Nissan Armada (2019 year). Instruction

7-2

Appearance and care

In order to maintain the appearance of
your vehicle, it is important to take proper
care of it.

To protect the paint surface, wash your
vehicle as soon as you can:
. after a rainfall to prevent possible

damage from acid rain

. after driving on coastal roads

. when contaminants such as soot, bird

droppings, tree sap, metal particles or
bugs get on the paint surface

. when dust or mud builds up on the

surface

Whenever possible, store or park your
vehicle inside a garage or in a covered
area.

When it is necessary to park outside, park
in a shady area or protect the vehicle with
a body cover.

Be careful not to scratch the paint
surface when putting on or removing
the body cover.

WASHING

Wash dirt off the vehicle with a wet
sponge and plenty of water. Clean the
vehicle thoroughly using a mild soap, a
special vehicle soap or general purpose
dishwashing liquid mixed with clean, lu-
kewarm (never hot) water.

CAUTION

. Do not use car washes that use

acid in the detergent. Some car
washes, especially brushless
ones, use some acid for cleaning.
The acid may react with some
plastic vehicle components, caus-
ing them to crack. This could
affect their appearance, and also
could cause them not to function
properly. Always check with your
car wash to confirm that acid is
not used.

. Do not wash the vehicle with

strong household soap, strong
chemical detergents, gasoline or
solvents.

. Do not wash the vehicle in direct

sunlight or while the vehicle body
is hot, as the surface may become
water-spotted.

. Avoid using tight-napped or

rough cloths, such as washing
mitts. Care must be taken when
removing caked-on dirt or other
foreign substances so the paint
surface is not scratched or da-
maged.

. Lock all doors before going

through automatic car wash.
Locking doors helps prevent
fuel-filler door from opening and
becoming damaged.

Rinse the vehicle again with plenty of
clean water.

Inside flanges, seams and folds on the
doors, hatches and hood are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of road salt.
Therefore, these areas must be regularly
cleaned. Make sure that the drain holes in
the lower edge of the door are open.
Spray water under the body and in the
wheel wells to loosen the dirt and wash
away road salt.

Avoid leaving water spots on the paint
surface by using a damp chamois to dry
the vehicle.

WAXING

Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
Polishing is recommended to remove
built-up wax residue and to avoid a
weathered appearance before reapplying
wax.

A NISSAN dealer can assist you in choos-
ing the proper product.

CLEANING EXTERIOR

. Wax your vehicle only after a thorough

washing. Follow the instructions sup-
plied with the wax.

. Do not use a wax containing any

abrasives, cutting compounds or clea-
ners that may damage the vehicle
finish.

Machine compound or aggressive polish-
ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.

REMOVING SPOTS

Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possi-
ble from the paint surface to avoid lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning
products are available at a NISSAN dealer
or any automotive accessory stores.

UNDERBODY

In areas where road salt is used in winter,
the underbody must be cleaned regularly.
This will prevent dirt and salt from build-
ing up and causing the acceleration of
corrosion on the underbody and suspen-
sion. Before the winter period and again
in the spring, the underseal must be
checked and, if necessary, re-treated.

GLASS

Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is
normal for glass to become coated with a
film after the vehicle is parked in the hot
sun. Glass cleaner and a soft cloth will
easily remove this film.

CAUTION

When cleaning the inside of the
windows, do not use sharp-edged
tools, abrasive cleaners or chlorine-
based disinfectant cleaners. They
could damage the electrical conduc-
tors, radio antenna elements or rear
window defroster elements.

WHEELS

Wash the wheels when washing the
vehicle to maintain their appearance.
. Clean the inner side of the wheels

when the wheel is changed or the
underside of the vehicle is washed.

. Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents

or corrosion. Such damage may cause
loss of pressure or poor seal at the tire
bead.

. NISSAN recommends that the road

wheels be waxed to protect against

road salt in areas where it is used
during winter.

CAUTION

Do not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.

Aluminum alloy wheels

Wash regularly with a sponge dampened
in a mild soap solution, especially during
winter months in areas where road salt is
used. Salt could discolor the wheels if not
removed.

CAUTION

Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:
. Do not use a cleaner that uses

strong acid or alkali contents to
clean the wheels.

. Do not apply wheel cleaners to

the wheels when they are hot.
The wheel temperature should be
the same as ambient tempera-
ture.

Appearance and care

7-3

7-4

Appearance and care

. Rinse the wheel to completely

remove the cleaner within 15
minutes after the cleaner is ap-
plied.

Bright wheels (if so equipped)

The bright wheels use a different coating
process than typical aluminum alloy
wheel and they are not plated wheels.
These wheels are clear-coated and re-
quire the following special cleaning. They
should be regularly washed with a soft
sponge soaked in a lot of water. After
washing with water, wipe clean with a
dry, soft cloth and dry completely. When
there is chemical or tire wax, or dirt such
as an antifreeze agent on the surface,
wash them with water as soon as possi-
ble.

CAUTION

. The surfaces of the wheels use a

different coating process than
typical aluminum alloy wheels.
Do not use aluminum alloy wheel
cleaners or abrasive cleaners to
clean the wheels. Using such
cleaners could damage the wheel
surfaces.

. Do not use an automatic car wash

if the vehicle is equipped with
bright wheels. The wheel coating
may be damaged.

. Do not use a brush to wash the

wheels if the vehicle is equipped
with bright wheels. The wheel
coating may be damaged.

CHROME PARTS

Clean chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the
finish.

TIRE DRESSING

NISSAN does not recommend the use of
tire dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a
coating to the tires to help reduce dis-
coloration of the rubber. If a tire dressing
is applied to the tires, it may react with
the coating and form a compound. This
compound may come off the tire while
driving and stain the vehicle paint.

If you choose to use a tire dressing, take
the following precautions:
. Use a water-based tire dressing. The

coating on the tire dissolves more
easily with an oil-based tire dressing.

. Apply a light coat of tire dressing to

help prevent it from entering the tire
tread/grooves (where it would be

difficult to remove).

. Wipe off excess tire dressing using a

dry towel. Make sure the tire dressing
is completely removed from the tire
tread/grooves.

. Allow the tire dressing to dry as

recommended by tire dressing manu-
facturer.

Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim, plastic parts and seats using
a vacuum cleaner or soft bristled brush.
Wipe the vinyl and leather surfaces with a
clean, soft cloth dampened in mild soap
solution, then wipe clean with a dry soft
cloth.

Regular care and cleaning is required in
order to maintain the appearance of the
leather.

Before using any fabric protector, read
the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Some fabric protectors contain chemicals
that may stain or bleach the seat materi-
al.

Use a cloth dampened only with water, to
clean the meter and gauge lens.

WARNING

Do not use water or acidic cleaners
(hot steam cleaners) on the seat. This
can damage the seat or occupant
classification sensors. This can also
affect the operation of the air bag
system and result in serious perso-
nal injury.

CAUTION

. Never use benzine, thinner, or any

similar material.

. For cleaning, use a soft cloth,

dampened with water. Never use
a rough cloth, alcohol, benzine,
thinner or any kind of solvent or
paper towel with a chemical
cleaning agent. They will scratch
or cause discoloration to the lens.

. Do not spray any liquid such as

water on the meter lens. Spraying
liquid may cause the system to
malfunction.

. Small dirt particles can be abra-

sive and damaging to the leather
surfaces and should be removed
promptly. Do not use saddle soap,
car waxes, polishes, oils, cleaning
fluids, solvents, detergents or
ammonia-based cleaners as they
may damage the leather’s natural
finish.

. Only use fabric protectors ap-

proved by NISSAN.

. Do not use glass or plastic cleaner

on meter or gauge lens covers. It
may damage the lens cover.

AIR FRESHENERS

Most air fresheners use a solvent that
could affect the vehicle interior. If you use
an air freshener, take the following pre-
cautions:
. Hanging-type air fresheners can

cause permanent discoloration when
they contact vehicle interior surfaces.
Place the air freshener in a location
that allows it to hang free and not
contact an interior surface.

. Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip

on the vents. These products can
cause immediate damage and disco-
loration when spilled on interior sur-
faces.

Carefully read and follow the manufac-
turer’s instructions before using air fresh-
eners.

FLOOR MATS

WARNING

To avoid potential pedal interference
that may result in a collision, injury
or death:
. NEVER place a floor mat on top of

another floor mat in the driver
front position or install them up-
side down or backwards.

Appearance and care

7-5

CLEANING INTERIOR

7-6

Appearance and care

. Use only genuine NISSAN floor

mats or equivalent floor mats
that are specifically designed for
use in your vehicle model and
model year.

. Properly position the mats in the

floorwell using the floor mat po-
sitioning hooks. See “Floor mat
installation” (P.7-6).

. Make sure the floor mat does not

interfere with pedal operation.

. Periodically check the floor mats

to make sure they are properly
installed.

. After cleaning the vehicle interior,

check the floor mats to make
sure they are properly installed.

The use of genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and
make it easier to clean the interior. Mats
should be maintained with regular clean-
ing and replaced if they become exces-
sively worn.

JVA0034X

Front (example)

Floor mat installation

Your vehicle is equipped with floor mat
positioning hook(s). The number and
shape of the floor mat positioning hooks
for each seating position varies depend-
ing on the vehicle.

When installing genuine NISSAN floor
mats, follow the installation instructions
provided with the floor mat and the
following:

Position the floor mat in the floorwell
so that the mat grommet holes are
aligned with the hook(s).

Secure the grommet holes into the
hook(s) and ensure that the floor mat

is properly positioned.

3. Make sure the floor mat does not

interfere with pedal operation. With
the ignition in the OFF position and
the shift lever in the P (Park) position,
fully apply and release all pedals. The
floor mat must not interfere with
pedal operation or prevent the pedal
from returning to its normal position.
It is recommended you see a NISSAN
dealer for details about installing the
floor mats in your vehicle.

SAI0052

Bracket positions

The illustration shows the location of the
floor mat positioning hooks.

SEAT BELTS

The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping
them with a sponge dampened in a mild
soap solution. Allow the belts to dry
completely before using them.

See “Seat belts” (P.1-20).

WARNING

Do not allow wet seat belts to roll up
in the retractor. NEVER use bleach,
dye, or chemical solvents to clean

the seat belts, since these materials
may severely weaken the seat belt
webbing.

MOST COMMON FACTORS CON-
TRIBUTING TO VEHICLE CORRO-
SION

. The accumulation of moisture-retain-

ing dirt and debris in body panel
sections, cavities, and other areas.

. Damage to paint and other protective

coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor traffic accidents.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLU-
ENCE THE RATE OF CORROSION

Moisture

Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on
the vehicle body underside can acceler-
ate corrosion. Wet floor coverings will not
dry completely inside the vehicle, and
should be removed for drying to avoid
floor panel corrosion.

Relative humidity

Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of
high relative humidity, especially those
areas where the temperatures stay above
freezing where atmospheric pollution ex-
ists, or where road salt is used.

Appearance and care

7-7

CORROSION PROTECTION

7-8

Appearance and care

Temperature

A temperature increase will accelerate
the rate of corrosion to those parts which
are not well ventilated.

Air pollution

Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in
the air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt
use will accelerate the corrosion process.
Road salt will also accelerate the disin-
tegration of paint surfaces.

TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM
CORROSION

. Wash and wax your vehicle often to

keep the vehicle clean.

. Always check for minor damage to the

paint and repair it as soon as possible.

. Keep drain holes at the bottom of the

doors open to avoid water accumula-
tion.

. Check the underbody for accumula-

tion of sand, dirt or salt. If present,
wash with water as soon as possible.

CAUTION

. NEVER remove dirt, sand or other

debris from the passenger com-
partment by washing it out with a
hose. Remove dirt with a vacuum

cleaner.

. Never allow water or other liquids

to come in contact with electronic
components inside the vehicle as
this may damage them.

Chemicals used for road surface deicing
are extremely corrosive. They accelerate
corrosion and deterioration of underbody
components such as the exhaust system,
fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor
pan and fenders.

In winter, the underbody must be
cleaned periodically.

For additional protection against rust and
corrosion, which may be required in some
areas, it is recommended you consult a
NISSAN dealer.

8-2

Do-it-yourself

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

WARNING

. Park the vehicle on a level sur-

face, apply the parking brake
securely and block the wheels to
prevent the vehicle from moving.
Move the shift lever to P (Park).

. Be sure the ignition switch is in

the OFF or LOCK position when
performing any parts replace-
ment or repairs.

. Never connect or disconnect the

battery or any transistorized
component while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.

. Never leave the engine or auto-

matic transmission related com-
ponent harnesses disconnected
while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.

. If you must work with the engine

running, keep your hands, cloth-
ing, hair and tools away from
moving fans, belts and any other

moving parts.

. It is advisable to secure or re-

move any loose clothing and
remove any jewelry, such as
rings, watches, etc. before work-
ing on your vehicle.

. Always wear eye protection

whenever you work on your ve-
hicle.

. 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 fuel tank
and the battery.

. 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 en-
gine is not running. To avoid
injury, always disconnect the ne-
gative battery cable before work-
ing near the fan.

. Because the fuel lines are under

high pressure even when the
engine is off, it is recommended
you visit a NISSAN dealer for
service of the fuel filter or fuel
lines.

CAUTION

. Do not work under the hood while

the engine is hot. Turn the engine
off and wait until it cools down.

. Avoid direct contact with used

engine oil and coolant. Impro-
perly disposed engine oil, coolant,
and/or other vehicle fluids can
damage the environment. Always
conform to local regulations for
disposal of vehicle fluid.

This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives in-
structions 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” (P.10-34).)

You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operat-
ing difficulties or excessive emissions, and

MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

could affect your warranty coverage. If in
doubt about any servicing, it is recom-
mended you have it done by a NISSAN
dealer.

JVC0965X

VK56VD ENGINE

Window washer fluid reservoir

Fuse/fusible link holder

Engine oil dipstick

Power steering fluid reservoir

Engine oil filler cap

Brake fluid reservoir

Fuse/fusible link holder

Battery

Radiator filler cap

10.

Engine coolant reservoir

11.

Drive belts

12.

Air cleaner

Do-it-yourself

8-3

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK LOCATIONS

8-4

Do-it-yourself

The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) and 50% water to provide
year-round anti-freeze and coolant pro-
tection. The antifreeze solution contains
rust and corrosion inhibitors. Additional
engine cooling system additives are not
necessary.

WARNING

. Never remove the radiator or

coolant reservoir cap when the
engine is hot. Wait until the en-
gine and radiator cool down.
Serious burns could be caused
by high pressure fluid escaping
from the radiator. See precau-
tions in “If your vehicle overheats”
(P.6-14).

. The radiator is equipped with a

pressure type radiator cap. To
prevent engine damage, use only
a genuine NISSAN radiator cap.

CAUTION

. Never use any cooling system

additives such as radiator sealer.
Additives may clog the cooling
system and cause damage to
the engine, transmission and/or
cooling system.

. When adding or replacing cool-

ant, be sure to use only Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) or equivalent. Gen-
uine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) is pre-diluted to
provide antifreeze protection to
−34°F (−37°C). If additional freeze
protection is needed due to
weather where you operate your
vehicle, add Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)
concentrate following the direc-
tions on the container. If an
equivalent coolant other than
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-
freeze/Coolant (blue) is used, fol-
low the coolant manufacturer’s
instructions to maintain mini-
mum antifreeze protection to
−34°F (−37°C). The use of other
types of coolant solutions other
than Genuine NISSAN Long Life

Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent may damage the en-
gine cooling system.

. The life expectancy of the fac-

tory-fill coolant is 105,000 miles
(168,000 km) or 7 years. Mixing
any other type of coolant other
than Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue), includ-
ing Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (green), or
the use of non-distilled water will
reduce the life expectancy of the
factory-fill coolant. Refer to the
“9. Maintenance and schedules”
section of this manual for more
details.

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM

JVM0733X

CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL

Check the coolant level in the reservoir
when the engine is cold. If the coolant
level is below MIN

, open the reservoir

tank cap and add coolant up to the MAX

level. If the reservoir tank is empty,

check the coolant level in the radiator
when the engine is cold. If there is
insufficient coolant in the radiator, fill the
radiator with coolant up to the filler
opening and also add it to the reservoir
tank up to the MAX level

Tighten the cap securely after adding
engine coolant.

If the cooling system requires coolant
frequently, have it checked. It is recom-

mended you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.

CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT

It is recommended that major cooling
system repairs be performed by a NISSAN
dealer. The service procedures can be
found in the appropriate NISSAN Service
Manual.

Improper servicing can result in re-
duced heater performance and engine
overheating.

WARNING

. To avoid the danger of being

scalded, never change the cool-
ant when the engine is hot.

. Never remove the radiator cap or

coolant reservoir cap when the
engine is hot. Serious burns could
be caused by high pressure fluid
escaping from the radiator.

. Avoid direct skin contact with

used coolant. If skin contact is
made, wash thoroughly with soap
or hand cleaner as soon as pos-
sible.

. Keep coolant out of reach of

children and pets.

Engine coolant must be disposed of
properly. Check your local regulations.

Do-it-yourself

8-5

8-6

Do-it-yourself

JVM0728X

CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL

Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.

Run the engine until it reaches oper-
ating temperature.

3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than

15 minutes for the oil to drain back
into the oil pan.

4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.

Reinsert it all the way.

5. Remove the dipstick again and check

the oil level. It should be within the
range

. If the oil level is below

remove the oil filler cap and pour
recommended oil through the open-

ing. Do not overfill

6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.

It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the
break-in period, depending on the se-
verity of operating conditions.

CAUTION

Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not
covered by warranty.

CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTER

Vehicle set-up

Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.

Run the engine until it reaches oper-
ating temperature.

3. Turn the engine off and wait more

than 15 minutes.

4. Raise and support the vehicle using a

suitable floor jack and safety jack
stands.

Place the safety jack stands under

the vehicle jack-up points.

A suitable adapter should be at-

tached to the jack stand saddle.

5. Remove the engine undercover.

Remove the bolts that hold the

undercover in place.

CAUTION

Make sure the correct lifting and
support points are used to avoid
vehicle damage.

ENGINE OIL

SDI2528

Engine oil and filter

Place a large drain pan under the
drain plug.

Remove the oil filler cap.

3. Remove the drain plug

with a

wrench and completely drain the oil.

CAUTION

Be careful not to burn yourself, as
the engine oil is hot.

Waste oil must be disposed of

properly.

Check your local regulations.

4. (Perform steps 4 to 7 only when the

engine oil filter change is needed.)

Loosen the oil filter

with an oil filter

wrench. Remove the oil filter by turn-
ing it by hand.

5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting

surface with a clean rag.

CAUTION

Be sure to remove any old rubber
gasket remaining on the mounting
surface of the engine. Failure to do
so could lead to engine damage.

6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with

clean engine oil.

Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a
slight resistance is felt, then tighten
additionally more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:

11 to 15 ft-lb
(15 to 21 N·m)

8. Clean and re-install the drain plug

with a new washer. Securely tighten
the drain plug with a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:

22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N·m)

Do not use excessive force.

9. Refill engine with recommended oil

and install the oil filler cap securely.

CAUTION

The dipstick must be inserted in
place to prevent oil spillage from
the dipstick hole while filling the
engine with oil.

See “Capacities and recommended
fluids/lubricants” (P.10-2) for drain
and refill capacity. The drain and refill
capacity depends on the oil tempera-
ture and drain time. Use these speci-
fications for reference only. Always
use the dipstick to determine the
proper amount of oil in the engine.

10. Start the engine and check for leak-

age around the drain plug and the oil
filter. Correct as required.

11. Turn the engine off and wait more

than 15 minutes. Check the oil level
with the dipstick. Add engine oil if
necessary.

Do-it-yourself

8-7

8-8

Do-it-yourself

After the operation

Install the engine undercover into
position using the bolts.

Lower the vehicle carefully to the
ground.

3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.

WARNING

. Prolonged and repeated contact

with used engine oil may cause
skin cancer.

. Try to avoid direct skin contact

with used oil. If skin contact is
made, wash thoroughly with soap
or hand cleaner as soon as pos-
sible.

. Keep used engine oil out of reach

of children.

When checking or replacement is re-
quired, we recommend a NISSAN dealer
for servicing.

CAUTION

. It is recommended that you use

only Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF.
Do not mix with other fluids.

. Using automatic transmission

fluid (ATF) other than Genuine
NISSAN Matic S ATF may cause
deterioration in driveability and
automatic transmission durabil-
ity, and may damage the auto-
matic transmission. Damage
caused by use of fluids other than
as recommended is not covered
by the NISSAN new vehicle limited
warranty.

SDI1765A

Check the fluid level in the reservoir.

The fluid level should be checked using
the HOT range ( : HOT MAX.,

: HOT MIN.)

at fluid temperatures of 122 to 176°F (50 to
80°C) or using the COLD range ( : COLD
MAX.,

: COLD MIN.) at fluid temperatures

of 32 to 86°F (0 to 30°C).

If the fluid is below the MIN line, add
Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent. Re-
move the cap and fill through the open-
ing.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID (ATF)

POWER STEERING FLUID

Nissan Armada (2019 year). Instruction - part 27