Nissan Pathfinder (2012 year). Manual - part 127

ENGINE COOLANT

CO-13

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3. Open the radiator drain plug at the bottom of the radiator, and

remove the reservoir cap. This is the only step required when

partially draining the cooling system (radiator only). 

CAUTION:

• Perform this step when the engine is cold.

• Do not to allow the coolant to contact the drive belts. 

4. When draining all of the coolant in the system for engine

removal or repair, it is necessary to drain the cylinder block.

Remove the cylinder block drain plugs (A), (B), (C), (D) and

block heater, (if equipped), to drain the cylinder block as shown.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse copper sealing washers.

NOTE:

For Canada, the (D) cylinder block drain plug as shown, is not a

cylinder block drain plug but a block heater.

5. Remove the reservoir tank to drain the engine coolant, then clean the reservoir tank before installing it.
6. Check the drained coolant for contaminants such as rust, corrosion or discoloration.

If the coolant is contaminated, flush the engine cooling system. Refer to 

CO-12, "Changing Engine Cool-

ant"

.

REFILLING ENGINE COOLANT

LLIA0070E

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CO-14

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ENGINE COOLANT

1. Close the radiator drain plug. Install the reservoir tank, cylinder

block drain plugs (A), (B), (C), (D) and block heater, (if

equipped).

• The radiator must be completely empty of coolant and water.

• Apply sealant to the threads of the cylinder block drain plugs

(A), (B), (C), (D). Use Genuine High Performance Thread

Sealant or equivalent. Refer to 

GI-14, "Recommended Chemi-

cal Products and Sealants"

.

CAUTION:

Do not reuse copper sealing washers.

Block Plug and Block Heater Installation

2. Set the vehicle heater controls to the full HOT and heater ON position. Turn the vehicle ignition ON with

the engine OFF as necessary to activate the heater mode.

3. Remove the vented reservoir cap and replace it with a non-vented reservoir cap before filling the cooling

system.

WLIA0020E

Part

Washer

Tightening Torque

A

No

Refer  to 

EM-105, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

B

Reuse

No

Refer to 

EM-105, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

New

Refer to 

EM-105, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

C

Yes

Refer to 

EM-105, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

D

Plug

Yes

Refer to 

EM-105, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

Block heater

Refer to 

EM-105, "Disassembly and Assembly"

.

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2012 Pathfinder

ENGINE COOLANT

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4. Install the Tool by installing the radiator cap adapter onto the

radiator neck opening. Then attach the gauge body assembly

with the refill tube and the venturi assembly to the radiator cap

adapter.

5. Insert the refill hose into the coolant mixture container that is

placed at floor level. Make sure the ball valve is in the closed

position. 

•

Use recommended coolant or equivalent. Refer to 

MA-18,

"FOR USA AND CANADA : Fluids and Lubricants"

 (United

States and Canada) or 

MA-20, "FOR MEXICO : Fluids and

Lubricants"

 (Mexico).

6. Install an air hose to the venturi assembly, the air pressure must

be within specification. 

CAUTION:

The compressed air supply must be equipped with an air dryer.

7. The vacuum gauge will begin to rise and there will be an audible hissing noise. During this process open

the ball valve on the refill hose slightly. Rising coolant will be visible in the refill hose. After the refill hose is

full of coolant, close the ball valve. This will purge air trapped in the refill hose.

8. Continue to draw the vacuum until the gauge reaches 28 inches

of vacuum. The gauge may not reach 28 inches in high altitude

locations. Refer to the following table for expected vacuum read-

ings.   

9. When the vacuum gauge has reached the specified amount, disconnect the air hose and wait 20 seconds

to see if the system loses vacuum. If the vacuum level drops, perform necessary repairs to the system

and repeat steps 6 - 8 to bring the vacuum to the specified amount. Recheck for leaks. 

10. Place the coolant container (with the refill hose inserted) at the same level as the top of the radiator. Then

open the ball valve on the refill hose so the coolant will be drawn up to fill the cooling system. The cooling

system is full when the vacuum gauge reads zero.

CAUTION:

Do not allow the coolant container to get too low when filling, to avoid air from being drawn into

the cooling system. 

11. Remove the Tool from the radiator neck opening and install the radiator cap.
12. Remove the non-vented reservoir cap.
13. Fill the cooling system reservoir tank to the specified level. Run the engine to warm up the cooling system

and top up the system as necessary before installing the vented reservoir cap.

14. Install the engine under cover or skid plate. Refer to 

EXT-15, "Removal and Installation"

.

FLUSHING COOLING SYSTEM

1. Drain the water from the engine cooling system. Refer to 

CO-12, "Changing Engine Coolant"

.

Tool number

: KV991J0070 (J-45695)

Cooling system capacity 
(with reservoir)

: Refer to 

CO-32, "Stan-

dard and Limit"

.

Compressed air 
supply pressure

: 549 - 824 kPa (5.6 - 8.4 kg/cm

2

, 

80 - 119 psi)

LLIA0058E

Altitude above sea level

Vacuum gauge reading

0 - 100 m (328 ft)

: 28 inches of vacuum

300 m (984 ft)

: 27 inches of vacuum

500 m (1,641 ft)

: 26 inches of vacuum

1,000 m (3,281 ft)

: 24 - 25 inches of vacuum

LLIA0057E

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CO-16

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ENGINE COOLANT

2. Fill the radiator and the reservoir tank (to the “MAX” line), with water. Reinstall the radiator cap and leave

the vented reservoir cap off.

3. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.
4. Press the engine accelerator two or three times under no-load.
5. Stop the engine and wait until it cools down.
6. Drain the water from the engine cooling system. Refer to 

CO-12, "Changing Engine Coolant"

.

7. Repeat steps 2 through 6 until clear water begins to drain from the radiator.

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RADIATOR

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REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

RADIATOR

Exploded View

INFOID:0000000007357909

Removal and Installation

INFOID:0000000007357910

WARNING:

Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot. Serious burns could occur from high pressure

engine coolant escaping from the radiator. Wrap a thick cloth around the cap. Slowly turn it a quarter

of a turn to release built-up pressure. Carefully remove radiator cap by turning it all the way.

NOTE:

When removing components such as hoses, tubes/lines, etc., cap or plug openings to prevent fluid from spill-

ing.

REMOVAL

1. Remove engine under cover. Refer to 

EXT-15, "Removal and Installation"

2. Drain engine coolant from radiator. Refer to 

CO-11

.

1.

Upper mount bracket

2.

Mounting rubber (upper)

3.

Radiator cap

4.

Radiator

5.

Mounting rubber (lower)

6.

A/T fluid cooler hose

7.

A/T fluid cooler hose

8.

O-ring

9.

Drain plug

10. Cooling fan assembly

11. Radiator shroud (upper)

12. Radiator hose (lower)

13. Radiator shroud (lower)

14. Reservoir tank hose

15. Reservoir tank cap

16. Reservoir tank

17. Water hose

18. Radiator hose (upper)

A.

To heater return tube

B.

To water pipe

C.

To A/T cooler tube

D.

To water inlet and thermostat assembly

Vehicle front

AWBIA1010GB

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CO-18

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RADIATOR

CAUTION:

• Perform this step when engine is cold.

• Do not spill engine coolant on drive belts.

3. Remove engine room cover (if equipped). Refer to 

EM-25, "Removal and Installation"

.

4. Remove air duct and resonator assembly and air cleaner case (upper). Refer to 

EM-26, "Removal and

Installation"

.

5. Remove reservoir tank hose.
6. Remove radiator hoses (upper and lower).

CAUTION:

Be careful not to allow engine coolant to contact drive belts.

7. Disconnect A/T fluid cooler hoses.
8. Remove radiator shroud (lower).
9. Remove radiator shroud (upper).
10. Remove engine cooling fan (Motor driven type). Refer to 

CO-21, "Removal and Installation (Motor driven

type)"

.

11. Remove front grille. Refer to 

EXT-20, "Removal and Installation"

.

12. Remove the upper mount bracket bolts.

13. Remove the two A/C condenser bolts.

14. Remove radiator as follows:

CAUTION:

Do not damage or scratch A/C condenser and radiator core when removing.

a. Lift and pull radiator rearward to disengage rubber mounting

(lower) from radiator core support center.

CAUTION:

Because A/C condenser is attached to the front-lower por-

tion of radiator, moving it in the rear direction should be at a

minimum.

LBIA0419E

LBIA0421E

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RADIATOR

CO-19

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b. Lift A/C condenser up and remove radiator after disengaging the

fitting at front-bottom surface.

CAUTION:

Lifting A/C condenser should be minimum to prevent a load

to A/C piping.

c. After removing radiator, put A/C condenser on radiator core cen-

ter support and temporarily fasten it to prevent overloading the

A/C piping. 

INSTALLATION

Installation is in the reverse order of removal.

INSPECTION AFTER INSTALLATION

• Check for engine coolant leaks. Refer to 

CO-11, "System Inspection"

.

• Start and warm up engine. Visually check for coolant and A/T fluid leaks. Repair as necessary.

• Check and adjust engine coolant level and A/T fluid (if equipped). Refer to 

MA-18, "FOR USA AND CAN-

ADA : Fluids and Lubricants"

 (United States and Canada) or  

MA-20, "FOR MEXICO : Fluids and Lubricants"

(Mexico).

PBIC1054E

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CO-20

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ENGINE COOLING FAN

ENGINE COOLING FAN

Exploded View

INFOID:0000000007357912

Crankshaft Driven Type

Removal and Installation (Crankshaft driven type)

INFOID:0000000007357913

WARNING:

Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot. Serious burns could occur from high pressure

engine coolant escaping from the radiator. Wrap a thick cloth around the cap. Slowly turn it a quarter

of a turn to release built-up pressure. Carefully remove radiator cap by turning it all the way.

NOTE:

When removing components such as hoses, tubes/lines, etc., cap or plug openings to prevent fluid from spill-

ing.

REMOVAL

1. Remove the engine cooling fan (Motor driven type). Refer to 

CO-21, "Removal and Installation (Motor

driven type)"

.

2. Remove the drive belt. Refer to 

EM-14, "Removal and Installation"

.

3. Remove the engine cooling fan.
4. Remove the fan coupling, if necessary.
5. Remove the cooling fan pulley, if necessary.
6. Remove the drive belt auto-tensioner, if necessary. 
7. Remove the fan bracket, if necessary.

INSPECTION AFTER REMOVAL

Fan Coupling

• Inspect fan coupling for oil leaks and bimetal corrosion conditions.

• If there are concerns, replace the fan coupling.

Fan Bracket

AWBIA1124GB

1.

Cooling fan

2.

Fan coupling

3.

Fan bracket

4.

Cooling fan pulley

5.

Stud

F.

Front mark

SLC072

August 2012

2012 Pathfinder