1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER engine

the ªHOTº position, turn the air conditioner
off. See ªIf your vehicle overheats ºin the ªIn
case of emergencyº section for additional
information.
IIf the engine coolant reaches an extremely
high temperature, the air conditioning sys-
tem will automatically turn off. This may
happen for example if the engine is run at
idle for a long time on a hot day.
AIR FLOW CHARTS
The following charts show the button and dial
positions forMAXIMUM AND QUICKheating,
cooling or defrosting.The air recirculation
switch should always be in the ªOFFº po-
sition for heating and defrosting.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

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.
AM-FM RADIO WITH COMPACT
DISC PLAYER
The electronic tuning radio has an FM Diver-
sity reception system, which employs two an-
tennas. One is a rod type antenna; the other is
an antenna printed on the window. This sys-
tem automatically switches to the antenna
which is receiving less noise.
Radio operation
Pushthe FM/AM button to listen to the radio
and tune in the desired station.
Pushing the FM/AM button while the com-pact disc is playing will turn off the com-
pact disc player and turn on the radio.
Turnthe ON.VOL knob to adjust the volume.
Clock set (Adjustment)
Depressing the ªCLOCKº and the ªº but-
tons together will set hours. Depressing the
ªCLOCKº and ª
º buttons together will set
minutes.
Clock operation
By pressing the ªCLOCKº button, you can
alternate the clock and the radio/cassette tape
options in the display.
SAA0247
RADIO
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

4 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ................... 4-2
On-pavement and off-road driving precautions ...... 4-4
Avoiding collision and rollover ................................. 4-4
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .......................... 4-4
Ignition switch ........................................................ 4-5
Before starting the engine ..................................... 4-7
Driving with automatic transmission ...................... 4-7
Driving with manual transmission ........................ 4-11
Starting the engine ............................................... 4-13
Parking brake ....................................................... 4-13
Cruise control ....................................................... 4-14
Break-in schedule ................................................ 4-16
Economy hints ..................................................... 4-17
Transfer case shifting procedures
for 4-wheel drive vehicles .................................... 4-17
Parking ................................................................. 4-23
Power steering system ........................................ 4-24
Brake system ....................................................... 4-24
Anti-lock brake system .......................................... 4-25
Cold weather driving ............................................ 4-26
Corrosion protection ............................................. 4-28
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

IDo not leave children, unreliable
adults, or pets alone in your vehicle.
They could accidentally injure them-
selves or others through inadvertent
operation of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
IProperly secure all cargo to help pre-
vent it from sliding or shifting. Do not
place cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause per-
sonal injury.
EXHAUST GAS (Carbon Monoxide)
Do not breathe exhaust gases; they con-
tain colorless and odorless carbon mon-
oxide. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous
gas, and can cause unconsciousness or
death.
IIf you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all
windows fully open, and have the
vehicle inspected immediately.
IDo not run the engine in closed
spaces such as a garage.
IDo not park the vehicle with the en-
gine running for any extended length
of time.
IKeep the back door and rear window
closed while driving, otherwise ex-
haust gases could be drawn into the
passenger compartment. If you must
drive in this manner for some reason,
take the following steps.
1. Open all the windows.2. Set the air recirculate switch
ªOFFº and the fan control at
ªhighº to circulate the air.
IIf electrical wiring or other cable con-
nections must pass to a trailer
through the seal on the back door or
the body, follow the manufacturer's
recommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle.
IIf a special body or other equipment
is added for recreational or other us-
age, follow the manufacturer's rec-
ommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle.
(Some recreational vehicle appli-
ances such as stoves, refrigerator,
heaters, etc. may also generate car-
bon monoxide.)
IThe exhaust system and body should
be inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever:
a. The vehicle is raised for service.
b. You suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering into the passenger
compartment.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING
AND DRIVING
4-2
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

c. You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust system.
d. You have had an accident involv-
ing damage to the exhaust system,
underbody, or rear of the vehicle.
THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission control
device, installed in the exhaust system. In the
converter, exhaust gases are burned at high
temperatures to help reduce pollutants.
IThe exhaust gas and the exhaust sys-
tem are very hot. Keep people or
flammable materials away from the
exhaust system.
IDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials, such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.
IDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline will seriously
reduce the three-way catalyst's abil-
ity to help reduce exhaust pollutants.
IKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-
rich fuel flow into the three-way cata-
lyst, causing it to overheat. Do not
keep driving if the engine misfires, or
if noticeable loss of performance or
other unusual operating conditions
are detected. Have the vehicle in-
spected promptly by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
IAvoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three-way catalyst.
IDo not race the engine while warming
it up.
IDo not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
4-3
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

Key positions
ªOFFº (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel.
ªACCº (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio when the engine is not
running.
ªONº Normal operating position (3)
This position turns on the ignition system and
the electrical accessories.
ªSTARTº (4)
This position activates the starter motor, start-
ing the engine.IMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
ICheck fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake and clutch fluid, window washer
fluid as frequently as possible, at least
whenever you refuel.
ICheck to be sure that all windows and light
lenses are clean.
IVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
ILock all doors.
IPosition seat and adjust head restraints.
IAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
IFasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
ICheck the operation of warning lights when
key is turned to the ªON (3)º position.The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a microcomputer to
produce maximum power and smooth opera-
tion.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this trans-
mission. Follow these procedures for maxi-
mum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment. If your vehicle is equipped with
four-wheel drive, see ª
Transfer case
shifting proceduresº in this section.
Starting the vehicle
IAfter starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal and push the selector lever
button before shifting the selector lever to
the ªDº, ªRº, ª2º or ª1º position. Be sure the
vehicle is fully stopped before attempting to
shift the selector lever.
This automatic transmission is designed
so that the foot brake pedal MUST be de-
pressed before shifting from ªPº to any
drive position while the ignition switch is
ªONº.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
ªPº and into any of the other gear positions
if the ignition key is turned to ªLOCKº or if
the key is removed from the switch.
When the battery charge is low, the selec-
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
DRIVING WITH AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
4-7
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

tor lever can be moved if the ignition switch
is in the ªACCº position.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the selector lever button to shift into a
driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
IDo not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from ªPº or ªNº to ªRº,
ªDº, ª2º or ª1º. Always depress the
brake pedal until shifting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an acci-
dent.
ICold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
INever shift to ªPº or ªRº while the
vehicle is moving. This could cause
an accident.
IOn slippery roads, do not downshift.This may cause a loss of control.
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The foot
brake should be used for this purpose.
Shifting from ªPº (Park)
If the ignition switch is in the ªONº position and
the foot brake pedal is depressed, but the
selector lever still cannot be moved out of ªPº
(Park), follow these instructions:
1. Shut the engine off and remove the key.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Reinsert the ignition key and turn it clock-
wise to the ªACCº position.
4. Depress the brake pedal, move the selector
lever to ªNº (Neutral) and start the engine.
5. Check stop light operation.
If the selector lever cannot be moved
from the ªPº position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal depressed,
the stop lights may not work. Malfunc-
tioning stop lights could cause an acci-
dent injuring yourself and others.
These instructions for starting the vehicle in
ªNº (Neutral) should only be used until service
can be obtained. Never drive the vehicle if the
stop lights are not operating properly.
4-8
Z01.2.1/R50-DX

Push the button to shift into ªPº, ªRº or from ªDº
to ª2º. All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
ªPº (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Always be
sure the vehicle is at a complete stop. For
maximum safety, depress the brake pedal,
then push in the select lever button and move
the lever to the ªPº position. Apply the parking
brake. When parking on a hill, apply the park-
ing brake first, then shift the lever into the ªPº
position.ªRº (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Shift into this
position only after the vehicle has completely
stopped.
ªNº (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to ªNº and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
ªDº (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
ª2º (Second gear):
Use for hill climbing, effective engine braking
on downhill grades or starting on slippery
roads.
Do not downshift into the ª2º position at speeds
over the following speeds and do not exceed
the following speeds in the ª2º position:2-wheel drive:
60 MPH (95 km/h)
4-wheel drive:
50 MPH (80 km/h)
ª1º (Low gear):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine braking
on steep downhill grades.
Do not shift into ª1ºposition at speeds over the
following speeds:
2-wheel drive:
60 MPH (95 km/h)
4-wheel drive:
50 MPH (80 km/h)
Do not exceed the following speeds in the ª1º
position:
2-wheel drive:
30 MPH (50 km/h)
4-wheel drive:
30 MPH (50 km/h)
SD1034
4-9
Z01.2.1/R50-DX