suspension NISSAN MAXIMA 2001 A33 / 5.G Owners Manual

Supplemental front air bags along with the use
of seat belts, helps to cushion the impact force
on the face and chest of the front occupants.
They can help save lives and reduce serious
injuries. However, an inflating front air bag
may cause facial abrasions or other injuries.
Front air bags do not provide restraint to the
lower body.
The seat belts should be correctly worn and
the driver and passenger seated upright as far
as practical away from the steering wheel or
dash board. Since the supplemental front air
bags inflates quickly in order to help protect
the front occupants, the force of the front air
bag inflating can increase the risk of injury if
the occupant is too close to or is against the air
bag module during inflation. The air bag will
deflate quickly after the collision is over.
After turning the ignition key to the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7
seconds if the system is operational.
WARNING
IDo not place any objects on the steer-
ing wheel pad or on the instrumentpanel. Also, do not place any objects
between any occupant and the steer-
ing wheel or instrument panel. Such
objects may become dangerous pro-
jectiles and cause injury if the supple-
mental front air bag inflates.
IRight after inflation, several air bag
system components will be hot. Do
not touch them; you may severely
burn yourself.
INo unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the supplemental front air bag sys-
tem. This is to prevent accidental
inflation of the air bag or damage to
the air bag system.
IDo not make unauthorized changes
to your vehicle's electrical system,
suspension system or front end
structure. This could affect proper
operation of the supplemental air bag
system.
ITampering with the supplemental
front air bag system may result inserious personal injury. Tampering
includes changes to the steering
wheel and the instrument panel as-
sembly by placing material over the
steering wheel pad, above the dash-
board, or by installing additional trim
material around the air bag system.
IWork around and on the supplemen-
tal front air bag system should be
done by an authorized NISSAN
dealer. Installation of electrical equip-
ment should also be done by an au-
thorized NISSAN dealer. The SRS wir-
ing harnesses* should not be
modified or disconnected. Unautho-
rized electrical test equipment and
probing devices should not be used
on the air bag system.
* The SRS wiring harnesses are cov-
ered with yellow insulation either just
before the harness connectors or
over the complete harness for easy
identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the supplemental front
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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seconds if the system is operational.
WARNING
IDo not place any objects near the
seatback of the front seats. Also, do
not place any objects (an umbrella,
bag, etc.) between the front door fin-
isher and the front seat. Such objects
may become dangerous projectiles
and cause injury if the supplemental
side air bag inflates.
IRight after inflation, several supple-
mental side air bag system compo-
nents will be hot. Do not touch them;
you may severely burn yourself.
INo unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of
the supplemental side air bag sys-
tem. This is to prevent accidental
inflation of the side air bag or damage
to the side air bag system.
IDo not make unauthorized changes
to your vehicle's electrical system,
suspension system or side panel.This could affect proper operation of
the supplemental side air bag sys-
tem.
ITampering with the supplemental
side air bag system may result in
serious personal injury. Tampering
includes changes to the front seats
assembly by placing material near
the seatback of the front seat, or by
installing additional trim material,
such as seat covers, around the side
air bag system.
IWork around and on the supplemen-
tal side air bag system should be
done by an authorized NISSAN
dealer. Installation of electrical equip-
ment should also be done by an au-
thorized NISSAN dealer. The SRS wir-
ing harnesses* should not be
modified or disconnected. Unautho-
rized electrical test equipment and
probing devices should not be used
on the side air bag system.
* The SRS wiring harnesses are cov-
ered with yellow insulation either justbefore the harness connectors or
over the complete harness for easy
identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that you
inform the buyer about the supplemental side
air bag system and guide the buyer to the
appropriate sections in this Owner's Manual.
Pre-tensioner seat belt system (For
front seats)
WARNING
IThe pre-tensioner seat belt cannot be
reused after activation. It must be
replaced together with the retractor
as a unit.
IIf the vehicle becomes involved in a
frontal collision but the pre-tensioner
is not activated, be sure to have the
pre-tensioner system checked and, if
necessary, replaced by your NISSAN
dealer.
INo unauthorized changes should be
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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CAUTION
INever tow automatic transmission
models with the front wheels on theground or four wheels on the ground
(forward or backward) as this may
cause serious and expensive damage
to the transmission.
If it is necessary to tow the vehicle
with the rear wheels raised, always
use towing dollies under the front
wheels.
IWhen towing automatic transmission
models with the front wheels on tow-
ing dollies, or when towing manual
transmission models with the front
wheels on the ground:
ITurn the ignition key to the OFF
position, and secure the steering
wheel in a straight ahead position
with a rope or similar device.
Never secure the steering wheel
by turning the ignition key to the
LOCK position. This may damage
the steering lock mechanism.
IMove the gearshift lever to the N
(Neutral) position.
IWhen towing automatic or manualtransmission models with the rear
wheels on the ground (if you do not
use towing dollies): Always release
the parking brake.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (Freeing a
stuck vehicle)ITow chains or cables must be attached only
to the main structural members of the ve-
hicle.
IPulling devices should be routed so they do
not touch any part of the suspension, steer-
ing, brake or cooling systems.
IAlways pull the cable straight out from the
front or rear of the vehicle. Never pull on the
vehicle at an angle.
IPulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
IStand clear of an stuck vehicle.
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In case of emergency
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specified for use over clear coats, such as
Nissan Liquid or Spray Wax. Your Nissan
dealer can assist you in choosing the proper
product.
IWax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
IDo not use a wax containing any abrasives,
cutting compounds or cleaners that may
damage the vehicle finish.
IIf the surface does not polish easily, use a
road tar remover and wax again.
Machine compounding or aggressive pol-
ishing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.REMOVING SPOTSRemove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, in-
sects, and tree sap as quickly as possible from
the surface of the paint to avoid lasting dam-
age or staining. Special cleaning products are
available at your NISSAN dealer or any auto-
motive accessory store.UNDERBODYIn areas where road salt is used in winter, the
underbody must be cleaned regularly. This will
prevent dirt and salt from building up andcausing underbody and suspension corrosion.
Before the winter period and again in the
spring, the underseal must be checked and, if
necessary, re-treated.
GLASSWhen cleaning the rear window, it may be
easier to clean if the high-mounted stop light is
removed first.
Be careful when removing the high-mounted
stop light to reduce the risk of damaging the
high-mounted stop light wires.
The high-mounted stop light must be properly
reinstalled before driving your vehicle.
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust
film from the glass surfaces. It is normal for
glass to become coated with a film after the
vehicle is parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner
SAI0014A
Appearance and care
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Schedule 1Abbreviations: I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary.MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or
months, whichever comes first.Miles x 1,000 3.8 7.5 11.3 15 18.8 22.5 26.3 30 33.8 37.5 41.3 45 48.8 52.5 56.3 60
(km x 1,000) (6) (12) (18) (24) (30) (36) (42) (48) (54) (60) (66) (72) (78) (84) (90) (96)
Months 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48Chassis and body maintenanceBrake lines & cablesIIII
Brake pads & rotorsIIIIIIII
Manual transaxle oil or automatic
transaxle fluidSee NOTE (1).IIII
Steering gear & linkage, axle & suspension partsIIIIIIII
Tire rotation See NOTE (3).
Exhaust systemIIIIIIII
Front drive shaft bootsIIIIIIII
Supplemental air bag system and supplemental
side air bag systemsSee NOTE (2).
Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) vacuum hosesIIIINOTE: (1) If towing a trailer, using a camper or a car-top carrier, or driving on rough or muddy roads, change (not just inspect) oil at
every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months.
(2) Inspect the supplemental air bag systems 10 years after the date of manufacture noted on the F.M.V.S.S. certification label.
(3) Refer to ªTire rotationº under the ªGeneral maintenanceº heading earlier in this section.
Maintenance
9-7
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Schedule 2Abbreviations: I = Inspect. Correct or replace if necessary.MAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or
months, whichever comes first.Miles x 1,000 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60
(km x 1,000) (12) (24) (36) (48) (60) (72) (84) (96)
Months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48Chassis and body maintenanceBrake lines & cablesIIII
Brake pads & rotorsIIII
Manual transaxle oil & automatic transaxle fluidIIII
Steering gear & linkage, axle & suspension parts I I
Tire rotation See NOTE (2).
Exhaust systemII
Front drive shaft bootsIIII
Supplemental air bag system and supple-
mental side air bag systemsSee NOTE (1).
Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD) vacuum hosesIIIINOTE: (1) Inspect the supplemental air bag systems 10 years after the date of manufacture noted on the F.M.V.S.S. certification label.
(2) Refer to ªTire rotationº under the ªGeneral maintenanceº heading earlier in this section.
Maintenance
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EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMSAdditional information on the following
items with ª*º is found in the ª8. Do-it-
yourselfº section.Emission control system
maintenanceDrive belts*:Check drive belts for wear, fray-
ing or cracking and also for proper tension.
Replace the drive belts if found damaged.
Air cleaner filter:Under normal driving con-
ditions, the air cleaner filter should be replaced
in accordance with the maintenance schedule.
However, driving the vehicle in dusty areas
may cause more rapid clogging of the element.
Consequently, the element may have to be
replaced more frequently.
EVAP vapor lines:Check EVAP vapor lines
and connections for failure or looseness. If
leaks are found, replace them.
Fuel lines:Check the fuel hoses, piping and
connections for leaks, looseness or deteriora-
tion. Replace any parts if they are damaged.
Engine coolant*:Drain and flush the cooling
system.
Engine oil & oil filter*:Under normal drivingconditions, the engine oil and oil filter should
be replaced in accordance with the mainte-
nance schedule. However, under severe driv-
ing conditions, they may have to be replaced
more frequently.
Spark plugs*:Replace with new plugs having
the correct heat range.
Intake & exhaust valve clearance:Check the
valve clearance if valve noise increases.
Chassis and body maintenanceBrake lines & cables:Check the brake lines
and hoses (including brake booster vacuum
hoses, connections & check valve) and park-
ing brake cables for proper attachment, leaks,
cracks, chafing, abrasion, deterioration, etc.
Brake pads & rotors:Check these and the
other neighboring brake components for wear,
deterioration and leaks. Under severe driving
conditions, they may have to be inspected
more frequently.
Manual transaxle oil & automatic transaxle
fluid*:Check the fluid level and visually in-
spect for signs of leakage.
Under severe driving conditions, the oil should
be replaced at the specified interval.
Steering gear & linkage, axle & suspension
parts, and front drive shaft boots:Check fordamage, looseness and leakage of oil or
grease. Under severe driving conditions, they
may have to be inspected more frequently.
Exhaust system:Visually check the exhaust
pipes, muffler, and hangers for proper attach-
ment, leaks, cracks, chafing, abrasion, dete-
rioration, etc. Under severe driving conditions,
inspection should be performed more fre-
quently.
Supplemental air bag, and supplemental
side air bag (if so equipped) systems:Main-
tenance for the supplemental air bags or
supplemental side air bags should be done by
an authorized NISSAN dealer.
Automatic Speed Control Device (ASCD)
vacuum hoses:Check vacuum hose (be-
tween ASCD actuator and ASCD pump) for
breakage, cracks or fracture.
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Maintenance
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trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if
it has an abnormal nose-up or nose-down
condition; check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other pos-
sible causes of either condition.
IAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shifts while driving.
IBe certain your rear view mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing be-
fore driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tipsIn order to gain skill and an understanding of
the vehicle's behavior, you should practice
turning, stopping and backing up in an area
which is free from traffic. Steering stability, and
braking performance will be somewhat differ-
ent than under normal driving conditions.
IAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
IAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
IAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
IAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
IAlways block the wheels on both vehicle
and trailer when parking. Parking on aslope is not recommended; however, if you
must do so, and if your vehicle is equipped
with automatic transmission, first block the
wheels and apply the parking brake, and
then move the transmission selector lever
into the P (Park) position. If you move the
selector lever to the P (Park) position be-
fore blocking the wheels and applying the
parking brake, transmission damage could
occur.
IWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, downshift
the transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
IIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioning
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
ITrailer towing requires more fuel than nor-
mal circumstances.
IAvoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km).
IHave your vehicle serviced more often thanat intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule.
IWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
ICrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being passed
by larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect
vehicle handling. If swaying does occur,
firmly grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually) re-
duce vehicle speed. This combination will
help stabilize the vehicle. Never increase
speed.
IBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember the length of the trailer
must also pass the other vehicle before you
can safely change lanes.
ITo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
fifth gear (manual transmission) or over-
drive (automatic transmission).10-18
Technical and consumer information
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