Gears & Crosses

Do all 02-03 Maxima 6-speeds have a limited slip diff? If not, which ones have it?
I am contemplating getting a 5.5. What are common problems with this car? I am very happy with my 4th gen. I might sell my Firebird to get another Max.

dr_redonkulous

mine doesn't have limited slip diff (or HLSD, H= helical).
there will be a plate on the engine side of the firewall on the drivers side. so far, all i've been forced to replace is the front rotors from warping. oh, and the clutch. other things happen with to these cars, so i guess i've been lucky. then again, one of the points of this forum is to inform other users of how to fix things yourself when they break. no one ever posts "nothing is wrong with my car," (which would defeat the purpose) so you only hear the bad stuff.
i had a 97 max and i'm much happier with this one. this thing is a tank. that's my .02

maximadave

iTrader: (10)

If your 02/03 6-Speed Maximas have cross drilled pedals then you have HLSD.

Bluesbrekr

iTrader: (4)

Most of the time that's a good indicator, but drilled pedals can be added. The foolproof way is by the engine bay plate, or the original window sticker.

spiromax

Nothing is wrong with my car.

Gears & Crosses

Thanks for the quick replies. You guys make this site so enjoyable.

If I get another Max it will be my third one I have owned. I have been really pleased with the other two. I know Max's aren't perfect, but I like to know what I'm getting into.
Anyone else have problems?

Thanks,
Gears

makavelisk

iTrader: (5)

Im also have problems with my brakes warping and the paint on the front chips kinda easy. Otherwise the car is unreal. No car is perfect but an 03 maxima sure is a great car especially with a 6spd. Keep us updated.

juniper9803

No There Not. I Wish They Were. You Can Tell If You Have Limited Slip Buy Looking At You Pedals.factory Equiped Cars Had Metal Covers On Pedals When They Have Limited Slip.

ddh1313

Can anyone elaborate on this plate on the firewall, mine has a silver plate with the engine type, vin and a tranny code but it does not say HLSD anywhere on it. I do have the aluminum pedals. The previously mentioned plate is on the top of the firewall kind of between the brake booster and intake manifold.

mjg

if you had HLSD, you would be able to tell immediatly if your car broke traction. You can feel and hear the differential lock. The difference from when i didn't, vs did add it was pretty obvious.

Also, chances are if you have an earlier batch of 2k2's (depending on when purchased) you don't have it, it was not available as an option yet. The question is, how bad does your car handle in this snow? If it's exceptionally bad, like so bad your scared yer car is gonna crash into a tree, then chances are no you don't have it. : ]

ddh1313

I live in Tampa, FL so the snow test will be somewhat difficult to administer however I will say that the first time I pulled out of the dealer ship in my car I took a hard right turn and hard to get going pretty good and it felt very strange to me. Sort of like the car was pulling further into the radius of the turn... hard to explain but I thought it was just torque steer. Now that I think about it, I can pretty much floor it out of a turn and it will hold.

Barc

iTrader: (2)

From a former post...

"Anyway, here is what you have to look for on the plate in the engine bay:

The engine code will read : VQ35(DE)

If you have a 6 speed with an open differential, the code will be: RS6F51A

A as in open diff

If you have a 6 speed with a Helical Limitd Slip Differential the code will read RS6F51H

H as in Helical."

ddh1313

Thanks Barc... now that makes sense.

Gears & Crosses

Ya what he said

Thanks Barc