2003 NISSAN PATHFINDER wheel

ForewordWelcome to the growing family of new NISSAN
owners. This vehicle is delivered to you with
confidence. It was produced using the latest
techniques and strict quality control.
This manual was prepared to help you under-
stand the operation and maintenance of your
vehicle so that you may enjoy many miles of
driving pleasure. Please read through this
manual before operating your vehicle.
A separate Warranty Information Booklet
explains details about the warranties cov-
ering your vehicle. The NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide explains details
about maintaining and servicing your ve-
hicle. Additionally, a separate Customer
Care/Lemon Law Booklet (U.S. only) will
explain how to resolve any concerns you
may have with your vehicle, as well as
clarify your rights under your state’s lemon
law.
Your NISSAN dealer knows your vehicle best.
When you require any service or have any
questions, they will be glad to assist you with
the extensive resources available to them.
READ FIRST — THENDRIVE
SAFELYBefore driving your vehicle please read
your Owner’s Manual carefully. This will
ensure familiarity with controls and main-
tenance requirements, assisting you in the
safe operation of your vehicle.
WARNING
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMA-
TION
REMINDERS FOR SAFETY!Follow these important driving rules to
help ensure a safe and comfortable trip
for you and your passengers!

Never drive under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.

Always observe posted speed limits
and never drive too fast for condi-
tions.

Always use your seat belts and appro-
priate child restraint systems. Pre-
teen children should be seated in the
rear seat.

Always provide information about the
proper use of vehicle safety features
to all occupants of the vehicle.

Always review this Owner’s Manual
for important safety information.For descriptions specified for four wheel drive
models, a
mark is placed at the begin-
ning of the applicable sections/items.
As with other vehicles with features for
offroad use, failure to operate four wheel
drive models correctly may result in loss of
control or an accident. For additional in-
formation, see “Driving your four wheel
drive safely” in the “5. Starting and driv-
ing” section.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFFROAD
DRIVINGThis vehicle will handle and maneuver
differently from an ordinary passenger
car because it has a higher center of
gravity for offroad use. As with other
vehicles with features of this type, fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or an accident.
For additional information, see “On-
pavement and offroad driving precau-
tions” and “Avoiding collision and roll-
over” in the “5. Starting and driving”
section.


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PRECAUTIONS ON
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEMThis Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) sec-
tion contains important information concerning
the driver and passenger front impact supple-
mental air bags, front seat side-impact supple-
mental air bags, curtain side-impact air bags and
front seat pre-tensioner seat belts.
Supplemental front impact air bag system:
This system can help cushion the impact force to
the face and chest of the driver and front
passenger in certain frontal collisions.
Supplemental side-impact air bag system
(if so equipped):This system can help cushion
the impact force to the chest area of the driver
and front passenger in certain side impact colli-
sions. The front seat side-impact supplemental
air bags are designed to inflate on the side
where the vehicle is impacted.
Supplemental curtain side-impact air bag
system (if so equipped):This system can help
cushion the impact force to the head of occu-
pants in front and rear outboard seating posi-
tions in certain side impact collisions. The cur-
tain side-impact air bags are designed to inflate
on the side where the vehicle is impacted.
These supplemental restraint systems are de-
signed tosupplementthe crash protectionprovided by the driver and passenger seat belts
and arenot a substitutefor them. Seat belts
should always be correctly worn and the occu-
pant seated a suitable distance away from the
steering wheel, instrument panel, door finishers
and side roof rails. (See “Seat belts” later in this
section for instructions and precautions on seat
belt usage.)
After turning the ignition key to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the systems are operational.SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM1-10
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


WARNING

The supplemental front air bags ordi-
narily will not inflate in the event of a
side impact, rear impact, roll over, or
lower severity frontal collision. Al-
ways wear your seat belts to help
reduce the risk or severity of injury in
various kinds of accidents.

The seat belts and the supplemental
front air bags are most effectivewhen you are sitting well back and
upright in the seat. Front air bags
inflate with great force. If you are
unrestrained, leaning forward, sitting
sideways or out of position in any
way, you are at greater risk of injury
or death in a crash. You may also
receive serious or fatal injuries from
the supplemental front air bag if you
are up against it when it inflates.
Always sit back against the seatback
and as far away as practical from thesteering wheel or instrument panel.
Always use the seat belts.

Keep hands on the outside of the
steering wheel. Placing them inside
the steering wheel rim could increase
the risk that they are injured when
the supplemental front air bag in-
flates.
SSS0131Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-11


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1. Supplemental front air bag modules
2. Supplemental side air bag modules
3. Supplemental curtain side-impact air bags
4. Supplemental curtain side-impact air bag
modules5. Diagnosis sensor unit
6. Seat belt pre-tensioner retractor
7. Satellite sensors
Supplemental front air bag systemThe driver supplemental air bag is located in the
center of the steering wheel; the front passenger
supplemental air bag is mounted in the instru-
ment panel above the glove box. These systems
are designed to meet optional certification re-
quirements under U.S. regulations. They are also
permitted in Canada. The optional certification
allows front air bags to be designed to inflate
somewhat less forcefully than previously.How-
ever, all of the information, cautions and
warnings in this manual still apply and
must be followed.The front air bags are
designed to inflate in higher severity frontal
collisions, although they may inflate if the forces
in another type of collision are similar to those of
a higher severity frontal impact. They may not
inflate in certain frontal collisions. Vehicle dam-
age (or lack of it) is not always an indication of
proper supplemental air bag operation.
When the supplemental front air bag inflates, 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 front air bags, along with the use
of seat belts, helps to cushion the impact force
SSS0197
1-16
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


on the face and chest of the front occupants.
They can help save lives and reduce serious
injuries. However, an inflating front air bag may
cause facial abrasions or other injuries. Front air
bags do not provide restraint to the lower body.
The seat belts should be correctly worn and the
driver and passenger seated upright as far as
practical away from the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel. The supplemental front air bags
inflates quickly in order to help protect the front
occupants. Because of this, the force of the front
air bag inflating can increase the risk of injury if
the occupant is too close to, or is against, the air
bag module during inflation. The 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 supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the system is operational.
WARNING

Do not place any objects on the
steering wheel pad or on the instru-
ment panel. Also, do not place any
objects between any occupant and
the steering wheel or instrumentpanel. Such objects may become
dangerous projectiles and cause in-
jury if the supplemental front air bag
inflates.

Right after inflation, several 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
the supplemental front air bag sys-
tem. This is to prevent accidental in-
flation of the air bag or damage to
the air bag system.

Do not make unauthorized changes
to your vehicle’s electrical system,
suspension system or front end
structure. This could affect proper
operation of the supplemental air
bag system.

Tampering with the supplemental
front air bag system may result in
serious personal injury. Tampering
includes changes to the steering
wheel and the instrument panel as-sembly by placing material over the
steering wheel pad, above the dash-
board, or by installing additional trim
material around the air bag system.

Work around and on the supplemen-
tal front air bag system should be
done by a NISSAN dealer. Installa-
tion of electrical equipment should
also be done by a NISSAN dealer.
The yellow and orange Supplemental
Restrain System (SRS) wiring and
connectors should not be modified or
disconnected. Unauthorized electri-
cal test equipment and probing de-
vices should not be used on the air
bag system.

A cracked windshield should be re-
placed immediately by a qualified re-
pair facility. A cracked windshield
could affect inflation of the supple-
mental air bag system.

The SRS wiring harness connectors
are yellow and orange for easy
identification.
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
1-17


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


1. Security indicator light (P.2-17)
2. Headlight/dimmer/turn signal switch (P.2-21)
Front fog light switch (if so equipped)
(P.2-24)
3. Steering switch for audio control (if so
equipped) (P.4-28)4. Driver’s supplemental air bag (P.1-16)
5. Meters/gauges (P.2-3)
6. Cruise control main/set switch (if so
equipped) (P.5-18)
7. Windshield and rear window wiper/washer
switch (P.2-19)8. Hazard warning flasher switch (P.2-25)
9. Air conditioner (P.4-2)
10.Glass hatch/outside mirror defogger switch
(Type A) (P.2-20)
11.Clock (P.2-27)
12.Center ventilator (P.4-2)
13.Passenger air bag (P.1-16)
14.Side ventilator (P.4-2)
15.Instrument brightness control (P.2-22)
16.VDC OFF switch (if so equipped) (P.2-27)
17.Automatic drive positioner system cancel
switch (if so equipped) (P.3-19)
18.Fuse box cover (P.8-28)/Pocket
19.Outside mirror remote control (P.3-16)
20.Tilting steering wheel adjust lever (P.3-15)
21.Ignition switch/steering lock (P.5-7)
22.Glass hatch/outside mirror defogger switch
(Type B) (if so equipped) (P.2-21)
23.Audio system (P.4-13)
24.4WD shift switch (if so equipped) (P.5-12)/
Coin box (if so equipped) (P.2-30)
25.Ashtray (P.2-29)
26.Cigarette lighter (P.2-29) or Power outlet
(P.2-28)
27.Glove box (P.2-32)
See the page indicated in parentheses for
operating details.
SIC1936
INSTRUMENT PANEL2-2
Instruments and controls


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If an abnormality occurs in the system, the
anti-lock function will cease but the ordinary
brakes will continue to operate normally.
If the light comes on while you are driving,
contact your NISSAN dealer for repair.
Automatic transmission oil
temperature warning light
(
model)
This light comes on when the automatic trans-
mission oil temperature is too high. If the light
comes on while driving, reduce the vehicle
speed as soon as safely possible until the light
turns off.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation when the
A/T oil temperature warning light is on
may damage the automatic trans-
mission.
Automatic transmission park
warning light (
model)
WARNING

If the ATP light is ON, this indicates
that the automatic transmission P
(Park) position will not function and
the transfer lever or the transfer case
is in neutral.
Part time 4WD models:

When parking, always make sure that
the transfer lever is in H or 4L and the
parking brake is set. Failure to en-
gage the transfer control lever in H or
4L could result in the vehicle moving
unexpectedly, resulting in serious
personal injury or property damage.
All mode 4WD models:

When parking, always make sure that
4WD shift indicator light illuminates
and the parking brake is set. Failure
to engage the 4WD shift switch in 2H,
AUTO, 4H or 4LO could result in the
vehicle moving unexpectedly, result-ing in serious personal injury or prop-
erty damage.
This light indicates that the automatic transmis-
sion parking function is not engaged. If the
transfer control is not secured in any drive
position while the automatic transmission selec-
tor lever is in the P (Park) position, the transmis-
sion will disengage and the wheel will not lock.
Part time 4WD models
Shift the transfer shift lever into the 2H, 4H or 4L
position again to turn off the ATP warning light
when the automatic transmission selector lever
is in the P position and the ATP warning light is
ON.
(Before shifting the transfer shift lever into the 4L
position, move the automatic transmission selec-
tor lever into the N position once, shift the
selector lever into P again and) make sure the
ATP warning light is OFF.
All-mode 4WD models
The warning light may come on when the ignition
switch is ON and the automatic transmission
lever is shifted to the P position while shifting the
transfer case between 4H and 4LO.
Shift the 4WD shift switch to the 2WD, AUTO,
2-10
Instruments and controls


03.1.28/R50-D/V5


CAUTION
Running the engine with the oil pres-
sure warning light on could cause seri-
ous damage to the engine almost imme-
diately. Turn off the engine as soon as it
is safe to do so.
4WD warning light (model)
The four wheel drive warning light comes on
when the key switch is turned to ON. It turns off
soon after the engine is started.
If the engine or vehicle is not functioning prop-
erly, the warning light will either remain illumi-
nated or blink. See “4WD warning light” in the
“5. Starting and driving” section.
CAUTION

If the warning light comes on or
blinks during operation, have your
vehicle checked by an authorized
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
Do not drive on dry hard surface
roads in the 4H or 4LO position. 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.
Low fuel warning light
This light comes on when the fuel in the tank is
getting low. Refuel as soon as it is convenient,
preferably before the fuel gauge reaches E.
There will be a small reserve of fuel re-
maining in the tank when the fuel gauge
needle reaches E.
Low tire pressure warning light
(if so equipped)
The light comes on for about 1 second when the
key switch is turned ON, and then it turns off.
This light warns a low tire pressure.
Low tire pressure warning:
If the vehicle is being driven with flat tire or low
tire pressure, the light will illuminate. Also a
chime will sound for about 10 seconds.
For additional information, see “Low tire pres-
sure warning system” in the “5. Starting and
driving” section and “Flat tire” in the “6. In case
of emergency” section.
WARNING

If the light does not come on with the
key switch turned ON, have the ve-
hicle checked by a NISSAN dealer as
soon as possible.

If the light comes on while driving,
avoid sudden steering maneuvers or
abrupt braking, reduce vehicle speed,
pull off the road to a safe location
and stop the vehicle as soon as pos-
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Instruments and controls


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