NISSAN MAXIMA 2002 A33 / 5.G Owners Manual

MAXIMUM LOAD LIMITS
Maximum trailer loadsNever allow the total trailer load to exceed
1,000 lb (454 kg). The total trailer load equals
trailer weight plus its cargo weight. Towing
loads greater than 1,000 lb (454 kg) or using
improper towing equipment could adversely
affect vehicle handling, braking and perfor-
mance.
The ability of your vehicle to tow a trailer is not
only related to the maximum trailer loads, but
also the places you plan to tow. Tow weights
appropriate for level highway driving may have
to be reduced on very steep grades or in low
traction situations (for example, on slippery
boat ramps).
WARNING
Vehicle damage and/or personal injury
resulting from improper towing proce-
dures are not covered by NISSAN war-
ranties. A Nissan Trailer Towing Guide
(U.S. only) containing information on
trailer towing ability and the specialequipment required may be obtained
from an authorized NISSAN dealer.
Tongue loadKeep the tongue load between 9 and 11% of
the total trailer load. If the tongue load be-
comes excessive, rearrange cargo to allow for
proper tongue load.
Maximum gross vehicle weight/
maximum gross axle weightThe gross vehicle weight of the towing vehicle
must not exceed. GVWR shown on the
F.M.V.S.S. certification label. The gross ve-
hicle weight equals the combined weight of the
unloaded vehicle, passengers, luggage, hitch,
trailer tongue load and any other optional
equipment. In addition, front or rear gross axle
weight must not exceed GAWR shown on the
F.M.V.S.S. certification label.
TI1012M
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TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHART
Unit: lb (kg)
MAXIMUM
TOWING LOAD1,000 (454)
MAXIMUM
TONGUE LOAD110 (49)
TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitchChoose a proper hitch for your vehicle and
trailer. A genuine NISSAN trailer hitch is avail-
able from your NISSAN dealer (Canada only).
Make sure the trailer hitch is securely attached
to the vehicle, to help avoid personal injury or
property damage due to sway caused by
crosswinds, rough road surfaces or passing
trucks.
CAUTION
IDo not use axle-mounted hitches.
IThe hitch should not be attached to
or affect the operation of the impact-
absorbing bumper.IDo not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc. to install a
trailer hitch.
ITo reduce the possibility of additional
damage if your vehicle is struck from
the rear, where practical, remove the
hitch and/or receiver when not in use.
After the hitch is removed, seal the
bolt holes to prevent exhaust fumes,
water or dust from entering the pas-
senger compartment.
IRegularly check that all hitch mount-
ing bolts are securely mounted.
Tire pressuresIWhen towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle
tires to the recommended cold tire pressure
indicated on the tire placard (located on the
inside of the center console lid).
ITrailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in ac-
cordance with the trailer and tire manufac-
turers' specifications.Safety chainAlways use a suitable chain between yourvehicle and the trailer. The chain should be
crossed and should be attached to the hitch,
not to the vehicle bumper or axle. Be sure to
leave enough slack in the chain to permit
turning corners.
Trailer lightsTrailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. When wiring the vehicle for
towing, connect the stop and tail light pickup
into the vehicle electrical circuit at a point
between the sensor and stop light or light
switch.Trailer brakesIf your trailer is equipped with a braking sys-
tem, make sure it conforms to federal and/or
local regulations and that it is properly in-
stalled.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.Pre-towing tipsIBe certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloadedTechnical and consumer information
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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).9-18
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IAvoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
When towing a trailer, change oil in the
transmission more frequently. See the
ªService and Maintenance Guideº.DOT (Department Of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform
to federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TreadwearTreadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on tire wear rate when tested under
controlled conditions on specified government
test courses. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well
on the government course as a tire graded
100. However, relative tire performance de-
pends on actual driving conditions, and may
vary significantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.Traction AA, A, B and CThe traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphaltand concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to your ve-
hicle tires is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests, and does not in-
clude acceleration, cornering, hydro-
planing, or peak traction characteristics.Temperature A, B and CTemperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C. They represent a tire's resistance to
heat build-up, and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sus-
tained high temperature can cause tire mate-
rial to degenerate, reducing tire life. Excessive
temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a performance level
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of
performance on laboratory test wheels than
the minimum required by law.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING
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WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and pos-
sible tire failure.Your NISSAN is covered by the following
emission warranties.
For US:
IEmission Defects Warranty
IEmissions Performance Warranty
For Canada:
Emission Control System Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found with
other vehicle warranties in your Warranty In-
formation Booklet that comes with your
NISSAN. If you did not receive a Warranty
Information Booklet or it has become lost, you
may obtain a replacement by writing to:
INissan North America, Inc.
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 191
Gardena. CA. 90248-0191
INissan Canada Inc.
5290 Orbitor Drive
Mississauga, Ontario,
L4W 4Z5
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
(NHTSA)
in addition to no-
tifying NISSAN.
If
NHTSA
receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However,
NHTSA
cannot be-
come involved in individual problems be-
tween you, your dealer, or NISSAN.
To contact
NHTSA
, you may either call the
Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-
4236. If you reside in Hawaii, please call
808-836-0888. You may also write to:
NHTSA
, U.S. Department of Transporta-
tion, Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also
obtain other information about motor vehicle
safety from the Hotline.
You may notify NISSAN by contacting our
Consumer Affairs Department, toll-free, at
1-800-NISSAN-1.
In Hawaii call (808) 836-0888.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARRANTYREPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
(US only)
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Due to legal requirements in some states/
areas, your vehicle may be required to be in
what is called the ready condition for an
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of the emis-
sion control system.
The vehicle is set to the ready condition when
it is driven through certain driving patterns.
Usually, the ready condition can be obtained
by ordinary usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired
or the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may
be reset to a not ready condition. Before taking
the I/M test, drive the vehicle through the
following pattern to set the vehicle to the ready
condition. If you cannot or do not want to
perform the driving pattern, an NISSAN dealer
can conduct it for you.
WARNING
Always drive the vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner according to traffic con-
ditions, and obey all traffic laws.
1. Start the engine when the engine coolant
temperature gauge needle points to C. Al-
low the engine to idle until the gauge needlepoints between the C and H (normal oper-
ating temperature).
2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88
km/h), then quickly release the accelerator
pedal completely and keep it released for at
least 6 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a
moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed
of 53 to 60 MPH (86 to 96 km/h) for at least
5 minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle.
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH (55 km/h)
and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 at least 3 times.
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h)
and maintain the speed for at least 3 min-
utes.
8. Stop the vehicle (shift lever in the ªPº or ªNº
position).
9. Rev the engine up between 2,500 and
3,500 rpm and hold it for 3 consecutive
minutes, then release the accelerator pedal
completely.
10.Wait 5 second at idle.
11.Rev the engine up between 2,000 and3,000 rpm and maintain it for 5 consecutive
minutes.
12.Turn the engine off.
13.Repeat steps 1 through 8 at least one more
time.
If step 1 through 7 is interrupted, repeat the
preceding step. Any safe driving mode is ac-
ceptable between steps. Do not stop the en-
gine until step 7 is completed.READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST (US
only)
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A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is the best
source of service and repair information for
your vehicle. Filled with wiring diagrams, illus-
trations and step-by-step diagnostic and ad-
justment procedures, this manual is the same
one used by the factory trained technicians
working at authorized NISSAN dealerships.
Also available are genuine NISSAN Owner's
Manuals, and genuine NISSAN Service and
Owner's Manuals for older NISSAN models.In the USA:
For current pricing and availability of genuine
NISSAN Service Manualsfor the 2000 model
year and later, contact:
Tweddle Litho Company
1-800-639-8841
www.nissan-techinfo.com
For current pricing and availability of genuine
NISSAN Service Manualsfor the 1999 model
year and prior, see an authorized NISSAN
dealer, or contact:
DDS Distribution Services, Ltd.
20770 Westwood Dr.
Strongsville OH 44136
1-800-247-5321For current pricing and availability of genuine
NISSAN Owner's Manualsfor the 2002
model year and prior, see an authorized
NISSAN dealer, or contact:
DDS Distribution Services, Ltd.
20770 Westwood Dr.
Strongsville OH 44136
1-800-247-5321
In Canada:
To purchase a copy of a genuine NISSAN
Service Manual or Owner's Manual please
contact your nearest NISSAN dealer. For the
phone number and location of a NISSAN
Dealer in your area call the NISSAN Satisfac-
tion Center at 1-800-387-0122 and a bilingual
NISSAN representative will assist you.
Also available are Genuine NISSAN Service
and Owner's Manuals for older NISSAN mod-
els.
IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISIONUnfortunately, accidents do occur. In this un-
likely event, there is some important informa-
tion you should know. Many insurance compa-
nies routinely authorize the use of non-
genuine collision parts in order to cut costs,
among other reasons.
OWNER'S MANUAL/SERVICE
MANUAL ORDER INFORMATION9-22
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Insist on the use of Genuine Nissan
Collision Parts!If you want your vehicle to be restored using
parts made to Nissan's original exacting speci-
fications Ð if you want to help it to last and
hold its resale value, the solution is simple.
Tell your insurance agent and your repair
shop to only use Genuine Nissan Collision
Parts.Nissan does not warrant non-Nissan
parts, nor does Nissan's warranty apply to
damage caused by a non-genuine part.
Using Genuine Nissan Parts can help protect
your personal safety, preserve your warranty
protection and maintain the resale value of
your vehicle. And if your vehicle was leased,
using Genuine Nissan Parts may prevent or
limit unnecessary excess wear and tear ex-
penses at the end of your lease.
Nissan designs its hoods with crumple zones
to minimize the risk that the hood will penetrate
the windshield of your vehicle in an accident.
Non-genuine (imitation) parts may not provide
such built in safeguards. Also, non-genuine
parts often show premature wear, rust and
corrosion.Why should you take a chance?In over 40 states, the law says you must be
advised if non-genuine parts are used to repairyour vehicle. And some states have enacted
laws that restrict insurance companies from
authorizing the use of non-genuine collision
parts during the new vehicle warranty. These
laws help protect you, so you can take action
to protect yourself.
It's your right!If you should need further information visit us
at: www.nissandriven.com.
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MEMO9-24
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10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock brake system) ......................... 5-18
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front airbag
system) ...................................................... 1-13
Side (See supplemental side air bag
system) ...................................................... 1-15
Air bag warning labels .................................... 1-18
Air bag warning light................................ 1-18, 2-9
Air cleaner housing filter ................................. 8-18
Air conditioner
Air conditioner operation ............................. 4-3
Air conditioner service ....................... 4-3, 4-12
Air conditioner specification label.............. 9-12
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ................ 4-12, 9-6
Air filter ...................................................... 4-11
Heater and air conditioner controls ............. 4-3
Servicing air conditioner .............................. 4-3
Air conditioner operation, Semiautomatic ......... 4-5
Air flow charts ................................................... 4-6
Alcohol, drugs and driving ................................ 5-4
Anchor point locations
Top tether strap ......................................... 1-35
Antenna........................................................... 4-29
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ........................ 5-18
Anti-lock brake warning light............................. 2-7Appearance care
Exterior appearance care ............................ 7-2
Interior appearance care ............................. 7-4
Armrest ............................................................. 1-8
Audible reminders ........................................... 2-11
Audio operation precautions ........................... 4-13
Audio system .................................................. 4-12
Automatic
Anti-glare inside mirror .............................. 3-15
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........... 8-12
Drive positioner ......................................... 3-16
Driving with automatic transmission .... 5-4, 5-8
Seat positioner, seat ................................. 3-16
Transmission selector lever lock
release ....................................................... 5-10
Avoiding collision and rollover .......................... 5-3
B
Battery............................................................. 8-15
Battery saver system................................. 2-17
Battery replacement, (See multi-remote control
system) ............................................................. 3-8
Before starting the engine ................................ 5-7
Belts (See drive belts) .................................... 8-17
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ................... 5-18
Brake and clutch fluid................................ 8-14
Brake booster ............................................ 8-22Brake pedal ............................................... 8-21
Brake pedal check..................................... 8-21
Brake system............................................. 5-18
Parking brake check ........................ 5-12, 8-21
Parking brake operation ............................ 5-12
Warning light ............................................... 2-8
Break-in schedule ........................................... 5-15
Bulb check/instrument panel ............................ 2-7
Bulb replacement ............................................ 8-26
C
Cabin air filter ................................................. 4-11
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants... 9-2
Car phone or CB radio ................................... 4-30
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) ........ 2-26
Cargo net ........................................................ 2-26
Cassette player (See audio system) ..... 4-18, 4-25
Catalytic converter, Three way catalyst............ 5-3
CD care and cleaning ..................................... 4-28
Child restraints ................................................ 1-27
Installation on front passenger seat .......... 1-36
Precautions on child restraints .................. 1-27
Top tether strap anchor point locations .... 1-35
With top tether strap.................................. 1-35
Child safety ..................................................... 1-22
Child safety rear door lock................................ 3-4
Chimes, Audible reminders............................. 2-11
Circuit breaker, Fusible link ............................ 8-23
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