brake fluid NISSAN SENTRA 2023 Owners Manual

2.0L 4 cylinder (MR20DD engine model)
1. Engine oil filler cap (P. 8-6)
2. Brake and clutch (if so equipped) fluidreservoir (P. 8-10)
3. Fuse and relay box (P. 8-20)
4. Battery (P. 8-13)
5. Air cleaner (P. 8-17)
6. Engine oil dipstick (P. 8-6)
7. Drive belt location (P. 8-15)
8. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
(P. 8-11)
9. Engine coolant reservoir (P. 8-5)
Refer to the page number indicated in
parentheses for operating details.
NOTE:
Your vehicle may not be equipped with
an engine cover.
LDI3477
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
0-8Illustrated table of contents

CHECKING LIGHTS
With all doors closed, apply the parking
brake, fasten the seat belts and place the
ignition switch in the ON position without
starting the engine. The following lights
(if so equipped) will come on:
,,,,,or
The following lights (if so equipped) will
come on briefly and then go off:
,or,,,,
If any light does not come on or operate in
a way other than described, it may indicate
a burned-out bulb and/or a system mal-
function. Have the system checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
Some indicators and warnings are also dis-
played on the vehicle information display
between the speedometer and tachom-
eter. For additional information, see “Ve-
hicle information display 4.2 inch (11 cm)
Type A” (P. 2-18) or “Vehicle information dis-
play 7 inch (18 cm) Type B” (P. 2-32).
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS (red)
For additional information on warnings
and indicators, see “Vehicle information
display 4.2 inch (11 cm) Type A” (P. 2-18) or
“Vehicle information display 7 inch (18 cm)
Type B” (P. 2-32).
orBrake warning
light
This light functions for both the parking
brake and the foot brake systems.
Parking brake indicator
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the light comes on when the park-
ing brake is applied.
Low brake fluid warning light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the light warns of a low brake fluid
level. If the light comes on while the engine
is running with the parking brake not ap-
plied, stop the vehicle and perform the
following:
1. Check the brake fluid level. Add brakefluid as necessary. For additional infor-
mation, see “Brake fluid” (P. 8-10). 2. If the brake fluid level is correct, have the
warning system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service.
WARNING
• Your brake system may not be work-
ing properly if the warning light is on.
Driving could be dangerous. If you
judge it to be safe, drive carefully to
the nearest service station for re-
pairs. Otherwise, have your vehicle
towed because driving it could be
dangerous.
• Pressing the brake pedal with the en-
gine stopped and/or a low brake
fluid level may increase your stop-
ping distance and braking will re-
quire greater pedal effort as well as
pedal travel.
• If the brake fluid level is below the
MINIMUM or MIN mark on the brake
fluid reservoir, do not drive until the
brake system has been checked. It
is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
2-10Instruments and controls

Master warning light
When the ignition switch is in the ON posi-
tion, the master warning light illuminates if
any of the following are displayed on the
vehicle information display:
• Low washer fluid warning
• Loose fuel cap warning
• Low tire pressure warning
• Emergency brake warning
• Lock warning
• Shipping mode warning
• Door/Trunk open warning (when vehicleis moving)
• LED Headlight system warning (if so equipped)
• Chassis Control system fault warning (if so equipped)
• Service CVT warnings
• Service engine warnings
• Rear emergency braking warning (If so equipped)
• Parking sensor error warning
• Driver Attention Alert warning (if so equipped)
• ITS system malfunction warning • Traffic Sign Recognition warnings (if so
equipped)
• I-Key system warnings
For additional information, see “Vehicle in-
formation display 4.2 inch (11 cm) Type A”
(P. 2-18) or “Vehicle information display 7
inch (18 cm) Type B” (P. 2-32).
Power steering warning
light
WARNING
• If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the steering will not work.
Steering will be harder to operate.
• When the power steering warning
light illuminates with the engine run-
ning, there will be no power assist for
the steering. You will still have control
of the vehicle but the steering will be
harder to operate. Have the power
steering system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service. When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the power steering warning light
illuminates. Af ter starting the engine, the
power steering warning light turns off. This
indicates the power steering system is
operational.
If the power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the engine is running, it may
indicate the power steering system is not
functioning properly and may need servic-
ing. Have the power steering system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
When the power steering warning light illu-
minates with the engine running, there will
be no power assist for the steering but you
will still have control of the vehicle. At this
time, greater steering effort is required to
operate the steering wheel, especially in
sharp turns and at low speeds.
For additional information, see “Power
steering” (P. 5-128).
Rear Automatic Braking
(RAB) OFF warning light (if
so equipped)
This light comes on when the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position. It turns
off af ter the engine is started.
Instruments and controls2-15

Loose Fuel Cap
This warning appears when the fuel-filler
cap is not tightened correctly af ter the ve-
hicle has been refueled. For additional in-
formation, see “Fuel-filler cap” (P. 3-23)
Low Fuel
This warning appears when the fuel level in
the fuel tank is getting low. Refuel as soon
as it is convenient, preferably before the
fuel gauge reaches 0 (Empty).There will be
a small reserve of fuel in the tank when
the fuel gauge needle reaches 0 (Empty).
Low Oil Pressure: See
Owner’s Manual
This warning appears in the message area
of the vehicle information display if low oil
pressure is detected. This gauge is not de-
signed to indicate low oil level. The low oil
pressure warning is not designed to indi-
cate a low oil level. Use the dipstick to
check the oil level. For additional informa-
tion, see “Engine oil” (P. 8-6).
Low Outside Temperature
This warning appears if the outside tem-
perature is below 37°F (3°C). The tempera-
ture can be changed to display in Celsius or
Fahrenheit. For additional information, see
“Settings” (P. 2-19).
Low Washer Fluid
This warning appears when the
windshield-washer fluid is at a low level.
Add windshield-washer fluid as necessary.
For additional information, see
“Windshield-washer fluid” (P. 8-11).
Outside Temperature
Display
The outside temperature display appears
in the center region of the vehicle informa-
tion display.
Power will turn off to save the battery
This message appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display af ter a period of time if the
ignition switch is in the ON position and if
the vehicle is in P (Park). For additional infor-
mation, see “Push-button ignition switch
positions” (P. 5-12).
Power turned off to save the battery
This message appears af ter the ignition
switch is automatically turned off. For addi-
tional information, see “Push-button igni-
tion switch positions” (P. 5-12).
Push brake and start
switch to drive
This indicator appears when the shif t lever
is in the P (Park) position.
This indicator means that the engine will
start by pushing the ignition switch with
the brake pedal depressed. You can start
the engine from any position of the ignition
switch.
Push clutch and start
switch to drive
This indicator appears when the shif t lever
is in the N (Neutral) position.
This indicator means that the engine will
start by pushing the ignition switch with
the clutch and brake pedal depressed. You
can start the engine from any position of
the ignition switch.
2-28Instruments and controls

Rear seat belt reminder
This warning appears for 35 seconds af ter
the ignition is placed in the ON position and
the engine is started.
This warning message shows the status of
the three rear seat belts. When one of the
rear seat belts are buckled, the corre-
sponding rear seat belt indicator will ap-
pear grey. When one of the rear seat belts
are unbuckled, the corresponding rear seat
belt indicator will appear red.
Af ter a change in buckle status, a chime will
sound and the warning will appear for an-
other 35 seconds.
Release Parking Brake
This warning appears when the parking
brake is set and the vehicle is driven.
Reminder: Turn OFF
Headlights
This warning appears when the headlights
are lef t in the ON position when exiting the
vehicle. Place the headlight switch in the
OFF or AUTO position. For additional infor-
mation, see “Headlight and turn signal
switch” (P. 2-52).
Shif t to Park
This warning appears when the ignition
switch is in the AUTO ACC or OFF position
and the shif t lever is not in the P (Park)
position. Also, a chime sounds when the
ignition switch is in the AUTO ACC or OFF
position.
If this warning appears, move the shif t lever
to the P (Park) position and start the engine.
Shipping Mode On Push Storage Fuse
This warning may appear if the extended
storage switch is not pushed in. When this
warning appears, push in the extended
storage switch to turn off the warning. For
additional information, see “Extended stor-
age switch” (P. 2-65), and/or “Fuses” (P. 8-20).
Tire Pressure Low - Add Air
This warning appears when the low tire
pressure warning light in the meter illumi-
nates and low tire pressure is detected. The
warning appears each time the ignition
switch is placed in the ON position as long
as the low tire pressure warning light re-
mains illuminated. If this warning appears,
stop the vehicle and adjust the tire pres-
sures of all four tires to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the Tire andLoading Information label. For additional
information, see “Low tire pressure warning
light” (P. 2-13) and “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)” (P. 5-5).
TPMS Error: See Owner’s Manual
This warning appears when there is an er-
ror with your TPMS. If this warning comes
on, have the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
Transmission Shif t Position
indicator
This indicator shows the transmission shif t
position.
CVT (AT) hot Power reduced
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid tem-
perature becomes too high (for example,
climbing steep grades in high tempera-
tures with heavy loads, such as when tow-
ing a trailer), engine power and, under
some conditions, vehicle speed will be de-
creased automatically to reduce the
chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelera-
tor pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed
may be reduced.
Instruments and controls2-29

Low Fuel
This warning appears when the fuel level in
the fuel tank is getting low. Refuel as soon
as it is convenient, preferably before the
fuel gauge reaches 0 (Empty).There will be
a small reserve of fuel in the tank when
the fuel gauge needle reaches 0 (Empty).
Low Outside Temperature
This warning appears if the outside tem-
perature is below 37°F (3°C). The tempera-
ture can be changed to display in Celsius or
Fahrenheit. For additional information, see
“Settings” (P. 2-34).
Low Washer Fluid
This warning appears when the
windshield-washer fluid is at a low level.
Add windshield-washer fluid as necessary.
For additional information, see
“Windshield-washer fluid” (P. 8-11).
Power turned off to save the battery
This message appears af ter the ignition
switch is automatically turned off. For addi-
tional information, see “Push-button igni-
tion switch positions” (P. 5-12).
Power will turn off to save the battery
This message appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display af ter a period of time if the
ignition switch is in the AUTO ACC or the ON
position and if the vehicle is in P (Park). For
additional information, see “Push-button
ignition switch positions” (P. 5-12).
Push brake and start
switch to drive
This indicator appears when the shif t lever
is in the P (Park) position.
This indicator also appears when the ve-
hicle has been started using the Remote
Engine Start (if so equipped) function.
This indicator means that the engine will
start by pushing the ignition switch with
the brake pedal depressed. You can start
the engine from any position of the ignition
switch.
Push Ignition to OFF
Af ter the Push Ignition to OFF warning ap-
pears, the warning will appear if the ignition
switch is placed in the AUTO ACC position
when the shif t lever is moved to the P (Park)
position. To turn off the Push warning, place the ig-
nition switch in the ON position and then in
the LOCK position.
Rear seat belt reminder
This warning appears for 35 seconds af ter
the ignition is placed in the ON position and
the engine is started.
This warning message shows the status of
the three rear seat belts. When one of the
rear seat belts are buckled, the corre-
sponding rear seat belt indicator will ap-
pear grey. When one of the rear seat belts
are unbuckled, the corresponding rear seat
belt indicator will appear red.
Af ter a change in buckle status, a chime will
sound and the warning will appear for an-
other 35 seconds.
Release Parking Brake
This warning appears when the parking
brake is set and the vehicle is driven.
Reminder: Turn
OFF Headlights
This warning appears when the headlights
are lef t in the ON position when exiting the
vehicle. Place the headlight switch in the
Instruments and controls2-43

NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
The NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
will not allow the engine to start without
the use of the registered key.
If the engine fails to start using a registered
key (for example, when interference is
caused by another registered key, an auto-
mated toll road device or automatic pay-
ment device on the key ring), restart the
engine using the following procedure:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON posi-tion for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Place the ignition switch in the OFF or LOCK position, and wait approximately
10 seconds.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Restart the engine while holding the de- vice (which may have caused the inter-
ference) separate from the registered
key.
If the no start condition re-occurs, NISSAN
recommends placing the registered key on
a separate key ring to avoid interference
from other devices. • Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
• Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool- ant, brake and clutch fluid (if so equipped),
and windshield-washer fluid as fre-
quently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
• Check that all windows and lights are clean.
• Visually inspect tires for their appearance and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
• Lock all doors.
• Position seat and adjust head restraints/headrests.
• Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
• Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to do likewise.
• Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is placed in the
ON position. For additional information,
see “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P. 2-9). 1. Apply the parking brake.
2.
Continuously Variable Transmission
model:
Move the shif t lever to P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral). P (Park) is recommended.
The starter is designed not to operate
if the shif t lever is in any of the driving
positions.
Manual Transmission (M/T) model:
Move the shif t lever to N (Neutral). De-
press the clutch pedal to the floor.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully
depressed.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion. Depress the brake pedal and the
clutch pedal (if so equipped) and push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while de-
pressing the brake pedal with the igni-
tion switch in any position.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-14Starting and driving

WARNING
When the high fluid temperature pro-
tection mode or fail-safe operation oc-
curs, vehicle speed may be gradually
reduced. The reduced speed may be
lower than other traffic, which could in-
crease the chance of a collision. Be es-
pecially careful when driving. If neces-
sary, pull to the side of the road at a safe
place and allow the transmission to re-
turn to normal operation, or have it re-
paired if necessary.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION (if so
equipped)
WARNING
• Do not downshif t abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
• Do not over-rev the engine when
shif ting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.
• Do not shif t to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion while driving. Doing so may re-
sult in an accident due to loss of en-
gine braking.
CAUTION
• Do not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal while driving. This may cause
clutch damage.
• Fully depress the clutch pedal before
shif ting to help prevent transmission
damage.
• Stop your vehicle completely before
shif ting into R (Reverse).
• When the vehicle is stopped with the
engine running (for example, at a
stop light), shif t to N (Neutral) and re-
lease the clutch pedal with the foot
brake applied.
• Do not shif t to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion while driving. Doing so may re-
sult in an accident due to loss of en-
gine braking.
Shif ting
To change gears or when upshif ting or
downshif ting, depress the clutch pedal
fully, shif t into the appropriate gear, then
release the clutch slowly and smoothly.
To ensure smooth gear changes, fully de-
press the clutch pedal before operating the
shif t lever. If the clutch pedal is not fully
depressed before the transmission is
shif ted, a gear noise may be heard. Trans-
mission damage may occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shif t to 2nd,
3rd, 4th and 5th up to 6th gear in sequence
according to vehicle speed.
SSD0552
Starting and driving5-21

•Tire type and condition may also af-
fect braking effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
– When installing a spare tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. For ad-
ditional information, see “Tire and
Loading Information label”
(P. 8-31).
– For additional information, see
“Wheels and tires” (P. 8-29).
The ABS controls the brakes so the wheels
do not lock during hard braking or when
braking on slippery surfaces. The system
detects the rotation speed at each wheel
and varies the brake fluid pressure to pre-
vent each wheel from locking and sliding.
By preventing each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
Anti-lock Braking System will operate to
prevent the wheels from locking up. Steer
the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
Self-test feature
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in-
cludes electronic sensors, electric pumps,
hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start
the engine and move the vehicle at a low
speed in forward or reverse. When the self-
test occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise
and/or feel a pulsation in the brake pedal.
This is normal and does not indicate a mal-
function. If the computer senses a mal-
function, it switches the ABS off and illumi-
nates the ABS warning light on the instrument panel. The brake system then
operates normally, but without anti-lock
assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the ve-
hicle checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Normal operation
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) oper-
ates at speeds abov
e3-6mph(5-10
km/h). The speed varies according to road
conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres-
sure. This action is similar to pumping the
brakes very quickly. You may feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal and hear a noise
from under the hood or feel a vibration
from the actuator when it is operating. This
is normal and indicates that the ABS is op-
erating properly. However, the pulsation
may indicate that road conditions are haz-
ardous and extra care is required while
driving.
5-130Starting and driving

SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
• A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-move ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.
• A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack to give it firm support.
• A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrif ts.
• Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield- washer fluid reservoir.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
• Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” un-
der these conditions. Try to avoid
driving on wet ice until the road is
salted or sanded.
• Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shif ting too fast, the drive wheels will
lose even more traction. •
Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry
pavement.
• Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
• Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while on
the ice, and avoid any sudden steer-
ing maneuvers.
• Do not use the cruise control (if so
equipped) on slippery roads.
• Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
Engine block heaters are used to assist
with cold temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20°F (-7°C)
or lower.
WARNING
• Do not use your engine block heater
with an ungrounded electrical sys-
tem or a 2-pronged adapter. You can
be seriously injured by an electrical
shock if you use an ungrounded
connection.
• Disconnect and properly store the
engine block heater cord before
starting the engine. Damage to the
cord could result in an electrical
shock and can cause serious injury.
• Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged
extension cord rated for at least 10 A.
Plug the extension cord into a
Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) pro-
tected, grounded 110-VAC outlet.
Failure to use the proper extension
cord or a grounded outlet can result
in a fire or electrical shock and cause
serious personal injury.
5-142Starting and driving