Why isn't there a Haynes or Chiltons guide out for the 2k2 - 2k3?

 

Maybe there isn't enough demand for them. I would rather have a Nissan factory service manual than any other publication. There are others on the org that use Nissan manuals also. They are probably putting some books together for 02-03 Maximas right now. A lot of those Maximas are still under factory warranty so mostly Nissan dealers with factory trained techs work on them.

 

I had one for my 2000 max and it sucked a lot. Only had one pic of a 5th gen max. It was for 95-00. I returned it as soon as I saw this.

 

They are worthless. Nissan factory service manual is all you need.

 

they are not worthless. they have everything you need to know.
they do not have them for new cars because they are still under warranty. so they figure people wont need them. you wont find one right now for ANY 02 or newer car.

 

Compared to the service manual, they are worthless.

 

I have seen the service manual (cd form) selling on ebay. Does the service manual come with pics?

 

Yes, it has pix. Not for everything but for certain things there are diagrams to help clarify what it is saying. And there's no need to buy it from Ebay when it's available free of charge. hint hint.

 

Tell me more about this...free.

 

They can't have everything you need to know in such a small book. It gives you some basic information but the ones that I have seen do not go into great detail. The Nissan manual comes in three volumes. It covers everything including detailed wiring schematics.

 

I picked up the Haynes manual for 1993 - 2001 and, while not worthless, it's clear all they did was add some verbage and a few pictures for 5th gen models. They do have procedures in there for the 2K and 2K1, but most of the pictures are of earlier models.

 

Haynes/Chiltons use alot of the images from the FSM aswell. Just get the FSM, it is sooo much better.

 

how do you know? they dont even have one for 2k2 - 2k3

it doesnt hurt to keep both and you can reference one to another. IMO, If you just used it for maintenance, it's a waste of $ (unless you get it free of course).

FSM has a lot of good info than that of Hayne manual. i.e. torque spec, diagnostic steps, voltage reading, wiring diagram...etc. etc. But the Hayne's manual is easier to follow because they use real pictures instead of drawings. I usually start with Hayne's manual and use the FSM to double check.

But I have found something that both FSM and Hayne didnt cover: the idler pulley assemly.

 

What do you need to know about the idler? It coverd in the FSM in the engine maintenance section.

 

yes, I did see it in the maintenance section.


recently I am converting my car back to NA from SC. So I have to take off the stillen idler pulley and bracket and put the stock one back in. The stock pulley has 1 spacer, 2 bearing covers, 1 washer and 1 nut.

The FSM and HAyne's didnt give you a picture of the assembly and the order to put them back together. They just told you how to change a belt. In fact, the Hayne's manual even gave you a wrong direction : it says to loose the adjusting rod first which is a big big no-no. You have to loose the lock nut on the pulley first before you touch the adjusting nut. or you will snap the rod in half.

Anyways, I put the 2 covers onto the pulley, the spacer in between the adjusting rod and the pulley. I then put in the washer and lock it with the nut after putting the belt back in. It spun fine but once I started....there's this burning smell and I knew I didnt put it in the correct order.

It turned out that the smell was coming from the outer bearing cover rubbing agains the pulley. I put the washer between the outer cover and the pulley and the smell was gone.

Right now it still wobbles a little......but it doesnt smell or get really really hot.