I just picked up my Black/Black lthr 2k2 6-spd this past weekend in Birmingham, AL, and drove it back to Atlanta. She has 19,000 on her odo, and I got a pretty ripping price.

It's a pretty sweet car, I must admit -- however my last car was a 1999.5 A4 1.8t, chipped, so I'm still trying to get over my AWD/turbo hangover (I keep expecting to feel an onrush of torque at 3k RPM, I find myself barrelling into corners entirely too fast, and I rediscovered that wheels can actually break traction in a straight line)

A few questions, though:

1) Does anybody else's clutch feel like its ALL THE WAY on the floor? There's definately no sneaking into any gears in this thing, its almost like if Im not careful mashing it in, the gear **** feels like it grinds just a bit. Notably, 3rd gear in a downshift from 4th or 5th; not necessarily a hard downshift, either.

2) clutch "clicks". Sounds like a spring down there is clicking. Turning the radio up alleives this problem (heh), just curious if it was something more than just me getting down there and monkeying with it this weekend.

3) Since I'm sans an owners manual until sometime next week, can anybody tell me what functionality the switch directly to the left of the heated steering wheel switch rocker switch does? It appears to contain a picture of a seat, one switch setting labelled "cancel", the other for "automatic". Ive put it in both places, Im not noticing anything.

4) The drive-by-wire system seems very smooth, however now and then if I'm rolling and I punch it, its like it hesitates for a moment. It ALMOST feels like downshift, and you could probably confuse it as such -- you know, if my car didnt have a clutch pedal and a stick-shift. I cant determine under what conditions it does it. Maybe this is a "feature" I'm not yet aware of.

Other than that, I'm happy! You guys werent kidding -- torque steer on this car is almost comical, especially in the rain. It probably mostly the sh!tty stock Bridgestones, im betting new shoes would go a long way to rectifying...

Next up: RSB, FSTB, and Eibach/Illums...

Dave B.

 

Awesome! How much did you pay for it? I'm in birmingham, AL and I have a brother with your exact same name. How weird...

Speaking of torque steer I seem to recall that avalons have it even worse. A 95 that I was playing with one day (these are all autos), I found it very hard to keep the thing in a straight line with just one hand on the wheel

Hey wait a second! how did you find this car? I spent a good long while looking for an 02 6 speed and found one a couple of months ago at a good price, but most of the ones around here want too much (there are only a couple now in autotrader).

 

congrats!!, a fellow atlanta max driver, with a VERY nice max.

 

I paid $17,900. A guy out there in Leeds, AL had two blk/blk '02 6-spds. However, both were manufacturer buybacks from Nissan. In mine, the original engine in the car had an oil seal that wouldnt seat properly. Nissan replaced the entire motor with a new 3.5, then sold it at an auction in Atlanta. I had the car THOROUGHLY inspected, and its flawless, drives like its new (cause it is.) Checked by a Nissan dealer that I specified (Serra).

To my knowledge, the guy still has the other '02 6-spd. I drove both, both were cherry and in very good condition. That one has 15k miles, the titanium pedals and possibly the HLSD (I think if the pedals are titanium, this differential is included?) Mine does not. He's asking 19k for each of them, but I talked him reluctantly down to 17,9. Both cars under manufacturer warranty and 60k extended warranty.

If you want to go chck it out, look up a guy named Tony King (King's Quality Cars, runs the business from his home, nice, honest fellow) - 205-585-5099.

And yes, there are very few 02 6-spds in Autotrader now, within 300 miles of my house in Atlanta. The only other one I was interested in was that Beigish-Silver color with a black leather interior up in Chattanooga with 22k miles, he wanted 19k. But yuck, Beige.

My name on AOL IM is SKoorbevad. We're on the same page. ;]

-db.

 

Congrats, Another Dave B on the board. We now have 3......

 

We multiply with great gusto. ;p

 

Live close by, same name as my brother, and the only other guy clever enough to reverse the spelling of the name Brooks. I think I've entered the twlight zone

 

[QUOTE=dbrooks]I A
4) The drive-by-wire system seems very smooth, however now and then if I'm rolling and I punch it, its like it hesitates for a moment. It ALMOST feels like downshift, and you could probably confuse it as such -- you know, if my car didnt have a clutch pedal and a stick-shift. I cant determine under what conditions it does it. Maybe this is a "feature" I'm not yet aware of.

bring it to the dealer by 36 mi
http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb/NTB03-022.pdf
this is 100% fix.
there is other tsb for clutch (studman)
http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb...=2002&tsb=none

 

Why'd you end up selling the A4? I know they are problamatic. Just curious....especially having it chipped. Good luck with the 5.5 gen. Peace_

 

Pardon my ignorance, but what does "TSB" stand for?

 

congrats on your new Max!

 

A few reasons. Mine was beginning to become a little problematic (I sold it with 73k on the odo), and I got a good price for it. I dont think the problems I experienced were necessarily due to the chip - most of the problems I had were covered under warranty, but still, the car was almost out of warranty, and I was becoming a bit scared.

The turbo wastegate failed early on, so the procedure by Audi of America was to replace the entire turbocharger. That was a solid $1500 in work if I wasnt under warranty. The week I sold it, the catalytic converter failed, it sounded like a go-kart, and again, thats an expensive fix on an audi. Was still under warranty, but barely.

Some other nickel and dime stuff here and there, I got sick of that bloody turbo timer and having to park in neutral, etc.

-db.

 

Whoa!!!! I feel ya.......Nice cars none-the-less. Alittle too slow not being chipped, but hey, it's low boost. Welcome aboard and TSB stands for Technical Service Bulletins, the last sticky thread. See Studman's site for more TSB's. Peace_

 

NYC TAR:

That page you linked is pretty helpful. I'll be bookmarking that. However, I think the TSB clutch problem you have listed isn't the same issue as I'm experiencing. I have no clutch "howl" when released, it just feels like to change gears, I've really got to mash it all the way to the floor (almost excessively)

-db.

 

I don't have 6 speed . sorry I help on that dapartment. however I did the lack of power tsb and it help out alot. BTW there is crack sensor reacall out their.

 

And these TSB's are done under warranty at any Nissan Stealerships? i.e, nothing out of pocket for me.

-db.

 

NADA outta your pocket!

 

of coarse they are free of charge under the 36k mi warranty , Just find a nice dealer around your area that won't bs.

 

Good. I'm gonna print some of these suckers out and bring it on up to the stealership next week. :]

 

well, now you can expect torque in a larger rpm range!

Yes, all of our clutches feel like that...it's been discussed alot and seems like there's only minimal adjustment...several guys tried to adjust it firmer/less travel and ended up getting slipping clutches as I recall. Don't mess with it! I hated this when I first got the car, but I don't even notice it any more.

2) clutch "clicks". Sounds like a spring down there is clicking. Turning the radio up alleives this problem (heh), just curious if it was something more than just me getting down there and monkeying with it this weekend.

I don't have a 2k2, but it sounds like the switches I have for the heated seats, except mine are in the center console. Or do you have memory seats?

I have noticed this too, both before and after install of my Frankencar intake. Not sure exactly why that is, but only does it every once in a while. Maybe it's to make you feel like a turbo boost when the hesitation ends

If you value your life, PLEASE REPLACE THE CRAPTENZAS!!!! You aren't yet aware of the limited tire choices you have in the 225/50/17...not that much to choose from in stock size. I use the Falken Ziex 512's, which are good in all weather, especially rain (and are relatively inexpensive)....I think most would consider the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S to be the best all-season tire out there for our cars, but it's very pricey....and there are several other good choices out there too....look through the board dealing with tires...there are about a million threads on the subject.

welcome...

 

Thanks for the input! Im glad to know Im not the only one developing very toned muscles in my left leg from pushing that thing all the way down every time. No lazy drivers in MT Maximas, I see...

And yes, I do have memory seats. There's the controls for it on the drivers door, and I assumed thats all there was too it. I guess theres more I'm not aware of. My heated seats are on the center console where yours are, undoubtedly.

-db.

 

Actually, this isnt my first experience with a maxima, either -- My dad has had a 1993 SE 5-spd for going on 11 years, now. He's put over 170k miles on the car since he bought it new, and theres been so few problems with it its been astounding. Same timing chain, too.... heheh...

He says when the thing finally dies on him, he's just going to have it towed to a junkyard and he's buying a new one since he's been so impressed. But, he says he'll get an automatic this time, he's driven manuals all his life, and he's getting old... :]

Lets hope mine lasts anywhere near this long.

 

I was most excited when I discovered my heated outside mirrors that I didn't know I had...

damn they really came in handy this week!

as to that mystery button, I have no other ideas...maybe you have a seat massager too! ...there are several things inside the 2k2 that my loaded 2k doesn't have (would be nice to have the heated steering wheel!)

 

Haha, yeah, I actually had a "hey, wouldn't that be cool if..." moment for about .4 seconds when I was thinking of possibly functionality for the mystery button and "seat massager" ran between my ears.

Ahh well, maybe in my next car.

 

This should keep you occupied until next week:
http://www.nissanusa.com/m/pdf/manua...san-Maxima.pdf

Page 3-18..... it DOES have something to do with your memory seats

BTW, seat massager... I think NHSTA would say for the safety factor

EDIT: welcome to the ORG, enjoy your stay and your new car!

 

That button is to enable/disable the memory seats. when you set it to "cancel" that feature does not work,(I don't understand why would you not want it to work) so I just leave it in "automatic" all the time. I think is more usable on the automatic transmission cars, cause on those the seat actually moves automatically back when getting out of the car. I don't understand why that (the seat moving all the way back) is not available on the 6spd.
Maybe somebody here has an answer for that.

 

Congrats on the new ride. I've been looking for a 6 speed too but had
no luck here in Arkansas. I will be in Birmingham for a short vacation Feb 7-8 at the La Quita Inn to meet up with someone.

You should stop in and let me check out your Max. This is Off topic but,
What are some good places to go to in Birmingham?

Peace

 

SkoorbMax is probably a better person to ask than me. I dont live in Birmingham, I live in Atlanta. I couldn't tell you much about the place, unfortunately.

But, actually, scroll up in this post and get the guy's number I posted earlier. He still has one 2002 Black/Black 6-spd available, 14k miles. His name is Tony King, he's located just outside BMH.

-db.

 

As a 6-speed owner, I can assure you that your clutch operation isn't normal. However, it's a pretty simple fix: The symptom you're describing is likely caused by low clutch fluid. The resevoir is under the hood on the drivers side against the firewall. Check the level, fill if necessary, and repost!

Oh, and congrats on a great purchase!

 

Get the Bridgestone Turanza LS-V touring tire. They do have the 225/50/17 size. I am currently running the LS-H series on the stock 16" for more than a year and the performance is very good, especially on snow with the recent cold-icy-snow weather that we got here in Northern Va.