1998 NISSAN MAXIMA ESP

The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces, even with the anti-lock sys-
tem. Stopping distances may also be
longer on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the responsibility for safety of self and
others rests in the hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may also
affect braking effectiveness.
IWhen replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
IWhen installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. See ªVe-hicle identificationº in the ª10. Tech-
nical and consumer informationº sec-
tion for tire placard location.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCKTo prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole.ANTI-FREEZEIn the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC), check
anti-freeze (ethylene glycol base) to assure
proper winter protection. For additional infor-
mation, see ªEngine Cooling Systemº in the ª8.
Do-it-yourselfº section.BATTERYIf the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For additional
information, see ªBatteryº in the ª8. Do-it-
yourselfº section.DRAINING OF COOLANT WATERIf the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by open-
ing the drain valves located under the radiator
and on the engine block. Refill before operat-
ing the vehicle. See ªEngine cooling systemº inCOLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving
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INever jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
INever use blocks on or under the
jack.
IDo not start or run engine while ve-
hicle is on the jack, as it may cause
the vehicle to move. This is especially
true for vehicles with limited slid dif-
ferential carriers.
IDo not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.
Installing the spare tire1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface
between the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the wheel on and tighten the
wheel nuts finger tight.
3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten wheel
nuts alternately and evenly until they are
tight.
4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tire
touches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts securely
in the sequence as illustrated.
IIncorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
IDo not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the
nuts to become loose.As soon as possible tighten the wheel nuts
to the specified torque with a torque
wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque:
72 to 87 ft-lb
(98 to 118 N×m)
Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure.
COLD pressure:
After vehicle has been parked for three
hours or more or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
COLD tire pressures are shown on the tire
placard affixed to the center console lid.
Retighten the wheel nuts when the vehicle
SCE0039
In case of emergency
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and 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 the rear
window defogger.ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELSWash regularly, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheel if not removed.CHROME PARTSClean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.Occasionally remove loose dust from the inte-
rior trim, plastic parts 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 rec-
ommendations. Some fabric protectors con-
tain 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 matsThe 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 withpedal operation.Mats should be maintained
with regular cleaning and replaced if they
become excessively worn.CLEANING INTERIOR
7-4
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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.
SEAT BELTSThe 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 se-
verely weaken the seat belt webbing.
MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION:IThe accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt
and debris in body panel sections, cavities,
and other areas.
IDamage to paint and other protective coat-
ings caused by gravel and stone chips or
minor traffic accidents.ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION:
MoistureAccumulation 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 humidityCorrosion 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.
SAI0012
CORROSION PROTECTION
Appearance and care
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Your new NISSAN has been designed to have
minimum maintenance requirements with
longer service intervals to save you both time
and money. However, some day-to-day and
regular maintenance is essential to maintain
your NISSAN's good mechanical condition, as
well as its emission and engine performance.
It is the owner's responsibility to make sure
that the specified maintenance, as well as
general maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one
who can ensure that your vehicle receives the
proper maintenance care. You are a vital link
in the maintenance chain.
General maintenance:
General maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normal day-
to-day operation of the vehicle. They are es-
sential if your vehicle is to continue to operate
properly. It is your responsibility to perform
these procedures regularly as prescribed.
These checks or inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician or, if you prefer,
your NISSAN dealer.
Periodic maintenance:
The maintenance items listed in this part are
required to be serviced at regular intervals.However, under severe driving conditions, ad-
ditional or more frequent maintenance will be
required.
Where to go for service:
If maintenance service is required or your
vehicle appears to malfunction, have the sys-
tems checked and tuned by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained special-
ists and are kept up to date with the latest
service information through technical bulletins,
service tips, and in-dealership training pro-
grams. They are completely qualified to work
on NISSAN's vehiclesbeforethey work on
your vehicle, rather than after they have
worked on it.
You can be confident that your NISSAN deal-
er's service department performs the best job
to meet the maintenance requirements on your
vehicle Ð in a reliable and economic way.9-2
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NISSAN supports efforts towards cleaner air
and suggests that you use reformulated gaso-
line when available.Gasoline containing oxygenatesSome fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing
oxygenates such as ethanol, MTBE and
methanol with or without advertising their pres-
ence. NISSAN does not recommend the use of
fuels of which the oxygenate content and the
fuel compatibility for your NISSAN cannot be
readily determined. If in doubt, ask your ser-
vice station manager.
If you use oxygenate-blend gasoline, please
take the following precautions as the usage of
such fuels may cause vehicle performance
problems and/or fuel system damage.
IThe fuel should be unleaded and have
an octane rating no lower than that rec-
ommended for unleaded gasoline.
IIf an oxygenate-blend, excepting a
methanol blend, is used, it should con-
tain no more than 10% oxygenate.
(MTBE may, however, be added up to
15%.)
IIf a methanol blend is used, it should
contain no more than 5% methanol (me-
thyl alcohol, wood alcohol). It shouldalso contain a suitable amount of appro-
priate cosolvents and corrosion inhibi-
tors. If not properly formulated with ap-
propriate cosolvents and corrosion
inhibitors, such methanol blends may
cause fuel system damage and/or ve-
hicle performance problems. At this
time, sufficient data is not available to
ensure that all methanol blends are suit-
able for use in NISSAN vehicles.
If any undesirable driveability problems such
as engine stalling and hard hot starting are
experienced after using oxygenate-blend fu-
els, immediately change to a non-oxygenate
fuel or a fuel with a low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during refu-
eling. Gasoline containing oxygenates can
cause paint damage.
Aftermarket fuel additivesNISSAN does not recommend the use of any
fuel additives (i.e. fuel injector cleaner, octane
booster, intake valve deposit removers, etc.)
which are sold commercially. Many of these
additives intended for gum, varnish or deposit
removal may contain active solvent or similar
ingredients that can be harmful to the fuel
system and engine.
Octane rating tipsIn most parts of North America, you should use
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at
least 87 or 91 AKI (Anti-Knock Index) number.
However, you may use unleaded gasoline with
an octane rating as low as 85 AKI number in
these high altitude areas [over 4,000 ft (1,219
m)] such as: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico,
Utah, Wyoming, northeastern Nevada, south-
ern Idaho, western South Dakota, western
Nebraska, and that part of Texas which is
directly south of New Mexico.
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than stated above 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 your dealer correct the condi-
tion. Failure to correct the condition is
misuse of the vehicle, for which NISSAN is
not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing will result in knocking,
after-run or overheating. This in turn may
cause excessive fuel consumption or damageTechnical and consumer information
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When planning to travel in another country,
you should first find out if the fuel available is
suitable for your vehicle's engine.
Using fuel with too low an octane rating may
cause engine damage. All gasoline vehicles
must be operated with unleaded engine gaso-
line. Therefore, avoid taking your vehicle to
areas where appropriate fuel is not available.
When transferring the registration of your
vehicle to another country, state, province
or district,it may be necessary to modify the
vehicle to meet local laws and regulations.
The laws and regulations for motor vehicle
emission control and safety standards vary
according to the country, state, province or
district; therefore, vehicle specifications may
differ.
When any vehicle is to be taken into an-
other country, state, province or district
and registered, its modifications, transpor-
tation, and registration are the responsibil-
ity of the user. NISSAN is not responsible
for any inconvenience that may result.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER (VIN) PLATEThe vehicle identification number plate is at-
tached as shown. This number is the identifi-
cation for your vehicle and is used in the
vehicle registration.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER (Chassis number)The number is stamped as shown.
STI0038
STI0040
WHEN TRAVELING OR
REGISTERING YOUR VEHICLE IN
ANOTHER COUNTRYVEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
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DOT (Department Of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform
to federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.TreadwearTreadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on tire wear rate when tested under
controlled conditions on specified government
test courses. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well
on the government course as a tire graded
100. However, relative tire performance de-
pends on actual driving conditions, and may
vary significantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.Traction AA, A, B and CThe traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to your ve-
hicle tires is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests, and does not in-
clude acceleration, cornering, hydro-
planing, or peak traction characteristics.Temperature A, B and CTemperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C. They represent a tire's resistance to
heat build-up, and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sus-
tained high temperature can cause tire mate-
rial to degenerate, reducing tire life. Excessive
temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a performance level
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of
performance on laboratory test wheels than
the minimum required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and pos-
sible tire failure.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING
Technical and consumer information
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