2001 NISSAN PATHFINDER service

WARNING
IDo not leave children, impaired
adults, or pets alone in your vehicle.
They could accidentally injure them-
selves or others through inadvertent
operation of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
IProperly secure all cargo to help pre-
vent it from sliding or shifting. Do not
place cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause per-
sonal injury.
EXHAUST GAS (Carbon monoxide)
WARNING
Do not breathe exhaust gases; they con-
tain colorless and odorless carbon mon-
oxide. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous.
It can cause unconsciousness or death.
IIf you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all
windows fully open, and have the
vehicle inspected immediately.
IDo not run the engine in closed
spaces such as a garage.
IDo not park the vehicle with the en-
gine running for any extended length
of time.
IKeep the back door and glass hatch
closed while driving, otherwise ex-
haust gases could be drawn into the
passenger compartment. If you must
drive with the back door on glass
hatch open, follow these precautions:
1. Open all the windows.2. Set the air recirculation switch
OFF and the fan control at 4 (high)
to circulate the air.
IIf electrical wiring or other cable con-
nections must pass to a trailer
through the seal on the back door or
the body, follow the manufacturer's
recommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle.
IIf a special body or other equipment
is added for recreational or other us-
age, follow the manufacturer's rec-
ommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle.
(Some recreational vehicle appli-
ances such as stoves, refrigerator,
heaters, etc. may also generate car-
bon monoxide.)
IThe exhaust system and body should
be inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever:
a. The vehicle is raised for service.
b. You suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering into the passenger
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING
AND DRIVING5-2
Starting and driving
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ShiftingPush the button to shift into P, R or from D to
2. All other positions can be selected without
pushing the button.
P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Always be
sure the vehicle is at a complete stop. For
maximum safety, depress the brake pedal,
then push in the select lever button and move
the lever to the P position. Apply the parking
brake. When parking on a hill, apply the park-
ing brake first, then shift the lever into the P
position.Shifting from P (Park):
If the ignition switch is in the ON position and
the foot brake pedal is depressed, but the
selector lever still cannot be moved out of P
(Park), follow these instructions:
1. Shut the engine off and remove the key.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Reinsert the ignition key and turn it clock-
wise to the ACC position.
4. Depress the brake pedal, move the selector
lever to N (Neutral) and start the engine.
5. Check stop light operation.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved
from the P (Park) position while the
engine is running and the brake pedal
depressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and others.
These instructions for starting the vehicle in N
(Neutral) should only be used until service can
be obtained. Never drive the vehicle if the stop
lights are not operating properly.R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Shift into this
position only after the vehicle has completely
stopped.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to N and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
2 (Second gear):
Use for hill climbing, effective engine braking
on downhill grades or starting on slippery
roads.
Do not downshift into the 2 position at speeds
over the following speeds and do not exceed
the following speeds in the 2 position:
Two wheel drive:
60 MPH (95 km/h)
Four wheel drive:
(Part time)
2H and 4H positions 50 MPH (80 km/h)
4L position 19 MPH (30 km/h)
SSD0105
Starting and driving
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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 are generally familiar
with the applicable laws and procedures for
towing. To assure proper towing and to pre-
vent accidental damage to your vehicle,
NISSAN recommends having a service opera-
tor 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 powertrain are in working condi-tion. If any unit is damaged, dollies
must be used.
IAlways attach safety chains before
towing.
SCE0196
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE6-12
In case of emergency
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When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself
or damage to the vehicle. The following are
general precautions which should be closely
observed.
WARNING
IPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. For a manual
transmission, move the shift lever to
Neutral. For an automatic transmis-
sion, move the selector lever to the P
(Park) position.
IBe sure the ignition key is in the OFF
or LOCK position when performing
any replacement or repair.
IIf you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving fans
belts and any other moving parts.
IIt is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and any jewelry,such as rings, watches, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
IAlways wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
IIf you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
INever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
IKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and battery.
IYour vehicle is equipped with an au-
tomatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warning,
even if the ignition key is in the OFF
position and the engine is not run-
ning. To avoid injury, always discon-
nect the negative battery cable before
working near the fan.
IOn gasoline engine models with themultiport fuel injection (MFI) system,
the fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
even when the engine is off.
CAUTION
IDo not work under the engine hood
while it is hot. Turn off the engine and
wait until it cools down.
INever connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized com-
ponent connector while the ignition
key is on.
INever leave the engine or the auto-
matic transmission related compo-
nent harness connector discon-
nected while the ignition key is on.
IAvoid direct contact with used engine
oil and coolant. Improperly disposed
engine oil, engine coolant, and/or
other vehicle fluids can hurt the envi-
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS8-2
Do-it-yourself
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ronment. Always conform to local
regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
This ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform. More
involved service should be done by your
NISSAN dealer.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. See ªOwner's Manual/Service
Manual order informationº in the ª10. Technical
and consumer informationº section.
You should be aware that incomplete or im-
proper servicing may result in operating diffi-
culties or excessive emissions, and could af-
fect your warranty coverage.If in doubt about
any servicing, have it done by your NISSAN
dealer.
Do-it-yourself
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CHANGING ENGINE COOLANTIMajor cooling system repairs should be
performed by your NISSAN dealer. The
service procedures can be found in the
appropriate NISSAN Service Manual.
IImproper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
ITo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
INever remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
IAvoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, washthoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
IKeep coolant out of reach of children
and pets.
SDI0485
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Do-it-yourself
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WARNING
IAfter rotating the tires, adjust the tire
pressure.
IRetighten the wheel nuts after the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
IDo not include small size spare tire in
the tire rotation.
Tire wear and damage
WARNING
ITires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging or
objects caught in the tread. If exces-
sive 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 be re-
placed.
IImproper service for a TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire may result in
serious personal injury. If it is neces-
sary to repair the TEMPORARY USE
ONLY spare tire, contact your
NISSAN dealer.
Replacing wheels and tiresWhen 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.
WARNING
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, tire chain
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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, possibly
degraded vehicle handling character-
istics and/or interference with the
brake discs. Such interference can
lead to decreased braking efficiency
and/or early brake pad 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 models
CAUTION
Always 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.
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.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 performedwith 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.
INISSAN recommends that the road wheels
be waxed to protect against road salt in
areas where it is used during winter.TEMPORARY USE ONLY spare tire
(if so equipped)U.S. only. Canadian vehicles are equipped
with a full size spare tire.
Observe the following precautions if the TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY spare tire must be used,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged or
involved in an accident.
Do-it-yourself
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