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Comments
I now have 3,300 miles on my Max and I have had it just over a month.
Last week I brought my Maxima in to the dealer for a wind noise (air leak) that I noticed coming from the rear passenger side. Two of the service guys went out for a test drive, (one in the back seat) and they determined that the noise is coming from the small non-opening window on the rear passenger door. They ordered new weather stripping, molding, and glass. They said they think one of the three parts should fix it. The dealer called a few days later and said "...Those parts are on back order, maybe a lot of the Maximas are have the same problem..." The dealer service has been very good so far.
The Maxima SE does seem to have a lot of road noise, but I don't mind, because I know it is from the SE suspension and the 17inch low profile Potenzas. I love the way this car handles, I love taking those expressway ramps at high speeds. This car is so much fun to drive fast, almost too much fun, I already got a frig'n speeding ticket!
At 3,200 the "Service Engine Soon" light came on, I have read here before and checked in the owners manual, that if you fill the car with gas while the engine is running or if you don't tighten the gas cap, this light will come on. Knowing this I have never filled it up with the engine running and I always make sure the gas cap is on tight. I called the dealer they said the same thing and told me it should go off within 45 driving trips and not to worry and they will check it out when I bring it in to have the wind noise fixed. (I had a similar light come on in my 86 Ford Ranger, it turned out to be a serious fuel injector problem.) The light did come on in the my Max about 60 miles after some "very spirited" driving (5500rpm quick shifts and a few fast expressway ramp turns), I hope that was not the cause.
Joe, do you know of any other reasons why this light would come on?
I really love this car, despite a couple of minor things like the wind noise (which the dealer will fix) and the "Service Engine Soon" light coming on, (I may just put a piece of black tape over the light...lol).
Sometimes I think the muscles in my face are hard wired to the tach, because I smile every time the tach stands up.
They fixed it - to a fashion - that it is quieter but not to the extent that it was before the accident. They used the old white clips but I asked them to put in many little globs of sticky goo where the bumper cover meets various other parts. At that time, I did not know that the white clips have to be upgraded. I guess it is too late now for that??
Also, CCERMAK, did you pillar squeak b4 you started poking it? I wouldn't go around poking things....you're bound to find (er, create) problems, lol.
BTW, I think I've figured out the various squeaks 'n' rattles. There's one guy at the factory that's a problem, he's the guy who spells others on the line for their break, LOL. Probably the son of the guy who runs quality assurance, lol. He didn't touch my Max though!
And I ALWAYS gas up with the car running...that won't turn on the engine light...driving it with the cap off or loose will though.
That tiny rear quarter window ?? LMAO..Are they kidding ? I'm sure you'll find that not to be it. There's no way for wind to be getting through there, it's a sealed unit. If they think that's what it is, it's probably coming from the rear door seal, not the window BUT....let em' do it...who knows, and ,....IT'S FREE. No harm can be done.
Pumping the gas pedal before starting the Maxima will have absolutely no effect at all...good or bad. That was needed in the "OLD" days to close the choke.
Joe
You really should consider turning off your engines during fueling. If not for your self then do it to protect other people that might be near by. It is a horrible experience to see a gas station go up in flames due to a careless person. I have in the past been involved in the safety aspects of a robotic fueling gas station. As a result of this work I witnessed the devastating results of what does happen and what could happen to people and property when people not knowingly become careless during fueling by not turning off their engines. It's something I will always remember and hope to never see again.
Take the time to turn off your car during fueling, you could save a life and it may be your own.
George
True...gasoline is VERY explosive but...just running the engine won't harm anything, I've been doing it for many many years. I wouldn't smoke while pumping gas though...that's the largest cause of pump station fires...that and morons driving off with the nozzle still in the damn filler neck..lol.
Joe
Thanks for the tip on Courtesy Nissan. They have the CD Changer for $278 plus a $37 installation kit. Works out to only about $70 more than the aftermarket changer. Where in the trunk does the Nissan(Clarion) changer mount? It looks like there is an indentation on the left side of the trunk for a changer.
Thanks
Joe
Thanks for the advice about the 02 sensors, I'll mention it to them when I bring it in.
If and when they replace my rear quarter window, I already had them agree that the will pay to re-tint the glass, so it will be an inconvenience for me to have them replace the rear quarter window and then go have it re-tinted, and then bring them back the receipt, then wait for them to reimburse me... all this and you think it will not fix the air leak? It is not really free for me, since I don't have a lot of "free time".
I still love this car!
This occurrence does not happen very often, most likely due to the fact that most people turn off their engine while fueling and people are driving newer cars that usually insulate sources of ignite better then older cars with cracked ignition wires? But that's not to say it will never happen with a newer car because things do go wrong and things do break as we all know from this conference. Unless of course if you happen to have that special halo over your head which makes you better then all of us common people.
George
I don't know if we have NASCAR fans here but a month ago at North Carolina Speedway there was pretty big fire in Matt Kenseth's pit. The cause? Kenseth's car backfired while leaving the pits and ignited either the vapors that were still present or some fuel that was spilled on the ground. I could not believe how fast the flames just moved through the pit area...only the ultra quick response of the pit crews and the firemen present prevented a disaster. The gas can guy got burned pretty good on his face hands and neck but was pretty lucky due to his suit.
Yeah...I know the NASCAR guys refuel with their engines on with the throttle pretty open and I doubt any of us fill our tanks in that manner
George...LOL..Living in NY, The largest threat of leave your car running while fueling...is having it stollen, not have it blow up...but, that's not to say that I'm not taking a chance, and that you're not correct in your thinking. You make a perfectly valid point....and when (if) my car ever explodes at my local Sunoco station...you can bet I won't leave it running after that.
(Sometimes you have to have a sense of humor)
Joe
Just a question Joe, do you feel that stop signs are intended for other people and not for you. How about speed limit laws are they for everyone except yourself?
George
Kyle...You don't want to do the sunroof. Just close the sunshade. That's another nice thing about the new Maxima...they've always been tinted in the past..noe they're nice and clear.
It should cost you about $140 to $160. make sure it's legal in your area first.
Joe
George
Joe
But anyway for the Maxima to be beat that bad by an Acura is very shameful. I sure hope that Nissan stops sitting on their hands and does something about bringing up the Maxima's HP to at least meet Acura's HP for model year 2002. Motor Trend forecast for 2002 is for the Maxima to get the 3.5L motor with 260HP which will at least meet Acura's performance. Let's hope for the best. I hate people talking about how a Honda can take a Maxima??
George
I'm sorry I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers Pal.
George
PS I do let it warm up for a minute or 2 in the morning but didnt think that would make that much of a difference. Also, while driving on the highway @ 60MPH, where do other tach say?
Thanks!!
George
Joe
Canada for thousands less than we are paying here in the US. If they are willing to take thousands less for a car, are the good people of Canada getting a great bargain, or are we being overcharged (like our higher pharmaceuticals in the US). I also wonder if similar discounts are available on other brands. Is my $19,000 BMW waiting for me up there?
http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/001412.html
Trooper
Joe
I know that some people have made strong comments saying that the Maxima has more then enough HP unless they have taken special? driving lessons, YEA right, that would make you think that Acura wouldn't sell you a new CL with 260HP until you prove to them that you have taken Race lessons, I don't think so!!
In todays fast changing car market in order to stay competitive manufacturers have to change quickly to meet customers demands. I hope that Nissan will step up to the plate in 2002 and make corrections to existing problems in Maximas and make significant improvements to be able to compete with Acura not with Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys.
George
Thanks so much!
Why the Maximas are less in Canada gets deep into international trade and profits and losses. If you live in Canada then they don't seem any different.
But if you live in the US, getting your Maxima in Canada is a fabulous bargain. Yes, most of it is because of the strong US dollar right now. See my posts above (#29 for example) for sme info on how to go to Canada to buy your Max. It's not difficult and will save you thousands. I know of at least 15 others who have gone up there since I did three months ago.
Feel free to email me. I can give full details and contacts.
-Jon
jonlofquist@aol.com
LMAO..What's next ?? The Corolla needs 250HP so it too can compete with an Acura or wait...maybe even a Mercedes !!??..."I don't think so".
Maximas have held their own since the early 80's. No need to worry.
Joe
Mark
By the way Joe just to give you a piece of inside information about the Nissan Altima, it will be competing with Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys in the near future. Nissan has other plans for the Maxima. But try talking to your sales staff to find out more information about this. It is clear that you are completely clueless!!
George
Trooper
The Maxima is NOT in the same class as the TL. The TL and I30 are direct competitors. The Altima WILL in the future be competing with the Accords and Camry's but for now...the Maxima is in their class.
George...in the future, as I've done with those whiners in the 5 speed forum, I'll be ignoring your childish insults, and rude "clueless" remarks, and I, for one, will be talking about facts...not heresay. I know of ALL Nissans upcoming plans on all thier cars....LOL..you keep reading C&D...LOL..I'll get the info from NDI. You obviously know nothing of what you speak about, and any facts I give seem to just get under your skin because you don't seem to be able to handle someone knowing more about Nissans than yourself. What a shame......I think everyone else in here is looking for sound advice, Not the immature rantings of the clueless.
So....I'll just ignore you in the future because the rest of us in here would rather not listen to you embarass yourself further.
MARK...by the way...the I30 base is just slightly sheaper than the TL's base price but....you can option it to well over the TL.
Joe
The computer adjusts the Air/Fuel mixture to a very rich mixture during the first few minutes, then gradually readjusts the mixtures to normal levels as your engine fully warms up. So for the first 10 minutes of driving you will be at a reduced gas mileage from summer weather driving.
Depending on how many times a day you start your car and how long your trips are you will experience a small decrease in mileage to a much larger decrease in mileage if your trips are short and plentiful.
Now this holds true for all combustion engines except for Joenissan's Maxima. He said that he has not had any reduction in gas mileage during winter driving. I have to tip my hat to you Joe, maybe I should get down on my knees because you are truly amazing. Like I said before you must be one in a million to have such a car that nobody else could own. An engineering miracle or are you just a good bull-S artist.
George
It appears that you have a very hard time with people that have the nerve to have a different opinion then yourself???
The guys in the 5-speed forum have different opinions then you have so you label them WINNERS?? I think we all are getting a clearer picture of you now. Either we all go along with what ever you say or be labeled WINNERS or what ever else you want to call people that don't have the same opinion as you have.
George
I don't want to piss anybody off, but I wish I had the fuel cut problem that is obvious in the 5 speed. I had to 'settle' for an auto, because I got tired of waiting for the colors/options that I wanted. i hadn't driven an auto in 15 years and I'm slowly getting used to it, but it's nothing like a stick-so much more power, control, and FUN.
BTW-the 'except for Joe's Maxima' was pretty funny, but chill out:)
Gregg
It seems to anyone who's read this forum, that the problem here started when I mentioned that I don't shut my car off while re-fueling. You seemed to take some sort of personal offense to that. So saying that I can't take being disagreed with is completely unfounded.
This forum is here to listen to and read MANY different views on the ownership of Nissans Maxima, not get all up in arms when a different view doesn't suite your fancy.
Although I don't frequent the 5 spd forum, I have read some of the posts. And if there is in fact a 5 spd problem, it's good to see that there's some headway, and hope the best for everyone seeking a fix.
Getting back to my cars mileage.....As I mentioned before....my car is kept in a heated garage, and I travel all highway miles...55 each way to be exact. I also said I didn't notice any change in mileage...that's NOT to say there isn't any......a mile or 2 here and there isn't going to be real noticable.
You may want to go back and read posts #258 and #336...In them I do say you're right about the re-fueling, and that my statements were purely opinion....maybe that will calm your ego.
You will never hear me tell anyone they're wrong when it comes to an opinion...you should try the same.
Keep in mind that the Maxima not being in the TL's competitive bracket is an automotive fact...not an opinion. the fact that it has been and continues to be compared to the TL, well...that's just proof that the Maxima is a great car.
Joe
The point I wanted to clear up to people that were very concerned about their winter gas mileage was that it was a normal occurrence during the winter months for their gas mileage to drop off. I did not want people to think after listening to Joe's advice that their gas should not drop off during winter months. But thanks for your input. It would be great to get more people involved in this conference.
George
I tried to change gas station this weekend. I've notice a great improvement in mileage in my 300 mile R/T to atlantic City. I regularly refuel at a Metro I Gas station which is a generic brand which I guess have poor quality winterizing additives. They sell cheap gas which is about 5 cents lower than the brand name. I tried to use Coastal Gas which is the next cheapest brand in my area and notice a big improvement in mileage.
I might try Mobil ,Amoco or Sunoco brands and see which will give my baby better mileage. I think using a generic brand gas is cheaper but you suffer poor mileage due to poor quality mixture.
Jeff
Wish us luck.
Joe