Nissan Sentra Owners Manual: Maintenance precautions

Nissan Sentra Owners Manual / Maintenance and do-it-yourself / Maintenance precautions

When performing any inspection or maintenance work on your vehicle, always take care to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or damage to the vehicle. The following are general precautions which should be closely observed.

WARNING

Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply the parking brake securely and block the wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving. For manual transmission models, move the shift lever to N (Neutral).
For CVT models, move the shift lever to P (Park).
Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF or LOCK position when performing any parts replacement or repairs.
If you must work with the engine running, keep your hands, clothing, hair and tools away from moving fans, belts and any other moving parts.
It is advisable to secure or remove any loose clothing and remove any jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc. before working on your vehicle.
Always wear eye protection whenever you work on your vehicle.
If you must run the engine in an enclosed space such as a garage, be sure there is proper ventilation for exhaust gases to escape.
Never get under the vehicle while it is supported only by a jack. If it is necessary to work under the vehicle, support it with safety stands.
Keep smoking materials, flame and sparks away from the fuel tank and battery.
On gasoline engine models, the fuel filter or fuel lines should be serviced by a NISSAN dealer because the fuel lines are under high pressure even when the engine is off.
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic engine cooling fan. It may come on at any time without warning, even if the ignition key is in the OFF position and the engine is not running. To avoid injury, always disconnect the negative battery cable before working near the fan.

CAUTION

Do not work under the hood while the engine is hot. Turn the engine off and wait until it cools down.
Avoid contact with used engine oil and coolant. Improperly disposed engine oil, engine coolant and/or other vehicle fluids can damage the environment. Always conform to local regulations for disposal of vehicle fluid.
Never leave the engine or the CVT related component harness connector 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 “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section gives instructions regarding only those items which are relatively easy for an owner to perform.

A genuine NISSAN service manual is also available.

See “Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order information” in the “Technical and consumer information” section of this manual.

You should be aware that incomplete or improper servicing may result in operating difficulties or excessive emissions, and could affect warranty coverage. If in doubt about any servicing, have it done by a NISSAN dealer.

General maintenance

During the normal day-to-day operation of the vehicle, general maintenance should be performed regularly as prescribed in this section. If you detect any unusual sounds, vibrations or smells, be s ...

Engine compartment check locations

MRA8DE engine Engine oil filler cap Brake and clutch (if so equipped) fluid reservoir Air cleaner Battery Fuse/fusible link box Engine coolant reservoir Radiator cap Engine oil ...

Other materials:

Drive belt
Automatic tensioner Generator Water pump Air conditioner compressor Crankshaft pully WARNINGBe sure the ignition switch is in the OFF or LOCK position before servicing drive belt. The engine could rotate unexpectedly. Visually inspect the belt for signs of ...

Preparation
Special Service Tool The actual shape of the tools may differ from those illustrated here. Commercial Service Tools Clip list Descriptions for Clips Replace any clips which are damaged during removal or installation. ...

OIL PAN
Exploded View Transaxle assembly Oil pan gasket Magnet Oil pan Overflow tube Drain plug gasket Drain plug Oil pan fitting bolt : Always replace after every disassembly. : NВ·m (kg-m, ft-lb) : NВ·m (kg-m, it-lb) Removal and Installation REMOVAL Remove the en ...