When this happens bleed the air again.
1. With the engine not started, turn steering wheel fully right to left several times. When fluid level is lowered,

refill reservoir. Repeat process until fluid level is stabilized.

2. Start the engine and turn the steering wheel fully to the right and left several times.

CAUTION:

Do not allow steering fluid reservoir tank to go below the MIN level line. Check tank frequently and

add fluid as needed.

NOTE:

When the vehicle is stationary or while the steering wheel is being turned slowly, some noise may be

heard from the oil pump or gear. This noise is normal and does not affect any system.

3. Run the engine at idle speed. Hold the steering wheel at each "locked" position for three seconds.

CAUTION:

LGIA0021E

SGIA0506E

2011 Pathfinder

ST-14

< PERIODIC MAINTENANCE >

POWER STEERING FLUID

Do not hold steering wheel in the locked position for more than 10 seconds. (There is the possibil-

ity that oil pump may be damaged.)

4. Repeat step 3 several times at about three second intervals.
5. Check for air bubbles, cloudy fluid and fluid leakage.
6. If air bubbles or cloudiness exists, perform steps 3 and 4 again until air bubbles and cloudiness do not

exist.

7. Stop the engine and check fluid level.

2011 Pathfinder

STEERING WHEEL

ST-15

< REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION >

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

STEERING WHEEL

On-Vehicle Inspection and Service

INFOID:0000000006247242

CHECKING CONDITION OF INSTALLATION

• Check the installation condition of the steering gear assembly, front suspension, axle and steering column.

• Check if movement exists when the steering wheel is pushed up and down, left and right and in the axial

direction.

• Check if the nuts for the steering gear assembly are loose. Refer to

ST-22, "Removal and Installation"

CHECKING STEERING WHEEL PLAY

1. Turn the tires straight ahead and start the engine. Lightly turn the steering wheel left and right to the point

where the tires start moving, and measure the distance that the outer circumference of the steering wheel

travels.

CHECKING NEUTRAL POSITION ON STEERING WHEEL

• Check the neutral position on the steering wheel after confirming the front wheel alignment is correct. Refer

FSU-7, "Front Wheel Alignment"

1. Turn the tires straight ahead, check if the steering wheel is in the neutral position.
2. If it is not in the neutral position, remove the steering wheel and reinstall it correctly on the steering stem,

within two teeth of the original position.

3. If the neutral position cannot be attained by repositioning the steering wheel within two teeth on the steer-

ing stem, loosen the tie-rod lock nuts of the steering outer sockets, then adjust the tie-rods by the same

amount in the opposite direction of the steering wheel.

CHECKING STEERING WHEEL TURNING FORCE

1. Park vehicle on a level, dry surface and set parking brake.
2. Start engine.
3. Bring the power steering fluid up to adequate operating temperature. Make sure the fluid temperature is

approximately 50

– 80

C (122

– 176

F).

4. Tires need to be inflated to specified pressure. Refer to

WT-54, "Tire"

End play of the axle direction for steering wheel

Refer to

ST-36, "Steering Wheel"

LGIA0024E

Steering wheel play on the outer circumference Refer to

ST-36, "Steering Wheel"

2011 Pathfinder

ST-16

< REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION >

STEERING WHEEL

5. Check steering wheel turning force using Tool when steering

wheel has been turned 360

from the neutral position.

6. If steering wheel turning force is out of specification, inspect the

following:

• Steering column. Refer to

ST-22, "Removal and Installation"

• Power steering oil pump. Refer to

ST-17, "On-Vehicle Inspec-

tion and Service"

7. If steering column and power steering oil pump meet specifications, inspect steering gear and replace as

necessary. Refer to

ST-22, "Removal and Installation"

CHECKING FRONT WHEEL TURNING ANGLE

When checking the front wheel turning angle, refer to

FSU-25, "Wheel Alignment (Unladen*1)"

Tool number

—

(J-44372)

Steering wheel
turning force

Refer to

ST-36, "Steering

Wheel"

WGIA0035E

2011 Pathfinder

POWER STEERING OIL PUMP

ST-17

< REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION >

POWER STEERING OIL PUMP

On-Vehicle Inspection and Service

INFOID:0000000006247243

CHECKING RELIEF OIL PRESSURE

CAUTION:

Before starting work, confirm that the belt tension is within specification. Refer to

EM-14, "Checking

Drive Belts"

(VQ40DE),

EM-153, "Checking Drive Belts"

(VK56DE).

1. Connect the Tool between the power steering oil pump dis-

charge connector and the high pressure hose, then bleed the air

from the hydraulic circuit with the shut-off valve fully open. Refer

ST-13, "Air Bleeding Hydraulic System"

2. Start the engine. Run the engine until the power steering fluid temperature in reservoir tank reaches 50 –

C (122 – 176

F).

CAUTION:

• Warm up the engine with the shut-off valve fully opened. If the engine is started with the shut-off

valve closed, fluid pressure in the power steering oil pump increases to maximum pressure.

This will raise fluid temperature excessively.

• Do not contact the belt with the hose while the engine is running.

3. With the engine at idle, close the shut-off valve and read the relief oil pressure.

CAUTION:

Do not close the shut-off valve of the pressure gauge for more than 10 seconds.

4. After measurement, open the shut-off valve slowly.

• If relief oil pressure is outside the specification, replace the power steering oil pump. Refer to

ST-24,

"Removal and Installation"

5. After inspection, disconnect the oil pressure gauge and oil pressure gauge adapter from the hydraulic cir-

cuit, then connect the power steering high pressure hose using new copper sealing washers. Add fluid

and bleed the air from the hydraulic circuit thoroughly. Refer to

ST-13, "Air Bleeding Hydraulic System"

CAUTION:

Do not reuse copper sealing washers.

Tool number:

Pressure gauge and shut-off valve

KV48103500
(J-26357 and J-26357-10)

Oil pump side

Connector A and O-
ring

KV48105300-4 and 5295262U10
(

—

)

Eye-bolt and O-ring

KV48105300-3 and 5295262U00
(

—

)

High pressure pip-
ing side

Connector B and O-
ring

KV48105300-1 and 5295262U00
(

—

)

Nut

KV48105300-2
(

—

)

WGIA0129E

Relief oil pressure

: Refer to

ST-37, "Oil Pump"

2011 Pathfinder

ST-18

< UNIT REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION >

STEERING WHEEL

UNIT REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

STEERING WHEEL

Removal and Installation

INFOID:0000000006247244

REMOVAL

1. Set the front wheels in the straight-ahead position.
2. Remove the driver air bag module. Refer to

SR-5, "Removal and Installation"

3. Disconnect the steering wheel switches and heated steering wheel connector.
4. Remove the steering wheel center nut.
5. Remove the steering wheel, using Tools.

6. Inspect the steering wheel near the puller holes for damage. If

damage is found, replace the steering wheel.

• Remove the steering wheel rear cover and steering wheel

switches, if required.

CAUTION:

Place a piece of tape across the spiral cable so it will not be

rotated out of position.

INSTALLATION

Installation is in the reverse order of removal.

• Align spiral cable correctly when installing steering wheel. Make

sure that the spiral cable is in the neutral position. The neutral

position is detected by turning left 2.5 revolutions from the right