Hey, I have recently returned my 1998 Maxima to the dealership ( http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....5&pagenumber=1 ) and now I have to start the car search all over again. I know that I want a Maxima SE around the 1997-1998 year... are there any differences between these two models? The only thing I really noticed from looking in the window is that the 1998 has a digital odometer and the 1997 does not. Are there any significant differences in the two years that would make me want to pick the '98 over the '97?

 

The air con controls are laid out different. They're also digital as well.
That metallic light purple (I forget the name) color was discontinued for '98.

"concorde mist"

 

I believe that the 98 came with side impact airbags, but the 97 did not.

 

The '98 GLE model came with side impact airbags.

 

My 98 SE has side impact airbags too.

 

they where a stand alone option in 98 for the SE and GLE

 

I KNOW this one

98 Maxima, as oppsed to the 97s have;

Digital Odometer with 2 trip meters.
The newer and more reliable auto climate control system with optional outside air temp, a button you can add for like $10 if it doesn't already have it. The 97 auto-climate control is somehwat notorious and un-reliable.
Side airbags became an option for the 1st time in 98.


Plus a very small detail that is usually missed but not really important anyways;

The 97s have the feul gage and temp gage facing the same way, both facing left.

The 98s and beyond have gone for a more symmetrical look to the gage cluster, they face in towards each other

Enjoy the ride

DW

 

I believe another minor difference is the needles on the gauges.. My 98 has red needles..

 

Oh man! Got me on that one! You maxima connoseiur you

DW

 

as opposed to... orange?

 

I think pre-98s have white needles. As does mine, now.

 

Pre 98 GXE's and GLE's (black Guages) have white needles.

The Pre 98 SE's have orange/red needles (forget which, as i have a GXE)

IanS

 

Mine doesn't
Probably because I've got the base SE with cloth seats.

 

so, basically, the major difference (the only thing that really would even possibly matter) is the climate control and the side air bags. The climate control thing isn't an issue for me, since I'm looking for an SE and most of the SE's don't have it (plus I don't care about it anyways). The side air bags are kind of nice, though. And that digital odometer is a nice thing, but it's not a huge deal - not a feature that would make me purchase one over the other if the '97 had more of the features I wanted.

 

My '98 SE has orange-red needles.

 

yes, I know...all 4th gen SE's have orange/red needles...that's what I was trying to say.

 

My 98 SE has climate control too

Gotta love having a fully loaded SE. Dont forget the 3 garage door openers in the visor. Do 97s have that?

 

Ahhh, yes, HomeLink. My 98 has that. Do 97s? Not a major feature, but a nice touch

Also, to clarify hte needles issue, every 4th gen Maxima has 2 sets of gage clusters, the standard black ones which are on the GXE/GLE, and then the special SE ones with white face gages. The standard GXE/GLE clusters all have red needles, I beleive, no matter what year. The issue of the needles I think was only concerning the SEs.

97 and before Maxima SEs had White face gages with Black needles. 98 and later Maxima SEs have white face gages with red needles.

DW

 

I have a 97 GXE, and it came with White Needles,black guages.

 

yup- needle color, airbag, dig odometer....i say just get 98 because its at least 1 year younger

 

What's up Ian,

feeling the SC yet?

White needles?? Oh brother, I can't keep up with Nissan.

DW

 

I'm only getting 6 lbs of boost, I should be getting 9.....I've checked everything I can think of, and everything that's been suggessted:

Boost guage
Belt
MAF
Ambient Air
Vacuum hoses
Fuel Pressure
Piping
BOV

No luck whatsoever....

I'm only getting 231hp with a 3.25" pulley (Without the MEVI)
With the MEVI on, however, I am getting 269fwhp. I should be getting somewhere around 300 however.

IanS

 

Well, before your SC, your car was dynoing kinda low. Maybe the problem lies there, not related to the SC at all. Have you checked your plugs? Maybe an ignition coil is bad or a feul injector may be suspect. Those are rare.

DW

 

Just put in 1 step colder plugs.

How would I check to make sure a coil is not bad? Wouldn't I have blown my engine by now riding around with a bad coil?

Wouldn't I at least have thrown an CEL, or at least gotten a Code upon checking the ECU (I check for hidden codes regularly, where the CEL does not come on, but you put it in diagnose mode and you get a code)

Right now my ECU reads 0505 - All Systems OK.

IanS

 

You may not get a CEL for bad or suspect coils, only when the coil has completely failed, but then, by that time you would know How did your old plugs look like? Did they wear evenly, or was one quite a bit different from the others? They could tell a story abut what's happening in your combustion chambers.

DW

 

I looked at every plug while removing them...they all looked like i was running a slight bit rich before the SC, which I'm told is normal, because the OEM setting puts it slightly rich for safety.

A slight amount of carbon buildup at the plug, but they all looked the same.

IanS

 

Maybe you had 98 spark plugs when you shoulda had 97 plugs Sorry, just trying to get back on topic. Anyways, I can't really suggest anything else.

DW

 

not a big difference but the circuit boards on the rear power window switches is different on the 97's and 98's, i did the color conversion on the switches on my friends 97 and they where different from mine.

 

Did anyone see any difference between the taillight lenses on 98 and 97 or 99? I know the 95-96 is a different shape from the 97-99, but it sometimes seems that my 98 has something different about the lenses compared to 97 or 99, maybe the other one(s) is slightly tinted or something?

 

97-99s are exactly the same. Completely interchangeable.

DW