1998 NISSAN MAXIMA fuel

FUEL FILLER CAPThe fuel filler cap is a screw-on ratcheting
type. Tighten the cap clockwise until ratcheting
clicks are heard.
Put the fuel filler cap on the cap holder while
refueling.IGasoline is extremely flammable and
highly explosive under certain condi-
tions. You could be burned or seri-
ously injured if it is misused or mis-handled. Always stop the engine and
do not smoke or allow open flames or
sparks near the vehicle when refuel-
ing.
IFuel may be under pressure. Turn the
cap one-half turn, and wait for any
hissing sound to stop to prevent fuel
from spraying out and possible per-
sonal injury. Then remove the cap.
IDo not attempt to top off the fuel tank
after the fuel pump nozzle shuts off
automatically.
Continued refueling may cause fueloverflow, resulting in fuel spray and
possibly a fire.
IUse only a genuine NISSAN fuel filler
cap as a replacement. It has a built-in
safety valve needed for proper opera-
tion of the fuel system and emission
control system. An incorrect cap can
result in a serious malfunction and
possible injury.
INever pour fuel into the throttle body
to attempt to start your vehicle.
IIf fuel is spilled on the car body, flush
it away with water to avoid paint dam-
age.
ITighten until the cap clicks. Failure to
tighten the fuel cap properly may
cause the
Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) to illuminate. If this oc-
curs, it will be necessary to take your
vehicle in for service by an autho-
rized NISSAN dealer.
SPA0653
3-12
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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The air conditioning system in your NISSAN
vehicle is charged with a refrigerant designed
with the environment in mind.This refrigerant
will not harm the earth's ozone layer.How-
ever, special charging equipment and lubricant
are required when servicing your NISSAN air
conditioner. Using improper refrigerants or lu-
bricants will cause severe damage to your air
conditioning system. See ªCapacities and rec-
ommended fuel/lubricantsº in the ª10. Techni-
cal and consumer informationº section for air
conditioning system refrigerant and lubricant
recommendations.
Your NISSAN dealer will be able to service
your environmentally friendly air conditioning
system.The air conditioner system contains re-
frigerant under high pressure. To avoid
personal injury, any air conditioner ser-
vice should be done only by an experi-
enced technician with proper
equipment.
RADIOTo turn the radio on, turn the ignition key to
ACC or ON. If you listen to the radio with the
engine not running, turn the key to the ACC
position.
Radio reception is affected by station signal
strength, distance from radio transmitter, build-
ings, bridges, mountains and other external
influences. Intermittent changes in reception
quality normally are caused by these external
influences.
SERVICING AIR CONDITIONER AUDIO SYSTEM4-12
Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
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ANTENNA
Manual antennaThe manual antenna cannot be shortened, but
can be removed. When you need to remove
the antenna, turn its base counterclockwise.Power antenna (if so equipped)The antenna will automatically extend when
the radio is turned on, and retract when
switched off. If the radio is left on, the antenna
will retract and extend with the ignition key
OFF-ON operation.IBefore turning the radio on, make
sure that there is no one near the
antenna outlet and there is enough
space for it to extend.
ITo prevent damage, be sure that an-
tenna is fully retracted before the
vehicle enters an automated car
wash.
IDirt and other foreign matter on the
power antenna rod may interrupt its
operation. Clean the rod periodically
with a damp cloth. This type of clean-ing is especially important during the
winter seasons in areas where road
salt and other chemicals may be
spread on road surfaces and
splashed onto the antenna rod.
When installing a CB, ham radio or a car
phone in your NISSAN, be sure to observe the
following cautions, otherwise the new equip-
ment may adversely affect the MFI (Multiport
Fuel Injection) system and other electronic
parts.IKeep the antenna as far as possible
away from the Engine Control Mod-
ule.
IAlso keep the antenna wire more than
8 in (20 cm) away from the MFI har-
ness. Do not route the antenna wire
next to any harness.
IAdjust the antenna standing-wave ra-
tio as recommended by the manufac-
turer.
IConnect the ground wire from the CB
radio chassis to the body.
IFor details, consult a NISSAN dealer.CB RADIO OR CAR PHONE
Heater, air conditioner and audio systems
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5 Starting and drivingPrecautions when starting and driving ...................... 5-2
Ignition switch............................................................ 5-4
Before starting the engine ......................................... 5-6
Starting the engine .................................................... 5-6
Driving the vehicle ..................................................... 5-7
Parking brake .......................................................... 5-12
Cruise control .......................................................... 5-12
Break-in schedule ................................................... 5-14
Increasing fuel economy ......................................... 5-15
Parking/parking on hills ........................................... 5-16
Power steering ........................................................ 5-17
Brake system .......................................................... 5-17
Cold weather driving ............................................... 5-19
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IThe exhaust gas and the exhaust sys-
tem are very hot. Keep people, ani-
mals or flammable materials away
from the exhaust pipe.
IDo not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They may
ignite and cause a fire.IDo not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline seriously re-
duce the three way catalyst's ability
to help reduce exhaust pollutants.
IKeep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause over-
rich fuel flow into the three way cata-
lyst, causing it to overheat. Do not
keep driving if the engine misfires, or
if noticeable loss of performance or
other unusual operating conditions
are detected. Have the vehicle in-spected promptly by an authorized
NISSAN dealer.
IAvoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damag-
ing the three way catalyst.
IDo not race the engine while warming
it up.
IDo not push or tow your vehicle to
start the engine.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVERFailure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss
of control or an accident.Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden steer-
ing maneuvers, because these driving prac-
tices could cause you to lose control of your
vehicle.As with any vehicle, a loss of con-trol could result in a collision with other
vehicles or objects, or cause the vehicle to
rollover, particularly if the loss of control
causes the vehicle to slide sideways.Be
attentive at all times, and avoid driving when
tired. Never drive when under the influence of
alcohol or drugs (including prescription or
over-the-counter drugs which may cause
drowsiness). Always wear your seat belt. See
ªSeat Beltsº in the ª1. Seats, restraints and
supplemental air bag systemsº section. And
also instruct your passengers to do so.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVINGNever drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream
reduces coordination, delays reaction
time and impairs judgment. Driving after
drinking alcohol increases the likeli-
hood of being involved in an accident
injuring yourself and others. Addition-
ally, if you are injured in the accident,
alcohol can increase the severity of the
injury.
Starting and driving
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OFF: Changed for driving up and down long
slopes where engine braking would be
advantageous, push the overdrive
switch. The O/D OFF light illuminates.
When cruising at a low speed or climb-
ing a gentle slope, you may feel uncom-
fortable shift shocks as the transmission
shifts between third and overdrive re-
peatedly. In this case, press the over-
drive switch. The O/D OFF indicator light
comes on at this time.
When driving conditions change, press the
overdrive switch again. The O/D OFF indicator
light goes out.
Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time with the O/D OFF
light illuminated. This reduces the fuel
economy.Fail-safeWhen the fail-safe operation occurs, the next
time the key is turned to the ON position, the
O/D OFF light will blink for approximately 8
seconds after coming on for 2 seconds. While
the vehicle can be driven under these circum-
stances please note that the gears in the
automatic transmission will be locked in third
gear.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, turn the ignition key
OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then turn the
key back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have your NISSAN
dealer check the transmission and repair if
necessary.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ShiftingTo change gears, fully depress the clutch
pedal, then move the shift lever. After shifting,
release the clutch slowly.
On the five-speed transmission model, you
cannot shift directly from fifth gear into the R
(Reverse) position. First shift into the N (Neu-
tral) position, then into the R (Reverse) posi-
tion.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into R
(Reverse) or 1 (Low gear), shift into N (Neu-
tral), then release the clutch pedal and shift
SSD0002
5-10
Starting and driving
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into R (Reverse) or 1 (Low gear) again.IDo not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of con-
trol.
IDo not over-rev the engine when
shifting to a lower gear. This may
cause a loss of control or engine
damage.IDo not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal while driving. This may cause
clutch damage.
IStop your vehicle completely before
shifting into R (Reverse).
IWhen the vehicle is stopped for a
duration, for example at a stop light,
shift to N (Neutral) and release the
clutch pedal with the foot brake
applied.
Suggested up-shift speedsShown below are suggested vehicle speeds
for shifting into a higher gear. These sugges-
tions relate to fuel economy and vehicle per-
formance. Actual up-shift speeds will vary ac-
cording to road conditions, the weather and
individual driving habits.
For normal acceleration in low altitude areas
[less than 4,000 ft (1,219 m)]:Gear changeACCEL shift
point
MPH (km/h)CRUISE shift
point
MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 13 (24) 13 (24)
2nd to 3rd 23 (40) 16 (29)
3rd to 4th 33 (58) 27 (48)
4th to 5th 39 (64) 36 (63)For quick acceleration when the engine is cold
or in high altitude areas [over 4,000 ft (1,219
m)]:Gear change MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (24)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40)
3rd to 4th 40 (64)
4th to 5th 45 (72)
Suggested maximum speed in each
gearDownshift to a lower gear if the engine is not
running smoothly, or if you need to accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested speed
(shown below) in any gear. For level road
driving, use the highest gear suggested for
that speed. Always observe posted speed
limits, and drive according to the road condi-
tions, which will ensure safe operation. Do not
over-rev the engine when shifting to a lower
gear as it may cause engine damage or loss of
vehicle control.
Gear MPH (km/h)
1st 30 (50)
2nd 55 (90)
3rd 80 (130)
4th Ð
5th Ð
Starting and driving
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IAccelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
IDrive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed will lower fuel
economy.
IAvoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a safe distance behind other ve-
hicles.
IUse a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
IAvoid unnecessary engine idling.IKeep your engine tuned up.
IFollow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
IKeep the tires inflated at the correct pres-
sure. Low pressure will increase tire wear
and waste fuel.
IKeep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment will cause not only tire
wear but also lower fuel economy.
IAir conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
IWhen cruising at highway speeds, it is
more economical to use the air conditioner
and leave the windows closed to reduce
drag.
SD1001M
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
Starting and driving
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