manual transmission NISSAN MAXIMA 2006 A34 / 6.G Towing Guide

2006 Nissan Towing Guide 1
INTRODUCTION

SAFETY IS PRIORITY ONE
Obviously, your first concern should be safety. Your vehicle was designed to be used
primarily to carry passengers and cargo. Always remember that towing a trailer places
additional loads on your vehicle’s engine, drivetrain, steering, braking, and other systems.
Therefore, be certain that your vehicle can meet the demands of the towing application you
have in mind.
Rent or purchase only the highest-quality towing and safety equipment you can find.
Reinforced tow hitches designed especially for certain Nissan vehicles are available from
your Nissan dealer.* Hitches for the other Nissan models should be bought from and
installed by a professional supplier of towing equipment. Finally, it is important to follow the
towing capacity limit set for your specific vehicle, and to ensure that your vehicle is in top
mechanical condition; especially the tires, brakes, suspension, and engine cooling system.
See your owner’s manual for details.

NEVER EXCEED THE ESTABLISHED TOWING CAPACITY
Towing capacities vary from vehicle to vehicle. See the SPECIFICATIONS section of this
guide to view the towing capacities of 2006 Nissan vehicles produced at the time of
Towing Guide publication. Use this data to help select the proper Nissan vehicle to meet
your anticipated needs, and refer to it when renting a trailer or other piece of towing
equipment.

EQUIP YOUR NISSAN FOR TOWING
The frequency and type of towing should also influence the manner in which you equip
your vehicle. If you plan to tow often, either for recreation or work, select the engine size,
transmission type, suspension, and towing capacity that are best suited to your
requirements. This guide can help you select that equipment.
If, on the other hand, your towing will be infrequent, choose the Nissan vehicle and
equipment that best meets your day-to-day needs. Then, be careful not to exceed the
towing capacity on those few occasions when you do tow.


READ THIS GUIDE BEFORE YOU TOW
This guide was designed to provide an overview of safe towing practices. In it you’ll find
information on towing equipment, safety, proper loading and driving techniques, towing tips,
and much more.
It is also a good idea to discuss your towing requirements with either your Nissan dealer
or a professional supplier of towing equipment before you equip your Nissan vehicle for
towing. Finally, there are state and local laws on towing that you should review to ensure
you comply with all regulations.

*Quest tow hitch is factory installed only.

2006 Nissan Towing Guide 19 AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL
Do not use cruise control while towing a trailer.

TOW MODE (IF EQUIPPED)
Tow Mode should be used when the vehicle and trailer weight is at least 75% of the
vehicle GCWR. This mode is most useful when towing a heavy trailer or hauling a heavy
load, particularly when stop-and-go traffic, rolling terrain, or a busy parking lot is involved.
Driving the vehicle in Tow Mode with minimal trailer load will not cause any damage;
however, fuel economy may be reduced, and transmission/engine driving characteristics
may feel different.

HILLS – UPGRADES
As the incline increases, shift down to a lower gear to maintain speed and prevent the
engine from lugging. However, for long and steep grades, do not stay in first gear when
driving above 35 mph or in second gear above 58 mph.* The added weight of a trailer
places an increased load on the engine and cooling system, so monitor your coolant
temperature gauge and automatic transmission fluid temperature gauge (if equipped) very
carefully. At the first sign of overheating, pull to the side of the road. See IF YOUR ENGINE
OVERHEATS later in this section for more information.

HILLS – DOWNGRADES
While going downhill, the weight of the trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may decrease
overall stability. Therefore, to maintain adequate control, reduce your speed and shift
to a lower gear.
When descending a hill, also avoid long or repeated use of the brakes as this reduces
their effectiveness and could cause overheating. Shifting to a lower gear instead provides
“engine braking” and reduces the need to brake as frequently.

IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
A moderate increase in engine operating temperature is normal when towing a trailer. If,
however, the coolant temperature gauge reading is abnormally high, or if you are
experiencing a significant loss of power, or if you hear unusual engine noises,** the engine
may be overheating and you should immediately take the following steps:

1. Pull your vehicle safely over to the side of the road, out of traffic. Apply the parking
brake, and move the gearshift lever to NEUTRAL (manual) or PARK (automatic). DO
NOT STOP THE ENGINE.

*For Murano, see your owner’s manual for information applicable to your vehicle.
**See your owner’s manual for additional indications that your vehicle may be overheating.

2006 Nissan Towing Guide 20 2. Turn off the air conditioning and, after opening all the windows, turn the heater on to
maximum hot and the fan to its highest speed. The heater core in your vehicle is just
like a miniature engine radiator and will provide an extra cooling surface to help reduce
engine temperature.

3. Run the engine at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm) until the temperature gauge
returns to a normal reading. If the temperature does not drop or continues to increase,
stop this step immediately.

4. Being cautious of traffic, step out of the vehicle and, from a safe distance, look for
steam underneath the engine. If you see steam or leaking coolant, stand clear to avoid
being burned. Shut off your engine immediately and allow it to cool. If there is no steam,
open the hood. Never remove the radiator cap when the radiator is hot. If the cap is
removed under these conditions, hot water under high pressure may spurt out, possibly
causing serious injury.

5. As soon as the engine has cooled to its normal operating temperature, visually inspect
the drive belts for damage or looseness. A loose belt reduces water pump efficiency.
Be careful to keep your hands, hair, jewelry, and clothing clear of the running drive belt
and other moving parts when inspecting the engine and radiator. Also check to see if
the cooling fan is running, and inspect the water pump, radiator, and radiator hoses for
leaks. Keep in mind, too, that if your vehicle is equipped with an electric fan motor, it
may start without warning any time the coolant temperature is high. If you find leaking
coolant, a loose or missing drive belt, or an inoperable fan, turn the engine off
immediately.

6. If no leaks are apparent and all other components appear to be operating properly with
the engine cooled to its normal operating temperature, check the coolant level in the
reservoir tank with the engine running. Add coolant to the reservoir tank if needed. At
this point, if repairs are required, go to the nearest Nissan dealer. See the IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY section of your owner’s manual for additional information on overheating.
NOTE – Armada, Frontier, Pathfinder, Titan, and Xterra vehicles have an engine protection
mode which helps reduce the chance of engine damage if the engine coolant reaches a
specified temperature. The Murano has a high fluid temperature protection mode which
helps to reduce the chance of transmission damage. See your owner’s manual for details.

2006 Nissan Towing Guide 24

















Passenger Vehicles – The towing capacity for Altima, Maxima, Sentra, and 350Z (Coupe
only) is 1,000 lbs.; the maximum trailer tongue load is 100 lbs.
NOTE – For passenger vehicles, the trailer tongue load must be subtracted from the
GVWR as shown on the F.M.V.S.S. certification label located in the driver’s-side door area.

Other Recommendations and Information – Towing performance and speed are affected
by vehicle payload, tow weight, road grades, and weather conditions, including high
temperatures. See your owner’s manual for details.
2006 XTERRA TOWING DATA
Engine Type 4.0L V6
Transmission A/T
Model(s) 4x2 & 4x4
Maximum Trailer Weight1 (lbs.) 5,000
Maximum Trailer Tongue Load (lbs.) 500
Gross Combined Weight Rating (lbs.) 9,658
1 Maximum Trailer Weight values are calculated assuming a base vehicle with driver and any options
required to achieve the rating. Additional passengers, cargo and/or optional equipment will add
weight to the vehicle and reduce your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity and trailer tongue load.
2 The Maximum Trailer Weight when using the Genuine Nissan step bumper in this application as a ball
mount is 5,000 lbs.; the Maximum Trailer Tongue Load is 500 lbs.
3 The Maximum Trailer Weight when using the Genuine Nissan step bumper in this application as a ball
mount is 3,500 lbs.; the Maximum Trailer Tongue Load is 350 lbs.
4 The vehicle optional tow package does not include a trailer hitch ball mount. Two ball mount options
are available through your Nissan dealer:
Š Class III hitch ball mount for trailers with a Maximum Trailer Weight of 5,000 lbs. or less.
NOTE – A hitch ball is not included with the Class III ball mount. This ball mount can be
used with any hitch ball with a shank diameter of 1” or larger.
Š Class IV Weight-Distributing hitch ball mount is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED when towing
trailers with a Maximum Trailer Weight greater than 5,000 lbs., and can also be used with
trailers under 5,000 lbs. Maximum Trailer Weight.

NOTE – The Class IV ball mount includes a 2 5/16” hitch ball rated for 10,000 lbs. Smaller
hitch ball sizes may be used by following the instructions included in the ball mount kit.
NOTES:
Š Most states require a separate braking system on trailers with a loaded weight above a specific
amount. Check local ordinances.
Š M/T – Manual Transmission, A/T – Automatic Transmission