Nissan Sentra 1999 Owner's Manual

Foreword

Welcome to the growing family of new
NISSAN owners. This vehicle is delivered
to you with confidence. It was produced
using the latest techniques and strict quality
control.

This manual was prepared to help you
understand the operation and maintenance
of your vehicle so that you may enjoy many
miles of driving pleasure. Please read
through this manual before operating your
vehicle.

A separate Warranty Information and
Maintenance Log Booklet explains de­tails about the warranties covering your
vehicle and vehicle maintenance sched­ules. Additionally, a separate Customer
Care/Lemon Law Booklet will explain
how to resolve any concerns you may
have with your vehicle, as well as clarify
your rights under your state’s lemon
law.

Your NISSAN dealership knows your ve­hicle best. When you require any service or
have any questions, they will be glad to
assist you with the extensive resources
available to them.

READ FIRST — THEN DRIVE SAFELY
Before driving your vehicle please read this

owner’s manual carefully. This will ensure
familiarity with controls and maintenance
requirements, assisting you in the safe op­eration of your vehicle.

WARNING

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
REMINDERS FOR SAFETY!
Follow these important driving rules to
help ensure a safe and complete trip
for you and your passengers!

● NEVER drive under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.

● ALWAYS observe posted speed lim­its and never drive too fast for con­ditions.

●

ALWAYS use your seat belts and
appropriate child restraint systems.
Pre-teen children should be seated
in the rear seat.

● ALWAYS provide information about
the proper use of vehicle safety fea­tures to all occupants of the vehicle.

●

ALWAYS review this Owner’s Manual
for important safety information.

The insidepages of this manual contain
a minimum of 50% recycled fibers,
including 10% post-consumer fibers.

MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
This vehicle should not be modified.

Modification could affect its perfor­mance, safety or durability, and may
even violate governmental regulations.
In addition, damage or performance
problems resulting from modifications
may not be covered under NISSAN
warranties.

WHEN READING THE MANUAL
This manual includes information for all

options available on this model. Therefore,
you may find some information that does
not apply to your vehicle.

All information, specifications and illustra­tions in this manual are those in effect at the
time of printing. NISSAN reserves the right
to change specifications or design without
notice and without obligation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS MANUAL

You will see various symbols in this manual.
They are used in the following ways:

WARNING

This is used to indicate the presence of
a hazard that could cause death or
serious personal injury. To avoid or
reduce the risk, the procedures must
be followed precisely.

CAUTION

This is used to indicate the presence of
a hazard that could cause minor or
moderate personal injury or damage to
your vehicle. To avoid or reduce the
risk, the procedures must be followed
carefully.

APD1005

If you see this symbol, it means ‘‘Do not do
this’’ or ‘‘Do not let this happen.’’

The inside pages of this manual contain
a minimum of 50% recycled fibers,
including 10% post-consumer fibers.

© 1998 NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.

All rights reserved. No part of this Owner’s
Manual may be reproduced or stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo­copying, recording or otherwise, without the
prior written permission of Nissan North
America, Inc., Gardena, California.

GARDENA, CALIFORNIA

Welcome To The World Of NISSAN

Your new NISSAN is the result of our dedication
to produce the finest in safe, reliable and eco­nomical transportation. Your vehicle is the prod­uct of a successful worldwide company that
manufactures cars and trucks in over 17 coun­tries and distributes them in 170 nations.

NISSAN vehicles are designed and manufac­tured by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. which was
founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1933, and NISSAN
affiliates world wide, collectively growing to be­come the fifth largest automaker in the world. In
addition to cars and trucks, NISSAN also makes
textile machinery, forklift trucks, marine engines,
boats and other products.

NISSAN has made a substantial and growing in­vestment in North America, starting with the open­ing of Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. in 1960 and
continuing with the production of some cars and

trucks at one of the world’s most modern manu­facturing facilities, Nissan Motor Manufacturing
Corporation U.S.A. in Smyrna, Tennessee, ve­hicle styling at Nissan Design International in
San Diego, California, and engineering at Nissan
Research and Development in Farmington Hills,
Michigan.

NISSAN and its dealers employ about 60,000
Americans.

NISSAN is also a substantial contributor to the
Canadian economy. Nissan Canada Inc., its sup­pliers and over 150 dealers employ approxi­mately 4,500 people. These include company
employees and the staffs of NISSAN dealers all
across Canada. In addition, many Canadians
work for companies that supply NISSAN and
NISSAN dealers with materials and services
ranging from operation of port facilities and trans-

AFW0001

portation services, to the supply of lubricants,
parts and accessories.

NISSAN pioneered the use of electronics and
computers in automobiles, and has led the indus­try in improving both performance and fuel effi­ciency through new engine designs and the use
of synthetic materials to reduce vehicle weight.
The company has also developed ways to build
quality into its vehicles at each stage of the
production process, both through extensive use
of automation and — most importantly —
through an awareness that people are the cen­tral element in quality control.

From the time the parts arrived from our suppliers
until you took delivery of your new NISSAN, doz­ens of checks were made to ensure that only the
best job was being done in producing and deliver­ing your vehicle. NISSAN also takes great care to
ensure that when you take your NISSAN to your
dealer for maintenance, the service technician will
perform his work according to the quality standards
that have been established by the factory.

Safety has also been built into your NISSAN. As
you know, seat belts are an integral part of the
safety systems that will help protect you and your
passengers in the event of a sudden stop or an
accident. We urge you to use the seat belts every
time you drive the vehicle.

The NISSAN story of growth and achievement
reflects our major goal: to provide you, our
customer, with a vehicle that is built with quality
and craftsmanship — a product that we can be
proud to build and you can be proud to own.

NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE PROGRAM

NISSAN CARES ...

Both NISSAN and your NISSAN dealer are dedicated to serving all your automotive needs. Your satisfaction with your vehicle and your
NISSAN dealer are our primary concerns. Your NISSAN dealer is always available to assist you with all your automobile sales and service
needs.

However, if there is something that your
NISSAN dealer cannot assist you with or
you would like to provide NISSAN directly
with comments or questions, please con­tact the NISSAN Consumer Affairs Depart­ment using our toll-free number:

For U.S. mainland customers

1-800-NISSAN-1
(1-800-647-7261)

For Hawaii customers

[phone] (Oahu Number)

For Canada customers

1-800-387-0122

We appreciate your interest in NISSAN and thank you for buying a quality NISSAN vehicle.

The Consumer Affairs Department will ask
for the following information:
— Your name, address, and telephone

number

— Vehicle identification number (on dash-

board)
— Date of purchase
— Current odometer reading
— Your NISSAN dealer’s name
— Your comments or questions

OR

You can write to NISSAN with the informa-

tion on the left at:

For U.S. mainland and Alaska custom­ers

Nissan North America, Inc.
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 191
Gardena, California 90248-0191

For Hawaii customers

Nissan Motor Corporation in Hawaii
2880 Kilihau St.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96819

For Canada customers

Nissan Canada Inc.
5290 Orbitor Drive
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4Z5

Table of

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

1

Contents

Instruments and controls
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
Starting and driving
In case of emergency
Appearance and care
Do-it-yourself
Maintenance
Technical and consumer information
Index

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

9
10
11

1 Seats, restraints and supplemental air
bag systems

Front seats .............................................................1-2

Seat adjustment .....................................................1-2

Head restraints.......................................................1-4

Rear seat................................................................1-5

Supplemental restraint system (air bag

system)...................................................................1-6

Supplemental air bag system.................................1-9

Warning labels......................................................1-11

Supplemental air bag warning light......................1-11

Seat belts .............................................................1-13

Precautions on seat belt usage ...........................1-13

Child safety...........................................................1-15

Pregnant women..................................................1-15

Injured persons ....................................................1-15

Three-point type with retractor.............................1-16

Two-point type without retractor (rear center

lap belt).................................................................1-19

Seat belt extenders..............................................1-21

Seat belt maintenance .........................................1-21

Child restraints .....................................................1-21

Top strap child restraint .......................................1-30

FRONT SEATS

SEAT ADJUSTMENT

WARNING

● Do not adjust the driver’s seat while
driving. The seat may move sud­denly and could cause loss of con­trol of the vehicle.

● After adjustment, gently rock in the
seat to make sure it is securely
locked.

ARS1131

WARNING

● Do not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will
not be against your body. In an acci­dent, you could be thrown into it and
receive neck or other serious inju­ries. You could also slide under the
lap belt and receive serious internal
injuries.

● For the most effective protection
when the vehicle is in motion, the
seat should be upright. Always sit
well back in the seat and adjust the
seat belt properly. See ‘‘Precautions
on seat belt usage’’ later in this sec­tion.

1-2 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

ARS1222 ARS1223

Forward and backward

Pull the lever up while you slide the seat
forward or backward to the desired position.
Release the lever to lock the seat in position.

Reclining

To recline the seatback, pull the lever up
and lean back. To bring the back of the seat
forward again, pull the lever and move your
body forward. The seatback moves forward.

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-3

PD1319

ARS1130

HEAD RESTRAINTS

To raise the head restraint, pull it up. To

Adjust the head restraints so the top is level
with the tops of your ears.

lower, press the lock knob down while push­ing the head restraint down.

WARNING

Head restraints should be adjusted
properly as they may provide significant
protection against injury in an accident.
Do not remove them. Check the adjust­ment after someone else uses the seat.

1-4 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

REAR SEAT

● Closely supervise children when
they are around cars to prevent them
from playing and becoming locked
in the trunk where they could be
seriously injured. Keep the car
locked, with the rear seat back se­curely latched, when not in use, and
prevent children’s access to car
keys.

ARS1022

Interior trunk access
(if so equipped)

The trunk can be accessed from the rear
seat for loading and unloading, as shown.

WARNING

● Never allow anyone to ride in the
luggage area or on the rear seat
when it is in the fold-down position.
Use of these areas by passengers
without proper restraints could re­sult in serious injury in an accident
or sudden stop.

●

Properly secure all cargo to help pre­vent it from sliding or shifting. Do not
place cargo higher than the seat­backs. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause per­sonal injury.

● When returning the seatbacks to the
upright position, be certain they are
completely secured in the latched
position. If they are not completely
secured in the latched position, pas­sengers may be injured in an acci­dent or sudden stop.

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-5

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (AIR BAG SYSTEM)

This Supplemental Restraint System sec­tion contains important information concern­ing the driver and passenger supplemental
air bags. The Supplemental Restraint Sys­tem Air Bag can help reduce impact force to
the driver and to the front passenger in
certain frontal collisions. The supplemental
air bags are designed to supplement the
crash protection provided by the driver and
front passenger seat belts and are not a
substitute for them. The seat belts should
always be correctly worn and the driver and
front passenger seated a suitable distance
from the steering wheel and instrument
panel. (See ‘‘Seat belts’’ for instructions and
precautions on seat belt usage.)

The supplemental air bags operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.

WARNING

● The supplemental air bags ordinarily
will not inflate in the event of a side
impact, rear impact, roll over, or
lower severity frontal collision. Al­ways wear your seat belts to help
reduce the risk or severity of injury
in various kinds of accidents.

●

The seat belts and the supplemental
air bags are most effective when you
are sitting back and upright in the seat.
Supplemental air bags inflate with
great force. If you are unrestrained,
leaning forward, sitting sideways or

ARS1132

out of position in any way, you are at
greater risk of injury or death in a
crash and may also receive serious or
fatal injuries from the supplemental air
bag if you are up against it when it
inflates. Always sit back against the
seatback and as far away as practical
from the steering wheel or instrument
panel. Always use the seatbelts.

● Keep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could in­crease the risk that they are injured
when the air bag inflates.

1-6 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

ARS1133

ARS1041

ARS1042

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-7

ARS1043

ARS1045

WARNING

● Never let children ride unrestrained.
Do not attempt to hold them in your
lap or arms. Some examples of dan­gerous riding positions are shown in
the previous illustrations.

● Children may be severely injured or
killed when the supplemental air bag
inflates if they are not properly re­strained.

● Never install a rear-facing child re­straint in the front seat. An inflating
supplemental air bag could seri­ously injure or kill your child. See
‘‘Child Restraints’’ later in this sec­tion for details.

ARS1044

1-8 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

ARS1046

SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
SYSTEM

The driver supplemental air bag is located in
the center of the steering wheel. The front
passenger supplemental air bag is mounted in
the dashboard above the glove box.

These systems are designed to meet op­tional certification requirements under U.S.
regulations. They are also permitted in
Canada. The optional certification allows air
bags to be designed to inflate somewhat
less forcefully than previously. However, all

of the information, cautions and warn­ings in this manual still apply and must
be followed.

The supplemental air bag system is de-

ARS1155

signed to inflate in higher severity frontal
collisions, although it may inflate if the
forces in another type of collision are similar
to those of a higher severity frontal impact. It
may not inflate in certain frontal collisions.
Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always
an indication of proper supplemental air bag
system operation.

When the supplemental air bag inflates, a
fairly loud noise may be heard, followed by
the release of smoke. This smoke is not
harmful and does not indicate a fire, but
care should be taken to not unintentionally
inhale it, as it may cause irritation and

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-9

choking. Those with a history of breathing
trouble should get fresh air promptly.

The supplemental air bags, along with the
use of seat belts, help to cushion the impact
force on the face and chest of the occupant.
They can help save lives and reduce seri­ous injuries. However, an inflating supple­mental air bag may cause facial abrasions
or other injuries. Supplemental air bags do
not provide restraint to the lower body.

Seat belts should be correctly worn, and the
driver and passenger seated upright as far
as practical away from the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Since the supplemental air
bag inflates quickly in order to help protect
the occupant, the force of the supplemental
air bag inflating can increase the risk of injury
if the occupant is too close to or is against the
supplemental air bag module during inflation.

The supplemental air bag deflates quickly
after a collision.

The supplemental air bags operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.

WARNING

●

Do not place any objects on the steer­ing wheel pad or on the instrument
panel. Also, do not place any objects
between any occupant and the steer­ing wheel or instrument panel. Such
objects may become dangerous pro­jectiles and may cause injury if the
supplemental air bag inflates.

● Right after inflation, several supple­mental air bag system components
will be hot. Do not touch them; you
may severely burn yourself.

●

No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the supplemental air bag system. This
is to prevent accidental inflation of
the supplemental air bag or damage
to the supplemental air bag system.

● Do not make unauthorized changes
to your vehicle’s electrical system,
suspension system or front end
structure. This could affect proper
operation of the supplemental air
bag system.

● Tampering with the supplemental air
bag system may result in serious
personal injury. Tampering includes
changes to the steering wheel and
the instrument panel assembly by
placing material over the steering
wheel pad and above the instrument
panel, or by installing additional trim
material around the supplemental air
bag system.

● Work around and on the supplemen­tal air bag system should be done by
an authorized NISSAN dealer. Instal­lation of electrical equipment should
also be done by an authorized NIS­SAN dealer. The yellow SRS wiring
should not be modified or discon­nected. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the supple­mental air bag system.

● The SRS wiring harnesses are cov­ered with yellow insulation either
just before the harness connectors
or on the complete harness for easy
identification.

When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the supplemental
air bag system and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this owner’s manual.

1-10 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

WARNING LABELS SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG

WARNING LIGHT

ARS1156

Warning labels about the supplemental air
bag system are placed in the vehicle as
shown in the illustration.

The supplemental air bag warning light,
displaying
monitors the circuits of the supplemental air
bag system. The circuits monitored by the

in the instrument panel,

APD0610

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-11

supplemental air bag warning light are the
diagnosis sensor unit, supplemental air bag
modules and all related wiring.

When the ignition key is in the ON or START
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates for about 7 seconds and
then turns off. This means the system is
operational.

If any of the following conditions occur, the
supplemental air bag needs system servic­ing:

1. The supplemental air bag warning light
does not come on and remain on for 7
seconds and then go off as described.

2. The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently or remains on.

3. The supplemental air bag warning light
does not come on at all.

Under these conditions, the supplemental
restraint system air bag may not operate
properly. It must be checked and repaired.
Take your vehicle to the nearest authorized
NISSAN dealer.

WARNING

If the supplemental air bag warning light
is on, it could mean that the supplemen­tal air bag system will not operate in an
accident.

Repair and replacement procedure

The supplemental air bag modules are de­signed to inflate on a one-time-only basis.
As a reminder, unless it is damaged, the
supplemental air bag light remains illumi­nated after inflation has occurred. Repair
and replacement of the supplemental air
bag system should be done only by an
authorized NISSAN dealer.

After a supplemental air bag inflates, the
instrument panel assembly should be re­placed by an authorized NISSAN dealer if
damaged.

To ensure long-term functioning, the
supplemental air bag system must be
inspected 10 years after the date of manu­facture as noted on the certification label
located on the driver side front pillar.

When maintenance work is required on the
vehicle, the supplemental air bag system
and related parts should be pointed out to
the person performing the maintenance.
The ignition key should always be in the
LOCK position when working under the
hood or inside the vehicle.

WARNING

● Once the supplemental air bag in­flates, the supplemental air bag
module will not function again and
must be replaced. The supplemental
air bag module cannot be repaired.

● The supplemental air bag system
should be inspected by an autho­rized NISSAN dealer if there is any
damage to the front end portion of
the vehicle, or replaced if the supple­mental air bag has inflated.

● If you need to dispose of a supple­mental air bag or scrap the vehicle,
contact an authorized NISSAN
dealer. Correct supplemental air bag
disposal procedures are set forth in
the appropriate NISSAN Service
Manual. Incorrect disposal proce­dures could cause personal injury.

1-12 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

SEAT BELTS

ARS1049ARS1134

PRECAUTIONS ON SEAT BELT
USAGE

If you are wearing your seat belt properly
adjusted, your chances of being injured or
killed in an accident and/or the severity of
injury may be greatly reduced. NISSAN
strongly encourages you and all of your
passengers to buckle up every time you
drive, even if your seating position includes
a supplemental air bag.

Most states and all Canadian provinces
or territories require that seat belts be
worn at all times when a vehicle is being
driven.

WARNING

● Every person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times. Children should be prop­erly restrained and, if appropriate in
a child restraint.

● The belt should be properly adjusted
to a snug fit. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the en­tire restraint system and increase
the chances or severity of injury in
an accident. Serious injury or death
can occur if the seat belt is not worn
properly.

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-13

● Always route the shoulder belt over
your shoulder and across your
chest. Never run the belt behind your
back, under your arm or across your
neck. The belt should be away from
your face and neck, but not falling
off your shoulder.

● Position the lap belt as low as pos­sible AROUND THE HIPS, NOT THE
WAIST. A lap belt worn too high
could increase the risk of internal
injuries in an accident.

● Be sure the seat belt tongue is se­curely fastened to the proper buckle.

ARS1047 ARS1050

● Do not wear the belt inside out or
twisted. Doing so may reduce its
effectiveness.

● Do not allow more than one person
to use the same belt.

● Never carry more people in the ve­hicle than there are seat belts.

● If the seat belt warning lamp glows
continuously while the ignition is
turned ON with all doors closed and
all seat belts fastened, it may indi­cate a malfunction in the system.
Have the system checked by an au­thorized NISSAN dealer.

● All seat belt assemblies including
retractors and attaching hardware
should be inspected after any colli­sion at an authorized NISSAN dealer.
NISSAN recommends that all seat
belt assemblies in use during a col­lision be replaced unless the colli­sion was minor and the belts show
no damage and continue to operate
properly. Seat belt assemblies not in
use during a collision should also be
inspected and replaced if either
damage or improper operation is
noted.

1-14 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

CHILD SAFETY

Children need adults to help protect them.
They need to be properly restrained.

The proper restraint depends on the child’s
size. Generally, infants up to about one year
and less than 20 pounds (9 kg) should be
placed in rear facing child restraints. Front
facing child restraints are available for chil­dren who outgrow rear facing child restraints.

WARNING

Infants and children need special pro­tection. The vehicle’s seat belts may
not fit them properly. The shoulder belt
may come too close to the face or neck.
The lap belt may not fit over their small
hip bones. In an accident, an improp­erly fitting seat belt could cause seri­ous or fatal injury. Always use appro­priate child restraints.

All U.S. States and Canadian provinces or
territories require the use of approved child
restraints for infants and small children. See
‘‘Child Restraints’’ later in this section.

In addition, there are many types of child
restraints available for larger children which
should be used for maximum protection.

NISSAN recommends that all preteens and
children be restrained in the rear seat if
possible. According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly restrained
in the rear seat than in the front seat. This
is especially important because your ve­hicle has a supplemental restraint system
(Air bag system) for the front passenger.
See ‘‘Supplemental restraint system’’ ear­lier in this section.

Infants and small children

NISSAN recommends that infants and small
children be placed in child restraints that
comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint that fits your vehicle and
always follow the manufacturer’s instruc­tions for installation and use.

Larger children

Children who are too large for child re­straints should be seated and restrained by
the seat belts which are provided.

If the child’s seating position has a shoulder
belt that fits close to the face or neck, the
use of a booster seat (commercially avail­able) may help overcome this. The booster
seat should raise the child so that the shoul-

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

der belt is properly positioned across the
top, middle portion of the shoulder and the
lap belt is low on the hips. The booster seat
should fit the vehicle seat and have a label
certifying that it complies with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Mo­tor Vehicle Safety Standards. Once the
child has grown so the shoulder belt is no
longer on or near the face and neck, use the
shoulder belt without the booster seat.

WARNING

Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat and do not allow a child in the
cargo areas while the vehicle is mov­ing. The child could be seriously in­jured or killed in an accident.

PREGNANT WOMEN

NISSAN recommends that pregnant women
use seat belts. Contact your doctor for spe­cific recommendations. The lap belt should
be worn snug and positioned as low as
possible around the hips, not the waist.

INJURED PERSONS

NISSAN recommends that injured persons
use seat belts. Check with your doctor for
specific recommendations.

1-15

ARS1051 ARS1053 ARS1052

THREE-POINT TYPE WITH RE­TRACTOR

WARNING

● Every person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should wear a seat belt
at all times.

● Do not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will
not be against your body. In an acci­dent, you could be thrown into it and
receive neck or other serious inju-

ries. You could also slide under the
lap belt and receive serious internal
injuries.

● For the most effective protection
when the vehicle is in motion, the
seat should be upright. Always sit
well back in the seat and adjust the
seat belt properly.

1-16 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

Fastening the belts

1. Adjust the seat.

2. Slowly pull the seat belt out of the retrac­tor and insert the tongue into the buckle
until it clicks.

The retractor is designed to lock during
a sudden stop or on impact. A slow
pulling motion permits the belt to move,
and allows you some freedom of move­ment in the seat.

locking mode. For additional information,
see ‘‘Child Restraints’’ later in this section.

The automatic locking mode should be
used only for child restraint installation.
During normal seat belt use by a passen­ger, the automatic locking mode should
not be activated. If it is activated it may
cause uncomfortable seat belt tension.

ARS1077 ARS1054

3. Position the lap belt portion low and
snug on the hips as shown.

4. Pull the shoulder belt portion toward the
retractor to take up extra slack.

The front seat passenger side seat belt and
rear three-point seat belts have a cinching
mechanism for child restraint installation. It is
referred to as the automatic locking mode.

When automatic locking mode is activated,
the seat belt cannot be withdrawn again
until the seat belt tongue is detached from
the buckle and fully retracted. Once re­tracted, the seat belt is in the emergency

Unfastening the seat belts

To unfasten the seat belt, press the button
on the buckle. The seat belt automatically
retracts.

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-17

Checking seat belt operation
(Three-point type seat belt with re­tractor)

Your seat belt retractors are designed to lock
seat belt movement by two separate meth­ods:

1) When the seat belt is pulled quickly from
the retractor.

2) When the vehicle slows down rapidly.

To increase your confidence in the seat
belts, check the operation as follows.

● Grasp the shoulder belt and pull forward
quickly. The retractor should lock and
restrict further belt movement.

If the retractor does not lock during this check
or if you have any question about belt opera­tion, see an authorized NISSAN dealer.

WARNING

● After adjustment, release the but­tons and try to move the shoulder
belt anchor up and down to make
sure it is securely fixed in position.

● The shoulder belt anchor height
should be adjusted to the position
best for you. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the en­tire restraint system and increase
the chance or severity of injury in an
accident.

APD0617

Shoulder belt height adjustment
(for front seats)

The shoulder belt anchor height should be
adjusted to the position best for you. (See
‘‘Precautions on seat belt usage’’ earlier in
this section.) To adjust, press both release
buttons and move the shoulder belt anchor
to the desired position so the belt passes
over the center of the shoulder. The belt
should be away from your face and neck,
but not falling off of your shoulder. Release
the buttons to lock the shoulder belt anchor
into position.

1-18 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

APD0627 ARS1055 ARS1056

TWO-POINT TYPE WITHOUT RE­TRACTOR (rear center lap belt)

Selecting the correct set of seat
belts

The center seat belt buckle and tongue are
identified by the word CENTER. The center
seat belt tongue can be fastened into the
center seat belt buckle only.

Fastening the seat belts

1. Insert the tongue into the buckle until it
clicks. Both the tongue assembly and the
buckle are marked CENTER.

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-19

2. Tighten the belt by pulling the free end of
the belt away from the tongue, then pull
the belt clip to take up the slack.

ARS1076 ARS1057 ARS1058

3. Position the lap belt low on the hips as
illustrated.

4. Loosen the belt by holding the tonge at a
right angle to the belt, then pull on the
belt.

1-20 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

Unfastening the belt

To unfasten the seat belt, press the button
on the buckle.

CHILD RESTRAINTS

SEAT BELT EXTENDERS

If, because of body size or driving position,
it is not possible to properly fit the lap­shoulder belt and fasten it, an extender is
available which is compatible with the in­stalled seat belts. The extender adds ap­proximately 8 inches (200 mm) of length
and may be used for either the driver or front
passenger seating position. See an autho­rized NISSAN dealer for assistance if the
extender is required.

WARNING

● Only NISSAN seat belt extenders,
made by the same company which
made the original equipment seat
belts, should be used with NISSAN
seat belts.

● Persons who can use the standard
seat belt should not use an extender.
Such unnecessary use could result
in serious personal injury in the
event of an accident.

SEAT BELT MAINTENANCE

● To clean the seat belt webbings, apply
a mild soap solution or any solution
recommended for cleaning upholstery or
carpet. Then wipe with a cloth and allow
the seat belts to dry in the shade. Do not
allow the seat belts to retract until they
are completely dry.

● If dirt builds up in the shoulder belt
guide of the seat belt anchors, the seat

belts may retract slowly. Wipe the shoul­der belt guide with a clean, dry cloth.

●

Periodically check to see that the seat
belt and metal components, such as

buckles, tongues, retractors, flexible
wires and anchors, work properly. If loose
parts, deterioration, cuts or other damage
on the webbing is found, the entire seat
belt assembly should be replaced.

WARNING

● Infants and small children should
always be placed in an appropriate
child restraint while riding in the ve­hicle. Failure to use a child restraint
can result in serious injury or death.

● Infants and small children should
never be carried on your lap. It is not
possible for even the strongest adult
to resist the forces of a severe acci­dent. The child could be crushed
between the adult and parts of the
vehicle. Also, do not put the same
seat belt around both your child and
yourself.

●

Never install a rear-facing child re­straint in the front seat. An inflating air
bag could seriously injure or kill your
child. A rear facing child restraint
must be used only in the rear seat.

● NISSAN recommends that the child
restraint system be installed in the
rear seat. According to accident sta­tistics, children are safer when prop­erly restrained in the rear seat than
in the front seat.

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-21

● An improperly installed child re­straint could lead to serious injury or
death in an accident.

● In general, child restraints are de­signed to be installed with a lap belt
or the lap portion of a three-point
type seat belt.

Child restraints for infants and children of
various sizes are offered by several manu­facturers. When selecting any child re­straint, keep the following points in mind:

● Choose only a restraint with a label
certifying that it complies with Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Stan­dard 213.

● Check the child restraint in your vehicle
to be sure it is compatible with the
vehicle’s seat and seat belt system.
Choose the child restraint that meets the
guidelines of Society of Automotive En­gineers recommended practice J1819
for child seat installation.

● If the child restraint is compatible with
your vehicle, place your child in the child
restraint and check the various adjust-

ments to be sure the child restraint is
compatible with your child. Always fol­low all recommended procedures.

All U.S. States and Canadian provinces
require that infants and small children be
restrained in approved child restraints at
all times while the vehicle is being oper­ated.

● Improper use of a child restraint can
result in increased injuries for both
the infant or child and other occu­pants in the vehicle.

● Follow all of the child restraint
manufacturer’s instructions for in­stallation and use. When purchasing
a child restraint, be sure to select
one which will fit your child and
vehicle. It may not be possible to
properly install some types of child
restraints in your vehicle.

● If the child restraint is not anchored
properly, the risk of a child being
injured in a collision or a sudden
stop greatly increases.

1-22 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems

WARNING

● Adjustable seatbacks should be po­sitioned to fit the child restraint, but
as upright as possible.

●

After attaching the child restraint,
test it before you place the child in it.
Tilt it from side to side. Try to tug it
forward and check to see if the belt
holds the restraint in place. If the
restraint is not secure, tighten the
belt as necessary, or put the restraint
in another seat and test it again.

● For a front facing child restraint, if
the seat position where it is installed
has a Three-point type lap/shoulder
belt, check to make sure the shoul­der belt does not go in front of the
child’s face or neck. If it does, put
the shoulder belt behind the child
restraint. If you must install a front­facing child restraint in the front
seat, see ‘‘Installation on front pas­senger seat’’ later in this section for
details.

●

When your child restraint is not in
use, keep it secured with a seat belt to
prevent it from being thrown around
in case of a sudden stop or accident.

CAUTION

Remember that a child restraint left in a
closed vehicle can become very hot.
Check the seating surface and buckles
before placing your child in the child
restraint.

ARS1059 ARS1060

Front Facing Installation on rear seat

Center lap belt
When you install a child restraint in a rear

center seat, follow these steps:

1. Position the child restraint on the seat, as
illustrated. Always follow the restraint
manufacturer’s instructions.

Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-23

2. Route the seat belt tongue through the
child restraint and insert it into the buckle
until you hear and feel the latch engage.
Be sure to follow the restraint manufac­turer’s instructions for belt routing.