1998 NISSAN MAXIMA Owners Manual

MAXIMUM LOAD LIMITS
Maximum trailer loadsNever allow the total trailer load to exceed
1,000 lb (454 kg). The total trailer load equals
trailer weight plus its cargo weight. Towing
loads greater than 1,000 lb (454 kg) or using
improper towing equipment could adversely
affect vehicle handling, braking and perfor-
mance.Vehicle damage and/or personal injury
resulting from improper towing proce-
dures is not covered by NISSAN warran-
ties. Information on trailer towing and
required towing equipment should be
obtained from dealers who specialize in
providing trailers or other towing
equipment.Tongue loadKeep the tongue load between 9 and 11% of
the total trailer load. If the tongue load be-
comes excessive, rearrange cargo to allow for
proper tongue load.
Maximum gross vehicle weight/
maximum gross axle weightThe gross vehicle weight of the towing vehicle
must not exceed. GVWR shown on the F.M-
.V.S.S. certification label. The gross vehicle
weight equals the combined weight of the
unloaded vehicle, passengers, luggage, hitch,
trailer tongue load and any other optional
equipment. In addition, front or rear gross axle
weight must not exceed GAWR shown on the
F.M.V.S.S. certification label.
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHART
Unit: lb (kg)
MAXIMUM
TOWING LOAD1,000 (454)
MAXIMUM
TONGUE LOAD110 (49)
TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitchChoose a proper hitch for your vehicle and
trailer. Make sure the trailer hitch is securely
attached to the vehicle, to help avoid personal
injury or property damage due to sway caused
by crosswinds, rough road surfaces or passing
trucks.IDo not use axle-mounted hitches.
IThe hitch should not be attached to
or affect the operation of the impact-
absorbing bumper
IDo not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc. when the
hitch is installed.
TI1012M
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ITo reduce the possibility of additional
damage if your vehicle is struck from
the rear, where practical, remove the
hitch when not in use. Remove the
receiver when not in use. After the
hitch is removed, seal the bolt holes
to prevent exhaust fumes, water or
dust from entering the passenger
compartment.
IRegularly check that all hitch mount-
ing bolts are securely mounted.Tire pressuresIWhen towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle
tires to the recommended cold tire pressure
indicated on the tire placard (located on the
inside of the center console lid.)
ITrailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in ac-
cordance with the trailer and tire manufac-
turers' specifications.Safety chainAlways use a suitable chain between your
vehicle and the trailer. The chain should be
crossed and should be attached to the hitch,
not to the vehicle bumper or axle. Be sure toleave enough slack in the chain to permit
turning corners.
Trailer lightsTrailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. When wiring the vehicle for
towing, connect the stop and tail light pickup
into the vehicle electrical circuit at a point
between the sensor and stop light or light
switch.Trailer brakesIf your trailer is equipped with a braking sys-
tem, make sure it conforms to federal and/or
local regulations and that it is properly in-
stalled.Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.Pre-towing tipsIBe certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if
it has an abnormal nose-up or nose-down
condition; check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other pos-sible causes of either condition.
IAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shifts while driving.
IBe certain your rear view mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing be-
fore driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tipsIn order to gain skill and an understanding of
the vehicle's behavior, you should practice
turning, stopping and backing up in an area
which is free from traffic. Steering stability, and
braking performance will be somewhat differ-
ent than under normal driving conditions.
IAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
IAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
IAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
IAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
IAlways block the wheels on both vehicle
and trailer when parking. Parking on a
slope is not recommended; however, if you
must do so, and if your vehicle is equipped
with automatic transmission, first block the
wheels and apply the parking brake, andTechnical and consumer information
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then move the transmission selector lever
into the P (Park) position. If you move the
selector lever to the P (Park) position be-
fore blocking the wheels and applying the
parking brake, transmission damage could
occur.
IWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, downshift
the transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
IIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioning
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
ITrailer towing requires more fuel than nor-
mal circumstances.
IAvoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km).
IHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule.
IWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than yourvehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
ICrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being passed
by larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect
vehicle handling. If swaying does occur,
firmly grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually) re-
duce vehicle speed. This combination will
help stabilize the vehicle. Never increase
speed.
IBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember the length of the trailer
must also pass the other vehicle before you
can safely change lanes.
ITo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
fifth gear (manual transmission) or over-
drive (automatic transmission).
IAvoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.When towing a trailer, change oil in the
transmission more frequently.
See ªPeriodic maintenance schedulesº in
the ª9. Maintenanceº section.
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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
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Your NISSAN is covered by the following
emission warranties.
For US:
IEmission Defects Warranty
IEmissions Performance Warranty
For Canada:
Emission Control System Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found with
other vehicle warranties in your Warranty In-
formation and Maintenance Log Booklet that
comes with your NISSAN. If you did not re-
ceive a Warranty Information and Mainte-
nance Log Booklet, or it has become lost, you
may obtain a replacement by writing to:
INissan Motor Corporation U.S.A.
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 191
Gardena. CA. 90248-0191
INissan Canada Inc.
5290 Orbitor Drive
Mississauga, Ontario,
L4W 4Z5
If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National High-
way Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA)
in addition to notifying
NISSAN.
If
NHTSA
receives similar complaints,
it may open an investigation, and if it
finds that a safety defect exists in a
group of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA
cannot become involved in
individual problems between you, your
dealer, or NISSAN.
To contactNHTSA
, you may either call
the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in Wash-
ington, D.C. area) or write to:
NHTSA
,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
Washington, D.C. 20590. You can also
obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from the Hotline.
You may notify NISSAN by contacting
our Consumer Affairs Department, toll-
free, at 1-800-NISSAN-1.
In Hawaii call (808) 836-0888.
Due to legal requirements in some states/
areas, your vehicle may be required to be in
what is called the ready condition for an
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of the emis-
sion control system.
The vehicle is set to the ready condition when
it is driven through certain driving patterns.
Usually, the ready condition can be obtained
by ordinary usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired
or the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may
be reset to a not ready condition. Before taking
the I/M test, drive the vehicle through the
following pattern to set the vehicle to the ready
condition. If you cannot or do not want to
perform the driving pattern, an NISSAN dealer
can conduct it for you.Always drive the vehicle in a safe man-
ner according to traffic conditions and
obey all traffic laws.1. Start the engine when the engine coolant
temperature gauge needle points to C. Al-
low the engine to idle until the gauge needle
points between the C and H (normal oper-
ating temperature).
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARRANTYREPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS
(US only)READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST (US
only)10-18
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2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88
km/h), then quickly release the accelerator
pedal completely and keep it released for at
least 6 seconds.
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a
moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed
of 53 to 60 MPH (86 to 96 km/h) for at least
5 minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle.
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH (55 km/h)
and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 at least 3 times.
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH (88 km/h)
and maintain the speed for at least 3 min-
utes.
8. Stop the vehicle and turn the engine off.
9. Repeat steps 1 through 8 at least one more
time.
If step 1 through 7 is interrupted, repeat the
preceding step. Any safe driving mode is ac-
ceptable between steps. Do not stop the en-
gine until step 7 is completed.
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A Genuine Nissan Service Manual is the best
source of service and repair information for
your vehicle. Filled with wiring diagrams, illus-
trations and step-by-step diagnostic and ad-
justment procedures, this manual is the same
one used by the factory trained technicians
working at your Nissan dealership. Also avail-
able are Genuine NISSAN Owner's Manuals.
For current pricing and availability of a Genu-
ine NISSAN Service Manual or Genuine
NISSAN Owner's Manual, contact:In the U.S.A.:
See your NISSAN dealer or contact:
Dyment Distribution Services
20770 Westwood Dr.
Strongsville OH 44136
In a hurry? Call 1-800-247-5321 and charge
your purchase to Visa/Master Card.
In Canada:
To purchase a copy of a Genuine NISSAN
Service Manual or Owner's Manual please
contact your nearest NISSAN Dealer. For the
phone number and location of a NISSAN
Dealer in your area call the Nissan Satis-
faction Center at 1-800-387-0122 and abilingual NISSAN representative will assist
you.
Also available are Genuine NISSAN Service
and Owner's Manuals for older Nissan models.10-20
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11 Index
A
ABS ................................................................. 5-18
Adjusting the time ........................................... 2-25
Adjustment
Front manual seat ....................................... 1-2
Front power seat ......................................... 1-4
Head restraint .............................................. 1-5
Shoulder belt ............................................. 1-22
Air bag
System....................................................... 1-12
System, Side ............................................. 1-13
Warning label ............................................ 1-15
Warning light ...................................... 1-15, 2-8
Air cleaner....................................................... 8-18
Air conditioner
Automatic..................................................... 4-9
Manual ......................................................... 4-3
Operation, Manual ....................................... 4-5
Servicing .................................................... 4-12
Specification label ................................... 10-11
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ............................. 10-6
Aluminum alloy wheels, Cleaning ..................... 7-4
Anchor point location, Top strap..................... 1-35
Antenna........................................................... 4-25
Anti-freeze, Cold weather ............................... 5-19
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ........................ 5-18Appearance care
Exterior ........................................................ 7-2
Interior ......................................................... 7-4
Armrest ............................................................. 1-6
Ashtray ............................................................ 2-19
Audio system .................................................. 4-12
Automatic
Operation, Air conditioner ......................... 4-10
Sunroof, Operation .................................... 2-24
Transaxle fluid ........................................... 8-10
Transmission, Driving .................................. 5-7
Avoiding collision and rollover .......................... 5-3
B
Battery
Cold weather ............................................. 5-19
Maintenance .............................................. 8-14
Replacement, Multi-remote control ............. 3-7
Before starting the engine ................................ 5-6
Belt
Drive .......................................................... 8-15
Extender, Seat........................................... 1-25
Height adjustment, Shoulder ..................... 1-22
Maintenance, Seat .................................... 1-25
Seat ........................................................... 1-17
Brake
Booster ...................................................... 8-21
Fluid ........................................................... 8-12Parking ...................................................... 5-12
Pedal ......................................................... 8-20
System....................................................... 5-17
Warning light ............................................... 2-8
Break-in schedule ........................................... 5-14
Bulb
Checking...................................................... 2-7
Indicator ....................................................... 2-9
Replacement ............................................. 8-25
Warning light ............................................... 2-7
Buzzer ............................................................. 2-11
C
Capacities and recommended fuel/lubricant .. 10-2
Car phone ....................................................... 4-25
Carbon monoxide, Exhaust gas ....................... 5-2
Cassette tape player operation....................... 4-15
Cassette tape player operation, with compact disc
(CD) player type ............................................. 4-21
Catalytic converter, Three way catalyst............ 5-2
CB radio or car phone .................................... 4-25
Ceiling light ..................................................... 2-25
Certification label, F.M.V.S.S. ....................... 10-10
Chain, Tire ...................................................... 8-33
Changing
A flat tire ...................................................... 6-2
Engine coolant............................................. 8-6
Engine oil..................................................... 8-9
Engine oil filter........................................... 8-10
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