.
Your NISSAN dealer can assist you in
AI1002M
CLEANING EXTERIOR AND
INTERIOR
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choosing the proper product.
cWax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
cDo not use a wax containing any abra-
sives, cutting compounds or cleaners
that may damage the vehicle finish.
cIf the surface does not polish easily, use
a ªroad tarº remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
Only use black wax or black shoe polish on
black urethane or polypropylene bumpers.
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 lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning prod-
ucts are available at your NISSAN dealer or
any automotive accessory store.
Underbody
In areas where road salt is used in winter,
the underbody must be cleaned regularly.
This will prevent dirt and salt from buildingup and causing underbody and suspension
corrosion. Before winter and again in the
spring, the underseal must be checked and,
if necessary, retreated.
Cleaning glass
When cleaning the rear window, it may be
easier to clean if the high-mounted stop light
is removed first.
Be careful when removing the high-
mounted stop light to reduce the risk of
damaging the high-mounted stop light
wires.
The high-mounted stop light must be prop-
erly reinstalled before driving your vehicle.
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
AI1009M
6-3
ZX

after the vehicle is parked in the hot sun.
Glass cleaner and a soft cloth easily re-
moves this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the win-
dow, do not use sharp-edged tools,
abrasive cleaners or chlorine based
disinfectant cleaners. They could dam-
age the rear window defogger.
Cleaning aluminum alloy wheels
Wash regularly, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. If
not removed, salt could discolor the wheels.
Chrome parts
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a
non-abrasive chrome polish to maintain the
finish.
Cleaning interior
Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim, plastic parts and seats using a
vacuum cleaner or soft brush. Wipe the
vinyl and leather surfaces with a clean, soft
cloth dampened in mild soap solution, then
wipe clean with a dry, soft cloth. Before
using any fabric protector, read the manu-
facturer's recommendations. Some fabric
protectors contain chemicals that may stain
or bleach the seat material.
CAUTION
cNever use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.
cThe leather seats should be regu-
larly coated with a leather wax like
saddle soap. Never use car wax.
cNever use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
6-4
ZX

Floor mat positioning aid
(Driver side only)
This vehicle includes a front floor mat
bracket to act as a floor mat positioning aid.
NISSAN floor mats have been specially
designed for your vehicle model. The driver
side floor mat has a grommet hole incorpo-
rated in it. Simply position the mat by plac-
ing the floor mat bracket hook through the
floor mat grommet hole while centering the
mat in the floorpan contour.
Periodically check to make certain the mats
are properly positioned.
Floor mats
The use of Genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and
make it easier to clean the interior.No
matter what mats are used, be sure they
are fitted for your vehicle and are prop-
erly positioned in the footwell to prevent
interference with pedal operation.Mats
should be maintained with regular cleaning
and replaced if they become excessively
worn.
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 before using them.
WARNING
Do not allow wet belts to roll up in the
retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye, or
chemical solvents since these may se-
verely weaken the seat belt webbing.
Most common factors contributing
to vehicle corrosion:
1. The accumulation of moisture-retaining
dirt and debris in body panel sections,
cavities, and other areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective
coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor traffic accidents.
Environmental factors which influ-
ence the rate of corrosion:
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the
vehicle body underside can accelerate cor-
rosion. Wet floor coverings will not dry com-
pletely inside the vehicle, and should be
removed for drying to avoid floor panel
corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated:
cin areas of high relative humidity.
cespecially in those areas where the tem-
peratures stay above freezing.
cwhere atmospheric pollution exists.AAI0500
CORROSION PROTECTION
6-5
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cwhere road salt is used.
Temperature
A temperature increase accelerates 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.
To protect your vehicle from
corrosion:
cWash and wax your vehicle often to keep
the vehicle clean.
cAlways check for minor damage to the
paint and repair it as soon as possible.
cKeep drain holes at the bottom of the
doors open to avoid water accumulation.
cCheck the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with
water as soon as possible.
CAUTION
cNEVER remove dirt, sand or other
debris from the passenger compart-
ment by washing it out with a hose.
Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner
or broom.
cNever allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electronic com-
ponents inside the vehicle as this
may damage them.
6-6
ZX