User manual NISSAN MAXIMA-2001

Foreword Welcome to the growing family of new NISSAN owners. This vehicle is delivered to you with confidence. It was produced using the latest techniques and strict quality control. This manual was prepared to help you understand the operation and maintenance of your vehicle so that you may enjoy many miles of driving pleasure. Please read through this manual before operating your vehicle. A separate Warranty Information and Maintenance Log Booklet (in U.S.), Warranty and Roadside Assistance Information booklet (in Canada) explains details about the warranties covering your vehicle and vehicle maintenance schedules. Additionally, a separate Customer Care/Lemon Law Booklet (U.S. only) will explain how to resolve any concerns you may have with your vehicle, as well as clarify your rights under your state's lemon law. Your NISSAN dealer knows your vehicle best. When you require any service or have any questions, he will be glad to assist you with the extensive resources available to him. tenance requirements, assisting you in the safe operation of your vehicle. MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE This vehicle should not be modified. Modification could affect its performance, safety or durability, and may even violate governmental regulations. In addition, damage or performance problems resulting from modification may not be covered under NISSAN warranties. WARNING IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION REMINDERS FOR SAFETY! Follow these important driving rules to help ensure a safe and comfortable trip for you and your passengers! ¼ Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. ¼ Always observe posted speed limits and never drive too fast for conditions. ¼ Always use your seat belts and appropriate child restraint systems. Preteen children should be seated in the rear seat. ¼ Always provide information about the proper use of vehicle safety features to all occupants of the vehicle. ¼ Always review this Owner's Manual for important safety information. WHEN READING THE MANUAL This manual includes information for all options available on this model. Therefore, you may find some information that does not apply to your vehicle. All information, specifications and illustrations in this manual are those in effect at the time of printing. NISSAN reserves the right to change specifications or design at any time without notice. READ FIRST -- THEN DRIVE SAFELY Before driving your vehicle please read your Owner's Manual carefully. This will ensure familiarity with controls and main- IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MANUAL You will see various symbols in this manual. They are used in the following ways: CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING WARNING Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. WARNING This is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that could cause death or serious personal injury. To avoid or reduce the risk, the procedures must be followed precisely. SIC0697 CAUTION This is used to indicate the presence of a hazard that could cause minor or moderate personal injury or damage to your vehicle. To avoid or reduce the risk, the procedures must be followed carefully. If you see this symbol, it means Do not do this or Do not let this happen. © 2000 NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD. TOKYO, JAPAN All rights reserved. No part of this Owner's Manual may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Welcome To The World Of NISSAN portation services to the supply of lubricants, parts and accessories. NISSAN pioneered the use of electronics and computers in automobiles, and has led the industry in improving both performance and fuel efficiency through new engine designs and the use of synthetic materials to reduce vehicle weight. The company has also developed ways to build quality into its vehicles at each stage of the production process, both through extensive use of automation and -- most importantly -- through an awareness that people are the central element in quality control. From the time the parts arrived from our suppliers until you took delivery of your new Nissan, dozens of checks were made to ensure that only the best job was being done in producing and delivering your vehicle. NISSAN also takes great care to ensure that when you take your NISSAN to your dealer for maintenance, the service technician will perform his work according to the quality standards that have been established by the factory. Safety has also been built into your NISSAN. As you know, seat belts are an integral part of the safety systems that will help protect you and your passengers in the event of a sudden stop or an accident. We urge you to use the seat belts every time you drive the vehicle. The NISSAN story of growth and achievement reflects our major goal: to provide you, our customer, with a vehicle that is built with quality and craftsmanship -- a product that we can be proud to build and you can be proud to own. WFW0002 Your new NISSAN is the result of our dedication to produce the finest in safe, reliable and economical transportation. Your vehicle is the product of a successful worldwide company that manufactures cars and trucks in over 17 countries and distributes them in 170 nations. NISSAN vehicles are designed and manufactured by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. which was founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1933, and NISSAN affiliates world wide, collectively growing to become the fifth largest automaker in the world. In addition to cars and trucks, NISSAN also makes forklift trucks, marine engines, boats and other diversified products. NISSAN has made a substantial and growing investment in North America. NISSAN'S commitment is nearly $4 billion dollars in capital investments in facilities across the continent. Some of the facilities include the Nissan Manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee, vehicle styling design at Nissan Design International in San Diego, California, and engineering at Nissan Technical Center North America in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Additionally, NISSAN employs nearly 18,000 people throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. An additional 71,000 people work for the 1,500 NISSAN and INFINITI dealers across North America. NISSAN is also a substantial contributor to the Canadian economy. Nissan Canada Inc., its suppliers and over 140 dealers employ approximately 4,500 people. These include company employees and the staffs of NISSAN dealers all across Canada. In addition, many Canadians work for companies that supply NISSAN and NISSAN dealers with materials and services ranging from operation of port facilities and trans- NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE PROGRAM NISSAN CARES ... Both NISSAN and your NISSAN dealer are dedicated to serving all your automotive needs. Your satisfaction with your vehicle and your NISSAN dealer are our primary concerns. Your NISSAN dealer is always available to assist you with all your automobile sales and service needs. However, if there is something that your NISSAN dealer cannot assist you with or you would like to provide NISSAN directly with comments or questions, please contact our (NISSAN's) Consumer Affairs Department using our toll-free number: For U.S. mainland customers 1-800-NISSAN-1 (1-800-647-7261) For Hawaii customers (808) 836-0888 (Oahu Number) For Canadian customers 1-800-387-0122 The Consumer Affairs Department will ask for the following information: -- Your name, address, and telephone number -- Vehicle identification number (on dashboard) -- Date of purchase -- Current odometer reading -- Your NISSAN dealer's name -- Your comments or questions OR You can write to NISSAN with the information on the left at: For U.S. mainland and Alaska customers Nissan North America, Inc. Consumer Affairs Department P.O. Box 191 Gardena, California 90248-0191 For Hawaii customers Nissan Motor Corporation in Hawaii 2880 Kilihau St. Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 For Canada customers Nissan Canada Inc. 5290 Orbitor Drive Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4Z5 We appreciate your interest in NISSAN and thank you for buying a quality NISSAN vehicle. Table of Contents Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems Instruments and controls Pre-driving checks and adjustments Heater, air conditioner and audio systems Starting and driving In case of emergency Appearance and care Do-it-yourself Maintenance Technical and consumer information Index 1 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems Seats ......................................................................... 1-2 Front manual seat adjustment ............................. 1-2 Front power seat adjustment ............................... 1-4 Folding rear seat ................................................. 1-6 Head restraint adjustment .................................... 1-7 Active head restraint (front seats) ........................ 1-8 Armrest ................................................................. 1-9 Supplemental restraint system.................................. 1-9 Precautions on supplemental restraint system .... 1-9 Supplemental air bag warning labels ................. 1-19 Supplemental air bag warning light.................... 1-19 Seat belts ................................................................ 1-21 Precautions on seat belt usage ......................... 1-21 Child safety......................................................... 1-23 Pregnant women ................................................ Injured persons................................................... Three-point type seat belt with retractor ............ Seat belt extenders ............................................ Seat belt maintenance ....................................... Child restraints ........................................................ Precautions on child restraints ........................... Installation on rear seat outboard or center positions ............................................................. LATCH (Lower anchors and tether for children) system ................................................................ Top tether strap child restraint ........................... Installation on front passenger seat ................... 1-24 1-24 1-24 1-27 1-28 1-28 1-28 1-30 1-35 1-36 1-37 SEATS FRONT MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT WARNING ¼ Do not adjust the driver's seat while driving so full attention may be given to vehicle operation. The seat may move suddenly and could cause loss of control of the vehicle. ¼ After adjustment, gently rock in the seat to make sure it is securely locked. SSS0133 WARNING ¼ Do not ride in a moving vehicle when the seatback is reclined. This can be dangerous. The shoulder belt will not be against your body. In an accident you could be thrown into it and receive neck or other serious injuries. You could also slide under the lap belt and receive serious internal injuries. ¼ For most effective protection when the vehicle is in motion, the seat should be upright. Always sit well back in the seat and adjust the seat belt properly. See "Precautions on seat belt usage" later in this section. 1-2 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems SPA0097 SPA0099A Forward and backward Pull the lever up while you slide the seat forward or backward to the desired position. Release the lever to lock the seat in position. Reclining To recline the seatback, pull the lever up and lean back. To bring the seatback forward again, pull the lever and move your body forward. The seatback moves forward. Seat lifter (Driver's seat) Turn either dial to adjust the angle and height of the seat cushion to the desired position. Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-3 FRONT POWER SEAT ADJUSTMENT WARNING ¼ Do not adjust the driver's seat while driving so full attention may be given to vehicle operation. ¼ Do not leave children unattended inside the vehicle. They could unknowingly activate switches or controls. Unattended children could become involved in serious accidents. SPA0467 Lumbar support (Driver's seat) The lumbar support feature provides lower back support to the driver. Move the lever up or down to adjust the seat lumbar area. Operating tips ¼ The motor has an auto-reset overload protection circuit. If the motor stops during operation, wait 30 seconds, then reactivate the switch. ¼ Do not operate the power support seat for a long period of time when the engine is off. This will discharge the battery. 1-4 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems SSS0148 SSS0147 Forward and backward Moving the switch forward or backward will slide the seat forward or backward to the desired position. Reclining Move the recline switch backward until the desired angle is obtained. To bring the seatback forward again, move the switch forward and move your body forward. The seatback will move forward. Seat lifter (Driver's seat) Push the front or rear end of the switch up or down to adjust the angle and height of the seat cushion. Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-5 ¼ Rear seats will not fold when the lock levers are in lock position for security of the trunk. WARNING ¼ When returning the seatbacks to the upright position, be certain that they are completely secured in the latched position. If they are not completely secured in the right position, passengers may be injured in an accident or sudden stop. ¼ Never allow anyone to ride in the luggage area or on the rear seat when it is in the fold-down position. Use of these areas by passengers without proper restraint can be extremely dangerous in an accident or sudden stop. SSS0149 SPA0467 Lumbar support (Driver's seat) The lumbar support feature provides lower back support to the driver. Move the lever up or down to adjust the seat lumbar area. FOLDING REAR SEAT Interior trunk access The trunk can be readily accessible from the rear seat for loading and unloading, as shown. ¼ Properly secure all cargo to help prevent it from sliding or shifting. Do not place cargo higher than the seatbacks. In a sudden stop or collision, unsecured cargo could cause personal injury. 1-6 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems ¼ Closely supervise children when they are around cars to prevent them from playing and becoming locked in the trunk where they could be seriously injured. Keep the car locked with the rear seatback securely latched when not in use, and prevent children's access to car keys. ment after someone else uses the seat. SSS0125 HEAD RESTRAINT ADJUSTMENT To raise the head restraint, just pull it up. To lower, push the lock knob and push the head restraint down. WARNING Head restraints should be adjusted properly as they may provide significant protection against injury in an accident. Do not remove them. Check the adjust- Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-7 ¼ Active head restraints are designed to supplement other safety systems. Always wear seat belts. No system can prevent all injuries in any accident. ¼ Do not attach anything to the head restraint stalks. Doing so could impair active head restraint function. The head restraint moves forward utilizing the force that the seatback receives from the occupant in a rear-end collision. The movement of the head restraint helps support the occupant's head by reducing its backward movement and helping absorb some of the forces that may lead to whiplash type injuries. Active head restraints are effective for collisions at low to medium speeds in which it is said that whiplash injury occurs most. Active head restraints operate only in certain rear-end collisions. After the collision, the head restraints return to their original positions. Properly adjust the active head restraints as described in the previous section. SSS0178 SPA1025 Adjust the head restraints so the center is level with the center of your ears. ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT (front seats) WARNING ¼ Always adjust the head restraints properly as specified in the previous section. Failure to do so can reduce the effectiveness of the active head restraint. 1-8 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM PRECAUTIONS ON SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM This Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) section contains important information concerning the driver and passenger supplemental air bags, supplemental side air bags and pre-tensioner seat belts. Supplemental front air bag system: This system can help cushion the impact force to the face and chest of the driver and front passenger in certain frontal collisions. Supplemental side air bag system (if so equipped): This system can help cushion the impact force to the head and the chest area of the driver and front passenger in certain side impact collisions. The supplemental side air bag is designed to inflate on the side where the vehicle is impacted. These supplemental restraint systems are designed to supplement the crash protection provided by the driver and front passenger seat belts and are not a substitute for them. Seat belts should always be correctly worn and the driver and front passenger seated a suitable distance away from the steering wheel, instrument panel and front door finishers. (See "Seat belts" later in this section for instructions and precautions on seat belt usage.) After turning the ignition key to the ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light illuminates. The supplemental air bag warning light will turn off after about 7 seconds if the system is operational. SSS0150 ARMREST Pull the armrest forward until it is horizontal. Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-9 wheel or instrument panel. Always use the seat belts. ¼ Keep hands on the outside of the steering wheel. Placing them inside the steering wheel rim could increase the risk that they are injured when the supplemental front air bag inflates. SSS0131 WARNING ¼ The supplemental front air bags ordinarily will not inflate in the event of a side impact, rear impact, roll over, or lower severity frontal collision. Always wear your seat belts to help reduce the risk or severity of injury in various kinds of accidents. ¼ The seat belts and the supplemental front air bags are most effective when you are sitting well back and upright in the seat. Front air bags inflate with great force. If you are unrestrained, leaning forward, sitting sideways or out of position in any way, you are at greater risk of injury or death in a crash and may also receive serious or fatal injuries from the supplemental front air bag if you are up against it when it inflates. Always sit back against the seatback and as far away as practical from the steering 1-10 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems SSS0132 SSS0006 SSS0007 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-11 WARNING ¼ Never let children ride unrestrained or extend their hands or face out of the window. Do not attempt to hold them in your lap or arms. Some examples of dangerous riding positions are shown in the previous illustrations. ¼ Children may be severely injured or killed when the supplemental front air bag or supplemental side air bag inflates if they are not properly restrained. ¼ Also never install a rear facing child restraint in the front seat. An inflating supplemental front air bag could seriously injure or kill your child. For additional information, see "Child restraints" later in this section. SSS0008 SSS0099 SSS0009 SSS0100 1-12 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems SSS0101 SSS0140 SSS0159 WARNING Supplemental equipped): side air bag (if so ¼ The supplemental side air bag ordinarily will not inflate in the event of a frontal impact, rear impact or lower severity side collision. Always wear your seat belts to help reduce the risk or severity of injury in various kinds of accidents. ¼ The seat belts and the supplemental side air bag are most effective when you are sitting well back and upright in the seat. The side air bag inflates with great force. Do not allow anyone to place their hand, leg or face near the side air bag on the side of the seatback of the front seat. Do not allow anyone sitting in the front seat to extend their hand out of the window or lean against the door. Some examples of dangerous riding positions are shown in the previous illus- trations. ¼ When sitting in the rear seat, do not hold onto the seatback of the front seat. If the supplemental side air bag inflates, you may be seriously injured. Be especially careful with children, who should always be properly restrained. ¼ Do not use seat covers on the front seatbacks. They may interfere with supplemental side air bag inflation. Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-13 SSS0162 SSS0173 Supplemental front air bag system The driver supplemental air bag is located in the center of the steering wheel; the front passenger supplemental air bag is mounted in the dashboard above the glove box. These systems are designed to meet optional certification requirements under U.S. regulations. They are also permitted in Canada. The optional certification allows front air bags to be designed to inflate somewhat less forcefully than previously. However, all of the information, cautions and warnings in this manual still apply and must be followed. The front air bags are designed to inflate in higher severity frontal collisions, although they may inflate if the forces in another type of collision are similar to those of a higher severity frontal impact. They may not inflate in certain frontal collisions. Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always an indication of proper supplemental air bag operation. When the supplemental front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise may be heard, followed by release of smoke. This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate a fire, but care should be taken not to inhale it, as it may cause irritation and choking. Those with a history of a breathing condition should get fresh air promptly. 1-14 Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems Supplemental front air bags along with the use of seat belts, helps to cushion the impact force on the face and chest of the front occupants. They can help save lives and reduce serious injuries. However, an inflating front air bag may cause facial abrasions or other injuries. Front air bags do not provide restraint to the lower body. The seat belts should be correctly worn and the driver and passenger seated upright as far as practical away from the steering wheel or dash board. Since the supplemental front air bags inflates quickly in order to help protect the front occupants, the force of the front air bag inflating can increase the risk of injury if the occupant is too close to or is against the air bag module during inflation. The air bag will deflate quickly after the collision is over. After turning the ignition key to the ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light illuminates. The supplemental air bag warning light will turn off after about 7 seconds if the system is operational. panel. Also, do not place any objects between any occupant and the steering wheel or instrument panel. Such objects may become dangerous projectiles and cause injury if the supplemental front air bag inflates. ¼ Right after inflation, several air bag system components will be hot. Do not touch them; you may severely burn yourself. ¼ No unauthorized changes should be made to any components or wiring of the supplemental front air bag system. This is to prevent accidental inflation of the air bag or damage to the air bag system. ¼ Do not make unauthorized changes to your vehicle's electrical system, suspension system or front end structure. This could affect proper operation of the supplemental air bag system. ¼ Tampering with the supplemental front air bag system may result in serious personal injury. Tampering includes changes to the steering wheel and the instrument panel assembly by placing material over the steering wheel pad, above the dashboard, or by installing additional trim material around the air bag system. ¼ Work around and on the supplemental front air bag system should be done by an authorized NISSAN dealer. Installation of electrical equipment should also be done by an authorized NISSAN dealer. The SRS wiring harnesses* should not be modified or disconnected. Unauthorized electrical test equipment and probing devices should not be used on the air bag system. * The SRS wiring harnesses are covered with yellow insulation either just before the harness connectors or over the complete harness for easy identification. When selling your vehicle, we request that you inform the buyer about the supplemental front WARNING ¼ Do not place any objects on the steering wheel pad or on the instrument Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems 1-15