Nissan Maxima Owners Manual: Cold weather driving
- Freeing a frozen door lock
- Tire equipment
- Special winter equipment
- Driving on snow or ice
- Engine block heater (if so equipped)
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply deicer through the key hole. If the lock becomes frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the key hole or use the remote keyless entry function on the Intelligent Key. Antifreeze In the winter when it is anticipated that the temperature will drop below 32F (0C), check the antifreeze to assure proper winter protection. For additional information, refer to "Engine cooling system" in the "Do-it-yourself" section of this manual. Battery If the battery is not fully charged during extremely cold weather conditions, the battery fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the battery should be checked regularly.
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide superior performance on dry pavement. However, the performance of these tires will be substantially reduced in snowy and icy conditions. If you operate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads, NISSAN recommends the use of MUD & SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all four wheels. It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for the tire type, size, speed rating and availability information. 2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires may be used. However, some U.S. states and Canadian provinces prohibit their use. Check local, state and provincial laws before installing studded tires.
It is recommended that the following items be carried in the vehicle during winter: A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove ice and snow from the windows and wiper blades. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack to give it firm support. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts. Extra washer fluid to refill the windshieldwasher fluid reservoir.
WARNING Wet ice (32F, 0C and freezing rain), very cold snow or ice can be slick and very hard to drive on. The vehicle will have much less traction or "grip" under these conditions. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until the road is salted or sanded. Whatever the condition, drive with caution. Accelerate and slow down with care. If accelerating or downshifting too fast, the drive wheels will lose even more traction. Allow more stopping distance under these conditions. Braking should be started sooner than on dry pavement. Allow greater following distances on slippery roads. Watch for slippery spots (glare ice). These may appear on an otherwise clear road in shaded areas.
Engine block heaters are used to assist with cold temperature starting. The engine block heater should be used when the outside temperature is 20F (-7C) or lower. WARNING Do not use your engine block heater with an ungrounded electrical system or a 2-pronged adapter. You can be seriously injured by an electrical shock if you use an ungrounded connection. Disconnect and properly store the engine block heater cord before starting the engine. Damage to the cord could result in an electrical shock and can cause serious injury. Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged extension cord rated for at least 10 A. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded 110-VAC outlet.
