1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER tire type

ON-PAVEMENT AND OFFROAD
DRIVING PRECAUTIONSUtility vehicles have higher ground clearance
than passenger cars and a narrower track to
make them capable of performing in a wide
variety of offroad applications. Specific design
characteristics give them a higher center of
gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of
higher ground clearance is a better view of the
road, allowing you to anticipate problems.
They are not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as conventional two-wheel drive
vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars
are designed to perform satisfactorily under
offroad conditions. If at all possible, avoid
sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. As with
other vehicles of this type, failure to operate
this vehicle correctly may result in loss of
control or vehicle rollover.
Be sure to read the driving safety precautions
later in this section.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVERFailure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss
of control or an accident.Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden steer-
ing maneuvers, because these driving prac-
tices could cause you to lose control of your
vehicle.As with any vehicle, a loss of con-
trol could result in a collision with other
vehicles or objects, or cause the vehicle to
rollover, particularly if the loss of control
causes the vehicle to slide sideways.Be
attentive at all times, and avoid driving when
tired. Never drive when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs (including prescription or
over-the-counter drugs which may cause
drowsiness). Always wear your seat belt as
outlined in the ªSeat beltsº in the ª1. Seats,
restraints and supplemental air bag systemsº
section of this manual, and also instruct your
passengers to do so.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVINGNever drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream
reduces coordination, delays reaction
time and impairs judgement. Driving af-
ter drinking alcohol increases the likeli-
hood of being involved in an accident
injuring yourself and others. Addition-
ally, if you are injured in the accident,
alcohol can increase the severity of the
injury.Nissan is committed to safe driving. But, you
must choose not to drive under the influence of
alcohol. Every year thousands of people are
injured or killed in alcohol related accidents.
Although the local laws vary on what is con-
sidered to be legally intoxicated, the fact is that
alcohol affects all people differently and most
people underestimate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don't mix!
And that's true for drugs too (over the counter,
prescription, and illegal drugs). Don't drive if
your ability to operate your vehicle is impaired
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The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces, even with the anti-lock sys-
tem. Stopping distances may also be
longer on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the responsibility for safety of self and
others rests in the hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may also
affect braking effectiveness.
IWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
IWhen installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. SeeªTire placardº in the ª10. Technical
and consumer informationº section
for tire placard location information.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCKTo prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole.ANTI-FREEZEIn the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC), check
anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base) to assure
proper winter protection. For details, see ªEn-
gine Cooling Systemº in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº
section.BATTERYIf the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For details, see
ªBatteryº in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section.DRAINING OF COOLANT WATERIf the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by open-
ing the drain valves located under the radiator
and on the engine block. Refill before operat-
ing the vehicle. See ªEngine cooling systemº in
the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section for Changing
Engine Coolant.COLD WEATHER DRIVING
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TIRE EQUIPMENT1. SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your
vehicle on snowy or icy roads, NISSAN
recommends the use of MUD & SNOW or
ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Please consult your NISSAN dealer for the
tire type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some Prov-
inces and States prohibit their use, so,
before installing studded tires, check local,
state and provincial laws.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
3. Tire chains may be used if desired. Make
sure they are of proper size for the tires on
your vehicle and are installed according to
the chain manufacturer's suggestions. Use
of tire chains may be prohibited according
to location. Check the local laws before
installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure they are of proper sizefor the tires on your vehicle and are in-
stalled according to the chain manufactur-
er's suggestions.Use only SAE Class S
chains.Other types may damage your
vehicle. Use chain tensioners when recom-
mended by the tire chain manufacturer to
ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the tire
chain must be secured or removed to pre-
vent the possibility of whipping action dam-
age to the fenders or underbody. If pos-
sible, 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 af-
fected.
Do not use the chains on dry roads.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENTIt is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
1. A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
2. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
3. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-
drifts.4. Extra window washer fluid to refill the res-
ervoir tank.
Starting and driving
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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
DI0047
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.
Do-it-yourself
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SAE 5W-30 viscosity oil is preferred for all
temperatures. SAE 10W-30 viscosity oil
may be used if the ambient temperature is
above 0ÉF (þ18ÉC).
75W-90 for transfer, and 80W-90 for differ-
ential are preferable if the ambient tem-
perature is below 104ÉF (40ÉC).
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND LUBRICANT
RECOMMENDATIONSThe air conditioning system in this NISSAN
vehicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the lubricant,
Nissan A/C System Oil Type S or the exact
equivalents.Use of any other refrigerants or
lubricants will cause severe damage and you
will need to replace your vehicle's entire air
conditioning system.
The refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) in your
NISSAN vehicle will not harm the earth's
ozone layer. Although this refrigerant does not
affect the earth's atmosphere, certain govern-
mental regulations require the recovery and
recycling of any refrigerant during automotive
air conditioning system service. Your NISSAN
dealer has the trained technicians and equip-
ment needed to recover and recycle your air
conditioning system refrigerant.
Contact your NISSAN dealer when servicing
your air conditioning system.
TI0003
10-8
Technical and consumer information
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11 Index
A
ABS ................................................................. 5-25
Adjusting the time ........................................... 2-33
Adjustment
Front manual seat ....................................... 1-2
Front power seat ......................................... 1-4
Head restraint .............................................. 1-8
Rear seat ..................................................... 1-5
Shoulder belt ............................................. 1-22
Air bag
System....................................................... 1-13
Warning label ............................................ 1-15
Warning light .................................... 1-15, 2-10
Air cleaner....................................................... 8-16
Air conditioner
Manual ......................................................... 4-3
Operation, Manual ....................................... 4-5
Operation, Semiautomatic ......................... 4-11
Semiautomatic ............................................. 4-9
Servicing .................................................... 4-13
Specification label ................................... 10-14
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ............................. 10-8
Aluminum alloy wheels, Cleaning ..................... 7-3
Anchor point location, Top strap..................... 1-35
Antenna........................................................... 4-25
Anti-freeze, Cold weather ............................... 5-26
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ........................ 5-25Appearance care
Exterior ........................................................ 7-2
Interior ......................................................... 7-4
Armrest ............................................................. 1-8
Ashtray ............................................................ 2-22
Audio system .................................................. 4-14
Automatic
Sunroof, Operation .................................... 2-32
Transmission fluid ....................................... 8-9
Transmission, Driving .................................. 5-9
Avoiding collision and rollover .......................... 5-4
B
Back door.......................................................... 3-9
Battery
Cold weather ............................................. 5-26
Maintenance .............................................. 8-13
Replacement, Multi-remote control ............. 3-6
Before starting the engine ................................ 5-8
Belt
Drive .......................................................... 8-14
Extender, Seat........................................... 1-25
Height adjustment, Shoulder ..................... 1-22
Maintenance, Seat .................................... 1-25
Seat ........................................................... 1-17
Brake
Booster ...................................................... 8-19
Fluid ........................................................... 8-11Parking ...................................................... 5-15
Pedal ......................................................... 8-18
System....................................................... 5-24
Warning light ............................................. 2-10
Break-in schedule ........................................... 5-18
Bulb
Checking...................................................... 2-9
Indicator ..................................................... 2-12
Replacement ............................................. 8-22
Warning light ............................................... 2-9
Buzzer ............................................................. 2-13
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricant .. 10-2
Car phone ....................................................... 4-26
Carbon monoxide, Exhaust gas ....................... 5-2
Cassette tape player operation....................... 4-16
Cassette tape player operation, with
compact disc (CD) player type ....................... 4-22
Catalytic converter, Three way catalyst............ 5-3
CB radio or car phone .................................... 4-26
Certification label, F.M.V.S.S. ....................... 10-13
Chain, Tire ...................................................... 8-27
Changing
A flat tire ...................................................... 6-2
Engine coolant............................................. 8-5
Engine oil..................................................... 8-8
Engine oil filter............................................. 8-9
Tire and wheel........................................... 8-28
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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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