If your Nissan Sentra begins to overheat, which may be indicated by an extremely high temperature gauge reading, a noticeable loss of engine power, unusual smells, steam, or abnormal engine noise, take the following steps immediately to protect the engine and ensure personal safety.

WARNING

• Do not continue driving if your Nissan Sentra overheats. Continuing to operate the vehicle in this condition may result in severe engine damage or even a vehicle fire.
• To reduce the risk of burns or serious injury, never remove the engine coolant reservoir cap while the engine is hot. Removing the cap while the system is pressurized may cause hot coolant or steam to spray out violently.
• Do not open the hood if steam is visible coming from the engine compartment.

1. Safely move the vehicle off the road, away from traffic. Apply the parking brake and shift the transmission to N (Neutral) for manual transmission models or to P (Park) for CVT-equipped Nissan Sentra vehicles.

Do not stop the engine immediately.

2. Turn off the air conditioner (if equipped). Open all windows to help release heat, set the heater or climate control temperature to maximum hot, and adjust the fan speed to its highest setting. This helps draw excess heat away from the engine.

3. Exit the vehicle and carefully observe the engine area. Listen and look for steam or coolant escaping from the radiator or hoses before opening the hood. If steam or coolant is escaping, turn the engine off and do not open the hood until the condition subsides.

4. Once it is safe and no steam or coolant is visible, carefully open the engine hood.

WARNING

If steam or hot water is coming from the engine compartment, stand clear and keep a safe distance to avoid burns.

5. Visually inspect the drive belts for looseness, damage, or breakage. Check whether the engine cooling fan is operating properly. Inspect the radiator and radiator hoses for signs of coolant leakage. If coolant is leaking, the water pump belt is loose or missing, or the cooling fan is not operating, turn the engine off immediately.

WARNING

Keep hands, hair, loose clothing, and jewelry away from moving engine components. The engine cooling fan may activate automatically at any time, even if the engine appears to be cooling.

6. After the engine has sufficiently cooled, check the coolant level in the engine coolant reservoir while the engine is running. Add the appropriate coolant if necessary. As overheating may indicate a mechanical fault, have your Nissan Sentra inspected and repaired as soon as possible. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for professional service.