Nissan Maxima

porknbeans

I'm surprised it took somebody this long to realize this. If you look under your hood, toward the firewall there is a small black box on about the size of a matchbox mounted to the drivers side hood mount. Nissan put that little box there to emit a soundwave to improve in the harmonics of the engine at idle speeds. Unfortunately, a side effect of this soundwave is that it makes the hood vibrate sometimes after the car has been turned off. This vibration in turn causes a humm that effects the nervous system of some small migratory birds. These birds are attracted to the humm, but are so upset to find out that its just the hood of some stupid car making the sound that they deficate on it in anger. Sorry, couldn't resist this one.

kevin111

Blanef - the cause of steering wheel vibrations at 65 mph and over are because the wheels need to be rebalanced. Even though you had the dealer do it countless times, they do not always do it right. I have had an Acura Intega, a Acura Legend, and a Camry do the same things around +60 mph, and it has been because of one thing, rebalancing. A few times I have had to have the tires rebalanced 3-4 times to fix the problem!!!! I do not remember the seat vibrating though.
I am thinking of getting an SE. So am curious about your posts.

amazing2u

LOL!
That's why I always have bird dropping on my Maxima!

Thanks for the laugh!

roar1

How many people need to tell you that you
need to have your tires properly balanced.
See my previous post. I'm not going to repeat
myself.

IF you find a good shop, they can also tell you
if you have a bent rim or an out of round tire.

jolar

obiwankenobi et al,
Must confess that I may have embellished on hitting 105 in 3rd, I took it out till the rev limeter kicked in (by mistake), and when I gazed at the dash, it was near 100, so I said 105. (still SMOKED the Rustang Gt)

i35, did people forget this car? Seems you should mention it as a close comparison instead of the G35, which shares platform w/Altima 3.5, sort of, right? RWD vs FWD, sure. I looked over an i35 that was on display at a mall, they are FRONT drive, not RWD as I've heard folks mention. And basically the exact car. I beieve the i35 and MAX are slated towards the Luxury Sport, where the G35 and Altima are slated towards Sport Sedan.

MNDRVR the G35 is HEAVIER! 3369 compared to 3224, how is that lighter? The Altima 3.5 FWD is about the same at 3227 Weight is NO issue here in other words. Also, there is no Current 6 speed for G35, so some of us needed cars this year, so don't mention that they are coming out with the manual version in future, my last lease ran out. Timing in this business can be HUGE. thank you.

ROAR1 0-60 Times
It seems like the industry is ignoring this car's abilities, I don't think they want to distract the public from the new platform cars G35, Altima 3.5, agree? Based on the last fastish car I had, Regal GS which did 6.6, this SE 6 is definately faster, I'd bet it breaks the 6.0 mark for sure, and moreover, the 40-100 times! I read that an Auto SE 02 max did 14.3 in the 1/4 mile at 96mph! WOW

I heard the WRX can be faster, but you have to redline it and dump the clutch from a stop, I don't think these cars were made to drag race, they are Rally cars. Point being, I think my 02 Max SE 6 would beat one cause the owner would NOT attempt or even think to do that. I'd bet the MAX makes WAY more torque off the line, and I'd also bet those Subies will have engine problems earlier than a Nissan car. (I hate Turbos)

Leasing, what about LEASING? everyone talks about styles running out, residuals, depreciation, warranties, I freakin LEASED mine, tons of people do, which makes a lot of the discussions irrelavant! I'll be ready to lease a 2005 Maxima next. Woo Hoo!

roar1

with you. The industry is ignoring the '02 Max.
Do you want to hear something FUNNY ? Car and
Driver has a Comparo on Family sedans. They
EXCLUDED the Maxima and Passat. They included
the " BUICK REGAL" and " HYUNDAI XG350" in their
test ( the Regal is at least a 4 or 5 yr. design)

Top honors went to the 2002 Honda Accord with the
Altima 3rd after the '02 Camry. ARE YOU KIDDING ?
ROFLMAO.( What, 4th yr. for Accord design )

Just what I've been saying all along. The automotive press just is VERY reluctant to give
any praise to Nissans in general. They are much
more apt to praise a Hyundai. Hyundai HAS come
a long way but , come on.

The name of the game is , test drive your chosen
vehicle for at least 30 min. and be your own
judge.

BTW, I had a '68 Dodge Charger with a 440 cu. in/
375 hp. engine ( 480 lbs/ft. of torque ) that
did the 1/4 mi. in 14.1 @ 98 mph, so that Max. is doing " REAL " good.

monte4

The reason they excluded the Maxima is because it really doesnt compete with those cars and the Altima is a new design. The Maxima is sort of in a niche by its self and has been for years, it can compete with more expensive cars( which more often it does TLS for example) or you can compare it to cars that arent really its cometetion like Accord.

roar1

ATTN: All 2000 Max owners with 215/55/16 tires.
What are you replacing your OEM tires with ??
Your thoughts and opinions are welcome.

I like the OEM Toyo Proxes because they are
fairly quiet , but, they have a short tire life
and they are expensive ( about $130- $140 )

I'm looking for a tire that is quiet, good
riding, and with good tire life. What have your
experiences been ??

likemax

Just keep the pressure on the dealership...

I experienced a steering wheel vibration at highway speeds upon delivery of my 2002 SE. I took it to the dealer to be looked at, the dealership balanced all 4 wheels, and the vibration actually got a little WORSE. I took it back a week later, and I was told that the balancing machine had been out of calibration. After recalibrating their machine, the dealer found 2 wheels out of balance this time. They balanced my wheels, rotated the tires, and the vibration is much less now (although still there to some extent).

The dealer called to check-up this week, and is willing to start taking more extreme measures (checking for heavy spots in the tires, etc.) if that's what it takes to make me happy. There's no reason why your dealer isn't doing the same for you. And if you indeed experience that vibration on a smooth, flat highway, don't let them get away with attributing it to the suspension.

rickmtb2

I just replaced my Toyos... I tried tlike heck to get Dunlop SP Sport A2s which have gotten raves (and I had their predecessor, the D60 A2s on my Altima). Unfortunately, every local (Houston area) dealer was out, and they all told me they were told it would be 6-8 weeks before they could get some.

I "settled" for a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE950 tires. I had experience with v-rated Potenzas on my RX-7 so I knew the Japanese-made Bridgestones (not Firestone) tires were pretty good.

The RE950 are pretty grippy... you can tell the rubber gets better traction than the Toys right away. They are pretty quiet but I think the slightly wider grooves on the outer edge of the tire make the tire a little noisier than other designs. Seems that tire companies are getting off on making the sidewall appearance different... Bridgestone uses a really noticeable "ribbed" look ("Ribbed for comfort" ;-) that is kinda ugly, but its a tire, not a future bride, so looks aren't that important. The tread is the "v" looking design, supposed to be good on wet roads. Also uses some new material/construction that continues to provide good traction as the tire wears.

I was able to get mine at Sears and they matched the lowest retail price I could find ($550 for four installed with road hazard). They are 40,000 mile, A ratings for traction and heat and 400 on treadwear.

Other tires that were recommended include Goodyear Eagle HPs, Michelin XGT H4, Yokohama A550 and their dB tire, and Bridgestone's touring tire, the Turanzo.

A good source of info is www.tirerack.com (reviews, articles, user ratings)...

jimxo

I spoke to soon, I recently posted that my Maxima has been trouble free. However today I noticed a sound similar to a high mileage car would make with bad lifters. I cannot reproduce the sound every time I hit the gas but it was definitely there. I am extreme about maintence so I know there nothing I missed. I will check everything out this week and see where this goes. The car is not blowing any smoke so it may be bad gas. Unfortunately my mileage is at 62k so I may be stuck paying if it needs any major repair.

georged98

Has anyone replaced the spark plugs or had them removed in a 2002 Maxima? The front plugs seems O.K. to check/replace but the back ones might be a problem. I'm just curious if anyone tried to check/replace the rear ones and how difficult it might be. They don't need replacement until about 100,000 miles according to the manual but if someone wanted to check the gap and condition of the plugs, how difficult would it be.

georged98

I'm was wondering how many Maxima owners use premium gas versus regular grade gas in their cars. Have you noticed any difference in the different grades of gasoline?

albatros43

I'm looking for a replacement rim for my 01 Max. They are the 5-spoke 16" variety. Does anyone know a good place to look for these besides the dealer? I hit a curb this weekend and blew-out one of my Toyo tires. The dealer didn't have a replacement Toyo, so I have a Michelin they charged me $150 for on the drivers side front. For obvious reasons, I want a matching set of tires and was thinking of using the Michelin as a full-size spare, and then getting a new Toyo.

I just checked the price of a new Toyo...and Kauffman Tire is quoting me a $173 price for one tire!!! Are these tires that great?! I might just have to drive around with mismatched tires...

roar1

Has anyone in central Maryland had the 3 M Clearmask or an equivalent installed
on their Max. ?? If so, where and how much ?

My dealer wants $750 for the hood, bumper, headlight and foglight covers
and side view mirror covers. I'm sure it can be done for less than this !

kyleknicks

i've seen those wheels on sale on Ebay.... you might wanna try a local junk yard too..

jolar

Roar1, I just bought '67 Satellite, original 383 Mag - I also had a 66 Dodge, 383/375 HP, with 391 gears ran low 13s. Again, I aggree w/ you the MAX does very well in this respect.

If you e-mail me, I'll send some Pics
lpearce@rocketmail.com

Sorry to drift from the Subject folks!

eblum

I also tried to get the Dunlop Sport A2's, but they are on national backorder....so I went with Yokohama Avid V4's. They are quieter than the Proxies and have been excellent so far.

I have been able to take off-ramps at much higher speeds than the Proxies and their wet performance are good too. I would recommend them highly. Paid $100 each.

roar1

Thanks guys ! This is exactly the kind of info. I was looking for. Out of all the tire
reviews at tirerack.com only a couple are for 5 th gen. Max 's. The same tire can
perform differently on a " Jetta" than on a " Max" which is why I want 'Max' specific
info.

I just wish there were more tire options.

To reiterate, I'm looking for owners experiences with tire replacement on 5 th gen.
Max's with 215 / 55 - 16 tires. I have heard that the Yoko Avids are fairly good !

eblum:
I know that you have been on this board for a long time. I presume you have a 2k Max.
How many miles are on it and how many miles are on your new Avids ??

blackstone3

I have a 2k Maxima SE with 24000 miles on it. I had the tire rotated & balanced and the dealer said my brakes were about half worn in the front. I also feel a vibration when I brake. 24000 miles is to early to replace rotors isn't it? I heard of a TSP bulletin about this. Does anyone else have this problem or heard of the bulletin? Thanks.

rickmtb2

Unfortunately, it seems that the 215 55 16 is a fairly uncommon tire size (though there are lots of Maxs out there) and as such you don't have the selection out there. Fortunately, the SP Sport A2 (when available), the Bridgestone Potenza RE950, and Michelin XGT H4 are all very good performance tires at reasonable costs. IMO the Avid isn't as performance-oriented as the other three. I also know that you can get other Yokos (the A550 and their newish dB tire), and the Bridgestone Turanza comes in that size as well (if a quieter, softer ride is desired, plus you get an Elph digital camera from Bridgestone if you buy right away). Kumho makes a v-rated tire in that size I believe, and when you add in the OEM Toyos thats a pretty good selection I reckon.

92drexel

You may also want to check out the tirerack (www.tirerack.com). You'll find a lot of good info on the tires they carry (people actually write reviews).

I agree with rick, I bought the Kumho 17" tires for mine and I've been very happy (about 10k miles so far). It is a high performance tire, however and thus shouldn't be driven in the snow (if your in FL or CA then you're set). Goodluck.

tiger8

I just saw an ad for the '03 Maxima. What gives? I assume this early introduction of the '03 means the model year will not last long and that next winter or spring, the '04 all-new model will debut.

Meanwhile, any changes on the '03? A new rear suspension perhaps? (joke)

kyleknicks

yes there is a tsb on that.... if no one's got the link to the tsb's on the internet, i might scan them and email to you... i just had my rotors resurfaced at 22k miles after showing the service desk the tsb.

mndrver

Where did you see the ad for the maxima?

Anyone know what if any changes there are for 03 before the 2004 bodystyle?

hmamontov

This is from www.nissandriven.com

"For 2003, there's a new spin on this potent mix. It's the SE Titanium Edition Package, which uses the ultra-sporty SE model as a starting point, then raises the stakes for both styling and equipment. After all, if it didn't continually push the envelope, we simply couldn't call it a Maxima."

Looks like they already upgraded the site and it shows the prices and accessories for 2003 Max. The price looks $200 higher than for 2002. That's it.

tiger8

Sounds like a gimmick to me. They're obviously trying to keep people buying until the new model comes out next year. Don't get me wrong; the Max is a good car, but obviously this version is at the end of its life expectancy, and they're probably adding some dodads just to keep the sales up until the new one debuts.

maybeamaxima1

As my wife and I evaluate our next car purchase we are eyeing a maxima but I have a question or two for the masses here. First question. We have two kids,two car seats, and all the assorted bob the builder and squarepants spongebob toys that come along with that. What has been your experience with your two child seats and spacing on long family trips?
Also while trying to rent a maxima for family trip, we find out that Enterprise has a mileage limit for there premium cars such as a maxima. What other car rental agencies in Dallas will offer a maxima as a rental with an unlimited mileage allowance? Thanks for your input and helping me to make an informed decision

raaizin

Maybeamaxima1, We have 2 kids ages ages 6&7. In NJ children under 8 or 80lbs must be buckled. We have 2 large child seats in the rear and there is almost enough room in the rear for an adult in the middle. We also have an Explorer a '96 and the Maxima has much more interior room than the explorer. The trunck is quite large. We took it to Fla and were able to fit all we needed. It seems when we took the Explorer on vacation we would pack stuff we really didnt need.

If your kids are really small I could see where it might be a little difficult bending over to buckle them up, but our kids can handle this on their own. You will not be dissapointed with this car and it is a terrific value.

gg2k2se

From nissandriven.com
Titanium Edition Package Includes:
Bose AM/FM/CD6
Front Seat Side Impact Supplemental Airbags
Dark Chrome Wheel Finish
Stainless Steel Sill Plates
Floor Mats
Accent Stiching on steering wheel, A/T shift knob and M/T shift boot
Compass in Mirror......
so not a big deal. Also looks like 2 new colors including a "titanium" and some other silver. I wonder what the difference is from the original Sterling Mist?

Still a great car.

bdlfe

So basically the TE looks like a 01' AE? With the dark chrome wheels and the sill plates on it.

gg2k2se, the "sheer silver" is the regular silver that is on every other car. the same color on the 02' altima in all the ads.

the next generation Maxima is going to look too much like a 1.25X altima, i just hope they can figure out how to fix the ugly interior!!

meca2

The new Maxima should be out in '04 will be built in Canton,Mississippi. Should be about 1 foot longer and have the Infinity V8. Nissan will not be building them in Japan after that.

maxamillion1

NA

92drexel

meca:

Where did you hear that the max would have a V-8? I hope you have a credible source because that would be great news! It kind of makes sense if Nissan is looking to compete with the Passat's W-8. Besides, Nissan is rumored to have a full-sized pick-up truck and full sized SUV with a V-8, so maybe the Max will get a version of this? That would furthur blur the line between Nissan and Infiniti because a V-8 would position the max above everything Infiniti has (power-wise) except the Q-45 and that ugly M-45.

roar1

This weekend I'm going to swap-out the tailights in my Merlot '02 GLE
with " blacked-out " units from an '01 Max SE. Sooooo, on Monday
I will have a pair of '02 " frosted " Tailights taken off of my car for sale.

The units are only 2 mos. old ( build date 03/02 ) and I am willing to
part with them for $ 100 ( I'll pay shipping ).....Thats 1/2 price.

This is a great chance to upgrade your '00-'01 to an '02 !!
Let me know.

roar1

255 hp., room for the family, dynamite interior, muscular exterior ,
Quality and reliability among the best. 'Nuff said !!!!

berbel

Just an fyi in light of all of the previous posts
about Max gas mileage...........

Filled up this a.m.....did mileage calculation.....

Got 29 mpg out of the last tank full. All interstate driving....90 miles per day round trip.
'00 Max SE auto and I've got a lead foot!!!

Tell me this car isn't GREAT!!!!!

kyleknicks

I would be interested in those lights.... how easy is it to put them into my 2k max?

roar1

Each light unit has (4) threaded studs. You
loosen some of the trunk trim so you can access
the back of the lights. You disconnect the plugs and remove the (4) nuts and 'pop' the light unit
out. The lights have a groove around the back of
the unit where you take some butyl rubber weather
stripping rope and lay it in the groove. This seals the light to the body. It's really a piece
of cake but if you are concerned, a body shop will do for about $30. It only takes 15 min.

My new lights came from Courtesy Nissan and had
the rubber rope already in the box. Any dealer
or body shop will have this item.It's really not much to it.....very well designed.

If you are interested, we'll exchange pertinent
info.

monte4

Yes the 03Titanium does have its similarities to the 01 Aniv edition, but it loks better. I saw one at the Nissan HDQ in Torrance. Yes the 5th gen Max is going to have a short life only 4 model years, the 3rd gen had a 6 year life and the 4th a 5 year run. The competition has closed the gap and all the criticism this style has recieved is part of its early demise.

tiger8

The next Maxima will be a V8? From the Q45? That will be quite a price jump. I can't see Nissan moving the Maxima that much upscale.

pbhatti

If the Maxima does get the V8 it will most likely be the 4L 300hp version and not the 4.5L 340HP one. Some people have suggested that it might keep the 3.5L VQ but get additional HP (275hp?). Also the next Maxima WON'T be RWD (platform doesn't support it) but will be either AWD (most likely) or FWD.

tiger8

I can't see Nissan introducing a V8 Maxima to keep up with VW's W8 Passat. That car is not exactly selling like hotcakes, and there's not a huge demand for an overpriced, overpowered car like that. They'll probably sell about 3 all year.

pbhatti

I think the next Maxima will compete with a lot of AWD drive cars: Audi A6 Quattro, MB E class 4Matic, VW 4Motion, Volvo S60 AWD. Except it will be "cheaper" (26K-33K?) than theses cars.

monte4

Heck the current Maxima with the 255Hp puts down better times than the Passat with the 8 cylinder engine

tiger8

So then why would they need to drop a V-8 into the Maxima if the current engine is already tough enough (unless they really want to put some distance (and price) between the Max and the Altima--which is a possibility).

pbhatti

The next Maxima is gonna be bigger than the current one. The weight of the AWD system and the larger size will need a bigger engine to keep the sports image of the car. If they kept the V6 in it then the fuel mileage would decrease and some people would be turned off from the car. If they have a large (4L) V8 then the fuel mileage won't decrease (or might increase). This is the same reason why American makers use larger engines in their cars.

pat

The Town Hall is about to take on a new look in an effort to make content more easily searchable and accessible.

Have you seen the Letter from the Town Hall Manager on the Town Hall Welcome page? If not, you might want to follow that link to have a look.

And hang on to your seats. Change is never easy - for any of us - but resolving the Search problems we've had will be worth the pain.

Pat
Sedans Host

tiger8

Do we know for sure that the next Maxima will be AWD? Where is it written? Or maybe like the Audi, a choice of 2 or 4?

pbhatti

I don't know for sure but it seems to be the only possibility: the Altima is FWD, the G35 is RWD. The altima platform (FF-L; front-drive front midship) supports FWD or AWD, so no RWD. Nissan could also use the route of the upcoming Murano and offer both AWD and FWD (SE AWD and GXE & GLE FWD?).