warning lights NISSAN SENTRA 1996 B14 / 4.G Owners Manual

1 Instruments and controls
Meters and gauges .............................................. 1-2
Speedometer and odometer ................................ 1-3
Tachometer (If so equipped) ................................ 1-3
Engine coolant temperature gauge ...................... 1-3
Fuel gauge ........................................................... 1-4
Warning/indicator lights and chimes .................... 1-5
Theft warning (If so equipped) ............................. 1-8
Windshield wiper and washer switch ................... 1-9
Rear window defogger switch ............................ 1-10
Headlight and turn signal switch ........................ 1-11
Instrument brightness control ............................. 1-12
Front fog light switch (If so equipped) ............... 1-12Hazard warning flasher switch ........................... 1-13
Cigarette lighter (accessory) and ashtray .......... 1-13
Cup holder .......................................................... 1-14
Power windows (If so equipped) ........................ 1-15
Sun roof (If so equipped) ................................... 1-16
Interior light......................................................... 1-17
Trunk light (If so equipped) ................................ 1-17
ZX

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

Malfunction indicator light
If the MIL comes on or blinks while the
engine is running, it may indicate a potential
emission control problem.
CAUTION
cContinued operation without having
the emission control system
checked and repaired as necessary
could lead to poor driveability, re-
duced fuel economy, and possible
damage to the emission control sys-
tem which may affect your warranty
coverage.
cAlthough the vehicle is still drive-
able, see your nearest NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible. To avoid
system damage, do not drive at
speeds above 45 MPH (72 km/h). If
possible, avoid hard acceleration or
deceleration.The theft warning system provides visual
and audio alarm signals if parts of the
vehicle are disturbed.
How to activate the theft warning
system
1. Close all windows.
2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Close all doors, hood and trunk lid. Lock
all doors by pressing the
buttonon the
multi-remote controller.At this time,
the turn signal lights blink twice, indicat-
ing all doors are locked.The system can be activated even if the
windows are open.
4. Confirm that the SECURITY indicator
light in the instrument cluster illuminates.
cThe SECURITY light stays on for about
30 seconds and then begins to flash
once every three seconds. The system is
now activated.
The theft warning system is NOT activated if
one of the following occurs:
cThe door is unlocked or the ignition key is
turned to the ACC or ON position during
the 30 seconds in which the SECURITY
light stays on.
cThe SECURITY light blinks at a steady
1/2 second on - 1/2 second off rate
because a door, the trunk, or the hood is
open and the key is not in the ACC or ON
position. When the ignition key is turned
to the ACC or ON position, the SECU-
RITY light turns off.Theft warning system operation
The theft warning system emits the follow-
ing alarm:
cThe headlights blink and the horn sounds
IC0005
THEFT WARNING
(If so equipped)
1-8
ZX

Lighting
Turn the switch to theposition:
The front clearance, tail, license plate and
instrument panel lights come on.
Turn the switch to the
position:
The headlights come on and all the other
lights remain on.
To select the high beam function, push the
lever forward. The high beam lights come
on and the indicator light illuminates. Pull it
back to select the low beam.
Passing signal
Pulling and releasing the lever flashes the
headlights' high beams on and off.
Daytime running light system
(For Canada)
The headlight high beams illuminate after
starting the engine, even if the headlight
control switch is in the OFF position. The
headlights are not as bright as they are with
the headlight switch in the
position.
If the parking brake is applied before the
engine is started, the daytime running lights
do not illuminate. The daytime running lightsilluminate once the parking brake is re-
leased. Thereafter, the daytime running
lights do not turn off when using the parking
brake at a stop signal, etc.
WARNING
When the daytime running light system
is active, tail lights on your vehicle are
not on. It is necessary at dusk to turn
on your headlights. Failure to do so
could cause an accident injuring your-
self and others.
AIC0609
HEADLIGHT AND TURN
SIGNAL SWITCH
1-11
ZX

Push the switch on to warn other drivers when
you must stop or park under emergency condi-
tions. All turn signal lights flash.
WARNING
cWhen stalled or stopped on the road-
way under emergency conditions,
move the vehicle well off the road.
c
Do not use the hazard warning flash-
ers while moving on the highway un-
less unusual circumstances force you
to drive so slowly that your vehicle
might become a hazard to other traffic.cSome state laws may prohibit the use
of the hazard warning flasher switch
while driving.
cTurn signals do not work when the
hazard warning flasher lights are on.
The flashers can be actuated with the igni-
tion switch in either the OFF or ON position.
The cigarette lighter element is an acces-
sory. A genuine NISSAN cigarette lighter or
equivalent can be purchased from your lo-
cal NISSAN dealer.
IC1193M
AIC0607
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
SWITCHCIGARETTE LIGHTER
(ACCESSORY)AND ASHTRAY
1-13
ZX

Unlocking doors
1. Push thebutton on the multi-remote
controller. Only the driver side door un-
locks.
2. Push the
button on the multi-remotecontroller again within 5 seconds. The
passenger doors unlock.
3. The interior light stays on for 30 seconds.
The interior light can be turned off without
waiting for 30 seconds by inserting the keyinto the ignition or by locking the doors with
the multi-remote controller.
Using the panic alarm
If you are near your vehicle and feel threat-
ened, you may activate the alarm to call
attention as follows:
1. Push the
button on the remote con-
troller forlonger than 1.5 seconds.
2. The theft warning alarm and headlights
stay on for 30 seconds.
3. The alarm stops when any of the key
functions are used. For example, when
the
or thebutton is pushed, or the
button is pushed for longer than 1.5
seconds on the multi-remote controller,
the panic alarm function is cancelled.
APD0616
2-5
ZX

1) Move the shift lever into the P position.
2) Turn the ignition key slightly in the ON
direction.
3) Turn the key toward the LOCK position.
4) Remove the key.
If the key is removed from the ignition
switch, the shift lever cannot be moved from
P (Park).The shift lever can be moved if
the ignition switch is in the ACC posi-
tion. The shift lever can also be moved if
the ignition switch is in the ON position
and the foot brake pedal is depressed.
There is an OFF position in between LOCK
and ACC, although it does not show on the
lock cylinder. When the ignition is in OFF
the steering wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked,
it must be turned about 1/8 of a turn coun-
terclockwise from the straight up position,
and the key must be removed from the
ignition.WARNING
To lock the steering wheel, remove the
key. To unlock the steering wheel, in-
sert the key and turn it gently while
rotating the steering wheel slightly
right and left.
Never remove the key while driving. If
the key is removed, the steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle and could
result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
OFF (Manual transmission model) (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel.
ACC (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accesso-
ries such as the radio when the engine is
not running.
ON Normal operating position (3)
This position turns on the ignition system
and the electrical accessories.
START (4)
This position activates the starter motor,
which starts the engine.cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
cMaintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically, e.g., each time you
check engine oil.
cCheck that all windows and lights are
clean.
cVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
cLock all doors.
cPosition seat and adjust head restraints.
cAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
cFasten seat belts and ask all passengers
to do likewise.
cCheck the operation of warning lights
when key is turned to the ON (3) position.
BEFORE STARTING THE
ENGINE
4-5
ZX

Push the button to shift into P, R or from D
to 2. All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle
is parked or when starting the engine. Al-
ways be sure the vehicle is at a complete
stop. For maximum safety, depress the
brake pedal, then push in the shift lever
button and move the lever to the P position.
Apply the parking brake. When parking on a
hill, apply the parking brake first, then shift
the lever into the P position.
Shifting from P (Park)
If the ignition switch is in the ON position
and the foot brake pedal is depressed, but
the shift lever still cannot be moved out of P
(Park) use the following procedure:
1. Shut the engine off and remove the key.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Reinsert the key and turn it clockwise to
the ACC position.
4.
Depress the brake pedal, move the shift
lever to N (Neutral) and start the engine.
5. Check stoplights operation.
WARNING
If the shift lever cannot be moved from
the P position while the engine is run-
ning and the brake pedal is depressed,
the stoplights may not work. Malfunc-
tioning stoplights could cause an acci-
dent injuring yourself and others.
These instructions for starting the vehicle in
N (Neutral) should only be used until service
can be obtained. Never drive the vehicle if
the stoplights are not operating properly.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure
the vehicle is completely stopped. With the
brake pedal depressed, push in the shift
lever button and move the lever to the R
position.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shift to N and restart a
stalled engine while the vehicle is moving.
ASD0611
4-7
ZX

tire placard affixed to the driver side
center pillar.
cRetighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been run for 600 miles
(1,000 km).
5. Securely store the spare tire and jacking
equipment in the vehicle.
WARNING
cAlways make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly
secured after use. The jack rod may
be used to securely tighten the hold-
down bolts. Such items can become
dangerous projectiles in an accident
or sudden stop.
cThe T-type spare tire and small size
spare tire are designed for emer-
gency use. See specific instructions
under the heading ``Wheels and
tires'' in the ``Do-it-yourself opera-
tions'' section.To start your engine with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below must
be followed.
CAUTION
cIf done incorrectly, jump starting can
be hazardous.
cExplosive 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, cloth or painted
surfaces. Battery fluid is a corrosive
sulfuric acid solution which can cause
severe burns. If the fluid should come
into contact with anything, immediately
flush the contacted area with water.
cA battery rated at above 12 volts
should not be used for a booster.
cWhenever working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye protec-
tors (e.g., goggles or industrial safety
spectacles) and remove rings, metal
bands, or any other metal jewelry.
c
Keep battery out of the reach of chil-
dren.
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause per-
sonal injury.
1.
If the booster battery is in another vehicle,
position the two vehicles to bring their
batteries into close proximity to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. Move the shift
lever to Neutral (On automatic transmis-
sion models, move the lever to P). 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
as illustrated.
CAUTION
cAlways connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (þ) to body
ground (e.g., strut mounting bolt, etc.
Ðnot to the battery).
JUMP STARTING
5-7
ZX