towing NISSAN PATHFINDER 2002 R50 / 2.G User Guide

This could result in loss of control
and cause personal injury.
PAYLOAD WEIGHT CAPACITYThe payload weight capacity is the maximum
total weight of passengers, optional equipment
(air conditioning, trailer hitch, etc.) and cargo
that your vehicle is designed to carry.
Before driving a loaded vehicle, confirm that
you do not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for your vehicle. See ªVehicle
loading informationº earlier in this section for
details.
Also check tires for proper inflation pressures.
See the tire placard affixed to the glove box lid.
Payload Weight Capacity Unit: lb (kg)
VQ35DE
2WD 4WD
Automatic and
Manual Trans-
missionAutomatic and
Manual Trans-
mission
XE, SE, LE
US 980 (445) 970 (440)
Canada Ð 945 (430)
MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHTSSecure loose items to prevent weight shifts
that could affect the balance of your vehicle.
When the vehicle is loaded, drive to a scale
and weight the front and the rear wheels
separately to determine axle loads. Individual
axle loads should not exceed either of the
gross axle weight ratings (GAWR). The total of
the axle loads should not exceed the gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR). These ratings
are given on the vehicle certification label that
is located on the driver's door lock pillar. If
weight ratings are exceeded, move or remove
items to bring all weights below the ratings.
CAUTION
Overloading can shorten the life of your
vehicle. Failures caused by overloading
are not covered by your warranty.Your new vehicle was designed to be used
primarily to carry passengers and cargo. Re-
member that towing a trailer will place addi-
tional loads on your vehicle's engine, drive
train, steering, braking and other systems.
ANissan Trailer Towing Guide (US only)is
available from an authorized NISSAN dealer.
This guide includes information on trailer tow-
ing ability and the special equipment required
for proper towing.
MAXIMUM LOAD LIMITS
Maximum trailer loadsNever allow the total trailer load to exceed the
CA0009
TOWING A TRAILERTechnical and consumer information
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value specified in the following Towing
Load/Specification Chart. The total trailer load
equals trailer weight plus its cargo weight.
IWhen towing a trailer load of 1,000 lbs.
(454 kg) or more, trailers with a brake
system MUST be used.
The maximum GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating) should not exceed the value
specified in the following Towing Load/
Specification Chart.
The GCWR equals the combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including passengers and
cargo) plus the total trailer load. Towing loads
greater than these or using improper towing
equipment could adversely affect vehicle han-
dling, braking and performance.
The ability of your vehicle to tow a trailer is not
only related to the maximum trailer loads, but
also the places you plan to tow. Tow weights
appropriate for level highway driving may have
to be reduced on very steep grades or in low
traction situations (for example, on slippery
boat ramps).
WARNING
Vehicle damage and/or personal injury
resulting from improper towing proce-
dures is not covered by NISSAN warran-
ties. A NISSAN Trailer Towing Guide
(U.S. only) containing information on
trailer towing ability and the special
equipment required may be obtained
from an authorized NISSAN dealer.Tongue loadKeep the tongue load between 9 to 11% of the
total trailer load within the maximum tongue
load limits shown in the following Towing
Load/Specifications Chart. If the tongue load
becomes excessive, rearrange cargo to allow
for proper tongue load.
Maximum gross vehicle weight/
maximum gross axle weightThe gross vehicle weight of the towing vehicle
must not exceed the gross vehicle weight
rating (GVWR) shown on the F.M.V.S.S. cer-
tification label. The gross vehicle weight
equals the combined weight of the unloaded
vehicle, passengers, luggage, hitch, trailer
tongue load and any other optional equipment.
In addition, front or rear gross axle weight must
not exceed the gross axle weight rating
(GAWR) shown on the F.M.V.S.S. certification
label.
CA0036
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TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHART
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHART
Unit: lb (kg)
MODEL
WEIGHTPATHFINDER VQ35DE/VG33E (6-Cyl.)
M/T A/T
MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT*1 3,500 (1,588) 5,000 (2,268)
MAXIMUM TONGUE LOAD 350 (159) 500 (227)
GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT
RATING8,000 (3,628) 9,500 (4,308)
RECOMMENDED EQUIP-
MENT*2Sway Control Device (SCD)
*1: All towing above 1,000 lb (454 kg) requires the use of trailer brakes. NISSAN recommends the use
of a tandem axle trailer whenever towing above 3,000 lb (1,361 kg).
*2: A sway control device is recommended for all towing above 2,000 lb (907 kg). Sway control devices
are not offered by NISSAN. See a professional trailer/hitch outlet for a properly designed sway
control device for your trailer.
TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitchCheck the towing capacity of your receiver
type frame mounted hitch. Choose a proper
hitch for your vehicle and trailer. A genuine
NISSAN trailer hitch is available from your
NISSAN dealer (US only). Make sure the
trailer hitch is securely attached to the vehicle,
to help avoid personal injury or property dam-
age due to sway caused by crosswinds, rough
road surfaces or passing trucks.
CAUTION
ISpecial hitches which include frame
reinforcements are required for tow-
ing above 2,000 lb (907 kg). Suitable
Genuine NISSAN hitches for pickup
truck and sport utility vehicles are
available at an authorized NISSAN
dealer.
IDo not use axle-mounted hitches.
IDo not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc. to install a
trailer hitch.Technical and consumer information
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IAfter the hitch is removed, seal the
bolt holes to prevent exhaust fumes,
water or dust from entering the pas-
senger compartment.
IRegularly check all hitch mounting
bolts are securely mounted.
ITo 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.
INever connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.Tire pressuresIWhen towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle
tires to the recommended cold tire pressure
indicated on the tire placard (affixed to the
glove box lid).
ITrailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in ac-
cordance with the trailer and tire manufac-
turers' specifications.Safety chainsAlways use a suitable chain between yourvehicle and the trailer. The chain should be
crossed and should be attached to the hitch,
not to the vehicle bumper or axle. Be sure to
leave enough slack in the chain to permit
turning corners.
Trailer lightsTrailer lights should comply with Federal
and/or local regulations.
When wiring vehicle for towing connection,
connect stop and tail light pickup into the
vehicle electrical circuit at point between
the sensor and stop light switch or light
switch.Trailer brakesIf your trailer is equipped with a braking sys-
tem, make sure it conforms to Federal and/or
local regulations and that it is properly in-
stalled.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.Trailer towing tipsIn order to gain skill and an understanding ofthe vehicle's behavior, you should practice
turning, stopping and backing up in an area
which is free from traffic. Steering stability and
braking performance will be somewhat differ-
ent than under normal driving conditions.
IAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
IAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
IAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
IAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
IAlways block the wheels on both vehicle
and trailer when parking. Parking on a
slope is not recommended; however, if you
must do so, and if your vehicle is equipped
with automatic transmission, first block the
wheels and apply the parking brake, and
then move the transmission selector lever
into the P position. If you move the selector
lever to the P position before blocking the
wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
IWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, downshift
the transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
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However, for long steep grades, do not stay in
1st or 2nd gear when driving above 35 MPH
(56 km/h).
IIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioning
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
ITrailer towing requires more fuel than nor-
mal circumstances.
IAvoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km).
IHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule.
When towing a trailer, change oil in the
transmission more frequently. See the
Maintenance Schedule.UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADINGDOT (Department of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tire must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition to
these grades.Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TreadwearTreadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on tire wear rate when tested under
controlled conditions on specified government
test courses. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well
on the government course as a tire graded
100. However, relative tire performance de-
pends on actual driving conditions, and may
vary significantly due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.Traction AA, A, B and CThe traction grades from highest to lowest are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the
tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to your ve-
hicle tires is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests, and does not in-
clude acceleration, cornering, hydro-
planing, or peak traction characteristics.Temperature A, B and CTemperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C. They represent a tire's resistance to
heat build-up, and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sus-
tained high temperature can cause tire mate-
rial to degenerate, reducing tire life. Excessive
temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a performance level
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of
performance on laboratory test wheels than
the minimum required by law.Technical and consumer information
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Rear door ........................................................ 3-10
Rear door lock ................................................ 3-10
Child safety rear door lock .......................... 3-4
Rear door opener ........................................... 3-10
Rear power point ............................................ 2-25
Rear seat adjustment ....................................... 1-7
Rear window wiper and washer switch .......... 2-18
Registering your vehicle in another country ... 9-12
Reporting safety defects (US only)................. 9-22
Rollover ............................................................. 5-4
S
Safety
Child seat belts.......................................... 1-24
Reporting safety defects (US only) ........... 9-22
Towing safety ............................................ 9-19
Seat
Belt warning light ....................................... 1-22
Belt warning light and chime ..................... 2-12
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment .................... 1-2
Front power seat adjustment ...................... 1-4
Rear seat adjustment .................................. 1-7
Seat belt(s)
Child safety................................................ 1-24
Infants and small children ......................... 1-25
Injured persons.......................................... 1-25
Larger children .......................................... 1-25
Pre-tensioner seat belt system ................. 1-19
Precautions on seat belt usage ................ 1-23
Pregnant women ....................................... 1-25
Seat belt cleaning........................................ 7-4
Seat belt extenders ................................... 1-30Seat belt hook ........................................... 1-28
Seat belt maintenance .............................. 1-31
Seat belts .................................................. 1-22
Three-point type with retractor .................. 1-25
Two-point type without retractor (rear center
lap belt)...................................................... 1-29
Seat(s)
Heated seats ............................................. 2-24
Seats ........................................................... 1-2
Security system, vehicle security system ....... 2-15
Security systems (Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer
System), Engine start ..................................... 2-17
Security systems (See vehicle security
system) ........................................................... 2-15
Servicing air conditioner................... 4-2, 4-8, 4-10
Shift lock release ............................................ 5-13
Shifting
Automatic transmission ...................... 5-6, 5-10
Manual transmission .......................... 5-7, 5-14
Shoulder belt height adjustment, For front
seats ............................................................... 1-28
Side air bag system (See supplemental side air
bag system) .................................................... 1-18
Spare tire carrier ............................................. 3-10
Spark plugs ..................................................... 8-23
Speedometer .................................................... 2-3
Starting
Before starting the engine ........................... 5-9
Jump starting ............................................... 6-9
Precautions when starting and driving ........ 5-2
Push starting ............................................. 6-10
Starting the engine ...................................... 5-9
Steering
Power steering fluid................................... 8-18Power steering system .............................. 5-31
Steering wheel switch for audio controls .. 4-30
Tilting steering wheel ................................ 3-14
Storage ........................................................... 2-27
Sun shade....................................................... 2-37
Sun visors ....................................................... 3-14
Sunroof ........................................................... 2-36
Electric sunroof.......................................... 2-36
Supplemental air bag warning labels ............. 1-20
Supplemental air bag warning light ....... 1-21, 2-12
Supplemental front air bag system ................. 1-16
Supplemental restraint system ....................... 1-10
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................................................... 1-10
Supplemental side air bag system ................. 1-18
Switch
4WD shift switch operations...................... 5-26
Audio control ............................................. 4-30
Fog light switch ......................................... 2-23
Front fog light switch ................................. 2-23
Glass hatch and outside mirror defogger
switch......................................................... 2-19
Hazard warning flasher switch .................. 2-23
Headlight switch ........................................ 2-20
Ignition switch .............................................. 5-6
Ignition switch automatic transmission
models................................................ 5-6, 5-10
Ignition switch manual transmission
models................................................ 5-7, 5-14
Overdrive switch ........................................ 5-13
Power door lock switch ............................... 3-4
Turn signal switch ..................................... 2-22
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T
Tachometer ....................................................... 2-4
Temperature display ......................................... 2-6
Temperature gauge, Engine coolant temperature
gauge ................................................................ 2-4
Theft (Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System),
Engine start..................................................... 2-17
Three way catalyst ............................................ 5-3
Tilting steering wheel ...................................... 3-14
Tire
Flat tire ........................................................ 6-2
Uniform tire quality grading ....................... 9-21
Tires
Spare tire ................................................... 8-39
Tire chains ................................................. 8-36
Tire placard ............................................... 9-14
Tire pressure ............................................. 8-34
Tire rotation ............................................... 8-37
Types of tires............................................. 8-35
wheel/tire size............................................ 9-11
Wheels and tires ....................................... 8-34
Tonneau cover ................................................ 2-33
Top tether strap child restraints ...................... 1-40
Towing
Tow truck towing ....................................... 6-12
Towing a trailer.......................................... 9-17
Towing load/specification chart ................. 9-17
Towing safety ............................................ 9-19
Trailer towing .................................................. 9-17
Transfer case shifting procedures ......... 5-21, 5-23
Transmission
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........... 8-16Driving with automatic
transmission ....................................... 5-6, 5-10
Driving with manual transmission ...... 5-7, 5-14
Transmission selector lever lock release .. 5-13
Traveling or registering your vehicle in another
country ............................................................ 9-12
Turn signal switch ........................................... 2-22
U
Underbody cleaning .......................................... 7-3
Uniform tire quality grading............................. 9-21
V
Vanity mirror light ............................................ 2-40
Vehicle
Dimensions and weights ........................... 9-11
Identification number (VIN) ....................... 9-12
Loading information ................................... 9-15
Security system ......................................... 2-15
Vehicle recovery, (freeing a stuck vehicle)..... 6-15
Ventilators ......................................................... 4-2
W
Warning labels, Air bag warning labels .......... 1-20
Warning light
4WD warning light ..................................... 5-28
Air bag warning light ........................ 1-21, 2-12
Anti-lock brake............................................. 2-9
Automatic transmission park warning
light ............................................................ 2-10Brake warning light.................................... 2-10
Door open.................................................. 2-11
Low fuel warning light ............................... 2-12
Seat belt warning light and chime............. 2-12
Warning lights ................................................... 2-9
Warning, Hazard warning flasher switch ........ 2-23
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders .......................................................... 2-9
Warranty, Emission control system warranty . 9-22
Washer switch
Rear window wiper and washer switch ..... 2-18
Windshield wiper and washer switch ........ 2-18
Washing ............................................................ 7-2
Waxing .............................................................. 7-2
Weights (See dimensions and weights) ......... 9-11
Wheel/tire size ................................................ 9-11
Wheels and tires ............................................. 8-34
Cleaning aluminum alloy wheels................. 7-3
Window washer fluid ....................................... 8-20
Window(s)
Cleaning ...................................................... 7-3
Power windows ......................................... 2-35
Windshield wiper and washer switch.............. 2-18
Wiper
Rear window wiper and washer switch ..... 2-18
Windshield wiper and washer switch ........ 2-18
Wiper blades ............................................. 8-24
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