A set of gear driven balance shafts is located slightly higher than the crankshaft, the vacuum pump is placed on the gear cover and driven by the RH (intake side) balance shaft.
A serpentine belt with hydraulic tensioner powers the a/c compressor, the water pump, and (via a freewheeling pulley to reduce squeaking when engine decelerates) the alternator.
The aluminium-alloy Crossflow cylinder head houses two camshafts (DOHC) driven by a combined gear and chain drive operating 4 valves per cylinder (16 in total) by bucket tappets.
Turbocharged and intercooled engines have Swirl flaps incorporated into the intake manifold to improve combustion at low revs.These engines also feature Nissan’s Variable Valve Lift technology.
The ECU's functionality has been improved during the life time of this first generation and with the introduction of the later Common Rail engines.
At that time the previously offered TD42TI was discontinued due to failing updated EURO IV emission standards and was replaced by the commonrail ZD30DDTI engine.
Bosch injection equipment was utilized with a 1600 bar system pressure and an improved ECU.
Compression ratio was 17.9:1, to keep emissions low a hot EGR with heat exchanger was also installed.