1996 NISSAN MAXIMA Owners Manual

MEMO
5-12
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

6 Appearance and interior care
Cleaning exterior and interior .................................... 6-2
Corrosion protection .................................................. 6-5
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
In the following cases, please wash your ve-
hicle as soon as possible to protect the paint
surface.
IAfter a rainfall
IAfter driving on coastal roads
IWhen things such as soot, bird droppings,
tree sap, metal particles or bugs get on the
paint surface
IWhen dust or mud builds up on the surface
Whenever possible, store or park your vehicleinside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body
cover.
Washing
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of
water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly using a
mild soap or detergent (a special vehicle soap
or general purpose dish-washing liquid) mixed
with clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
Do not use strong household soap,
strong chemical detergents, gasoline or
solvents.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable
to the effects of road salt. Therefore, these
areas must be regularly cleaned. Take care
that the drain holes in the lower edge of thedoor are open. Spray water under the body
and in the wheel wells to loosen the dirt and
wash away road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the
vehicle to avoid water spots.
Waxing
Regular waxing protects the paint surface and
helps retain new vehicle appearance. After
waxing, polishing is recommended to remove
built-up residue and to avoid a ªweatheredº
appearance.
If you wish to wax your vehicle, only use a wax
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
ªroad tarº 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.
MAI0001
CLEANING EXTERIOR AND
INTERIOR
6-2
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

Removing spots
Remove 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.
Underbody
In areas where road salt is used in winter, the
underbody must be cleaned regularly. This will
prevent dirt and salt from building up and
causing underbody and suspension corrosion.
Before the winter period and again in the
spring, the underseal must be checked and, if
necessary, re-treated.
Cleaning glass
When 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 cleanerand a soft cloth will easily remove this film.
When cleaning the inside of the window,
do not use sharp-edged tools, abrasive
cleaners or chlorine based disinfectant
cleaners. They could damage electrical
conductors or rear window defogger
elements.
Cleaning alloy wheels
Wash regularly, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheel if not removed.
Chrome parts
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
Plastic parts
Plastic parts can be cleaned with a mild soap
solution. If the dirt cannot be easily removed,
use a plastic cleaner. Do not use solvents.
SAI0002
6-3
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

Cleaning interior
Occasionally remove loose dust from the inte-
rior trim and seats using a vacuum cleaner or
soft brush. Wipe the vinyl and leather surfaces
with a clean, soft cloth dampened in mild soap
solution, then wipe clean with a dry soft cloth.
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer's recommendations. Some fab-
ric protectors contain chemicals that may stain
or bleach the seat material.
INever use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.
IThe leather seats should be regularly
coated with a leather wax like saddle
soap. Never use car wax.
INever use fabric protectors unless
recommended by the manufacturer.
Floor mat positioning aid
(Driver side only)
This model includes a front floor mat bracket to
act as a floor mat positioning aid. NISSAN floor
mats have been specially designed for your
vehicle model. The driver's side floor mat has
a grommet hole incorporated in it. Simply
position the mat by placing the floor mat
bracket hook through the floor mat grommet
hole while centering the mat in the floorpan
contour.
Periodically check to make certain that the
mats are properly positioned.
Floor mats
The use of Genuine Nissan floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and make
it easier to clean the interior. No matter what
mats are used, be sure they are fitted for your
vehicle and are properly positioned in the
footwell to prevent interference with pedal op-
eration. Mats should be maintained with regu-
lar cleaning and replaced if they become ex-
cessively worn.
Seat belts
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping them
with a sponge dampened in a mild soap solu-
tion. Allow the belts to dry completely before
using them. Do not allow wet belts to roll up in
the retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye, or
chemical solvents since these may severely
weaken the seat belt webbing.
SAI0003
6-4
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

Most common factors contributing to
vehicle corrosion:
1. The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt
and debris in body panel sections, cavities,
and other areas.
2. Damage to paint and other protective coat-
ings caused by gravel and stone chips or
minor traffic accidents.
Environmental factors influence the
rate of corrosion:
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the
vehicle body underside can accelerate corro-
sion. Wet floor coverings will not dry com-
pletely inside the vehicle, and should be re-
moved for drying to avoid floor panel
corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of high
relative humidity, especially those areas where
the temperatures stay above freezing and
where atmospheric pollution exists and road
salt is used.Temperature
A temperature increase will accelerate the rate
of corrosion to those parts which are not well
ventilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in the
air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt use will
accelerate the corrosion process. Road salt
will also accelerate the disintegration of paint
surfaces.To protect your vehicle from
corrosion:
IWash and wax your vehicle often to keep
the vehicle clean.
IAlways check for minor damage to the paint
and repair it as soon as possible.
IKeep drain holes at the bottom of the doors
open to avoid water accumulation.
ICheck the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with water
as soon as possible.
INEVER remove dirt, sand or other debris
from the passenger compartment by
washing it out with a hose. Remove dirt
with a vacuum cleaner or broom.INever allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electronic compo-
nents inside the vehicle.
CORROSION PROTECTION
6-5
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

MEMO
6-6
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

7 Do-it-yourself operations
Precautions ............................................................... 7-2
Engine cooling system .............................................. 7-4
Engine oil .................................................................. 7-6
Automatic transmission fluid ..................................... 7-9
Power steering fluid ................................................ 7-10
Brake and clutch fluid ............................................. 7-11
Window washer fluid ............................................... 7-11
Battery ..................................................................... 7-12
Drive belts ............................................................... 7-13
Spark plug replacement .......................................... 7-14
Air cleaner filter ....................................................... 7-16
Wiper blades ........................................................... 7-17
Parking brake .......................................................... 7-18
Brake pedal ............................................................. 7-19
Brake booster .......................................................... 7-20
Clutch pedal ............................................................ 7-20
Fuses....................................................................... 7-20
Fusible links ............................................................ 7-22
Light bulbs ............................................................... 7-22
Wheels and tires ..................................................... 7-29
Z01.2.1/A32-DX