1996 NISSAN PATHFINDER wheel

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

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 200 miles (320 km)
If the speed or distance must necessarily be
greater, remove the propeller shaft beforehand
to prevent damage to the transmission.
Never 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 transmission.
4-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS
NISSAN recommends that a dolly be used as
illustrated when towing your vehicle.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

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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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
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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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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

7 Do-it-yourself operations
Precautions ............................................................ 7-2
Engine cooling system ........................................... 7-4
Engine oil ............................................................... 7-7
Automatic transmission fluid .................................. 7-9
Power steering fluid ............................................. 7-11
Brake and clutch fluid .......................................... 7-11
Window washer fluid ............................................ 7-12
Battery .................................................................. 7-13
Drive belts ............................................................ 7-14
Spark plug replacement ....................................... 7-14
Air cleaner filter .................................................... 7-16
Wiper blade .......................................................... 7-17
Parking brake ....................................................... 7-18
Brake pedal .......................................................... 7-19
Brake booster ....................................................... 7-20
Clutch pedal ......................................................... 7-20
Fuses ................................................................... 7-20
Light bulbs ............................................................ 7-22
Wheels and tires .................................................. 7-26
Clutch housing ........................................... 7-30
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
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

If you have a flat tire, see ªIn case of
emergencyº section.
Maximum inflation pressure
Do not exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sures shown on the side wall of the tire.
Tire inflation pressure
Periodically check the tire pressure (including
spare). Incorrect tire pressure may adversely
affect tire life and vehicle handling. Tire pres-
sure should be checked when tires are COLD.
Tires are considered COLD after the vehicle
has been parked for three or more hours, or
driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). COLD tirepressures are shown on the tire placard affixed
to the center console lid.
The vehicle capacity weight is indicated
on the tire placard. Do not load your
vehicle beyond this capacity. Overload-
ing your vehicle may result in reduced
tire life, unsafe operating conditions due
to premature tire failure, or unfavorable
handling characteristics and could also
lead to a serious accident. Loading be-
yond the specified capacity may also
result in failure of other vehicle compo-
nents.
Before taking a long trip, or whenever
you have loaded your vehicle heavily,
use a tire pressure gauge to ensure that
the tire pressure is at the specified level.
Do not drive your vehicle over 85 MPH
(140 km/h) unless it is equipped with
high speed capability tires. Driving
faster than 85 MPH (140 km/h) may re-
sult in tire failure, loss of control and
possible injury.
Types of tires
When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e., Summer, All Season or Snow) and
construction. Your NISSAN dealer may
be able to help you with information
about tire type, size, speed rating and
availability. Replacement tires may have
a lower speed rating than the factory
equipped tires, and may not match the
potential maximum vehicle speed. Never
exceed the maximum speed rating of the
tire.
All season tires
NISSAN specifies All Season tires on some
models to provide good performance for use
all year around, including snowy and icy road
conditions. All Season Tires are identified by
ªALL SEASONº and/or ªM&Sº on the tire side-
wall. Snow tires have better snow traction than
All Season tires and may be more appropriate
in some areas.
DI0047
WHEELS AND TIRES
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