Overdrive NISSAN SENTRA 1996 B14 / 4.G Owners Manual

orBrake warning lightLow washer fluid warning light
(For Canada)Cruise indicator light
(if so equipped)
Turn signal/hazard indicator lightsorAnti-lock brake warning
light (if so equipped)Air bag warning light
(if so equipped)
High beam indicator light (Blue)O/D OFFOverdrive off indicator lightSeat belt warning light
Charge warning lightMalfunction indicator light
Low fuel warning light
(if so equipped)
Door ajar warning light
(if so equipped)Engine oil pressure warning light
Checking bulbs
Apply the parking brake and turn the ignition
key to ON without starting the engine. The
following lights will come on:
,or,,or,,
If equipped, the following lights come on
briefly and then go off:
,O/D OFF,or
If any light fails to come on, it may
indicate a burned-out bulb or an opencircuit in the electrical system. Have the
system repaired promptly.
Engine oil pressure warning
light
This light warns of low engine oil pressure. If
the light flickers or comes on during normal
driving, pull off the road in a safe area, stop
the engineimmediatelyand call a NISSAN
dealer or other authorized repair shop.
The oil pressure warning light is not
designed to indicate a low oil level. Use
the dipstick to check the oil level.See``Engine oil'' in the ``Do-it-yourself opera-
tions'' section.
CAUTION
Running the engine with the oil pres-
sure warning light on could cause seri-
ous damage to the engine.
Charge warning light
If the light comes on while the engine is
running, it may indicate a problem with the
charging system. Turn the engine off and
check the generator belt. If the belt is loose,
WARNING/INDICATOR
LIGHTS AND CHIMES
1-5
ZX

WARNING
cIf you judge it to be safe, drive care-
fully to the nearest service station for
repairs. Otherwise, have your vehicle
towed because driving it could be
dangerous.
cPressing the brake pedal with the
engine stopped and/or low brake
fluid level may increase your stop-
ping distance and braking will require
greater pedal effort as well as pedal
travel.
orAnti-lock brake
warning light
(If so equipped)
If the light comes on while the engine is
running, it may indicate something wrong
with the anti-lock portion of the brake sys-
tem. Have the system checked by your
Nissan dealer.
Turn off the engine, and start it again by
slowly turning the ignition key (quickly
doing so may cause the ABS light to stay
on when there is nothing wrong). If the
light stays on, have the system checkedby your NISSAN dealer.
If an abnormality occurs in the system, the
anti-lock function ceases, but the regular
braking system continues to operate.
If the light comes on while you are driv-
ing, contact your NISSAN dealer for re-
pair.
O/D OFFOverdrive off indicator light
(Automatic transmission
models only)
This light comes on when the overdrive
switch is pushed to the OFF
position.
Turn signal/hazard indicator
lights
The appropriate light flashes when the turn
signal lever switch is activated.
Both lights flash when the hazard switch is
turned on.
High beam indicator light
This blue light comes on when the headlight
high beam is on and goes out when the low
beam is selected.
Cruise indicator light
(If so equipped)
The light comes on while the vehicle speed
is controlled by the cruise control system.
Key reminder chime
A chime sounds if the driver side door is
opened while the key is left in the ignition
switch. Remove the key and take it with you
when leaving the vehicle.
Light reminder chime
A chime sounds when the driver side door is
opened if the headlights or parking lights
are on (ignition switch is turned off).
Turn the headlight control switch off before
you leave the vehicle.
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires re-
placement, it makes a high pitched scraping
sound when the vehicle is in motion,
whether or not the brake pedal is de-
pressed. Have the brakes checked as soon
as possible if the warning sound is heard.
1-7
ZX

D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
2 (Second gear):
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on
downhill grades.
Do not downshift into the 2 position at
speeds over 68 MPH (110 km/h). Do not
exceed 68 MPH (110 km/h) in the 2
position.
1 (Low gear):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine brak-
ing on steep downhill grades.
Do not shift into the 1 position at speeds
over 34 MPH (55 km/h).
Do not exceed 34 MPH (55 km/h) in the 1
position.
Accelerator downshift
Ð In D position Ð
For rapid passing or hill climbing, fully de-
press the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into third gear,second gear or first gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Overdrive switch
ON: For normal driving, push the over-
drive switch ON
with the selector
switch in the D position. The trans-
mission is upshifted into OVER-
DRIVE as the vehicle speed
increases.
The overdrive does not engage until the
engine has warmed up.
OFF: For driving up and down long slopes
where engine braking would be ad-
vantageous, push the switch OFF
. When cruising at a low speed
ASD0602
4-8
ZX

or climbing a gentle slope, you may
feel uncomfortable shift shocks as
the transmission shifts between 3rd
and overdrive repeatedly. In this
case, set the overdrive switch in the
OFF
position. The indicator
light in the instrument panel comes
on at this time.
When driving conditions change, reset the
overdrive switch in the ON
position.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the overdrive
switch set in the OFF
position. This
reduces the fuel economy.
To change gears, fully depress the clutch
pedal, then move the gearshift lever. After
shifting, release the clutch slowly.
On the 5-speed transmission model, you
cannot shift directly from 5th gear into Re-
verse. First shift into Neutral, then into Re-
verse.
If it is difficult to move the gearshift lever into
Reverse or 1st, shift into Neutral, then re-
lease the clutch pedal. Depress the pedal
and shift into Reverse or 1st again.
Driving precautions
cDo not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may cause clutch
damage.
cStop your vehicle completely before shift-
ing into Reverse.
Suggested shift-up speeds
Shown below are suggested vehicle speeds
for shifting into a higher gear. These sug-
gestions relate to fuel economy and vehicle
performance. Actual shift-up speeds will
vary according to road conditions, the
weather and individual driving habits.
For quick acceleration in low altitude areas
(less than 4,000 ft [1,219 m]) and normal
acceleration in high altitude areas (over
4,000 ft [1,219 m]):
Gear change MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (25)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40)
3rd to 4th 40 (65)
4th to 5th 45 (75)
SD1022
DRIVING WITH MANUAL
TRANSMISSION
4-9
ZX

cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, down-
shift the transmission to a lower gear
and reduce speed to reduce chances of
engine overloading and/or overheating.
c
If the engine temperature coolant rises to
an extremely high temperature when the
air conditioning system is on, turn off the
air conditioner. Coolant heat can be addi-
tionally vented by opening the windows,
switching the fan control to high and set-
ting the temperature control to the HOT
position.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than
normal circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle's
first 500 miles (800 km).
cHave your vehicle serviced more often
than at intervals specified in the recom-
mended Maintenance Schedule.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels
will be closer to the inside of the turn
than your vehicle wheels. To compen-
sate for this, make a larger than normal
turning radius during the turn.cCrosswinds and rough roads adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being
passed by larger vehicles, be prepared
for possible changes in crosswinds that
could affect vehicle handling. If swaying
does occur, firmly grip the steering
wheel, steer straight ahead, and imme-
diately (but gradually) reduce vehicle
speed. This combination helps to stabi-
lize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember the length of the
trailer must also pass the other vehicle
before you can safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency
and electrical charging performance, do
not use fifth gear (manual transmission)
or overdrive (automatic transmission).
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause
the brakes to overheat, resulting in re-
duced braking efficiency.
When towing a trailer, change the oil in
the transmission more frequently.
See the Maintenance Schedule.DOT Quality Grades: All passenger car tires
must conform to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.
Treadwear
Treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on tire wear rate when tested under
controlled conditions on specified govern-
ment test courses. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1-1/2) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100. However,
relative tire performance depends on actual
driving conditions, and may vary signifi-
cantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices and differ-
ences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction A, B and C
Traction grades are A (the highest), B and C.
They represent a tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled con-
ditions, on specified government test sur-
faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
with a C may have poor traction performance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to your
vehicle tires is based on straight line
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING
9-18
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