2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER tires

Installing the spare tireThe spare tire is designed for emergency
use. See specific instructions under the
heading “Wheels and tires” in the “Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself” section.
1. 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 touchesthe ground. Then, with the wheel nut wrench,
tighten the wheel nuts securely in the se-
quence as illustrated (
1,2,3,4,5,6).
Lower the vehicle completely.
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.
Retighten the wheel nuts after the vehicle
has been driven for 600 miles (1,000 km)
(also in cases of a flat tire, etc.). 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)
The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to
specification at all times. It is recom-
mended that wheel nuts be tightened to
specification at each lubrication interval.
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/Tire and Loading Information label
affixed to the glove box lid.
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In case of emergency
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5. Securely 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 designed
for emergency use. See “Tires andwheels” 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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All-mode 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.
CAUTION
Never tow All-mode 4WD models with
any of the wheels on the ground as this
may cause serious and expensive dam
age to the transfer case.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (Freeing a
stuck vehicle)
WARNING

Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.

Do not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode
and result in serious injury. Parts of
your vehicle could also overheat and
be damaged.
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8 Maintenance and do-it-yourselfMaintenance requirements .................................................. 8-2
General maintenance ............................................................ 8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items ................ 8-2
Maintenance precautions ..................................................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations .............................. 8-7
Engine cooling system.......................................................... 8-8
Checking engine coolant level...................................... 8-8
Changing engine coolant ............................................... 8-9
Engine oil ............................................................................... 8-11
Checking engine oil level ............................................ 8-11
Changing engine oil ...................................................... 8-12
Changing engine oil filter ............................................ 8-13
Automatic transmission fluid ............................................. 8-14
Temperature conditions for checking ....................... 8-14
Power steering fluid ............................................................ 8-15
Brake and clutch fluid ........................................................ 8-16
Brake fluid ....................................................................... 8-16
Clutch fluid ...................................................................... 8-16
Window washer fluid.......................................................... 8-17
Window washer fluid reservoir .................................. 8-17
Battery .................................................................................... 8-18
Jump starting .................................................................. 8-18
Drive belts ............................................................................. 8-19
Spark plugs ........................................................................... 8-20Replacing spark plugs.................................................. 8-20
Air cleaner ............................................................................. 8-20
Windshield wiper blades ................................................... 8-21
Cleaning ........................................................................... 8-21
Replacing ......................................................................... 8-21
Parking brake and brake pedal ........................................ 8-22
Checking parking brake ............................................... 8-22
Checking brake pedal .................................................. 8-23
Brake booster ................................................................. 8-23
Fuses ...................................................................................... 8-24
Engine compartment ..................................................... 8-24
Passenger compartment .............................................. 8-25
Keyfobbattery replacement ........................................ 8-25
Lights ...................................................................................... 8-27
Headlights ....................................................................... 8-28
Wheels and tires ................................................................. 8-31
Tire pressure ................................................................... 8-31
Tire labeling ..................................................................... 8-34
Types of tires .................................................................. 8-36
Tire chains ....................................................................... 8-36
Changing wheels and tires ......................................... 8-37


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When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication frequently.
Lights*:
Clean the headlights on a regular basis. Make
sure that the headlights, stop lights, tail lights,
turn signal lights, and other lights are all operat-
ing properly and installed securely. Also check
headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*:
When checking the tires, make sure no wheel
nuts are missing, and check for any loose wheel
nuts. Tighten if necessary.
Tires*:
Check the pressure with a gauge often and
always prior to long distance trips. If necessary,
adjust the pressure in all tires, including the
spare, to the pressure specified. Check carefully
for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Tire rotation*:
Tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles
(12,000 km). However, the timing for tire rotation
may vary according to your driving habits and
road surface conditions.
Tire, wheel alignment and balance:
If the vehicle should pull to either side while
driving on a straight and level road, or if youdetect uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may
be a need for wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at normal
highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires, refer to
“Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire
Safety Information” (Canada) in the Warranty
Information booklet.
Windshield:
Clean the windshield on a regular basis. Check
the windshield at least every six months for
cracks or other damage. Have a damaged wind-
shield repaired by a qualified repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*:
Check for cracks or wear if they do not wipe
properly.
Inside the vehicleThe maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing periodic maintenance, cleaning the
vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal:
Check the pedal for smooth operation and make
sure the pedal does not catch or require uneven
effort. Keep the floor mats away from the pedal.Automatic transmission P (Park) position
mechanism:
On a fairly steep hill check that your vehicle is
held securely with the selector lever in the P
position without applying any brakes.
Brake pedal and booster*:
Check the pedal for smooth operation and make
sure it has the proper distance under it when
depressed fully. Check the brake booster func-
tion. Be certain to keep floormats away from the
pedal.
Brakes:
Check that the brakes do not pull the vehicle to
one side when applied.
Clutch pedal*:
Make sure the pedal operates smoothly and
check that it has the proper free travel.
Parking brake*:
Check that the lever has the proper travel and
confirm that your vehicle is held securely on a
fairly steep hill with only the parking brake ap-
plied.
Seats:
Check seat position controls such as seat ad-
justers, seatback recliner, etc. to ensure they
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TIRE PRESSURE
Tire inflation pressureCheck the pressure of the tires (including the
spare) often and always prior to long distance
trips. The recommended tire pressure specifica-
tions are shown on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation label under the “Recommended Cold
Tire Inflation Pressure” heading. The tire and
Loading Information label is affixed to the driver
side center pillar. Tire pressures should be
checked regularly because:

Most tires naturally lose air over time.

Tires can lose air suddenly when driven over
potholes or other objects or if the vehicle
strikes a curbwhile parking.
The tire pressures should be check when the
tires are cold. The tires are considered COLD
after the vehicle has been parked for 3 or more
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at
moderate speeds.
Incorrect tire pressure, including under in-
flation, may adversely affect tire life and
vehicle handling.
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SDI0333B
WHEELS AND TIRES
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WARNING

Improperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident.

The vehicle weight capacity is indi-
cated on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation label. Do not load your ve-
hicle beyond this capacity. Over-
loading your vehicle may result in
reduced tire life, unsafe operating
conditions due to premature tire mal-
functions, or unfavorable handling
characteristics and could also lead to
a serious accident. Loading beyond
the specified capacity may also result
in a malfunction of other vehicle
components.

Before taking a long trip, or when-
ever you heavily load your vehicle,
use a tire pressure gauge to ensure
that the tire pressures are at the
specified level.

Do not drive your vehicle over 85
MPH (137 km/h) unless it is equippedwith high-speed capability tires. Driv-
ing faster than 85 MPH (137 km/h)
may result in tire malfunction, loss of
control and possible injury.

For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety In-
formation” (Canada) in the Warranty
Information Booklet.
Low tire pressure warning system
(if so equipped)The low tire pressure warning system monitors
the tire pressure of all tires (except the spare tire)
by sending a signal from a sensor that is installed
in each wheel. For more details, refer to “Low tire
pressure warning light” in the “2. Instruments
and controls” section, “Low tire pressure warn-
ing system” in the “5. Starting and driving”
section, and “Flat tire” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section. The low tire pressure warn-
ing system will activate only when the vehicle is
driven at speeds above 20 MPH (32 km/h).
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Tire and loading information label
1Seating capacity: The maximum number of
occupants that can be seated in the vehicle.
2Vehicle load limit: See loading information in
the Technical and consumer information sec-
tion.
3Original tire size: The size of the tires origi-
nally installed on the vehicle at the factory.
4Recommended cold tire inflation pressure:
Inflate the tires to this pressure when the tires
are cold. Tires are considered COLD after
the vehicle has been parked for 3 or more
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at
moderate speeds. The recommended cold
tire inflation is set by the manufacturer to
provide the best tire wear and vehicle han-
dling characteristics based on the vehicles
GVWR.
5Tire size — refer to “Tire labeling” later in this
section.
6
and
7
(if so equipped) Spare tire size or
compact spare
tire size (if so
equipped)
Checking the tire pressure1. Remove the valve stem cap from the tire.
2. Press the pressure gauge squarely onto the
valve stem. Do not press too hard or force the
valve stem sideways, or air will escape. If the
hissing sound of air escaping from the tire is
heard while checking the pressure, reposition
the gauge to eliminate this leakage.
3. Remove the gauge.
4. Read the tire pressure on the gauge stem
and compare it to the specification shown on
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