1997 NISSAN MAXIMA lock

3-point seat belts have a cinching mechanism
for child seat installation. It is referred to as the
automatic locking mode.
When the cinching mechanism is activated the
seat belt cannot be withdrawn again until the
seat belt tongue is detached from the buckle
and fully retracted. Refer to ªChild restraints for
infants and small childrenº later in this section
for more information.
The automatic locking mode should be
used only for child seat installation. During
normal seat belt use by a passenger, the
locking mode should not be activated. If it
is activated it may cause uncomfortable
seat belt tension.
Unfastening the belts
To unfasten the belt, press the button on the
buckle. The seat belt will automatically retract.
Checking seat belt operation
(3-point type with retractor)
Your seat belt retractors are designed to lock
belt movement using two separate methods:
1) When the belt is pulled quickly from the
retractor.
2) When the vehicle slows down rapidly.
You can check their operation as follows:
IGrasp the shoulder belt and pull quickly
forward. The retractor should lock and re-
strict further belt movement.
If the retractor does not lock during this check
or if you have any questions about belt opera-
tion, see your NISSAN dealer.
Shoulder belt height adjustment
(For front seats)
The shoulder belt anchor height should be
adjusted to the position best for you. (See
ªPrecautions on seat belt usageº.) To adjust,
squeeze the release buttons, and then move it
to the desired position, so that the belt passes
over the center of the shoulder. The belt
should be away from your face and neck, but
not falling off of your shoulder.
PD1321-A
2-28
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

Installation on rear outboard seating
positions
IThe 3-point belt on your vehicle is
equipped with a locking mode retrac-
tor which must be used when install-
ing a child restraint.
IFailure to do so will result in the child
restraint not being properly secured.
It could tip over or otherwise be un-
secured and cause injury to the childin a sudden stop or collision.
When you install a child restraint in a rear
outboard seat, follow these steps:
1. Position the child restraint on the seat. It
can be placed in a front facing or rear facing
direction, depending on the size of the
child. Always follow the restraint manufac-
turer's instructions.
2. Route the seat belt tongue through the child
restraint and insert it into the buckle until
you hear and feel the latch engage.
Be sure to follow the child restraint manu-
facturer's instructions for belt routing.
3. Pull on the shoulder belt until all of the belt
is fully extended and a click is heard. At this
time, the belt retractor is in the automatic
locking mode (child restraint mode). It will
revert back to ªemergency lockingº when
the belt is fully retracted.
4. Allow the belt to retract. A clicking sound
will be heard as the belt retracts. This
indicates that the retractor is in the auto-
matic locking mode. Pull up on the beltto remove any slack in the belt.
5. Before placing the child in the child re-
straint, use force to tilt the child restraint
from side to side, and tug it forward to make
sure that it is securely held in place.
6. Check that the retractor is in the automatic
locking mode by trying to pull more belt out
of the retractor. If you cannot pull any more
belt webbing out of the retractor, the belt is
in the automatic locking mode.
7. Check to make sure that the child restraint
is properly secured prior to each use. If the
belt is not locked, repeat steps 3 through 6.
PD1331PD1332
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After the child restraint is removed and the
seat belt is allowed to wind back into the
retractor, the automatic locking mode (child
restraint mode) is canceled; the seat belt may
be used as normal and will only lock during a
sudden stop or impact.
Top strap child restraint
If your child restraint has a top strap, install the
anchor bracket to the provided anchor point.
The top strap anchor bracket is available
through your NISSAN dealer.
Part No. 88894-89900
Secure the child restraint with the center lap
belt or the lap portion of an outboard 3-point
belt and latch the top strap hook onto the
appropriate anchor bracket. To install the an-
chor bracket, a metric bolt of the dimensions
listed below must be used.
Bolt diameter: 8.0 mmBolt length: more than 1.18 in (30 mm)
Thread pitch: 1.25 mm
The top strap should be secured to the attach-
ing bolt which provides the straightest installa-
tion of the top strap.
Child restraint anchor points are de-
signed to withstand only those loads
imposed by correctly fitted child re-
straints. Under no circumstances are
they to be used for adult seat belts or
harnesses.
APD0107
2-35
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

Installation on front passenger seat
INever install a rear-facing child re-
straint in the front passenger seat.
Supplemental air bags inflate with
great force. A rear-facing child re-
straint could be struck by the supple-
mental air bag in a crash and could
seriously injure or kill your child.
IIf you install a front-facing child re-
straint in the front passenger seat,
place the passenger seat as far back
as possible.
IA child restraint with a top strap
should not be used in the front pas-
senger seat.
IThe 3-point belt in your vehicle is
equipped with a locking mode retrac-
tor which must be used when install-
ing a child restraint.
IFailure to use the retractor's locking
mode may result in the child restraint
not being properly secured. The re-
straint could tip over or otherwise be
unsecured and cause injury to the
child in a sudden stop or collision.
When you install a child restraint in the front
seat, follow these steps:
1. Position the child restraint on the front
passenger seat.It should be placed in a
front-facing direction only.Move the seat
as far back from the instrument panel as
possible. Always follow the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions.Child re-
straints for infants must be used in the
rear-facing direction and therefore must
not be used in the front seat.
2. Route the seat belt tongue through the child
restraint and insert it into the buckle until
you hear and feel the latch engage.
SPA0487SPA0483
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Z01.2.1/A32-DX

Be sure to follow the child restraint manufac-
turer's instructions for belt routing.
3. Pull on the shoulder belt until all of the belt
is fully extended and a click is heard. At this
time, the belt retractor is in the automatic
locking mode (child restraint mode). (It will
revert back to ªemergency lockingº when
the belt is fully retracted.)
4. Allow the belt to retract. A clicking sound
will be heard as the belt retracts. This
indicates that the retractor is in the auto-
matic locking mode. Pull up on the belt to
remove any slack in the belt.5. Before placing the child in the child re-
straint, use force to tilt the child restraint
from side to side, and tug it forward to make
sure that it is securely held in place.
6. Check that the retractor is in the automatic
locking mode by trying to pull more belt out
of the retractor. If you cannot pull any more
belt webbing out of the retractor, the belt is
in the automatic locking mode.
7. Check to make sure that the child restraint
is properly secured prior to each use. If the
lap belt is not locked, repeat steps 3
through 6.
After the child restraint is removed and the
seat belt is allowed to wind back into the
retractor, the automatic locking mode (child
restraint mode) is canceled; the seat belt may
be used as normal and will only lock during a
sudden stop or impact.Tilt operation
Push the lock lever and while holding down,
adjust the steering wheel up or down to the
desired position.
Push the lock lever back into place to lock the
steering wheel in place.
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving. You could lose control of your
vehicle and cause an accident.
PD1336SPA0111
TILTING STEERING WHEEL
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4 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ...................... 4-2
Avoiding collision and rollover................................... 4-3
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ............................ 4-4
Ignition switch............................................................ 4-4
Before starting the engine ......................................... 4-6
Starting the engine .................................................... 4-6
Driving with automatic transmission.......................... 4-7
Driving with manual transmission ........................... 4-10
Parking brake .......................................................... 4-12
Cruise control .......................................................... 4-13
Break-in schedule ................................................... 4-15
Economy hints......................................................... 4-15
Parking/Parking on hills........................................... 4-16
Power steering system ............................................ 4-17
Brake system .......................................................... 4-17
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) (If so equipped)....... 4-18
Cold weather driving ............................................... 4-19
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

Never drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the blood
stream reduces coordination, delays re-
action time and impairs judgment. Driv-
ing after drinking alcohol increases the
likelihood of being involved in an acci-
dent injuring yourself and others. Addi-
tionally, if you are injured in the accident
alcohol can increase the severity of
injury.
Nissan is committed to safe driving. But, you
must choose not to drive under the influence of
alcohol. Every year thousands of people are
injured or killed in alcohol related accidents.
Although the local laws vary on what is con-
sidered to be legally intoxicated, the fact is that
alcohol affects all people differently and most
people underestimate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don't mix!
And that's true for drugs too (over the counter,
prescription, and illegal drugs). Don't drive if
your ability to operate your vehicle is impaired
by alcohol, drugs, or some other physical
condition.The switch includes an anti-theft steering lock
device.
ªLOCKº Normal parking position (0)
The ignition key can only be removed when
the switch is in this position.
On manual transmission models, to turn the
ignition key to ªLOCKº from ªACCº or ªONº,
turn the key to ªOFFº and press in the key
release button, then turn the key to ªLOCKº.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn counter-
clockwise from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, remove the key.To unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
Never remove the key while driving. If
the key is removed, the steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle and could
result in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
SSD0021
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS
AND DRIVINGIGNITION SWITCH
4-4
Z01.2.1/A32-DX

On automatic transmission models, the igni-
tion lock is designed so that the key cannot be
turned to ªLOCKº and removed until the selec-
tor lever is moved to the ªPº position.
When removing the key from the ignition,
make sure the selector lever is in the ªPº
position.
If the selector lever is not returned to ªPº
(Park), the key cannot be moved toward
LOCK.
When the key cannot be turned toward the
ªLOCKº position, proceed as follows to remove
the key:1) Move the selector lever into the ªPº posi-
tion.
2) Turn the ignition key slightly in the ªONº
direction.
3) Turn the key toward the ªLOCKº position.
4) Remove the key.
If the key is removed from the ignition switch,
the selector lever cannot be moved from ªPº
(Park).The selector lever can be moved if
the ignition switch is in the ªACCº position.
The selector lever can also be moved if the
ignition switch is in the ªONº position and
the foot brake pedal is depressed.
There is an ªOFFº position in between ªLOCKº
and ªACCº, although it does not show on the
lock cylinder. When the ignition is in ªOFFº the
steering wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn counter-
clockwise from the straight up position.To lock the steering wheel, remove the key.
To unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
Never remove the key while driving. If
the key is removed, the steering wheel
will lock. This may cause the driver to
lose control of the vehicle and could
result in serious vehicle damage or per-
sonal injury.
ªOFFº (1)
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel.
ªACCº (Accessories) (2)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio when the engine is not
running.
ªONº Normal operating position (3)
This position turns on the ignition system and
the electrical accessories.
SSD0055
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