ABS NISSAN PATHFINDER 2005 R51 / 3.G Owners Manual

cDo not attach anything to the head re-
straint stalks. Doing so could impair
active head restraint function.
The head restraint moves forward utilizing the
force that the seatback receives from the occu-
pant in a rear-end collision. The movement of the
head restraint helps support the occupant’s head
by reducing its backward movement and helping
absorb some of the forces that may lead to whip-
lash type injuries.
Active head restraints are effective for collisions
at low to medium speeds in which it is said that
whiplash injury occurs most.
Active head restraints operate only in certain
rear-end collisions. After the collision, the head
restraints return to their original positions.
Properly adjust the active head restraints as de-
scribed earlier in this section.
ARMREST
To use the center armrest on the 2nd row bench
seat, pull on the tab in the center of the seat and
fold it down to the resting position.
FLEXIBLE SEATING
WARNING
cNever allow anyone to ride in the cargo
area or on the rear seats when they are
in the fold-down position. In a collision,
people riding in these areas without
proper restraints are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed.
cDo not allow people to ride in any area
of your vehicle that is not equipped with
seats and seat belts. Be sure everyone
in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
seat belt properly.
LRS0514WRS0516
1-8Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
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WARNING LIGHTS
orAnti-lock brake
warning light
If the light comes on while the engine is running,
it may indicate the anti-lock brake system is not
functioning properly. Have the system checked
by a NISSAN dealer.
Turn off the engine, and start it again by
slowly turning the ignition key (quickly do-
ing so may cause the ABS light to stay on
when there is nothing wrong) . If the light
stays on, have the system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
If an abnormality occurs in the system, the anti-
lock function ceases, but the regular braking
system continues to operate.
If the light comes on while you are driving,
contact a NISSAN dealer for repair.
Automatic transmission oil
temperature warning light
(
model)
This light comes on when the automatic transmis-
sion oil temperature is too high. If the light comes
on while driving, reduce the vehicle speed as
soon as safely possible until the light turns off.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation when the A/T
oil temperature warning light is on may
damage the automatic transmission.
Automatic transmission park
warning light (
model)
WARNING
cIf the ATP light is ON, this indicates that
the automatic transmission P (Park) po-
sition will not function and the transfer
case is in neutral.
cWhen parking, always make sure that
the 4WD shift indicator light illuminates
and the parking brake is set. Failure to
engage the 4WD shift switch in 2WD,
AUTO, 4H or 4LO could result in the
vehicle moving unexpectedly, resulting
in serious personal injury or property
damage.cPart time 4WD: Shift the 4WD switch
into the 2WD, 4H or 4LO position again
to turn off the ATP warning light when
the automatic transmission selector le-
ver is in the P position and the ATP
warning light is ON. (Before shifting the
4WD switch into the 4LO position, move
the automatic transmission selector le-
ver into the N position once, shift the
selector lever into P again and make
sure the ATP warning light is OFF.)
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.)
Instruments and controls2-13
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5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)..................5-2
Three-way catalyst..............................5-2
Low tire pressure warning system................5-3
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions....................................5-4
Avoiding collision and rollover....................5-5
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving................5-5
Driving safety precautions.......................5-5
Ignition switch.....................................5-7
Automatic transmission..........................5-7
Key positions..................................5-8
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system (NVIS).........5-8
Before starting the engine..........................5-8
Starting the engine................................5-9
Driving the vehicle.................................5-9
Automatic transmission..........................5-9
Parking brake....................................5-13
Cruise control....................................5-14
Precautions on cruise control...................5-14
Cruise control operations.......................5-14Break-in schedule................................5-16
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-16
Using four wheel drive (4WD).............5-17
Parking/parking on hills............................5-26
Power steering...................................5-27
Brake system....................................5-27
Brake precautions.............................5-27
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)...................5-27
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system
(if so equipped)..................................5-29
Hill descent control (HDC) system (if so equipped) . . . 5-30
Hill start assist (HSA) system (if so equipped).......5-31
Cold weather driving..............................5-32
Freeing a frozen door lock......................5-32
Anti-freeze....................................5-32
Battery.......................................5-32
Draining of coolant water.......................5-32
Tire equipment................................5-32
Special winter equipment.......................5-33
Driving on snow or ice.........................5-33
Engine block heater (if so equipped).............5-33
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The power assisted steering uses a hydraulic
pump, driven by the engine, to assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, especially
in sharp turns and at low speeds.
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned off
while driving, the power assist for the
steering will not work. Steering will be
much harder to operate.The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and stopping dis-
tance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the
brakes and pads faster, and reduce gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result in
loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
cWhile driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
cIf the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the brakes will not work. Braking will be
harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking distance will be longer and the vehicle
may pull to one side during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to
heat up the brakes. Do this until the brakes return
to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high
speeds until the brakes function correctly.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
The anti-lock brake system controls the brakes so
the wheels do not lock when braking abruptly or
when braking on slippery surfaces. The system
detects the rotation speed at each wheel and
varies the brake fluid pressure to prevent each
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-27
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wheel from locking and sliding. By preventing
wheel lockup, the system helps the driver main-
tain steering control and helps to minimize swerv-
ing and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
Normal operation
The anti-lock brake system does not operate at
speeds below3-6MPH(5-10km/h) . (The
speeds vary according to road conditions.)
When driving, the anti-lock brake system con-
trols the wheels so they will not lock when brak-
ing abruptly or when braking on a slippery road.
Thus, difficult steering and swerving of the ve-
hicle due to locked wheels is minimized. The
system detects the wheel rotation rate and elec-
tronically controls the pressure applied to each
brake. Slight vibration on the brake pedal accom-
panied by noise usually occurs while the ABS
system is operating. Such vibration and noise
encountered during abrupt braking is not a prob-
lem, but indicates that the system is functioningproperly. However, the pulsation may indicate
that road conditions are hazardous and extra care
is required while driving.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of electronic
sensors and hydraulic solenoids controlled by a
computer. The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time you start
the engine and move the vehicle at a low speed in
forward or reverse. When the self-test occurs,
you may hear a ‘‘clunk’’ noise and/or feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal. This is normal and is not
an indication of any malfunction.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the anti-
lock function will not operate, but the standard
vehicle brake system will continue to operate
normally. The ABS brake warning light will then
come on.
If the light comes on during the self-test or while
driving, take the vehicle to a NISSAN dealer for
repair.
WARNING
cThe anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with the anti-lock brake
system. Stopping distances may also
be longer on rough, gravel or snow cov-
ered roads, or if you are using tire
chains. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness. Always
maintain a safe distance from the ve-
hicle in front of you. Ultimately, the re-
sponsibility for safety of self and others
rests in the hands of the driver.
cTire type and condition of tires may also
affect braking effectiveness.
cWhen replacing tires, install the speci-
fied size of tires on all four wheels.
5-28Starting and driving
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cWhen installing a spare tire, make sure
it is the proper size and type as speci-
fied on the tire placard. For tire placard
location information, refer to “Tire plac-
ard” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
cRefer to “Wheels and tires” in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion of this manual.When accelerating or driving on slippery sur-
faces, the tires may spin or slide. With the Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system, sensors detect
these movements and control the braking and
engine output to help improve vehicle stability.
cWhen the vehicle dynamic control (VDC)
system is operating, the slip indicator in the
instrument panel blinks.
cWhen only the traction control system (TCS)
portion of the vehicle dynamic control sys-
tem is operating, the slip indicator will also
blink.
cIf the slip indicator blinks, the road condi-
tions are slippery. Be sure to adjust your
speed and driving to these conditions. See
“Slip indicator light”, and “Vehicle dynamic
control (VDC) off indicator light” in the “In-
struments and controls” section.
cIndicator light
If malfunction occurs in the system,
the
andindicator lights come
on in the instrument panel.
As long as these indicator lights are on, the
traction control function is canceled.
The VDC system uses an Active Brake Limited
Slip (ABLS) system to improve vehicle traction.
The ABLS system works when one of the driving
wheels is spinning on a slippery surface. TheABLS system brakes the spinning wheel which
distributes the driving power to the other drive
wheel. If the vehicle is operated with the vehicle
dynamic control system off using the VDC OFF
switch, all VDC and ABLS functions will be
turned off. The ABS will still operate with the VDC
system off. When the ABLS system is activated,
the slip indicator light will blink and you may hear
a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal. This is normal.
While the VDC system is operating, you may feel
a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or
vibration from under the hood. This is normal and
indicates that the VDC system is working prop-
erly.
The computer has a built in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in reverse
at a slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you
may hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-29
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cThe hitch should not be attached to or
affect the operation of the impact-
absorbing bumper.
cDo not use axle-mounted hitches.
cDo not modify the vehicle exhaust sys-
tem, brake system, etc. to install a
trailer hitch.
cTo reduce the possibility of additional
damage if your vehicle is struck from
the rear, where practical, remove the
hitch and/or receiver when not in use.
cAfter the hitch is removed, seal the bolt
holes to prevent exhaust fumes, water
or dust from entering the passenger
compartment.
cRegularly check that all trailer hitch
mounting bolts are securely mounted.
cWhen towing with the hitch ball
mounted to the rear bumper, do not
make sharp turns. The trailer may con-
tact the bumper and cause damage to
the bumper or trailer.Tire pressures
cWhen towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle tires
to the recommended cold tire pressure indi-
cated on the Tire and Loading Information
label.
cTrailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in accor-
dance with the trailer and tire manufacturer’s
specifications.
Safety chains
Always use suitable safety chains between your
vehicle and the trailer. The safety chains should
be crossed and should be attached to the hitch,
not to the vehicle bumper or axle. The safety
chains can be attached to the bumper if the hitch
ball is mounted to the bumper. Be sure to leave
enough slack in the chains to permit turning
corners.
Trailer lights
CAUTION
When splicing into the vehicle electrical
system, a commercially available power-
type module/converter must be used to
provide power for all trailer lighting. This
unit uses the vehicle battery as a direct
power source for all trailer lights while
using the vehicle tail light, stoplight and
turn signal circuits as a signal source. The
module/converter must draw no more
that 15 milliamps from the stop and tail
lamp circuits. Using a module/converter
that exceeds these power requirements
may damage the vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem. See a reputable trailer dealer to ob-
tain the proper equipment and to have it
installed.
Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. For assistance in hooking up
trailer lights, contact a NISSAN dealer or repu-
table trailer dealer. Vehicles equipped with the
optional trailer tow package are equipped with a
7-pin trailer harness connector. If your trailer is
equipped with a flat 4-pin connector, an adapter
will be needed to connect the trailer lights to the
vehicle. Adapters are available at auto parts
stores and hitch retailers.
9-20Technical and consumer information
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10 Index
4WD warning light...............2-15
A
Active head restraint...............1-7
Adjusting pedal position............3-12
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system).....................1-42
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front impact air
bag system).................1-49
Air bag warning labels.............1-56
Air bag warning light...........1-57, 2-17
Air cleaner housing filter............8-16
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation..........4-16
Air conditioner service...........4-24
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubrication recommendations........9-6
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-13, 4-21
Rear seat air conditioner..........4-23
Servicing air conditioner..........4-24
Air flow charts..................4-18
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system).........2-21
Anchor point locations.............1-33
Antenna.....................4-42
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).........5-27
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-13Audible reminders................2-20
Audio system..................4-24
AM-FM-SAT radio with compact disc (CD)
changer...................4-37
Compact Disc (CD) changer. . . .4-34, 4-40
Compact disc (CD) player.........4-30
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
player.................4-27, 4-31
Radio....................4-24
Steering wheel audio control switch. . . .4-42
Autolight switch.................2-26
Automatic
Automatic drive positioner.........3-16
Automatic power window switch.....2-46
Automatic transmission position indicator
light.....................2-17
Driving with automatic transmission.....5-9
Transmission selector lever lock
release....................5-12
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror.......3-14
B
Battery......................8-13
Charge warning light............2-14
Battery replacement
(See remote keyless entry system)......8-25
Before starting the engine............5-8
Belts (See drive belts).............8-15
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).......5-27Brake booster................8-22
Brake fluid..................8-11
Brake light (See stop light).........8-27
Brake pedal.................8-21
Brake system................5-27
Brake warning light.............2-14
Brake wear indicators........2-20, 8-21
Parking brake check............8-21
Parking brake operation..........5-13
Self-adjusting brakes............8-21
Break-in schedule................5-16
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-28
Brightness/Contrast button..........4-12
Control panel buttons...........4-12
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-12
Bulb replacement................8-27
C
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants...................9-2
Car phone or CB radio.............4-53
Cargo light...................2-50
Cargo net....................2-42
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
CD care and cleaning.............4-41
CD changer (See audio system). . . .4-34, 4-40
CD player (See audio system).........4-30
Check engine indicator light
(See malfunction indicator lamp).......2-18
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