1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER Owners Manual

If you have to tow your vehicle with
four wheels on ground or Towing
with front or rear wheels raised
1. Release the parking brake and move the
gearshift lever to the neutral position (ªNº
position).
On automatic transmission models, to
move the shift lever to neutral (ªNº position),
turn the ignition key to the ªACCº position.
After moving the shift lever to neutral (ªNº
position), be sure to turn the ignition key to
the ªOFFº position.
2. Observe the following restricted towing
speeds and distances.
Automatic transmission model:
ISpeed: Below 30 MPH (50 km/h)
IDistance: Less than 40 miles (65 km)
Manual transmission model:
ISpeed: Below 60 MPH (95 km/h)
IDistance: Less than 500 miles (800 km)
If the speed or distance must necessarily be
greater, remove the front and rear propeller
shafts beforehand to prevent damage to the
transmission.
INever tow your vehicle from the rear
(i.e., backward) with four wheels on
the ground as this may cause serious
and expensive damage to the trans-
mission.
IBe sure to place the transfer case
shift lever into the ª2Hº position and
the transmission shift lever into the
neutral (ªNº) position.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (Freeing a
stuck vehicle)
IUse the towinghookonly, not other parts of
the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle body will
be damaged.
IUse the towing hookonlyto free a vehicle
stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.Nevertow
the vehicle for a long distance using only
the towing hook.
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IThe towing hook is under tremendous force
when used to free a stuck vehicle. Always
pull the cable straight out from the front of
the vehicle.Neverpull on the hook at a
sideways angle.
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MEMO
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6 Appearance and interior care
Cleaning exterior and interior ................................. 6-2
Protecting against corrosion .................................. 6-5
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
In the following cases, please wash your ve-
hicle as soon as possible to protect the paint
surface.
IAfter a rainfall
IAfter driving on coastal roads
IWhen things such as soot, bird droppings,
tree sap, metal particles or bugs get on the
paint surface
IWhen dust or mud builds up on the surface
Whenever possible, store or park your vehicleinside 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 or detergent (a special vehicle soap
or general purpose dish- washing liquid) mixed
with clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
Do not use strong household soap,
strong chemical detergents, gasoline or
solvents.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly endangered
by the effects of road salt. Therefore, these
areas must be regularly cleaned. Take care
that the drain holes in the lower edge of thedoor 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 paintwork and
keeps the finish. After waxing, polishing is
recommended to remove built-up residue and
avoid a ªweatheredº appearance.
Your NISSAN dealer can assist you in choos-
ing the proper product.
IWax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
IDo not use a wax containing any abrasives,
cutting compounds or cleaners that may
damage the vehicle finish.
IIf the surface does not polish easily, use a
ªroad tarº remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
Only apply black wax or black shoe polish to
the black urethane or polypropylene bumper.
MAI0001
CLEANING EXTERIOR AND
INTERIOR
6-2
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

Removing spots
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, in-
sects and tree sap as quickly as possible from
the surface of the paint to avoid lasting dam-
age or staining. Special cleaning products are
available at your NISSAN dealer or any auto-
motive accessories store.
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 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.
Cleaning glass
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust
film from the glass surfaces. It is normal for
glass to be coated with a film after the vehicle
is parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner and a
soft cloth will easily remove this film.
IWhen cleaning the inside of the win-
dow, do not use any sharp-edged
tools or abrasive cleaners or
chlorine-based disinfectant cleaners.
IThese may damage the electrical con-
ductors, radio antenna elements or
rear window defogger elements.
Cleaning alloy wheels
Wash regularly, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheel if not removed.
Chrome parts
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
Plastic parts
Plastic parts can be cleaned with a mild soap
solution. If the dirt cannot be easily removed,
use a plastic cleaner. Do not use any solvents.
Cleaning interior
Occasionally remove loose dust from the inte-
rior trim and seats using a vacuum cleaner or
soft 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.
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer's recommendations. Some fab-
ric protectors contains chemicals that stain or
bleach the seat material.
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INever use benzine, thinner or any
similar material.
IThe leather seats should be regularly
coated with a leather wax like saddle
soap. Never use car wax.
INever use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
Floor mat positioning aid
(Driver side only)
This model includes a front floor mat bracket to
act as a floor mat positioning aid. NISSAN floor
mats have been specially designed for your
vehicle model. The driver side floor mat has a
grommet hole incorporated in it. Simply posi-
tion the mat by placing the floor mat bracket
hook through the floor mat grommet hole while
centering the mat in the floorpan contour.
Periodically check to make certain the mats
are properly positioned.
Floor mats
The use of Genuine Nissan floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and make
it easier to clean the interior. No matter what
mats are used, be sure they are fitted for your
vehicle and are properly positioned in the
footwell to prevent interference with pedal op-
eration. Mats should be maintained with regu-
lar cleaning and replaced if they become ex-
cessively worn.
Seat belts
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping them
with a sponge dampened in a mild soap solu-
tion. Allow the belts to dry completely before
using them. Do not allow wet belts to roll up in
the retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye or
chemical solvents since these may severely
weaken the seat belt webbing.
SAI0009
6-4
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Most common factors contributing to
vehicle corrosion:
1. The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt
and debris in body panel sections, cavities,
and other areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective coat-
ings caused by gravel and stone chips or
minor traffic accidents.
Environmental factors influence the
rate of corrosion:
Moisture
The accumulation of sand, dirt and water on
the underside of the body will accelerate cor-
rosion. Floor sections which have snow and
ice trapped under the floor matting will not dry.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated:
Iin areas of high relative humidity
Iespecially in areas where the temperatures
stay above freezing
Iwhere atmospheric pollution exists
Iwhere road salt is usedTemperature
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 disintegration of paint
surfaces.To protect your vehicle from
corrosion:
IWash and wax your vehicle often to keep
the vehicle clean.
IAlways check for minor damage to the paint
and repair it as soon as possible.
IKeep drain holes at the bottom of the doors
and tailgate open to avoid water accumula-
tion.
ICheck the underbody. If any sand, dirt or
salt is accumulated, wash it off with water
as soon as possible.
INEVER remove dirt, sand or other debris
from the passenger compartment by wash-
ing with a hose. Remove dirt with a vacuum
cleaner or broom.INever allow water or other liquids to come
in contact with electronic components in-
side the vehicle.
PROTECTING AGAINST
CORROSION
6-5
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