Nissan Versa: Do-it-yourself - Maintenance precautions

Whenever you are performing any routine inspection, minor servicing, or maintenance work on your Nissan Versa, always exercise extreme caution to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or accidental damage to the vehicle. The following comprehensive guidelines outline the general safety precautions which must be closely and strictly observed.

WARNING

Always park your vehicle on a solid, flat, and level surface, apply the emergency parking brake securely, and block the wheels firmly to prevent the vehicle from rolling or moving unexpectedly. For manual transmission models, move the shift lever into N (Neutral). For Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) models, shift the lever into P (Park).
Make certain that the ignition switch is turned completely to the OFF or LOCK position before performing any parts replacement, maintenance work, or vehicle repairs.
If your repair task strictly requires you to work with the engine running, keep your hands, loose clothing, long hair, and tools safely away from moving radiator fans, accessory drive belts, and any other rotating engine parts.
It is strongly advisable to secure or completely remove any loose clothing and take off all jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, and wristwatches.

before you begin working on or around your Nissan Versa.
Always wear certified protective eye safety gear (such as safety glasses or goggles) whenever you perform work on your vehicle.
If you must run the engine inside an enclosed space like a home garage, ensure there is continuous, proper ventilation so that toxic exhaust gases can escape safely into the open air.
Never get underneath your vehicle while it is supported solely by a mechanical jack. If it is necessary for any reason to work under the chassis, always support the vehicle securely with professional-grade safety jack stands.
Always keep open flames, sparks, and smoking materials far away from the fuel tank area and the automotive battery.
Because the fuel lines on gasoline-powered engine models remain under high fluid pressure even when the engine is turned off, it is strongly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for any service involving the fuel filter or fuel delivery lines.
Your Nissan Versa is equipped with an automatic electric engine cooling fan. It can activate independently at any time without warning, even when the ignition switch is in the OFF position and the engine is not running. To avoid severe hand injury, always disconnect the negative battery cable before working anywhere near the cooling fan shroud.

CAUTION

Never perform any work under the hood while the engine compartment is hot. Turn the engine off and wait patiently until all components cool down completely.
Avoid direct skin contact with used engine oil and spent engine coolant. Improperly disposed engine oil, coolant, and other automotive fluids can cause severe damage to the local environment. Always conform to all local environmental regulations for the proper containment and disposal of vehicle fluids.
Never leave the engine or transmission-related wiring harness connectors unplugged while the vehicle ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
Never connect or disconnect the battery terminals or any sensitive transistorized electrical component while the ignition switch is in the ON position.

This "Do-it-yourself" maintenance section provides clear instructions regarding only those routine tasks and checks that are relatively easy for a vehicle owner to perform safely.

A comprehensive, Genuine NISSAN service manual is also available for purchase if you require advanced technical repair data.

You should be fully aware that incomplete, incorrect, or improper servicing may result in poor operating performance, excessive tailpipe emissions, and could even negatively impact your vehicle warranty coverage. If you feel any doubt about how to perform a specific service procedure, it is recommended that you have the work completed professionally by an authorized NISSAN dealer.