mine is a 96, just bought it yesterday.

problem 1: steering is loose on the highway(almost deadly) theres no feel in it until you turn it enough then it jerks to that direction
problem 2: battery isnt charging. i think the alternator is fine , is there a fuse for the charging system?
problem3: the windows stopped working, even after i jump started it they wouldnt work. i think maybe i blew a fure while hooking up the jumper cables, is there a fuse diagram i can see?
any help is much appreciated

 

oh yeah #4 my none of my gauges work, idk if thats a fuse issues too?

 

Problem 1: Probably a bad rack or a cracked power steering hose. common issue on many nissans
Problem 2: Possibly a dead battery or possibly a bad alternator. Either are likely culprits
Problem 3: Which window? Does it make a sound when you hit the switch and simply not move or does nothing happen?
Problem 4: By none of your guages do you mean your water temp and fuel guage or all including your speedo and RPM? If you did hook up the jumper cables wrong then it is very possible you blew a ton of fuses and this is the root of all of your problems. Check your cables and check your fuses nobody can tell you if they are blown or not

 

I had to leave the car in a parking lot last night I'm omw there now. The windows worked before the car died and now there's no noise or power going to them. Also the interior lights stopped working. And yeah none of the gauges work but it was like that when I bought it. Is there a fuse for the alternator or something?

 

And yeah when I hooked up the cables I touched the positive to the negative side and sparks flew so everything besides the battery issue should be fus related right?

 

There are a few fuse boxes. The ones you need to look at right under the dash on the drivers side. Pull the panel off and the fuses are labels on the back side of the panel. Second is in the engine bay. You will just have to check all of them. If no fuses are blown, you know they are blown because the metal is broken and there is no connection from side to side anymore, you have a much bigger problem. Likely it is just the fuses as they are designed to blow to save other more expensive components. So get out there and check them!

 

Made an account just to answer because i had a similar problem. The battery not charging (given the battery is good) is probably the large battery fuse (65 amp i belive) in the fuse box under the hood. No doubt you blew a bunch of fuses when the jumper cables were crossed. I blew many fuses when i crossed terminals when installing wiring for subwoofers. I imagine the power window and gagues problems are fuse related too.

Check the back of the fuse panel cover under the dash to assure your installing the proper amperage fuses.

The steering issue is most likely a worn out pinion gear. If it was a hose or somthing pump related you would just lose power steering, it would still feel tight and responsive, just harder to turn. Unfortunately a new rack installation is not cheap, Unless you do it yourself which is a big job.

Good luck, sorry you cant enjoy the greatness of the maxima (yet)

edit- Got my battery fuse at napa for a few bucks.

 

After I crossed terminals I was still able to crank it up. I just now tried to jump it and after I hooked it up nothing happened at all no lights nothing, the only thing is now it clicks(just one time) when I turn the key

 

Should be 2 clicks before ignition.

click 1 should turn on radio, and you should hear the power antenna motor.

click 2 should turn on instrument panel and dash lights. Power windows will not work until the second click as well.

Then after the second click is the ignition position which will turn the starter and the engine should crank. If you said it was cranking after you crossed terminals but isn't now, with no lights or anything all points to fuses. Did you check ALL the fuses?

Check continuity with a multimeter if you can, but other wise a close visual inspection. Some fuses can have hairline cracks you cannot see.

 

Fuses blown in car : 10a "meter", 10a "spare", 7.5a "Electric parts" The only fuse blown under the hood is the big 120a one. Idk what it's for but it looks important lol

 

There's also a wire going from my interior fuse box and it goes to my battery the wire is wedges into the bottom right fuse which is for electric parts

 

mter fuse is for your gauge cluster, 7.5 is all the interior lights and that y you have no lights working, but how did you blow a spare fuse?ad that 120 is important, you need that fuse for your car to run

 

What exactly is that 120a for?

 

i dont have a fuse cover in front of me, but im 99% sure its your battery fuse

 

Do they have these at auto stores?

 

Yes got mine at napa for like $4, Replace all those fuses and you should be golden

Get your battery and alternator tested for free while your there.

 

ok well i changed fuses and got a new battery , but now the factory alarm is going off? and i think its making it so i cannot start the car.

 

Your alarm wont go off if you unlock the car?

 

When is your alarm going off?

 

if im right the 96 doesnt have an immobilizer so it won't prevent you from starting the car.

Note putting the key in the ignition won't stop the alarm, you have to put it in the door lock and turn the key to the unlock position.

what causes the alarm to go off? Need more info to help you.