2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER Check

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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tem (Air Bag System) for the front passen-
ger. See “Supplemental Restraint System”
earlier in this section for precaution.Infants and small childrenNISSAN recommends that infants and small
children be placed in child restraints that comply
with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. You
should choose a child restraint that fits your
vehicle and always follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for installation and use.Larger childrenChildren who are too large for child restraints
should be seated and restrained by the seat
belts which are provided.
If the child’s seating position has a shoulder belt
that fits close to the face or neck, the use of a
booster seat (commercially available) may help
overcome this. The booster seat should raise the
child so that the shoulder belt is properly posi-
tioned across the top, middle portion of the
shoulder and the lap belt is low on the hips. The
booster seat should fit the vehicle seat and have
a label certifying that it complies with Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Once the child
has grown so the shoulder belt is no longer on or
near the face and neck, use the shoulder beltwithout the booster seat.
WARNING
Never let a child stand or kneel on any
seat and do not allow a child in the
cargo areas while the vehicle is moving.
The child could be seriously injured or
killed in an accident or sudden stop.PREGNANT WOMENNISSAN recommends that pregnant women use
seat belts. The seat belt should be worn snug,
and always position the lap belt as low as
possible around the hips, not the waist. Place
the shoulder belt over your shoulder and across
your chest. Never run the lap/shoulder belt over
your abdominal area. Contact your doctor for
specific recommendations.INJURED PERSONSNISSAN recommends that injured persons use
seat belts, depending on the injury. Check with
your doctor for specific recommendations.
THREE-POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
WITH RETRACTOR
WARNING

Every person who drives or rides in
this vehicle should use a seat belt at
all times.

Do not ride in a moving vehicle when
the seatback is reclined. This can be
dangerous. The shoulder belt will not
be against your body. In an accident
SSS0018
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vated. If it is activated it may cause uncom-
fortable seat belt tension.
WARNING
When fastening the seat belts, be cer-
tain that seatbacks are completely se-
cured in the latched position. If they are
not completely secured, passengers
may be injured in an accident or sudden
stop.
Unfastening the seat beltsTo unfasten the belt, press the button on the
buckle. The seat belt will automatically retract.Checking seat belt operationYour seat belt retractors are designed to lock
belt movement by two separate methods:

When the belt is pulled quickly from the
retractor.

When the vehicle slows down rapidly.
You can check the operation as follows:

Grasp the shoulder belt and pull quicklyforward. The retractor should lock and restrict
further belt movement.
If the retractor does not lock during this check or
if you have any question about belt operation,
see your NISSAN dealer.
SSS0021
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SEAT BELT MAINTENANCE
To clean the seat belt webbings,apply a
mild soap solution or any solution recom-
mended for cleaning upholstery or carpets.
Then brush the webbing, wipe it with a cloth
and allow it to dry in the shade. Do not allow
the seat belts to retract until they are com-
pletely dry.

If dirt builds up in the shoulder belt guide of
the seat belt anchors, the seat belts may
retract slowly. Wipe the shoulder belt guide
with a clean, dry cloth.

Periodically check to see that the seat
belt and the metal componentssuch as
buckles, tongues, retractors, flexible wires
and anchors work properly. If loose parts,
deterioration, cuts or other damage on the
webbing is found, the entire belt assembly
should be replaced.
PRECAUTIONS ON CHILD
RESTRAINTS
WARNING

Infants and small children should al-
ways be placed in an appropriate
child restraint while riding in the ve-
hicle. Failure to use a child restraint
can result in serious injury or death.

Infants and small children should
never be carried on your lap. It is not
possible for even the strongest adult
to resist the forces of a severe acci-
dent. The child could be crushed be-
tween the adult and parts of the ve-
hicle. Also, do not put the same seat
belt around both your child and your-
self.

Never install a rear facing child re-
straint in the front seat. An inflating
supplemental front air bag could se-
riously injure or kill your child. A rear
facing child restraint must only be
used in the rear seat.
NISSAN recommends that the child
restraint be installed in the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly re-
strained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.

An improperly installed child re-
straint could lead to serious injury or
death in an accident.
In general, child restraints are designed to be
installed with a lap belt or the lap portion of a
three point type seat belt. Child restraints for
infants and children of various sizes are offered
by several manufacturers. When selecting any
child restraint, keep the following points in mind:

Choose only a restraint with a label certifying
that it complies with Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213 or Canadian Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 213.

Check the child restraint in your vehicle to be
sure it is compatible with the vehicle’s seat
and seat belt system.

If the child restraint is compatible with your
vehicle, place your child in the child restraint
and check the various adjustments to be sureCHILD RESTRAINTS
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the child restraint is compatible with your
child. Always follow all recommended proce-
dures.
All US states and Canadian provinces re-
quire that infants and small children be
restrained in approved child restraints at
all times while the vehicle is being oper-
ated.
WARNING

Improper use of a child restraint can
result in increased injuries for both
the infant or child and other occu-
pants in the vehicle.

Follow all of the child restraint manu-
facturer’s instructions for installation
and use. When purchasing a child
restraint, be sure to select one which
will fit your child and vehicle. It may
not be possible to properly install
some types of child restraints in your
vehicle.

If the child restraint is not anchored
properly, the risk of a child beinginjured in a collision or a sudden stop
greatly increases.

Adjustable seatbacks should be po-
sitioned to fit the child restraint, but
as upright as possible.

After attaching the child restraint,
test it before you place the child in it.
Tilt it from side to side. Try to tug it
forward and check to see if the belt
holds the restraint in place. If the
restraint is not secure, tighten the
belt as necessary, or put the restraint
in another seat and test it again.

For a front facing child restraint, if
the seat position where it is installed
has a three-point type lap/shoulder
belt, check to make sure the shoulder
belt does not go in front of the child’s
face or neck. If it does, put the shoul-
der belt behind the child restraint. If
you must install a front facing child
restraint in the front seat, see later in
“Child restraints” for installation on
front passenger seat.

When your child restraint is not inuse, store it in the trunk or keep it
secured with a seat belt to prevent it
from being thrown around in case of
a sudden stop or accident.
CAUTION
Remember that a child restraint left in a
closed vehicle can become very hot.
Check the seating surface and buckles
before placing your child in the child
restraint.
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4. Before placing the child in the child restraint,
use force to tilt the child restraint from side to
side, and tug it forward to make sure that it is
securely held in place. It should not move
more than 1 inch (25 mm).
5. If it is not secure, try to tighten the belt again,
or put the restraint in another seat.
6. Check to make sure the child restraint is
properly secured prior to each use.
Rear facingWhen you install a child restraint in a rear center
seat, follow these steps:
1. Position the child restraint on the seat as
illustrated. The direction of the child restraint
depends on the type of the child restraint and
the size of the child. Always follow the re-
straint manufacturer’s instructions.2. Route the seat belt tongue through the child
restraint and insert it into the buckle until you
hear and feel the latch engage. Be sure to
follow the child restraint manufacturer’s in-
structions for belt routing.
SSS0306
SSS0033
SSS0307
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3. Remove all slack in the lap belt for a very tight
fit by pulling forcefully on the lap belt adjust-
ment.4. Before placing the child in the child restraint,
use force to tilt the child restraint from side to
side, and tug it forward to make sure that it is
securely held in place. It should not move
more than 1 inch (25 mm).
5. If it is not secure, try to tighten the belt again,
or put the restraint in another seat.
6. Check to make sure the child restraint is
properly secured prior to each use.
INSTALLATION ON REAR SEAT
OUTBOARD POSITIONS
Front facing
WARNING

The three-point belt on your vehicle
is equipped with a locking mode re-
tractor which must be used when
installing a child restraint.

Failure to do so will result in the child
SSS0308
SSS0309
SSS0252
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4. Allow the belt to retract. Pull up on the belt to
remove any slack in the belt.5. Before placing the child in the child restraint,
use force to tilt the child restraint from side to
side, and tug it forward to make sure that it is
securely held in place. It should not move
more than 1 inch (25 mm).
6. Check that the retractor is in the automatic
locking mode by trying to pull more belt out of
the retractor. If you cannot pull any more belt
webbing out of the retractor, the belt is in the
automatic locking mode.
7. Check to make sure that the child restraint is
properly secured prior to each use. If the belt
is not locked, repeat steps 3 through 6.
After the child restraint is removed and the seatbelt is allowed to wind back into the retractor,
the automatic locking mode (child restraint
mode) is canceled; the seat belt only locks
during a sudden stop or impact.
SSS0062
SSS0255
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