automatic transmission NISSAN SENTRA 2004 B15 / 5.G Owner's Manual

CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface
with a clean rag.
Be sure to remove any old gasket material
remaining on the mounting surface of the
engine.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.7. Screw on the oil filter until a slight resistance
is felt, then tighten an additional 2/3 turn.
8. Start the engine and check for leakage
around the oil filter. Correct as required.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level. Add engine oil if
necessary.
WARNING
cWhen the engine is running, keep
hands, jewelry and clothing away from
any moving parts such as the cooling
fan and drive belts.
cAutomatic transmission fluid is poison-
ous and should be stored carefully in
marked containers out of the reach of
children.
QR25DE engine
WDI0180
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID
8-14Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS FOR
CHECKING
cThe fluid level should be checked using the
HOT range on the dipstick after the following
conditions have been met:
– The engine should be warmed up to op-
erating temperature.
– The vehicle should be driven at least 5
minutes.
– The automatic transmission fluid should
be warmed to 122 - 176°F (50 - 80°C) .cThe fluid can be checked at fluid tempera-
tures of 86 - 122°F (30 - 50°C) using the
COLD range on the dipstick after the engine
is warmed up and before driving. However,
the fluid should be re-checked using the
HOT range.
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and set
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and then move the shift
selector lever through each gear range, end-
ing in P (Park) .
3. Check the fluid level with the engine idling.
QG18DE engine
WDI0181
QR25DE engine
WDI0182
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-15
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4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with
lint-free paper.
5. Reinsert the dipstick into the dipstick tube
as far as it will go.
6. Remove the dipstick and note the reading. If
the automatic transmission fluid level is
within the normal operating range
sB,no
additional fluid is required. If the fluid level is
low
sAadd fluid through the dipstick tube.
CAUTION
DO NOT OVERFILL. Use ONLY Genuine
Nissan Matic D ATF (Continental U.S. and
Alaska) or Canada NISSAN Automatic
Transmission Fluid. DEXRON™
III/MERCON™ or equivalent may also be
used. Outside the continental United
States and Alaska contact a NISSAN deal-
ership for more information regarding
suitable fluids, including recommended
brand(s) of DEXRON™ III/MERCON™ au-
tomatic transmission fluid.NOTE:
If the vehicle has been driven for a long
time at high speeds, or in city traffic in hot
weather, or if it is being used to pull a
trailer, the fluid level cannot be read accu-
rately. You should wait until the fluid has
cooled down (about 30 minutes) before
checking fluid level.
WDI0183
8-16Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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If you wax the surface of the hood, be careful not
to let wax get into the washer nozzle
s1. This may
cause clogging or improper windshield washer
operation. If wax gets into the nozzle, remove it
with a needle or small pin
s2.
CHECKING PARKING BRAKE
From the released position, pull the parking brake
lever up slowly and firmly. If the number of clicks is
out of the range listed, see a NISSAN dealer.
c6 - 7 clicks under pulling force of 44 lb (196
N) .
CHECKING BRAKE PEDAL
With the engine running, check the distanceA
between the upper surface of the pedal and the
metal floor. If it is out of the range shown, see a
NISSAN dealer.
Distance A: under depressing force of 110
lb (490 N)
Automatic
TransmissionManual
Transmission
3 1/2 in (90 mm) or more
WDI0424
WDI0196WDI0197
PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE PEDAL
8-28Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Fuel 13–1/4 gal 11 gal 50 Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87 AKI (RON 91)*1
Engine oil *7
Drain and Refill
With oil filter change QG18DE 2–7/8 qt 2–3/8 qt 2.7
• API Certification Mark *2 *3
• API grade SG/SH, Energy ConservingI&IIorAPIgrade SJ or SL, Energy Conserving *2 *3
• ILSAC grade GF-I, GF-II, or GF-III*2 *3 QR25DE 4–1/4 qt 3–1/2 qt 4.0
Without oil filter change QG18DE 2–5/8 qt 2–1/4 qt 2.5
QR25DE 4 qt 3–3/8 qt 3.8
Cooling system
Without reservoir
Manual transmission: QR25DE 6–1/2 qt 5–3/8 qt 6.1
50% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-freeze Coolant or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water QG18DE 6–3/8 qt 5–1/4 qt 6.0
Automatic transmission: QR25DE 6–3/8 qt 5–1/4 qt 6.0
QG18DE 6–1/4 qt 5–1/4 qt 5.9
Manual transmission gear oil QG18DE 3–1/8 qt 2–5/8 qt 3.0 API GL-4, Viscosity SAE 75W-85 or 80W-90
QR25DE 2–3/8 qt 2.0 qt 2.2 Genuine NISSAN Manual Transmission Fluid HQ Multi 75W-85 or equivalent
Automatic transmission fluid
Refill to the proper level according to the instructions in
the “Do-it-yourself” section.Genuine Nissan Matic D ATF (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada NISSAN Automatic Trans-
mission Fluid.*4
Power steering fluid (PSF)Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.*8
Brake and clutch fluidGenuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*5 or equivalent Dot 3 (US FMVSS No. 116)
Multi-purpose grease — — — NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant — — — HFC-134a (R-134a)*6
Air conditioning system lubricants — — — NISSAN A/C System Lubricant Type R or equivalent*6
Windshield washer fluid — — — Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Anti-freeze or equivalent
*1: For further details, see “Fuel recommendation.”
*2: For further details, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendations.”
*3: For further details, see “Recommended SAE engine oil viscosity.”
*4: DEXRON™ III/MERCON™ or equivalent may also be used. Outside the Continental United States and Alaska contact an authorized NISSAN dealership formore information regarding suitable fluids, including recommended
brand(s) of DEXRON™ III/MERCON™ Automatic Transmission Fluid.
*5: Available in mainland USA through your authorized NISSAN dealer.
*6: For further details, see “Air conditioner specification label.”
*7: For further details, see “Changing engine oil.”
*8: For Canada, NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) , DEXRON™ III/MERCON™, or equivalent ATF may also be used.
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information
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Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free
from traffic. Steering stability and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than under
normal driving conditions.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
cAlways block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is
not recommended; however, if you must do
so, and if your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic transmission, first block the
wheels and apply the parking brake, and
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.
cWhen 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. However, for
long steep grades, do not stay in 1st or 2nd
gear when driving above 35 MPH (56 km/h) .
cIf 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.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cFor the first 500 miles that you do tow, do
not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
cHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
cWhen 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.cCrosswinds 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.
cBe 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.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
5th 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 reduced
braking efficiency.
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.
9-18Technical and consumer information
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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.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
cWhenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
cDO NOT tow any automatic transmis-
sion vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing) . Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
cFor emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Automatic Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dollyMUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels.Alwaysfollow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.
Manual Transmission
cAlways tow with the manual transmission in
Neutral.
cAfter towing 500 miles, start and idle the
engine with the transmission in Neutral for
two minutes. Failure to idle the engine after
every 500 miles of towing may cause dam-
age to internal transmission parts.DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear
Treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on tire wear rate when tested under controlled
conditions on specified government test courses.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and a half (1-1/2) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100. However,
relative tire performance depends on actual driv-
ing conditions, and may vary significantly due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
Technical and consumer information9-19
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10 Index
A
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system)......................1-6
Air bag warning light...........1-17, 2-11
Air cleaner housing filter............8-23
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation...........4-5
Air conditioner service............4-9
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubrication recommendations........9-6
Heater and air conditioner controls.....4-2
Servicing air conditioner...........4-9
Air flow charts..................4-6
Alarm system (See vehicle security system). .2-13
Anchor point locations.............1-35
Antenna.....................4-17
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).........5-19
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-9
Audible reminders................2-12
Audio system..................4-10
Compact disc (CD) player.........4-15
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-13
Radio....................4-10
Automatic
Automatic power window switch.....2-27
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF). . . .8-14
Driving with automatic transmission.....5-7
Transmission selector lever lock release . .5-9B
Battery......................8-19
Charge warning light............2-10
Battery replacement
(See remote keyless entry system). . . .3-9, 8-32
Before starting the engine............5-6
Belts (See drive belts).............8-21
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).......5-19
Brake booster................8-29
Brake fluid..................8-17
Brake light (See stop light).........8-36
Brake pedal.................8-28
Brake system................5-18
Brake warning light..............2-9
Brake wear indicators........2-12, 8-29
Parking brake check............8-28
Parking brake operation..........5-13
Self-adjusting brakes............8-29
Break-in schedule................5-15
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-19
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-9
Bulb replacement................8-36C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...................9-2
Car phone or CB radio.............4-17
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
CD care and cleaning.............4-16
CD player (See audio system).........4-15
Check engine indicator light
(See malfunction indicator lamp).......2-11
Child restraint with top tether strap......1-34
Child restraints.......1-20, 1-21, 1-26, 1-33
Precautions on child restraints.......1-26
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-35
Child safety rear door lock............3-5
Chimes, audible reminders...........2-12
Cigarette lighter.................2-22
Cleaning exterior and interior..........7-2
Clock......................4-14
Clutch
Clutch fluid.................8-18
Coin box.....................2-25
Cold weather driving..............5-20
Compact disc (CD) player...........4-15
Console box...................2-25
Controls
Heater and air conditioner controls.....4-2
Coolant
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant..........8-9
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Checking engine coolant level........8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-7
Corrosion protection...............7-5
Cruise control..................5-14
Cup holders...................2-24
D
Daytime running light system
(Canada only)..................2-19
Defogger switch
Rear window defogger switch.......2-18
Door locks....................3-3
Door open warning light............2-10
Drive belts....................8-21
Driving
Cold weather driving............5-20
Driving with automatic transmission.....5-7
Driving with manual transmission.....5-10
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
E
Economy - fuel.................5-16
Emission control information label.......9-11
Emission control system warranty.......9-20
Engine
Before starting the engine..........5-6
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine coolant..........8-9
Changing engine oil............8-12
Changing engine oil filter..........8-13
Checking engine coolant level........8-8Checking engine oil level..........8-11
Engine compartment check locations. . . .8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-7
Engine cooling system............8-8
Engine oil..................8-11
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Engine serial number............9-10
Starting the engine..............5-6
Engine oil pressure low/engine coolant
temperature high warning light.........2-10
Event data recorders..............9-22
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide)........5-2
F
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher switch)
..........................2-20
Flat tire......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid.............7-4
Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF). . . .8-14
Brake fluid..................8-17
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Clutch fluid.................8-18
Engine coolant................8-8
Engine oil..................8-11
Power steering fluid.............8-17
Window washer fluid............8-19
F.M.V.S.S. certification label..........9-10
Fog light switch.................2-20
Folding rear seat.................1-4
Front seats....................1-2Fuel
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Fuel economy................5-16
Fuel filler cap................3-14
Fuel filler lid.................3-14
Fuel filler lid and cap............3-14
Fuel filler lid lock opener lever.......3-14
Fuel gauge..................2-7
Fuel octane rating..............9-4
Fuel recommendation............9-3
Fuses......................8-30
Fusible links...................8-30
G
Gascap.....................3-14
Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-7
Fuel gauge..................2-7
Odometer...................2-4
Speedometer.................2-4
Tachometer..................2-6
Trip odometer.................2-4
General maintenance..............8-2
Glove box....................2-24
H
Hazard warning flasher switch.........2-20
Head restraints..................1-5
Headlight aiming adjustment..........8-34
Headlight and turn signal switch........2-18
Headlights....................8-34
10-2
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O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating).....9-4
Odometer.....................2-4
Oil
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants.................9-2
Changing engine oil............8-12
Changing engine oil filter..........8-13
Checking engine oil level..........8-11
Engine oil..................8-11
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . .9-5
Engine oil pressure low/engine coolant
temperature high warning light.......2-10
Engine oil viscosity..............9-5
Outside mirrors.................3-16
Overdrive switch................5-10
Overheat
If your vehicle overheats..........6-10
Owner’s manual order form..........9-23
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information....................9-23
P
Parking
Parking brake check............8-28
Parking brake operation..........5-13
Parking/parking on hills...........5-17
Power
Power door locks...............3-4
Power outlet.................2-21
Power rear windows............2-27
Power steering fluid.............8-17Power steering system...........5-18
Power windows...............2-26
Rear power windows............2-27
Precautions
Maintenance precautions..........8-5
Precautions on child restraints.......1-26
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-18
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system.....................1-6
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Push starting...................6-9
R
Radio
Car phone or CB radio...........4-17
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-13
Readiness for inspection maintenance (I/M)
test........................9-21
Rear power windows..............2-27
Rear seat.....................1-4
Rear window defogger switch.........2-18
Recorders
Event data..................9-22
Refrigerant recommendation..........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country. . .9-9
Remote keyless entry system..........3-5
Reporting safety defects (US only)......9-21
S
Safety
Child safety rear door lock..........3-5Child seat belts...............1-26
Reporting safety defects (US only). . . .9-21
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment........1-2
Seat belt
Child safety.................1-20
Infants and small children.........1-21
Injured Person................1-21
Larger children...............1-21
Precautions on seat belt usage......1-18
Pregnant women..............1-21
Seat belt extenders.............1-25
Seat belt maintenance...........1-25
Seat belts..................1-18
Shoulder belt height adjustment......1-24
Three-point type with retractor.......1-22
Seat belt warning light.............2-11
Seats
Adjustment..................1-2
Front seats..................1-2
Manual front seat adjustment........1-2
Rear seat...................1-4
Security system (Nissan vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start.........2-13, 3-2, 5-5
Self-adjusting brakes..............8-29
Service manual order form...........9-23
Servicing air conditioner.............4-9
Shift lock release.................5-9
Shifting
Automatic transmission...........5-8
Manual transmission............5-11
Shoulder belt height adjustment........1-24
Spark plug replacement............8-22
Speedometer...................2-4
Spotlights (See map light)...........2-30
SRS warning label...............1-16
10-4
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