1997 Nissan Maxima Owner's Manual - Page 145

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. ¼ 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. ¼ It is advisable to remove necktie and any jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc. before working on your vehicle. ¼ If you must run the engine in an enclosed space such as a garage, be sure there is proper ventilation for exhaust gases. ¼ 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. ¼ Keep smoking materials, flame and sparks away from fuel and the battery. ¼ 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. ¼ Do not work under the hood while the engine is hot. Turn off the engine and wait until it cools down. ¼ Never connect or disconnect either the battery or any transistorized component connector while the ignition key is on. ¼ Never leave the engine or the automatic transmission related component harness connector disconnected while the ignition key is on. ¼ Avoid direct contact with used engine oil. Improperly disposed motor oil and/or other vehicle fluids can hurt the environment. Always conform to local regulations for disposal of vehicle fluid. This "Do-it-yourself operations" section gives instructions regarding only those items which are relatively easy for an owner to perform. You should be aware that incomplete or improper servicing may result in operating difficulties or excessive emissions, and could af- ¼ Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply the parking brake securely and block the wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving. For a manual transmission, move the shift lever to Neutral. For an automatic transmission, move the selector lever to "P" (Park). ¼ Be sure the ignition key is "OFF" or "LOCK" when performing any parts replacement or repairs. ¼ 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. 7-2