2015 NISSAN PATHFINDER Tow mode

Tow mode should be used when pulling a heavy
trailer or hauling a heavy load. Driving the vehicle
in the tow mode with no trailer/load or light
trailer/light load will not cause any damage. How-
ever, fuel economy may be reduced, and the
transmission/engine driving characteristics may
feel unusual.
Press the tow mode switch to activate tow mode.
The indicator light on the tow mode switch illumi-
nates when tow mode is selected. Press the tow
mode switch again to turn tow mode OFF.
Tow mode is automatically canceled when the
ignition switch is placed in the OFF position.For additional information, refer to “Tow mode” in
the “Technical and consumer information” in this
section.
12V OUTLETS
The power outlets are for powering electrical
accessories such as cellular telephones. They
are rated at 12 volt, 120W (10A) maximum.
The front and center console power outlets are
powered only when the ignition switch is in the
ACC or ON position.
LIC2878
Instrument Panel (2 outlets may be if so
equipped)
LIC2391
TOW MODE SWITCH POWER OUTLETS
Instruments and controls2-43

●Do not push the sunshade arm with
your hands, etc., as this may deform it.
Improper operation or damage to the
sunshade may result.
● Do not put any object into the sunshade
inlet port as this may result in improper
operation or damage the sunshade.
● Do not hang any object on the arm rail
as this may result in improper operation
or damage the sunshade.
● Do not forcefully pull the sunshade. Do-
ing so may elongate the sunshade. Im-
proper operation or damage to the sun-
shade may result.
Restarting the sunshade switch
If the sunshade does not operate properly, per-
form the following procedure to initialize the sun-
shade operation system.
1. Switch the vehicle ignition to the ACCES- SORY or RUN mode.
2. Press and hold the sunshade close switch.
3. Sunshade will begin moving towards the close position only while the switch is con-
tinually pressed. (this disables the obstacle
detection) .
4. Sunshade will stop for about 4 seconds. 5. Sunshade drive cable will travel in the open
direction for .394 in. (10 mm) then reverse
direction and stop at the normal close posi-
tion.
6. Release the sunshade close switch. Initial- ization procedure is complete.
If the moonroof does not operate properly after
performing the procedure above, have your ve-
hicle checked by a NISSAN dealer.
Auto-reverse function (when closing
the sunshade)
The auto-reverse function can be activated when
the sunshade is closed by automatic operation
when the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position or for a period of time after the ignition
switch is placed in the OFF position.
Depending on the environment or driving
conditions, the auto-reverse function may
be activated if an impact or load similar to
something being caught in the sunshade
occurs.
WARNING
There are some small distances immedi-
ately before the closed position which
cannot be detected. Make sure that all of
the passengers have their hands, etc., in-
side the vehicle before closing the
sunshade.
Instruments and controls2-57

3. When appropriate, slowly release the accel-erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and contact a roadside emergency service to
change the tire. For additional information,
refer to “Changing a flat tire” in the “In case
of emergency” section of this manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream re-
duces coordination, delays reaction time
and impairs judgement. Driving after
drinking alcohol increases the likelihood
of being involved in an accident injuring
yourself and others. Additionally, if you
are injured in an accident, alcohol can
increase the severity of the injury. NISSAN is committed to safe driving. However,
you must choose not to drive under the influence
of alcohol. Every year thousands of people are
injured or killed in alcohol-related collisions. Al-
though the local laws vary on what is considered
to be legally intoxicated, the fact is that alcohol
affects all people differently and most people
underestimate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix! That is
true for drugs (over-the-counter, prescription)
and illegal drugs too. Don’t drive if your ability to
operate your vehicle is impaired by alcohol,
drugs, or some other physical condition.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your NISSAN is designed for both normal and
off-road use. However, avoid driving in deep wa-
ter or mud as your NISSAN is mainly designed for
leisure use, unlike a conventional off-road ve-
hicle.
Remember that 2-wheel drive models are less
capable than 4-wheel drive models for rough
road driving and extrication when stuck in deep
snow or mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
●
Spinning the front wheels on slippery
surface may cause the 4WD warning
message to display and the 4WD sys-
tem to automatically switch from the
4WD to the 2WD mode. This could re-
duce the traction. Be especially careful
when towing a trailer. (4WD models)
● Drive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Every person
who drives or rides in this vehicle
should be seated with their seat belt
fastened. This will keep you and your
passengers in position when driving
over rough terrain.
● Do not drive across steep slopes. In-
stead drive either straight up or straight
down the slopes. Off-road vehicles can
tip over sideways much more easily
than they can forward or backward.
● Many hills are too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you may stall. If
you drive down them, you may not be
able to control your speed. If you drive
across them, you may roll over.
5-8Starting and driving

Each time the engine is started, or when the shift
lever is shifted to any position other than D
(Drive) , the Overdrive off mode will be automati-
cally turned off.
Accelerator downshift
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid temperature
protection mode. If the fluid temperature be-
comes too high (for example, when climbing
steep grades in high temperatures with heavy
loads, such as when towing a trailer) , engine
power and, under some conditions, vehicle
speed will be decreased automatically to reduce
the chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed may be
limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safesystem may be activated. The MIL may
come on to indicate the fail-safe mode is
activated. For additional information, refer
to “Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)” in the
“Instrument and controls” section of this
manual. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and wait for 10 seconds. Then
push the switch back to the ON position.
The vehicle should return to its normal op-
erating condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have a
NISSAN dealer check the transmission and
repair if necessary.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually reduced.
The reduced speed may be lower than
other traffic, which could increase the
chance of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If necessary, pull to the side
of the road at a safe place and allow the
transmission to return to normal opera-
tion, or have it repaired if necessary.
WARNING
●
Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
● Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
● Do not use the shift lever in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
● Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident.
PARKING BRAKE
5-18Starting and driving

CAUTION
●Depending on the driving condition, the
4WD mode may automatically change
from 2WD to 4WD even when the 2WD
mode is selected. If this occurs while
driving, the 4WD mode indicator light
will not illuminate.
● Do not start the engine with the 4WD
mode switch in any mode in the follow-
ing cases:
– when the vehicle is placed on a fre- eroller or jacking up the vehicle with
the front tires raised and the rear
tires on the ground.
– when towing the vehicle with the rear tires raised from the ground.
● Operate the 4WD mode switch only
when driving straight. Do not operate
the 4WD mode switch when making a
turn or backing up.
● Do not operate the 4WD mode switch
with the front wheel spinning.
● Engine idling speed is high while warm-
ing up the engine. Be especially careful
when starting or driving on slippery sur-
faces with the 4WD mode switch set in
the AUTO mode.
4WD mode indicator lights
The 2WD, 4WD AUTO and LOCK mode indica-
tor lights are located in the vehicle information
display.
The 4WD mode indicator lights will display the
mode selected by the 4WD mode switch while
the engine is running.
The 4WD AUTO indicator light illuminates when
selecting the AUTO mode.
The 4WD LOCK indicator light illuminates when
selecting the LOCK mode and the 2WD indicator
light illuminates when selecting the 2WD mode.
Starting and driving5-39

6. Insert the spare tire winch socketHto the
lowering mechanism nut.
7. To lower the spare tire, insert the wheel nut wrench
Fto the extensionEand insert
the T-shaped end to the winch socket
H
and rotate counterclockwise.
8. After removing the spare tire from under the vehicle, be sure to crank the cable up to
stow it.
NOTE:
Fully lower the spare tire below the vehicle
before attempting to remove the winch
from the spare tire. 9. Securely store the flat tire, tools and jacking
equipment in the vehicle.
CAUTION
●Make sure safety cable is coiled above
spare tire when reinstalling spare
tire/wheel.
● When re-installing the spare tire under
the vehicle after use, be sure to secure it
with the tire stem facing down toward
the ground. If the spare tire is improp-
erly secured with the tire stem facing up
towards the bottom of the vehicle, there
is an increased risk of separating from
the vehicle in the event of a crash which
may pose a hazard in traffic or risk of
injury to others.
Jacking up vehicle and removing the
damaged tire
WARNING
● Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by the jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle, sup-
port it with safety stands. ●
Use only the jack provided with your
vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use the
jack provided with your vehicle on other
vehicles. The jack is designed for lifting
only your vehicle during a tire change.
● Use the correct jack-up points. Never
use any other part of the vehicle for jack
support.
● Never jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
● Never use blocks on or under the jack.
● Do not start or run the engine while
vehicle is on the jack. It may cause the
vehicle to move. This is especially true
for vehicles with limited slip
differentials.
● Do not allow passengers to stay in the
vehicle while it is on the jack.
● Never run the engine with a wheel(s) off
the ground. It may cause the vehicle to
move.
Always refer to the illustration for the correct
placement and jack-up points for your specific
vehicle model and jack type.
Carefully read the caution label attached to
the jack body and the following instruc-
tions.
LCE2169
6-6In case of emergency

CAUTION
●CVT models cannot be push-started or
tow-started. Attempting to do so may
cause transmission damage.
● Do not push start this vehicle. The 3-way
catalyst may be damaged.
WARNING
● Do not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
● To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap while the engine is still
hot. When the radiator or coolant reser-
voir cap is removed, pressurized hot
water will spurt out, possibly causing
serious injury.
● Do not open the hood if steam is com-
ing out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading and
the illumination of the engine oil pressure/engine
coolant temperature high indicator light) , or if you
feel a lack of engine power, detect abnormal
noise, etc. take the following steps: 1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply the parking brake and move the shift lever to
P (Park) .
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the windows, move the heater or air conditioner
temperature control to maximum hot and fan
control to high speed. 3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. If steam or coolant
is escaping, turn off the engine. Do not open
the hood further until no steam or coolant
can be seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the en-
gine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. Visually check drive belts for damage or looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is leaking,
the water pump belt is missing or loose, or
the cooling fan does not run, stop the en-
gine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling fan
can start at any time.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-11

Four-wheel drive models
NISSAN recommends that towing dollies be
used when towing your vehicle or place the ve-
hicle on a flat bed truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
Never tow 4WD models with any of the
wheels on the ground as this may cause
serious and expensive damage to the
powertrain.
LCE2049
In case of emergency6-13