Anything to lookout for in the 6th gen
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Anything to lookout for in the 6th gen
Just picked up my 04 liquid silver max with dpp package and moonroof. 5-speed automatic with frost interior. From reading all these forums about the 6th gen. is there anything I should be on the look out for with this car.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 880
Originally Posted by andymax95
Just picked up my 04 liquid silver max with dpp package and moonroof. 5-speed automatic with frost interior. From reading all these forums about the 6th gen. is there anything I should be on the look out for with this car.
Like you, I've read about all kinds of little problems here, but in the 6500 miles I've logged in mine, there have been no issues.
As a brand-new car, I'd make only one suggestion (well, maybe two): First is to check the air pressure in your tires ... many are delivered with close to 50psi, and that's little firm. I personally run 30psi (cold) in all four tires.
Second might be to check your lug nuts after 1000 miles or so. I took a tire off the other day to fix a puncture and I was surprised how loose they were. Some people say alloy wheels "bed in" after awhile and the lugs need to be re-torqued. Either way, tight lug nuts are a good thing!
Mike
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 68
Lug nuts tire pressure
Originally Posted by Mike_TX
You might want to watch your rearview mirror for flashing red lights.
Like you, I've read about all kinds of little problems here, but in the 6500 miles I've logged in mine, there have been no issues.
As a brand-new car, I'd make only one suggestion (well, maybe two): First is to check the air pressure in your tires ... many are delivered with close to 50psi, and that's little firm. I personally run 30psi (cold) in all four tires.
Second might be to check your lug nuts after 1000 miles or so. I took a tire off the other day to fix a puncture and I was surprised how loose they were. Some people say alloy wheels "bed in" after awhile and the lugs need to be re-torqued. Either way, tight lug nuts are a good thing!
Mike
Like you, I've read about all kinds of little problems here, but in the 6500 miles I've logged in mine, there have been no issues.
As a brand-new car, I'd make only one suggestion (well, maybe two): First is to check the air pressure in your tires ... many are delivered with close to 50psi, and that's little firm. I personally run 30psi (cold) in all four tires.
Second might be to check your lug nuts after 1000 miles or so. I took a tire off the other day to fix a puncture and I was surprised how loose they were. Some people say alloy wheels "bed in" after awhile and the lugs need to be re-torqued. Either way, tight lug nuts are a good thing!
Mike
Two very important issue addressed. I also found higher tire pressure in my newly delivered max, on or about 50 psi. 30 psi does me fine. When I installed wheel locks, I found all other lug nuts out of spec.on torque! That was at 250 miles. I had a shimmy on and off again the first 1500 miles but now at 3500 miles no shimmy felt. Glad to hear about TNT with this thread.
Thanks Mike_tx.
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 19,780
Originally Posted by licnyc
Hi mike_tx,
Two very important issue addressed. I also found higher tire pressure in my newly delivered max, on or about 50 psi. 30 psi does me fine. When I installed wheel locks, I found all other lug nuts out of spec.on torque! That was at 250 miles. I had a shimmy on and off again the first 1500 miles but now at 3500 miles no shimmy felt. Glad to hear about TNT with this thread.
Thanks Mike_tx.
Two very important issue addressed. I also found higher tire pressure in my newly delivered max, on or about 50 psi. 30 psi does me fine. When I installed wheel locks, I found all other lug nuts out of spec.on torque! That was at 250 miles. I had a shimmy on and off again the first 1500 miles but now at 3500 miles no shimmy felt. Glad to hear about TNT with this thread.
Thanks Mike_tx.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
30psi may be fine for the tires; certainly better than 50psi.
I have found that the low profile tires (55 on SL and 45 on SE) that come on these larger rims (17" on SL and 18" on SE) need to be monitored.
Just as an overinflated tire rides excessively harshly and wears out quickly in the center of the tread, a slight underinflation can result in the tire shoulders wearing out too quickly. Underinflation also has a slightly negative effect on MPG, as well as conciseness of control in emergency situations.
Most of the weight of the '04 Maxima (as on all Maximas since they went to front wheel drive in 1985) is on the front tires, as well as all the pulling and all the steering. I find that 36psi seems to give me the most even tire wear. But these results would vary depending on the type of driving, especially the number and sharpness of turns, as well as the speed at which they are taken.
For me, the best approach is to measure the depth of the tread across the width of the tire every few months, and adjust the pressure as needed to even the wear across the tread.
I have found that the low profile tires (55 on SL and 45 on SE) that come on these larger rims (17" on SL and 18" on SE) need to be monitored.
Just as an overinflated tire rides excessively harshly and wears out quickly in the center of the tread, a slight underinflation can result in the tire shoulders wearing out too quickly. Underinflation also has a slightly negative effect on MPG, as well as conciseness of control in emergency situations.
Most of the weight of the '04 Maxima (as on all Maximas since they went to front wheel drive in 1985) is on the front tires, as well as all the pulling and all the steering. I find that 36psi seems to give me the most even tire wear. But these results would vary depending on the type of driving, especially the number and sharpness of turns, as well as the speed at which they are taken.
For me, the best approach is to measure the depth of the tread across the width of the tire every few months, and adjust the pressure as needed to even the wear across the tread.
Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 68
tire pressure
Originally Posted by lightonthehill
30psi may be fine for the tires; certainly better than 50psi.
I have found that the low profile tires (55 on SL and 45 on SE) that come on these larger rims (17" on SL and 18" on SE) need to be monitored.
Just as an overinflated tire rides excessively harshly and wears out quickly in the center of the tread, a slight underinflation can result in the tire shoulders wearing out too quickly. Underinflation also has a slightly negative effect on MPG, as well as conciseness of control in emergency situations.
Most of the weight of the '04 Maxima (as on all Maximas since they went to front wheel drive in 1985) is on the front tires, as well as all the pulling and all the steering. I find that 36psi seems to give me the most even tire wear. But these results would vary depending on the type of driving, especially the number and sharpness of turns, as well as the speed at which they are taken.
For me, the best approach is to measure the depth of the tread across the width of the tire every few months, and adjust the pressure as needed to even the wear across the tread.
I have found that the low profile tires (55 on SL and 45 on SE) that come on these larger rims (17" on SL and 18" on SE) need to be monitored.
Just as an overinflated tire rides excessively harshly and wears out quickly in the center of the tread, a slight underinflation can result in the tire shoulders wearing out too quickly. Underinflation also has a slightly negative effect on MPG, as well as conciseness of control in emergency situations.
Most of the weight of the '04 Maxima (as on all Maximas since they went to front wheel drive in 1985) is on the front tires, as well as all the pulling and all the steering. I find that 36psi seems to give me the most even tire wear. But these results would vary depending on the type of driving, especially the number and sharpness of turns, as well as the speed at which they are taken.
For me, the best approach is to measure the depth of the tread across the width of the tire every few months, and adjust the pressure as needed to even the wear across the tread.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
licnyc - 30psi may do fine for many folks. In fact, if some 'tire guage fairy' snuck around during the middle of the night and checked the psi of every tire on every '04 Maxima (as well as every other car in America), I would not be surprised if most were not somewhere around 30psi, or lower.
But if we checked out all the tires being replaced at every tire shop in America, I'll bet we would find more wore out at the edges than wore out in the middle of the tread. This is the result of underinflation.
All I am saying is that I find I get a more even wear pattern on my tires and feel the car is more responsive at 36psi. Some folks may find 36psi a little stiff. Why not try 34psi, or 32psi. The ride would not be as stiff as 36psi, but you should get more even tire wear (and hence longer tire life) than at 30psi.
The ultimate decision is, of course, up to you. I would, however, suggest you go no higher than 36psi, nor lower than 30psi.
------------------------------------------------------------------
As for the torqueing of lug nuts, this is more important than most folks realize.
If the lug nuts are too loose, we all know what can happen. Not good.
If the lug nuts are too tight (as they almost always are when mounted with the usual air wrench), that not only can cause damage to the lug nuts themselves and to the alloy wheels, it can leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night when the usual flimsy awkward lug wrench that comes with most cars can't budge the lug nuts.
If you intend to do much work on your Maxima's tires/wheels, a torque wrench is a very wise investment.
But if we checked out all the tires being replaced at every tire shop in America, I'll bet we would find more wore out at the edges than wore out in the middle of the tread. This is the result of underinflation.
All I am saying is that I find I get a more even wear pattern on my tires and feel the car is more responsive at 36psi. Some folks may find 36psi a little stiff. Why not try 34psi, or 32psi. The ride would not be as stiff as 36psi, but you should get more even tire wear (and hence longer tire life) than at 30psi.
The ultimate decision is, of course, up to you. I would, however, suggest you go no higher than 36psi, nor lower than 30psi.
------------------------------------------------------------------
As for the torqueing of lug nuts, this is more important than most folks realize.
If the lug nuts are too loose, we all know what can happen. Not good.
If the lug nuts are too tight (as they almost always are when mounted with the usual air wrench), that not only can cause damage to the lug nuts themselves and to the alloy wheels, it can leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night when the usual flimsy awkward lug wrench that comes with most cars can't budge the lug nuts.
If you intend to do much work on your Maxima's tires/wheels, a torque wrench is a very wise investment.
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