NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 L31 / 3.G Owners Manual

Installing the spare tire
The spare tire is designed for emergency
use. See specific instructions under the
heading “Wheels and tires” in the “Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section of this
manual.1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface be- tween the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the spare tire on and tighten the wheel nuts finger tight.
3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten wheel nuts alternately and evenly as illustrated until
they are tight. 4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire
touches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts securely
in the sequence illustrated (
sA,sB,sC,sD,
sE) . Lower the vehicle completely.
WARNING
cIncorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
c Do not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the nuts
to become loose.
c Retighten the wheel nuts when the ve-
hicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.) .
As soon as possible, tighten the wheel nuts
to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque: 80 ft-lb (108 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to
specification at all times. It is recom-
mended that wheel nuts be tightened to
specifications at each lubrication interval. Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure.
COLD pressure: After vehicle has been
parked for three hours or more or driven
less than 1 mile (1.6 km) .
COLD tire pressures are shown on the tire
placard affixed to the center console.
5. Securely store the flat tire and jacking equip- ment in the vehicle.
6. Place the spare tire cover and the trunk floor carpeting over the damaged tire.
7. Close the trunk.
WARNING
c Always make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly se-
cured after use. Such items can become
dangerous projectiles in an accident or
sudden stop.
c The spare tire is designed for emer-
gency use. See specific instructions un-
der the heading “Wheels and tires” in
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section of this manual.
WCE0056
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To start your engine with a booster battery, the
instructions and precautions below must be fol-
lowed.
WARNING
cIf done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting in
severe injury or death. It could also
damage your vehicle.
c Explosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away from
the battery.
c Do not allow battery fluid to come into
contact with eyes, skin, clothing or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a cor-
rosive sulfuric acid solution which can
cause severe burns. If the fluid should
come into contact with anything, imme-
diately flush the contacted area with
water.
c Keep battery out of the reach of
children.
c The booster battery must be rated at 12
volts. Use of an improperly rated battery
can damage your vehicle. c
Whenever working on or near a battery,
always wear suitable eye protectors (for
example, goggles or industrial safety
spectacles) and remove rings, metal
bands, or any other jewelry. Do not lean
over the battery when jump starting.
c Do not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause se-
rious injury.
c Your vehicle has an automatic engine
cooling fan. It could come on at any
time. Keep hands and other objects
away from it.
JUMP STARTING
6-6In case of emergency
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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, position the two vehicles to bring their bat-
teries near each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch. 2. Apply the parking brake. Move the shift lever
to N (Neutral) (manual transmission) or to P
(Park) (automatic transmission) . Switch off
all unnecessary electrical systems (lights,
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 il- lustrated (
sA,sB,sC,sD).
CAUTION
cAlways connect positive ( 1) to positive
( 1 ) and negative ( 2) to body ground (for
example, strut mounting bolt, engine
lift bracket, etc.) — not to the battery.
c Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster ve- hicle at about 2,000 rpm, and start the en-
gine of the vehicle being jump started.
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.
7. After starting the 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.
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CAUTION
cAutomatic transmission models cannot
be push-started or tow-started. At-
tempting to do so may cause transmis-
sion damage.
c Three-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing. The
three-way catalyst may be damaged.
c Never try to start the vehicle by towing
it. When the engine starts, the forward
surge could cause the vehicle to collide
with the tow vehicle. 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.
WARNING
c
Do not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
c To 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.
c Do not open the hood if steam is com-
ing out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply the parking brake and move the shift lever to
N (Neutral) (manual transmission) or to P
(Park) (automatic transmission) .
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner (if so equipped) . Open all the windows, move the heater or air
conditioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed. 3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. (If steam or cool-
ant is escaping, turn off the engine.) Do not
open the hood further until no steam or
coolant can be seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the en-
gine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. Visually check drive belts for damage or looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
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 en-
gine.
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
temperature is high.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
6-8In case of emergency
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6. After the engine cools down, check the cool-ant level in the engine coolant reservoir tank
with the engine running. Add coolant to the
engine coolant 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 dam-
age your vehicle. Towing instructions are avail-
able from a NISSAN dealer. Local service opera-
tors are generally familiar with the applicable 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
c
Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
c Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
cWhen towing, make sure that the trans-
mission, axles, steering system and
powertrain are in working condition. If
any unit is damaged, dollies must be
used.
c Always attach safety chains before
towing. For information about towing your vehicle behind
a recreational vehicle (RV) , refer to “Flat towing”
in the “Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
In case of emergency6-9
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TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be towed
with the driving (front) wheels off the ground or
place the vehicle on a flat bed truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
cNever tow automatic transmission
models with the front wheels on the
ground or four wheels on the ground
(forward or backward) , as this may
cause serious and expensive damage to
the transmission. If it is necessary to
tow the vehicle with the rear wheels
raised always use towing dollies under
the front wheels. c
When towing automatic transmission
models with the front wheels on towing
dollies, or when towing manual trans-
mission models with the front wheels
on the ground:
c Turn the ignition key to the OFF po-
sition, and secure the steering wheel
in a straight-ahead position with a
rope or similar device. Never secure
the steering wheel by turning the ig-
nition key to the LOCK position. This
may damage the steering lock
mechanism.
c Move the gearshift lever to the N
(Neutral) position.
c When towing automatic or manual
transmission models with the rear
wheels on the ground (if you do not use
towing dollies): Always release the
parking brake.
ACE0511
ACE1001
6-10In case of emergency
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VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
Front
WARNING
cStand clear of a stuck vehicle.
c 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.
CAUTION
cTow chains or cables must be attached
only to the vehicle recovery hooks or
main structural members of the vehicle.
Otherwise, the vehicle body will be
damaged.
c Do not use the vehicle tie downs to free
a vehicle stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.
Never tow the vehicle using the vehicle
tie downs or recovery hooks.
c Always pull the cable straight out from
the front or rear of the vehicle. Never
pull the vehicle at an angle.
c Pulling devices should be routed so
they do not touch any part of the sus-
pension, steering, brake or cooling
systems.
c Pulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
Rear
WARNING
cStand clear of a stuck vehicle. c
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.
CAUTION
cTow chains or cables must be attached
only to the main structural members of
the vehicle.
c Pulling devices should be routed so
they do not touch any part of the sus-
pension, steering, brake or cooling
systems.
c Always pull the cable straight out from
the front or rear of the vehicle. Never
pull the vehicle at an angle.
c Pulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use the following procedure: 1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control System (if so equipped) .
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
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3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clearan area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and back- ward.
c Shift back and forth between R (reverse)
and D (drive) .
c Apply the accelerator as little as possible
to maintain the rocking motion.
c Release the accelerator pedal before
shifting between R and D.
c Do not spin the tires above 35 mph (55
km/h) .
5. If the vehicle can not be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing service
to remove the vehicle.
6-12In case of emergency
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7 Appearance and care
Cleaning exterior..................................7-2
Washing ......................................7-2
Waxing ........................................7-2
Removing spots ................................7-2
Underbody ....................................7-3
Glass .........................................7-3
Aluminum alloy wheels ..........................7-3
Chrome parts ..................................7-3
Cleaning interior ...................................7-4 Floor mats
.....................................7-4
Seat belts .....................................7-5
Corrosion protection ...............................7-5
Most common factors contributing to vehicle
corrosion ......................................7-5
Environmental factors influence the rate of
corrosion ......................................7-5
To protect your vehicle from corrosion ............7-5
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In order to maintain the appearance of your ve-
hicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
To protect the paint surfaces, please wash your
vehicle as soon as you can:c after a rainfall to prevent possible damage
from acid rain.
c after driving on coastal roads.
c when contaminants such as soot, bird drop-
pings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs get
on the paint surface.
c 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.
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
dishwashing liquid mixed with clean, lukewarm
(never hot) water.
CAUTION
c Do not wash the vehicle with strong
household soap, strong chemical deter-
gents, gasoline or solvents.
c Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun-
light or while the vehicle body is hot, as
the surface may become water-spotted.
c 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.
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
must be cleaned regularly. 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 wax-
ing, polishing is recommended to remove
built-up residue and to avoid a “weathered” ap-
pearance.
A NISSAN dealer can assist you in choosing the
proper product. c Wax your vehicle only after a thorough wash-
ing. Follow the instructions supplied with the
wax.
c Do not use a wax containing any abrasives,
cutting compounds or cleaners that may
damage the vehicle finish.
c If the surface does not polish easily, use a
“road tar” remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing
on a base coat/clear coat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
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 products are available
at a NISSAN dealer or any automotive accessory
store.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care
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