2008 NISSAN PATHFINDER warning light

PRECAUTIONS ON
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM
This Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) sec-
tion contains important information concerning
the driver and passenger supplemental front air
bags (NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System) , front
seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air
bags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact and roll-
over supplemental air bags and pretensioner seat
belts.
Supplemental front impact air bag system:
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System can help
cushion the impact force to the head and chest of
the driver and front passenger in certain frontal
collisions.
Front seat-mounted side-impact supple-
mental 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 collisions. The supplemental
side air bag is designed to inflate on the side
where the vehicle is impacted.
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and
rollover supplemental air bag (if so
equipped):This system can help cushion the
impact force to the head of occupants in front
and rear outboard seating positions in certainside impact or rollover collisions. In a side impact,
the curtain air bags are designed to inflate on the
side where the vehicle is impacted. In a rollover
both curtain air bags are designed to inflate and
remain inflated for a short time.
These supplemental restraint systems are de-
signed tosupplementthe crash protection pro-
vided by the seat belts and arenot a substitute
for them. Seat belts should always be correctly
worn and the occupant seated a suitable dis-
tance away from the steering wheel, instrument
panel and door finishers. See “Seat belts” earlier
in this section for instructions and precautions on
seat belt usage.
The supplemental air bags operate only
when the ignition switch is in the ON or
START position.
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.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM
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WARNING
cThe supplemental front air bags ordi-
narily will not inflate in the event of a
side impact, rear impact, rollover, or
lower severity frontal collision. Always
wear your seat belts to help reduce the
risk or severity of injury in various kinds
of accidents.
cThe front passenger air bag will not
inflate if the passenger air bag status
light is lit or if the front passenger seat
is unoccupied. See “Front passenger air
bag and status light” later in this
section.cThe seat belts and the supplemental
front air bags are most effective when
you are sitting well back and upright in
the seat. The front air bags inflate with
great force. Even with the NISSAN Ad-
vanced Air Bag System, if you are unre-
strained, leaning forward, sitting side-
ways 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 againstthe seatback and as far away as practi-
cal from the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel. Always use the seat belts.
cThe driver and front passenger seat belt
buckles are equipped with sensors that
detect if the seat belts are fastened. The
advanced air bag system monitors the
severity of a collision and seat belt us-
age then inflates the air bags. Failure to
properly wear seat belts can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an
accident.
cThe front passenger seat is equipped
with an occupant classification sensor
(pressure sensor) that turns the front
passenger air bag OFF under some
conditions. This sensor is only used in
this seat. Failure to be properly seated
and wearing the seat belt can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an acci-
dent. See “Front Passenger air bag and
status light” later in this section.
cKeep hands on the outside of the steer-
ing wheel. Placing them inside the
steering wheel rim could increase the
risk that they are injured when the
supplemental front air bag inflates.
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all of the information, cautions and warn-
ings in this manual still apply and must be
followed.
The driver supplemental front air bag is located in
the center of the steering wheel. The passenger
supplemental front air bag is mounted in the
dashboard above the glove box. The supplemen-
tal front air bags are designed to inflate in higher
severity frontal collisions, although they may in-
flate 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 damage (or lack of it) is not always an
indication of proper supplemental front air bag
system operation.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System has dual
stage inflators. It also monitors information from
the crash zone sensor, the Air bag Control Unit
(ACU) , seat belt buckle sensors, occupant clas-
sification sensor (pressure sensor) and passen-
ger seat belt tension sensor. Inflator operation is
based on the severity of a collision and seat belt
usage for the driver. For the front passenger, it
additionally monitors the weight of an occupant
or object on the seat and seat belt tension. Based
on information from the sensors, only one front air
bag may inflate in a crash, depending on the
crash severity and whether the front occupants
are belted or unbelted. Additionally, the front
passenger air bag may be automatically turnedOFF under some conditions, depending on the
weight detected on the passenger seat and how
the seat belt is used. If the front passenger air bag
is OFF, the passenger air bag status light will be
illuminated (if the seat is unoccupied, the light will
not be illuminated, but the air bag will be off) . See
“Front passenger air bag and status light” later in
this section for further details. One front air bag
inflating does not indicate improper performance
of the system.
If you have any questions about your air bag
system, please contact NISSAN or your NISSAN
dealer. If you are considering modification of your
vehicle due to a disability, you may also contact
NISSAN. Contact information is contained in the
front of this Owner’s Manual.
When a supplemental front air bag inflates, a
fairly loud noise may be heard, followed by the
release of smoke. This smoke is not harmful and
does not indicate a fire. Care should be taken to
not inhale it, as it may cause irritation and chok-
ing. Those with a history of a breathing condition
should get fresh air promptly.
Supplemental front air bags, along with the use of
seat belts, help to cushion the impact force 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 causefacial abrasions or other injuries. Front air bags
do not provide restraint to the lower body.
Even with NISSAN advanced air bags, seat belts
should be correctly worn and the driver and pas-
senger seated upright as far as practical away
from the steering wheel or instrument panel. The
supplemental front air bags inflate 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 front air bag module
during inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a collision.
The supplemental front air bags operate
only when the ignition switch is in the ON
or START position.
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.
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Front passenger air bag and status light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF under some con-
ditions. Read this section carefully to
learn how it operates. Proper use of the
seat, seat belt and child restraints is nec-
essary for most effective protection. Fail-
ure to follow all instructions in this
manual concerning the use of seats, seat
belts and child restraints can increase the
risk or severity of injury in an accident.Status light
The front passenger air bag status light
is
located near the climate controls. The light oper-
ates as follows:
cUnoccupied passenger’s seat: The
is
OFF and the front passenger air bag is OFF
and will not inflate in a crash.
cPassenger’s seat occupied by a small adult,
child or child restraint as outlined in this
section: The
illuminates to indicate
that the front passenger air bag is OFF and
will not inflate in a crash.
cOccupied passenger seat and the passen-
ger meet the conditions outlined in this sec-
tion: The light
is OFF to indicate that
the front passenger air bag is operational.
Front passenger air bag
The front passenger air bag is designed to auto-
matically turn OFF when the vehicle is operated
under some conditions as described below in
accordance with U.S. regulations. If the front
passenger air bag is OFF, it will not inflate in a
crash. The driver air bag and other air bags in your
vehicle are not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help reduce
the risk of injury or death from an inflating air bag
to certain front passenger seat occupants, suchas children, by requiring the air bag to be auto-
matically turned OFF. Certain sensors are used
to meet the requirements.
One sensor used is the occupant classification
sensor (pressure sensor) . It is in the bottom of the
front passenger seat cushion and is designed to
detect an occupant and objects on the seat by
weight. It works together with seat belt sensors
described later. For example, if a child is in the
front passenger seat, the advanced air bag sys-
tem is designed to turn the passenger air bag
OFF in accordance with the regulations. Also, if a
child restraint of the type specified in the regula-
tions is on the seat, its weight and the child’s
weight can be detected and cause the air bag to
turn OFF. Occupant classification sensor opera-
tion can vary depending on the front passenger
seat belt sensors.
The front passenger seat belt sensors are de-
signed to detect if the seat belt is buckled and the
amount of tension on the seat belt, such as when
it is in the Automatic Locking Retractor mode
(child restraint mode) . Based on the weight on
the seat detected by the occupant classification
sensor and the belt tension detected on the seat
belt, the Advanced Air Bag System determines
whether the front passenger air bag should be
automatically turned OFF as required by the
regulations.
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Front passenger seat adult occupants who are
properly seated and using the seat belt as out-
lined in this manual should not cause the passen-
ger air bag to be automatically turned OFF. For
small adults it may be turned OFF, however if the
occupant takes his/her weight off the seat cush-
ion (for example, by not sitting upright, by sitting
on an edge of the seat, or by otherwise being out
of position) , this could cause the sensor to turn
the air bag OFF. In addition, if the occupant
improperly uses the seat belt in the Automatic
Locking Retractor mode (child restraint mode) ,
this could cause the air bag to be turned OFF.
Always be sure to be seated and wearing the seat
belt properly for the most effective protection by
the seat belt and supplemental air bag.
NISSAN recommends that pre-teens and chil-
dren be properly restrained in a rear seat.
NISSAN also recommends that appropriate child
restraints and booster seats be properly installed
in a rear seat. If this is not possible, the occupant
classification sensor and seat belt sensors are
designed to operate as described above to turn
the front passenger air bag OFF for specified
child restraints as required by the regulations.
Failing to properly secure child restraints and to
use the Automatic Locking Retractor mode (child
restraint mode) may allow the restraint to tip or
move in an accident or sudden stop. This can
also result in the passenger air bag inflating in acrash instead of being OFF. See “Child re-
straints” earlier in this section for proper use and
installation.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied the
passenger air bag is designed not to inflate in a
crash. However, heavy objects placed on the
seat could result in air bag inflation, because of
the object’s weight detected by the occupant
classification sensor. Other conditions could also
result in air bag inflation, such as if a child is
standing on the seat, or if two children are on the
seat, contrary to the instructions in this manual.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle occupants
are seated and restrained properly.
Using the passenger air bag status light, you can
monitor when the front passenger air bag is au-
tomatically turned OFF with the seat occupied.
The light will not illuminate when the front pas-
senger seat is unoccupied.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the passen-
ger air bag status light is illuminated (indicating
that the air bag is OFF) , it could be that the
person is a small adult, or is not sitting on the seat
properly or not using the seat belt properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front seat,
the passenger air bag status light may or may not
be illuminated, depending on the size of the child
and the type of child restraint being used. If the air
bag status light is not illuminated (indicating thatthe air bag might inflate in a crash) , it could be
that the child restraint or seat belt is not being
used properly. Make sure that the child restraint is
installed properly, the seat belt is used properly
and the occupant is positioned properly. If the air
bag status light is not illuminated, reposition the
occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.
If the passenger air bag status light will not illu-
minate even though you believe that the child
restraint, the seat belts and the occupant are
properly positioned, the system may be sensing
an unoccupied seat (in which case the air bag is
OFF) . Your NISSAN dealer can check that the
system is OFF by using a special tool. However,
until you have confirmed with your dealer that
your air bag is working properly, reposition the
occupant or child restraint in a rear seat.
The air bag system and passenger air bag status
light will take a few seconds to register a change
in the passenger seat status. For example, if a
large adult who is sitting in the front passenger
seat exits the vehicle, the passenger air bag
status light will go from OFF to ON for a few
seconds and then to OFF. This is normal system
operation and does not indicate a malfunction.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger air
bag system, the supplemental air bag warning
light
, located in the meter and gauges area
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the risk of injury if the occupant is too close to, or
is against, these air bag modules during inflation.
The front seat-mounted side-impact supplemen-
tal air bags will deflate quickly after the collision is
over.
The front seat-mounted side-impact supplemen-
tal air bags and roof-mounted curtain side-
impact and rollover supplemental air bags will
remain inflated for a short time.
The front seat-mounted side-impact
supplemental air bags and roof-mounted
curtain side-impact and rollover supple-
mental air bags operate only when the ig-
nition switch is in the ON or START posi-
tions.
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
cDo not place any objects near the seat-
back of the front seats. Also, do not
place any objects (an umbrella, bag,
etc.) between the front door finisher
and the front seat. Such objects may
become dangerous projectiles and
cause injury if the supplemental side air
bag inflates.
cRight after inflation, several front seat-
mounted side-impact supplemental air
bag and curtain side-impact and roof-
mounted curtain side-impact and roll-
over supplemental air bag system com-
ponents will be hot. Do not touch them;
you may severely burn yourself.cNo unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the front seat-mounted side-impact
supplemental air bags and roof-
mounted curtain side-impact and roll-
over supplemental air bag system. This
is to prevent accidental inflation of the
front seat-mounted side-impact
supplemental air bags and roof-
mounted curtain side-impact and roll-
over supplemental air bags or damage
to the front seat-mounted side-impact
supplemental air bags and roof-
mounted curtain side-impact and roll-
over supplemental air bag system.
cDo not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle’s electrical system, sus-
pension system or side panel. This
could affect proper operation of the
supplemental curtain air bag system.
cTampering with the front seat-mounted
side-impact supplemental air bags may
result in serious personal injury. For
example, do not change the front seats
by placing material near the seatbacks
or by installing additional trim material,
such as seat covers, around the front
seat-mounted side-impact supplemen-
tal air bags.
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cause irritation and choking. Those with a history
of a breathing condition should get fresh air
promptly.
After the pretensioners have activated, load lim-
iters allow the seat belt to release webbing (if
necessary) to reduce forces against the chest.
If any abnormality occurs in the pretensioners, the
supplemental air bag warning light
will not
come on, will flash intermittently or will turn on for
7 seconds and remain on after the ignition key
has been turned to the ON or START position. In
this case, the pretensioner may not function
properly. They must be checked and repaired.
Take your vehicle to the nearest NISSAN dealer.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the seat belts with preten-
sioners and guide the buyer to the appropriate
sections in this Owner’s Manual.1. SRS Air bag warning labels
The warning labels are located on the sur-
face of the sun visor.
2. Front seat-mounted side-impact supple-
mental air bags warning label (if so
equipped)
The warning label is located on the side of
the passenger’s side center pillar.
SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LABELS
Warning labels about the supplemental front air
bags, front seat-mounted side-impact supple-
mental air bags and roof-mounted curtain side-
impact and rollover supplemental air bag systems
are placed in the vehicle as shown in the illustra-
tion.
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SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAG
WARNING LIGHT
The supplemental air bag warning light,
displayingin the instrument panel, moni-
tors the circuits of the supplemental front air bag,
front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air
bags and roof-mounted curtain side-impact and
rollover supplemental air bag and seat belts with
pretensioners systems. The circuits monitored by
the supplemental air bag warning light are the Air
bag Control Unit (ACU) , crash zone sensor, sat-
ellite sensors, rollover sensor, front air bag mod-
ules, side air bag modules, curtain air bag mod-
ules, pretensioner and all related wiring.When the ignition key is in the ON or START
position, the supplemental air bag warning light
illuminates for about 7 seconds and then turns
off. This means the system is operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the
supplemental front air bag, front seat-mounted
side-impact supplemental air bags, roof-
mounted curtain side-impact, rollover supple-
mental air bag and pretensioner seat belt sys-
tems need servicing:
cThe supplemental air bag warning light re-
mains on after approximately 7 seconds.
cThe supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
cThe supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.
Under these conditions, the supplemental front
air bag, front seat-mounted side-impact supple-
mental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side-
impact and rollover supplemental air bag or pre-
tensioner systems may not operate properly. It
must be checked and repaired. Take your vehicle
to the nearest NISSAN dealer.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning light
is on, it could mean that the supplemental
front air bag, front seat-mounted side-
impact supplemental air bags, roof-
mounted curtain side-impact and rollover
supplemental air bag and/or seat belt
with pretensioners will not operate in an
accident. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle checked by a
NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.
Repair and replacement procedure
The supplemental front air bags, front seat-
mounted side-impact supplemental air bags,
roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover
supplemental air bag and pretensioners are de-
signed to inflate on a one-time-only basis. As a
reminder, unless it is damaged, the supplemental
air bag warning light remains illuminated after
inflation has occurred. Repair and replacement of
these supplemental air bag systems should be
done only by a NISSAN dealer.
When maintenance work is required on the ve-
hicle, the supplemental front air bags, front seat-
mounted side-impact supplemental air bags,
roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover
supplemental air bag, pretensioners and related
parts should be pointed out to the person per-LRS0100
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