Nissan ALTIMA 2023 Appearance and care

The 2023 Nissan Altima is a vehicle that embodies a dedication to preserving its impeccable beauty by fusing an eye-catching design with careful maintenance. With the Altima, you can stand out on the road thanks to its eye-catching exterior color options, available appearance packages, and customizable accessories. Its exterior should be regularly cleaned, waxed, and protected from the elements to keep it looking its best. While carpets, upholstery, and interior materials may all be preserved with regular washing and care, alloy wheels benefit from regular cleaning and upkeep. With thorough attention to both the outside and inside, the Altima not only looks amazing but also bears witness to your conscientious ownership, so you can continue to enjoy its elegance for many years to come.

2023 Nissan Altima Specs, Price, Features and Mileage (Brochure)

Appearance and care

Cleaning exterior

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

To protect the paint surfaces, wash your vehicle as soon as you can:

• After 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 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, lukewarm (never hot) water.

CAUTION
Do not concentrate water spray directly on the sonar sensors (if so equipped) on the bumper as this will result in damage to the sensors. Do not use pressure washers capable of spraying water over 1,200 psi (8,274 kPa) to wash your vehicle. Use of high-pressure washers over 1,200 psi (8,274 kPa) can result in damage to or removal of paint or graphics. Avoid using a high-pressure washer closer than 12 inches (30 cm) to the vehicle. Always use a wide-angle nozzle only, keep the nozzle moving, and do not concentrate the water spray on any one area. 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, causing 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 clothes, 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 damaged. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of clean water. Inside edges, seams, and folds on the doors, hatches, and hood are particularly vulnerable to the effects of road salt. Therefore, these areas must be cleaned regularly. Take care 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. A damp chamois can be used to dry the vehicle to avoid water spots.

WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface and helps retain the new vehicle’s appearance. Polishing is recommended to remove built-up wax residue and to avoid a weathered appearance before re-applying wax.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer to assist you in choosing the proper product. Wax your vehicle only after a thorough washing. Follow the instructions supplied with the wax. Do not use wax containing any abrasives, cutting compounds, or cleaners that may damage the vehicle finish. Machine compounding or aggressive polishing 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 possible from the surface of the paint to avoid lasting damage or staining. Special cleaning products are available at a NISSAN dealer or any automotive accessory store. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for these products.

UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter, it is necessary to clean the underbody regularly in order to prevent dirt and salt from building up and causing the acceleration of corrosion on the underbody and suspension. Before the winter period and again in the spring, the underseal must be checked and, if necessary, re-treated.

GLASS
When cleaning the rear window, it may be easier to clean if the high-mounted stop light is removed first. Be careful when removing the high-mounted stop light to reduce the risk of damaging the high-mounted stop light wires.

To remove the high-mounted stop light:

1. Push downward on the plastic shelf around the stop light 1O, lift upward on the stop light, releasing it from the shelf 2O.
2. Once it is released from the shelf, gently pull the stop light towards the rear seat back 3O.

The high-mounted stop light must be properly reinstalled before driving your vehicle. 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. To reinstall the high-mounted stop light, reverse steps 3O, then 2O.

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 conductors, radio antenna elements, or rear window defroster elements.

ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS (if so equipped)
Wash the wheels regularly with a sponge dampened in a mild soap solution, especially during winter months in areas where road salt is used. If not removed, road salt can discolor the wheels.

CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid staining or discoloring the wheels:

• Do not use a cleaner that uses strong acid or alkali content to clean the wheels.
• Do not apply wheel cleaners to the wheels when they are hot. The wheel temperature should be the same as the ambient temperature.
•  Rinse the wheel to completely remove the cleaner within 15 minutes after the cleaner is applied.

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

TIRE DRESSINGS
NISSAN does not recommend the use of tire dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating to the tires to help reduce discoloration 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 than 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 the tire dressing manufacturer.

CLEANING INTERIOR
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 (if so equipped) surfaces with a clean, soft cloth dampened in a mild soap solution, then wipe clean with a dry, soft cloth. Regular care and cleaning are required in order to maintain the appearance of the leather (if so equipped). Before using any fabric protector, read the manufacturer’s recommendations. Some fabric protectors contain chemicals that may stain or bleach the seat material. 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 sensor. This can also affect the operation of the airbag system and result in serious personal injury.

CAUTION

• Never use benzine, thinner, or any similar material.
• Small dirt particles can be abrasive and damaging to 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.
• Never use fabric protectors unless recommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on meter or gauge lens covers. It may damage the lens cover.
• Never use chloride solutions for cleaning aluminum decorative (if so equipped), damage may occur.

AIR FRESHENERS

Most air fresheners use a solvent that could affect the vehicle interior. If you use an air freshener, take the following precautions:

• 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 discoloration when spilled on interior surfaces. Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions before using the air fresheners.

POWER MOONROOF (if so equipped)
The sunshade is made from a tricot material.

CAUTION
To help prevent damaging the moon roof while cleaning:
Do not rub the material with a cloth. Doing so can damage the surface of the material or cause a stain to spread. Never use benzine, thinner or any similar chemical to clean the sun shade. This may discolor the moon’s roof and damage the surface. Clean water based stains by patting the surface with a clean soft cloth dampened in warm water. Press a clean dry cloth onto the surface to remove as much dampness as possible and then let air dry. Clean oil-based stains by patting the surface with a clean soft cloth dampened in warm water. Press a clean dry cloth onto the surface to remove as much dampness as possible and then let air dry.

FLOOR MATS (if so equipped)

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 upside down or backward.
• 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 floor well using the floor mat positioning aid. 
• 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 cleaning and replaced if they become excessively worn.

Floor mat installation
Your vehicle is equipped with floor mat positioning aids. The number and shape of the floor mat positioning aid for each seating position varies depending on the vehicle.

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

1. With the ignition in the OFF position, the shift lever in the P (Park) position, and the parking brake fully applied, position the floor mat in the floor well so that the floor mat grommet holes are aligned with the positioning aids.
2. Secure the grommet holes into the positioning aids and ensure that the floor mat is properly positioned.
3. Make sure the floor mat does not interfere with pedal operation. With the ignition still in the OFF position, the shift lever in the P (Park) position, and with the parking brake applied, fully apply and re-lease all pedals. The floor mat must not interfere with the pedal operation or prevent the pedal from returning to its normal position.

It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for details about installing the floor mats in your vehicle.

 

Positioning aids

 

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

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 in the shade before using them. 

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.

CORROSION PROTECTION

Most vehicle corrosion is caused by:
The accumulation of moisture-retaining 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 collisions.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCE THE RATE OF CORROSION

Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt, and water on the vehicle body’s underside can accelerate 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 and where atmospheric pollution exists and road salt is used.

Temperature
High temperatures 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 accelerates the corrosion process. Road salt also accelerates the disintegration of paint surfaces.

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 accumulation. Check the underbody for accumulation 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 compartment by washing it out with a hose. Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner or broom. 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 de-icing are extremely corrosive. They accelerate the 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 that you visit a NISSAN dealer.

FAQ