A couple of months ago I bought a used '94 Maxima and for the life of me I can't find a manual, Chilton or Haynes, that has an under-hood photo that looks like mine. I do simple maintenance myself, but can't find the PCV valve because of ignorance and manuals that don't look like they are for the same car. Is anyone willing to help a grandma with such a simple question as where's the PCV? I also wouldn't mind knowing where I can get a manual that actually looks like my car. I'm afraid if I order an owner's manual it will be wrong,too. Hep me, hep me.

 

Do you have an SE or GXE? and is there a problem with the car?

 

Well, I have looked all over the body of that car and haven't found SE or GXE on it anywhere so I don't know. There is no particular problem except it idles rough and tends to stall if I come to a complete stop after warming up for only about 2 to 4 blocks. I've only owned it a couple of months and mostly it runs fine. It has >110,000 on it and I'm just trying to get all my maintenance schedules off to a known start.

Doesn't SE and GXE refer to body trim? I'm only concerned with the under the hood side of things just now, tho getting some new paint on the rear bumper would be nice. But that's later. For now, can you help with locating the PCV?

 

SE = white face guages
GXE = black face guages

in a 94 they put different motors in the SE's than in the GXE's you need to determine if it a se or gxe before you proceed.

 

if you have a 94 GXE (VG engine), the PCV valve is in the red circle....



loosen the clamp, detach the hose, check for cracks, unscrew the valve, and then reverse order replacement!

 

Well, dang. My daughter's gone in the car and I can't recall for sure, but I think the gauges have white faces. This I can tell you for sure, the air intake is routed to the front of the engine compartment instead of to the rear like it is in the manual's photos. When I went to the parts store I was asked if I had single or dual overhead cams. I didn't know so we went out and looked and he picked out the parts but I never got real clear on the cams.

So, if I have an SE, does that match the engine configuration?

 

Aw RITE! That's the way my engine looks, except for the blue plug wires and distributor 'box'. That's what I needed to know. I expected it to be on the front side. Just goes to show ya.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now when my daughter brings it back from seeing Bring In The Clones I'll know what to do.

I suspect I'll be back another day.

 

we're not here for one question stands! What are we? Maxima ******?

you better come back, we won't be used and then just dismissed.

 

Well,I can't very well say "I'll call you tomorrow", now can I? Hey, I had a great time! I'll be back the next time I'm, uh,... stumped. Ya done good, guys!

mmMWAa

 

I hope gramma is a she with that kiss.

 

Been a while since I've seen a he gramma, dude. But, considering modern society and medicine, it's only a matter of time, I guess.

It's nice to get a big ole' grin along with the info I needed. Daughter's home and so is my car, andI've finished my Robin Cook book, so I guess I'll get to trying out the instructions. I'll let you know if I need more guidance. Thx, all.

 

ha...is this for real????

 

Yes, and a very nice/well informed woman.

 

As opposed to...

I know you meant well, but you say that like it's that rare.

You go gramma!

 

No he asked if it was for real(I guess he assumed it was a joke) . I was telling him that yes it was......for ral

 

oh...not meaning to be rude...that's awsome if a woman...even older woman can get out there and work on her own car.......no offinse was intended!!!

 

not only that, but acutally using the internet and the org

a lot of people in their 40's dont even use the internet that much esp for car maintence they usually have the money to take it to a shop

 

You guys are making me giggle. FYI, this gramma is 52, grandmother of 5, daughter of a master mechanic, sister to a couple of pretty talented mechanically inclined brothers, and ex-wife of one very helpless man. When our VW clutch cable broke, it was I who got the book and crawled under the car. When a different car died on our way to work, it was I who got out with an emery board and shinied up the points in the distributor cap. When I got single I definitely didn't have the money to pay someone else to do stuff like plugs and wires and such. Being able to read a computer manual as well, and having worked on computers since 1967 back in the days of DOS, (as in pre-PCs, let alone pre-Windows) I manage to take care of the things I must. I'd rather cook and garden and dance, but the car has to be done. Did any of you see My Cousin Vinny? Last of all, I ain't no butch. Or ***** for that matter.

I've been bragging on this group to everyone I know yesterday and today. And thanks, guys, for your nice compliments. Obviously insightful men.

Pam