2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER ECU

Before driving up or down grades,
check the road surface for bumps or
potholes. Be sure to climb a gentle
slope and descend a gentle slope.

Do not drive across steep slopes.
Instead drive either straight up or
straight down the slopes. Off-road
vehicles can tip over sideways much
more easily than they can forward or
backward.

Many hills are too steep for any ve-
hicle. If you drive up them, you may
stall. If you drive down them, you may
not be able to control your speed. If
you drive across them, you may roll
over.

Do not shift gears while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.

Be sure to use the engine brake. The
foot brake performance may be re-
duced, resulting in a possible acci-
dent.

Stay alert when driving to the top of ahill. At the top there could be a drop-
off or other hazard that could cause
an accident.

If your engine stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill,
never attempt to turn around. Your
vehicle could tip or roll over. Always
back straight down in R (Reverse)
gear. Never back down in N (Neutral)
or with the clutch depressed (manual
transmission vehicles), using only the
brake, as this could cause loss of
control.

Heavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to overheat
and fade, resulting in loss of control
and an accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low gear to control your
speed.

Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it
will not be thrown forward and cause
injury to you or your passengers.
To avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack and evenly
distribute the load. Secure heavy
loads in the cargo area as far forward
and as low as possible. Do not equip
the vehicle with tires larger than
specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to roll over.

Do not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving of-
froad. The steering wheel could move
suddenly and injure your hands. In-
stead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim.

Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.

Always drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become hot.

Lower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your NISSAN is
more affected by strong side winds.5-6
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Shift lock releaseIf the battery charge is low, the select lever may
not be moved from the P position even with the
brake pedal depressed and the select lever
button pushed.
To move the select lever, remove the shift lock
cover using a flat-bladed screwdriver, and push
the shift lock release button and select lever
button with the parking brake securely applied
and the brake pedal firmly depressed. The select
lever can be moved to N (Neutral).
To push the shift lock release button, follow the
procedure as illustrated.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park) have
your NISSAN dealer check the automatic trans-
mission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved
from the P position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is de-
pressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and others.
Accelerator downshift
— In D position —For rapid passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into second gear or first gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
Overdrive switchEach time your vehicle is started, the transmis-
sion is automatically reset to overdrive on.
ON: For normal driving the overdrive switch
is engaged. The transmission is up-
shifted into overdrive as the vehicle
speed increases.
The overdrive does not engage until the
engine has warmed up.
OFF: For driving up and down long slopes
where engine braking would be advan-
tageous, push the overdrive switch. The
O/D OFF light illuminates. When cruis-
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the chain manufacturer’s suggestions.Use
only SAE Class S chains.Class “S” chains
are used on vehicles with restricted tire to
vehicle clearance. Vehicles that can use
Class “S” chains are designed to meet the
SAE standard minimum clearances between
the tire and the closest vehicle suspension or
body component required to accommodate
the use of a winter traction device (tire chains
or cables). The minimum clearances are de-
termined using the factory equipped tire size.
Other types may damage your vehicle. Use
chain tensioners when recommended by the
tire chain manufacturer to ensure a tight fit.
Loose end links of the tire chain must be
secured or removed to prevent the possibility
of whipping action damage to the fenders or
underbody. If possible, avoid fully loading
your vehicle when using tire chains. In addi-
tion, drive at a reduced speed. Otherwise,
your vehicle may be damaged and/or vehicle
handling and performance may be adversely
affected.
Do not use the chains on dry roads.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Do not drive with tire chains on paved roads
which are clear of snow. Driving with chains
in such conditions can cause damage to the
various mechanisms of the vehicle due tosome overstress. When driving on clear
paved roads, be sure to change to 2WD.
4. For four wheel drive:
If you install snow tires, they must also be the
same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
CAUTION
ONLY use spare tires specified for each
four wheel drive model.SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENTIt is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:

A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.

A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.

A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow- drifts.

Extra window washer fluid to refill the reser-
voir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING

Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have a lot less traction or grip under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.

Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shifting too fast, the drive wheels will
lose even more traction.

Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.

Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.

Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
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03.1.28/R50-D/V5


the P position. This could result in
serious personal injury or property
damage.
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic and to
signal professional road assistance person-
nel that you need help.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle
and stand in a safe place away from traffic
and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING

Make sure that the parking brake is
securely applied and the manual
transmission is shifted into R (re-
verse), on the automatic transmis-
sion in P (Park).

Never change tires when the vehicle
is on a slope, ice or a slippery area.
This is hazardous.

Never change tires if oncoming trafficis close to your vehicle. Wait for pro-
fessional road assistance.

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. (For models
with the low tire pressure warning
system)
Blocking wheelsPlace suitable blocks at both the front and back
of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire to
prevent the vehicle from rolling when it is jacked
up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the ve-
hicle may move and could cause per-
sonal injury.
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In case of emergency
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Jacking up the vehicle and removing
the damaged tire
WARNING

Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by the jack.

Use only the jack provided with your
vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use
the jack provided with your vehicle
on other vehicles. The jack is de-
signed only for lifting your vehicleduring a tire change.

Use the correct jack up points; never
use any other part of the vehicle for
jack support.

Never jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.

Never use blocks on or under the
jack.

Do not start or run engine while ve-
hicle is on the jack, as it may causethe vehicle to move. This is especially
true for vehicle with limited slip dif-
ferential carriers.

Do not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.
Carefully read the following instructions.
1. Place the jack directly under the jack-up
point.
The jack should be used on level firm
ground.
2. Loosen each wheel nut one or two turns by
turning counterclockwise with the wheel nut
wrench.
Do not remove the wheel nuts until the tire
is off the ground.
3. Carefully raise the vehicle until the tire clears
the ground. To lift the vehicle, securely hold
the jack lever and rod with both hands as
shown above. Remove the wheel nuts, and
then remove the wheel. Do not remove the
brake drum with the wheel.
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Installing the spare tire1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface
between the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the wheel on and tighten the
wheel nuts finger tight.
3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten wheel
nuts alternately and evenly until they are tight.
4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire touches
the ground. Then, with the wheel nut wrench,
tighten the wheel nuts securely in the se-
quence as illustrated.
WARNING

Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.

Do not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the
nuts to become loose.
As soon as possible tighten the wheel nuts
to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
98 ft-lb (133 N⋅m)
Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure.
COLD pressure:
After vehicle has been parked for three
hours or more or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
COLD tire pressures are shown on the tire
placard affixed to the glove box lid.
WARNING
Retighten the wheel nuts when the ve-
hicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
5. Securely store the spare tire and jacking
equipment in the vehicle.
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Stowing the damaged tire and toolsSecurely store the tire and jacking equipment in
the vehicle as illustrated.
WARNING

Always make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly
secured after use. Such items can
become dangerous projectiles in an
accident or sudden stop.

The small size spare tire is designedfor emergency use. See “Tires and
wheels” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
Tightening torque of nuts:
48 to 66 ft-lb
(66 to 89 N⋅m)
Use a suitable padlock.
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TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN
Two wheel drive modelsNISSAN recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (rear) wheels off the
ground or place the vehicle on a flat bed truck as
illustrated.
CAUTION

Never tow automatic transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground or four wheels on the ground
(forward or backward), as this may
cause serious and expensive damage
to the transmission. If it is necessary
to tow the vehicle with the front
wheels raised, always use towing
dollies under the rear wheels.

When towing automatic or manual
transmission models with the front
wheels on the ground or on towing
dollies:

Turn the ignition key to the OFF
position, and secure the steeringwheel in a straightahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
secure the steering wheel by turn-
ing the ignition key to the LOCK
position. This may damage the
steering lock mechanism.

If you have to tow manual transmis-
sion 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.

Move the transmission shift lever
to the N(Neutral) position.

Observe the following restricted tow-
ing speeds and distances for manual
transmission models only:

Speed: Below 60 MPH (95 km/h)

Distance: Less than 500 miles (800
km)
If the speed or distance must necessarily be
greater, remove the propeller shaft before tow-
ing to prevent damage to the transmission.
Part time four wheel drive modelsNISSAN recommends that towing dollies be
used when towing your vehicle or the vehicle be
placed on a flat bed truck as illustrated.
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