2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER maintenance

3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowlyrelease the brake pedal until the blocks ab-
sorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
6. Make sure the
indicator light (if so
equipped) indicates the transfer case is in
4H, 4L, or 2H and that the ATP light is off. If
the
indicator light is flashing, or the
ATP light is ON, make sure the transmission
is in P (Park) (A/T) and turn the 4WD switch
to 2WD or 4H. See “Automatic transmission
park warning light” in the “Instruments and
controls” section and “Using four wheel
drive (4WD)” in the “Starting and driving”
section.
7. Turn off the engine.
To drive away: 1. Start the vehicle.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal. 7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
● While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descend-
ing a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness
and could cause overheating. Shifting to a
lower gear instead provides “engine brak-
ing” and reduces the need to brake as fre-
quently.
● If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this owner’s manual.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
● Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
● For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”. ●
When making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway: 1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal- anced as described earlier in this section.
9-26Technical and consumer information

●Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
● Use the Tow Mode or downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear for engine braking
when driving down steep or long hills. This
will help slow the vehicle without applying
the brakes.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
● Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
● NISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer.
● Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits. ●
Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
● When launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
● Make 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
● Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
● Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
● DO 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.
● For 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 dolly MUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels. Always follow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.
Technical and consumer information9-27

Due to legal requirements in some states and
Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be re-
quired to be in what is called the “ready condi-
tion” for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of
the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when it
is driven through certain driving patterns. Usually,
the ready condition can be obtained by ordinary
usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be
reset to a “not ready” condition. Before taking the
I/M test, check the vehicle’s
inspection/maintenance test readiness condi-
tion. Place the ignition switch in the ON position
without starting the engine. If the Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) comes on steady for 20
seconds and then blinks for 10 seconds , the I/M
test condition is “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink after 20 seconds, the I/M test condition is
“ready”. Contact a NISSAN dealer to set the
“ready condition” or to prepare the vehicle for
testing.This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data Re-
corder (EDR) . The main purpose of an EDR is to
record, in certain crash or near crash-like situa-
tions, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understand-
ing how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR
is designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this
vehicle is designed to record such data as:
● How various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
● Whether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were buckled/fastened;
● How far (if at all) the driver was depressing
the accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,
● How fast the vehicle was traveling.
● Sounds are not recorded.
These data can help provide a better understand-
ing of the circumstances in which crashes and
injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data are recorded by
your vehicle only if a nontrivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal data
(e.g. name, gender, age and crash location) are
recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equip-
ment is required and access to the vehicle or the
EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manu-
facturer and NISSAN dealer, other parties, such
as law enforcement, that have the special equip-
ment, can read the information if they have ac-
cess to the vehicle or the EDR. EDR data will only
be accessed with the consent of the vehicle
owner or lessee or as otherwise required or per-
mitted by law.
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST
EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)
9-30Technical and consumer information

F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) ......2-32
Flat tire .......................6-2
Floor mat positioning aid .............7-5
Fluid Brake fluid ..................8-14
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Engine coolant .................8-8
Engine oil ...................8-10
Power steering fluid .............8-14
Windshield-washer fluid ...........8-15
F.M.V.S.S. certification label ...........9-11
Fog light switch .................2-32
Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system) ......1-51
Front seats .....................1-2
Fuel Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Fuel economy ................5-22
Fuel-filler door and cap ...........3-24
Fuel gauge ...................2-7
Fuel octane rating ...............9-5
Fuel recommendation .............9-4
Loose fuel cap warning ........2-5, 3-24
Fuses .......................8-25
Fusible links ...................8-27 G
Garage door opener, HomeLink Universal
Transceiver ....................2-50
Gascap .....................3-24
Gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Engine oil pressure gauge ..........2-8
Fuel gauge ...................2-7
Odometer ...................2-4
Speedometer .................2-4
Tachometer ..................2-6
Trip computer .................2-9
Trip odometer .................2-4
V
oltmeter ....................2-8
General maintenance ...............8-2
Glass hatch ...................3-23
Glove box .....................2-38
H
Hands-free phone system,
Bluetooth ...............4-104, 4-119
Hazard warning flasher switch .........2-32
Headlight and turn signal switch ........2-28
Headlight control switch ............2-28
Headlights ....................8-31
Headphones
(See NISSAN mobile entertainment system). .4-91
Heated seats ...................2-33
Heated steering wheel .............2-34
Heater Heater and air conditioner
controls ................4-37, 4-44 Heater operation
...........4-38, 4-45
Rear seat air conditioner ..........4-46
HomeLink Universal Transceiver ........2-50
Hood release ...................3-22
Hook Luggage hook ................2-41
Horn .......................2-33
I
Ignition switch ...................5-9
Immobilizer system .........2-24, 3-4, 5-12
Important vehicle information label .......9-11
In-cabin microfilter ................8-21
Increasing fuel economy .............5-22
Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders) ....................2-13
Inside automatic anti-glare mirror ........3-28
Inside mirror ...................3-28
Instrument brightness control ..........2-31
Instrument panel ...............0-6, 2-2
Instrument panel dimmer switch ........2-31
Intelligent Key system Key operating range .............3-13
Key operation ................3-14
Mechanical key ................3-3
Remote keyless entry operation .......3-17
Troubleshooting guide ............3-21
Warning signals ...............3-21
Interior light ....................2-48
ISOFIX child restraints .............1-28
10-3

J
Jump starting ...................6-7
K
Key.........................3-2
Keyfob battery replacement ...........8-28
Keyless entry With Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system) .........3-17
Keyless entry system
(See remote keyless entry system) ........3-7
L
Labels Air conditioner specification label .....9-12
C.M.V.S.S. certification label ........9-11
Emission control information label .....9-12
Engine serial number ............9-11
F.M.V.S.S. certification label .........9-11
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-12
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-10
Warning labels (for SRS) ..........1-58
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System ......................1-28
License plate Installing the license plate ..........9-13
Lift gate ......................3-22
Light Air bag warning light .........1-59, 2-19
Brake light (See stop light) .........8-33
Bulb check/instrument panel ........2-14Bulb replacement
..............8-33
Charge warning light ............2-16
Fog light switch ...............2-32
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-28
Headlight control switch ..........2-28
Headlights ..................8-31
Interior light ..................2-48
Light bulbs ..................8-31
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-17
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light ......................2-18
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-53
Personal lights ................2-49
Security indicator light ............2-21
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders .................. .2-13
Lights Map

lights ..................2-50
Lock Child safety rear door lock ..........3-7
Door locks ...................3-5
Power door locks ...............3-6
Loose fuel cap warning ..........2-5, 3-24
Low fuel warning light ..............2-17
Low tire pressure warning light .........2-17
Low windshield-washer fluid warning light . . .2-18
Luggage hook ..................2-41
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-13
Luggage storage
(see vehicle loading information) ........2-41 M
Maintenance Changing the maintenance
interval .................4-10, 4-25
Displaying the maintenance notice
reminder ................4-10, 4-25
General maintenance .............8-2
Inside the vehicle ...............8-3
Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Outside the vehicle ..............8-2
Resetting the maintenance
interval .................4-10, 4-25
Seat belt maintenance ............1-24
Setting .................4-9, 4-25
Under the hood and vehicle .........8-4
Malfunction indicator light ............2-20
Manual front seat adjustment ...........1-2
Map lights ....................2-50
Map pocket ....................2-39
Meters and gauges ................2-3
Instrument brightness control ........2-31
Mirror Automatic anti-glare inside mirror ......3-28
Inside mirror .................3-28
Outside mirror control ............3-30
Outside mirrors ...............3-30
Vanity mirror .................3-27
Moonroof .....................2-47
Music Box hard-disk drive audio system . . .4-74
N
NISSAN

Intelligent Key™ ..........3-2, 3-11
10-4

NISSAN mobile entertainment system
(MES).......................4-88
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system ................2-24, 3-4, 5-12
NISSAN voice recognition system ......4-130
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating) ......9-5
Odometer .....................2-4
Oil Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine oil .............8-11
Changing engine oil filter ..........8-12
Checking engine oil level ..........8-10
Engine oil ...................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-6
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-6
Outside mirror control ..............3-30
Outside mirrors .................3-30
Overdrive switch .................5-18
Overheat If your vehicle overheats ...........6-9
Owner’s manual order form ...........9-31
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information ....................9-31
P
Parking Parking brake operation ...........5-19
Parking/parking on hills ...........5-34
Pedal position adjustment ............3-26 Personal lights
..................2-49
Phone, Bluetooth hands-free
system .................4-104, 4-119
Power Front seat adjustment .............1-4
Power door locks ...............3-6
Power outlet .................2-35
Power rear windows .............2-46
Power steering fluid .............8-14
Power steering system ...........5-35
Power windows ...............2-44
Rear power windows ............2-46
Precautions Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
On-pavement
and off-road driving
precautions ..................5-5
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-26, 1-33, 1-37, 1-41
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-17
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-44
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Pre-tensioner seat belt system .........1-57
Programmable features ..........4-11, 4-27
Push starting ....................6-9
R
Radio Car phone or CB radio ..........4-103
Compact Disc (CD) changer ........4-62
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
Rear audio controls .............4-86
Steering wheel audio control switch . . . .4-85
Readiness for inspection maintenance
(I/M) test .....................9-30
Rear audio controls ...............4-86
Rear power windows ..............2-46
Rear seat air conditioner ............4-46
RearView Monitor ................4-34
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .......................2-27
Rear window wiper and washer switches . . .2-26
Recorders Event data ..................9-30
Refrigerant recommendation ...........9-7
Registering your vehicle in another country . .9-10
Remote controller (See NISSAN mobile
entertainment system) ..............4-90
Remote keyless entry system ...........3-7
Reporting safety defects (US only) .......9-29
Resetting the fuel economy ........4-7, 4-23
S
Safety Child safety rear door lock ..........3-7
Child seat belts .....1-26, 1-33, 1-37, 1-41
Reporting safety defects (US only) .....9-29
Screen (See NISSAN mobile entertainment
system) ......................4-90
Seat adjustment Front manual seat adjustment ........1-2
Front
power seat adjustment .........1-4
Second row bench seats ...........1-5
10-5

Seatback pockets................2-39
Seat belt Child safety ..................1-24
Infants and small children ..........1-25
Injured Person ................1-20
Larger children ................1-25
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-17
Pregnant women ...............1-20
Pre-tensioner seat belt system .......1-57
Seat belt extenders .............1-23
Seat belt maintenance ............1-24
Seat belts ...................1-17
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-23
Three-point type with retractor .......1-20
Seat belt warning light ..............2-19
Seats Adjustment ...................1-2
Automatic drive positioner ..........3-31
Front seats ...................1-2
Heated seats .................2-33
Manual front seat adjustment .........1-2
Security indicator light ..............2-21
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start ........2-24, 3-4, 5-12
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-25
Service manual order form ...........9-31
Servicing air conditioner .............4-47
Setting button ...............4-11, 4-27
Shifting Automatic transmission ...........5-15
Shift lock release .................5-17
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-23
Side air bag system (See supplemental side air
bag, curtain and rollover air bag systems) . . .1-56
Spark plug replacement .............8-19
Speedometer ...................2-4 SRS warning label
................1-58
Starting Before starting the engine ..........5-13
Jump starting .................6-7
Precautions

when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Push starting ..................6-9
Starting the engine .............5-13
Startup screen ..................4-21
Steering Heated steering wheel ...........2-34
Power steering fluid .............8-14
Power steering system ...........5-35
Tilting steering wheel ............3-26
Steering wheel audio control switch ......4-85
Stop light .....................8-33
Storage ......................2-36
Storage bin ................2-37, 2-41
Storage tray ...................2-36
Sunglasses case .................2-38
Sunglasses holder ................2-38
Sunroof ......................2-47
Sunroof (see Moonroof) .............2-47
Sun visors ....................3-27
Supplemental air bag warning labels ......1-58
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-59, 2-19
Supplemental front impact air bag system . . .1-51
Supplemental restraint system Information and warning labels .......1-58
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-44
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system) .........1-44
Switch Autolight switch ...............2-29
Automatic power window switch ......2-46
Fog light switch ...............2-32 Hazard warning flasher switch
.......2-32
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-28
Headlight control switch ..........2-28
Ignition switch .................5-9
Overdrive switch ...............5-18
Power door lock switch ............3-6
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .....................2-27
Rear window wiper and washer
switches ...................2-26
T
urn signal switch ..............2-31
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch .....................2-34
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-25
T
Tachometer ....................2-6
Temperature gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start .............2-24, 3-4, 5-12
Three-way catalyst ................5-2
Tilting steering wheel ..............3-26
Tire Flat tire .....................6-2
Spare tire ................6-3, 8-46
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-12
Tire chains ..................8-43
Tire placard ..................9-12
Tire pressure .................8-36
Tire rotation ..................8-43
Tires of 4-wheel drive ............8-45
Types of tires .................8-42
Uniform tire quality grading .........9-28
10-6

Wheels and tires...............8-36
Wheel/tire size .................9-9
Tire pressure Low tire pressure warning light .......2-17
Tire pressure display ............4-8, 4-23
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) . . . .5-3
Tire rotation maintenance reminder . . . .4-8, 4-23
Top tether strap child restraint .........1-30
Towing 2-wheel drive models ............6-11
4-wheel drive models ............6-12
Flat towing ..................9-27
Towing load/specification ..........9-21
Tow truck towing ...............6-10
Trailer towing .................9-18
Transceiver HomeLink Universal Transceiver ......2-50
Transmission Driving with automatic transmission . . . .5-14
Shift selector lock release ..........5-17
Travel (See registering your vehicle in
another country) .................9-10
Trip computer ...................2-9
Trip odometer ...................2-4
Turn signal switch ................2-31
U
Uniform tire quality grading ...........9-28
V
Vanity mirror ...................3-27
Variable voltage control system .........8-18Vehicle dimensions and weights
.........9-9
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch . . .2-34
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system .....5-38
Vehicle electronic system ........4-15, 4-30
Vehicle identification ...............9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number) ................9-10
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . . . .9-10
Vehicle loading information ...........9-13
Vehicle recovery ..............6-12, 6-13
Vehicle security system .............2-23
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle immobi-
lizer system) , engine start ......2-24,
3-4, 5-12
Ventilators ....................4-36
Visors .......................3-27
Voice recognition system ...........4-130
Voltmeter ......................2-8
W
Warning 4WD warning light ..............2-16
Air bag warning light .........1-59, 2-19
Anti-lock brake warning light ........2-14
Battery charge warning light ........2-16
Brake warning light .............2-15
Door open warning light ...........2-16
Engine oil pressure warning light ......2-16
Hazard warning flasher switch .......2-32
Low fuel warning light ............2-17
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-17
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light ......................2-18
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-53
Seat belt warning light ............2-19 Vehicle security system
...........2-23
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ...................2-13
Warning labels (for SRS) ..........1-58
Warning lights ..................2-13
Washer switch Rear window wiper and washer
switches ...................2-26
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-25
Weights (See dimensions and weights) .....9-9
Wheels and tires .................8-36
Wheel/tire size ...................9-9
When traveling or registering your vehicle
in another country ................9-10
Windows Locking passengers’ windows .......2-46
Power rear windows .............2-46
Power windows ...............2-44
Rear power windows ............2-46
Windshield-washer fluid .............8-15
Windshield wiper and washer switch .....2-25
Wiper Rear

window wiper and washer
switches ...................2-26
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-25
Wiper blades .................8-22
10-7