replace NISSAN SENTRA 1996 B14 / 4.G Owner's Guide

Abbreviations: I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary.
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilome-
ters or months, whichever comes
first.Miles ý 1,000
(km ý 1,000)
Months7.5
(12)
615
(24)
1222.5
(36)
1830
(48)
2437.5
(60)
3045
(72)
3652.5
(84)
4260
(96)
48
Chassis and body maintenance
Brake lines & cablesIIII
Brake pads, discs, drums & liningsIIII
Manual & automatic transmission oilIIII
Steering gear linkage, axle & suspension parts I I
Exhaust systemII
Front drive shaft bootsIIII
Air bag system (If so equipped) See NOTE (1)*.
NOTE: *(1) Inspect the supplemental air bag system (If so equipped) 10 years after the date of manufacture noted on the F.M.V.S.S. certification
label located on the driver side front pillar.
8-9
ZX

EXPLANATION OF MAINTE-
NANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with ``*'' is found in the ``Do-it-
yourself operations'' section.
Emission control system
maintenance
Drive belts*Check drive belts for wear,
fraying or cracking and also for proper ten-
sion. Replace the drive belts if found dam-
aged.
Air cleaner filterUnder normal driving con-
ditions, the air cleaner filter should be re-
placed in accordance with the maintenance
schedule. However, driving the vehicle in
dusty areas may cause more rapid clogging
of the element. Consequently, the element
may have to be replaced more frequently.
Idle rpmInspection and adjustment should
be made with a tachometer to ensure
accuracy.
Vapor linesCheck vapor lines and connec-
tions for failure or looseness. If leaks are
found, replace them.
Fuel linesCheck the fuel hoses, pipingand connections for leaks, looseness or
deterioration. Replace any parts if they are
damaged.
Fuel filterIf the vehicle is operated under
extremely adverse weather conditions or in
areas where ambient temperatures are ei-
ther extremely low or extremely high, the
filter might become clogged. In such an
event, replace the filter immediately.
Engine coolant*Drain and flush the cool-
ing system.
Engine oil & oil filter*Under normal driving
conditions, the engine oil and oil filter should
be replaced in accordance with the mainte-
nance schedule. However, under severe
driving conditions, they may have to be
replaced more frequently.
Spark plugs*Replace with new plugs hav-
ing the correct heat range.
Intake & exhaust valve clearanceCheck
and adjust the valve clearance.
Chassis and body maintenance
Brake lines & cablesCheck the brake lines
and hoses (including brake booster vacuum
hoses, connections & check valve) and
parking brake cables for proper attachment,leaks, cracks, chafing, abrasion, deteriora-
tion, etc.
Brake pads, discs, drums & linings
Check these and the other neighboring
brake components for wear, deterioration
and leaks. Under severe driving conditions,
they may have to be inspected more fre-
quently.
Manual & automatic transmission gear
oil*Check the oil level and visually inspect
for signs of leakage.
Under severe driving conditions, the oil
should be replaced at the specified interval.
Steering gear & linkage, axle & suspen-
sion parts, and drive shaft bootsCheck
for damage, looseness and leakage of oil or
grease. Under severe driving conditions,
more frequent inspection should be per-
formed.
Steering linkage ball joints & front sus-
pension ball jointsCheck the ball joints for
damage, looseness and grease leakage.
Exhaust systemVisually check the ex-
haust pipes, muffler, and hangers for proper
attachment, leaks, cracks, chafing, abra-
sion, deterioration, etc. Under severe
8-10
ZX

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND LUBRICANT
RECOMMENDATIONS
The air conditioning in your NISSAN ve-
hicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the lubricant,
Nissan A/C system lubricant Type R or
the exact equivalents.
CAUTION
Use of any other refrigerant or lubricant
will cause severe damage and you will
need to replace your vehicle's entire air
conditioning system.
The new refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) in
your NISSAN vehicle does not harm the
earth's ozone layer. Although this refriger-
ant does not affect the earth's atmosphere,
certain governmental regulations require
the recovery and recycling of any refrigerant
during automotive air conditioning system
service. Your NISSAN dealer has the
trained technicians and equipment needed
to recover and recycle your air conditioning
system refrigerant.Contact your NISSAN dealer when servic-
ing your air conditioning system.
9-8
ZX

braking traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A, B and C
Temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C. They represent a tire's resistance to
heat build-up, and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause tire material to degenerate, reducing
tire life. Excessive temperatures can lead to
sudden tire failure. Grade C corresponds to
a performance level which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades A
and B represent higher levels of perfor-
mance on laboratory test wheels than the
minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, under inflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combi-
nation, can cause heat build-up and
possible tire failure problems.Your NISSAN is covered by the following
emission warranties.
For USA
1) Emission Defects Warranty
2) Emissions Performance Warranty
For Canada
Emission Control System Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found
with other vehicle warranties in your war-
ranty information booklet that comes with
your NISSAN. If you did not receive a
warranty booklet, or it has become lost, you
may obtain a replacement by writing to:
cNissan Motor Corporation, in USA
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 191
Gardena, CA. 90247
cNissan Canada Inc.
P.O. Box 1709
Station ``B''
Mississauga, Ontario,
L4Y 4H6If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) in addition to noti-
fying NISSAN.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot be-
come involved in individual problems be-
tween you, your dealer, or NISSAN.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the
Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1- 800-424-
9393 (or 366-0123 in the Washington, D.C.
area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department
of Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.
You may notify NISSAN by contacting our
Consumer Affairs Department, toll-free, at
1-800-NISSAN-1.
In Hawaii call (808) 531-0231.
EMISSION CONTROL
SYSTEM WARRANTYREPORTING SAFETY
DEFECTS ( USA)
9-19
ZX

10 Index
A
Air bag (See supplemental restraint system)
Air bag warning light (If so equipped) ....... 2-20
Air cleaner housing filter ............................ 7-19
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation ........................ 3-5
Air conditioner specification label ......... 9-13
Heater and air conditioner controls ........ 3-3
Servicing air conditioning ....................... 3-9
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations.......................... 9-8
Air flow charts .............................................. 3-6
Anchor point locations ............................... 2-32
Antenna (manual) ...................................... 3-17
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .................. 4-16
Audio system
AM-FM radio ........................................ 3-11
AM-FM radio with cassette player ........ 3-13
Automatic
Automatic power window switch ......... 1-16
Automatic transmission fluid ................. 7-11
Driving with an automatic
transmission............................................ 4-6B
Battery........................................................ 7-15
Belts (See drive belts)
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .............. 4-16
Brake fluid............................................. 7-13
Brake booster ....................................... 7-22
Brake wear indicators ................... 1-7, 7-22
Brake pedal .......................................... 7-21
Parking brake check ............................. 7-21
Parking brake operation ....................... 4-11
Break-in schedule ...................................... 4-13
Bulb check/instrument panel ....................... 1-5
Bulb replacement ....................................... 7-26
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants ............................................... 9-2
Cassette player (See audio system)
CB radio or car phone ............................... 3-18
Child restraints for infants and
small children ............................................. 2-28
Child safety rear door lock .......................... 2-7
Cigarette lighter (accessory) and ashtray . 1-13
Cleaning exterior and interior ...................... 6-2
Clock-radio ................................................. 3-13Clutch pedal ............................................... 7-23
Cold weather driving cautions ................... 4-18
Controls
Audio controls ............................. 3-10, 3-13
Heater and air conditioner ...................... 3-3
Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.......................................... 9-2
Changing engine coolant........................ 7-6
Checking engine coolant level ............... 7-5
Engine coolant temperature gauge ....... 1-3
Corrosion protection .................................... 6-5
Cruise control............................................. 4-12
Cup holder ................................................. 1-14
D
Daytime running light system
(Canada only) ............................................ 1-11
Defogger switch
Rear window defogger switch .............. 1-10
Dimensions and weights............................ 9-10
Door locks .................................................... 2-2
Freeing a frozen door lock ................... 4-18
Drive belts .................................................. 7-17
Driving
Cold weather driving cautions .............. 4-18
ZX

J
Jump starting ............................................... 5-7
K
Key ............................................................... 2-2
Keyless entry system (See multi-remote
control system)
L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label ......... 9-13
Emission control information label........ 9-13
Engine serial number ........................... 9-12
F.M.V.S.S. Certification label ............... 9-12
Vehicle identification number plate ...... 9-11
Warning labels (for SRS) ..................... 2-20
License plate
Installing license plate .......................... 9-14
Light
Air bag warning light............................. 2-20
Bulb check/instrument panel .................. 1-5
Bulb replacement.................................. 7-26
Front fog light switch ............................ 1-12
Headlight aiming adjustment ................ 7-26
Headlight and turn signal switch .......... 1-11
Headlights ............................................. 7-25
Interior light ........................................... 1-17
Light bulbs ............................................ 7-25Trunk light ............................................ 1-17
Warning/indicator lights and chimes ...... 1-5
Lock
Child safety rear door lock ..................... 2-7
Door locks............................................... 2-2
Fuel filler lid lock operation .................. 2-11
Power door lock...................................... 2-3
Trunk lid lock operation .......................... 2-9
M
Maintenance
General maintenance ............................. 8-2
Inside the vehicle.................................... 8-3
Outside the vehicle ................................. 8-2
Periodic maintenance schedules ............ 8-5
Seat belt maintenance.......................... 2-27
Under the hood and vehicle ................... 8-4
Manual antenna ......................................... 3-17
Meters and gauges ...................................... 1-2
Mirror
Inside mirror.......................................... 2-35
Outside mirror control ........................... 2-34
Vanity mirror ......................................... 2-35
Multi-remote control system ........................ 2-4
O
Octane rating (See fuel)
Odometer ..................................................... 1-3Oil
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.......................................... 9-2
Changing engine oil................................ 7-9
Changing engine oil filter...................... 7-10
Checking engine oil level ....................... 7-8
Engine oil ................................................ 7-8
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ..................................... 9-5
Opener lever for trunk lid............................. 2-9
Outside mirror control ................................ 2-34
Overdrive switch .......................................... 4-8
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats ........................ 5-9
Owner's manual order form ....................... 9-20
P
Parking
Parking brake check............................ 7-21
Parking brake operation ....................... 4-11
Parking/parking on hills ........................ 4-15
Periodic maintenance schedules ................. 8-5
Power
Power door lock...................................... 2-3
Power steering fluid .............................. 7-13
Power windows..................................... 1-15
Precautions
Maintenance precautions ....................... 7-2
Precautions on seat belt usage............ 2-22
Precautions when driving ..................... 4-16
10-3
ZX

Precautions when starting and driving ... 4-2
Push starting ................................................ 5-8
Q
Quick reference (See gas station information)
R
Radio
AM-FM radio ......................................... 3-11
AM-FM radio with cassette player ........ 3-13
CB radio or car phone .......................... 3-18
Rear seat ................................................... 2-15
Rear window defogger switch ................... 1-10
Refrigerant recommendation ....................... 9-8
Registering your vehicle in
another country .......................................... 9-11
Remote keyless entry system (See multi-
remote control system)
Reporting safety defects (USA) ................. 9-19
S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock ..................... 2-7
Reporting safety defects (USA) ............ 9-19
Seat adjustment ......................................... 2-13
Seat belt
Precautions on seat belt usage............ 2-22
Seat belt extenders .............................. 2-27Seat belt maintenance.......................... 2-27
Seat belts.............................................. 2-22
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........... 2-25
2-point type without retractor
(rear center lap belt) ............................. 2-26
3-point type with retractor..................... 2-23
Seats
Front seats............................................ 2-13
Rear seat .............................................. 2-15
Service manual order form ........................ 9-20
Shifting ......................................................... 4-7
Spark plug replacement............................. 7-18
Speedometer ............................................... 1-3
SRS warning label ..................................... 2-20
Starting
Before starting the engine ...................... 4-5
Jump starting .......................................... 5-7
Precautions when starting and driving ... 4-2
Push starting........................................... 5-8
Starting the engine ............................... 4-11
Steering
Power steering fluid .............................. 7-13
Tilting steering wheel............................ 2-34
Sun roof ..................................................... 1-16
Supplemental restraint system
(Air bag system) (If so equipped) .............. 2-15
Switch
Automatic power window switch .......... 1-16
Front fog light switch ............................ 1-12
Hazard warning flasher switch ............. 1-13
Headlight and turn signal switch .......... 1-11
Ignition switch ......................................... 4-4Overdrive switch ..................................... 4-8
Rear window defogger switch .............. 1-10
Windshield wiper and washer switch ..... 1-9
T
Tachometer .................................................. 1-3
Theft warning ............................................... 1-8
Three way catalyst....................................... 4-2
Tilting front seat ......................................... 2-14
Tilting steering wheel ................................. 2-34
Timing chain ................................................ 9-9
Tire
Flat tire.................................................... 5-2
Tire chains ............................................ 7-33
Tire placard........................................... 9-13
Tire pressure ........................................ 7-32
Tire rotation .......................................... 7-33
Types of tires ........................................ 7-32
Uniform tire quality grading .................. 9-18
Wheel/tire size ...................................... 9-10
Wheels and tires................................... 7-32
Towing
Tow truck towing .................................. 5-10
Trailer towing ........................................ 9-15
Towing load/specification chart ............ 9-16
Transmission
Automatic transmission fluid ................. 7-11
Driving with automatic
transmission............................................ 4-6
10-4
ZX