2021 NISSAN MAXIMA open hood

In order to maintain the appearance of
your vehicle, it is important to take proper
care of it.
To protect the paint surfaces, wash your
vehicle as soon as you can:
• Af ter a rainfall to prevent possible dam-age from acid rain.
• Af ter driving on coastal roads.
• When contaminants such as soot, bird droppings, tree sap, metal particles or
bugs get on the paint surface.
• When dust or mud builds up on the surface.
Whenever possible, store or park your ve-
hicle inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in
a shady area or protect the vehicle with a
body cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint sur-
face when putting on or removing the
body cover.
WASHING
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly us-
ing a mild soap, a special vehicle soap or
general purpose dishwashing liquid mixed
with clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
• Do not concentrate water spray di-
rectly on the sonar sensors (if so
equipped) on the bumper as this will
result in damage to the sensors. Do
not use pressure washers capable of
spraying water over 1,200 psi (8,274
kPa) to wash your vehicle. Use of
high-pressure washers over 1,200 psi
(8,274 kPa) can result in damage to or
removal of paint or graphics. Avoid
using a high-pressure washer closer
than 12 inches (30 cm) to the vehicle.
Always use a wide-angle nozzle only,
keep the nozzle moving and do not
concentrate the water spray on any
one area.
• Do not use car washes that use acid
in the detergent. Some car washes,
especially brushless ones, use some
acid for cleaning. The acid may react
with some plastic vehicle compo-
nents, causing them to crack. This
could affect their appearance, and
also could cause them not to func-
tion properly. Always check with your
car wash to confirm that acid is not
used. •
Do not wash the vehicle with strong
household soap, strong chemical de-
tergents, gasoline or solvents.
• Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun-
light or while the vehicle body is hot,
as the surface may become
water-spotted.
• Avoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths, such as washing mitts. Care
must be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside edges, seams and folds on the
doors, hatches and hood are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of road salt. There-
fore, these areas must be cleaned regularly.
Take care that the drain holes in the lower
edge of the door are open. Spray water
under the body and in the wheel wells to
loosen the dirt and wash away road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the
vehicle to avoid water spots.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care

CAUTION
• Af ter wiper blade replacement, re-
turn the wiper arm to its original po-
sition; otherwise it may be damaged
when the hood is opened.
• Make sure the wiper blades contact
the glass; otherwise the arms may be
damaged from wind pressure.
If you wax the surface of the hood, be care-
ful not to let wax get into the washer nozzle
OD. This may cause clogging or improper
windshield-washer operation. If wax gets
into the nozzle, remove it with a needle or
small pin
OC. If the brakes do not operate properly, have
the brakes checked. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for this
service.
Self-adjusting brakes
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front and rear disc-type brakes self-
adjust every time the brake pedal is
applied.
WARNING
Have your brake system checked if the
brake pedal height does not return to
normal. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer for this service.
Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have
audible wear indicators. When a brake pad
requires replacement, a high pitched
scraping or screeching sound will be heard
when the vehicle is in motion. The noise will
be heard whether or not the brake pedal is
depressed. Have the brakes checked as
soon as possible if the wear indicator
sound is heard.LDI2731
BRAKES
8-18Do-it-yourself

If any electrical equipment does not come
on, check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch and the head-light switch are in the OFF position.
2. Open the engine hood.
3. Remove the fuse box cover by pushing the tab and lif ting the cover up.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller. The fuse puller is located in the center of
the fuse block in the passenger
compartment.
5. If the fuse is open
OA, replace it with a
new fuse
OB.
6. If a new fuse also opens, have the elec- trical system checked and repaired. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
Fusible links
If the electrical equipment does not oper-
ate and fuses are in good condition, check
the fusible links. If any of these fusible links
are melted, replace with only Genuine
NISSAN parts.
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT
WARNING
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than that specified on
the fuse box cover. This could damage
the electrical system or electronic con-
trol units or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not oper-
ate, check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition switch and the head- light switch are in the OFF position.
2. Pull the fuse box cover to remove.
LDI0456LDI2758
8-20Do-it-yourself

Outside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be performed from time to time, unless
otherwise specified.
Doors and engine hood:
Check that the
doors and engine hood operate properly.
Also ensure that all latches lock securely. Lu-
bricate hinges, latches, latch pins, rollers and
links if necessary. Make sure that the sec-
ondary latch keeps the hood from opening
when the primary latch is released.
When driving in areas using road salt or
other corrosive materials, check lubrica-
tion frequently.
Check that the gas stays or struts properly
and securely hold the hood, trunk, or rear
hatch fully open. If the hood, trunk, or rear
hatch is not held open, have the gas stays
or struts replaced.
Lights*: Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and in-
stalled securely. Also check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*: When check-
ing the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are
missing, and check for any loose wheel
nuts. Tighten if necessary. Tire rotation*:
Rotate tires at the specified
interval shown in the maintenance
schedule.
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge
of ten and always prior to long distance
trips. If necessary, adjust the pressure in all
tires, including the spare, to the pressure
specified. Check carefully for damage, cuts
or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components: Replace the
TPMS transmitter grommet seal, valve core
and cap when the tires are replaced due to
wear or age.
Wheel alignment and balance: If the ve-
hicle should pull to either side while driving
on a straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may
be a need for wheel alignment. If the steer-
ing wheel or seat vibrates at normal high-
way speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield: Clean the windshield on a
regular basis. Check the windshield at least
every six months for cracks or other dam- age. Have a damaged windshield repaired
by a qualified repair facility. It is recom-
mended that you have a damaged wind-
shield repaired by a NISSAN dealer, or a
NISSAN Certified Collision Center. To locate
a collision center in your area, refer to
http://collision.nissanusa.com.
Windshield wiper blades*:
Check for
cracks or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked on a regular basis, such as
when performing scheduled maintenance,
cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the
pedal does not catch or require uneven
effort. Keep the floor mat away from the
pedal.
Brake pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation. If the brake pedal suddenly goes
down further than normal, the pedal feels
spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer
to stop, have your vehicle checked imme-
diately. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service. Keep the
floor mat away from the pedal.
Maintenance and schedules9-3

Front air bag system
(See supplemental restraint system). . .1-51Front and rear sonar system.......5-116Front power seat adjustment........1-3Front seats....................1-2Front-door pocket...............2-61FuelCapacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants
...............10-2Fuel economy...............5-110Fuel gauge................. .2-6Fuel octane rating.............10-5Fuel recommendation.......10-2, 10-3Fuel-filler cap................3-23Fuel-filler lid.................3-23Loose fuel cap warning..........2-27Fuel efficient driving tips..........5-109Fuel gauge................... .2-6Fuel-filler door.................3-22Fuses.......................8-19Fusible links..................8-20
G
Garage door opener, HomeLink® Universal
Transceiver.........2-73,2-74,2-76,2-77Gas cap.....................3-23Gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge. . .2-6Fuel gauge................. .2-6Odometer.................. .2-5Speedometer................2-4Tachometer.................2-5
Trip odometer................2-5General maintenance.............9-2Glove box................... .2-62Glove box lock.................2-62
H
Hazard warning flasher switch........6-2Head restraints.................1-7Headlight and turn signal switch.....2-45Headlight control switch..........2-45Headlights...................8-23Heated rear seats...............2-55Heated seat switches............2-54Heated seats..............2-52, 2-54Heated steering wheel............2-56Heater
Heater and air conditioner (automatic)
(if so equipped)
...............4-28Heater and air conditioner controls. .4-29Heater operation.............4-30Heater and air conditioner
(automatic)...................4-28HomeLink® Universal
Transceiver.........2-73,2-74,2-76,2-77Hood.......................3-20Horn...................... .2-52
I
Ignition Switch
Push-button ignition switch.......5-10Immobilizer system..........2-41, 5-14
Important vehicle information label. . .10-11In-cabin microfilter..............8-17Increasing fuel economy..........5-110IndicatorNISSAN Intelligent Key® battery discharge
indicator
...................5-13Indicator lights and audible reminders
(See warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders)
................... .2-8Inside automatic anti-glare mirror.....3-27Instrument brightness control.......2-50Instrument panel.............0-6, 2-2Instrument panel dimmer switch.....2-50Integrated Dynamics-control Module. .5-115Intelligent Around View Monitor......4-10Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC).......5-56Intelligent Drive Alertness (I-DA)......5-106Intelligent Engine Brake (I-EB).......5-115Intelligent Forward Collision Warning
(I-FCW)..................... .5-95Intelligent Key system
Key operating range............3-8Key operation................3-9Mechanical key................3-3Remote keyless entry operation. . . .3-13Troubleshooting guide..........3-16Warning signals...............3-16Intelligent Lane Intervention (I-LI).....5-30Intelligent Trace Control (I-TC).......5-115Interior light...................2-71Interior trunk lid release...........3-21ISOFIX child restraints.............1-24
11-3

J
Jump starting..............6-9, 8-15
K
Key.........................3-2Key fob battery replacement........8-21Keyless entryWith Intelligent Key system
(See Intelligent Key system)
.......3-13KeysNISSAN Intelligent Key®........3-2,3-7NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
keys..................... .3-4
L
Labels
Air conditioner specification label. . .10-12C.M.V.S.S. certification label.......10-11Emission control information label. .10-11Engine serial number...........10-11F.M.V.S.S. certification label........10-11Tire and Loading Information label. .10-12Vehicle identification number (VIN). .10-10Vehicle identification number (VIN)
plate.................... .10-10Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-64Lane Departure Warning (LDW).......5-25LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren) System...............1-24
License plate
Installing the license plate........10-13LightAir bag warning light........1-64, 2-10Brake light (See stop light)........8-24Bulb check/instrument panel......2-9Bulb replacement.............8-24Charge warning light...........2-10Console light................2-72Exterior and Interior lights........8-24Fog light switch...............2-51Fog lights..................8-23Headlight and turn signal switch. . . .2-45Headlight control switch.........2-45Headlights..................8-23Interior light.................2-71Light bulbs.................8-23Low tire pressure warning light.....2-12Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light......................2-27Personal lights...............2-73Security indicator light..........2-10Spotlights (See map light)........2-72Trunk light..................2-73Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders.................. .2-8Lights......................8-23Map lights..................2-72Lock
Child safety rear door lock.........3-6Door locks................. .3-4Glove box lock...............2-62Power door locks..............3-6Trunk lid lock opener lever........3-21
Loose fuel cap warning...........2-27Low fuel warning light......2-10,2-14,2-27Low tire pressure warning light.......2-12Low windshield-washer fluid warning
light........................2-27Luggage (See vehicle loading
information)..................10-14
M
Maintenance
General maintenance...........9-2Inside the vehicle..............9-3Maintenance precautions.........8-2Outside the vehicle.............9-3Seat belt maintenance..........1-19Under the hood and vehicle.......9-4Maintenance requirements..........9-2Maintenance schedules............9-7Malfunction indicator light..........2-13Map lights....................2-72Memory seat..............3-30, 3-32Meters and gauges..............2-4Instrument brightness control.....2-50MirrorAutomatic anti-glare inside mirror. . .3-27Outside mirror control..........3-28Outside mirrors..............3-28Vanity mirror................3-27Mirrors......................3-27Moonroof................ .2-68, 7-7Moving Object Detection (MOD)......4-22
11-4