1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER tires

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.IThe towing hook is under tremendous force
when used to free a stuck vehicle. Always
pull the cable straight out from the front of
the vehicle.Neverpull on the hook at an
angle.
IStand clear of a stuck vehicle.
Do not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode and
result in serious injury. Parts of your
vehicle could also overheat and bedamaged.
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In case of emergency
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8 Do-it-yourselfMaintenance precautions .......................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ....................... 8-3
Engine cooling system .............................................. 8-4
Engine oil .................................................................. 8-7
Automatic transmission fluid ..................................... 8-9
Power steering fluid ................................................ 8-11
Brake and clutch fluid ............................................. 8-11
Window washer fluid ............................................... 8-12
Battery ..................................................................... 8-13
Drive belts ............................................................... 8-14
Spark plugs ............................................................. 8-14
Air cleaner ............................................................... 8-16
Windshield wiper blades ......................................... 8-17
Parking brake and brake pedal ............................... 8-18
Clutch pedal ............................................................ 8-20
Fuses....................................................................... 8-20
Lights ....................................................................... 8-21
Tires and wheels ..................................................... 8-26
Clutch housing drain ................................... 8-30
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If you have a flat tire, see ªFlat tireº in the
ª6. In case of emergencyº section.TIRE PRESSURE
Maximum inflation pressureDo not exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sures shown on the side wall of the tire.Tire inflation pressurePeriodically 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 vehiclehas been parked for three or more hours, or
driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). COLD tire
pressures are shown on the tire placard affixed
to the inside of the glove box lid.
IImproperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident.
IThe vehicle capacity weight is indi-
cated on the tire placard. Do not load
your vehicle beyond this capacity.
Overloading your vehicle may result
in reduced tire life, unsafe operating
conditions due to premature tire fail-
ure, or unfavorable handling charac-
teristics and could also lead to a
serious accident. Loading beyond the
specified capacity may also result in
failure of other vehicle components.
IBefore 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 speci-
fied level.
IDo not drive your vehicle over 85
MPH (140 km/h) unless it is equippedwith high speed capability tires. Driv-
ing faster than 85 MPH (140 km/h)
may result in tire failure, loss of con-
trol and possible injury.
TYPES OF TIRESWhen changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(for example, 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 tiresNISSAN 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
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TIRES AND WHEELS8-26
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ALL SEASON and/or M&S on the tire sidewall.
Snow tires have better snow traction than all
season tires and may be more appropriate in
some areas.Summer tiresNISSAN specifies summer tires on some mod-
els to provide superior performance on dry
roads. Summer tire performance in snow and
ice will be substantially reduced. Summer tires
do not have the tire traction rating M&S on the
tire sidewall.
If you operate your vehicle in snowy or icy
conditions, NISSAN recommends the use of
SNOW or ALL SEASON tires on all four
wheels.Snow tiresIf snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating to
the original equipment tires. If you do not, it
can adversely affect the safety and handling of
your vehicle.
Generally, snow tires will have lower speed
ratings than factory equipped tires and may
not match the potential maximum vehicle
speed. Never exceed the maximum speed
rating of the tire.
If you operate your vehicle in snowy or icyconditions, NISSAN recommends the use of
SNOW or ALL SEASON tire on all four wheels.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some provinces
and states prohibit their use. Check local, state
and provincial laws before installing studded
tires. Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
Four wheel drive models tireIf you install snow tires, they must also be the
same size, brand, construction and tread pat-
tern on all four wheels.ONLY use spare tires specified for each
four wheel drive model.
TIRE CHAINSUse of tire chains is prohibited according to
location. Check the local laws before installing
tire chains. When installing tire chains, make
sure they are of proper size for the tires on
your vehicle and are installed according to the
chain manufacturer's suggestions.Use only
SAE class S chains.Other types may dam-
age your vehicle. Use chain tensioners when
recommended by the tire chain manufacturer
to ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the tire
chain must be secured or removed to prevent
the possibility of whipping action damage to
the fenders or underbody. If possible, 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 affected.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Do not drive with tire chains on paved roads
which are clear of snow. Driving with chains in
such conditions can cause damage to the
various mechanisms of the vehicle due to
some overstress. When driving on clear paved
roads, be sure to change to 2WD.
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CHANGING TIRES AND WHEELS
Tire rotationNISSAN recommends that tires be rotated
every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) for 2WD ve-
hicles and 3,750 miles (6,000 km) for 4WD
vehicles. However, the timing for tire rotation
may vary according to your driving habits and
road surface conditions.
See ªFlat tireº in the ª6. In case of emergencyº
section for tire replacing procedures.Wheel nut tightening torque:
87 to 108 ft-lb (118 to 147 N×m)
IAfter rotating the tires, adjust the tire
pressure.
IRetighten the wheel nuts after the
aluminum wheel has been run for the
first 600 miles (1,000 km). (also in
cases of a flat tire, etc.)
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Tire wear and damageITires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging
or objects caught in the tread. If ex-
cessive wear, cracks, bulging or deep
cuts are found, the tire should be
replaced.
IThe original tires have a built-in tread
wear indicator. When the wear indica-
tor is visible, the tire should bereplaced.
Replacing tires and wheelsWhen replacing a tire, use the same size,
speed rating and load carrying capacity as
originally equipped. See ªSpecificationsº in the
ª10. Technical and consumer informationº sec-
tion for tires and wheels.IThe use of tires other than those
recommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construction
(bias, bias-belted or radial), or tread
patterns can adversely affect the ride,
braking, handling, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, snow chain
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to
accidents and could result in serious
personal injury.
IIf the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same offset dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different offset
could cause early tire wear, possiblydegraded vehicle handling character-
istics and/or interference with the
brake discs/drums. Such interference
can lead to decreased braking effi-
ciency and/or early brake pad/shoe
wear.
IDo not install a deformed wheel or
tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warn-
ing.
IThe use of retread tire is not rec-
ommended.
Four wheel drive modelsAlways use tires of the same size, brand,
construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between tires
on the front and rear axles which will
cause excessive tire wear and may dam-
age the transmission, transfer case and
differential gears.
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If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with tires
of the same size, brand, construction and
tread pattern. The tire pressure and wheel
alignment should also be checked and cor-
rected as necessary. Contact your NISSAN
dealer.
ONLY use spare tires specified for each
four wheel drive model.Wheel balanceUnbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore, they
should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balancing
the rear wheels on the vehicle could lead to
transmission damage.
Care of wheelsIWash the wheels when washing the vehicle
to maintain their appearance.
IClean the inner side of the wheels when the
wheel is changed or the underside of the
vehicle is washed.
IDo not use abrasive cleaners when wash-
ing the wheels.
IInspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. This may cause loss of pressure
or damage the tire bead.
IWe recommend that the road wheels be
waxed to protect against road salt in areas
where it is used during winter.
Checking water entryWhenever you drive in deep water or mud,
check water entry in the clutch housing by
removing the blind plug at the bottom of the
transmission case. After checking, be sure to
reinstall the plug.
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CLUTCH HOUSING DRAIN
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Your new NISSAN has been designed to have
minimum maintenance requirements with
longer service intervals to save you both time
and money. However, some day- to-day and
regular maintenance is essential to maintain
your NISSAN's good mechanical condition, as
well as its emission and engine performance.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure
that the specified maintenance, as well as
general maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one
who can ensure that your vehicle receives the
proper maintenance care. You are a vital link
in the maintenance chain.
General maintenance:
General maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normal day-
to-day operation of the vehicle. They are es-
sential if your vehicle is to continue to operate
properly. It is your responsibility to perform
these procedures regularly as prescribed.
These checks or inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician or, if you prefer,
your NISSAN dealer.
Periodic maintenance:
The maintenance items listed in this part are
required to be serviced at regular intervals.However, under severe driving conditions, ad-
ditional or more frequent maintenance will be
required.
Where to go for service:
If maintenance service is required or your
vehicle appears to malfunction, have the sys-
tems checked and tuned by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained special-
ists and are kept up to date with the latest
service information through technical bulletins,
service tips, and in-dealership training pro-
grams. They are completely qualified to work
on NISSAN's vehicles before they work on
your vehicle, rather than after they have
worked on it.
You can be confident that your NISSAN deal-
er's service department performs the best job
to meet the maintenance requirements on your
vehicle Ð in a reliable and economic way.During the normal day-to-day operation of the
vehicle, general maintenance should be per-
formed regularly as prescribed in this section.
If you detect any unusual sounds, vibrations or
smell, be sure to check for the cause or have
your NISSAN dealer do it promptly. In addition,
you should notify your NISSAN dealer if you
think that repairs are required.
When performing any checks or maintenance
work, see ªMaintenance precautionsº in the ª8.
Do-it-yourselfº section.
EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMSAdditional information on the following
items with * is found in the ª8. Do-it-
yourselfº section.Outside the vehicleThe maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Tires*Check the pressure with a gauge peri-
odically when at a service station, including the
spare, and adjust to the specified pressure if
necessary. Check carefully for damage, cuts
or excessive wear.
Wheel nuts*When checking the tires, makeGENERAL MAINTENANCE
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