2014 Nissan Pathfinder Towing Guide - Page 21

The added weight of a trailer places an increased load on the engine and cooling system, so monitor your coolant temperature gauge and automatic transmission fluid temperature gauge (if equipped) carefully. At the first sign of overheating, pull to the side of the road. See IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS later in this section for more information. HILLS - DOWNGRADES WARNING - While going downhill, the weight of the trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may decrease overall stability. Therefore, to maintain adequate control, reduce your speed and shift to a lower gear. If your vehicle is equipped with Tow Mode, see your vehicle owner's manual for information about the use of this function. WARNING - Avoid long or repeated use of the brakes when descending a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness, and could cause overheating. Shifting to a lower gear instead provides "engine braking" and reduces the need to brake as frequently. AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL WARNING - Do not use cruise control while towing a trailer. IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS "A moderate increase in engine operating temperature is normal when towing a trailer." If, however, the coolant temperature gauge reading is abnormally high, or if you are experiencing a significant loss of power, or if you hear unusual engine noises,* the engine may be overheating and you should immediately take the following steps: 1. Pull your vehicle safely over to the side of the road, out of traffic. Apply the parking brake and move the gearshift lever to NEUTRAL (manual) or PARK (automatic). DO NOT STOP THE ENGINE. 2. Turn off the air conditioning and, after opening all the windows, turn the heater on to maximum hot and the fan to its highest speed, and exit the vehicle. The heater core in your vehicle is just like a miniature engine radiator and will provide an extra cooling surface to help reduce engine temperature. 3. If the temperature does not drop or continues to increase, stop the engine immediately. 4. Being cautious of traffic, step out of the vehicle and, from a safe distance, look for steam underneath the engine. If you see steam or leaking coolant, stand clear to avoid being burned and shut off your engine immediately and allow it to cool. If there is no steam, open * See your vehicle owner's manual for additional indications that your vehicle may be overheating. 2014 NISSAN Towing Guide 20