tow NISSAN MAXIMA 1997 A32 / 4.G Owners Manual

IYour brake system may not be work-
ing properly if the warning light is on.
Driving could be dangerous. If you
judge it to be safe, drive carefully to
the nearest service station for re-
pairs. Otherwise, have your vehicle
towed.
IPressing the brake pedal with the
engine stopped could increase your
stopping distance and braking will
require greater pedal effort as well as
greater pedal travel.
IIf the level is below the MINIMUM
mark on the brake fluid reservoir, do
not drive until the brake system has
been checked at a NISSAN dealer.
2. If the brake fluid level is correct:
Have the warning system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
orAnti-lock brake
warning light (If so
equipped)
If the light comes on while the engine is
running, it may indicate there is something
wrong with the anti-lock portion of the brake
system. Have the system checked by your
NISSAN dealer. However if the light illumi-
nates while starting the engine, it does not
indicate a system malfunction.
If an abnormality occurs in the system, the
anti-lock function will cease but the ordinary
brakes will continue to operate normally.
If the light comes on while you are driving,
contact your NISSAN dealer for repair.
Overdrive off indicator light
This light comes on when the overdrive switch
is pushed to the ªOFFº position.
However when the ignition key is in the ªONº or
ªSTARTº position and the overdrive switch is
not in the ªOFF
º position, the light will
illuminate for about 2 seconds and then turn
off. This means the system is operational.
Turn signal/hazard indicator
lights
The light flashes when the turn signal switch
lever or hazard switch is turned on.
High beam indicator light
(Blue)
This light comes on when the headlight high
beam is on and goes out when the low beam is
selected.
Cruise indicator light
The light comes on while the vehicle speed is
controlled by the cruise control system. If the
light flickers while the engine is running, it may
indicate there is something wrong with the
cruise control system. Have the system
checked by your NISSAN dealer.
Key reminder buzzer
The buzzer will sound if the driver side door is
opened while the key is left in the ignition
switch (ignition switch is turned off). Remove
the key and take it with you when leaving the
vehicle.
Light reminder buzzer
A buzzer will sound when the driver side door
is opened if the light switch is turned on
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(ignition switch is turned off).
Turn the light switch off when you leave the
vehicle.
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear warn-
ings. When a brake pad requires replacement,
it will make a high pitched scraping sound
when the vehicle is in motion whether or not
the brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the warning
sound is heard.
orMalfunction
indicator light
(MIL)
If the Malfunction indicator light comes on
steady or blinks while the engine is running, it
may indicate a potential emission control prob-
lem.
The Malfunction indicator light will come on in
one of two ways:
IMalfunction indicator light on steady Ð An
emission control system malfunction has
been detected. Have the vehicle inspected
by an authorized NISSAN dealer. You do
not need to have your vehicle towed to the
dealer.IMalfunction indicator light blinking Ð An
engine misfire has been detected which
may damage the emission control system.
To reduce or avoid emission control system
damage:
* do not drive at speeds above 45 MPH (72
km/h).
* avoid hard acceleration or deceleration.
* avoid steep uphill grades.
* if possible, reduce the amount of cargo
being hauled or towed.
The malfunction indicator light may stop
blinking and come on steady.
Have the vehicle inspected by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer. You do not need to
have your vehicle towed to the dealer.
Continued vehicle operation without
having the emission control system
checked and repaired as necessary
could lead to poor driveability, reduced
fuel economy, and possible damage to
the emission control system, which may
affect your warranty coverage.
Some conditions may cause the malfunctionindicator light to come on steady or blink.
Examples are as follows:
Ivehicle ran out of fuel, which caused the
engine to misfire.
Ifuel filler cap was left off or improperly
installed, allowing fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
If you suspect that you experienced one or
both of the above conditions, drive the vehicle
to an authorized NISSAN dealer and have the
vehicle inspected. Avoid any unnecessary di-
agnosis during the service by informing the
dealer of the conditions listed above that may
have occurred.
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The windshield wiper and washer operates
when the ignition key is in the ªACCº or ªONº
position.
Push the lever down to operate the wiper.
Intermittent operation can be adjusted from 3
to 21 seconds by turning the knob.
(Type B only)
Pull the lever toward you to operate the
washer. Then the wiper will also operate sev-
eral times.
The following could damage the washer
system:
IDo not operate the washer continu-
ously for more than 30 seconds.
IDo not operate the washer if the res-
ervoir tank is empty.
In freezing temperatures the washer so-
lution may freeze on the windshield and
obscure your vision which may lead to
an accident. Warm the windshield with
the defroster before you wash the
windshield.
SIC0176
WINDSHIELD WIPER AND
WASHER SWITCH
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Passing signal
Pulling the lever toward you will turn on the
headlight high beam.
Turn signal
Move the lever up or down to signal the turning
direction. When the turn is completed, the turn
signals cancel automatically.
Lane change signal
To indicate a lane change, move the lever up
or down to the point where lights begin flash-
ing.
The instrument brightness control operates
when the light switch is in the ª
ºor
ªº position.
Turn the control to adjust the brightness of
instrument panel lights (except clock) and
power window switch lights.
When the control is turned to the right until a
click sound is heard, the light intensity will be
at maximum. When the control is turned to the
left until a click sound is heard, the light will be
turned off.To turn the fog lights on, turn the headlight
switch to the ªº position, then turn the
switch to the ªº position. To turn them off,
turn the switch to the ªOFFº position.
The headlights must be on for the fog lights to
operate.
IC1284MAIC1292
INSTRUMENT BRIGHTNESS
CONTROLFRONT FOG LIGHT SWITCH (If so
equipped)
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involved in serious accidents.
The power window only operates when the
ignition key is in the ªONº position.
To open or close the window, push down or
pull up the switch and hold it. The main switch
(driver side switches) will open or close all the
windows.
Locking passenger's window
When the lock button is pushed in, only the
driver side window can be opened or closed.
Push it in again to cancel.
The passenger side switch will open or close
only the corresponding window. To open or
close the window, hold the switch down or up.
Automatic operation
To fully open the driver side window, com-
pletely push down the switch and release it; it
need not be held. The window will automati-
cally open all the way. To stop the window, just
pull up the switch toward the ªCLOSEº side.
A light press on the switch will cause the
window to open until the switch is released.
SIC0183SIC0184
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The master key can be used for all the locks.
Record the key number on the key number
plate and keep it in a safe place (such as your
wallet), NOT IN THE CAR. A key number plate
is supplied with your key. Keep the plate in a
safe place. NISSAN does not record key num-
bers so it is very important to keep track of
your key number plate.A key number is only necessary when you
have lost all keys and do not have one to
duplicate from. If you still have a key, this key
can be duplicated by your NISSAN dealer or a
lock smith shop.Locking front doors with key
To lock the door, turn the key towards the front
of the vehicle.
To unlock, turn it towards the rear.
Locking the front door will simultaneously lock
the other doors.
SPA0083SPA0084
KEYDOOR LOCKS
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Do not ride in a moving vehicle when the
seatback is reclined. This can be dan-
gerous. The shoulder belt will not be
against your body. In an accident you
could be thrown into it and receive neck
or other serious injuries. You could also
slide under the lap belt and receive se-
rious internal injuries.
For most effective protection when the
vehicle is in motion, the seat should be
upright. Always sit well back in the seatand adjust the seat belt properly.
2. Slowly pull the seat belt out of the retractor
and insert the tongue into the buckle until it
snaps.
The retractor is designed to lock during a
sudden stop or on impact. A slow pulling
motion will permit the belt to move, and
allow you some freedom of movement in
the seat.
3. Position the lap belt portionlow and snug
on the hipsas shown.
4. Pull the shoulder belt portion toward the
retractor to take up extra slack.
The front passenger side seat belt and rear
SPA0493PD1024M
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IThe exhaust gas and the exhaust sys-
tem are very hot. Keep people or
flammable materials away from the
exhaust pipe.
IDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.
IDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline seriously re-
duce the three way catalyst's ability
to help reduce exhaust pollutants.
IKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-
rich fuel flow into the converter, caus-
ing it to overheat. Do not keep driving
if the engine misfires, or if noticeable
loss of performance or other unusual
operating conditions are detected.
Have the vehicle inspected promptlyby an authorized NISSAN dealer.
IAvoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three way catalyst.
IDo not race the engine while warming
it up.
IDo not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss
of control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden steer-
ing maneuvers, because these driving prac-
tices could cause you to lose control of your
vehicle.As with any vehicle, a loss of con-
trol could result in a collision with other
vehicles or objects, or cause the vehicle to
rollover, particularly if the loss of control
causes the vehicle to slide sideways.Be
attentive at all times, and avoid driving when
tired. Never drive when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs (including prescription or
over-the-counter drugs which may cause
drowsiness). Always wear your seat belt as
outlined in the ªSeat Beltsº section of this
manual, and also instruct your passengers to
do so.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
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On automatic transmission models, the igni-
tion lock is designed so that the key cannot be
turned to ªLOCKº and removed until the selec-
tor lever is moved to the ªPº position.
When removing the key from the ignition,
make sure the selector lever is in the ªPº
position.
If the selector lever is not returned to ªPº
(Park), the key cannot be moved toward
LOCK.
When the key cannot be turned toward the
ªLOCKº position, proceed as follows to remove
the key:1) Move the selector lever into the ªPº posi-
tion.
2) Turn the ignition key slightly in the ªONº
direction.
3) Turn the key toward the ªLOCKº position.
4) Remove the key.
If the key is removed from the ignition switch,
the selector lever cannot be moved from ªPº
(Park).The selector lever can be moved if
the ignition switch is in the ªACCº position.
The selector lever can also be moved if the
ignition switch is in the ªONº position and
the foot brake pedal is depressed.
There is an ªOFFº position in between ªLOCKº
and ªACCº, although it does not show on the
lock cylinder. When the ignition is in ªOFFº the
steering wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn counter-
clockwise from the straight up position.To lock the steering wheel, remove the key.
To unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
Never remove the key while driving. If
the key is removed, the steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle and could
result in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
ªOFFº (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel.
ªACCº (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio when the engine is not
running.
ªONº Normal operating position (3)
This position turns on the ignition system and
the electrical accessories.
SSD0055
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During the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), follow
these recommendations for the future reliabil-
ity and economy of your new vehicle. Failure to
follow these recommendations may result in
vehicle damage or shortened engine life.
IDo not drive over 55 MPH (90 km/h) and do
not run the engine over 4,000 rpm. Avoid
driving for long periods at constant speed,
either fast or slow.
IDo not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
IAvoid quick starts.
IAvoid hard braking as much as possible.
IDo not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km).
IAccelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
IDrive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed will lower fuel
economy.
IAvoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a safe distance behind other ve-
hicles.
IUse a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
IAvoid unnecessary engine idling.IKeep your engine tuned up.
IFollow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
IKeep the tires inflated at the correct pres-
sure. Low pressure will increase tire wear
and waste fuel.
IKeep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment will cause not only tire
wear but also lower fuel economy.
IAir conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
IWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is
more economical to use the air conditioner
and leave the windows closed to reduce
drag.
SD1001M
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE ECONOMY HINTS
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