2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER Owners Manual

tioner temperature control to maximum hot
and fan control to high speed.
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.
WARNING
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.
WARNING
IBe careful not to allow your hands,
hair, jewelry or clothing to come into
contact with, or to get caught in, the
cooling fan, or drive belt.
IThe engine cooling fan can start at
any time when the coolant tempera-
ture is high.
7. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the reservoir tank with the
engine running. Add coolant to the reservoir
tank if necessary. Have your vehicle re-
paired at the nearest NISSAN dealer.When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial
in Canada) and local regulations for towing
must be followed. Incorrect towing equipment
could damage your vehicle. Towing instruc-
tions are available from your NISSAN dealer.
Local service operators will generally be famil-
iar with the applicable laws and procedures for
towing. To assure proper towing and to pre-
vent accidental damage to your vehicle,
NISSAN recommends that you have a service
operator tow your vehicle. It is advisable to
have the service operator carefully read the
following precautions.
WARNING
INever ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
INever get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
IWhen towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and power train are in working condi-TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
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tion. If any unit is damaged, dollies
must be used.
IAlways attach safety chains before
towing.
INever tow an automatic transmission
model from the rear (that is back-
ward) with four wheels on the ground
as this may cause serious and expen-
sive damage to the transmission.
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN
Two wheel drive modelsNISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
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towed with the driving (rear) wheels off the
ground as illustrated.
CAUTION
IWhen towing manual or automatic
transmission models with the front
wheels on the ground: Turn the igni-
tion key to the OFF position and se-
cure the steering wheel in a straigh-
tahead 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 mecha-
nism.
IWhen towing manual transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground or four wheels on the ground
(if you do not use towing dollies):
Always release the parking brake and
move the transmission shift lever to
the N (neutral) position.
Observe the following restricted tow-
ing speeds and distances.
Manual transmission models:ISpeed: Below 60 MPH (95 km/h)
IDistance: Less than 500 miles (800
km)
If the speed or distance must necessarily be
greater, remove the propeller shaft beforehand
to prevent damage to the transmission.
Four wheel drive modelsNISSAN recommends that a dolly be used as
illustrated when towing four wheel drive mod-
els.
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CAUTION
If towing with the front wheels on the
ground or with the rear wheels on the
ground (if you cannot use towing dol-
lies) is necessary: Move the transfer
case shift lever into the 2H position.
IWhen towing with the front wheels on
the ground: On manual transmission
models to move the shift 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 on similar de-
vice.
On automatic transmission models to
move the selector lever to N (neutral)
position, turn the ignition key to the
ACC position. After moving the selec-
tor lever to the N (neutral) position,
turn the ignition key to the OFF posi-
tion and secure the steering wheel in
a straightahead position with a rope
or similar device.
Never place the ignition key in theLOCK position. This will result in
damage to the steering lock mecha-
nism.
IWhen towing manual transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground or four wheels on the ground:
Always release the parking brake and
move the transmission shift lever to
the N (neutral) position.
Observe the following restricted tow-
ing speeds and distances.
Manual transmission models:
ISpeed: Below 60 MPH (95 km/h)
IDistance: 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.
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.
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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.
WARNING
Do not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode and
result in serious injury. Parts of yourvehicle could also overheat and be dam-
aged.
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7 Appearance and careCleaning exterior ....................................................... 7-2
Washing .................................................................... 7-2
Waxing ...................................................................... 7-2
Removing spots ........................................................ 7-3
Underbody ................................................................. 7-3
Glass ......................................................................... 7-3
Aluminum alloy wheels.............................................. 7-3
Chrome parts ............................................................ 7-3Cleaning interior ........................................................ 7-3
Floor mats ................................................................. 7-4
Seat belts .................................................................. 7-4
Corrosion protection .................................................. 7-4
Most common factors contributing to vehicle
corrosion.................................................................... 7-4
To protect your vehicle from corrosion ..................... 7-5
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In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
In the following cases, please wash your ve-
hicle as soon as possible to protect the paint
surface.
IAfter a rainfall to prevent possible damage
from acid rain
IAfter driving on coastal roads
IWhen contaminants such as soot, bird
droppings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs
get on the paint surface
IWhen dust or mud builds up on the surfaceWhenever possible, store or park your vehicle
inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body
cover.
WASHINGWash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of
water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly using a
mild soap such as Nissan Car Wash, or a
general purpose dish-washing liquid mixed
with clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
IDo not use strong household soap,
strong chemical detergents, gasoline
or solvents.
IDo not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight or while the vehicle body is
hot, as the surface may become
water-spotted.IAvoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths, such as washing mitts. Care
must be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stance so that the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly endangered
by the effects of road salt. Therefore, these
areas must be regularly cleaned. Take care
that the drain holes in the lower edge of the
door are open. Spray water under the body
and in the wheel wells to loosen the dirt and
wash away road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the
vehicle to avoid water spots.
WAXINGRegular waxing protects the paintwork and
keeps the finish. After waxing, polishing is
recommended to remove built-up residue and
avoid a ªweatheredº appearance.
Your NISSAN dealer can assist you in choos-
ing the proper product.
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CLEANING EXTERIOR7-2
Appearance and care
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IWax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
IDo not use a wax containing any abrasives,
cutting compounds or cleaners that may
damage the vehicle finish.
IIf the surface does not polish easily, use a
road tar remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.REMOVING SPOTSRemove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, in-
sects and tree sap as quickly as possible from
the surface of the paint to avoid lasting dam-
age or staining. Special cleaning products are
available at your NISSAN dealer or any auto-
motive accessories store.UNDERBODYIn areas where road salt is used in winter, it is
necessary to clean the underbody regularly in
order to prevent dirt and salt from building up
and causing corrosion on the underbody and
suspension. Before the winter period and
again in the spring, the underseal must be
checked and, if necessary, re-treated.
GLASSUse glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust
film from the glass surfaces. It is normal for
glass to be coated with a film after the vehicle
is parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner and a
soft cloth will easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the window,
do not use sharp-edged tools, abrasive
cleaners or chlorine based disinfectant
cleaners. They could damage the elec-
trical conductors, radio antenna ele-
ments or rear window defogger ele-
ments.ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELSWash regularly, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheel if not removed.CHROME PARTSClean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.Occasionally remove loose dust from the inte-
rior trim, plastic parts and seats using a
vacuum cleaner or soft brush. Wipe the vinyl
and leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth
dampened in mild soap solution, then wipe
clean with a dry soft cloth. Before using any
fabric protector, read the manufacturer's rec-
ommendations. Some fabric protectors con-
tains chemicals that stain or bleach the seat
material.
CAUTION
INever use gasoline, thinner or any
similar material.
IThe leather seats should be regularly
coated with a leather wax like saddle
soap. Never use car wax.
INever use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.CLEANING INTERIOR
Appearance and care
7-3
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