2008 NISSAN MAXIMA heating

Power folding outside mirrors (if so
equipped)
CAUTION
Do not manually fold the power folding
mirrors. Manually folding the mirrors can
damage the mirrors.
Press the switch to open or close the mirrors.
Reverse tilt-down feature (if so
equipped)
The reverse tilt-down feature will turn the se-
lected outside mirror surface downward to pro-
vide better rear visibility close to the vehicle.
When the ignition switch is in the ON position,
turn the outside mirror control switch to the left or
right position. Only one mirror can be selected at
a time.
Move the shift selector lever to R (Reverse) . The
selected mirror will turn downward.
The selected mirror surface will return to its origi-
nal position when any of the following have oc-
curred:
cThe shift selector lever is moved to any po-
sition other than R (Reverse) .
cThe outside mirror control switch is set to the
N (Neutral) position.
cThe ignition switch is turned OFF.NOTE:
If the outside mirror control switch is in the
neutral position, neither mirror will turn
downward when the shift selector lever is
moved to R (Reverse) .
For more information regarding this feature and
how to save the R (Reverse) mirror tilt-down
adjustment in the automatic drive positioner
memory, refer to “Automatic drive positioner” later
in this section.
Heated mirrors (if so equipped)
The electric control type outside mirrors (if so
equipped) can be heated to defrost, defog, or
de-ice for improved visibility. Press the rear win-
dow defogger switch to activate the heating
function. Press the switch again to deactivate, or
the heating function will automatically turn off
after approximately 15 minutes.LPD0196
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-27
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1. Temperature control dial (driver’s side)
2.
(fan speed control) button
3. AUTO climate control ON button
4. MODE (manual air flow control) button
5.
(front defroster) button
6. DUAL (passenger side temperature
control) ON/OFF button
7. Temperature control dial (passenger’s
side)
8.
Air recirculation button
9.
Rear window defroster switch
10. A/C (air conditioner) ON/OFF button
11. OFF button for climate control system
WARNING
cThe air conditioner cooling function op-
erates only when the engine is running.
cDo not leave children or adults who
would normally require the assistance
of others alone in your vehicle. Pets
should also not be left alone. They
could accidentally injure themselves or
others through inadvertent operation of
the vehicle. Also, on hot, sunny days,
temperatures in a closed vehicle could
quickly become high enough to cause
severe or possibly fatal injuries to
people or animals.cDo not use the recirculation mode for
long periods as it may cause the interior
air to become stale and the windows to
fog up.
Start the engine and operate the controls to
activate the air conditioner.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION
Cooling and/or dehumidified heating
(AUTO)
This mode may be used all year round as the
system automatically works to keep a constant
temperature. Air flow distribution and fan speed
are also controlled automatically.
1. Push the AUTO button on. (AUTO will be
displayed.)
2. Turn the temperature control dial to the left
or right to set the desired temperature.
cAdjust the temperature display to about 75°
F (24° C) for normal operation.
cThe temperature of the passenger compart-
ment will be maintained automatically. Air
flow distribution and fan speed are also con-
trolled automatically.
LHA0681
HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER
(automatic)
Display screen, heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems4-19
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cA visible mist may be seen coming from the
ventilators in hot, humid conditions as the air
is cooled rapidly. This does not indicate a
malfunction.
3. You can individually set driver and front pas-
senger side temperature using each tem-
perature control dial. When the DUAL but-
ton or passenger side temperature dial is
turned, the DUAL indicator will come on. To
turn off the passenger side temperature
control, push the DUAL button.
Heating (A/C OFF)
The air conditioner does not activate. When you
need to heat only, use this mode.
1. Push the A/C button. (A/C OFF will be dis-
played and A/C indicator will turn off.)
2. Turn the temperature control dial to set the
desired temperature.
cThe temperature of the passenger compart-
ment will be maintained automatically. Air
flow distribution and fan speed are also con-
trolled automatically.
cDo not set the temperature lower than the
outside air temperature. Otherwise the sys-
tem may not work properly.
cNot recommended if windows fog up.
Dehumidified defrosting or defogging
1. Push thedefroster button on. The in-
dicator light on the button will come on.
2. Turn the temperature control dial to set the
desired temperature.
cTo quickly remove ice from the outside of the
windows, set the fan speed to maximum.
cAs soon as possible after the windshield is
clean, push the AUTO button to return to the
automatic mode.
cWhen the front defroster button is pushed,
the air conditioner will automatically be
turned on at outside temperatures above
23°F (25°C) . The air recirculate mode auto-
matically turns off, allowing outside air to be
drawn into the passenger compartment to
further improve the defogging performance.
MANUAL OPERATION
Fan speed control
Push the fan control buttonto manually
control the fan speed.
Push the AUTO button to return to automatic
control of the fan speed.
Air recirculation
Push the air recirculation button to recirculate
interior air inside the vehicle. The indicator light
on the button will come on.
The air recirculation cannot be activated when
the air conditioner is in the front defrosting mode.
Air flow control
Pushing the MODE button manually controls air
flow and selects the air outlet:
— Air flows from center and side
ventilators.
— Air flows from center and side
ventilators and foot outlets.
— Air flows mainly from foot outlets.
— Air flows from defroster and foot
outlets.
— Air flows from defroster outlets.
To turn system off
Press the OFF button.
4-20Display screen, heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2008 Maxima(max)
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The power assisted steering uses a hydraulic
pump, driven by the engine, to assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, especially
in sharp turns and at low speeds.
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned off
while driving, the power assist for the
steering will not work. Steering will be
harder to operate.The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. However,
greater foot pressure on the brake pedal will be
required to stop the vehicle and stopping dis-
tance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out the
brake pads faster, and reduce gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result in
loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
cWhile driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
cIf the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the brakes will not work. Braking will be
harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking distance will be longer and the vehicle
may pull to one side during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to
heat up the brakes. Do this until the brakes return
to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high
speeds until the brakes function correctly.
Parking brake break-in
Break-in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened
or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or
drum/rotors are replaced, in order to assure the
best brake performance.
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
5-18Starting and driving
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Do not start the engine by pushing.
CAUTION
CVT models cannot be push-started or
tow-started. Attempting to do so may
cause transmission damage.If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading) , or if
you feel a lack of engine power, detect abnormal
noise, etc. take the following steps.
WARNING
cDo not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
cTo avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator cap while the
engine is still hot. When the radiator
cap is removed, pressurized hot water
will spurt out, possibly causing serious
injury.
cDo not open the hood if steam is com-
ing out.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply
the parking brake and move the shift lever to
P (Park) .
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the
windows, move the heater or air conditioner
temperature control to maximum hot and fan
control to high speed.3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. (If steam or cool-
ant is escaping, turn off the engine.) Do not
open the hood further until no steam or
coolant can be seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the en-
gine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is leaking,
the water pump belt is missing or loose, or
the cooling fan does not run, stop the en-
gine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling
fan can start at any time.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-9
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E–85 fuel
E-85 fuel is a mixture of approximately 85% fuel
ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline. E-85 can
only be used in a Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) . Do
not use E-85 in your vehicle. U.S. government
regulations require fuel ethanol dispensing
pumps to be identified by a small, square, orange
and black label with the common abbreviation or
the appropriate percentage for that region.
Aftermarket fuel additives
NISSAN does not recommend the use of any
aftermarket fuel additives (for example, fuel injec-
tor 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 solvents or
similar ingredients that can be harmful to the fuel
system and engine.
Octane rating tips
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating lower than recommended 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 levelroads, have a NISSAN dealer correct the
condition. Failure to correct the condition
is misuse of the vehicle, for which NISSAN
is not responsible.
Incorrect ignition timing may result in spark
knock, after-run and/or overheating, which may
cause excessive fuel consumption or engine
damage. If any of the above symptoms are en-
countered, have your vehicle checked at a
NISSAN dealer.
However, now and then you may notice
light spark knock for a short time while
accelerating or driving up hills. This is not a
cause for concern, because you get the
greatest fuel benefit when there is light
spark knock for a short time under heavy
engine load.
CAUTION
cYour vehicle is not designed to run on
E-85 fuel. Using E-85 fuel in a vehicle
not specifically designed for E-85 fuel
can damage fuel system components
and is not covered by the NISSAN new
vehicle limited warranty.
cE-85 is a mixture of approximately 85%
fuel ethanol and 15% unleaded
gasoline.cU.S. government regulations require
ethanol dispensing pumps to be identi-
fied by a small, square, orange and
black label with the common abbrevia-
tion or the appropriate percentage for
that region.
9-4Technical and consumer information
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Temperature conditions also can affect towing.
For example, towing a heavy trailer in high outside
temperatures on graded roads can affect engine
performance and cause overheating. The trans-
mission high fluid temperature protection mode,
which helps reduce the chance of transmission
damage, could activate and automatically de-
crease engine power. Under some conditions,
engine and vehicle speed could be reduced. Plan
your trip carefully to account for trailer and vehicle
load, weather, and road conditions.
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced engine
power and lower vehicle speed. Also,
when the high temperature mode oper-
ates, engine and vehicle speed may be
gradually reduced. On highways, the re-
duced speed may be lower than other traf-
fic which could increase the chance of a
collision. Be especially careful when driv-
ing. If necessary, pull to the side of the
road at a safe place and allow the engine
to cool or the transmission to return to
normal operation.
CAUTION
Vehicle damage resulting from improper
towing procedures is not covered by
NISSAN warranties.
Tongue load
Keep the tongue load between 10 - 15 percent of
the total trailer load within the maximum tongue
load limits shown in the following “Towing
Load/Specification” chart. If the tongue load be-
comes excessive, rearrange cargo to allow for
proper tongue load.
WTI0160
Technical and consumer information9-17
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cWhen backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the
wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the downhill
side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly
release the brake pedal until the blocks ab-
sorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
6. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Start the vehicle.2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When going up a long grade, downshift the
transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
cIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioner
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.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cFor the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .cHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to
allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle.
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or
applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
9-22Technical and consumer information
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