service schedule NISSAN ALTIMA 2005 L31 / 3.G Owners Manual

Your new NISSAN has been designed to have
minimum maintenance requirements with longer
service intervals to save you both time and
money. However, some day-to-day and regular
maintenance is essential to maintain your NIS-
SAN’s good mechanical 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 proper
maintenance. You are a vital link in the mainte-
nance chain.
Scheduled maintenance
For your convenience, both required and optional
scheduled maintenance items are described 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 maintenance
General maintenance includes those items which
should be checked during normal day-to-day op-
eration. They are essential for proper vehicle op-
eration. It is your responsibility to perform these
maintenance procedures regularly as prescribed.Performing general maintenance checks requires
minimal mechanical skill and only a few general
automotive tools.
These checks or inspections can be done by you,
a qualified technician, or, if you prefer, a NISSAN
dealer.
Where to go for service
If maintenance service is required or your vehicle
appears to malfunction, have the systems
checked and corrected by a NISSAN dealer.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained specialists
who are kept up-to-date with the latest service
information through technical bulletins, service
tips, and in-dealership training programs. They
are completely qualified to work on NISSAN ve-
hicles
before they work on your vehicle, rather
than after they have worked on it.
You can be confident that a NISSAN dealer’s
service department performs the best job to meet
the maintenance requirements on your vehicle —
in a reliable and economic way. During 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
smells, 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, closely observe the “Maintenance precau-
tions” later in this section.
EXPLANATION OF GENERAL
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found later in this section.
Outside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Doors and engine hood
Check that the doors
and engine hood operate properly. Also ensure
that all latches lock securely. Lubricate hinges,
latches, latch pins, rollers and links as necessary.
Make sure that the secondary latch keeps the
hood from opening when the primary latch is
released.
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS GENERAL MAINTENANCE
8-2Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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1. Power steering fluid pump
2. Water pump
3. Generator
4. Air conditioner (if so equipped)
5. Crank pulley
6. Auto tensioner pulley
WARNING
Be sure the ignition key is in the OFF or
LOCK position. The engine could rotate
unexpectedly.1. Visually inspect each belt for signs of un-
usual wear, cuts, fraying or looseness. If the
belt is in poor condition or is loose, have it
replaced or adjusted by a NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for condi- tion and tension in accordance with the
maintenance schedule found in the
“NISSAN Service and Maintenance Guide”.
1. Power steering fluid pump
2. Crank pulley
3. Generator
4. Air conditioner
QR25DE engine
WDI0225
VQ35DE engine
WDI0226
DRIVE BELTS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-19
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then move the transmission shift selector
lever into the P (Park) position. If you move
the shift selector lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion before blocking the wheels and applying
the parking brake, transmission damage
could occur.
c When going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When going up a long grade, downshift the
transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
c If the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioner
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
c Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
c Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
c For the first 500 miles that you do tow, do
not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) . c
Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
c When making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
c Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight ahead,
and immediately (but gradually) reduce ve-
hicle speed. This combination will help sta-
bilize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
c Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
c To maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
5th gear (manual transmission) or overdrive
(automatic transmission) . c
Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
c Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
c Do not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
c Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
c When stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.
When towing a trailer, transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
9-18Technical and consumer information
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2005 Altima (l30)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English (nna)
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10 Index
A
Active head restraint .............. .1-8
Air bag
(See supplemental restraint
system) .................... .1-33
Air bag system Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system) .............. .1-40
Air bag warning light ...........1-48, 2-13
Air cleaner housing filter ............8-21
Air conditioner Air conditioner operation ..........4-15
Air conditioner service ...........4-22
Air conditioner specification label .....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubrication recommendations ........9-6
Heater and air conditioner
controls ............... .4-12, 4-20
Servicing air conditioner ..........4-22
Air flow charts ................. .4-16
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system) .........2-16
Anchor point locations .............1-25
Antenna .................... .4-43
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .........5-20
Anti-lock brake warning light ..........2-11
Armrests .................... .1-7
Audible reminders ............... .2-15
Audio system ................. .4-23AM-FM-SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) changer
............... .4-37
Compact Disc (CD) changer .......4-40
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
changer .................. .4-31
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player ................... .4-27
Radio ................... .4-23
Autolight switch ................ .2-22
Automatic Automatic power window switch .....2-37
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) . . . .8-13
Automatic transmission position
indicator light ............... .2-14
Driving with automatic transmission .....5-7
Transmission selector lever lock
release ................... .5-10
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror .......3-15
B
Battery ..................... .8-17
Charge warning light ............2-12
Battery replacement
(See remote keyless entry system) ......8-29
Before starting the engine ............5-6
Belts (See drive belts) .............8-19
Brake Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .......5-20
Brake booster ............... .8-26
Brake fluid ................. .8-15Brake light (See stop light)
.........8-31
Brake pedal ................ .8-25
Brake system ............... .5-19
Brake warning light ............ .2-12
Brake wear indicators ........2-15, 8-26
Parking brake check ............8-25
Parking brake operation ..........5-14
Self-adjusting brakes ............8-26
Break-in schedule ............... .5-16
Brightness control Instrument panel ............. .2-24
Brightness/Contrast button ..........4-10
Control panel buttons ...........4-10
Bulb check/instrument panel ..........2-11
Bulb replacement ............... .8-31
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................. .9-2
Car phone or CB radio .............4-43
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
CD care and cleaning .............4-42
CD changer (See audio system) ........4-40
Check engine indicator light
(See malfunction indicator lamp) .......2-14
Child restraint with top tether strap ......1-25
Child restraints .......1-11, 1-12, 1-17, 1-24
Precautions on child restraints . . .1-17, 1-29
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-25
Child safety rear door lock ............3-5
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2005 Altima(l30)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English (nna)
07/09/04Ðtbrooks
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