When performing any inspection, servicing, or maintenance work on your Nissan Sentra, always exercise extreme care to avoid serious personal injury or accidental damage to the vehicle. Routine maintenance plays an important role in the long-term reliability, safety, and performance of the Nissan Sentra. The following general precautions should always be carefully observed before beginning any work.

WARNING

• Park the Nissan Sentra on a level surface, apply the parking brake securely, and block the wheels to prevent any vehicle movement. For manual transmission models, place the shift lever in N (Neutral). For Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) models, move the shift lever to P (Park).
• Ensure that the ignition switch is in the OFF or LOCK position before performing any parts replacement, inspection, or repair work.
• If it is necessary to work with the engine running, keep hands, clothing, hair, and tools well away from moving fans, belts, pulleys, and other rotating components.
• Secure or remove any loose clothing and remove jewelry such as rings, watches, or necklaces before beginning maintenance work.
• Always wear appropriate eye protection when working on your Nissan Sentra to reduce the risk of injury from debris or fluids.
• If the engine must be operated in an enclosed area such as a garage, ensure adequate ventilation so that exhaust gases can safely escape.
• Never get under the vehicle while it is supported only by a jack. If it is necessary to work underneath the vehicle, always support it with approved safety stands.
• Keep open flames, sparks, and smoking materials away from the fuel system, fuel tank, and battery.
• Because fuel lines on gasoline engine models remain under high pressure even when the engine is turned off, service of fuel filters or fuel lines should be performed by a qualified NISSAN dealer.
• Your Nissan Sentra is equipped with an automatic engine cooling fan that may operate at any time without warning, even when the ignition switch is OFF and the engine is not running. To help prevent injury, disconnect the negative battery cable before working near the fan.

CAUTION

• Do not perform maintenance work under the hood while the engine is hot. Always turn the engine off and allow sufficient time for it to cool.
• Avoid direct contact with used engine oil and engine coolant. Improper disposal of engine oil, coolant, or other vehicle fluids may harm the environment. Always comply with local regulations regarding the disposal of automotive fluids.
• Never leave the engine or transmission wiring harness connectors disconnected while the ignition switch is in the ON position.
• Never connect or disconnect the battery or any transistorized component while the ignition switch is in the ON position.

This Do-it-yourself section is intended to provide guidance only for maintenance items that are relatively simple for an owner to perform on a Nissan Sentra.

A Genuine NISSAN service manual is available for more detailed procedures, specifications, and illustrations.

You should be aware that incomplete or improper servicing may lead to reduced vehicle performance, increased emissions, or operating difficulties, and may also affect warranty coverage. If you are unsure about any maintenance procedure, it is recommended that the work be performed by a NISSAN dealer.