1996 NISSAN MAXIMA Owners Manual

After wiper blade replacement, return
the wiper arm to its original position.
Otherwise it may be damaged when the
engine hood is opened.
Make sure the wiper blade contacts the
glass, otherwise the arm may be dam-
aged from wind pressure.
If you wax the surface of the hood, be
careful not to let wax get into the washer
nozzle. This may cause clogging or im-
proper windshield washer operation. If wax
gets into the nozzle, remove it with a needle
or small pin.From the released position, pull the parking
brake lever up slowly and firmly. If the number
of clicks is out of the range listed above, see
your NISSAN dealer.
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SDI0125
PARKING BRAKE
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With the engine running, check the distance
between the upper surface of the pedal and
the metal floor. If it is out of the range shown
above, see your NISSAN dealer.
Self-adjusting brakes
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front disc-type brakes self-adjust every
time the brake pedal is applied. The rear
drum-type brakes self-adjust every time the
parking brake is applied. If the brake pedal
goes down farther than normal, it may be due
to a lack of adjustment of the rear drumbrakes. Apply the parking brake several times.
See your NISSAN dealer and have it
checked 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 replacement, it will make a high
pitched scraping or screeching sound when
the vehicle is in motion whether or not the
brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the wear indi-
cator sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions, oc-
casional 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.
The rear drum brakes (if so equipped) do not
have audible wear indicators. Should you ever
hear an unusually loud noise from the rear
drum brakes, have them inspected as soon as
possible by your NISSAN dealer.Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For more information regarding
brake inspections, see the appropriate main-
tenance schedule information in the ªMainte-
nance Scheduleº section of this manual.
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BRAKE PEDAL
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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) re-
mains 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. Keeping the pedal depressed for
about 30 seconds, the pedal height should
not change.
4. Run the engine for one minute without
depressing the brake pedal, then turn it off.
Depress the brake pedal several times. The
pedal travel distance will decrease gradu-
ally with each depression as the vacuum is
released from the booster.
If the brakes do not operate properly, see your
NISSAN dealer.Press the pedal by hand and be sure the free
travel is within the limits shown above. If free
travel is too little or too much, see your NIS-
SAN dealer.
Engine compartment
If the electrical equipment does not come on,
check for a burned-out fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition key and headlight
switch are ªOFFº.
2. Open the engine hood.
3. Remove the fusible link cover.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
5. If the fuse is burned out, replace it with a
new fuse.
DI1021MASDI0126
BRAKE BOOSTER CLUTCH PEDAL FUSES
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Never use a fuse of higher amperage rating
than that specified on the fuse box cover.
6. If a new fuse burns out again, have the
electrical system checked and repaired by
your NISSAN dealer.
Passenger compartment
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for a burned-out fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition key and headlight
switch are ªOFFº.
2. Open the fuse box lid.
3. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
4. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new
fuse.
Never use a fuse of higher amperage rating
than that specified on the fuse box cover.5. If a new fuse opens again, have the elec-
trical system checked and repaired by your
NISSAN dealer.
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If any electrical equipment does not operate
and fuses are in good condition, check the
fusible links. If any of these fusible links are
melted, replace only with genuine NISSAN
parts.
HEADLIGHTS
The headlight is a semi-sealed beam type
which uses a replaceable headlight (halogen)
bulb. A bulb can be replaced from inside the
engine compartment without removing the
headlight assembly.
High pressure halogen gas is sealed
inside the halogen bulb. The bulb may
break if the glass envelope is scratched
or the bulb is dropped.
Hold the plastic base when handling the
bulb. Never touch the glass envelope.
Removing the headlight bulb
1. Disconnect the battery negative cable.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector from
the rear end of the bulb.
3. Turn the bulb retaining ring counterclock-
wise until it is free from the headlight reflec-
tor, then remove it.
4. Remove the headlight bulb. Do not shake
or rotate the bulb when removing it.
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SDI0129
FUSIBLE LINKS LIGHT BULBS
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Replacing the headlight bulb
1. Insert the bulb into the headlight reflector
with the flat side of the plastic base facing
upward.
2. Install the bulb retaining ring and turn it
clockwise until it stops.
3. Push the electrical connector into the bulb
plastic base until it snaps and stops.
DO NOT TOUCH THE BULB.
IUse the same number and wattage as
originally installed:
Wattage 65/45
Bulb no. 9004
IAiming is not necessary after replac-
ing the bulb. When aiming adjust-
ment is necessary, contact your NIS-
SAN dealer.
IDo not leave the bulb out of the head-
light reflector for a long period of time
as dust, moisture, and smoke may
enter the headlight body and affect
the performance of the headlight.
OTHER LIGHTS
Item Wattage (W) Bulb No.
Cornering/clearance 27/8 1157
Front turn signal light 27 1156
Front side marker light 3.8 194
Front fog light 55
Rear combination light
Turn signal 27 1156
Stop/Tail 27/8 1157
Back-up 27 1156
Rear side marker light 3.8 194
License plate light 5
High-mounted stop light 27 1156
Interior light 10
Front personal light 10
Step light 2.7 161
Trunk light 3.4 158
Vanity mirror light 1.4 Ð
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Replacement procedures
All other lights are either type A, B, C or D.
When replacing a bulb, first remove the lens
and/or cover.
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MDI0006
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