tire type NISSAN MAXIMA 2003 A33 / 5.G Owners Manual

IIf dirt builds up in the shoulder belt guide of
the seat belt anchors, the seat belts may
retract slowly. Wipe the shoulder belt guide
with a clean, dry cloth.
IPeriodically check to see that the seat
belt and the metal componentssuch as
buckles, tongues, retractors, flexible wires
and anchors work properly. If loose parts,
deterioration, cuts or other damage on the
webbing is found, the entire belt assembly
should be replaced.
PRECAUTIONS ON CHILD
RESTRAINTS
WARNING
IInfants and small children should al-
ways be placed in an appropriate
child restraint while riding in the ve-
hicle. Failure to use a child restraint
can result in serious injury or death.
IInfants and small children should
never be carried on your lap. It is not
possible for even the strongest adult
to resist the forces of a severe acci-
dent. The child could be crushed be-
tween the adult and parts of the ve-
hicle. Also, do not put the same seat
belt around both your child and your-
self.
INever install a rear facing child re-
straint in the front seat. An inflating
supplemental air bag could seriously
injure or kill your child. A rear facing
child restraint must only be used in
the rear seat.INISSAN recommends that the child
restraint be installed in the rear seat.
According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly re-
strained in the rear seat than in the
front seat.
IAn improperly installed child re-
straint could lead to serious injury or
death in an accident.
In general, child restraints are designed to be
installed with the lap portion of a three-point
type seat belt. In addition, this vehicle is
equipped with a universal child restraint lower
anchor system, referred to as the LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tether for Children) sys-
tem. Some child restraints include two rigid or
webbing-mounted attachments that can be
connected to these lower anchors. For details,
see ªLATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for
Children) SYSTEMº later in this section.
Child restraints for infants and children of
various sizes are offered by several manufac-
turers. When selecting any child restraint,
keep the following points in mind:
Ichoose only a restraint with a label certify-
ing that it complies with Federal MotorCHILD RESTRAINTS
Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems
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conditions are hazardous and extra care is
required while driving.Self-test featureThe anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic
solenoids controlled by a computer. The com-
puter has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests
the system each time you start the engine and
move the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of any malfunction. If the computer
senses any malfunction, it switches the anti-
lock brake system OFF and turns on the ABS
warning light in the dashboard. The brake
system will then behave normally, but without
anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self check, or
while you are driving, you should take your
vehicle to your NISSAN dealer for repair at
your earliest convenience.
WARNING
The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces, even with the anti-lock sys-
tem. Stopping distances may also be
longer on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the responsibility for safety of self and
others rests in the hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may also
affect braking effectiveness.
IWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
IWhen installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. See ªVe-
hicle identificationº in the ª9. Techni-
cal and consumer informationº sec-
tion for tire placard location.On slippery surfaces such as wet asphalt
roads, vehicle wheels may spin when the
vehicle is accelerated. This wheel spin re-
duces acceleration, or causes the vehicle to
swerve, thus decreasing vehicle stability.
The traction control system helps limit wheel
spin on slippery roads. The system operates
only if it senses one or both of the front wheels
spinning or beginning to lose traction. When
this happens, the system reduces engine
power and may also upshift the transmission
to help limit wheel spin.
IIndicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the traction con-
trol system, the SLIP and
indicator
lights come on in the meter panel.
As long as these warning lights are on, the
traction control function is canceled. The
vehicle will behaves like a model without
the traction control system.
CAUTION
IThe traction control system is most
effective when the transmission gear
selector is in the D position.
IIf you drive in gear 1 or 2 with the TCSTRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
Starting and driving
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on, this could cause the three way
catalyst to overheat and be damaged.
To avoid this, the TCS will automati-
cally turn off. Shifting the gear selec-
tor to D will reactivate the TCS.
WARNING
This system is designed to prevent the
wheels from spinning. However, it does
not prevent vehicle slipping or spinning
due to abrupt steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Be especially care-
ful when driving on slippery surfaces
and always drive safely.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCKTo prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole.ANTI-FREEZEIn the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC), check
anti-freeze to assure proper winter protection.
For additional information, see ªEngine Cool-
ing Systemº in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourselfº section.BATTERYIf the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For additional
information, see ªBatteryº in the ª8. Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourselfº section.DRAINING OF COOLANT WATERIf the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by open-
ing the drain valves located under the radiator
and on the engine block. Refill before operat-
ing the vehicle. See ªEngine cooling systemº in
the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº sectionfor changing engine coolant.
TIRE EQUIPMENT1. SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your
vehicle on snowy or icy roads, NISSAN
recommends the use of MUD & SNOW or
ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Please consult your NISSAN dealer for the
tire type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some prov-
inces and states prohibit their use. Check
local, state and provincial laws before in-
stalling studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
3. Tire chains may be used if desired. Make
sure they are of proper size for the tires on
your vehicle and are installed according to
the chain manufacturer's suggestions. Use
of tire chains may be prohibited according
to location. Check the local laws before
installing tire chains. When installing tire
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
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chains, make sure they are of proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are in-
stalled according to the chain manufactur-
er's suggestions.Use only SAE Class S
chains.Other types may damage your
vehicle. Use chain tensioners when recom-
mended by the tire chain manufacturer to
ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the tire
chain must be secured or removed to pre-
vent the possibility of whipping action dam-
age to the fenders or underbody. If pos-
sible, avoid fully loading your vehicle when
using tire chains. In addition, drive at a
reduced speed. Otherwise, your vehicle
may be damaged and/or vehicle handling
and performance may be adversely af-
fected.
Never install tire chains on a T-type spare
tire. Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENTIt is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
Ia scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
Ia sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.Ia shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-
drifts.
Iextra window washer fluid to refill the res-
ervoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
IWet ice (32ÉF, 0ÉC and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have a lot less traction or grip under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.
IWhatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shifting too fast, the drive wheels will
lose even more traction.
IAllow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
IAllow greater following distances on
slippery roads.IWatch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while
actually on the ice, and avoid any
sudden steering maneuvers.
IDo not use cruise control on slippery
roads.
ISnow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)An engine block heater to assist extreme cold
temperature starting is available through your
NISSAN dealer.
WARNING
Do not use your heater with an un-
grounded electrical system or two-
Starting and driving
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Stowing the damaged tire and toolsSecurely store the spare tire and jacking
equipment in the vehicle.
WARNING
IAlways make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly
secured after use. Such items can
become dangerous projectiles in an
accident or sudden stop.
IThe T-type spare tire and small sizespare tire are designed for emer-
gency use. See ªWheels and tiresº in
the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourselfº section.To start your engine with a booster battery, the
instructions and precautions below must be
followed.
WARNING
IIf done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting
in severe injury or death. It could also
damage your vehicle.
IExplosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away from
the battery.
IDo not allow battery fluid to come
into contact with eyes, skin, cloth or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a
corrosive sulphuric acid solution
which can cause severe burns. If the
fluid should come into contact with
anything, immediately flush the con-
tacted area with water.
IKeep battery out of the reach of
children.
SCE0040
JUMP STARTING
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In case of emergency
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8 Maintenance and do-it-yourselfMaintenance requirements ........................................ 8-2
General maintenance ................................................ 8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items .......... 8-2
Maintenance precautions .......................................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ....................... 8-7
Engine cooling system .............................................. 8-8
Checking engine coolant level ............................. 8-8
Changing engine coolant ..................................... 8-9
Engine oil ................................................................ 8-10
Checking engine oil level ................................... 8-10
Changing engine oil ........................................... 8-11
Changing engine oil filter ................................... 8-12
Automatic transmission fluid ................................... 8-12
Temperature conditions for checking ................. 8-13
Power steering fluid ................................................ 8-14
Brake and clutch fluid ............................................. 8-14
Window washer fluid ............................................... 8-15
Battery ..................................................................... 8-15
Drive belts ............................................................... 8-17
Spark plugs ............................................................. 8-17
Replacing spark plugs ........................................ 8-18Air cleaner ............................................................... 8-18
Windshield wiper blades ......................................... 8-19
Cleaning ............................................................. 8-19
Replacing............................................................ 8-20
Parking brake and brake pedal ............................... 8-21
Checking parking brake ..................................... 8-21
Checking brake pedal ........................................ 8-21
Brake booster ..................................................... 8-22
Fuses....................................................................... 8-22
Engine compartment .......................................... 8-22
Passenger compartment .................................... 8-24
Keyfob battery replacement .................................... 8-24
Lights ....................................................................... 8-26
Headlights........................................................... 8-27
Exterior and interior lights .................................. 8-28
Wheels and tires ..................................................... 8-33
Tire pressure ...................................................... 8-33
Types of tires...................................................... 8-33
Tire chains .......................................................... 8-34
Changing wheels and tires ................................. 8-35
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If you have a flat tire, see ªFlat tireº in the
ª6. In case of emergencyº section.TIRE PRESSURE
Maximum inflation pressureDo not exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sures shown on the side wall of the tire.Tire inflation pressureCheck the tire pressure (including spare) at
least once a month and always prior to long
distance trips. Incorrect tire pressure may ad-
versely affect tire life and vehicle handling. Tire
pressure should be checked when tires are
COLD. Tires are considered COLD after thevehicle has been parked for 3 or more hours,
or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at moderate
speeds. COLD tire pressures are shown on
the tire placard affixed to the console box lid.
WARNING
IImproperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident.
IThe vehicle capacity weight is indi-
cated on the tire placard. Do not load
your vehicle beyond this capacity.
Overloading your vehicle may result
in reduced tire life, unsafe operating
conditions due to premature tire fail-
ure, or unfavorable handling charac-
teristics and could also lead to a
serious accident. Loading beyond the
specified capacity may also result in
failure of other vehicle components.
IBefore taking a long trip, or whenever
you have loaded your vehicle heavily,
use a tire pressure gauge to ensure
that the tire pressure is at the speci-
fied level.
IDo not drive your vehicle over 85MPH (140 km/h) unless it is equipped
with high speed capability tires. Driv-
ing faster than 85 MPH (140 km/h)
may result in tire failure, loss of con-
trol and possible injury.
IFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ªImportant Tire Safety
Informationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet (US) or ªTire Safety In-
formationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion booklet (Canada).
TYPES OF TIRES
CAUTION
IWhen changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e., summer, all season or snow) and
construction. Your NISSAN dealer
may be able to help you with informa-
tion about tire type, size, speed rating
and availability. Replacement tires
may have a lower speed rating than
the factory equipped tires, and may
DI1033M
WHEELS AND TIRES
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not match the potential maximum ve-
hicle speed. Never exceed the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tire.
IFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ªImportant Tire Safety
Informationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet (US) or ªTire Safety In-
formationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion booklet (Canada).
All season tiresNISSAN specifies all season tires on some
models to provide good performance for use
all year around, including snowy and icy road
conditions. All season tires are identified by
ALL SEASON and/or M&S on the tire sidewall.
Snow tires have better snow traction than all
season tires and may be more appropriate in
some areas.Summer tiresNISSAN specifies summer tires on some mod-
els to provide superior performance on dry
roads. Summer tire performance in snow and
ice will be substantially reduced. Summer tires
do not have the tire traction rating M&S on the
tire sidewall.If you operate your vehicle in snowy or icy
conditions, NISSAN recommends the use of
snow or all season tires on all four wheels.
Snow tiresIf snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating to
the original equipment tires. If you do not, it
can adversely affect the safety and handling of
your vehicle.
Generally, snow tires will have lower speed
ratings than factory equipped tires and may
not match the potential maximum vehicle
speed. Never exceed the maximum speed
rating of the tire.
If you operate your vehicle in snowy or icy
conditions, NISSAN recommends the use of
snow or all season tires on all four wheels.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some provinces
and states prohibit their use. Check local, state
and provincial laws before installing studded
tires. Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.TIRE CHAINSUse of tire chains may be prohibited according
to location. Check the local laws before install-ing tire chains. When installing tire chains,
make sure they are of proper size for the tires
on your vehicle and are installed according to
the chain manufacturer's suggestions.Use
only SAE class S chains.Other types may
damage your vehicle. Use chain tensioners
when recommended by the tire chain manu-
facturer to ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of
the tire chain must be secured or removed to
prevent the possibility of whipping action dam-
age to the fenders or undercarriage. If pos-
sible, avoid fully loading your vehicle when
using tire chains. In addition, drive at a re-
duced speed. Otherwise, your vehicle may be
damaged and/or vehicle handling and perfor-
mance may be adversely affected.
Never install tire chains on a T-type spare tire.
Do not use the chains on dry roads.
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CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotationNISSAN recommends that tires be rotated
every 7,500 miles (12,000 km).
Wheel nut tightening torque:
80 ft-lb (108 N×m)
See ªFlat tireº in the ª6. In case of emergencyº
section for tire replacing procedures.
WARNING
IAfter rotating the tires, adjust the tire
pressure.
IRetighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
IDo not include the T-type spare tire or
any other small size spare tire in the
tire rotation.
IFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ªImportant Tire Safety
Informationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet (US) or ªTire Safety In-
formationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion booklet (Canada).
Tire wear and damage
WARNING
ITires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking, bulging,
or objects caught in the tread. If ex-
cessive wear, cracks, bulging, or
deep cuts are found, the tire should
be replaced.
IThe original tires have a built-in tread
wear indicator. When the wear indica-
DI0048-B
MDI0004
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tor is visible, the tire should be re-
placed.
IImproper service for a spare tire may
result in serious personal injury. If it
is necessary to repair the spare tire,
contact your NISSAN dealer.
IFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ªImportant Tire Safety
Informationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet (US) or ªTire Safety In-
formationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion booklet (Canada).
Replacing wheels and tiresWhen replacing a tire, use the same size,
speed rating and load carrying capacity as
originally equipped. See ªSpecificationsº in the
ª9. Technical and consumer informationº sec-
tion for recommended types and sizes of tires
and wheels.
WARNING
IThe use of tires other than thoserecommended or the mixed use of
tires of different brands, construction
(bias, bias-belted or radial), or tread
patterns can adversely affect the ride,
braking, handling, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, tire chain
clearance, speedometer calibration,
headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to
accidents and could result in serious
personal injury.
IIf the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same offset dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different offset
could cause early tire wear, possibly
degraded vehicle handling character-
istics and/or interference with the
brake discs. Such interference can
lead to decreased braking efficiency
and/or early brake pad wear.
IDo not install a deformed wheel or
tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural
damage and could fail without warn-ing.
IThe use of retread tire is not recom-
mended.
IFor additional information regarding
tires, refer to ªImportant Tire Safety
Informationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet (US) or ªTire Safety In-
formationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion booklet (Canada).
Wheel balanceUnbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore, they
should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balancing
the front wheels on the vehicle could lead to
transmission damage.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
to ªImportant Tire Safety Informationº in the
Warranty Information Booklet (US) or ªTire
Safety Informationº in the Warranty Informa-
tion booklet (Canada).
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