1. Engine hood (P. 3-18)
2. Windshield wiper and washer switch
(P. 2-25)
3. Windshield (P. 8-18)
4. Moonroof (if so equipped) (P. 2-44)
5. Power windows (P. 2-41)
6. Door locks, Nissan Intelligent Key™,
keys, request button
(P. 3-4, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
7. Mirrors (P. 3-25)
8. Tire pressure (P. 8-30)
9. Flat tire (P. 6-2)
10. Tire chains (P. 8-38)
11. Headlight and turn signal switch
(P. 2-27)
12. Replacing bulbs (P. 8-28)
13. Fog lights (P. 8-25)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
WII0155
EXTERIOR FRONT
Illustrated table of contents0-3
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
Warning
lightName Page
or
Anti-lock Braking
System (ABS) warn-
ing light2-10
or
Brake warning light 2-11
Charge warning
light2-11
Engine oil pressure
warning light2-11
Low tire pressure
warning light2-12
NISSAN Intelligent
Key™ warning light2-13
Seat belt warning
light and chime2-13
Warning
lightName Page
Supplemental air
bag warning light2-13
Indicator
lightName Page
Continuously Vari-
able Transmission
(CVT) indicator light2-14
Continuously Vari-
able Transmission
(CVT) position indi-
cator light2-10
CRUISE main
switch indicator light2-14
Front fog light indi-
cator light (if so
equipped)2-14
Front passenger air
bag status light2-14
Indicator
lightName Page
High beam indicator
light (blue)2-14
Malfunction indica-
tor light (MIL)2-14
Security indicator
light2-15
Slip indicator light 2-15
Turn signal/hazard
indicator lights2-15
Vehicle Dynamic
Control OFF indica-
tor light2-15
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS
Illustrated table of contents0-9
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
orAnti-lock Braking System (ABS)
warning lightSupplemental air bag warning lightMalfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
orBrake warning lightContinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
indicator lightSecurity indicator light
Charge warning lightContinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
position indicator lightSlip indicator light
Engine oil pressure warning lightCruise main switch indicator lightTurn signal/hazard indicator lights
Low tire pressure warning lightFog light indicator light (if so equipped)Vehicle Dynamic Control OFF indicator light
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ warning lightFront passenger air bag status light
Seat belt warning light and chimeHigh beam indicator light (blue)
CHECKING BULBS
With all doors closed, apply the parking brake
and place the ignition switch in the ON position
without starting the engine. The following lights
will come on:
,or,,,
If equipped, the following lights come on briefly
and then go off:
or,,,,,,
If any light fails to come on, it may indicate
a burned-out bulb or an open circuit in the
electrical system. Have the system repaired
promptly.
WARNING LIGHTS
orAnti-lock Braking
System (ABS)
warning light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
warning light illuminates and then turns off. This
indicates the ABS is operational.
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
2-10Instruments and controls
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil
pressure warning light on could cause se-
rious damage to the engine almost imme-
diately. Such damage is not covered by
warranty. Turn off the engine as soon as it
is safe to do so.
Low tire pressure warning light
Your vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) that monitors the tire
pressure of all tires except the spare.
The low tire pressure warning light warns of low
tire pressure or indicates that the TPMS is not
functioning properly.
After the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, this light illuminates for about 1 second
and turns off.
Low tire pressure warning:
If the vehicle is being driven with low tire
pressure, the warning light will illuminate.
If you select the tire pressure information
in the display (if so equipped) , the LOW
PRESSURE warning message will be dis-
played. The tire pressure for each tire will
also be displayed.When the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates, you should stop and adjust the
tire pressure of all 4 tires to the recom-
mended COLD tire pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label located
in the driver’s door opening. The low tire
pressure warning light does not automati-
cally turn off when the tire pressure is ad-
justed. After the tire is inflated to the rec-
ommended pressure, the vehicle must be
driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h)
to activate the TPMS and turn off the low
tire pressure warning light. Use a tire pres-
sure gauge to check the tire pressure.
For additional information, see “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” in the “Starting and
driving” section and in the “In case of emergency”
section.
TPMS malfunction:
If the TPMS is not functioning properly, the low
tire pressure warning light will flash for approxi-
mately 1 minute when the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position. The light will remain on
after the 1 minute. Have the system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
For additional information, see “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” in the “Starting and
driving” section and “Tire pressure” in the “Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself” section.
WARNING
●If the light does not illuminate with the
ignition switch in the ON position, have
the vehicle checked by a NISSAN dealer
as soon as possible.
●If the light illuminates while driving,
avoid sudden steering maneuvers or
abrupt braking, reduce vehicle speed,
pull off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle as soon as possible.
Driving with under-inflated tires may
permanently damage the tires and in-
crease the likelihood of tire failure. Se-
rious vehicle damage could occur and
may lead to an accident and could re-
sult in serious personal injury. Check
the tire pressure for all four tires. Adjust
the tire pressure to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label located
in the driver’s door opening to turn the
low tire pressure warning light OFF. If
the light still comes on while driving
after adjusting the tire pressure, a tire
may be flat. If you have a flat tire, re-
place it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.
2-12Instruments and controls
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
●When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, tire pressure will not be
indicated, the TPMS will not function
and the low tire pressure warning light
will flash for approximately 1 minute.
The light will remain on after 1 minute.
Contact your NISSAN dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
●Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by NISSAN could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
CAUTION
●The TPMS is not a substitute for the
regular tire pressure check. Be sure to
check the tire pressure regularly.
●If the vehicle is being driven at speeds
of less than 16 MPH (25 km/h) , the
TPMS may not operate correctly.
●Be sure to install the specified size of
tires to the 4 wheels correctly.
NISSAN Intelligent Key™
warning light
The Intelligent Key warning light warns of a mal-
function with the electrical steering lock system
or the Intelligent Key system.After the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, this light comes on for about 2 seconds
and then turns off.
If the light comes on while the engine is stopped,
it may not be possible to free the steering lock or
to start the engine. If the light comes on while the
engine is running, you can drive the vehicle. How-
ever, in these cases, contact a NISSAN dealer for
repair as soon as possible.
See “NISSAN Intelligent Key™ ” in the “Pre-
driving checks and adjustments” section.
Seat belt warning light and
chime
The light and chime remind you to fasten your
seat belts. The light illuminates whenever the
ignition switch is placed in the ON or START
position and remains illuminated until the driver’s
seat belt is fastened. At the same time, the chime
sounds for about 6 seconds unless the driver’s
seat belt is securely fastened.
The seat belt warning light may also illuminate if
the front passenger’s seat belt is not fastened
when the front passenger’s seat is occupied. For
7 seconds after the ignition switch is placed in
the ON position, the system does not activate the
warning light for the front passenger.Refer to “Seat belts” in the “Safety—Seats, seat
belts and supplemental restraint system” section
for precautions on seat belt usage.
Supplemental air bag warning
light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON or
START position, the supplemental air bag warn-
ing light illuminates for about 7 seconds and then
turns off. This means the system is operational.
If any of the following conditions occur, the front
air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag, and preten-
sioner seat belt systems need servicing and your
vehicle must be taken to a NISSAN dealer:
●The supplemental air bag warning light re-
mains on after approximately 7 seconds.
●The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.
●The supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.
Unless checked and repaired, the supplemental
restraint system (air bag system) and/or the pre-
tensioners may not function properly. For addi-
tional details see “Supplemental restraint sys-
tem” in the “Safety—Seats, seat belts and
supplemental restraint system” section of this
manual.
Instruments and controls2-13
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
10/20/08—debbie
●Do not put anything on the rear view
camera. The rear view camera is in-
stalled above the license plate.
●When washing the vehicle with high-
pressure water, be sure not to spray it
around the camera. Otherwise, water
may enter the camera unit causing wa-
ter condensation on the lens, a mal-
function, fire or an electric shock.
●Do not strike the camera. It is a preci-
sion instrument. Otherwise, it may mal-
function or cause damage resulting in a
fire or an electric shock.
CAUTION
Do not scratch the camera lens when
cleaning dirt or snow from the lens.
HOW TO READ THE DISPLAYED
LINES
Guiding lines which indicate the vehicle width
and distances to objects with reference to the
vehicle body line
Aare displayed on the monitor.Distance guide lines:
Indicate distances from the vehicle body.
●Red line
1: approx. 1.5 ft (0.5 m)
●Yellow line
2: approx. 3 ft (1 m)
●Green line
3: approx. 7 ft (2 m)
●Green line
4: approx. 10 ft (3 m)
Vehicle width guide lines
5:
Indicate the vehicle width when backing up.
Predicted course lines
6:
Indicate the predicted course when backing up.
The predicted course lines will be displayed onthe monitor when the shift selector is in the R
(Reverse) position and the steering wheel is
turned. The predicted course lines will move de-
pending on how much the steering wheel is
turned and will not be displayed while the steer-
ing wheel is in the neutral position.
HOW TO PARK WITH PREDICTED
COURSE LINES
WARNING
●Always turn and check that it is safe to
do so before backing up. Always back
up slowly.
●Use the displayed lines as a reference.
The lines are highly affected by the
number of occupants, fuel level, vehicle
position, road conditions and road
grade.
●If the tires are replaced with different
sized tires, the predicted course lines
may be displayed incorrectly.
●On a snow-covered or slippery road,
there may be a difference between the
predicted course line and the actual
course line.
LHA1196
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-29
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Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
11/03/08—debbie
Audio Command:
COMMAND ACTION
Radio Turns the radio on, selecting the station and band last played.
Radio AM Turns to the AM band, selecting the station last played.
Radio FM Turns to the FM band, selecting the station last played.
Satellite Radio Turns to the SAT band, selecting the station last played.
Music Box Turns to the Music Box hard-disk drive audio system.
CD Starts to play a CD.
Vehicle Information Command:
COMMAND ACTION
Traffic Info Turns the traffic information system on and off.
Fuel Economy Displays Fuel Economy information.
Trip Computer Displays Trip information.
Maintenance Display Maintenance information.
Tire Pressure Displays the Tire Pressure screen.
Climate Control Command:
COMMAND ACTION
Climate Control Turns the climate control system on and operates it in the AUTO mode.
Climate Control Off Turns the climate control system off.
4-130Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
11/03/08—debbie
5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving................5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide)..................5-2
Three-way catalyst..............................5-2
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)..........5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover....................5-5
Off-road recovery...............................5-6
Rapid air pressure loss..........................5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving................5-7
Push-Button Ignition Switch........................5-7
Push-button ignition switch positions.............5-8
NISSAN Intelligent key™ battery discharge . .......5-9
Nissan vehicle immobilizer system...............5-10
Before starting the engine.........................5-10
Starting the engine...............................5-11
Driving the vehicle................................5-11
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)........5-11
Parking brake . . ..................................5-17
Cruise control . . ..................................5-18
Precautions on cruise control...................5-18Cruise control operations.......................5-18
Break-in schedule................................5-19
Increasing fuel economy...........................5-20
Parking/parking on hills............................5-21
Power steering...................................5-22
Brake system....................................5-22
Brake precautions.............................5-22
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).................5-23
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system.............5-24
Cold weather driving..............................5-25
Freeing a frozen door lock......................5-25
Anti-freeze....................................5-25
Battery.......................................5-25
Draining of coolant water.......................5-26
Tire equipment................................5-26
Special winter equipment.......................5-26
Driving on snow or ice.........................5-26
Engine block heater (if so equipped).............5-27
REVIEW COPY—2009 Maxima(max)
Owners Manual—USA_English(nna)
11/03/08—debbie