2011 NISSAN PATHFINDER steering

1. Power steering fluid pump
2. Drive belt automatic belt tensioner
3. Water pump pulley
4. Cooling fan pulley
5. Air conditioner compressor
6. Crankshaft pulley
7. Generator pulley
WARNING
Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF or
LOCK position before servicing drive belt.
The engine could rotate unexpectedly.1. Visually inspect the belt for signs of unusual
wear, cuts, fraying or looseness. If the belt is
in poor condition or is loose, have it replaced
or adjusted by a NISSAN dealer.
2. Have the belt checked regularly for condi- tion and tension in accordance with the
maintenance schedule found in the
“NISSAN Service and Maintenance Guide”.
REPLACING SPARK PLUGS
Platinum-tipped spark plugs (if so
equipped)
It is not necessary to replace platinum-tippedA
spark plugs as frequently as conventional type
spark plugs because they last much longer. Fol-
low the maintenance log shown in the “NISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guide”. Do not service
platinum-tipped spark plugs by cleaning or re-
gapping.
● Always replace spark plugs with rec-
ommended or equivalent ones.
VK56DE
WDI0675SDI1895
SPARK PLUGS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-19

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 80See “Fuel Recommendation” later in this section.
Engine oil *7 Engine oil with API Certification Mark *1
Viscosity SAE 5W-30
Drain and Refill
With oil filter change VQ40DE 5-3/8 qt 4-1/2 qt 5.1
VK56DE 6-3/4 qt 5-3/4 qt 6.5
Without oil filter
change VQ40DE
5-1/8 qt 4-1/4 qt 4.8
VK56DE 6-1/2 qt 5-1/2 qt 6.2
Cooling system With reservoir models w/o rear a/c 2-3/4 gal 2-1/4 gal 10.2 Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent
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 instruc-
tions in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section.Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF *2
Power steering fluid (PSF) Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent.*3
Brake fluid Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid *4 or equivalent
DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease ——— NLGI No. 2 (Lithium Soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant ——— HFC-134a (R-134a) *5
Air conditioning system oil ——— Genuine NISSAN A/C System Oil Type S or equivalent *5
Transfer fluid All mode 4WD 3-1/8 qt 2-5/8 qt 3.0
Genuine NISSAN Matic D ATF recommended *6
Part time 4WD 2-1/8 qt 1-3/4 qt 2.0
Front final drive oil VQ40DE
1-3/4 pt 1-1/2 pt 0.85 Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 or
API GL-5 Viscosity SAE 80W-90 *8
VK56DE 3-3/8 pt 2-7/8 pt 1.6
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information

WARNING
Overloading or improper loading of a
trailer and its cargo can adversely affect
vehicle handling, braking and perfor-
mance and may lead to accidents.
CAUTION
●Do not tow a trailer or haul a heavy load
for the first 500 miles (800 km) . Your
engine, axle or other parts could be
damaged.
● For the first 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, do not drive over 50 mph
(80 km/h) and do not make starts at full
throttle. This helps the engine and other
parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
Your new vehicle was designed to be used pri-
marily to carry passengers and cargo. Remember
that towing a trailer places additional loads on
your vehicle’s engine, drive train, steering, brak-
ing and other systems.
A NISSAN Towing Guide (U.S. only) is available
on the website at www.nissanusa.com. This
guide includes information on trailer towing ca-
pability and the special equipment required for
proper towing.
MAXIMUM LOAD LIMITS
Maximum trailer loads
Never allow the total trailer load to exceed the
value specified in the “Towing
Load/Specification” chart found later in this sec-
tion. The total trailer load equals trailer weight
plus its cargo weight. ● When towing a trailer load of 3,500 lbs.
(1587 kg) or more, trailers with a brake
system MUST be used.
The maximum Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR) should not exceed the value specified
in the following “Towing Load/Specification”
chart. The GCWR equals the combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo)
plus the total trailer load. Towing loads greater
than these or using improper towing equipment
could adversely affect vehicle handling, braking
and performance.
The ability of your vehicle to tow a trailer is not
only related to the maximum trailer loads, but also
the places you plan to tow. Tow weights appro-
priate for level highway driving may have to be
reduced for low traction situations (for example,
on slippery boat ramps) .
LTI0162
TOWING A TRAILER
9-18Technical and consumer information

WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system di-
rectly to the vehicle brake system.
Electric trailer brake controller
Trailers equipped with electric brakes may re-
quire the installation of an aftermarket trailer
brake controller.
A Genuine NISSAN jumper harness is available
that is specifically designed to be used when
installing an aftermarket brake controller.
Install the aftermarket electric trailer brake con-
troller according to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
Pre-towing tips
●Be certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if it
has an abnormal nose-up or nose-down
condition; check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other possible
causes of either condition.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving. ●
Keep the cargo load as low as possible in
the trailer to keep the trailer center of gravity
low.
● Load the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half. Also make sure the load is
balanced side to side.
● Check your hitch, trailer tire pressure, ve-
hicle tire pressure, trailer light operation, and
trailer wheel lug nuts every time you attach a
trailer to the vehicle.
● Be certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
● Determine the overall height of the vehicle
and trailer so the required clearance is
known.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free
from traffic. Steering stability and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than under
normal driving conditions.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving. ●
Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadver-
tently becoming unlatched.
● Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
● Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
● Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
● When backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector to the P
(Park) position before blocking the
wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the downhill side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
Technical and consumer information9-25

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

10 Index
4WD warning light...............2-16
A
Active brake limited slip (ABLS) system . . .5-37
Adjusting pedal position ............3-26
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) .....................1-44
Air bag system Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system) ...............1-51
Air bag warning labels .............1-58
Air bag warning light ...........1-59, 2-19
Air cleaner housing filter ............8-20
Air conditioner Air conditioner operation ..........4-39
Air conditioner service ...........4-47
Air conditioner specification label .....9-12
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations .............9-7
Heater and air conditioner
controls ................4-37, 4-44
Rear seat air conditioner ..........4-46
Servicing air conditioner ..........4-47
Air flow charts ..................4-41
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system) .........2-23
Anchor point locations .............1-30
Antenna .....................4-87
Anti-lock brake warning light ..........2-14
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........5-36
Audible reminders ...............2-22 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 .................2-29
Automatic Automatic drive positioner .........3-31
Automatic power window switch .....2-46
Automatic transmission position indicator
light .....................2-19
Driving with automatic transmission . . . .5-14
Transmission shift selector lock release . .5-17
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror .......3-28
Automatic door locks ..............3-6
AUX jack .................4-65, 4-72 B
Battery ......................8-16
Charge warning light ............2-16
Before starting the engine ...........5-13
Belt (See drive belt) ..............8-18
Block heater Engine ....................5-41
Bluetooth hands-free phone
system .................4-104, 4-119
Booster seats ..................1-41
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......5-36
Brake fluid ..................8-14
Brake light (See stop light) .........8-33
Brake system ................5-35
Brake warning light .............2-15
Brake wear indicators ........2-22, 8-25
Parking brake operation ..........5-19
Self-adjusting brakes ............8-25
Brakes ......................8-25
Break-in schedule ...............5-21
Brightness/contrast button .......4-18, 4-33
Brightness control Instrument panel ..............2-31
Bulb check/instrument panel ..........2-14
Bulb replacement ................8-33

C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants ...................9-2
Cargo light ....................2-50
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . . .9-13
Car phone or CB radio ............4-103
CD care and cleaning ..............4-83
CD changer (See audio system) ........4-62
CD player (See audio system) ......4-56, 4-70
Check tire press ..................2-5
Child restraints .......1-24, 1-25, 1-26, 1-28
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-26, 1-33, 1-37, 1-41
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-30
Child restraint with top tether strap .......1-30
Child safety rear door lock ............3-7
Chimes, audible reminders ...........2-22
Cleaning exterior and interior ...........7-2
Clock ................4-55, 4-60, 4-68
(models with navigation system) . . .4-13, 4-28
Clock set .................4-13, 4-28
C.M.V.S.S. certification label ..........9-11
Cold weather driving ..............5-39
Compact disc (CD) player ........4-56, 4-70
CompactFlash (CF) player ...........4-72
Console box ...................2-37
Control panel buttons ..............4-18
Brightness/contrast button ......4-18, 4-33
Enter button ...............4-4, 4-18
Setting button .............4-11, 4-27
Startup screen ................4-21
Without navigation system ..........4-4
Controls Audio controls (steering wheel) .......4-85Heater and air conditioner
controls
................4-37, 4-44
Rear audio controls .............4-86
Rear seat air conditioner ..........4-46
Coolant Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing

engine coolant ...........8-9
Checking engine coolant level ........8-9
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Corrosion protection ...............7-5
Cruise control ..................5-20
Cup holders ...................2-39
Curtain side-impact and rollover air bag . . . .1-56
D
Daytime running light system (Canada only) . .2-30
Defroster switch Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .....................2-27
Digital video disc DVD ..............4-88
Dimensions and weights .............9-9
Dimmer switch for instrument panel ......2-31
Display controls
(see control panel buttons) ........4-4, 4-18
Distance to empty .............4-7, 4-22
Door locks .....................3-5
Door open warning light .............2-16
Drive belt .....................8-18
Drive positioner, Automatic ...........3-31
Driving Cold weather driving ............5-39
Driving with automatic transmission . . . .5-14
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2 E
Economy - fuel ..................5-22
Emission control information label .......9-12
Emission control system warranty .......9-28
Engine Before starting the engine ..........5-13
Block heater .................5-41
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine coolant ...........8-9
Changing engine oil .............8-11
Changing engine oil filter ..........8-12
Checking engine coolant level ........8-9
Checking engine oil level ..........8-10
Engine compartment check locations . . . .8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-6
Engine

cooling system ............8-8
Engine oil ...................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-6
Engine oil pressure warning light ......2-16
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-6
Engine serial number ............9-11
Engine specifications .............9-8
Starting the engine .............5-13
Engine oil pressure gauge ............2-8
Enter button .................4-4, 4-18
Event data recorders ..............9-30
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .........5-2
Eyeglass case ..................2-38
10-2

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