1999 Nissan Pathfinder Owner's Manual - Page 154

¼ Many hills are too steep for any vehicle. 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. ¼ Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At the top there could be a dropoff or other hazard that could cause an accident. ¼ If 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. ¼ Heavy 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. ¼ Unsecured cargo can be thrown around when driving over rough terrain. Properly secure it so that it will not be thrown forward and cause injury to you or your passengers. ¼ Avoid raising the center of gravity by loading things on the roof or equipping 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. ¼ Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steering wheel when driving offroad. The steering wheel could jerk and injure your hands. Instead drive with your fingers and thumbs on the outside of the rim. ¼ Before operating the vehicle, ensure that the driver and all passengers have their seat belts fastened. ¼ Always drive with the floor mats in place as the floor may become very hot. ¼ Lower your speed when encountering strong crosswinds. With its higher center of gravity, your NISSAN is more affected by gusty side winds. Slower speeds ensure better vehicle control. ¼ Do not drive beyond the performance of the tires even with 4WD. Accelerating quickly, sharp steering maneuvers or sudden braking may cause loss of control. ¼ Install the same size of winter tires on all four wheels (such as studless tires) or install tire chains to the rear wheels when driving on slippery roads (for example, after a snow) and drive carefully using 4WD. ¼ Be sure to check the brakes immediately after driving in mud or water. See "Brake system" later in this section for wet brakes. ¼ Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If you get out of the vehicle and it rolls forward, backward or sideways, you could be injured. ¼ Whenever you drive offroad through sand, mud or water as deep as the wheel hub, more frequent mainteStarting and driving 5-5