2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER brake light

When driving on slippery surfaces or suddenly
avoiding obstacles on roads, the vehicle might
swerve or slip. With the vehicle dynamic control
(VDC) system, sensors detect these movements
and control the braking and engine output to
help improve vehicle stability while driving.

When the vehicle dynamic control system is
operating, the slip indicator in the instrument
panel blinks.

When only the traction control system portion
of the vehicle dynamic control system is
operating, the slip indicator will also blink.

If the slip indicator blinks, the vehicle is under
slippery conditions. Be sure to drive carefully.
See “Slip indicator light”, and “Vehicle dy-
namic control off indicator light” in the “2.
Instruments and controls” section.

Indicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
SLIP and
indicator lights come on in
the meter panel.
As long as these warning lights are on, the
traction control function is canceled.
If the vehicle is operated with the vehicle dy-
namic control system turned off, all VDC func-
tions will be turned off. The brake LSD and ABS
system will still operate with the VDC system off.
VDC is provided the “Brake Limited Slip Differ-ential” system. The Brake LSD system works
when the one of driving wheels is spinning on a
slippery surface. The Brake LSD system brakes
the spinning driving wheel, then distributes the
driving power to the another. While the Brake
LSD system or the ABS system is activated, the
slip indicator light will blink and you may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear operation
sound. This is normal.
While the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
vibration from under the hood. This is normal and
indicates that the VDC system is working prop-
erly.
The computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal and is
not an indication of a malfunction.
WARNING

The vehicle dynamic control system
is designed to help improve driving
stability but does not prevent acci-
dents due to abrupt steering opera-tion at high speeds or by careless or
dangerous driving techniques. Re-
duce vehicle speed and be especially
careful when driving and cornering
on slippery surfaces and always drive
carefully.

If suspension parts such as shock
absorbers, struts, springs and bush-
ings are not standard equipment or
are extremely deteriorated, the ve-
hicle dynamic control off indicator
light may come on.

When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the vehicle dynamic control sys-
tem may not operate properly or the
vehicle dynamic control off indicator
light may come on. Do not drive on
these types of roads.

If the tires other than the recom-
mended ones are used, the vehicle
dynamic control system may not op-
erate properly or the vehicle dynamic
control off indicator light may come
on.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL
(VDC) SYSTEM (if so equipped)5-36
Starting and driving


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING
SYSTEM (if so equipped)The low tire pressure warning system monitors
tire pressure of all wheels (except the spare tire).
If the vehicle is being driven with very low tire
pressure (lower than 25 psi, 171 kPa), the low
tire pressure warning system will activate and
warn you of it by the low tire pressure warning
light. This system will activate only when the
vehicle is driven at speeds above 20 MPH (32
km/h). For more details, please refer to
“Warning/indicator lights and audible remind-
ers” in the “2. Instruments and controls” section,
and “Low tire pressure warning system” in the
“5. Starting and driving” section.
WARNING

If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates while driving, avoid sud-
den steering maneuvers or abrupt
braking, reduce vehicle speed, pull
off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle as soon as possible.
Serious vehicle damage could occur
and may lead to an accident and
could result in serious personal in-jury. Check the tire pressure for all
four wheels and adjust the pressure
to the COLD tire pressure shown on
the tire placard. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.

When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, the low tire pres-
sure warning system will not func-
tion. Contact your NISSAN dealer as
soon as possible for tire replacement
and/or system resetting.

Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pres-
sure sensors.
CHANGING A FLAT TIREIf you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.Stopping the vehicle1. Safely move the vehicle off the road away
from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flasher.3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking
brake. Shift the manual transmission into
reverse (automatic transmission in P).
WARNING


The transfer control lever
must be in the 2H, 4H or 4L position.

Never place the transfer control lever
in the Nposition. Otherwise, the ve-
hicle could roll unexpectedly even if
the manual transmission is in gear or
the automatic transmission is in the
P position. This could result in seri-
ous personal injury or property dam-
age.
All-mode 4WD models:

Make sure the 4WD shift indicator
and/or transfer 4LO position indica-
tor light remains illuminated before
stopping the engine.

Make sure the ATP light is off before
stopping the engine. Otherwise, the
vehicle could roll unexpectedly even
if the automatic transmission is in
FLAT TIRE6-2
In case of emergency


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


12 volts. Use of an improperly rated
battery can damage your vehicle.

Whenever working on or near a bat-
tery, always wear suitable eye protec-
tors (for example, goggles or indus-
trial safety spectacles) and remove
rings, metal bands, or any other
metal jewelry. Do not lean over bat-
tery when jump starting.

Do not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.

Your vehicle has an automatic en-
gine cooling fan. It could come on at
any time. Keep hands and other ob-
jects away from it.
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the charging system and cause per-
sonal injury.
1. Position the two vehicles to bring their bat-
teries into close proximity to each other if the
booster battery is in another vehicle.Do not
allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply parking brakes. Move the shift lever toNeutral position (On automatic transmission
models, move the selector lever to P (Park)).
Switch off all unnecessary electrical systems
(light, heater, air conditioner, etc.).
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so
equipped). Cover the battery with an old
cloth to reduce explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as
illustrated.
CAUTION

Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (−) to body
ground, (for example, strut mounting
bolt, engine lift bracket, etc. — not to
the battery).

Make sure that cables do not touch
moving parts in the engine compart-
ment and that clamps do not contact
any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the other vehicle and let it
run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the other vehicle at
about 2,000 rpm, and start your engine in the
normal manner.
SCE0390
6-10
In case of emergency


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


8 Maintenance and do-it-yourselfMaintenance requirements .................................................. 8-2
General maintenance ............................................................ 8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items ................ 8-2
Maintenance precautions ..................................................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations .............................. 8-7
Engine cooling system.......................................................... 8-9
Checking engine coolant level...................................... 8-9
Changing engine coolant ............................................ 8-10
Engine oil ............................................................................... 8-13
Checking engine oil level ............................................ 8-13
Changing engine oil ...................................................... 8-14
Changing engine oil filter ............................................ 8-15
Automatic transmission fluid ............................................. 8-16
Temperature conditions for checking ....................... 8-17
Power steering fluid ............................................................ 8-18
Brake and clutch fluid ........................................................ 8-19
Brake fluid ....................................................................... 8-19
Clutch fluid ...................................................................... 8-19
Window washer fluid.......................................................... 8-20
Window washer fluid reservoir .................................. 8-20
Battery .................................................................................... 8-21
Jump starting .................................................................. 8-21
Drive belts ............................................................................. 8-22
Spark plugs ........................................................................... 8-23Replacing spark plugs.................................................. 8-23
Air cleaner ............................................................................. 8-23
Windshield wiper blades ................................................... 8-24
Cleaning ........................................................................... 8-24
Replacing ......................................................................... 8-24
Parking brake and brake pedal ........................................ 8-25
Checking parking brake ............................................... 8-25
Checking brake pedal .................................................. 8-26
Brake booster ................................................................. 8-26
Fuses ...................................................................................... 8-27
Engine compartment ..................................................... 8-27
Passenger compartment .............................................. 8-28
Keyfobbattery replacement ........................................ 8-28
Lights ...................................................................................... 8-30
Headlights ....................................................................... 8-31
Wheels and tires ................................................................. 8-34
Tire pressure ................................................................... 8-34
Types of tires .................................................................. 8-35
Tire chains ....................................................................... 8-36
Changing wheels and tires ......................................... 8-37


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


WARNING
Use only new fluid from a sealed con-
tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the brake and clutch
systems. The use of improper fluids can
affect the vehicle’s stopping ability.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid
is spilled, wash the surface with water.
BRAKE FLUIDCheck the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid
level is below the MIN. line or the brake warning
light comes on, add Genuine Nissan Brake Fluid
or equivalent DOT 3 fluid up to the MAX. line.
If fluid must be added frequently, the system
should be thoroughly checked by your NISSAN
dealer.
CLUTCH FLUIDCheck the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid
level is below the MIN. line, add Genuine Nissan
Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3 fluid up to the
MAX. line.
If fluid is added frequently, the system should be
thoroughly checked by your NISSAN dealer.
SDI0847
SDI0844
BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-19


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


CHECKING BRAKE PEDALWith the engine running, check distance A
between the upper surface of the pedal and the
dash lower panel.
Distance A
M/T models
2-1/2 in (65 mm) or more
A/T models
2-3/4 in (70 mm) or more
If it is out of the range shown above, see your
NISSAN dealer.
Self-adjusting brakesYour vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front and rear brakes self-adjust every time
the brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
See your NISSAN dealer and have it
checked if the brake pedal height does
not return to normal.Brake pad wear indicatorsThe disc brake pads on your vehicle have au-
dible wear indicators. When a brake pad re-
quires replacement, it will make a high pitched
scraping or screeching sound when the vehicle
is in motion whether or not the brake pedal is
depressed. Have the brakes checked as soon as
possible if the wear indicator sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions, occa-
sional brake squeak, squeal or other noise may
be heard. Occasional brake noise during light to
moderate stops is normal and does not affect
the function or performance of the brake system.
The rear drum brakes (if so equipped) do nothave audible wear indicators. Should you ever
hear an unusually loud noise from the rear drum
brakes, have them inspected as soon as pos-
sible by your NISSAN dealer.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For additional information, see the
separate “Service and Maintenance Guide”.
BRAKE BOOSTERCheck the brake booster function with the fol-
lowing steps:
1. With the engine off, press and release the
brake pedal several times. When brake pedal
movement (distance of travel) remains the
same from one pedal application to the next,
continue on to the next step.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, start the
engine. The pedal height should drop a little.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop the
engine. Keeping the pedal depressed for
about 30 seconds, the pedal height should
not change.
4. Run the engine for one minute without de-
pressing the brake pedal, then turn it off.
Depress the brake pedal several times. The
pedal travel distance will decrease gradually
with each depression as the vacuum is re-
leased from the booster.
DI0453
8-26
Maintenance and do-it-yourself


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brake checked by your NISSAN dealer.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of higher amperage
rating than that specified on the fuse
box cover. This could damage the elec-
trical system or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition key and the headlight
switch are OFF.2. Open the engine hood.
3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
5. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new fuse.
6. If a new fuse opens again, have the electrical
system checked and repaired by your
NISSAN dealer.
Fusible linksIf any electrical equipment does not operate and
fuses are in good condition, check the fusible
links. If any of these fusible links are melted,
replace only with genuine NISSAN parts.
SDI0395
FUSES
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-27


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


indicator is visible, the tire should be
replaced.

Improper 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.

For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety In-
formation” (Canada) in the Warranty
Information booklet.
Replacing wheels and tiresWhen replacing a tire, use the same size, speed
rating and load carrying capacity as originally
equipped. See “Specifications” in the “9. Tech-
nical and consumer information” section for tires
and wheels.
WARNING

The 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
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to
accidents and could result in serious
personal injury.

If 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.

When a spare tire is mounted or awheel is replaced, the low tire pres-
sure warning system will not func-
tion. Contact your NISSAN dealer as
soon as possible for tire replacement
and/or system resetting. (For models
with the low tire pressure warning
system)

Do 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.

The use of a retread tire is not rec-
ommended.

For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety In-
formation” (Canada) in the Warranty
Information booklet.
8-38
Maintenance and do-it-yourself


03.1.28/R50-D/V5