1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER four wheel drive

NISSAN recommends that a dolly be used as
illustrated when towing four wheel drive mod-
els.
When towing with the front wheels on
the ground or with the rear wheels on
the ground (if you do not use towing
dollies): Move the transfer case shift
lever into the 2H position.
IWhen towing with the front wheels on
the ground: Turn the ignition key to
the OFF position and move the trans-
mission shift lever to the N (neutral)
position, on automatic transmission
models to move the selector lever to
N (neutral) position, turn the ignition
key to the ACC position. After moving
the selector lever to the N (neutral)
position. Turn the ignition key to the
OFF position and secure the steering
wheel in a straightahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
place the ignition key in the LOCK
position. This will result in damage to
the steering lock mechanism.
IWhen towing manual transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground:
Always release the parking brake andmove the transmission shift lever to
the N (neutral) position.
Observe the following restricted towing speeds
and distances.
Speed: Below 60 MPH (95 km/h)
Distance: 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.
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In case of emergency
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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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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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Checking
Brake pedal ............................................... 8-18
Bulb ............................................................. 2-9
Engine coolant level .................................... 8-4
Engine oil level ............................................ 8-7
Parking brake ............................................ 8-18
Seat belt operation, Three-point ............... 1-21
Child restraint.................................................. 1-25
Installation on front seat ............................ 1-36
Installation on rear seat center ................. 1-27
Installation on rear seat outboard ............. 1-30
Precaution ................................................. 1-25
Top strap ................................................... 1-34
Child safety
Rear door lock ............................................. 3-3
Seat belt .................................................... 1-18
Chrome parts, Cleaning .................................... 7-3
Cigarette lighter and ashtray .......................... 2-22
Cleaner, Air ..................................................... 8-16
Cleaning
Exterior ........................................................ 7-2
Interior ......................................................... 7-4
Clock ............................................................... 2-33
Adjusting .................................................... 2-33
Operation ................................................... 2-34
Clutch
Fluid ........................................................... 8-11
Housing drain,
................................. 8-30
Pedal ......................................................... 8-20
Cold weather driving ....................................... 5-26
Compact disc (CD) player operation, with
cassette player type........................................ 4-23
Compass display .............................................. 2-7
Console box .................................................... 2-25Controls, Heater and manual air conditioner.... 4-3
Controls, Heater and semiautomatic air
conditioner ........................................................ 4-9
Cooling system, Engine .................................... 8-4
Corrosion protection ......................................... 7-5
Cover, Tonneau .............................................. 2-29
Cruise control.................................................. 5-16
Cup holder ...................................................... 2-24
D
Defogger switch, Rear window and outside
mirror............................................................... 2-16
Dimensions and weights, Vehicle ................. 10-11
Door .................................................................. 3-2
Door open warning light ................................. 2-10
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................... 5-4
Drive belt......................................................... 8-14
Driving
Cold weather ............................................. 5-26
On snow or ice .......................................... 5-28
On-pavement and offroad ........................... 5-4
Precaution ................................................... 5-2
The vehicle .................................................. 5-9
Drugs ................................................................ 5-4
EEconomy, Fuel ................................................ 5-19
Emission control
Information label ...................................... 10-13
System warranty...................................... 10-19
Engine
Block heater .............................................. 5-28Compartment check location....................... 8-3
Coolant heater ........................................... 5-28
Coolant temperature gauge ........................ 2-4
Cooling system ............................................ 8-4
Oil ................................................................ 8-7
Oil and oil filter recommendation .............. 10-6
Overheat ...................................................... 6-9
Serial number .......................................... 10-12
Specifications ............................................ 10-9
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ...................... 5-2
Explanation of maintenance items .......... 9-2, 9-10
Exterior and interior light, Replacement ......... 8-23
F
F.M.V.S.S. certification label......................... 10-13
Fastening the seat belt
Three-point ................................................ 1-20
Two-point ................................................... 1-23
Filling, Fuel filler lid ......................................... 3-11
Filter, Air ......................................................... 8-16
Flasher switch, Hazard warning ..................... 2-19
Flat tire .............................................................. 6-2
Floor mats, Cleaning ........................................ 7-4
Fluid
Automatic transmission ............................... 8-9
Brake ......................................................... 8-11
Engine ......................................................... 8-7
Power steering .......................................... 8-11
Window washer ......................................... 8-12
Fog light switch ............................................... 2-19
Four by four clutch housing drain ................... 8-30
Four wheel drive, Using .................................. 5-20
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Transfer case shifting procedure .................... 5-21
Transmitter
Integrated HomeLink
............................... 2-35
Multi-remote control..................................... 3-4
Traveling or registering your vehicle in another
country .......................................................... 10-11
Turn signal switch ........................................... 2-18
Two-point type seat belt without retractor
(Center of rear seat) ....................................... 1-23
Type of tire...................................................... 8-26
U
Underbody, Cleaning ........................................ 7-3
Unfastening the seat belt
Three-point ................................................ 1-21
Two-point ................................................... 1-24
Using four wheel drive .................................... 5-20
VVanity mirror light ............................................ 2-35
Vehicle
Identification ............................................ 10-12
Loading information ................................. 10-14
Ventilator ........................................................... 4-2
Viscosity number ............................................ 10-7
Visor, Sun ....................................................... 3-13
WWarning
Buzzer, Seat belt ....................................... 2-10
Flasher switch ........................................... 2-19Label, Air bag ............................................ 1-15
Light ............................................................. 2-9
Light, Air bag.................................... 1-15, 2-10
Light, Brake ............................................... 2-10
Light, Door open........................................ 2-10
Light, Low fuel ........................................... 2-11
Light, Seat belt .......................................... 2-10
Theft .......................................................... 2-14
Warranty, Emission control ........................... 10-19
Washer switch
Rear window.............................................. 2-16
Windshield ................................................. 2-15
Washing ............................................................ 7-2
Waxing .............................................................. 7-3
Weights, Vehicle ........................................... 10-11
Wheel .............................................................. 8-26
Wheels, Specifications .................................. 10-10
Window ........................................................... 2-30
Power ........................................................ 2-30
Washer fluid .............................................. 8-12
Windshield wiper and washer switch.............. 2-15
Windshield wiper blade ................................... 8-17
Winter equipment ............................................ 5-27
Wiper
Blade ......................................................... 8-17
Rear window.............................................. 2-16
Windshield ................................................. 2-15
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