Nissan Pathfinder: Body Repair - Precaution

• Precautions
• Handling Precautions for Plastics
• Repairing High Strength Steel

Precautions Nissan Pathfinder 5th Gen

Precautions for Body Repair

WARNING:

• The repair information in this section is intended for trained body repair technicians who have attained a high level of skill and experience (e.g. ASE Collision Repair Certification, I-CAR Professional Development Program [PDP] training, etc.) in repairing collision damaged Nissan Pathfinder vehicles using appropriate tools and equipment. Performing repairs without the proper training, tools or equipment could damage the Nissan Pathfinder vehicle or cause personal injury or death to you or others.

• The information in this Body Repair Manual is a guideline for repairing collision damaged Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. However, this information cannot cover all possible ways that a vehicle can be damaged. As such, the body repair technician is responsible for making sure that the repair does not affect the structural integrity or safety of the Nissan Pathfinder vehicle. Improper repair of a damaged vehicle may result in a collision, property damage, personal injury or death.

• Nissan recommends using only new genuine Nissan replacement body parts. Use of used, salvaged or aftermarket body parts is not recommended by Nissan. Non-genuine Nissan components may affect the Nissan Pathfinder vehicle's structural integrity and crash safety performance, which could result in serious personal injury or death in an accident.

Precaution for Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) "AIR BAG" and "SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER"

The Supplemental Restraint System such as “AIR BAG” and “SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER”, used along with a front seat belt, helps to reduce the risk or severity of injury to the driver and front passenger for certain types of collisions.

Information necessary to service the system safely is included in the “SRS AIR BAG” and “SEAT BELT” sections of this Service Manual.

WARNING:

Always observe the following items for preventing accidental activation:

PRECAUTIONS WHEN USING POWER TOOLS (AIR OR ELECTRIC) AND HAMMERS

WARNING:

Always observe the following items for preventing accidental activation:

Handling Precautions for Plastics Nissan Pathfinder R53

Precautions For Plastics

CAUTION:

• When repairing and painting a portion of the body adjacent to plastic parts, consider their characteristics (influence of heat and solvent) and remove them if necessary or take suitable measures to protect them.

• Plastic parts should be repaired and painted using methods suiting the materials^, characteristics.

LOCATION OF PLASTIC PARTS

Repairing High Strength Steel Nissan Pathfinder

High Strength Steel (HSS)

High strength steel is used for body panels in order to reduce vehicle weight.

Accordingly, precautions in repairing automotive bodies made of high strength steel are described below:

Read the following precautions when repairing HSS:

1. Additional points to consider:

   • The repair of reinforcements (such as side members) by heating is not recommended since it may weaken the component. When heating is unavoidable, do not heat HSS parts above 550°C (1,022°F).

     

     Verify heating temperature with a thermometer.

     (Crayon-type and other similar type thermometers are appropriate.)

   • When straightening body panels, use caution in pulling any HSS panel. Because HSS is very strong, pulling may cause deformation in adjacent portions of the body. In this case, increase the number of measuring points and carefully pull the HSS panel.

     

   • When cutting HSS panels, avoid gas (torch) cutting if possible. Instead, use a saw to avoid weakening surrounding areas due to heat. If gas (torch) cutting is unavoidable, allow a minimum margin of 50 mm (1.97 in).

     

   • When welding HSS panels, use spot welding whenever possible in order to minimize weakening surrounding areas due to heat.

     

     If spot welding is impossible, use MAG. welding. Do not use gas (torch) for welding because it is inferior in welding strength.

   • The spot weld on HSS panels is harder than that of an ordinary steel panel.

     

     Therefore, when cutting spot welds on a HSS panel, use a low speed high torque drill (1,000 to 1,200 rpm) to increase drill bit durability and facilitate the operation.

2. Precautions in spot welding HSS

   

   This work should be performed under standard working conditions. Always note the following when spot welding HSS:

   • The electrode tip diameter must be sized properly according to the metal thickness.

   • The panel surfaces must fit flush to each other, leaving no gaps.

     

   • Follow the specifications for the proper welding pitch.

     

     Unit: mm (in)

     Thickness (T)	Minimum pitch (L)
     0.6 (0.024) 0.8 (0.031) 1.0 (0.039) 1.2 (0.047) 1.6 (0.063) 1.8 (0.071)	10 (0.39) or over 12 (0.47) or over 18 (0.71) or over 20 (0.79) or over 27 (1.06) or over 31 (1.22) or over

Handling of Ultra High Strength Steel Plate Parts

PROHIBITION OF CUT AND CONNECTION

Do not cut and join the lower lock pillar reinforcement (center pillar reinforcement inside frame parts) because its material is high strength steel plate (ultra high strength steel plate).

The center pillar reinforcement must be replaced if this part is damaged.

Welding of Ultra High Strength Steel

SPOT WELDING

Spot welding is limited to ultra high strength steel of (tensile strength: 980 MPa) according to the welding conditions listed below.

CAUTION:

• If the below welding conditions cannot be met, then perform plug welding.

PLUG WELDING

To weld ultra high strength steel of tensile strength 980 MPa or more, perform plug welding observing the welding hole diameter described in the manual.

CAUTION:

• To perform plug welding, use fuel mixture (Ar 80% + CO2 20%) for shielding gas of welder.

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