2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER stop start

CAUTION

Do not drive the vehicle in the 4H or
4LO position on dry hard surface
roads. Driving on dry hard surface
roads in 4H or 4L may cause unnec-
essary noise, tire wear and increased
fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on
when you are driving on dry hard
surface roads

in the AUTO or 4H position, shift
the 4WD shift switch to 2WD.

in the 4LO position, stop the ve-
hicle, move the automatic trans-
mission lever to the Nposition,
and shift the 4WD shift switch to
2WD.
Have your vehicle checked by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible.
TRANSFER CASE SHIFTING
PROCEDURESAll mode 4WD system provides 4 positions
(AUTO, 2WD, 4H and 4LO), so you can select
the desired drive mode according to the driving
conditions.
2WD or 4WD shift procedure
USING ALL-MODE FOUR WHEEL
DRIVE (4WD)
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*1:
The transfer 4LO position indicator light
may blink. Stop the vehicle. Be sure to
shift the 4WD shift switch after the auto-
matic transmission lever has been shifted
to the N position. If the indicator light
keeps blinking after the 4WD shift proce-
dure in the previous page, drive slowly
without abrupt maneuvers for a while.
Then the light will turn on or off.

Avoid making a turn or abrupt starts while
shifting to 4LO. Otherwise gears may
grind, damaging the drive system.
*2: Make sure the transfer 4LO position indicator
light turns on when you shift the 4WD shift
switch to 4LO.
The transfer case 4WD shift switch is used to
select either 2WD or 4WD depending on the
driving conditions. There are four types of drive
modes available, AUTO, 2WD, 4H and 4LO.
The 4WD shift switch electronically controls the
transfer case operation. Rotate the switch to
move between each mode, 2WD, AUTO, 4H
and 4LO.
You must push the switch in to select 4LO,
and the vehicle MUST be stationary and
the automatic transmission selector lever
is in the Nposition when changing into or
out of 4LO.
WARNING
When parking, apply the parking brake
before stopping the engine and make
sure that the 4WD shift indicator light is
on and the ATP warning light goes off.
Otherwise, the vehicle could unexpect-
edly move even if the automatic trans-
mission is in the P position.
CAUTION

Never shift the 4WD shift switch be-
tween 4LO and 4H while driving.

The 4H position provides greater
power and traction. Avoid excessive
speed, as it will cause increased fuel
consumption and higher oil tempera-
ture, and could damage drivetrain
components. Speeds over 50 MPH
(80 km/h) in 4H are not recom-
mended.

The 4LO position provides maximum
power and traction. Avoid raising ve-hicle speed excessively, as the maxi-
mum speed is approximately 30 MPH
(50 km/h).

When driving straight, shift the 4WD
shift switch to the 2WD, AUTO or 4H
position. Do not move the 4WD shift
switch when making a turn or revers-
ing.

Do not shift the 4WD shift switch
(between 2WD, AUTO and 4H) while
driving on steep downhill grades. Use
the engine brake.

Do not operate the 4WD shift switch
(between 2WD, AUTO and 4H) with
the rear wheels spinning.

Do not drive on dry hard surface
roads in the 4H or 4LO position. Driv-
ing on dry hard surfaces in 4H or 4LO
may cause unnecessary noise and
tire wear. We recommend driving in
the 2WD or AUTO position under
these conditions.

Vehicles equipped with a limited slip
differential (LSD) have improved driv-
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ing performance on rough roads.
They have increased traction perfor-
mance, so when making a turn on
paved roads, vibration and tire
squealing may occur.

The 4WD transfer case may not be
shifted between 4H and 4LO at low
ambient temperatures and the trans-
fer 4LO position indicator light may
blink even when the 4WD shift switch
is shifted. After driving for a while
you can change the 4WD transfer
case between 4H and 4LO.
When driving on rough roads,

Set the 4WD shift switch to AUTO, 4H or
4LO.

Drive carefully according to the road surface
conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck,

Place stones or wooden blocks under the
tires to free the vehicle.

Set the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4LO.

If it is difficult to free the vehicle, repeatforward and backward movement to increase
the movement.

If the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, tire chains
may be effective.
CAUTION

Do not increase the tire rotation ex-
cessively. Tires will sink deep into the
mud, making it difficult to free the
vehicle.

Avoid shifting gears with the engine
running at high speeds as this may
cause malfunction.4WD shift switch operations
Shift the 4WD shift switch to either the 2WD,
AUTO, 4H or 4LO position, depending on
driving conditions.
With the switch set to the AUTO position,
distribution of torque to the front and rear
wheels changes automatically, depending on
road conditions encountered [ratio;0:100
(2WD)→50 : 50 (4WD)]. This results in
improved driving stability.

If the 4WD shift switch is operated while
making a turn, accelerating or deceler-
ating or if the key switch is turned off
while in the AUTO, 4H or 4LO, you may
feel a jerk. This is not abnormal.

When the vehicle is stopped after mak-
ing a turn, you may feel a slight jolt after
the selector lever is shifted to Nor P.
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If any malfunction occurs in the 4WD system
when the key switch is ON, the warning light will
either remain illuminated or blink.
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
indicator light goes out.
High-temperature transfer case oil makes the
warning light blink rapidly (about twice per sec-
ond). If the warning light blinks rapidly during
operation, stop the vehicle in a safe place imme-
diately. Then if the light goes off after a while, you
can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters of
front and rear wheels will make the warning light
blink slowly (about once per two seconds).
Change the 4WD shift switch into 2WD and do
not drive fast.
CAUTION

If the warning light comes on or
blinks slowly during operation or rap-
idly after stopping the vehicle for a
while, have your vehicle checked by
an authorized NISSAN dealer as
soon as possible.

Shifting between 4H and 4LO is notrecommended when the 4WD warn-
ing light turns on.

When the warning light comes on,
the 2WD mode may be engaged even
if the 4WD shift switch is in AUTO or
4H. Be especially careful when driv-
ing. If corresponding parts are mal-
functioning, the 4WD mode will not
be engaged even if the 4WD shift
switch is shifted.

Do not drive on dry hard surface
roads in the 4H or 4LO position. Driv-
ing on dry hard surface roads in 4H or
4L may cause unnecessary noise, tire
wear and increased fuel consump-
tion.
If the 4WD warning light turns on
when you are driving on dry hard
surface roads

in the AUTO or 4H position, shift
the 4WD shift switch to 2WD.

in the 4LO position, stop the ve-
hicle, move the automatic trans-
mission lever to the Nposition,and shift the 4WD shift switch to
2WD.

If the warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an authorized NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.

The transfer case may be damaged if
you continue driving with the warning
light blinking rapidly.
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WARNING

Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials, such as dry
grass, waste paper, or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.


The transfer shift lever must
be in the 2H, 4H or 4L position and
the parking brake must be set to
prevent the vehicle from rolling.

Never place the transfer shift lever inthe Nposition, otherwise, the vehicle
could roll unexpectedly even if the
manual transmission is in gear or the
automatic transmission is in the P
position. This could result in serious
personal injury or property damage.

Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.

Never leave children unattended in
the vehicle.1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2.Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the R (Reverse) posi-
tion. When parking on an uphill grade, place
the gearshift lever in the 1st position.
Automatic transmission models:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion.
WARNING

Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into the P (Park)
for automatic transmission models
or in an appropriate gear for manual
transmission models. Failure to do
so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result
in an accident.

Make sure the automatic transmis-
sion selector lever has been pushed
as far forward as it can go and cannot
be moved without depressing the
button at the end of the lever.
SSD0067
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS5-32
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Part time 4WD models:

If the ATP light is ON, this indicates
that the automatic transmission P
(park) position will not function and
the transfer shift lever is in the N
position. Failure to engage the trans-
fer shift lever in H or 4L could result
in the vehicle moving unexpectedly,
resulting in serious personal injury or
property damage.
All-mode 4WD models:

If the ATP light is ON, this indicates
that the automatic transmission P
(park) position will not function and
the transfer case is in neutral. Make
sure that the 4WD shift indicator light
(and transfer 4LO position indicator)
light remains illuminated before
stopping the engine. Otherwise, the
vehicle could unexpectedly move
even if the automatic transmission is
in the P (park) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle rolling into the
street when parked on a sloping drive way, itis a good practice to turn the wheels as
illustrated.

HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
1
Turn the wheels into the curband move the
vehicle forward until the curbside wheel
gently touches the curb.

HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
2
Turn the wheels away from the curband
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.

HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the center
of the road if it moves.
Make sure the ATP light is off before stop-
ping the engine.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key.The power assisted steering is designed to use
a hydraulic pump, driven by the engine, to assist
steering.
If the engine stops or drive belt breaks, you will
still have control of the vehicle. However, much
greater steering effort is needed, especially in
sharp turns or at low speeds.
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the steering will not work. Steering will
be much harder to operate.POWER STEERING
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BRAKING PRECAUTIONSThe brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.Vacuum assisted brakeThe brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and the stopping
distance will be longer.Using the brakesAvoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out
the brake linings and pads faster and reduce gas
mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, before going down a
slope or long grade, reduce speed and down-
shift to a lower gear.Wet brakesWhen the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking distance will be longer and the vehicle
may pull to one side during braking.To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly pressing the brake pedal to heat-up
the brakes. Do this until the brakes return to
normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds
until the brakes function correctly.
WARNING

While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerat-
ing or downshifting. Abrupt braking
or accelerating could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an acci-
dent.

If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)The anti-lock brake system controls the brakes
at each wheel so the wheels will not lock when
braking abruptly or when braking on slippery
surfaces. The system detects the rotation speed
at each wheel and varies the brake fluid pressure
to prevent each wheel from locking and sliding.
By preventing wheel lockup, the system helpsthe driver maintain steering control and helps to
minimize swerving and spinning on slippery sur-
faces.
Using the systemDepress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.Normal operationThe anti-lock brake system will not operate at
speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h) to
completely stop the vehicle. (The speeds will
vary according to road conditions.) When the
anti-lock system senses that one or more wheels
are close to locking up, the actuator (under the
hood) rapidly applies and releases hydraulic
pressure (like pumping the brakes very quickly).
While the actuator is working, you may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
vibration from the actuator under the hood. This
is normal and indicates that the anti-lock system
is working properly. However, the pulsation may
indicate that road conditions are hazardous and
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extra care is required while driving.
If a tire slips on rough roads for more than
10 seconds, the ABS brake warning light
may come on. Turn OFF the ignition key,
restart the engine and drive the vehicle at
speeds above 20 MPH (30 km/h). If the
warning light does not go out, have the
vehicle checked at a NISSAN dealer.Self-test featureThe anti-lock brake system consists of electronic
sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic solenoids
controlled by a computer. The computer has a
built-in diagnostic feature that tests the system
each time you start the engine and move the
vehicle at a low speed in forward or reverse.
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 any
malfunction. If the computer senses any mal-
function, it switches the anti-lock brake system
OFF and turns on the ABS brake warning light in
the dashboard. The brake system will then be-
have normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self check, or
while you are driving, you should take your
vehicle to your NISSAN dealer for repair at your
earliest convenience.
WARNING
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.

When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.

When installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type asspecified on the tire placard. See
“Tire placard” in the “9. Technical and
consumer information” section for
tire placard location information.
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