engine NISSAN PATHFINDER 1998 R50 / 2.G Owner's Guide

of the exhaust system.
d. You have had an accident involv-
ing damage to the exhaust system,
underbody, or rear of the vehicle.
THREE WAY CATALYSTThe three way catalyst is an emission control
device, installed in the exhaust system. In the
converter, exhaust gases are burned at high
temperatures to help reduce pollutants.IThe exhaust gas and the exhaust sys-
tem are very hot. Keep people, ani-
mals or flammable materials away
from the exhaust system.
IDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials, such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.
IDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline seriously re-
duce the three way catalyst's ability
to help reduce exhaust pollutants.
IKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-
rich fuel flow into the three way cata-
lyst, causing it to overheat. Do not
keep driving if the engine misfires, or
if noticeable loss of performance or
other unusual operating conditions
are detected. Have the vehicle in-
spected promptly by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
IAvoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three way catalyst.
IDo not race the engine while warming
it up.
IDo not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
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by alcohol, drugs, or some other physical
condition.DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONSYour NISSAN is designed for both normal and
offroad use. However, avoid driving in deep
water or mud as your NISSAN is mainly de-
signed for leisure use, unlike a conventional
offroad 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. Offroad ve-
hicles 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 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.
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 thrownaround when driving over rough ter-
rain. Properly secure it so that it will
not 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 of-
froad. The steering wheel could jerk
and injure your hands. Instead drive
with your fingers and thumbs on the
outside of the rim.
IBefore operating the 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
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To lock the steering wheel, remove the key.
To unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.Never remove the key while driving. If
the key is removed, the steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle and could
result in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.KEY POSITIONSOFF (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel.
ACC (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio when the engine is not
running.
ON (Normal operating position) (3)
This position turns on the ignition system and
the electrical accessories.START (4)
This position activates the starter motor, start-
ing the engine.IMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
ICheck fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake and clutch fluid, window washer
fluid as frequently as possible, at least
whenever you refuel.
ICheck to be sure that all windows and light
lenses are clean.
IVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
ILock all doors.
IPosition seat and adjust head restraints.
IAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
IFasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
ICheck the operation of warning lights when
key is turned to the ON (3) position.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
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1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
Move the selector lever to P (Park position)
or N (Neutral position). (P preferred)
The selector lever cannot be moved out
of P and into any of the other gear
positions if the ignition key is turned to
LOCK or if the key is removed from the
switch.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the selector lever is in one of the driving
positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the gearshift lever to N (Neutral po-
sition), and depress the clutch pedal to the
floor while starting the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is depressed.
3. Crank the enginewith your foot off the
accelerator pedalby turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails
to run, repeat the above procedure.
Ð If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold or hot weather ÐUse the accelerator pedal to help start the
engine.
Do not operate the starter for more than
10 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, other-
wise the starter could be damaged.4.Warm-up
Always allow the engine to idle for at least
30 seconds after starting. Drive at moder-
ate speed for a short distance first, espe-
cially in cold weather.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONThe automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission con-
trol module to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this trans-
mission. Follow these procedures for maxi-
mum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment. If your vehicle is equipped with four
wheel drive, see ªUsing four wheel driveº later
in this section.Starting the vehicleIAfter starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal and push the selector lever
button before shifting the selector lever to
the D, R, 2 or 1 position. Be sure the vehicle
is fully stopped before attempting to shift
the selector lever.
This automatic transmission is designed
so that the foot brake pedal MUST be de-
pressed before shifting from P to any drive
position while the ignition switch is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
P and into any of the other gear positions if
the ignition key is turned to LOCK or if the
key is removed from the switch.
STARTING THE ENGINE DRIVING THE VEHICLE
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When the battery charge is low, the selec-
tor lever can be moved if the ignition switch
is in the ACC position.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the selector lever button to shift into a
driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.IDo not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P or N to R, D, 2 or
1. Always depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed. Failure to
do so could cause you to lose control
and have an accident.
ICold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
INever shift to P or R while the vehicle
is moving. This could cause an acci-
dent.
IOn slippery roads, do not downshift.
This may cause a loss of control.
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The foot
brake should be used for this purpose.Shifting from P (Park)If the ignition switch is in the ON position and
the foot brake pedal is depressed, but the
selector lever still cannot be moved out of P
(Park), follow these instructions:
1. Shut the engine off and remove the key.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Reinsert the ignition key and turn it clock-
wise to the ACC position.
4. Depress the brake pedal, move the selector
lever to N (Neutral) and start the engine.
5. Check stop light operation.If the selector lever cannot be moved
from the P (Park) position while the
engine is running and the brake pedaldepressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and others.
These instructions for starting the vehicle in N
(Neutral) should only be used until service can
be obtained. Never drive the vehicle if the stop
lights are not operating properly.
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Push the button to shift into P, R or from D to
2. All other positions can be selected without
pushing the button.
P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Always be
sure the vehicle is at a complete stop. For
maximum safety, depress the brake pedal,
then push in the select lever button and move
the lever to the P position. Apply the parking
brake. When parking on a hill, apply the park-
ing brake first, then shift the lever into the P
position.R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Shift into this
position only after the vehicle has completely
stopped.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to N and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
2 (Second gear):
Use for hill climbing, effective engine braking
on downhill grades or starting on slippery
roads.
Do not downshift into the 2 position at speeds
over the following speeds and do not exceed
the following speeds in the 2 position:
Two wheel drive:
60 MPH (95 km/h)
Four wheel drive:
50 MPH (80 km/h)1 (Low gear):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine braking
on steep downhill grades.
Do not shift into 1 position at speeds over the
following speeds:
Two wheel drive:
60 MPH (95 km/h)
Four wheel drive:
50 MPH (80 km/h)
Do not exceed the following speeds in the 1
position:
Two wheel drive:
30 MPH (50 km/h)
Four wheel drive:
30 MPH (50 km/h)
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Accelerator downshift
Ð In D position ÐFor rapid passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts
the transmission down into second gear or first
gear, depending on the vehicle speed.
Overdrive switchEach time your vehicle is started, the transmis-
sion is automatically reset to overdrive on.
ON: For normal driving the overdrive
switch is engaged. The transmission
is upshifted into overdrive as the ve-
hicle speed increases.
The overdrive does not engage until the
engine has warmed up.
OFF: For driving up and down long slopes
where engine braking would be ad-
vantageous, push the overdrive
switch. The O/D OFF light illuminates.When cruising at a low speed or
climbing a gentle slope, you may feel
uncomfortable shift shocks as the
transmission shifts between 3rd and
overdrive repeatedly. In this case,
press the overdrive switch. The O/D
OFF indicator light comes on at this
time.
When driving conditions change, press the
overdrive switch again. The O/D OFF indicator
light goes out.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the O/D OFF
light illuminated. This reduces the fuel
economy.
Fail-safeWhen the Fail-safe operation occurs, the next
time the key is turned to the ON position, the
O/D OFF light will blink for approximately 8
seconds after coming on for 2 seconds. While
the vehicle can be driven under these circum-
stances please note that the gears in the
automatic transmission will be locked in third
gear.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the Fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur
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even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, turn the ignition key
OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then turn the
key back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition have your NISSAN
dealer check the transmission and repair if
necessary.
Shift lock releaseIf the battery charge is low, the select lever
may not be moved from the P position even
with the brake pedal depressed and the select
lever button pushed.
To move the select lever, push the shift lock
release button and select lever button. The
select lever can be moved to N (Neutral).
To push the shift lock release button, follow the
procedure as illustrated.
If there is any problem moving the lever out of
P (Park) have your NISSAN dealer check the
automatic transmission system as soon as
possible.If the selector lever cannot be moved
from the P position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is de-
pressed, the stop lights may not work.
Malfunctioning stop lights could cause
an accident injuring yourself and others.
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MANUAL TRANSMISSIONIDo not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of con-
trol.
IDo not over-rev the engine when
shifting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.To change gears, fully depress the clutchpedal, then move the gearshift lever. After
shifting, release the clutch slowly.
You cannot shift directly from 5th gear into
Reverse. First shift into the Neutral position,
then into Reverse.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into
Reverse or 1st, shift into Neutral, then release
the clutch pedal and shift into Reverse or 1st
again. If your vehicle is equipped with four
wheel drive, see
ªUsing four wheel driveº later in this section.
Suggested shift-up speedsThe table below provides suggested speed
ranges for shifting into a higher gear. These
suggestions relate to fuel economy and ve-
hicle performance. Actual shift ranges should
be adjusted for specific road conditions,
weather conditions and individual driving hab-
its.
ITwo wheel drive models and four wheel
drive models (2H and 4H position)
MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (25)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40)
3rd to 4th 40 (65)
4th to 5th 45 (75)
*1 Acceleration:Normal acceleration such as
standing start
*2 Cruise:
Driving without rapid acceleration
or deceleration at moderate speed
which permits maximum fuel
economy
IFour wheel drive model (4L position)
MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 8 (13)
2nd to 3rd 12 (20)
3rd to 4th 20 (32)
4th to 5th 22 (36)
Suggested maximum speed in each
gearDownshift to a lower gear if the engine is not
running smoothly, or if you need to accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested speed
(shown below) in any gear. For level road
driving, use the highest gear suggested for
that speed. Always observe posted speed
limits, and drive according to the road condi-
tions which will ensure safe operation. Do not
overrev the engine when shifting to a lower
gear as it may cause engine damage or loss of
vehicle control.
Allowable maximum speed in each gear
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4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.IBe sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do
so can cause brake failure and lead to
an accident.
IDo not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
IDo not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully en-
gaged.
IDo not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the park-
ing brake and cause an accident.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROLIIf the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The cruise indicator
light in the instrument panel then blinks to
warn the driver.
IIf the cruise indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked by your
NISSAN dealer.
IThe cruise indicator light may blink when
the cruise control main switch is turned on
while pushing the RES/ACCEL,
COAST/SET, or CANCEL switch (located
on the steering wheel). To properly set the
cruise control system, perform the preced-
ing steps in the order indicated.Do not use the cruise control when driv-
ing under the following conditions:
Iwhen it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at set speed.
Iin heavy traffic or in traffic that varies
in speed.
Ion winding or hilly roads.Ion slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.)
Iin very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
On manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depressing
the clutch pedal when the cruise control
is on. This could cause engine damage.
If this happens, depress the clutch pedal
and turn the main switch off
immediately.
CRUISE CONTROL
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