2012 NISSAN MAXIMA steering

2 Instruments and controls
Instrument panel...................................2-2
Meters and gauges ................................2-3
Speedometer and odometer . . ...................2-4
Tachometer ....................................2-5
Engine coolant temperature gauge ...............2-5
Fuel gauge ....................................2-6
Compass display (if so equipped) ...................2-6
Compass display ...............................2-7
Warning/indicator lights and audible reminders ......2-10
Checking bulbs ............................... 2-10
Warning lights ................................ 2-10
Indicator lights ................................ 2-14
Audible reminders ............................. 2-16
Vehicle information display ......................... 2-17
How to use the vehicle information display .......2-17
Security systems ................................. 2-25
Vehicle security system ......................... 2-25
NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system .............2-26
Windshield wiper and washer switch ...............2-28
Switch operation .............................. 2-28
Rear window and outside mirror (if so equipped)
defroster switch .................................. 2-29
Headlight and turn signal switch. . ..................2-29Xenon headlights (if so equipped)
...............2-29
Headlight control switch ........................ 2-30
Daytime running light system (Canada only) ......2-32
Instrument brightness control ...................2-33
Turn signal switch ............................. 2-33
Fog light switch (if so equipped) ................2-34
Hazard warning flasher switch .....................2-34
Horn ............................................ 2-35
Heated seats (if so equipped) ......................2-35
Climate control seat switch (if so equipped) .........2-36
Heated steering wheel (if so equipped) .............2-37
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off switch ...........2-38
Power outlet ..................................... 2-38
Storage ......................................... 2-39
Map pockets .................................. 2-39
Seatback
pockets............................. 2-39
Sunglasses holder ............................. 2-40
Cup holders . . . ............................... 2-40
Glove box .................................... 2-42
Console box .................................. 2-42
Grocery hooks ................................ 2-43
Cargo net (if so equipped) ......................2-43
Windows ........................................ 2-44

1. Side and center vents (P. 4-40)
2. Headlight/fog light (if so equipped)/turnsignal switch (P. 2-29)
3. Steering wheel switch for audio control
and Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone
System (P. 4-112, 4-115) 4. Meters and gauges (P. 2-3)
5. Driver supplemental air bag/horn
(P. 1-37, P. 2-35)
6. Security indicator light (P. 2-25)
7. Cruise control main/set switches
(P. 5-18) 8. Shift paddles (if so equipped) (P. 5-15)
9. Windshield wiper/washer switch
(P. 2-28)
10. Display screen/Navigation system*
(if so equipped) (P. 4-16)
11. Display screen/Navigation system*
controls (if so equipped) (P. 4-16)
12. Front passenger supplemental air bag
(P. 1-51)
13. Glove box (P. 2-42)
14. Display screen (models without
Navigation system) (P. 4-4)
15. Climate controls (models without
Navigation system) (P. 4-41)
16. Audio system controls (models without
Navigation system) (P. 4-47)
17. Front passenger air bag status light
(P. 1-44)
18. Audio system controls (P. 4-47)
19. Climate controls (models with
Navigation system) (P. 4-44)
20. Shift selector (P. 5-11)
21. Hazard warning flasher switch (P. 2-34)
22. Ignition switch (behind the steering
wheel) (P. 5-7)
23. Tilt/telescopic steering wheel controls
(if so equipped) (P. 3-23)
WIC1535
INSTRUMENT PANEL
2-2Instruments and controls

24. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFFswitch (P. 2-38)
Outside mirror controls (P. 3-28)
Heated steering wheel switch
(if so equipped) (P. 2-37)
Trunk lid release switch (P. 3-20)
* Refer to the separate Navigation System Own-
er’s Manual (if so equipped) .
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
1. Tachometer
2. Speedometer
3. Warning/indicator lights
4. Fuel gauge
5. Odometer/twin trip odometer
6. Trip odometer change button 7. Engine coolant temperature gauge
8. Vehicle information display
LIC1381
METERS AND GAUGES
Instruments and controls2-3

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 in this
manual.
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.
● 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.
Master warning light
When the ignition is in the ON position, the
master warning light illuminates if any of the fol-
lowing are displayed on the vehicle information
display.
● No key warning
● Low fuel warning
● Low windshield-washer fluid warning
● Parking brake release warning
● Door/trunk open warning
● Loose fuel cap
● Check tire pressure warning
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.
Instruments and controls2-13

The vehicle information display1is located on
the bottom of the speedometer. It displays such
items as:
● Intelligent Key operation information
● some indicators and warnings
● other information
For details about the Intelligent Key, see
“NISSAN Intelligent Key™” in the “Pre-driving
checks and adjustments” section.HOW TO USE THE VEHICLE
INFORMATION DISPLAY
Press thebutton, located on the instru-
ment panel just behind the steering wheel, to
display the following modes:
MPG →MPG/MPH →Time/Miles →Range →
Tire Pressure →Exterior Temperature →Setting
→ Warning Fuel economy mode
The fuel economy mode can be selected to dis-
play the instant fuel economy since the last reset.
WIC1102WIC1406LIC2171
VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY
Instruments and controls2-17

To sound the horn, push near the horn icon of the
steering wheel.
WARNING
Do not disassemble the horn. Doing so
could affect proper operation of the
supplemental front air bag system. Tam-
pering with the supplemental front air bag
system may result in serious personal
injury.The front seats are warmed by built-in heaters.
The switch is located on the center console.
1. Start the engine.
2. Push the LO or HI position of the switch, as desired. The indicator light in the switch will
illuminate.
The heater is controlled by a thermostat,
automatically turning the heater on and off.
The indicator light will remain on as long as
the switch is on.
3. When the seat is warmed or before you leave the vehicle, be sure to turn the switch
off.
WARNING
Do not use or allow occupants to use the
seat heater if you or the occupants cannot
monitor elevated seat temperatures or
have an inability to feel pain in body parts
that contact the seat. Use of the seat
heater by such people could result in se-
rious injury.
CAUTION
●Do not use the seat heater for extended
periods or when no one is using the
seat.
● Do not put anything on the seat which
insulates heat, such as a blanket, cush-
ion, seat cover, etc. Otherwise, the seat
may become overheated.
● Do not place anything hard or heavy on
the seat or pierce it with a pin or similar
object. This may result in damage to the
heater.
● Any liquid spilled on the heated seat
should be removed immediately with a
dry cloth.
● When cleaning the seat, never use
gasoline, benzine, thinner, or any simi-
lar materials.
LIC1389LIC1543
HORN HEATED SEATS (if so equipped)
Instruments and controls2-35

●Do not put anything on the seat which
insulates heat, such as a blanket, cush-
ion, seat cover, etc. Otherwise, the seat
may become overheated.
● Do not place anything hard or heavy on
the seat or pierce it with a pin or similar
objects. This may result in damage to
the climate controlled seat.
● Any liquid spilled on the seat should be
removed immediately with a dry cloth
● The climate controlled seat has an air
filter. Do not operate the climate con-
trolled seat without an air filter. This
may result in damage to the system.
● When cleaning the seat, never use
gasoline, benzine, thinner, or any simi-
lar materials.
● If any malfunctions are found or the
climate controlled seat does not oper-
ate, turn the switch off and have the
system checked by your NISSAN dealer. The heated steering wheel system is designed to
operate only when the surface temperature of the
steering wheel is below 68°F (20°C) .
Push the heated steering wheel switch to warm
the steering wheel after the engine starts. The
indicator light will come on.
If the surface temperature of the steering wheel is
below 68°F (20°C) , the system will heat the
steering wheel and cycle off and on to maintain a
temperature above 68°F (20°C) . The indicator
light will remain on as long as the system is on.
Push the switch again to turn the heated steering
wheel system off manually. The indicator light will
go off. NOTE:
If the surface temperature of the steering
wheel is above 68°F (20°C) when the switch
is turned on, the system will not heat the
steering wheel. This is not a malfunction.
LIC0421
HEATED STEERING WHEEL (if so
equipped)
Instruments and controls2-37

3 Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Keys .............................................3-2NISSAN Intelligent Key™ ........................3-2
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System keys .........3-3
Doors ............................................3-4
Locking with key ................................3-4
Locking with inside lock knob ....................3-5
Locking with power door lock switch .............3-5
Automatic door locks ...........................3-6
Child safety rear door lock .......................3-6
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ ...........................3-7
Operating range ................................3-9
Door locks/unlocks precaution ...................3-9
NISSAN Intelligent Key™ Operation ..............3-10
How to use the remote keyless entry
function ...................................... 3-13
Warning signals ............................... 3-16
Troubleshooting guide ......................... 3-17
Hood ........................................... 3-18
Trunk lid ......................................... 3-18Opener operation
.............................. 3-19
Interior trunk lid release ........................ 3-20
Secondary trunk lid release (if so equipped) ......3-20
Fuel-filler door ................................... 3-21
Opening the fuel-filler door .....................3-21
Fuel-filler cap . . ............................... 3-21
Tilt/telescopic steering ............................ 3-23
Manual operation (if so equipped) ...............3-24
Automatic operation (if so equipped)............. 3-24
Sun visors ....................................... 3-25
Vanity mirrors . . ............................... 3-25
Mirrors .......................................... 3-26
Automatic anti-glare rearview mirror .............3-26
Outside mirrors ............................... 3-28
Automatic drive positioner (if so equipped) ..........3-29
Memory storage function .......................3-30
Entry/exit function ............................. 3-31
System operation .............................. 3-31