I bought my 2002 Maxima as it was being unloaded from the carrier, so it never had a window sticker. I have been reading about the limited-slip differential, and I honestly have no idea if my car has it or not. Can anybody give tell me how I can find out (besides doing burnouts in the street)?

 

If you have an automatic, then it DOESN'T have HLSD. Otherwise, if it's an SE w/6-speed, it probably does.

 

I kind of had that same problem. My sticker said it did not have it, however I found out later I do. The main indicator is if you have the drilled metal pedals. If you have that, and your Max was produced from December 01'- Present, you probably have it.

Brian

 

Simple, call Nissan with your VIN number and they'll tell you.

 

(Newman corrected me. Post deleted)

Btw, i don't know about you but here in Houston i read it's illegal for dealers to sell a car w/o the window sticker.

 

Under the hood, against the firewall is a metal plate with some model info on it. Check the letters/numbers that are next to "transaxle" and compare it with the letters/numbers of someone that does have HLSD.

 

Originally posted by mhgsx
Easiest way to tell if you have a VLSD, jack up the front and turn one of the wheels. If the other wheel turns in the same direction OR doesn't turn at all, VLSD. If it turns opposite, it's an open diff. (note, this test will not work w/ the HLSD)


Originally posted by mhgsx

You guys are forgetting, on an even surface, you CAN spin both wheels with an open diff.


Originally posted by Paul D.

Don't bother with the spinning tires test because it wont tell you much. Early production 6 spds spin both tires in virtually all circumstances, actually I've yet to see a situation where only one tire was spinning. I suspect all late production run 6 spds will have HLSD and dealers probably shouldn't be charging for it.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=76610
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=99704
mike, im not trying to say you're wrong. ive just noticed that many people agree with you and say what you just said but then many others say those methods will not work. im just curious to find out the REAL answer.

 

I am not sure there is a for sure way to find out. I went through this about a month ago.

1.) Called Nissan - talked to a complete boob who didn't have a clue.
2.) Tried to see if there is a code in the VIN - there is not
3.) Did not try the wheel spinning in the air because I don’t believe that accomplishes anything.
4.) Tried to see if there were unique markings on the engine/trans - found nothing.
5.) I have the drilled-metal pedals
6.) My car was built on Dec 21st
7.) Both tires spin around corners and in the rain

If you agree with 5-7 I would bet that you have it. Especially if you got it right off of the truck, the dealer would not have time to install the drilled-metal pedals (meaning it came from the factory like that).

Without opening up the internals of the drive train, I am not sure there is a 100% positive way to find out.

Brian

 

No problem dude. Thanks for correcting me. I've edited my post.

 

Btw, i never said it would test for HLSD, i just mentioned LSD as a general term (which i also use loosely and interchangeably with Differentials in general) so partially i was correct.

Additionally, having HLSD should give you a more even strip on the road... that's based on my experience on the 2k2. I get torque steer before i can even put a decent length of strips down - and i attribute this to the lack of any Traction control system

Sure both wheels spins but not evenly.

 

I'm curious too. I have a 6sp and did leave two black marks. I didn't do much just a little gas. I don't have drilled pedals and was manufactured on 11-1-01.

 

i get torque steer like woah but my car almost certainly has HLSD (drilled metal pedals, built in january, and it says i do on the window sticker) is HSLD supposed to reduce torque steer at all?

 

by the way, i didnt mean to say you were wrong. you very well could be 100% correct. nothing says the quotes i posted are correct. i was just posting them to show what i was talking about, so many people say one thing while so many others say the opposite.

 

no biggie really! i could also be 100% wrong ya know.

btw, here's my theory on LSD's... inspite of the presence of torque steer - the way i understood it, the system will give ample power to both wheels. Given both of them are on the ground at the same time on an even surface that would equate to equal power to both of them and theoretically equal length strips.

 

I don't get it. First I see threads upon threads about people searching 3 different states high and low for HSLD, now there is a page long thread of people who have it and can't even tell. Is there that much of a difference?

 

I can tell you my torque steer is minimal and I have HLSD. Also, traction in foul weather is awesome. I am glad I have it.

Brian

 

Wet or dry!!

 

Apparently we have people who can't drive or who don't pay any attention to their car when driving. It's fairly obvious if your Max has a HSLD. I noticed that mine had one on the first day.

Here's the way to tell.

1) Take a hard 90 degree left turn fairly quickly. Do not brake going into the turn, do not accelerate. The car should understeer/plow going into the turn some.

2) After coming past the apex of the turn lay on the gas hard in 2nd.

3a) If the car continues to plow, or maybe plows worse after a judicious application of the throttle you do not have a HLSD. Sorry better luck next time.

3b) If the car bites and pulls the car hard to left (stopping the understeer/plowing) nearing taking you into a curb then congratulations your car has HSLD.

Stereodude

 

Mine was a DEC car and came with sticker that did not list LSD yet it showed on the invoice so my dealer ordered the proper sticker with the VIN on it and it shows HLSD.

 

Mine was made on Christmas day in Japan. It most certainly has HLSD. I ordered it with HLSD and I most certainly got it. The car did not have a window sticker on it when I bought it so I can't vouch for what was on the sticker. Just to clarify not only was the sticker not on the car, I did not get the window sticker.

Stereodude

 

I'm not saying this happened to you, I'm only commenting on the sticker. It is a felony in the United States for a dealer to sell a new car without a window sticker.

A common (?) scam goes like this...

you: (pointing at car on lot) I want *this* car with HLSD
dealer: I can order/locate it for you
you: OK, order it (you leave)
dealer: (rips sticker off car on the lot and hopes you don't ask) Hey, your car is in!
you: (just bought car and paid for an option you didn't get)

Moral: never buy a car without a sticker. Even "just coming off the truck" it should have a sticker. It should have been on the car *before* the car was put on the truck!

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/scams.htm#Scam10

 

Ahh, but I bought my car in Canada and from a very reputable salesguy at a good dealer. I had an order in for months. Why would he have waited 5 months to try to sell me one that didn't have the HLSD?

Not to mention I am 100% certain the car has a HLSD. There are several other driving "tests" (that I didn't mention) that will determine if the car has HLSD. Mine passes all of them.

Stereodude