1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER ignition

This Supplemental Restraint System section
contains important information concerning the
driver and passenger supplemental air bags.
The Supplemental Restraint System Air Bag
can help reduce impact force to the driver and
to the front passenger in certain frontal colli-
sions. The supplemental air bags are designed
tosupplementthe crash protection provided
by the driver and passenger seat belts and are
not a substitutefor them. The seat belts
should always be correctly worn and the driver
and front passenger seated a suitable distance
from the steering wheel and instrument panel.
(See ªSeat beltsº for instructions and precau-
tions on seat belt usage.)
After turning the ignition key to the ªONº
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the system is operational.
The supplemental air bags ordinarily will
not inflate in the event of a side impact,
rear impact, roll over, or lower severity
frontal collision; so always wear your
seat belts to help reduce the risk or
severity of injury in various kinds ofaccidents.
The seat belts and the supplemental air
bags are most effective when you are
sitting back and upright in the seat.
Supplemental air bags inflate with great
force. If you are unrestrained, leaning
forward, sitting sideways or out of posi-
tion in any way, you are at greater risk of
injury or death in a crash and may also
receive serious or fatal injuries from the
supplemental air bag if you are up
against it when it inflates. Always sit
SPA0043
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (SUPPLEMENTAL AIR
BAG SYSTEM)
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

The seat belts should be correctly worn and
the driver and passenger seated upright as far
as practical away from the steering wheel or
dashboard. Since the supplemental air bag
inflates quickly in order to help protect the
occupant, the force of the supplemental air
bag inflating can increase the risk of injury if
the occupant is too close to or is against the
supplemental air bag module during inflation.
The supplemental air bag will deflate quickly
after a collision.
After turning the ignition key to the ªONº
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the system is operational.
IRight after inflation, several supple-
mental air bag system components
will be hot. Do not touch them; you
may severely burn yourself.
INo unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the supplemental air bag system.
This is to prevent accidental inflation
of the supplemental air bag or dam-age to the supplemental air bag sys-
tem.
ITampering with the supplemental air
bag system may result in serious
personal injury. Tampering includes
changes to the steering wheel and
the instrument panel assembly by
placing material over the steering
wheel pad and above the dashboard,
or by installing additional trim mate-
rial around the supplemental air bag
system.
IDo not attach any objects to the
steering wheel pad and to the instru-
ment panel. Also, do not place any
objects between any occupant and
the steering wheel or instrument
panel. Such objects may become
dangerous projectiles and cause in-
jury if the supplemental air bag in-
flates.
IWork around and on the supplemen-
tal air bag system should be done by
an authorized NISSAN dealer. Instal-
lation of electrical equipment should
also be done by an authorized
NISSAN dealer. The SRS wiring har-nesses* should not be modified or
disconnected. Unauthorized electri-
cal test equipment and probing de-
vices should not be used on the
supplemental air bag system.
* SRS wiring harnesses are covered
with yellow insulation either just be-
fore the harness connectors or for
the complete harness, for easy
identification.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

Warning labels about the supplemental air bag
system are placed in the vehicle.The supplemental air bag light, displaying ªAIR
BAGº in the instrument panel, monitors the
circuits of the supplemental air bag. The cir-
cuits monitored by the supplemental air bag
light are the diagnosis sensor unit, supplemen-
tal air bag modules and all related wiring.
After turning the ignition key to the ªONº posi-
tion, the air bag warning light illuminates. The
supplemental air bag warning light will turn off
after about 7 seconds if the system is opera-
tional.
SPA0391SPA0392
WARNING LABELS
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHT
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

PRECAUTIONS ON SEAT BELT
USAGE
Your chances of being injured or killed in an
accident and/or the severity of injury may be
greatly reduced if you are wearing your seat
belt and it is properly adjusted. NISSAN
strongly encourages you and all of your pas-
sengers to buckle up every time you drive,
even if your seating position includes a supple-
mental air bag.
Some states, provinces or territories re-
quire that seat belts be worn at all times
when a vehicle is being driven.
IEvery person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times. Children should be in ap-
propriate child restraints.
IThe belt should be adjusted properly
and to a snug fit. Failure to do so will
reduce the effectiveness of the entire
restraint system and increase the
chance or severity of injury in an
accident.
IDo not wear the belt inside out ortwisted. Be sure the seat belt tongue
is securely fastened to the proper
buckle.
IDo not allow more than one person to
use the same belt.
IAll seat belt assemblies including re-
tractors and attaching hardware
should be inspected by your NISSAN
dealer after any collision. NISSAN
recommends that all seat belt assem-
blies in use during a collision be
replaced unless the collision was mi-
nor and the belts show no damage
and continue to operate properly.
Seat belt assemblies not in use dur-
ing a collision should also be in-
spected and replaced if either dam-
age or improper operation is noted.
INever carry more people in the ve-
hicle than there are seat belts.
If the seat belt warning lamp glows con-
tinuously while the ignition is turned
ªONº with all doors closed and all seat
belts fastened, it may indicate a mal-
function in the system. Have the system
checked by your NISSAN dealer.Be sure to observe the following cau-
tions when using seat belts. Failure to
do so could increase the chance and/or
severity of injury in an accident.
IAlways route the shoulder belt over
your shoulder and across your chest.
Never run the belt under your arm or
across your neck. The belt should be
away from your face and neck, but
not falling off your shoulder.
IPosition the lap belt as low as pos-
sible AROUND THE HIPS, NOT THE
WAIST.
ISerious injury or death can occur if
the seat belt is not worn properly.
CHILD SAFETY
Children need adults to help protect them.
All U.S. states and provinces of Canada re-
quire the use of approved child restraints for
infants and small children. (See ªChild re-
straints for infants and small childrenº later in
this section.)
In addition, there are many types of child
restraints available for larger children which
should be used for maximum protection.
SEAT BELTS
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

The sensor on the instrument panel helps
maintain a constant temperature. Do not put
anything on or around this sensor.
Servicing air conditioner
The air conditioning system in your NISSAN
vehicle is charged with a new refrigerant de-
signed with the environment in mind.
This new refrigerant will not harm the
earth's ozone layer.
However, special charging equipment and lu-
bricant are required when servicing your NIS-
SAN air conditioner. Using improper refriger-
ants or lubricants will cause severe damage to
your air conditioning system. See AIR CONDI-
TIONING SYSTEM REFRIGERANT AND LU-
BRICANT RECOMMENDATIONS in the
TECHNICAL INFORMATION section of this
manual.
Your NISSAN dealer will be able to service
your environmentally ªfriendlyº air conditioning
system.To turn the radio on, turn the ignition key to
ªACCº or ªONº. If you listen to the radio with
the engine not running, turn the key to the
ªACCº position.
Radio reception is affected by station signal
strength, distance from radio transmitter, build-
ings, bridges, mountains, and other external
influences. Intermittent changes in reception
quality normally are caused by these external
influences.
SAA0158
RADIO
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

To adjust BASS, TREB (treble), FADER, and
BAL (balance) the control knobs must be re-
leased from their stowed positions. Pushing
the knobs once moves them to the released
position.
In the released position, the knobs control tone
quality. Turn the control knobs to adjust BASS
and TREB to the most pleasing level.
From the released position, the knobs must be
pulled out in order to control FADER and BAL.
FADER adjusts the sound level between the
front and rear speakers, and BAL adjusts the
sound level between the right and left speak-
ers.Once sound quality is set to the desired levels,
return the control knobs to the stowed position
by pushing them in completely and releasing.
Cassette tape operation
Turn the ignition key to ªACCº or ªONº, then
lightly insert the cassette tape into the tape
door.
The cassette tape will automatically pull into
the player. The word ªTAPEº and an arrow
indicating tape side will illuminate in the dis-
play window.
Do not force the cassette tape into the tape
door.Pressing strongly could cause player
damage.
The cassette tape will automatically change
directions to play the other side when the first
side is completed. At this time, the arrow in the
display window will change direction.
ITo maintain good quality sound, NIS-
SAN recommends that you use cassette
tapes of 60 minutes or shorter in length.
ICassette tapes should be removed from
the player when not in use. Store cas-
settes in their protective cases and away
from direct sunlight, heat, moisture and
magnetic sources.
Direct sunlight can cause the cassette to
become deformed. The use of deformed
cassettes may cause the cassette to jam
in the player.
IDo not use cassettes that have labels
which are peeling and loose. If used, the
label could jam in the player.
IIf a cassette has loose tape, insert a
pencil through one of the cassette hubs
and rewind the tape firmly around the
hubs. Loose tape may cause tape jam-
ming and wavering sound quality.
IOver a period of time, the playback
AHA0522
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

The antenna will automatically extend when
the radio is turned on, and retract when
switched off. If the radio is left on, the antenna
will retract and extend with the ignition key
ªOFF-ONº operation.
IBefore turning the radio on, make
sure that there is no one near the
antenna outlet and there is enough
space for it to extend.
ITo prevent damage, be sure that an-
tenna is fully retracted before the
vehicle enters an automated car
wash.
IDirt and other foreign matter on the
power antenna rod may interrupt its
operation. Clean the rod periodically
with a damp cloth. This type of clean-
ing is especially important during the
winter seasons in areas where road
salt and other chemicals may be
spread on road surfaces and
splashed onto the antenna rod.
The antenna cannot be shortened but can be
removed.
Turn its root counterclockwise to remove the
antenna.
Be sure to remove the antenna before
washing the vehicle in an automatic car
washing machine, or the antenna may
be damaged.
When installing large capacity wireless equip-
ment or a car phone in your NISSAN, be sure
to observe the following as it may adversely
affect the Multiport fuel injection system and
other electronic parts depending on its instal-
lation location.
IKeep the antenna as far as possible
away from the Electric Control Mod-
ule.
IAlso keep the antenna wire more than
8 inches (20 cm) away from the Elec-
tro Injection harness. Do not route
the antenna wire next to any harness.
IAdjust the antenna standing-wave ra-
tio as recommended by the manufac-
turer.
IConnect the ground wire from the
radio chassis to the body.
IFor details, consult a NISSAN dealer.
SAA0164
POWER ANTENNA (If so
equipped)MANUAL ANTENNA CB RADIO OR CAR PHONE
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4 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ................... 4-2
On-pavement and off-road driving precautions ...... 4-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ................................. 4-4
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .......................... 4-4
Ignition switch ........................................................ 4-4
Before starting the engine ..................................... 4-6
Driving with automatic transmission ...................... 4-6
Driving with manual transmission ........................ 4-10
Starting the engine ............................................... 4-11
Parking brake ....................................................... 4-12
Cruise control ....................................................... 4-13
Break-in schedule ................................................ 4-15
Economy hints ..................................................... 4-15
Transfer case shifting procedures
for 4-wheel drive vehicles .................................... 4-16
Parking ................................................................. 4-22
Precautions when driving ..................................... 4-23
Anti-lock brake system .......................................... 4-24
Cold weather driving cautions .............................. 4-25
Corrosion protection ............................................. 4-27
Z01.2.1/R50-DX