1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER ECU

DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your NISSAN is designed for both normal and
off-road use. However, avoid driving in deep
water or mud as your NISSAN is mainly de-
signed for leisure use, unlike a conventional
off-road vehicle.
Remember that two-wheel drive models are
less capable than four-wheel drive models for
rough road driving and extrication when stuck
in deep snow or mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
IDrive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Always wear
your seat belts to help keep you and
your passengers in position when
driving over rough terrain.
IDo not drive across steep slopes.
Instead drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. Off-road
vehicles can tip over sideways much
more easily than they can forward or
backward.
IMany hills are too steep for any ve-
hicle. If you drive up them, you maystall. If you drive down them, you may
not be able to control your speed. If
you drive across them, you may roll
over.
IStay alert when driving to the top of a
hill. At the top there could be a drop-
off or other hazard that could cause
an accident.
IIf your engine stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill, never
attempt to turn around. Your vehicle
could tip or roll over. Always back
straight down in reverse gear. Never
back down in neutral (N) or with the
clutch depressed, using only the
brake, as this could cause loss of
control.
IHeavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to overheat
and fade, resulting in loss of control
and an accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low gear to control your
speed.
IUnsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure it so that it willnot be thrown forward and cause in-
jury to you or your passengers.
IAvoid raising the center of gravity by
loading things on the roof or equip-
ping the vehicle with tires larger than
specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to rollover. Put
heavy loads in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible.
IDo not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving off-
road. The steering wheel could jerk
and injure your hands. Instead drive
with your fingers and thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
IBefore operating vehicle, ensure that
the driver and all passengers have
their seat belts fastened.
IAlways drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become very
hot. Particular care should be taken if
you are barefoot.
ILower your speed when encounter-
ing strong crosswinds. With its
higher center of gravity, your NISSAN
is more affected by gusty side winds.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure they are of proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are in-
stalled according to the chain manufactur-
er's suggestions.Use only SAE Class ªSº
chains.Other types may damage your
vehicle. Use chain tensioners when recom-
mended by the tire chain manufacturer to
ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the tire
chain must be secured or removed to pre-
vent the possibility of whipping action dam-
age to the fenders or underbody. If pos-
sible, avoid fully loading your vehicle when
using tire chains. In addition, drive at a
reduced speed. Otherwise, your vehicle
may be damaged and/or vehicle handling
and performance may be adversely af-
fected.
Do not use the chains on dry roads.
Special winter equipment
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
1. A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
2. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.3. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-
drifts.
4. Extra window washer fluid to refill the res-
ervoir tank.
Driving on snow or ice
IWet ice (32ÉF, 0ÉC and freezing rain), very
cold snow or ice can be slick and very hard
to drive on. The vehicle will have a lot less
traction or ªgripº under these conditions. Try
to avoid driving on wet ice until the road is
salted or sanded.
IWhatever the condition, drive with caution
and accelerate gently. If accelerated too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and will lose
even more traction.
IAllow more stopping distance under these
conditions. Braking should be started
sooner than on dry pavement.
IAllow greater following distances on slip-
pery roads.
IWatch for slippery spots (glare ice). These
may appear on an otherwise clear road in
shaded areas. If a patch of ice is seen
ahead, brake before reaching it. Try not to
brake while actually on the ice, and avoid
any sudden steering maneuvers.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road away
from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the
parking brake. Shift the manual transmis-
sion into reverse (automatic transmission in
ªPº).
The transfer control lever must
be in the ª2Hº, ª4Hº or ª4Lº position.
Never place it in the ªNº position. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could roll unexpect-
edly even if the manual transmission is
in gear or the automatic transmission is
in the ªPº position.
4. Turn off the engine.
IMake sure that the parking brake is
securely applied and the manual
transmission is shifted into reverse
(automatic transmission in ªPº).
INever change tires when the vehicle
is on a slope, ice or a slippery area.
This is dangerous.
INever change tires if oncoming traffic
is close to your vehicle. Wait for pro-
fessional road assistance.
IRaise the hood to warn other traffic
and to signal professional road assis-
tance personnel that you require as-
sistance.
IHave all passengers get out of the
vehicle and stand in a safe place
away from traffic and clear of the
vehicle.
Blocking wheels
Place suitable blocks at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat
tire.
Be sure to block the wheel as the vehicle
may move and could cause personal
injury.
MCE0001
FLAT TIRE
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

INever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by the jack.
IUse the jack provided with your ve-
hicle. Do not use the jack provided
with your vehicle on other vehicles.
The jack is designed only for lifting
your vehicle during a tire change.
ITo lift the vehicle, securely hold the
jack lever and rod with both hands as
shown above.
IUse the correct jack up points; never
use any other part of the vehicle for
jack support.
INever jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
INever use blocks on or under the
jack.
IDo not start or run engine while ve-
hicle is on the jack.
IDo not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.IDo not raise the vehicle using a
bumper jack.
INever run the engine with the wheels
off the ground. It may cause the ve-
hicle to move. This is especially true
for vehicles with limited slip differen-
tial carriers.
SCE0139
SCE0140
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

Installing wheel
1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface
between the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the wheel on and tighten the
wheel nuts finger tight.
3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten wheel
nuts alternately and evenly until they are
tight.
4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire
touches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts securely
in the sequence as illustrated.
As soon as possible tighten the wheel
nuts to the specified torque with a
torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
87 to 108 ft-lb (118 to 147 N×m)
5. Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure.
COLD pressure:
After vehicle has been parked for three
hours or more or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
COLD tire pressures are shown on the tire
placard affixed to the glove box lid.
IRetighten the wheel nuts when the ve-
hicle has been run for 600 miles (1,000
km) after installing the aluminum wheel.
6. Securely store the spare tire and jacking
equipment in the vehicle.
Always make sure that the spare tire and
jacking equipment are properly secured
after use. Such items can become dan-
gerous projectiles in an accident or sud-
den stop.
SCE0122
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial
in Canada) and local regulations for towing
must be followed. Incorrect towing equipment
could damage your vehicle. Towing instruc-
tions are available from your NISSAN dealer.
Local service operators will generally be famil-
iar with the applicable laws and procedures for
towing. To assure proper towing and to pre-
vent accidental damage to your vehicle, NIS-
SAN recommends that you have a service
operator tow your vehicle. It is advisable to
have the service operator carefully read the
following precautions.
IWhen towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and power train are in good order. If
any unit is damaged, a dolly must be
used.
IWhen towing with the front wheels on
the ground:
Turn the ignition key to the ªOFFº
position and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
place the ignition key in the ªLOCKºposition. This will result in damage to
the steering lock mechanism.
IWhen towing manual transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground, release the parking brake
and move the gearshift lever to the
neutral position.
IFor 4-wheel drive model:
Move the transfer case shift lever into
the ª2Hº position and the transmis-
sion shift lever into the neutral (ªNº)
position.
IAttach safety chains for all towing.2-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (rear) wheels off the
ground as illustrated.
If you have to tow your vehicle with
four wheels on ground or Towing
with front wheels raised (with rear
wheels on ground)
1. Release the parking brake and move the
gearshift lever to the neutral position (ªNº
position).
On automatic transmission models, to
SCE0123
TOW TRUCK TOWING
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance 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.
IPark the vehicle on a level surface, apply
the parking brake securely and block the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing. For a manual transmission, move
the shift lever to Neutral. For an auto-
matic transmission, move the shift lever
to ªPº (Park).
IBe sure the ignition key is in the ªOFFº
or ªLOCKº position when performing
any replacement or repair.
IDo not work under the engine hood
while it is hot. Always turn off the engine
and wait until it cools down.
IIf you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans and
fan belts.
IIt is advisable to remove necktie and any
jewelry, such as rings, watch, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
IIf you must run the engine in an en-
closed space such as a garage, be surethere is proper ventilation for exhaust
gases.
INever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, support
it with safety stands.
IKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and battery.
INever connect or disconnect either the
battery or any transistorized component
connector while the ignition key is on.
IAlways apply the parking brake and
block the wheels to prevent the vehicle
from moving.
IThe 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.
IFailure to follow these or other common
sense guidelines may lead to serious
injury or vehicle damage.
IImproperly disposed motor oil and/or
other vehicle fluids can hurt the environ-
ment. Always conform to local regula-
tions for disposal of vehicle fluid.
IAvoid direct contact with used engine
oil.This ªDo-it-yourself operationsº section gives
instructions regarding only those items which
are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
You should be aware that incomplete or im-
proper servicing may result in operating diffi-
culties or excessive emissions, and could af-
fect your warranty coverage.If in doubt about
any servicing, have it done by your NISSAN
dealer.
PRECAUTIONS
7-2
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

CHANGING ENGINE OIL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.
2. Warm up the engine until it reaches oper-
ating temperature, and then turn it off.
3. Place a large drain pan under the drain
plug.
4. Remove the oil filler cap.
5. Remove the drain plug with a wrench and
completely drain the oil.
If the oil filter is to be changed, remove andreplace it at this time. See ªChanging oil
filterº.
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
Waste oil must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
6. Clean and re-install the drain plug and new
washer. Securely tighten the drain plug with
a wrench. Do not use excessive force.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 to 29 ft-lb (29 to 39 N×m)
7. Refill engine with recommended oil and
install the oil filler cap securely.
See the ªTechnical informationº section for
refill capacity.
8. Start the engine.
Check for leakage around the drain plug.
Correct as required.9. Turn the engine off and wait several min-
utes. Check the oil level with the dipstick.
Add engine oil if necessary.
IProlonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin can-
cer.
ITry to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
IKeep used engine oil out of reach of
children.
SDI0416
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX