2008 NISSAN PATHFINDER transmission fluid

orAnti-lock Braking System (ABS)
warning lightLow fuel warning lightFront passenger air bag status light
Automatic transmission check warning light (if
so equipped)Low tire pressure warning lightHigh beam indicator light (Blue)
Automatic transmission oil temperature warn-
ing lightLow windshield washer fluid warning lightHill descent control indicator light (if so
equipped)
Automatic transmission park warning light
(model)Seat belt warning light and chimeMalfunction indicator light (MIL)
orBrake warning lightShift P warning light (if so equipped)Overdrive off indicator light (if so equipped)
Charge warning lightSupplemental air bag warning lightSecurity indicator light
Door open warning lightAutomatic transmission position indicator lightSlip indicator light
Engine oil pressure warning lightCruise main switch indicator lightTransfer 4LO position indicator light
(model)
4WD warning light (model)Cruise set switch indicator lightTurn signal/hazard indicator lights
Intelligent Key system warning light (if so
equipped)4WD shift indicator light (model)Vehicle dynamic control off indicator light
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
2-12Instruments and controls
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cAll mode 4WD: 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, 4H, or 4LO position again to turn
off the ATP warning light when the
warning light comes on. (Before shift-
ing the 4WD switch into the 4LO posi-
tion or out of 4LO in the 4H position,
move the automatic transmission se-
lector lever into the N position.) Shift
the selector lever into the P position
and make sure that the 4WD shift indi-
cator light is ON and the ATP warning
light is OFF.)
This light indicates that the automatic transmis-
sion parking function is not engaged. If the trans-
fer control is not secured in any drive position
while the automatic transmission selector lever is
in the P (Park) position, the transmission will
disengage and the drive wheels will not lock.
orBrake warning light
This light functions for both the parking brake and
the foot brake systems.Parking brake indicator
When the ignition key is in the ON position, the
light comes on when the parking brake is applied.
Low brake fluid warning light
When the ignition key is in the ON position, the
light warns of a low brake fluid level. If the light
comes on while the engine is running with the
parking brake not applied, stop the vehicle and
perform the following:
1. Check the brake fluid level. Add brake fluid
as necessary. See “Brake fluid” in the “Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself” section of this
manual.
2. If the brake fluid level is correct, have the
warning system checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
WARNING
cYour brake system may not be working
properly if the warning light is on. Driv-
ing could be dangerous. If you judge it
to be safe, drive carefully to the nearest
service station for repairs. Otherwise,
have your vehicle towed because driv-
ing it could be dangerous.cPressing the brake pedal with the en-
gine stopped and/or a low brake fluid
level may increase your stopping dis-
tance and braking will require greater
pedal effort as well as pedal travel.
cIf the brake fluid level is below the
MINIMUM or MIN mark on the brake
fluid reservoir, do not drive until the
brake system has been checked at a
NISSAN dealer.
Charge warning light
If this light comes on while the engine is running,
it may indicate the charging system is not func-
tioning properly. Turn the engine off and check
the generator belt. If the belt is loose, broken,
missing, or if the light remains on, see a NISSAN
dealer immediately.
CAUTION
cDo not ground electrical accessories
directly to the battery terminal. Doing
so will bypass the variable control sys-
tem and the vehicle battery may not
charge completely. Refer to “Variable
voltage control system” in the “Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section later
in this manual.
2-14Instruments and controls
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8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements..........................8-2
General maintenance..............................8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items.........8-2
Maintenance precautions...........................8-5
Engine compartment check locations................8-6
Engine cooling system.............................8-8
Checking engine coolant level...................8-8
Changing engine coolant........................8-9
Engine oil.........................................8-9
Checking engine oil level........................8-9
Changing engine oil...........................8-10
Changing engine oil filter.......................8-11
5-speed automatic transmission fluid...............8-12
Power steering fluid...............................8-13
Brake fluid.......................................8-13
Brake fluid....................................8-13
Window washer fluid.............................8-14
Window washer fluid reservoir..................8-14
Battery..........................................8-15
Jump starting.................................8-16
Variable Voltage Control System...................8-16
Drive belt........................................8-17
Spark plugs......................................8-18Replacing spark plugs.........................8-18
Air cleaner.......................................8-19
In-cabin microfilter.............................8-19
Windshield wiper blades..........................8-20
Cleaning.....................................8-20
Replacing....................................8-21
Brakes..........................................8-23
Fuses...........................................8-23
Engine compartment...........................8-24
Passenger compartment.......................8-25
Battery replacement..............................8-26
Keyfob.......................................8-26
Intelligent Key battery..........................8-28
Lights...........................................8-29
Headlights....................................8-29
Exterior and interior lights.......................8-30
Wheels and tires.................................8-33
Tire pressure..................................8-33
Tire labeling...................................8-37
Types of tires..................................8-39
Tire chains....................................8-40
Changing wheels and tires.....................8-40
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When performing any inspection or maintenance
work on your vehicle, always take care to prevent
serious accidental injury to yourself or damage to
the vehicle. The following are general precau-
tions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
cPark the vehicle on a level surface, ap-
ply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the vehicle
from moving. Move the shift selector
lever to P (Park) .
cBe sure the ignition key is in the OFF or
LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
cNever leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
cNever connect or disconnect the battery
or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
c
Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come on
at any time without warning, even if the
ignition key is in the OFF position and the
engine is not running. To avoid injury,
always disconnect the negative battery
cable before working near the fan.
cIf you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans, belts
and any other moving parts.
cIt is advisable to secure or remove any
loose clothing and remove any jewelry,
such as rings, watches, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
cAlways wear eye protection whenever
you work on your vehicle.
cIf you must run the engine in an en-
closed space such as a garage, be sure
there is proper ventilation for exhaust
gases to escape.
cNever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, support
it with safety stands.
cKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
cOn gasoline engine models, the fuel
filter or fuel lines should be serviced by
a NISSAN dealer because the fuel lines
are under high pressure even when the
engine is off.CAUTION
cDo not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
cAvoid contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine
oil, engine coolant and/or other vehicle
fluids can damage the environment. Al-
ways conform to local regulations for
disposal of vehicle fluid.
This “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items
which are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN service manual is also avail-
able. See “Owner’s Manual/Service Manual or-
der information” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
You should be aware that incomplete or improper
servicing may result in operating difficulties or
excessive emissions, and could affect warranty
coverage.If in doubt about any servicing,
have it done by a NISSAN dealer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-5
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CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.
6. Wipe the engine oil filter sealing surface with
a clean rag.
Be sure to remove any old gasket material
remaining on the sealing surface of the en-
gine.
7. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.8. Screw on the oil filter until a slight resistance
is felt, then tighten an additional 2/3 turn.
9. Start the engine and check for leakage
around the oil filter. Correct as required.
10. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level. Add engine oil if
necessary.When checking or replacement is required, we
recommend your NISSAN dealer for servicing.
CAUTION
cUse only Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF.
Do not mix with other fluids.
cUsing automatic transmission fluid
other than Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF
will cause deterioration in driveability
and automatic transmission durability,
and may damage the automatic trans-
mission, which is not covered by the
NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
The specified automatic transmission fluid is also
described on caution labels located in the engine
compartment.
VK56DE
WDI0505
5-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION FLUID
8-12Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate) Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Fuel 21-1/8 gal 17-5/8 gal 80 Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 87 AKI (RON 91) *1
Engine oil *7
Drain and Refill
With oil filter change VQ40DE 5-3/8 qt 4-1/2 qt 5.1
• Engine oil with API Certification Mark *2
• Viscosity SAE 5W-30 VK56DE 6-1/2 qt 5-1/2 qt 6.2
Without oil filter change VQ40DE 5-1/8 qt 4-1/4 qt 4.8
VK56DE 6-1/4 qt 5-1/4 qt 5.9
Cooling system
With reservoir models w/o rear a/c 2-3/4 gal 2-1/4 gal 10.2 50% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water
With reservoir models with rear a/c 3-1/2 gal 3 gal 13.4
Automatic transmission fluid Refill to the proper level according to the
instructions in the “Maintenance and do-
it-yourself” section.Genuine Nissan Matic J ATF *3
Power steering fluid (PSF)Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.*4
Brake fluidGenuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid *5 or equivalent DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease — — — NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant — — — HFC-134a (R-134a) *6
Air conditioning system oil — — — NISSAN A/C System Oil Type S or equivalent *6
Transfer fluidAll mode 4WD — — — Genuine Nissan Matic D ATF (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or Canada
NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid *8
Part time 4WD — — —
Front final drive oil — — — Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 or API GL-5
Viscosity SAE 80W-90 Gear Oil, *9
Rear final drive oil — — — API GL-5 Synthetic 75W–90 Gear Oil or equivalent, *10
Windshield washer fluid (shared between
front and rear wipers)1-1/4 gal 1 gal 4.5 Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Antifreeze fluid
or equivalent
*1: For further details, see “Fuel recommendation.”
*2: For further details, see “Engine oil and oil filter recommendations.”
*3: Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine Nissan Matic J ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and automatic transmission durability, and may damage the automatic
transmission, which is not covered by the NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
*4: For Canada, NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) , DEXRON™ VI or equivalent ATF may also be used.
*5: Available in mainland USA through your NISSAN dealer.
*6: For further details, see “Air conditioner specification label.”
*7: For further details, see “Changing engine oil.”
*8: Genuine NISSAN Matic D ATF or equivalent (if available) may also be used.
*9: For hot climates, viscosity SAE 90 is suitable for ambient temperatures above 0° C (32° F) .
*10: See your NISSAN dealer for service.
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information
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cWhen launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
cMake sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
cWhenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
cDO NOT tow any automatic transmis-
sion vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing) . Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
cFor emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Automatic Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dollyMUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels.Alwaysfollow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.DOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
9-26Technical and consumer information
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10 Index
4WD warning light...............2-15
A
Active Head Restraint..............1-7
Adjusting pedal position............3-24
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system).....................1-40
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front impact air
bag system).................1-47
Air bag warning labels.............1-55
Air bag warning light...........1-56, 2-17
Air cleaner housing filter............8-19
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation..........4-39
Air conditioner service...........4-47
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and oil
recommendations..............9-6
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-36, 4-44
Rear seat air conditioner..........4-46
Servicing air conditioner..........4-47
Air flow charts..................4-40
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system).........2-22
Anchor point locations.............1-24
Antenna.....................4-87
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-13
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)........5-32Audible reminders................2-21
Audio system..................4-47
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-62
Compact disc (CD) player.....4-56, 4-70
Audio System
CompactFlash (CF) player.........4-72
Audio system
FM/AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player....................4-54
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) changer................4-59
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player.................4-67
Audio System
Music Box hard-disk drive audio
system....................4-74
Audio system
Radio....................4-47
Rear audio controls.............4-86
Audio System
Settings................4-59, 4-67
Audio system
Steering wheel audio control switch. . . .4-85
Autolight switch.................2-28
Automatic
Automatic drive positioner.........3-29
Automatic power window switch.....2-49
Automatic transmission position indicator
light.....................2-18
Driving with automatic transmission. . . .5-12Transmission selector lever lock
release....................5-16
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror.......3-26
AUX jack.................4-65, 4-72
B
Battery......................8-15
Charge warning light............2-14
Before starting the engine...........5-11
Belt (See drive belt)..............8-17
Block heater
Engine....................5-37
BluetoothThands-free phone system. . . .4-104
Booster seats..................1-35
Brake
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)......5-32
Brake fluid..................8-13
Brake light (See stop light).........8-30
Brake system................5-31
Brake warning light.............2-14
Brake wear indicators........2-21, 8-23
Parking brake operation..........5-17
Self-adjusting brakes............8-23
Brakes......................8-23
Break-in schedule................5-20
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-30
Brightness/contrast button.......4-15, 4-33
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-13
Bulb replacement................8-30
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