2011 NISSAN MAXIMA brake fluid

2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply thebrakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal- anced as described earlier in this section.
● Be 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.
● Use the Tow Mode or downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear for engine braking
when driving down steep or long hills. This
will help slow the vehicle without applying
the brakes.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
● Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
● NISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used while towing a trailer. ●
Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.
● Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
● When launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
● Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, transmission fluid
should be changed more frequently. For
additional information, see the “Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section earlier in
this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
● Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
● Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
● DO NOT tow any automatic transmis-
sion vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing) . Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
● For emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Continuously Variable Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with a continuously
variable transmission, an appropriate vehicle
dolly MUST be placed under the towed vehicle’s
drive wheels. Alwaysfollow the dolly manufac-
turer’s recommendations when using their prod-
uct.
Technical and consumer information9-23

10 Index
A
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) .....................1-37
Air bag system Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system) ...............1-44
Air bag warning light ...........1-52, 2-13
Air cleaner housing filter ............8-18
Air conditioner Air conditioner service ...........4-47
Air conditioner specification label .....9-11
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations .............9-6
Heater and air conditioner
controls ................4-42, 4-45
Servicing air conditioner ..........4-47
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system) .........2-24
Anchor point locations .............1-23
Antenna ....................4-114
Anti-lock brake warning light ......2-10, 2-11
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........5-22
Armrests .....................1-7
Audible reminders ...............2-16
Audio system ..................4-47
Bluetooth audio.............4-109
Compact Disc (CD) changer .......4-65
Compact disc (CD) player .....4-71, 4-79
FM-AM radio with compact disc
(CD) changer ................4-63
FM/AM/SAT radio with CD/DVD player . .4-75 FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player
.................4-68
Audio System iPod Player .............4-91, 4-93
Music Box hard-disk drive audio
system ...............4-96, 4-101
Audio system Radio ....................4-47
Audio System Settings ...............4-69, 4-75
Audio system Steering wheel audio control switch . . .4-113
USB interface ............4-86, 4-87
Autolight switch .................2-30
Automatic Automatic drive

positioner.........3-29
Automatic power window switch .....2-44
Automatic transmission position indicator
light .....................2-14
Transmission shift selector lock release . .5-16
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror .......3-26
Automatic door locks ..............3-6
AUX jack ....................4-67
B
Battery ......................8-14
Charge warning light ............2-11
Before starting the engine ...........5-10
Belt (See drive belt) ..............8-17
Block heater Engine ....................5-26 Bluetooth
audio...............4-109
Bluetooth hands-free phone
system .................4-115, 4-130
Booster seats ..................1-34
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......5-22
Brake fluid ..................8-13
Brake light (See stop light) .........8-27
Brake system ................5-21
Brake warning light .............2-11
Brake wear indicators ........2-16, 8-20
Parking brake operation ..........5-17
Self-adjusting brakes ............8-20
Brakes ......................8-20
Break-in schedule ...............5-19
Brightness control Instrument panel ..............2-32
Brightness/contrast button .......4-15, 4-31
Bulb check/instrument panel ..........2-10
Bulb replacement ................8-27
C
Capacities and
recommended fuel/lubricants ..........9-2
Car phone or CB radio ............4-115
Cargo net...................

.2-41
Cargo (See vehicle loading information) . . .9-12
CD care and cleaning .............4-112
CD changer (See audio system) .......4-65
CD player (See audio system) .....4-71, 4-79
Check tire pressure ...............2-24

Child restraints.......1-18, 1-18, 1-19, 1-21
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-19, 1-25, 1-30, 1-34
Top tether strap anchor point locations . .1-23
Child safety rear door lock ............3-6
Chimes, audible reminders ...........2-16
Cleaning exterior and interior ...........7-2
Clock (models with navigation system) . . .4-12, 4-26
Clock set .................4-12, 4-26
C.M.V.S.S. certification label ..........9-10
Cold weather driving ..............5-25
Compact disc (CD) player ........4-71, 4-79
Console box ...................2-40
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). . .5-11 Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ..................8-12
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) .............5-11
Transmission shift selector lock release . .5-16
Control panel buttons ..............4-16
Brightness/contrast button ......4-15, 4-31
Enter button ...............4-4, 4-16
Setting button .............4-9, 4-24
Without navigation system ..........4-4
Controls Audio controls (steering wheel) ......4-113
Heater and air conditioner
controls ................4-42, 4-45
Coolant Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine coolant ...........8-9
Checking engine coolant level ........8-8
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Corrosion protection ...............7-6 Cruise control
..................5-18
Cup holders ................2-38, 2-39
D
Daytime running light system (Canada only) . .2-31
Defroster switch Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .....................2-27
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player .......4-83
Dimensions and weights .............9-8
Dimmer switch for instrument panel ......2-32
Display controls
(see control panel buttons) ........4-4,
4-16
Distance
to empty .............4-7, 4-21
Door locks .....................3-4
Drive belt .....................8-17
Drive positioner, Automatic ...........3-29
Driving Cold weather driving ............5-25
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) .............5-11
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
E
Economy - fuel ..................5-19
Emission control information label .......9-10
Emission control system warranty .......9-24
Engine Before starting the engine ..........5-10
Block heater .................5-26
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2 Changing engine coolant
...........8-9
Changing engine oil .............8-10
Changing engine oil filter ..........8-11
Checking engine coolant level ........8-8
Checking engine oil level ...........8-9
Engine compartment check locations . . . .8-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Engine cooling system ............8-7
Engine oil ...................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-5
Engine oil pressure warning light ......2-12
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-5
Engine serial number ............9-10
Engine specifications .............9-7
Starting the engine .............5-11
Enter button .................4-4, 4-16
Event data recorders ..............9-26
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .........5-2
Eyeglass case ..................2-38
F
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) ......2-33
Flat tire......................

.6-2
Floor mat positioning aid .............7-5
Fluid Brake fluid ..................8-13
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ..................8-12
Engine coolant .................8-7
Engine oil ...................8-9
Power steering fluid .............8-12
10-2

Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . .9-9
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-51
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
System ......................1-21
License plate Installing the license plate ..........9-11
Light Air bag warning light .........1-52, 2-13
Brake light (See stop light) .........8-27
Bulb check/instrument panel ........2-10
Bulb replacement ..............8-27
Charge warning light ............2-11
Fog light switch ...............2-32
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-28
Headlight control switch ..........2-29
Headlights ..................8-26
Interior light ..................2-49
Light bulbs ..................8-26
Low tire pressure warning light .......2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light ......................2-23
Passenger air bag and status light .....1-46
Security indicator light ............2-15
Spotlights (See map light) .........2-51
Trunk light ..................2-52
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ...................2-10
Lights Map lights ..................2-51
Lock Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Door locks ...................3-4
Glove box lock ................2-40
Power door locks ...............3-5
Trunk lid lock opener lever ..........3-19
Loose fuel cap warning ..........2-24, 3-21 Low fuel warning light
..........2-13, 2-23
Low tire pressure warning light .........2-12
Low windshield-washer fluid warning light . . .2-23
Luggage (See vehicle loading information) . .9-12
M
Maintenance Changing the maintenance interval . .4-8, 4-22
Displaying the maintenance notice
reminder .................4-9, 4-23
General maintenance .............8-2
Inside the

vehicle...............8-3
Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Outside the vehicle ..............8-2
Resetting the maintenance interval . .4-8, 4-22
Seat belt maintenance ............1-17
Setting .................4-8, 4-22
Under the hood and vehicle .........8-4
Malfunction indicator light ............2-14
Map lights ....................2-51
Map pocket ....................2-37
Meters and gauges ................2-3
Instrument brightness control ........2-32
Mirror Automatic anti-glare inside mirror ......3-26
Outside mirror control ............3-28
Outside mirrors ...............3-28
Vanity mirror .................3-25
Moonroof .....................2-45
Music Box hard-disk drive audio
system ..................4-96, 4-101 N
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ .............3-7
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system ................2-25, 3-3, 5-10
NISSAN voice recognition system ......4-142
O
Octane rating (See fuel octane rating) ......9-4
Odometer .....................2-4
Oil Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Changing engine oil .............8-10
Changing engine oil filter ..........8-11
Checking engine oil level ...........8-9
Engine oil ...................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation . . .9-5
Engine oil viscosity ..............9-5
Outside mirror control ..............3-28
Outside mirrors .................3-28
Overheat If your vehicle overheats ...........6-9
Owner’s manual

order form...........9-27
Owner’s manual/service manual order
information ....................9-27
P
Parking Parking brake operation ...........5-17
Parking/parking on hills ...........5-20
10-4

Phone, Bluetoothhands-free
system .................4-115, 4-130
Power Power door locks ...............3-5
Power outlet .................2-36
Power rear windows .............2-43
Power steering fluid .............8-12
Power steering system ...........5-21
Power windows ...............2-42
Rear power windows ............2-43
Precautions Maintenance precautions ...........8-5
Precautions on child
restraints .........1-19, 1-25, 1-30, 1-34
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-11
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-37
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Programmable features ..........4-9, 4-24
Push starting ....................6-9
R
Radio Car phone or CB radio ..........4-115
Compact Disc (CD) changer ........4-65
FM-AM radio with compact disc (CD)
changer ....................4-63
FM/AM/SAT radio with CD/DVD player . .4-75
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc
(CD) player ..................4-68
Steering wheel audio control switch . . .4-113
Readiness for inspection maintenance
(I/M) test .....................9-26
Rear power windows ..............2-43 Rear seat
......................1-5
Rear sun shade .................2-49
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .......................2-27
RearView Monitor ................4-34
Recorders Event data ..................9-26
Refrigerant recommendation ...........9-6
Registering your vehicle in another country . . .9-9
Reporting safety defects (US only) .......9-25
Resetting the fuel economy ........4-7, 4-21
S
Safety Child safety rear door lock ..........3-6
Child seat belts .....1-19,
1-25,
1-30, 1-34
Reporting safety defects (US only) .....9-25
Seat adjustment Front power seat adjustment .........1-3
Seat belt Child safety ..................1-18
Infants and small children ..........1-18
Injured Person ................1-14
Larger children ................1-19
Precautions on seat belt usage .......1-11
Pregnant women ...............1-14
Seat belt extenders .............1-17
Seat belt maintenance ............1-17
Seat belts ...................1-11
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-16
Three-point type with retractor .......1-14
Seat belt warning light ..............2-13
Seatback pockets ................2-37
Seats Adjustment
...................1-2
Automatic drive positioner ..........3-29
Front seats ...................1-2
Heated seats .............2-34, 2-36
Rear seat ....................1-5
Security indicator light ..............2-15
Security system (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer
system) , engine start ........2-25, 3-3, 5-10
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-20
Service manual order form ...........9-27
Servicing air conditioner .............4-47
Setting button ...............4-9, 4-24
Shift lock release .................5-16
Shifting Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) .....................5-13
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-16
Spark plug replacement .............8-17
Speedometer ...................2-4
Spotlights (See map light) ...........2-51
SRS warning

label................1-51
Starting Before starting the engine ..........5-10
Jump starting .................6-7
Precautions when starting and driving . . . .5-2
Push starting ..................6-9
Starting the engine .............5-11
Steering Heated steering wheel ...........2-34
Power steering fluid .............8-12
Power steering system ...........5-21
Steering wheel audio control switch .....4-113
Stop light .....................8-27
Storage ......................2-37
Sun visors ....................3-25
Sunglasses case .................2-38
10-5

Sunglasses holder................2-38
Sunroof (see Moonroof) .............2-45
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-52, 2-13
Supplemental front impact air bag system . . .1-44
Supplemental restraint system Information and warning labels .......1-51
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-37
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system) .........1-37
Switch Autolight switch ...............2-30
Automatic power window switch ......2-44
Fog light switch ...............2-32
Hazard warning flasher switch .......2-33
Headlight and turn signal switch ......2-28
Headlight control switch ..........2-29
Power door lock switch ............3-5
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .....................2-27
Turn signal switch ..............2-32
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch .....................2-36
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-26
T
Tachometer ....................2-5
Temperature gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start .............2-25, 3-3, 5-10
Three-way catalyst ................5-2
Tire Flat tire .....................6-2 Spare tire
................6-4, 8-42
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-11
Tire chains ..................8-39
Tire placard ..................9-11
Tire pressure .................8-31
Tire rotation ..................8-39
Types of tires .................8-38
Uniform tire quality grading .........9-24
Wheels and tires ...............8-31
Wheel/tire size .................9-8
Tire pressure Low tire pressure warning light .......2-12
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) . .
. .5-3
Towing Flat towing ..................9-23
Tow truck towing ...............6-10
Towing load/specification ..........9-19
Trailer towing .................9-16
Transceiver HomeLink Universal Transceiver ......2-52
Transmission Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) fluid ..................8-12
Driving with Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) .............5-11
Shift selector lock release ..........5-16
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country) ......................9-9
Trip odometer ...................2-4
Trunk access through the rear seat .....1-5, 1-6
Trunk lid lock opener lever ............3-19
Trunk light ....................2-52
Turn signal switch ................2-32 U
Uniform tire quality grading ...........9-24
USB interface Audio file operation ..........4-86, 4-88
Video file operation .............4-89
V
Vanity mirror ...................3-25
Variable voltage control system .........8-17
Vehicle dimensions and weights .........9-8
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch . . .2-36
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system .....5-23
Vehicle identification ...............9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number) .................9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate . . . .9-9
Vehicle loading information ...........9-12
Vehicle recovery .................6-12
Vehicle security system .............2-24
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle immobi-
lizer system) , engine start ......2-25, 3-3, 5-10
Ventilators ....................4-40
Visors .......................3-25
Voice recognition system ...........4-142
W
W arning
Air

bag warning light .........1-52, 2-13
Anti-lock brake warning light .....2-10, 2-11
Battery charge warning light ........2-11
Brake warning light .............2-11
10-6