2023 NISSAN PATHFINDER engine

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving..........5-4
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ..............5-4
Three-way catalyst ...........................5-4
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) .......................................5-5
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions ..................................5-8
Avoiding collision and rollover ................5-9
Off-roadrecovery ............................5-9
Rapid air pressure loss .......................5-9
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ..........5-10
Driving safety precautions ...................5-10
Push-button ignition switch ....................5-13
Operating range ............................ 5-14
Push-button ignition switch positions .......5-14
Emergency engine shut off ..................5-15
NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery
discharge ................................... 5-15
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System .........5-16
Before starting the engine .....................5-16
Starting the engine ............................. 5-16
Remote Engine Start (if so equipped) ........5-17
Driving the vehicle .............................. 5-18
Engine protection mode ....................5-18
Automatic Transmission (A/T) ...............5-18
Parking brake .................................. 5-26Electronic parking brake (switch type)
.......5-26
Automatic brake hold .......................... 5-28
How to activate/deactivate the
automatic brake hold function ..............5-29
How to use the automatic brake hold
function ..................................... 5-30
Drive Mode Selector ............................ 5-31
STANDARD MODE (2WD models)/AUTO
MODE (4WD models) ........................ 5-32
SPORT mode ................................ 5-32
SNOW mode ................................ 5-32
TOW mode .................................. 5-33
MUD/RUT mode (4WD models) ..............5-33
SAND mode (4WD models) ..................5-33
ECO mode .................................. 5-33
Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) (if so equipped) . . . 5-35 System operation ........................... 5-36
Turning the Traffic Sign Recognition
(TSR) system on and off .....................5-37
System temporarily unavailable .............5-37
S

ystem malfunction ......................... 5-37
System maintenance .......................5-38
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) .................5-38
LDW system operation ......................5-39
How to enable/disable the LDW system .....5-41
LDW system limitations .....................5-42

Chassis control............................... 5-181
Intelligent Trace Control (I-TC) ..............5-181
Active Ride Control (ARC)
(if so equipped) ............................. 5-181
Hill descent control system (if so equipped) . . . 5-182
Hill start assist system ........................5-183
Front and Rear Sonar System
(if so equipped) ................................ 5-183
System operation .......................... 5-184
How to enable/disable the front and
rear sonar system .......................... 5-186
Sonar limitations ........................... 5-187
System temporarily unavailable ............5-188
System maintenance ......................5-188Idling Stop System
............................ 5-189
Retrograde movement control function ....5-191
Idling Stop System display ..................5-191
Idling Stop OFF switch ......................5-195
Cold weather driving .......................... 5-196
Freeing a frozen door lock ..................5-196
Antifreeze .................................. 5-196
Battery..................................... 5-196
Draining of coolant water ..................5-196
Tire equipment ............................. 5-196
Special winter equipment ..................5-196
Driving on snow or ice ......................5-196
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ........5-197

WARNING
• Do not leave children or adults who
would normally require the assis-
tance of others alone in your vehicle.
Pets should also not be lef t alone.
They could accidentally injure them-
selves or others through inadvertent
operation of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
• Properly secure all cargo with ropes
or straps to help prevent it from slid-
ing or shif ting. Do not place cargo
higher than the seatbacks. In a sud-
den stop or collision, unsecured
cargo could cause personal injury.
EXHAUST GAS (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
• Do not breathe exhaust gases; they
contain colorless and odorless car-
bon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is
dangerous. It can cause uncon-
sciousness or death. •
If you suspect that exhaust fumes
are entering the vehicle, drive with all
windows fully open, and have the ve-
hicle inspected immediately.
• Do not run the engine in closed
spaces such as a garage.
• Do not park the vehicle with the en-
gine running for any extended length
of time.
• Keep the rear vent windows, lif t-
gates, doors and trunk lids (if so
equipped) closed while driving, oth-
erwise exhaust gases could be
drawn into the passenger compart-
ment. If you must drive with one of
these open, follow these precau-
tions:
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the
air recirculation but-
ton to off and the fan control dial
to high to circulate the air.
• If electrical wiring or other cable con-
nections must pass to a trailer
through the seal on the lif tgate or the
body, follow the manufacturer's rec-
ommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle. •
The exhaust system and body should
be inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever:
a. The vehicle is raised for service.
b. You suspect that exhaust fumes are entering into the passenger
compartment.
c. You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust system.
d. You have had an accident involv- ing damage to the exhaust sys-
tem, underbody, or rear of the
vehicle.
THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission con-
trol device installed in the exhaust system.
Exhaust gases in the three-way catalyst
are burned at high temperatures to help
reduce pollutants.
WARNING
• The exhaust gas and the exhaust
system are very hot. Keep people,
animals or flammable materials
away from the exhaust system
components.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING AND
DRIVING
5-4Starting and driving

•Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.
CAUTION
• Do not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline will seriously
reduce the three-way catalyst's abil-
ity to help reduce exhaust pollutants.
• Keep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause overrich
fuel flow into the three-way catalyst,
causing it to overheat. Do not keep
driving if the engine misfires, or if no-
ticeable loss of performance or other
unusual operating conditions are de-
tected. Have the vehicle inspected
promptly. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
• Avoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three-way catalyst.
• Do not race the engine while warm-
ing it up. •
Do not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates
a low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly under-
inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should
stop and check all your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substi-
tute for proper tire maintenance, and it is
the driver’s responsibility to maintain cor-
rect tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger illumi-
nation of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction,
the telltale will flash for approximately one
minute and then remain continuously illu-
minated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as
the malfunction exists. When the malfunc-
tion indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons, includ-
ing the installation of replacement or alter-
nate tires or wheels on the vehicle that
prevent the TPMS from functioning prop-
erly. Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale af ter replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels
allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
Starting and driving5-5

TPMS with Easy-Fill Tire Alert
When adding air to an under-inflated tire,
the TPMS with Easy-Fill Tire Alert provides
visual and audible signals outside the ve-
hicle to help you inflate the tires to the rec-
ommended COLD tire pressure.
Vehicle set-up
1. Park the vehicle in a safe and level place.
2. Apply the parking brake and push thepark button to shif t to the P (Park)
position.
3. Place the ignition switch in the ON posi- tion. Do not start the engine.
Operation
1. Add air to the tire.
2. Af ter a few seconds, the hazard indica- tors will start flashing.
3. When the designated pressure is reached, the horn beeps once and the
hazard indicators stop flashing.
4. Perform the above steps for each tire. • If the tire is over-inflated more thanapproximately 4 psi (30 kPa), the horn
beeps and the hazard indicators flash
three times. To correct the pressure,
push the core of the valve stem on the tire briefly to release pressure. When
the pressure reaches the designated
pressure, the horn beeps once.
• If the hazard indicator does not flash within approximately 15 seconds af ter
starting to inflate the tire, it indicates
that the Easy-Fill Tire Alert is not
operating.
• The TPMS will not activate the Easy-Fill Tire Alert under the following
conditions:– If there is interference from an exter- nal device or transmitter.
– The air pressure from the inflation device is not sufficient to inflate the
tire.
– There is a malfunction in the TPMS.
– There is a malfunction in the horn or hazard indicators.
– The identification code of the tire pressure sensor is not registered to
the system.
– The battery of the tire pressure sen- sor is low.
• If the Easy-Fill Tire Alert does not oper- ate due to TPMS interference, move
the vehicle about 3 f t (1 m) backward
or forward and try again.
If the Easy-Fill Tire Alert is not working, use a
tire pressure gauge.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD
DRIVING PRECAUTIONS
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types of
vehicles.
They have higher ground clearance than
passenger cars to make them capable of
performing in a variety of on-pavement
and off-road applications. This gives them
a higher center of gravity than ordinary ve-
hicles. An advantage of higher ground
clearance is a better view of the road, allow-
ing you to anticipate problems. However,
they are not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as conventional 2-Wheel
Drive vehicles any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform satis-
factorily under off-road conditions. If at all
possible, avoid sharp turns at high speeds.
As with other vehicles of this type, failure to
operate this vehicle correctly may result in
loss of control or vehicle rollover.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a per-
son wearing a seat belt.
For additional information, see “Driving
safety precautions” (P. 5-10) .
5-8Starting and driving

Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
• Spinning the front wheels on slippery
surfaces may cause the AWD
warning message to display and the
4WD system to automatically switch
from the 4WD to the 2WD mode. This
could reduce the traction. Be espe-
cially 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 ve-
hicle. 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. •
Do not shif t gears while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause
loss of control of the vehicle.
• Stay alert when driving to the top of a
hill. At the top there could be a drop-
off or other hazard that could cause
an accident.
• If your engine stalls or you cannot
make it to the top of a steep hill,
never attempt to turn around. Your
vehicle could tip or roll over. Always
back straight down in R (Reverse)
gear and apply brakes to control your
speed.
• Heavy braking going down a hill
could cause your brakes to overheat
and fade, resulting in loss of control
and an accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low gear to control your
speed.
• Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure all cargo so it
will not be thrown forward and cause
injury to you or your passengers. •
Secure heavy loads in the cargo area
as far forward and as low as possible.
Do not equip the vehicle with tires
larger than specified in this manual.
This could cause your vehicle to roll
over.
• Do not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving off-
road. The steering wheel could move
suddenly and injure your hands. In-
stead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
• Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
• Always drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become hot.
• Lower your speed when encounter-
ing strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your NISSAN is more
affected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
• Do not drive beyond the perfor-
mance capability of the tires, even
with 4WD engaged.
Starting and driving5-11

•For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result
in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
• Do not attempt to test an 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamom-
eters used by some states for emis-
sions testing), or similar equipment
even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure you
inform test facility personnel that
your vehicle is equipped with 4WD
before it is placed on a dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment
may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
• When a wheel is off the ground due to
an unlevel surface, do not spin the
wheel excessively.
• Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control. •
If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your NISSAN vehicle has a
higher center of gravity than a pas-
senger car. The vehicle is not de-
signed for cornering at the same
speeds as passenger cars.
• Failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly could result in loss of control
and/or a rollover accident.
• Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted, or radial), and tread pattern
on all four wheels. Install tire chains
on the front wheels when driving on
slippery roads and drive carefully.
• Be sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately af ter driving in mud or water.
For additional information, see
“Brake system” (P. 5-175).
• Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or side-
ways, you could be injured. •
Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. For addi-
tional information, see “Additional
maintenance items for severe oper-
ating conditions” (P. 9-7).
5-12Starting and driving

WARNING
Do not operate the push-button igni-
tion switch while driving the vehicle ex-
cept in an emergency. (The engine will
stop when the ignition switch is pushed
three consecutive times in quick suc-
cession or the ignition switch is pushed
and held for more than 2 seconds.) If
the engine stops while the vehicle is
being driven, this could lead to a crash
and serious injury.
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch will illuminate.
Push the ignition switch center:
• Once to change to ON.
• Two times to change to OFF.
The ignition switch will automatically re-
turn to the LOCK position when any door is
either opened or closed with the switch in
the OFF position. When the ignition switch cannot be placed
in the OFF position, proceed as follows:
1. Push the park button to shif t to the P
(Park) position.
2. Push the ignition switch. The ignition switch position will change to the ON
position.
3. Push the ignition switch again to the OFF position.
The shif t position can be shif ted from
the P (Park) position if the ignition switch
is in the ON position and the brake pedal
is depressed.
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged,
the ignition switch cannot be moved
from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for opera-
tion are displayed on the vehicle informa-
tion display. For additional information, see
“Vehicle information display – 7 inch (18 cm)
Type A” (P. 2-23) or “Vehicle information dis-
play – 12.3 inch (31 cm) Type B” (P. 2-48).
LSD2645
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-13