transmission NISSAN PATHFINDER 2023 User Guide

•Never shif t to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
reversing. This could cause an acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
CAUTION
• To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle; when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the ve-
hicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
• Except in an emergency, do not shif t
to the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
• WARM UP THE ENGINE – Due to the
higher idle speeds, the engine is cold.
Extra caution must be exercised
when shif ting the shif t lever into a
driving position immediately af ter
starting the engine.
The A/T in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled to produce maximum power and
smooth operation. The recommended operating procedures
for this transmission are shown on the fol-
lowing pages. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driv-
ing enjoyment.
Engine power may be automatically re-
duced to protect the A/T if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving on
slippery roads or while being tested on
some dynamometers.
Starting the vehicle
1. Af ter starting the engine, fully depress
the foot brake pedal before moving the
shif t position out of the P (Park) position.
This Automatic Transmission is de-
signed so that the foot brake pedal
must be depressed before shif ting
from P (Park) to any driving position
while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
The shif t position cannot be shif ted
out of the P (Park) position and into
any of the other positions if the igni-
tion switch is placed in the OFF
position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shif t lever to a driving
position. 3. Release the parking brake and foot
brake pedal and then gradually start the
vehicle in motion.
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shif ting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or M
(Manual) range. Always depress the
brake pedal until shif ting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an
accident.
• Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shif ting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
• Do not downshif t abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
• Never shif t to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
reversing. This could cause an acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
Starting and driving5-19

CAUTION
• To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle; when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the ve-
hicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
• Except in an emergency, do not shif t
to the N (Neutral) position while driv-
ing. Coasting with the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
• WARM UP THE ENGINE – Due to the
higher idle speeds, the engine is cold.
Extra caution must be exercised
when shif ting the shif t lever into a
driving position immediately af ter
starting the engine.
Shif ting
OAHome position (central position)
Press the buttonO1to shif t
Shif t without pressing the buttonO1
How to shif t to each position
The ignition switch must be in the ON po-
sition and the brake must be depressed.
• Shif t to PARK
Push the park button
O2
• Shif t to REVERSE
1. Push the shif t lever button
O1
2. Move the shif t lever from the home position to the R (Reverse) position
• Shif t to NEUTRAL
– – From P (Park) and D (Drive)
Without pushing the shif t lever button,
push the shif t lever forward (1 notch)
from the home position and hold 0.5
seconds.
– – From P (Park) and R (Reverse)
Without pushing the shif t lever button,
pull the shif t lever backward (1 notch)
from the home position and hold 0.5
seconds.
• Shif t to DRIVE
Pull the shif t lever from the home posi-
tion to D (Drive) position
Confirm that the vehicle is in the desired
shif t position by checking the shif t indica-
tor located on the shif t lever or in the ve-
hicle information display.
LSD4138
5-20Starting and driving

WARNING
Apply the electronic parking brake if
the shif t lever is in any position while
the engine is not running. Failure to do
so could cause the vehicle to move un-
expectedly or roll away and result in
serious personal injury or property
damage.
CAUTION
• Use the P (Park), R (Reverse) or D
(Drive) position only when the vehicle
is completely stopped.
• When switching to the desired shif t
position by operating the shif t lever,
check that the shif t lever returns to
the home position by releasing your
hand from the lever. Holding the shif t
lever in a mid-way position may also
damage the shif t control system.
• Do not operate the shif t lever while
the accelerator pedal is depressed.
This may cause a sudden start which
could result in an accident. •
The following operations are not al-
lowed because excessive force
would be applied to the transmission
and this may result in damage to the
vehicle:
– Moving the shif t lever to the R (Re-
verse) position when driving
forward
– Moving the shif t lever to the D
(Drive) position when reversing
If these operations are attempted, a
chime sounds and the vehicle shif ts to
the N (Neutral) position.
If the vehicle is moving over 5 mph (8
km/h) when shif ting to D (Drive) from R
(Reverse), the N (Neutral) position will
automatically be selected. A buzzer will
sound, noting that D (Drive) was not se-
lected. When selecting D (Drive) while
reversing below 5 mph (8 km/h) the
range will change normally.
P (Park)
CAUTION
• To prevent transmission damage,
use the P (Park) position only when
the vehicle is completely stopped.
• Do not slide the shif t lever while
pressing the park button. This may
damage the shif t control system.
Use the P (Park) position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped be-
fore pressing the park button to engage
the P (Park) position. For maximum safety,
the brake pedal must be depressed before
engaging the P (Park) position. Use this po-
sition together with the electronic parking
brake. When parking on a hill, first depress
the brake pedal, apply the electronic park-
ing brake and then engage the P (Park)
position. The parking lock should not be
used as a brake when parking. In order to
secure the vehicle, always apply the elec-
tronic parking brake in addition to the park-
ing lock.
Starting and driving5-21

In the event of a malfunction of the vehi-
cle’s electronics, the transmission may lock
in the P (Park) position. Have the vehicle’s
electronics checked immediately. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service.
The P (Park) position is automatically en-
gaged if:
• You place the ignition switch in the OFFposition
• You unfasten the driver’s seat belt and open the driver side door when the ve-
hicle is stationary or driving at very low
speed and the transmission is in the D
(Drive) position, the N (Neutral) position,
the R (Reverse) position or M (Manual)
mode with your foot off the brake.
CAUTION
To avoid A/T malfunction, you must
manually place the shif t position in the
P (Park) position under the above
conditions.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
• To prevent transmission damage,
use the R (Reverse) position only
when the vehicle is completely
stopped and the brake is pressed.
Use the R (Reverse) position to back up.
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before selecting the R (Reverse)
position. The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and the shif t lever button
pressed to move the shif t lever from the
home position to R (Reverse). If the ve-
hicle is placed in R (Reverse) position
while the vehicle is moving forward, the
chime will sound and the vehicle will
switch into the N (Neutral) position.
NOTE:
If the vehicle is moving over 5 mph (8
km/h ), when shif ting to D (Drive) from R
(Reverse), the N (Neutral) position will au-
tomatically be selected. A buzzer will
sound, noting that D (Drive) was not se-
lected. When selecting D (Drive) while re-
versing below 5 mph (8 km/h), the range
will change normally.
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged when the vehicle is completely
stopped, and the brake is pressed. The en-
gine can be started in this position. You
may shif t to the N (Neutral) position and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is
moving.
You can select this position by holding the
shif t lever at this position for 0.5 seconds.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving when the vehicle is completely
stopped, and the brake is pressed. The A/T
changes gears automatically. All forward
gears are available. If the vehicle is placed
in the D (Drive) position while the vehicle
is reversing, the chime will sound and the
vehicle will switch into the N (Neutral)
position.
5-22Starting and driving

•If the Neutral hold mode is unavailable,
a message will appear in the vehicle
information display. For additional in-
formation, see “Neutral Hold Mode was
not activated” (P. 2-41) or (P. 2-68). To
activate the Neutral hold mode, wait
for a while without shif ting operation
and then perform the operations
again.
Manual shif t mode
When the shif t lever is moved to the D
(Drive) position again with the vehicle in the
D (Drive) position while driving, the trans-
mission enters the manual shif t mode.
Shif t range can be selected manually by
using the paddle shif ters on the steering
wheel.
When shif ting up, pull the right-side paddle
shif ter (+)
OA. The transmission shif ts to the
higher range.
When shif ting down, pull the lef t-side
paddle shif ter (−)
OB. The transmission
shif ts to the lower range. When canceling the manual shif t mode,
move the shif t lever to the D (Drive) position
again. The transmission returns to the nor-
mal driving mode.
When you pull the paddle shif ter while in
the D (Drive) position, the transmission will
shif t to the upper or lower range temporar-
ily. The transmission will automatically re-
turn to the D (Drive) position af ter a short
period of time. If you want to return to the D
(Drive) position manually, pull and hold the
paddle shif ter for about 1.5 seconds.
In the manual shif t mode, the shif t range is
displayed in the vehicle information
display.
Shif t ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
1M⇔
2M⇔3M ⇔4M ⇔5M ⇔6M ⇔7M ⇔8M
⇔ 9M
9M (9th) and 8M (8th)
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
7M (7th), 6M (6th) and 5M (5th)
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
LSD4194
5-24Starting and driving

4M (4th), 3M (3rd) and 2M (2nd)
Use these positions for hill climbing or en-
gine braking on downhill grades.
1M (1st)
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
or for maximum engine braking on steep
downhill grades.
• Remember not to drive at high speeds forextended periods of time in lower than
the 8th range. This reduces fuel economy.
• Pulling the same paddle shif ter twice will shif t the ranges in succession. However, if
this motion is rapidly done, the second
shif ting may not be completed properly.
• In the manual shif t mode, the trans-
mission may not shif t to the selected
gear. This helps maintain driving per-
formance and reduces the chance of
vehicle damage or loss of control.
• In the manual shif t mode, the trans-
mission may shif t up automatically to a
higher range than selected if the en-
gine speed is too high. When the ve-
hicle speed decreases, the transmis-
sion automatically shif ts down and
shif ts to 1st gear before the vehicle
comes to a stop.
Accelerator downshif t
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shif ts
the transmission down into a lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tem-
perature protection mode. If the fluid tem-
perature becomes too high (for example,
when climbing steep grades in high tem-
peratures with heavy loads, such as when
towing a trailer), engine power and, under
some conditions, vehicle speed will be de-
creased automatically to reduce the
chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelera-
tor pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed
may be limited.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, please
note that the transmission will be locked in
any of the forward gears according to the
condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel
spinning and subsequent hard braking,
the fail-safe system may be activated.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may come on to indicate the fail-safe
mode is activated. For additional infor-
mation, see “Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)” (P. 2-20). This will occur even if all
electrical circuits are functioning prop-
erly. In this case, place the ignition switch
in the OFF position and wait for 10 sec-
onds. Then push the switch back to the
ON position. The vehicle should return to
its normal operating condition. If it does
not return to its normal operating condi-
tion, have the transmission checked and
repaired, if necessary. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
Starting and driving5-25

WARNING
When the high fluid temperature pro-
tection mode or fail-safe operation oc-
curs, vehicle speed may be gradually
reduced. The reduced speed may be
lower than other traffic, which could in-
crease the chance of a collision. Be es-
pecially careful when driving. If neces-
sary, pull to the side of the road at a safe
place and allow the transmission to re-
turn to normal operation, or have it re-
paired if necessary.WARNING
• Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to
an accident.
• Do not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
• Do not use the shif t lever in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully
engaged.
• To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require
the assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly be-
come high enough to cause a signifi-
cant risk of injury or death to people
and pets.
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE
(switch type)
The electronic parking brake can be ap-
plied or released by operating the parking
brake switch.
LSD4139
PARKING BRAKE
5-26Starting and driving

The “Tire Size Incorrect” warning may be
displayed if there is a large difference be-
tween the diameters of front and rear
wheels and tires. Pull off the road in a safe
area, with the engine idling. Check that all
tire sizes, brand, construction and tread
pattern are the same, that the tire pressure
is correct and that the tires are not exces-
sively worn. If you have any problems,
please change tires or adjust the correct
tire pressure. Do not select the SNOW, MUD/
RUT, or SAND modes with the Drive Mode
Selector and do not drive fast.
If any warning message continues to be
displayed, have your vehicle checked. It isrecommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
• For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shif t the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result
in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
• Do not attempt to test an 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamom-
eters used by some states for emis-
sions testing) or similar equipment
even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure that
you inform the test facility personnel
that your vehicle is equipped with
4WD before it is placed on a dyna-
mometer. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drivetrain
damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal
injury.
CAUTION
• Do not operate the engine on a free
roller when any of the wheels are
raised.
• The powertrain may be damaged if
you continue driving with the “AWD
Error” warning on.
• If the warning message remains on
af ter the above operation, have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
• If the “AWD Error” warning appears
while driving, there may be a mal-
function in the 4WD system.
Reduce the vehicle speed and have
your vehicle checked as soon as pos-
sible. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
When the vehicle is in the P (Park) position,
the operation noise may be heard from the
lower part of the vehicle. This is not a
malfunction.
LSD3254
5-172Starting and driving

WARNING
• Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.
• Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park).
Failure to do so could cause the ve-
hicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in an accident. Make
sure the shif t lever has been pushed
as far forward as it can go and cannot be moved without depressing the
foot brake pedal.
• Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
• Do not leave children unattended in-
side the vehicle. They could unknow-
ingly activate switches or controls or
make the vehicle move. Unattended
children could become involved in
serious accidents. •
To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require
the assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly be-
come high enough to cause a signifi-
cant risk of injury or death to people
and pets.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Press the park button to shif t to the P (Park) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic when parked on an incline, it
is a good practice to turn the wheels as
illustrated.
• HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB
OA:
Turn the wheels into the curb and
move the vehicle forward until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb.
• HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB
OB:
Turn the wheels away from the curb
and move the vehicle back until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-173

•Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that the cable
clamps do not contact any other
metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster vehicle at about 2,000 rpm and start the
engine of the vehicle being jump
started.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, place the ig-
nition switch in the OFF position and
wait 3 to 4 seconds before trying again.
7. Af ter starting the engine, carefully dis- connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable.
CAUTION
Automatic transmission models can-
not be push-started. Attempting to do
so may cause transmission damage.WARNING
• Do not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could cause
engine damage or a vehicle fire.
• To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap while the engine is still
hot. When the radiator or coolant res-
ervoir cap is removed, pressurized
hot water will spurt out, possibly
causing serious injury.
• Do not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by
an extremely high temperature gauge
reading and the Low Oil Pressure: See
Owner’s Manual warning message ap-
pears in the vehicle information display), or
if you feel a lack of engine power, detect
abnormal noise, etc. take the following
steps:
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, ap- ply the parking brake.
2. Push the park button to shif t to the P (Park) position.
Do not stop the engine.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-13