check engine light NISSAN MAXIMA 2005 A34 / 6.G User Guide

cMake sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
cCheck fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake and clutch fluid, and window
washer fluid as frequently as possible, or at
least whenever you refuel.
cCheck that all windows and lights are clean.
cVisually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
cLock all doors.
cPosition seat and adjust head restraints.
cAdjust inside and outside mirrors.
cFasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
cCheck the operation of warning lights when
the key is turned to the ON (3) position. See
“Warning/indicator lights and audible re-
minders” in the “Instruments and controls”
section of this manual.1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic transmission:
Move the shift selector lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral) . P (Park) is recommended.
The shift selector lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park) and into any of
the other gear positions if the ignition
key is turned to the OFF position or if
the key is removed from the ignition
switch.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the shift selector lever is in any of the
driving positions.
Manual transmission:
Move the shift lever to N (Neutral) . Depress
the clutch pedal to the floor while cranking
the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
3. Crank the enginewith your foot off the
accelerator pedalby turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat the above procedure.cIf the engine is very hard to start in ex-
tremely cold weather or when restarting,
depress the accelerator pedal a little (ap-
proximately 1/3 to the floor) and hold it
and then crank the engine. Release the
key and the accelerator pedal when the
engine starts.
cIf the engine is very hard to start because
it is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Crank the engine for 5-6 seconds. After
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the enginewith your
foot off the accelerator pedalby turn-
ing the ignition key to START. Release the
key when the engine starts. If the engine
starts, but fails to run, repeat the above
procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, otherwise
the starter could be damaged.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-6Starting and driving
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Shift lock release
If the battery is discharged, the shift selector lever
may not be moved from the P (Park) position even
with the brake pedal depressed.
To move the shift selector lever, release the shift
lock. The shift selector lever can be moved to N
(Neutral) . However, the steering wheel will be
locked unless the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position. This allows the vehicle to be moved
if the battery is discharged.To push the shift lock release, complete the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover as
shown.
4. Insert a small screwdriver in the shift lock
release slot and push down.
5. Move the shift selector lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position while holding down the shift
lock release.
6. Turn the key to the ON position to unlock the
steering wheel. Now the vehicle may be
moved to the desired location.
If the shift selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) , have a NISSAN dealer check the auto-
matic transmission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the selector lever cannot be moved from
the P (Park) position while the engine is
running and the brake pedal is depressed,
the stop lights may not work. Malfunction-
ing stop lights could cause an accident
injuring yourself and others.
Accelerator downshift
— in D position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, please note
that the 4–speed automatic transmission will be
locked in third gear. For the 5–speed automatic
transmission, the transmission will be locked in
any of the gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, turn the ignition key
OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then turn the
key back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have a NISSAN dealer
check the transmission and repair it if nec-
essary.
LSD0072
5-10Starting and driving
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1. ACCEL/RES switch
2. COAST/SET switch
3. ON/OFF switch
4. CANCEL switch
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL
cIf the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The SET indicator
light in the instrument panel then blinks to
warn the driver.
cIf the SET indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked by a NISSAN dealer.cThe SET indicator light may blink when the
cruise control main switch is turned ON
while pushing the ACCEL/RES,
COAST/SET, or CANCEL switch (located
on the steering wheel) . To properly set the
cruise control system, use the following pro-
cedures.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driving
under the following conditions:
cWhen it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed.
cIn heavy traffic or in traffic that varies in
speed.
cOn winding or hilly roads.
cOn slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.) .
cIn very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depressing the
clutch pedal when the cruise control is set.
Should this occur, depress the clutch pedal
and turn the main switch off immediately.
Failure to do so may cause engine damage.
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed be-
tween 25 - 89 MPH (40 - 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,push the main
switch. The CRUISE indicator light in the instru-
ment panel comes on.
To set cruising speed,accelerate the vehicle to
the desired speed, push the COAST/SET switch
and release it. The SET indicator light in the
instrument panel comes on. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Your vehicle maintains the set
speed.
cTo pass another vehicle,depress the ac-
celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle returns to the previously
set speed.
cThe vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, drive without the cruise control.
LSD0075
CRUISE CONTROL (if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-13
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cIf brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not stan-
dard equipment or are extremely dete-
riorated, the vehicle dynamic control
system may not operate properly and
the vehicle dynamic control off indica-
tor light may come on.
cDo not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars
and bushings are not NISSAN approved
for your vehicle or are extremely dete-
riorated the vehicle dynamic control
system may not operate properly. This
could adversely affect vehicle handling
performance, and the VDC off indicator
light may come on.
cWhen driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners,
the vehicle dynamic control system may
not operate properly and the VDC OFF
indicator light may come on. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
cWhen driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the vehicle dynamic control off
indicator light may illuminate. This is
not a malfunction. Restart the engine
after driving onto a stable surfacecIf wheels or tires other than the recom-
mended ones are used, the vehicle dy-
namic control system may not operate
properly and the vehicle dynamic con-
trol off indicator light may come on.
cThe vehicle dynamic control system is
not a substitute for winter tires or tire
chains on a snow covered road.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply de-
icer through the key hole. If the lock becomes
frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the key
hole.
ANTI-FREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the tem-
perature will drop below 32°F (0°C) , check the
anti-freeze to assure proper winter protection.
For details, see ‘‘Engine cooling system’’ in the
‘‘Maintenance and do-it-yourself’’ section of this
manual.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during extremely
cold weather conditions, the battery fluid may
freeze and damage the battery. To maintain maxi-
mum efficiency, the battery should be checked
regularly. For details, see ‘‘Battery’’ in the ‘‘Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself’’ section of this
manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-
freeze, drain the cooling system, including the
engine block. Refill before operating the vehicle.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-21
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8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements..........................8-2
General maintenance..............................8-2
Explanation of general maintenance items.........8-2
Maintenance precautions...........................8-5
Engine compartment check locations................8-6
Engine cooling system.............................8-7
Checking engine coolant level...................8-7
Changing engine coolant........................8-8
Engine oil.........................................8-8
Checking engine oil level........................8-8
Changing engine oil............................8-9
Changing engine oil filter.......................8-10
5-speed automatic transmission fluid...............8-11
Power steering fluid...............................8-11
Brake and clutch fluid.............................8-11
Brake fluid....................................8-12
Clutch fluid...................................8-12
Window washer fluid.............................8-12
Window washer fluid reservoir..................8-12
Battery..........................................8-13
Jump starting.................................8-14
Drive belts.......................................8-15
Spark plugs......................................8-15Replacing spark plugs.........................8-15
Air cleaner.......................................8-16
In-cabin microfilter.............................8-16
Windshield wiper blades..........................8-19
Cleaning.....................................8-19
Replacing....................................8-19
Parking brake and brake pedal.....................8-20
Checking parking brake........................8-20
Checking brake pedal..........................8-20
Brake booster.................................8-21
Fuses...........................................8-21
Engine compartment...........................8-22
Passenger compartment.......................8-24
Battery replacement..............................8-25
Lights...........................................8-26
Headlights....................................8-26
Exterior and interior lights.......................8-26
Wheels and tires.................................8-31
Tire pressure..................................8-31
Tire labeling...................................8-34
Types of tires..................................8-37
Tire chains....................................8-37
Changing wheels and tires.....................8-38
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7. Refill engine with recommended oil through
the oil filler opening, then install the oil filler
cap securely.
See “Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual for
drain and refill capacity.
The drain and refill capacity depends on the
oil temperature and drain time. Use these
specifications for reference only. Always use
the dipstick to determine when the proper
amount of oil is in the engine.
8. Start the engine. Check for leakage around
the drain plug and oil filter. Correct as re-
quired.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level with the dipstick.
Add engine oil if necessary.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL FILTER
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Turn the engine off.
3. Place a large drain pan under the oil filter.
4. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter wrench
by turning it counterclockwise. Then remove
the oil filter by turning it by hand.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot.5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface
with a clean rag.
Be sure to remove any old gasket material
remaining on the mounting surface of the
engine.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.
7. Screw on the oil filter until a slight resistance
is felt, then tighten an additional 2/3 turn.
8. Start the engine and check for leakage
around the oil filter. Correct as required.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level. Add engine oil if
necessary.
WDI0218
8-10Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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Self-adjusting brakes
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front and rear disc-type brakes self-adjust
every time the brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
See a NISSAN dealer for a brake system
check if the brake pedal height does not
return to normal.
Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have audible
wear indicators. When a brake pad requires re-
placement, a high pitched scraping or screech-
ing sound will be heard when the vehicle is in
motion. The noise will be heard whether or not the
brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the wear indicator
sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions, occa-
sional brake squeak, squeal or other noise may
be heard. Occasional brake noise during light to
moderate stops is normal and does not affect the
function or performance of the brake system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For more information regarding
brake inspections, see the appropriate mainte-nance schedule information in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
BRAKE BOOSTER
Check the brake booster function as follows:
1. With the engine off, press and release the
brake pedal several times. When brake
pedal movement (distance of travel) remains
the same from one pedal application to the
next, continue on to the next step.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, start the
engine. The pedal height should drop a little.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop the
engine. Keep the pedal depressed for about
30 seconds. The pedal height should not
change.
4. Run the engine for one minute without de-
pressing the brake pedal, then turn it off.
Depress the brake pedal several times. The
pedal travel distance will decrease gradually
with each depression as the vacuum is re-
leased from the booster.
If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked by a NISSAN dealer.Two types of fuses are used. Type A is used in the
fuse boxes in the engine compartment. Type B is
used in the passenger compartment fuse box.
Type A fuses are provided as spare fuses. They
are stored in the passenger compartment fuse
box.
Type A fuses can be installed in the engine com-
partment and passenger compartment fuse
boxes.
LDI0455
FUSES
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-21
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If a type A fuse is used to replace a type B fuse,
the type A fuse will not be level with the fuse
pocket as shown in the illustration. This will not
affect the performance of the fuse. Make sure the
fuse is installed in the fuse box securely.
Type B fuses cannot be installed in the under-
hood fuse boxes. Only use type A fuses in the
underhood fuse boxes.ENGINE COMPARTMENT
CAUTION
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than specified on the
fuse box cover. This could damage the
electrical system or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not come on,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch and the headlight
switch are OFF.
2. Open the engine hood.3. Remove the fuse box cover by pushing the
tab and lifting the cover up.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller. The
fuse puller is located in the center of the fuse
block in the passenger compartment.
LDI0457LDI0327
8-22Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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or deposit removal may contain active solvents or
similar ingredients that can be harmful to the fuel
system and engine.
Octane rating tips
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than recommended 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 a NISSAN dealer correct the
condition. Failure to correct the condition
is misuse of the vehicle, for which NISSAN
is not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing may result in spark
knock, after-run and/or overheating, which may
cause excessive fuel consumption or engine
damage. If any of the above symptoms are en-
countered, have your vehicle checked at a
NISSAN dealer.
However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is not a
cause for concern, because you get thegreatest fuel benefit when there is light
spark knock for a short time under heavy
engine load.
9-4Technical and consumer information
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10 Index
A
Active head restraint...............1-9
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system).....................1-35
Air bag system
Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system)...............1-42
Air bag warning light...........1-49, 2-11
Air cleaner housing filter............8-16
Air conditioner
Air conditioner service...........4-20
Air conditioner specification label.....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
lubrication recommendations........9-6
Servicing air conditioner..........4-20
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system).........2-14
Anchor point locations.............1-27
Antenna.....................4-33
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).........5-18
Anti-lock brake warning light..........2-9
Armrests.....................1-7
Audible reminders................2-14
Audio system..................4-20
AM-FM radio with cassette player.....4-27
Cassette player...............4-27
Compact Disc (CD) changer.......4-30
Compact disc (CD) player.........4-28
FM-AM-SAT radio with cassette player and
compact disc (CD) changer........4-24FM-AM-SAT radio with cassette player and
compact disc (CD) player.........4-24
Radio....................4-20
Steering wheel audio control switch. . . .4-32
Autolight switch.................2-20
Automatic
Automatic drive positioner.........3-19
Automatic power window switch.....2-37
Driving with automatic transmission.....5-7
Transmission selector lever lock release .5-10
B
Battery......................8-13
Charge warning light............2-10
Battery replacement
(See remote keyless entry system)......8-25
Before starting the engine............5-6
Belts (See drive belts).............8-15
Brake
Anti-lock brake system (ABS).......5-18
Brake booster................8-21
Brake fluid..................8-11
Brake light (See stop light).........8-26
Brake pedal.................8-20
Brake system................5-17
Brake warning light.............2-10
Brake wear indicators........2-14, 8-21
Parking brake check............8-20
Parking brake operation..........5-12
Self-adjusting brakes............8-21Break-in schedule................5-14
Brightness control
Instrument panel..............2-22
Brightness/Contrast button........4-6, 4-16
Control panel buttons.........4-6, 4-16
Bulb check/instrument panel..........2-9
Bulb replacement................8-26
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricants. .9-2
Car phone or CB radio.............4-33
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
Cassette player (See audio system)......4-27
CD care and cleaning.............4-31
CD changer (See audio system)........4-30
CD player (See audio system).........4-28
Check engine indicator light
(See malfunction indicator lamp).......2-12
Child restraint with top tether strap......1-26
Child restraints.......1-12, 1-13, 1-18, 1-25
Precautions on child restraints . . .1-18, 1-31
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-27
Child safety rear door lock............3-5
Chimes, audible reminders...........2-14
Cigarette lighter.................2-28
Cleaning exterior and interior..........7-2
Clock
(models with navigation system)......4-14
(models without navigation system).....4-4
Clock set
Control panel buttons.........4-4, 4-14
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