NISSAN PATHFINDER 1996 R50 / 2.G Owners Manual

IKeep your engine tuned up.
IFollow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
IKeep the tires inflated at the correct pres-
sure. Low pressure will increase tire wear
and waste fuel.
IKeep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment will cause increased
tire wear and lower fuel economy.
IAir conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
IWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is
more economical to use the air conditioner
and leave the windows closed to reduce
drag.
I
Use ª4Hº or ª4Lº position only when neces-
sary. 4-wheel drive operation lowers fuel
economy.2HÐ (2WD, high range) Only the rear wheels
are driven. Use when driving under the same
conditions as standard 2WD vehicle.
4HÐ (4WD, high range) Four wheels are
driven. Use when driving on roads where it is
difficult to drive in the 2H position (i.e., driving
at normal speeds on snow covered, icy, wet,
muddy or sandy roads).
The ª4Hº position provides maximum
power and traction. Avoid excessive
speed, as it will cause loss of traction.
Speed over 50 MPH (80 km/h) in 4H is not
recommend.4LÐ (4WD, low range) Four wheels are
driven. Use when climbing or descending
steep hills, or during hard driving in sand, mud
or deep snow. The ª4Lº position provides
maximum power and traction. Avoid raising
vehicle speed excessively, as the maximum
speed is approximately 30 MPH (50 km/h).
NÐ No wheels are driven. Always keep the
transfer lever out of the ªNº position. Shift the
lever quickly and smoothly when moving
across the ªNº position with the vehicle
stopped.
IDo not drive on dry hard surface
roads in 4-wheel drive.
Driving on dry hard surfaces in ª4Hº
or ª4Lº may cause unnecessary
noise and tire wear. We recommend
driving in the ª2Hº position under
these conditions.
SD0020
TRANSFER CASE
SHIFTING PROCEDURES FOR
4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES
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When parking the vehicle, apply the
parking brake and shift the transfer con-
trol lever in the ª2Hº, ª4Hº or ª4Lº posi-
tion.
Do not leave in the ªNº position. Other-
wise, the vehicle could roll unexpectedly
even if the manual transmission is in
any gear or the automatic transmission
in the ªPº position.
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Manual transmission models:
TO SHIFT
TRANSFER CASE:SHIFT PROCEDURE
From ª2Hº to ª4HºMove the transfer lever to ª4Hº. This can be done at any speed up to 50 MPH (80 km/h), and it is not necessary to depress the
clutch pedal. Perform this operation when driving straight.
From ª4Hº to ª2HºMove the transfer lever to ª2Hº. This can be done at any speed up to 50 MPH (80 km/h), and it is not necessary to depress the
clutch pedal. Perform this operation when driving straight.
From ª4Hº or ª4Lº to ª4Lº
or ª4Hº1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the clutch pedal.
3. Depress the transfer lever and move it to the desired ª4Lº or ª4Hº position.
From ª2Hº to ª4Lº1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the clutch pedal.
3. Depress the transfer lever and move it to ª4Lº. Change gears quickly and smoothly.
From ª4Lº to ª2Hº1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the clutch pedal.
3. Depress the transfer lever and move it to ª2Hº.
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Automatic transmission models:
TO SHIFT
TRANSFER CASE:SHIFT PROCEDURE
From ª2Hº to ª4HºMove the transfer lever to ª4Hº. This can be done at any speed up to 50 MPH (80 km/h), and it is not necessary to move the selec-
tor lever to the ªNº position. Perform this operation when driving straight.
From ª4Hº to ª2HºMove the transfer lever to ª2Hº. This can be done at any speed up to 50 MPH (80 km/h), and it is not necessary to move the selec-
tor lever to the ªNº position. Perform this operation when driving straight.
From ª4Hº or ª4Lº to ª4Lº
or ª4Hº1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Move the selector lever to the ªNº position.
3. Depress the transfer lever and move it to the desired ª4Lº or ª4Hº position.
From ª2Hº to ª4Lº1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Move the selector lever to the ªNº position.
3. Depress the transfer lever and move it to ª4Lº. Change gears quickly and smoothly.
From ª4Lº to ª2Hº1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Move the selector lever to the ªNº position.
3. Depress the transfer lever and move it to ª2Hº.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your NISSAN is designed for both normal and
off-road use. However, avoid driving in deep
water or mud as your NISSAN is mainly de-
signed for leisure use, unlike a conventional
off-road vehicle.
Remember that two-wheel drive models are
less capable than four-wheel drive models for
rough road driving and extrication when stuck
in deep snow or mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
IDrive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Always wear
your seat belts to help keep you and
your passengers in position when
driving over rough terrain.
IDo not drive across steep slopes.
Instead 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.
IMany hills are too steep for any ve-
hicle. If you drive up them, you maystall. If you drive down them, you may
not be able to control your speed. If
you drive across them, you may roll
over.
IStay 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.
IIf 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 reverse gear. Never
back down in neutral (N) or with the
clutch depressed, using only the
brake, as this could cause loss of
control.
IHeavy 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.
IUnsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure it so that it willnot be thrown forward and cause in-
jury to you or your passengers.
IAvoid raising the center of gravity by
loading things on the roof or equip-
ping the vehicle with tires larger than
specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to rollover. Put
heavy loads in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible.
IDo not grip the inside or spokes of
the steering wheel when driving off-
road. The steering wheel could jerk
and injure your hands. Instead drive
with your fingers and thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
IBefore operating vehicle, ensure that
the driver and all passengers have
their seat belts fastened.
IAlways drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may become very
hot. Particular care should be taken if
you are barefoot.
ILower your speed when encounter-
ing strong crosswinds. With its
higher center of gravity, your NISSAN
is more affected by gusty side winds.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
IDo not drive beyond the performance
of the tires even with 4WD.
Sudden acceleration, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
IInstall the same size of winter tires on
all four (4) wheels (such as studless
tires) or install tire chains to the rear
wheels when driving on slippery
roads (e.g., after a snow) and drive
carefully using 4WD.
IBe sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water as
specified in ªWET BRAKESº under
the heading ªPrecautions when driv-
ingº.
IWhenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent mainte-
nance may be required. For details,
refer to ªMaintenance under severe
driving conditionsº under the head-
ing ªMaintenance scheduleº.IAvoid 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.
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

Do not park the vehicle over flammable
materials, such as dry grass, waste pa-
per, or rags.
IThe transfer control lever
must be in the ª2Hº, ª4Hº or ª4Lº
position to prevent the vehicle from
rolling.
INever place it in the ªNº position,
otherwise, the vehicle could roll un-
expectedly even if the manual trans-
mission is in gear or the automatic
transmission is in the ªPº position.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2.Manual transmission models:
Place the gearshift lever in the ªREVERSEº
position. When parking on an uphill grade,
place the gearshift lever in the ª1stº posi-
tion.Automatic transmission models:
Move the gearshift lever to the ªPº (PARK)
position.
Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into ªPº (park) po-
sition. Make sure the shift lever has
been pushed as far forward as it can go
and cannot be moved.
3. To help prevent the vehicle rolling into the
street when parked on a sloping drive way,
it is a good practice to turn the wheels as
illustrated.
IHEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
q1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
IHEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
q2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
SSD0067
PARKING
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

IHEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:q3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the
center of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the ªLOCKº position
and remove the key.
INever leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
INever leave the engine running while
vehicle is unattended.
IDriving with vacuum assisted brake:
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 pres-
sure on the brake pedal will be required to
stop the vehicle and the stopping distance
will be longer.
IDriving with the power assisted steer-
ing:
The power assisted steering is designed to
use a hydraulic pump, driven by the engine,
to assist steering.
If the engine stops or drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. How-
ever, much greater steering effort is
needed, especially in sharp turns or at low
speeds.
IWet 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 brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal
to heat-up the brakes. Do this until thebrakes return to normal. Avoid driving the
vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
IAvoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will overheat the brakes,
wear out the brake linings and pads faster
and reduce gas mileage.
ITo help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, before going
down a slope or long grade, reduce speed
and downshift to a lower gear.
IWhile driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or down-
shifting. Abrupt braking actions or sudden
acceleration could cause the wheels to
skid.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN DRIVING
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The anti-lock brake system controls the brakes
at each wheel so the wheels will 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 wheel from locking
and sliding. By preventing wheel lockup, the
system helps the driver maintain steering con-
trol and helps to minimize swerving and spin-
ning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.It is
not necessary to pump the brake pedal.
Doing so may result in increased stopping
distances.
Normal operation
The anti-lock brake system will not operate at
speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h) to
completely stop the vehicle. (The speeds will
vary according to road conditions.) When the
anti-lock system senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
(under the hood) rapidly applies and releases
hydraulic pressure (like pumping the brakes
very quickly). While the actuator is working,
you may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from the actuator
under the hood. This is normal and indicates
that the anti-lock system is working properly.However, the pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care is
required while driving.
If a tire slips on rough roads for more than
10 seconds, the ABS brake warning light
may come on. Turn OFF the ignition key,
restart the engine and drive the vehicle at
speeds above 20 MPH (30 km/h). If the
warning light does not go out, have the
vehicle checked at a NISSAN dealer.
Self-test feature
The anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic
solenoids controlled by a computer. The com-
puter 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 ªself-testº occurs, you may
hear a ªclunkº noise and/or feel a ªpulsationº in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of any malfunction. If the computer
senses any malfunction, it switches the anti-
lock brake system OFF and turns on the ªABSº
brake warning light in the dashboard. The
brake system will then behave normally, but
without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self check, or
while you are driving, you should take your
vehicle to your NISSAN dealer for repair atyour earliest convenience.
The 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 sys-
tem. Stopping distances may also be
longer on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the responsibility for safety of self and
others rests in the hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition may also affect
braking effectiveness.
IWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all 4 wheels.
Refer to ªWheels and tiresº in the
ªDo-it-yourself operationsº section.
IWhen installing a spare tire, make
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX

sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. For tire
placard location information, refer to
ªTire placardº in the Owner's Manual
index.Freeing a frozen door lock
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole.
Anti-freeze
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC), check
anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base) to assure
proper winter protection. For details, see ªEn-
gine Cooling Systemº in the ªDo-it-yourself
operationsº section.
Battery
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For details, see
ªBatteryº in the ªDo-it-yourself operationsº sec-
tion.
Draining of coolant water
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by open-
ing the drain valves located under the radiator
and on the engine block. Refill before operat-
ing the vehicle. For details, see ªChangingEngine Coolantº in the ªDo- it-yourself opera-
tionsº section.
Tire equipment
1. The SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your
vehicle on snowy or icy roads, Nissan rec-
ommends the use on all four wheels of
MUD & SNOW or ALL SEASON tires.
Please consult your Nissan dealer for the
tire type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some Prov-
inces and States prohibit their use, so,
before installing studded tires, check local,
state and provincial laws.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
3. Snow chains may be used if desired. Make
sure they are of proper size for the tires on
your vehicle and are installed according to
the chain manufacturer's suggestions. Use
of tire chains may be prohibited according
to location. Check the local laws before
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
CAUTIONS
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Z01.2.1/R50-DX