cooling NISSAN PATHFINDER 2000 R50 / 2.G User Guide

When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself
or damage to the vehicle. The following are
general precautions which should be closely
observed.
WARNING
IPark the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. For a manual
transmission, move the shift lever to
Neutral. For an automatic transmis-
sion, move the selector lever to the P
(Park) position.
IBe sure the ignition key is in the OFF
or LOCK position when performing
any replacement or repair.
IIf you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving fans
belts and any other moving parts.
IIt is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and any jewelry,such as rings, watches, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
IAlways wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
IIf you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
INever get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
IKeep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and battery.
IYour vehicle is equipped with an au-
tomatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warning,
even if the ignition key is in the OFF
position and the engine is not run-
ning. To avoid injury, always discon-
nect the negative battery cable before
working near the fan.
IOn gasoline engine models with themultiport fuel injection (MFI) system,
the fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
even when the engine is off.
CAUTION
IDo not work under the engine hood
while it is hot. Turn off the engine and
wait until it cools down.
INever connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized com-
ponent connector while the ignition
key is on.
INever leave the engine or the auto-
matic transmission related compo-
nent harness connector discon-
nected while the ignition key is on.
IAvoid direct contact with used engine
oil. Improperly disposed motor oil and/
or other vehicle fluids can hurt the
environment. Always conform to lo-
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS8-2
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The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a high-quality, year-round, anti-
freeze coolant solution. The anti-freeze solu-
tion contains rust and corrosion inhibitors,
therefore additional cooling system additives
are not necessary.
CAUTION
When adding or replacing the coolant,
be sure to use only a genuine NISSAN
anti-freeze coolant or equivalent with
the proper mixture ratio of 50% anti-
freeze and 50% demineralized water/
distilled water. The use of other types of
coolant solutions may damage your en-
gine cooling system.Outside tempera-
ture down to
Anti-
freezeDeminer-
alized
water or
distilled
water ÉC ÉF
þ35 þ30 50% 50%
WARNING
INever remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator. Wait
until the engine and radiator cool
down. See ªIf your vehicle overheatsº
in the ª6. In case of emergencyº sec-
tion.
IThe radiator is equipped with a pres-
sure cap. To prevent engine damage,
use only a genuine NISSAN radiator
cap.
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVELCheck the coolant level in the reservoir tank
when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is
below the MIN level, add coolant to the MAX
level. If the reservoir tank is empty, check the
coolant level in the radiatorwhen the engine
is cold.If there is insufficient coolant in the
radiator, fill the radiator with coolant up to the
filler opening and also add it to the reservoir
tank up to the MAX level.
If the engine cooling system frequently
requires coolant, have it checked by your
NISSAN dealer.
SDI0378
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
Do-it-yourself
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CHANGING ENGINE COOLANTIMajor cooling system repairs should be
performed by your NISSAN dealer. The
service procedures can be found in the
appropriate NISSAN Service Manual.
IImproper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
ITo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
INever remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.1. Perform the following procedure to open
the heater water cock.
ITurn the ignition key from OFF to ON.
IMove the heater or air conditioner tem-
perature control dial to the maximum hot
position then turn the ignition key to
OFF.
2. Open the radiator drain plug and radiator
cap.
Open the drain plugs on the engine block.
SDI0485
SDI0486
SDI0409
8-6
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3. Open the air release plug to drain the
coolant.
4. Flush the cooling system by running fresh
water through the radiator.
5. Close the radiator drain plug and engine
block drain plugs securely.
6. See the ªTechnical informationº section for
cooling system capacity.
Fill the radiator slowly with the proper mix-
ture of coolant and water. Fill the reservoir
tank slowly up to the MAX level. Then install
the radiator cap and close the air release
plug.7. Start the engine and warm it up until it
reaches normal operating temperature.
Then race the engine 2 or 3 times under no
load.
Watch the coolant temperature gauge for
signs of overheating.
8. Stop the engine. After it completely cools
down, refill the radiator up to the filler
opening. Fill the reservoir tank up the MAX
level.
9. Check the radiator drain plug and engine
block drain plugs for any sign of leakage.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating
temperature.
3. Turn off the engine.Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into the
oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
Reinsert it all the way.
SDI0410
SDI0419
SDI0420
ENGINE OIL
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Maintenance for offroad driving
(
only)
Whenever you drive offroad through sand,
mud or water as deep as the wheel hub, more
frequent maintenance may be required of the
following items:G
Brake pads and discs
G
Brake lining and drums
G
Brake lines and hoses
G
Wheel bearing grease
G
Differential, transmission and transfer oil
G
Steering linkage
G
Propeller shafts and front drive shafts
G
Air cleaner filter
G
Clutch housing (See ªClutch housing drainº
in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section for check-
ing water entry.)
These items should be checked frequently to
assure safe and proper operation of your ve-
hicle.
EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMS
Emission control system
maintenanceAdditional information on the following
items with * is found in the ª8. Do-it-
yourselfº section.
Drive belts*:
Check drive belts for wear, fraying or cracking
and also for proper tension. Replace the drive
belts if found damaged.
Air filter:
Under normal driving conditions, the air
cleaner filter should be replaced in accordance
with the maintenance schedule. However,
driving the vehicle in dusty areas may cause
more rapid clogging of the element. Conse-
quently, the element may have to be replaced
more frequently.
EVAP vapor lines:
Check vapor lines and connections for failure
or looseness. If leaks are found, replace the
lines.
Fuel lines:
Check the fuel hoses, piping and connectionsfor leaks, looseness or deterioration. Replace
any parts if they are damaged.
Fuel filter:
If the vehicle is operated under extremely
adverse weather conditions or in areas where
ambient temperatures are either extremely low
or extremely high, the filter might become
clogged. In such an event, replace the filter
immediately.
Engine coolant*:
Flush and refill the cooling system.
Engine oil & oil filter*:
Under normal driving conditions, the engine oil
and oil filter should be replaced in accordance
with the maintenance schedule. However, un-
der severe driving conditions, they may have
to be replaced more frequently.
Spark plugs*:
Replace with new plugs having the correct
heat range.
Timing belt:
Replace the timing belt for driving the cam-
shafts.
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Maintenance
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The following values are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different from them. When refilling, follow the
procedure instructed in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended specifications
US
measureImp
measureLiter
Fuel 21-1/8 gal 17-5/8 gal 80Unleaded gasoline with an octane rating
of at least 87 AKI (RON 91)*1
Engine oil*4
Drain and refill
with oil filter
change3-7/8 qt 3-1/4 qt 3.7IAPI Certification Mark*2 *3
IAPI grade SG/SH, Energy Conserving I
& II or API grade SJ, Energy Conserv-
ing*2 *3
IILSAC grade GF-I & GF-II*2 *3 without oil filter
change3-5/8 qt 3 qt 3.4
Cooling system
(with heater and
reservoir tank)10-3/4 qt 9 qt 10.2Genuine Nissan Anti-Freeze Coolant or
equivalent
(Ethylene glycol base 50% demineralized
water or distilled water)
*1: See later in this section for fuel recommendation.
*2: See later in this section for recommended SAE viscosity number.
*3: See later in this section for engine oil and oil filter recommendation.
*4: See ªChanging engine oilº in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section for further details.CAPACITIES AND
RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS10-2
Technical and consumer information
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Child restraints ................................................ 1-31
Installation on front passenger seat .......... 1-42
Installation on rear seat outboard
positions .................................................... 1-35
Installation on rear seat center position .... 1-33
Precautions on child restraints .................. 1-31
Top tether strap anchor point locations .... 1-41
With top tether strap.................................. 1-40
Child safety ..................................................... 1-24
Child safety rear door lock................................ 3-4
Chimes ............................................................ 2-13
Cigarette lighter (accessory) and ashtray....... 2-23
Circuit breaker, Fusible link ............................ 8-21
Cleaning exterior and interior .................... 7-2, 7-3
Clutch
Clutch pedal .............................................. 8-21
Fluid ........................................................... 8-12
Clutch housing drain (
only) .................. 8-34
Cold weather driving ....................................... 5-28
Compact Disc (CD) player (See audio
system) ........................................................... 4-23
Compact disc (CD) player operation .............. 4-12
Compass display .............................................. 2-7
Console box .................................................... 2-27
Controls
Audio controls............................................ 4-12
Audio controls (rear).................................. 4-12
Audio controls (steering wheel)................. 4-12
Heater and air conditioner controls ............. 4-3
Heater and air conditioner controls
(automatic)................................................... 4-9
Coolant
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................... 10-2Changing engine coolant ............................ 8-6
Checking engine coolant level .................... 8-5
Corrosion protection ......................................... 7-4
Cruise control.................................................. 5-17
Cup holders .................................................... 2-25
D
Daytime running light system ......................... 2-19
Defogger switch, Glass hatch and outside mirror
defogger switch............................................... 2-17
Dimensions and weights ............................... 10-10
Door open warning light ................................. 2-11
Drive belts ....................................................... 8-15
Driving
Cold weather driving ................................. 5-28
Driving with automatic transmission.......... 5-10
Driving with manual transmission ............. 5-14
On-pavement and offroad driving ............... 5-3
Precautions when starting and driving ........ 5-2
Safety precautions....................................... 5-4
E
Economy, Fuel ................................................ 5-20
Emission control information label ................ 10-12
Emission control system warranty ................ 10-18
Engine
Before starting the engine ........................... 5-9
Block heater .............................................. 5-29
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................... 10-2Changing engine coolant ............................ 8-6
Changing engine oil .................................... 8-8
Changing engine oil filter ............................ 8-9
Checking engine coolant level .................... 8-5
Checking engine oil level ............................ 8-7
Coolant temperature gauge ........................ 2-4
Engine compartment check locations ......... 8-4
Engine cooling system ................................ 8-5
Engine oil..................................................... 8-7
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation... 10-6
Engine oil viscosity .................................... 10-6
Engine serial number .............................. 10-12
Engine specifications................................. 10-9
If your engine overheats ........................... 6-11
Starting the engine ...................................... 5-9
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) ...................... 5-2
F
F.M.V.S.S. certification label......................... 10-12
Filter, Air cleaner housing filter ....................... 8-17
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher
switch) ............................................................. 2-21
Flat tire .............................................................. 6-2
Floor mat cleaning ............................................ 7-4
Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........... 8-10
Brake and clutch fluid................................ 8-12
Brake fluid ................................................. 8-12
Capacities and recommended fuel/
lubricants ................................................... 10-2
Engine coolant............................................. 8-5
Engine oil..................................................... 8-7
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