What did they change on the maxima for 2001?
We have a 2001 automatic maxima and I was thinking of getting a used 5 spd.
Which one should I go for 2000 or 2001?

 

Get the 5spd. Don't make the same mistake us auto owners did. Besides, I heard there are a couple of defects to the 2001.

 

The 2001s have an audio control module on the steering wheel. I think thats about it besides the AE.

 

#1 there r a couple of changes that 2001 has over 2000:
auto dimming mirror
viscous limited slip differential (AE only)
radio controlls on the steering wheel
active head restaints
some minor brake adjustments
#2 auto vs standard:
if you want speed go standard 0-60 in 6.7-7.0 seconds
if you want comfort and traction controll go auto 0-60 in 8.0-8.5 seconds but stillen makes a shift kit

 

as far as the auto vs stick debate, that's never ending. to me, i like the feeling that i am in "complete" control of the car instead of just steering the car.

the changes, as the others have said, are minor. one piece of advice though, the paint sucks. that is fact and has been said by nearly everybody. b/c of this, don't get black. when the paint chips, it is VERY noticeable. a lighter color won't show this as bad. don't let the paint dsicourage you though.

 

Another difference between the 2000 and 2001 Maximas is with the emissions. For the '00 model, Nissan made both a Federal and a California emissions model. In 2001 they are ALL CA emissions equipped. The best bang for the buck would be a 2000 stick!

 

I noticed a few changes in my 2001 compared to my 2000 in the engine compartment as well. No more resonator box under battery. There is no tube that goes from the scoop to the white resonator box that use to be there. (no OSCAI) for me I guess. Also, no sensor on the scoop's left side hanging, there is a hole there though. Some new sensor on the or around the MAF (cyclinder shaped), I also got 4 O2 sensor plugs and I can actually see one O2 sensor from above now. Did they add more?

 

hey russ i got a 2000 but a late one so my intake is the same like on the 2001 without the resonator box... i made the oscai anyway... i just took out the hood scoop and i cut the bottom of that peice that is hanging down off... and i just attached my piping to that peice so it looks exactly as the older ones did... but i ordered the hood scoop from the older maximas that come with that whole cut already from dave and it is a little too short... it doesnt fit... so basically if u want it u just cut it thats it...

 

Hold Everything!!!
You are all forgetting the most important change for the 2001 Maxima.
It now has a little arrow to tell you where the gas cap is. That's gotta be worth a couple hundred cents. LOL

 

When I test drove an AUTO Max Se, the tranny felt like it was a 3 Speed automatic. Very anemic.

 

Guys don't forget that the 2001's are missing the shield in the rear wheel wells like mine is. Big change for the '01.
What do u guys think that's worth???

 

Also missing the stiffeners for the core support (if you have 01 SE or AE) - the two bars right behind the front grill.

 

Stiffeners??? I'm missing something else?

 

Only on the SE or AE (they where on the 00 SE's) so if you have an 01 SE or AE it would seem that way. Check the following thread - i posted a message from Dave Burnette (southpoint Nissan) at the end.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=30032

 

Wow....
I guess theres alot of differances,there was some stuff I didnt even know and im a fanatic!

 

Thanx, but I'm still not sure where or what this is and if it affects my car? Is it bad to be missing this? Are there any pics out there?

 

I wish I knew thats why I am trying to get more info. The only feedback I know of is what I got from Dave Burnette. He spoke with Russ2kse and Russ (who owned a 00SE and now has a 01SE) says that the 00SE was stiffer, and there is more flex in the 01SE. Maybe he means that there a little more body roll.

Russ, is that what you meant??

If i find out more I'll let you know!

 

go for the 2001 max se ae fully loaded one, i have it and it's awesome....i said this millions of time and i'll say it again, i love my car!!!! it may be a little bit on the costly side but it's worth the money

 

I would also suggest the new one. I just got a 01 SE 5 speed fully loaded and i love it also. My only gripe with the car is like they said, it seems too floaty on the highway.

 

Yes, they did add more O2 sensors on the 2001's. All Maximas now conform to CA emissions requirements. Basically the differences are:

2000 w/ Federal emissions have:

exhaust manifold (fr) - O2 sensor \
..............................................coll ector - main cat - O2 - resonator - muffler
exhaust manifold (rr) - O2 sensor /

(I'm not sure where the pre cats are located on this model. Anyone know??? Is there one or two? If there is one, it must be after the collector in the y-pipe, if there is two, they are just before the collector in the y-pipe.)

2000 w/ California emissions and all 2001's have:

exh. manifold (fr) - O2 sensor - precat - O2 sensor \
.................................................. ....................collector - main cat - res. - muffler
exh. manifold (rr) - O2 sensor - precat - O2 sensor /

I am in the process of changing my 2001 from this style to one more like the 2000 Federal car. I have already relocated both of my downstream O2 sensors (ie the ones after the precats) to after the main cat. I have also purchased a front-side exhaust manifold from a Federal emissions car. The only thing I need now is a 2000 Federal emissions y-pipe and I'll be ready to rock-n-roll.

 

ok man im counting on u!! hehe... did u already relocate the o2 sensor or u just figured out where to put it? if u did relocate it i assume u didnt get any check engine lights yet right? well please keep me and everyone else posted caus i am really interested... how much is everything gonna cost to do this mod? and in how long u think u gonna have it ready? cause then i will wait to order my y-pipe to see which one i gotta order... thanks for testing it!! this rocks!!
-danny

 

Here's more detail regarding where I'm at right now.

I bought some copper tubing (3/8" diameter). Fed wiring for both O2 sensors through it. Placed it on the cross-member under the engine. Bent it around to run the tubing over by the brake lines under the car and followed those back to after the cat. Then I removed the tubing, sanded it, primed and painted it flat black. Right now I have an appointment setup at Belanger's Custom Exhaust for Friday to have the bungs welded onto the cat-back for the O2 sensors. Once I get that, I'll proceed with the O2 relocation. This shouldn't cause any problem at all, since they are self-heated sensors. Also because they are still in the exhaust path, they should keep crossing the threshold voltage and be perceived as functioning normally by the ecu. I should have the O2 sensors fully relocated this weekend, so I can let you know for sure after that.

The exhaust manifold, I bought used for $50 delivered. The part for the 2000 Federal emissions cars is the SAME as that of the '95-'99. You can go to www.Car-Part.com and do a search for a left hand side (or front) manifold and see prices.

I do still need a heat shield for the new manifold, but haven't gotten one yet. Whenever I can afford a y-pipe, it should be a pretty simple swap. I will definitely post my results!

 

when i do a search at car-parts.com i choose intake manifold and then i choose upper intake, not cali
but it yeilds no results... what is the lower manifold? that is the other choice that is there... wouldnt that have to be changed too? So youre saying that the 2000 Maxima NON-Cali version has the SAME upper intake manifold like the 95-99 MAXIMA? please confirm because i saw this site that has high polished ones and i would wanna get it... also what is the difference between the CALI and NON-CALI manifolds in the 2000? what if i just changed the manifolds but nothing else would i get a check engine light somewhere or something? please let me know thanks... here is the URL to the polished covers and manifolds... http://vcx.freeservers.com/photo4.html

 

I doubt those "stiffiners" even do anything. If they do, I can assure you Nissan wouldn't have left them out. Also, does anyone know the real, true 0-60 times for the auto? I highly doubt it's 8-8.5 seconds. It feels much quicker than that.

 

More front end body roll yes...it seems to lean more. I drove a 2000 1 month prior to this one, it handled better, and I bet its because of those bars...

 

Okay that sucks, we now are forced to have a Calif emissions car? Uggggg.... I hope we can get ypipes when ready.

 

hope that's true about the stiffeners, but with Nissan I wouldn't bet on it. Nissan decided to leave the fuel fill line cover off, you can't tell me that doesn't do anything. The stiffeners probably, as Russ said, provide a little more rigidity to the front end (less roll) but not enough that it would make a difference to the average owner. Unfortunately or fortunately most of us on this board aren't average owners. But what really worries me is what else they might have left off!

or Maybe this is a weight reduction plan to make the Max faster

 

Are there no Y-pipes available for 2K1's?

I just assumed a 2K would work.

Was that assumption wrong? Anybody out there have Y-pipe on a 2K1?

 

they do make Y-pipes for 01.

 

01 Calif emissions? All 2001 Models now are 50 state legal calif emission cars..... I talked to DaveB at Southpoint and he told me this.

I also ordered my 2 front beams with bolts, and Climax will get them for me since I will see him this weekend so the install will happen, and I will report my findings if the car feels any different......

 

Sorry for the confusion. I am talking about the exhaust manifold, not the intake manifold. You will need to search for the left-hand side exhaust manifold (also called the front-side exhaust manifold).


There are y-pipes for 2k+1's. They are the same as for a CA emissions 2k model. As you may or may not know, Stillen makes a two piece y-pipe for the 2000+ Max's. The two pieces are the main y-pipe to be used on the Max's with CA emissions and the other piece is to bolt the y-pipe to the Federal front-side exhaust manifold if you don't have a car with CA emissions. See the difference in these two pics:

Ca y-pipe - http://wwwcsif.cs.ucdavis.edu/~chin/...es/y_pipe.html (thanks Y2KevSE!)
Fed y-pipe - http://www.cattmanperformance.com/im...s/y-pipe_2.jpg

 

Russ, I do not think your car will feel any different.