heating NISSAN MAXIMA 1998 A32 / 4.G Owners Manual

IThe air conditioner cooling function
operates only when the engine is run-
ning.
IDo not leave children, unreliable
adults, or pets alone in your vehicle.
On hot, sunny days, temperatures in
a closed vehicle could quickly be-
come high enough to cause severe or
possibly fatal injuries to people or
animals.
IDo not use the recirculation mode for
long periods as it may cause the
interior air to become stale and the
windows to fog up.
IPositioning of the heating or air con-
ditioning controls should not be
done while driving, in order that full
attention may be given to the driving
operation.
CONTROLS
Fan control dialThis dial turns the fan on and off, and controls
fan speed.Air flow control buttonsThese buttons allow you to select the air flow
outlets.
Ð Air flows from center and side venti-
lators.Ð Air flows from center and side venti-
lators and foot outlets.Ð Air flows mainly from foot outlets.Ð Air flows from defroster outlets and
foot outlets.Ð Air flows mainly from defroster out-
lets.
Temperature control leverThis lever allows you to adjust the temperature
of the outlet air.
SAA0042A
HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER (Manual)
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Air recirculation buttonOFF position:
Outside air is drawn into the passenger com-
partment.
Use the off position for normal heater, or air
conditioner operation.
ON position (Indicator light ON):
Interior air is recirculated inside the vehicle.
Push the air recirculation button to the ON
position when driving on a dusty road or to
avoid traffic fumes and for maximum cooling
when using the air conditioner.Air conditioning buttonThis button is provided only for vehicles with
air conditioner.
Start the engine, move the fan control dial to
the desired (1 to 4) position and push the air
conditioning button to turn on the air condi-
tioner. The indicator light will come on when
the air conditioner is on. To stop the air con-
ditioner, push the switch again to return it to
the original position.
The air conditioner cooling function oper-
ates only when the engine is running.
HEATER OPERATION
HeatingThis mode is used to direct hot air from the
floor outlets. Some air will also come from the
defrost vents.
1. Push the air recirculation button to the OFF
position for normal heating.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Turn on the fan control dial.
4. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position between the middle and
the HOT position.
For quick heating, move the air recirculation
button to the ON position. Be sure to return the
air recirculation button to the OFF position for
normal heating.
VentilationThis mode directs outside air from the side and
center vents.
1. Push the air recirculation button to the OFF
position.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Turn on the fan control dial.4. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
Defrosting or defoggingThis mode is used to defrost/defog the win-
dows.
1. Push the
button in.
2. Turn on the fan control dial.
3. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position between the middle and
the HOT position.
ITo quickly remove ice or fog from the
windows, turn on the fan control dial to 4
and the temperature control lever to the full
HOT position.
IWhen thebutton is pushed, the air
conditioner will automatically be turned on
to defog the windshield, and the air recircu-
late mode will automatically be turned off.
Outside air is drawn into the passenger
compartment to improve the defogging per-
formance.
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Bi-level heatingThis mode directs outside air from the side and
center vents and hot air from the floor outlets.
1. Push the air recirculation button to the OFF
position.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Turn on the fan control dial.
4. Normally move the temperature control le-
ver to the midpoint between HOT and
COLD.
Heating and defoggingThis mode heats the interior and defogs the
windshield.
1. Push the
button in.
2. Turn on the fan control dial.
3. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position between the middle and
the HOT position.
Operating tipsIClear snow and ice from the wiper
blades and air inlet in front of the wind-
shield. This will improve heater opera-
tion.
IWhen the
button is pushed, the air
recirculate mode will automatically be
turned off.
Outside air is drawn into the passenger
compartment to improve the defogging per-
formance.
AIR CONDITIONER OPERATIONStart the engine, move the fan control dial to
the desired (1 to 4) position and push in the air
conditioning button to activate the air condi-
tioner. When the air conditioner is on, cooling
and dehumidifying functions will be added to
the heater operation.CoolingThis mode is used to cool and dehumidify.
1. Push the air recirculation button to the OFF
position.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Turn on the fan control dial.
4. Push on the air conditioning button. The
indicator light will come on.
5. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
For quick cooling when the outside tempera-
ture is high, move the air recirculation button to
the ON position. Be sure to return the air
recirculation button to the OFF position for
normal cooling.
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Dehumidified heatingThis mode is used to heat and dehumidify.
1. Push the air recirculation button to the OFF
position.
2. Push the
button in.
3. Turn on the fan control dial.
4. Push on the air conditioning button. The
indicator light will come on.
5. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
Dehumidified defoggingThis mode is used to defog the windows and
dehumidify.
1. Push the
button in.
2. Turn on the fan control dial.
3. Push on the air conditioning button. The
indicator light will come on.
4. Move the temperature control lever to the
desired position.
When thebutton is pushed, the air con-
ditioner will automatically be turned on to de-
fog the windshield, and the air recirculate
mode will automatically be turned off.Outside air is drawn into the passenger com-
partment to improve the defogging perfor-
mance.
Operating tipsIKeep the windows and sun roof closed
while the air conditioner is in operation.
IAfter parking in the sun, drive for 2 or 3
minutes with the windows open to vent hot
air from the passenger compartment. Then,
close the windows. This will allow the air
conditioner to cool the interior more quickly.
IThe air conditioning system should be
operated for about 10 minutes at least
once a month. This helps prevent dam-
age to the system due to lack of lubrica-
tion.
IIf the coolant temperature gauge exceeds
the HOT position, turn the air conditioning
off. For additional information, see ªIf your
vehicle overheatsº in the ª6. In case of
emergencyº section.
AIR FLOW CHARTSThe chart below shows the button and lever
positions formaximum and quickheating,
cooling or defrosting.
The air recirculation button should be in
the OFF position for normal cooling, heat-
ing and defrosting.
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IThe air conditioner cooling function
operates only when the engine is run-
ning.
IDo not leave children, unreliable
adults, or pets alone in your vehicle.
On hot, sunny days, temperatures in
a closed vehicle could quickly be-
come high enough to cause severe or
possibly fatal injuries to people or
animals.
IDo not use the recirculation mode for
long periods as it may cause the
interior air to become stale and the
windows to fog up.
IPositioning of the heating or air con-
ditioning controls should not be done
while driving, in order that full atten-
tion may be given to the driving
operation.Start the engine and operate the controls to
activate the air conditioner.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION
Cooling and/or dehumidified heating
(AUTO)This mode may be normally used all year
round as the system automatically works to
keep a constant temperature. Air flow distribu-
tion and fan speed are also controlled auto-
matically.
1. Push the AUTO button on. (AUTO will be
displayed.)
2. Push the temperature set button
or
to set the desired tempera-
ture.
IAdjust the temperature set button to about
75ÉF (24ÉC) for normal operation.
IThe temperature of the passenger compart-
ment will be maintained automatically. Air
flow distribution and fan speed are also
controlled automatically.
Heating (ECON)The air conditioner does not activate. When
you need to heat only, use this mode.
1. Push the ECON (Economy) button on.
(ECON will be displayed.)
2. Push the temperature set button
or
to set the desired tempera-
ture.
IThe temperature of the passenger compart-
ment will be maintained automatically. Air
flow distribution and fan speed are also
controlled automatically.
IDo not set the temperature lower than the
outside air temperature. Otherwise the sys-
tem may not work properly.
INot recommended if windows fog up.
Dehumidified defogging1. Push the DEF button
on. (The indica-
tor light on the button will come on.)
2. Push the temperature set button
or
to set the desired tempera-
ture.
ITo quickly remove ice or fog from the
outside of the windows, push the manual
fan control button
and set to the maxi-
mum position
.
IAs soon as possible after the windshield is
clean, push the AUTO button to return to
the auto mode.
IWhen the DEF button
is pushed, the
air conditioner will automatically be turned
on at outside temperatures above 35ÉF
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4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key.INever leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
INever leave children unattended in
the vehicle.
The power assisted steering is designed to
use a hydraulic pump, driven by the engine, to
assist steering.
If the engine stops or drive belt breaks, you will
still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, espe-
cially in sharp turns or at low speeds.If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for the
steering will not work. Steering will be
much harder to operate.
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit develops a problem, you
will still have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brake
The brake booster aids braking by using en-
gine vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop
the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal.
However, greater foot pressure on the brake
pedal will be required to stop the vehicle and
the stopping distance will be longer.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result,
your braking distance will be longer and the
vehicle may pull to one side during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to
heat-up the brakes. Do this until the brakes
return to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at
high speeds until the brakes function correctly.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This overheats the brakes, in-
creases wear on the brake linings and pads,
and reduces gas mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving
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7. After starting your engine, carefully discon-
nect the negative cable and then the posi-
tive cable.
8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped). Be
sure to dispose of the cloth used to cover
the vent holes as it may be contaminated
with corrosive acid.
IAutomatic transmission models can-
not be push started. This may cause
transmission damage.
IThree way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three way catalyst may be
damaged.
INever try to start the vehicle by tow-
ing it; when the engine starts, the
forward surge could cause the ve-
hicle to collide with the tow vehicle.
IDo not continue to drive if your ve-
hicle overheats. Doing so could
cause a vehicle fire.
ITo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator cap while
the engine is still hot. When the radia-
tor cap is removed, pressurized hot
water will spurt out, possibly causing
serious injury.
IDo not open the hood if steam is
coming out.If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading), or
if you feel a lack of engine power, detect
abnormal noise, etc., take the following steps:
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply
the parking brake and move the shift lever
to the N (Neutral) position (automatic trans-
mission to the P (Park) position).
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner switch. Open all
the windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum hot
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency
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and fan control to high speed.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climbing
a long hill on a hot day, run the engine at a
fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm) until the
temperature gauge indication returns to
normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. Wait until no
steam or coolant can be seen before pro-
ceeding.
5. Open the engine hood.If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.6. Visually check if the cooling fan is running.
The radiator hoses and radiator should not
leak water.
If coolant is leaking or the cooling fan does
not run, stop the engine.
IBe careful not to allow your hands,
hair, jewelry or clothing to come into
contact with, or to get caught in the
cooling fan, or drive belt.
IThe fan motor can start at any time
when the coolant temperature is high.7. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the reservoir tank with the
engine running. Add coolant to the reservoir
tank if necessary. Have your vehicle re-
paired at the nearest NISSAN dealer.When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial
in Canada) and local regulations for towing
must be followed. Incorrect towing equipment
could damage your vehicle. Towing instruc-
tions are available from your
NISSAN dealer. Local service operators are
generally familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper tow-
ing and to prevent accidental damage to your
vehicle, NISSAN recommends having a ser-
vice operator tow your vehicle. It is advisable
to have the service operator carefully read the
following precautions.
INever ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
INever get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.IWhen towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system,
and powertrain are in working condi-
tion. If any unit is damaged, dollies
must be used.TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
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5. See ªCapacities and recommended
fuel/lubricantsº in the ª10. Technical and
consumer informationº section for cooling
system capacity. Fill the radiator slowly with
the proper mixture of coolant and water. Fill
the reservoir tank up to the MAX level. Then
install the radiator cap.
6. Start the engine, and warm it up until the
radiator fan operates. Then race the engine
two or three times under no load. Watch the
coolant temperature gauge for signs of
overheating.
7. Stop the engine. After it completely cools
down, refill the radiator up to the filler
opening. Fill the reservoir tank up to the
MAX level.
8. Check the radiator drain plug and the drain
plug on the engine block for any sign of
leakage.
SDI0138
Do-it-yourself
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NISSAN supports efforts towards cleaner air
and suggests that you use reformulated gaso-
line when available.Gasoline containing oxygenatesSome fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing
oxygenates such as ethanol, MTBE and
methanol with or without advertising their pres-
ence. NISSAN does not recommend the use of
fuels of which the oxygenate content and the
fuel compatibility for your NISSAN cannot be
readily determined. If in doubt, ask your ser-
vice station manager.
If you use oxygenate-blend gasoline, please
take the following precautions as the usage of
such fuels may cause vehicle performance
problems and/or fuel system damage.
IThe fuel should be unleaded and have
an octane rating no lower than that rec-
ommended for unleaded gasoline.
IIf an oxygenate-blend, excepting a
methanol blend, is used, it should con-
tain no more than 10% oxygenate.
(MTBE may, however, be added up to
15%.)
IIf a methanol blend is used, it should
contain no more than 5% methanol (me-
thyl alcohol, wood alcohol). It shouldalso contain a suitable amount of appro-
priate cosolvents and corrosion inhibi-
tors. If not properly formulated with ap-
propriate cosolvents and corrosion
inhibitors, such methanol blends may
cause fuel system damage and/or ve-
hicle performance problems. At this
time, sufficient data is not available to
ensure that all methanol blends are suit-
able for use in NISSAN vehicles.
If any undesirable driveability problems such
as engine stalling and hard hot starting are
experienced after using oxygenate-blend fu-
els, immediately change to a non-oxygenate
fuel or a fuel with a low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during refu-
eling. Gasoline containing oxygenates can
cause paint damage.
Aftermarket fuel additivesNISSAN does not recommend the use of any
fuel additives (i.e. fuel injector cleaner, octane
booster, intake valve deposit removers, etc.)
which are sold commercially. Many of these
additives intended for gum, varnish or deposit
removal may contain active solvent or similar
ingredients that can be harmful to the fuel
system and engine.
Octane rating tipsIn most parts of North America, you should use
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at
least 87 or 91 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number.
However, you may use unleaded gasoline with
an octane rating as low as 85 AKI number in
these high altitude areas [over 4,000 ft (1,219
m)] such as: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico,
Utah, Wyoming, northeastern Nevada, south-
ern Idaho, western South Dakota, western
Nebraska, and that part of Texas which is
directly south of New Mexico.
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than stated above can cause
persistent, heavy spark knock. (Spark
knock is a metallic rapping noise.) If se-
vere, this can lead to engine damage. If you
detect a persistent heavy spark knock even
when using gasoline of the stated octane
rating, or if you hear steady spark knock
while holding a steady speed on level
roads, have your dealer correct the condi-
tion. Failure to correct the condition is
misuse of the vehicle, for which NISSAN is
not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing will result in knocking,
after-run or overheating. This in turn may
cause excessive fuel consumption or damageTechnical and consumer information
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