cooling NISSAN ALTIMA 1998 L30 / 2.G Owners Manual

WARNING
cThe air conditioner cooling function
operates only when the engine is
running.cDo not leave children, unreliable
adults, or pets alone in your vehicle.
On hot sunny days, temperatures in a
closed vehicle could quickly become
high enough to cause severe or possi-
bly fatal injuries to people or animals.cDo not use the recirculation mode for
long periods as it may cause the inte-
rior air to become stale and the win-
dows to fog up.
cPositioning of the heating or air con-
ditioning controls should not be
done while driving, in order that full
attention may be given to the driving
operation.
CONTROLS
Fan control dial
This dial turns the fan on and off, and
controls fan speed.
Air flow control buttons
These buttons allow you to select the air
flow outlets.
Ð Air flows from center and side
ventilators.
Ð Air flows from center and side
ventilators and foot outlets.
Ð Air flows mainly from foot outlets.
Ð Air flows from defroster outlets
and foot outlets.
AHA1001
HEATER AND AIR
CONDITIONER
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Ð Air flows mainly from defroster
outlets.
Temperature control lever
This lever allows you to adjust the tempera-
ture of the outlet air.
Air recirculation button
Off position:
Outside air is drawn into the passenger
compartment and distributed through the
selected outlet.
Use the off position for normal heater or air
conditioner operation.
On position (Indicator light on):
Interior air is recirculated inside the vehicle.
Push the air recirculation button to the ON
position when driving on a dusty road, to
avoid traffic fumes, and for maximum cool-
ing when using the air conditioner.
Air conditioner button
(if so equipped)
This button is provided only on vehicles
equipped with an air conditioner.
Start the engine, move the fan control dial tothe desired (1 to 4) position and push the
A/C button to turn on the air conditioner.
The indicator light comes on when the air
conditioner is on. To stop the air condi-
tioner, push the switch again.
The air conditioner cooling function op-
erates only when the engine is running.
HEATER OPERATION
Heating
This mode is used to direct heated air to the
foot outlets. Some air also flows from the
defroster outlets.
1. Push the
(air recirculation) button
to the off position for normal heating.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
4. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position between the middle and
the HOT position.
Ventilation
This mode directs outside air to the side and
center ventilators.1. Push the
(air recirculation) button
to the off position.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
4. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
Defrosting or defogging
This mode is used to defrost/defog the
windows.
1. Push the
button in.
2. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
3. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position between the middle and
the HOT position.
cTo quickly remove ice or fog from the
windows, turn on the fan control dial to 4
and the temperature control lever to the
full HOT position.
cWhen the
switch is pushed, the air
conditioner automatically turns on to de-
humidify the air, which helps defog the
windshield. The air recirculation mode
4-4Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
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automatically turns off.
Outside air is drawn into the passenger
compartment to improve the defogging
performance.
Bi-level heating/cooling
This mode directs air from the side, center
and foot outlets.
1. Push the
(air recirculation) button
to the off position.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
4. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
Heating and defogging
This mode heats the interior and defogs the
windshield.
1. Push the
button in.
2. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
3. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position between the middle and
the HOT position.
Operating tips
cClear snow and ice from the wiper
blades and air inlet in front of the
windshield. This improves heater op-
eration.
cWhen the
orswitch is se-
lected, the air recirculation mode auto-
matically turns off.
Outside air is drawn into the passenger
compartment to improve the defogging
performance.
AIR CONDITIONER OPERATION
(if so equipped)
Start the engine, move the fan control dial to
the desired (1 to 4) position and push in the
A/C button to activate the air conditioner.
When the air conditioner is on, cooling and
dehumidifying functions are added to the
heater operation.
The air conditioner cooling function op-
erates only when the engine is running.
Cooling
This mode is used to cool and dehumidify
the air.
1. Push the
(air recirculation) button
to the off position.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
4. Push on the air conditioner button. The
indicator light comes on.
5. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
cFor quick cooling when the outside tem-
perature is high, push the air recirculation
button to the on position. Be sure to
return the air recirculation button to the
off position for normal cooling.
Dehumidified heating
This mode is used to heat and dehumidify.
1. Push the
(air recirculation) button
to the off position.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
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4. Push on the air conditioner button. The
indicator light comes on.
5. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
Dehumidified defogging
This mode defogs the windows and dehu-
midifies the air.
1. Push the
button in.
When the
button is pushed, the air
conditioner automatically turns on to de-
humidify the air, which helps to defog the
windshield. The air recirculation mode
automatically turns off.
2. Move the fan control dial to the desired
position.
3. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
Outside air is drawn into the passenger
compartment to improve the defogging per-
formance.
Operating tips
cKeep the windows and sun roof closed
while the air conditioner is in operation.
cAfter parking in the sun, drive for two orthree minutes with the windows open to
vent hot air from the passenger compart-
ment. Then, close the windows. This
allows the air conditioner to cool the
interior more quickly.
cThe air conditioner system should be
operated for about ten minutes at
least once a month. This helps pre-
vent damage to the system due to lack
of lubrication.
cIf the engine coolant temperature gauge
exceeds the H (hot) position, turn the air
conditioner off. See ``If your vehicle over-
heats'' in the ``In case of emergency''
section of this owner's manual for addi-
tional information.
AIR FLOW CHARTS
The charts on the following pages show the
switch and lever positions forMAXIMUM
and QUICKheating, cooling, or defrosting.
4-6Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
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while driving, take the vehicle to an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer for repair.
WARNING
The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent
accidents resulting from careless or
dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces, but re-
member that the stopping distance on
slippery surfaces will be longer than on
normal surfaces, even with the anti-
lock system. Stopping distances may
also be longer on rough, gravel or
snow covered roads, or if you are using
tire chains. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from the vehicle in front of you.
Ultimately, the responsibility for safety
of self and others rests in the hands of
the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may
also affect braking effectiveness.
cWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tire on all 4 wheels.cWhen installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. For tire
placard location information, refer to
ªTire placardº in the Owner's Manual
index.
Refer to ``Wheels and Tires'' in the
``Do-it-yourself'' section of this manual.
Freeing a frozen door lock
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key be-
fore inserting it into the key hole.
Anti-freeze
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC),
check the anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base)
to assure proper winter protection. For de-
tails, see ``Engine cooling system'' in the
``Do-it-yourself'' section.
Battery
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the bat-
tery fluid may freeze and damage the bat-
tery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the
battery should be checked regularly. For
details, see ``Battery'' in the ``Do-it-yourself ''
section.
Draining of coolant
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by
opening the drain valves located under the
radiator and on the engine block. Refill
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-18Starting and driving
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place the tool bag in the spare tire stor-
age area.
6. Place the spare tire cover and the trunk
floor carpeting over the damaged tire.
7. Install the jack in its storage area and
tighten the jack screw clockwise.
8. Close the jack access door. Close the
trunk.
WARNING
cAlways 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.
cThe T-type spare tire is designed for
emergency use. See specific instruc-
tions under the heading ``Wheels
and tires'' in the ``Do-it-yourself''
section.To start your engine with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below must
be followed.
WARNING
cIf done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting
in severe injury or death. It could
also damage your vehicle.
cExplosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away
from the battery.
cDo not allow battery fluid to come
into contact with eyes, skin, cloth or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a
corrosive sulphuric acid solution
which can cause severe burns. If the
fluid should come into contact with
anything, immediately flush the con-
tacted area with water.
cKeep battery out of the reach of
children.
cThe booster battery must be rated at
12 volts. Use of an improper rated
battery can damage your vehicle.cWhenever working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye pro-
tectors (for example, goggles or in-
dustrial safety spectacles) and
remove rings, metal bands, or any
other jewelry. Do not lean over the
battery when jump starting.
cDo not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.
cYour vehicle has an automatic en-
gine cooling fan. It could come on at
any time. Keep hands and other ob-
jects away from it.
JUMP STARTING
In case of emergency6-7
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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 N (Neutral) (manual trans-
mission) or to P (Park) (automatic trans-
mission).
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 maximumhot 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
In case of emergency6-9
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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)
6-12In case of emergency
ZX

8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions .......................................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ....................8-3
Engine cooling system ...........................................8-4
Checking engine coolant level ...............................8-4
Changing engine coolant .......................................8-5
Engine oil ...............................................................8-7
Checking engine oil level .......................................8-7
Changing engine oil ...............................................8-8
Changing engine oil filter .......................................8-9
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........................8-9
Temperature conditions for checking ATF ...........8-10
Power steering fluid..............................................8-11
Brake fluid ............................................................8-11
Clutch fluid............................................................8-11
Window washer fluid ............................................8-12
Battery ..................................................................8-13
Jump starting ........................................................8-13Drive belts ............................................................8-14
Spark plug replacement .......................................8-14
Air cleaner housing filter ......................................8-16
Wiper blades ........................................................8-17
Parking brake check.............................................8-18
Brake pedal ..........................................................8-18
Brake booster .......................................................8-19
Clutch pedal .........................................................8-20
Fuses and fusible links.........................................8-20
Light bulbs ............................................................8-21
Headlights ............................................................8-21
Headlight aiming adjustment ................................8-22
Adjustment after headlight assembly
replacement ..........................................................8-23
Bulb replacement .................................................8-24
Wheels and tires ..................................................8-28
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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
cPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. For a manual
transmission, move the shift lever to
Neutral. For an automatic transmis-
sion, move the shift lever to P (Park).
cBe sure the ignition key is OFF when
performing any parts replacement or
repairs.
cYour 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 dis-
connect the negative battery cable
before working near the fan.c
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.
cIt is advisable to remove ties and any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
cAlways wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
cIf you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases.
cNever 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.
c
Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and the battery.
cOn gasoline engine models with the
Multiport Fuel Injection (MFI) sys-
tem, the fuel filter or fuel lines
should be serviced by a NISSAN
dealer because the fuel lines are
under high pressure even when the
engine is off.
CAUTION
cDo not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn off the engine
and wait until it cools down.
cNever connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized
component connector while the igni-
tion is ON.
cNever leave the engine or the auto-
matic transmission related compo-
nent harness connector discon-
nected while the ignition is on.
c
Avoid contact with used engine oil.
Improperly disposed motor oil and/or
other vehicle fluids can hurt the en-
vironment. Always conform to local
regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
This ``Do-it-yourself'' section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and
could affect your warranty coverage.If in
doubt about any servicing, have it done
by an authorized NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself
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