2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER Owners Manual

When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the supplemental front air
bag system and guide the buyer to the appro-
priate sections in this Owner’s Manual.
Supplemental side air bag and curtain
side-impact air bag systems (if so
equipped)The supplemental side air bags are located in
the outside of the seatback of the front seats.
The supplemental curtain side-impact air bags
are located in the side roof rails. These systems
are designed to meet voluntary guidelines to
help reduce the risk of injury to out-of-position
occupants.However, all of the information,
cautions and warnings in this manual still
apply and must be followed.The supplemen-
tal side air bags and curtain side-impact air bags
are designed to inflate in higher severity sidecollisions, although they may inflate if the forces
in another type of collision are similar to those of
a higher severity side impact. They are designed
to inflate on the side where the vehicle is
impacted. They may not inflate in certain side
collisions. Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not
always an indication of proper supplemental side
air bag and curtain side-impact air bag opera-
tion.
When the supplemental side air bag and curtain
side-impact air bag inflate, a fairly loud noise
may be heard, followed by release of smoke.
This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate
a fire. Care should be taken not to inhale it, as it
may cause irritation and choking. Those with a
history of a breathing condition should get fresh
air promptly.
Supplemental side air bags, along with the use
of seat belts, help to cushion the impact force on
the chest of the front occupants. Curtain side-
impact air bags help to cushion the impact force
to the head of occupants in the front and rear
outboard seating positions. They can help save
lives and reduce serious injuries. However, an
inflating side air bag and curtain side-impact air
bag may cause abrasions or other injuries.
Supplemental side air bags and curtain side-
impact air bags do not provide restraint to the
lower body.
The seat belts should be correctly worn and the
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driver and passenger seated upright as far as
practical away from the side air bag. Rear seat
passengers should be seated as far away as
practical from the door finishers and side roof
rails. The side air bags and curtain side-impact
air bag inflate quickly in order to help protect the
front occupants. Because of this, the force of the
side air bag and curtain side-impact air bag
inflating can increase the risk of injury if the
occupant is too close to, or is against, these air
bag modules during inflation. The side air bag
and curtain side-impact air bag will deflate
quickly after the collision is over.
After turning the ignition key to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The air bag warning light
will turn off after about 7 seconds if the
systems are operational.
WARNING

Do not place any objects near the
seatback of the front seats. Also, do
not place any objects (an umbrella,
bag, etc.) between the front door fin-
isher and the front seat. Such objects
may become dangerous projectiles
and cause injury if the side air baginflates.

Right after inflation, several side air
bag and curtain side-impact air bag
system components will be hot. Do
not touch them; you may severely
burn yourself.

No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
this side air bag and curtain side-
impact air bag system. This is to pre-
vent accidental inflation of the side
air bag and curtain side-impact air
bag or damage to the side air bag
and curtain side-impact air bag sys-
tem.

Do not make unauthorized changes
to your vehicle’s electrical system,
suspension system or side panel.
This could affect proper operation of
the supplemental side air bag and
curtain side-impact air bag system.

Tampering with the supplemental
system may result in serious per-
sonal injury. For example, do notchange the front seat by placing ma-
terial near the seatback or by install-
ing additional trim material, such as
seat covers, around the side air bag.

Work around and on the side air bag
and curtain side-impact air bag sys-
tem should be done by a NISSAN
dealer. Installation of electrical
equipment should also be done by a
NISSAN dealer. The SRS wiring har-
nesses* should not be modified or
disconnected. Unauthorized electri-
cal test equipment and probing de-
vices should not be used on the side
air bag system.
* The SRS wiring harnesses are cov-
ered with yellow insulation either just
before the harness connectors or
over the complete harness for easy
identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the side air bag and
curtain side-impact air bag system and guide the
buyer to the appropriate sections in this Owner’s
Manual.
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Pre-tensioner seat belt system (For
front seats)
WARNING

The pre-tensioner seat belt cannot be
reused after activation. It must be
replaced together with the retractor
as a unit.

If the vehicle becomes involved in a
frontal collision but the pre-tensioner
is not activated, be sure to have the
pre-tensioner system checked and, if
necessary, replaced by your NISSAN
dealer.

No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the pre-tensioner seat belt system.
This is to prevent accidental activa-
tion of the pre-tensioner seat belt or
damage to the pre-tensioner seat
belt operation. Tampering with the
pre-tensioner seat belt system may
result in serious personal injury.

Work around and on the pre-tensioner seat belt system should be
done by a NISSAN dealer. Installa-
tion of electrical equipment should
also be done by a NISSAN dealer.
Unauthorized electrical test equip-
ment and probing devices should not
be used on the pretensioner seat belt
system.

If you need to dispose of the pre-
tensioner or scrap the vehicle, con-
tact a NISSAN dealer. Correct pre-
tensioner disposal procedures are
set forth in the appropriate NISSAN
Service Manual. Incorrect disposal
procedures could cause personal
injury.
The front seat pre-tensioner seat belt system
activates in conjunction with the supplemental
front air bag. Working with the seat belt retrac-
tor, it helps tighten the seat belt the instant the
vehicle becomes involved in certain types of
collisions, thereby restraining seat occupants.
The pre-tensioner is encased with the seat belt’s
retractor. These seat belts are used the same as
conventional seat belts.When the pre-tensioner seat belt activates,
smoke is released and a loud noise may be
heard. The smoke is not harmful, but care should
be taken not to inhale it as it may cause irritation
and choking. Those with a history of a breathing
condition should get fresh air promptly.
If any abnormality occurs in the pre-tensioner
seat belt system, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light
will not come on, will flash inter-
mittently or will turn on for 7 seconds and remain
on after the ignition key has been turned to the
ON or START position. In this case, the pre-
tensioner seat belt may not function properly.
They must be checked and repaired. Take your
vehicle to the nearest NISSAN dealer.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the pre-tensioner seat
belt system and guide the buyer to the appro-
priate sections in this Owner’s Manual.
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SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LABELSWarning labels about the supplemental air bag
system are placed in the vehicle as shown in the
illustration.
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHTThe supplemental air bag warning light, display-
ing
in the instrument panel, monitors the
circuits of the supplemental front air bag,
supplemental side air bag (if so equipped) and
curtain side-impact air bag (if so equipped)
systems, and pre-tensioner seat belt. The cir-
cuits monitored by the air bag warning light are
the diagnosis sensor unit, satellite sensors, front
air bag modules, side air bag modules, curtain
side-impact air bag modules, and pre-tensioner
seat belt and all related wiring.
After turning the ignition key to the ON position,
SPA0945B
SPA1097
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the supplemental air bag warning light illumi-
nates. The supplemental air bag warning light
will turn off after about 7 seconds if the system is
operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the
supplemental front air bag, supplemental side air
bag (if so equipped) and curtain side-impact air
bag (if so equipped) systems, and pre-tensioner
seat belt need servicing:

The supplemental air bag warning light re-
mains on after approximately 7 seconds.

The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.

The supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.
Under these conditions, the supplemental front
air bags, supplemental side air bags, curtain
side-impact air bags and/or pre-tensioner seat
belt may not operate properly. They must be
checked and repaired. Take your vehicle to the
nearest NISSAN dealer.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning
light is on, it could mean that thesupplemental front air bag, supplemen-
tal side air bag, curtain side-impact air
bag systems and/or pre-tensioner seat
belt will not operate in an accident.
Repair and replacement procedureThe supplemental front air bags, supplemental
side air bags (if so equipped), curtain side-
impact air bags (if so equipped) and pre-
tensioner seat belt are designed to inflate on a
one-time-only basis. As a reminder, unless it is
damaged, the supplemental air bag warning light
will remain illuminated after inflation has oc-
curred. Repair and replacement of these sys-
tems should be done only by a NISSAN dealer.
When maintenance work is required on the
vehicle, the supplemental front air bags, side air
bags, curtain side-impact air bags, related parts
and pre-tensioner seat belt should be pointed
out to the person conducting the maintenance.
The ignition key should always be in the LOCK
position when working under the hood or inside
the vehicle.
WARNING

Once the supplemental front air bag,
side air bag or curtain side-impact air
bag has inflated, the air bag module
will not function again and must be
replaced. Additionally, if any of the
supplemental air bags inflate, the
pre-tensioner seat belts must also be
replaced. The air bag module and
pre-tensioner seat belt system
should be replaced by a NISSAN
dealer. The air bag modules and pre-
tensioner seat belt system cannot be
repaired.

The supplemental front air bag and
side air bag, curtain side-impact air
bag systems and pre-tensioner seat
belt system should be inspected by a
NISSAN dealer if there is any damage
to the front end or side portion of the
vehicle.

If you need to dispose of these
supplemental systems or scrap the
vehicle, contact a NISSAN dealer.
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Correct disposal procedures are set
forth in the appropriate NISSAN Ser-
vice Manual. Incorrect disposal pro-
cedures could cause personal injury.
SSS0136SSS0134
SEAT BELTS
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PRECAUTIONS ON SEAT BELT
USAGEYour chances of being injured or killed in an
accident and/or the severity of injury may be
greatly reduced if you are wearing your seat belt
and it is properly adjusted. NISSAN strongly
encourages you and all of your passengers to
buckle up every time you drive, even if your
seating position includes a supplemental air bag.
Most states, provinces or territories re-
quire that seat belts be worn at all times
when a vehicle is being driven.
WARNING

Every person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times. Children should be properly
restrained in the rear seat and, if
appropriate, in a child restraint.

The belt should be properly adjusted
to a snug fit. Failure to do so may
reduce the effectiveness of the entire
restraint systems and increase the
chance or severity of injury in anaccident. Serious injury or death can
occur if the seat belt is not worn
properly.

Always route the shoulder belt over
your shoulder and across your chest.
Never run the belt behind your back,
under your arm or across your neck.
The belt should be away from your
face and neck, but not falling off your
shoulder.

Position the lap belt as low and snug
as possible around the hips, not the
waist. A lap belt worn too high could
increase the risk of internal injuries
in an accident.

Be sure the seat belt tongue is se-
curely fastened to the proper buckle.

Do not wear the belt inside out or
twisted. Doing so may reduce its ef-
fectiveness.

Do not allow more than one person
to use the same belt.

Never carry more people in the ve-
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hicle than there are seat belts.

If the seat belt warning light glows
continuously while the ignition is
turned ONwith all doors closed and
all seat belts fastened, it may indi-
cate a malfunction in the system.
Have the system checked by your
NISSAN dealer.

Once the pre-tensioner seat belt has
activated, it cannot be reused and
must be replaced together with the
retractor. See your NISSAN dealer.

Removal and installation of the pre-
tensioner seat belt system compo-
nents should be done by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.

All seat belt assemblies including re-
tractors and attaching hardware
should be inspected after any colli-
sion by your NISSAN dealer. NISSAN
recommends that all seat belt as-
semblies in use during a collision be
replaced unless the collision was mi-
nor and the belts show no damageand continue to operate properly.
Seat belt assemblies not in use dur-
ing a collision should also be in-
spected and replaced if either dam-
age or improper operation is noted.

All child restraints and attaching
hardware should be inspected after
any collision. Always follow the re-
straint manufacturer’s inspection in-
structions and replacement recom-
mendations. The child restraints
should be replaced if they are dam-
aged.
CHILD SAFETYChildren need adults to help protect them.
They need to be properly restrained.
The proper restraint depends on the child’s size.
Generally, infants (up to about 1 year and less
than 20 lb(9 kg)) should be placed in rear facing
child restraints. Front facing child restraints are
available for children who outgrow rear facing
child restraints.
WARNING
Infants and children need special pro-
tection. The vehicle’s seat belts may not
fit them properly. The shoulder belt may
come too close to the face or neck. The
lap belt may not fit over their small hip
bones. In an accident, an improperly
fitting seat belt could cause serious or
fatal injury. Always use appropriate
child restraints.
All US states and provinces of Canada require
the use of approved child restraints for infants
and small children. See “Child restraints” later in
this section.
In addition, there are many types of child re-
straints available for larger children which should
be used for maximum protection.
NISSAN recommends that all preteens and
children be restrained in the rear seat if
possible. According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly restrained
in the rear seat than in the front seat.
This is especially important because your
vehicle has a Supplemental Restraint Sys-
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