1997 NISSAN PATHFINDER engine overheat

The tachometer indicates engine speed in
revolutions per minute (r/min).
When engine speed approaches the red
zone, shift to a higher gear. Operating
the engine in the red zone may cause
serious engine damage.
The gauge indicates the engine coolant tem-
perature.
The engine coolant temperature will vary with
the outside air temperature and driving condi-
tions.
If the gauge indicates over the normal
range, stop the vehicle as soon as safely
possible. If the engine is overheated,
continued operation of the vehicle may
seriously damage the engine. See ªIn
case of emergencyº section for immedi-ate action required.
SIC0588SIC0545
TACHOMETER
ENGINE COOLANT
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

The front seat(s) are warmed by built-in heat-
ers. The switches located on the instrument
panel can be operated independently of each
other.
1. Start the engine.
The battery could run down if the heater is
operated while the engine is not running.
2. Push the ª
º (Low) or ªº (High)
position of the switch, as desired, depend-
ing on the temperature. The indicator light
in the switch will illuminate.
The heater is controlled by a thermostat,
automatically turning the heater on and off.The indicator light will remain on as long as
the switch is on.
3. When the vehicle's interior is warmed or
before you leave the vehicle, be sure to turn
the switch off.
IDo not use the seat heater for a long
time or when no one is seated there.
IDo not put anything on the seat which
insulates heat, such as a blanket,
cushion, seat cover, etc. Otherwise,
the seat may become overheated.
IDo not place anything hard or heavy
on the seat or pierce it with a pin or
similar object. This may result in
damage to the heater.
IAny liquid spilled on the heating seat
should be immediately wiped up with
a dry cloth.
IWhen cleaning the seat, never use
benzine, thinner, or any similar mate-
rials.
IIf any abnormalities are found or the
heating seat does not operate, turnthe switch OFF and have the system
checked by your NISSAN dealer.
SIC0684
HEATED SEATS (If so equipped)
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

ITake care as the socket and plug may
be hot during or immediately after
use.
IThis power socket is not designed for
use with a cigarette lighter unit.
IDo not use with accessories that ex-
ceed a 12 volt, 120W (10A) power
draw. Do not use double adapters or
more than one electrical accessory.IUse this power socket with the en-
gine running. (If the engine is
stopped, this could result in a dis-
charged battery.)
IAvoid using when the air conditioner,
headlights or rear window defogger
is on.
IBefore inserting or disconnecting a
plug, be sure to turn off the power
switch of electrical accessory being
used or the ACC power of the vehicle.
IPush the plug in as far as it will go. If
good contact is not made, the plug
may overheat or the internal tempera-
ture fuse may blow.
IWhen not in use, be sure to close the
cap. Do not allow water to contact the
socket.The coin tray should not be used while
driving in order that full attention may be
given to the driving operation.
Do not place valuable items in the tray.
SIC0686SIC0596
POWER SOCKET COIN TRAY
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

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

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.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

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 the 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

gently touches the curb.
IHEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
q2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
IHEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
q3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the
center of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the ªLOCKº position
and remove the key.
INever leave the engine running while
vehicle is unattended.
INever leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
The power assisted steering is designed to
use a hydraulic pump, driven by the engine, to
assist steering.
If the engine stops or drive belt breaks, you will
still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, espe-
cially in sharp turns or at low speeds.The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit develops a problem, you
will still have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brake
The brake booster aids braking by using en-
gine vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop
the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal.
However, greater foot pressure on the brake
pedal will be required to stop the vehicle and
the stopping distance will be longer.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result,
your braking distance will be longer and the
vehicle may pull to one side during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to
heat-up the brakes. Do this until the brakes
return to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at
high speeds until the brakes function correctly.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will overheat the brakes,
wear out the brake linings and pads faster and
reduce gas mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, before going down a
POWER STEERING SYSTEM BRAKE SYSTEM
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

IAutomatic transmission models can-
not be started by pushing. This may
cause transmission damage.
IThree-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three-way catalyst may be
damaged.
INever try to start the vehicle by tow-
ing it; when the engine starts, the
forward surge could cause the ve-
hicle to collide with the tow vehicle.
If your vehicle is overheating indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading, or
if you feel a lack of engine power, detect
abnormal noise, etc., take the following steps:
IDo not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could
cause a vehicle fire.
ITo avoid the danger of being burned,
never remove the radiator cap while
the engine is still hot. When the radia-
tor cap is removed, pressurized hot
water will spurt out, possibly causing
serious injury.
IDo not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply
the parking brake and move the gearshift
lever to the neutral position (automatic
transmission to ªPº).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner switch. Open all
the windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to ªmaximumhotº and fan control to ªhigh speedº.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climbing
a long hill on a hot day, run the engine at a
fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm) until the
temperature gauge indication returns to
normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. Wait until no
steam or coolant can be seen before pro-
ceeding.
5. Open the engine hood.
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is leaking,
the cooling fan belt is missing or loose or
the cooling fan does not run, stop the
engine.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
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