I just purchased a 2004 White SL. I love the car, but have three questions....

1.) The gear shift lever has an indicator for manual operation. However, it does not function. You can tag that lever all you want, it just continues in regular drive mode. I know that they went from a 4spd to a 5, but I'm confused on the specifics.

2.) I have a 350z Enthusiast with the stock 17in rims and tires. Will those fit on my Maxima? If so, can the 18inch rims from a 350z or perhaps a 04 Maxima SE also be used. I'm sure they would probably fit, but I am concerned about issues like speedometer calibration.

3.) When making a left turn, the blinker seems to stick unless it is manually turned off. Is anyone else experiencing this problem?

I'm not much of a gearhead, so I apologize if the questions are basic for some.

 

Not sure about your first 2 questions, but I have found that you must almost make a 90 degree turn before the blinker will disengage. At first, I had a lot of embarassing moments driving for a couple of miles with my blinker on.

Now I know to check it.

 

1. it won't allow you to shift whenever you like. for example, if you're going like 35 mph, it won't allow you to shift down to 1st gear. and if you're going too slow, it won't allow you to up-shift. it also changes gear automatically right before redline even if you have it in manual mode.
but your case might be a malfuction. check with the dealer.

2. about the speedometer. if you get right tire size, you won't have any problem
with speedometer. it's the tire size that matters. you have to match the
outer diameter of tires.

3. I don't have problems with turn signal. but the clicking sound is too soft for me...

 

Even from a dead stop, the manual mode will not engage. It refuses to work from any speed. I have an appointment with the dealer to check it out, but I suspect this is some sort of problem originating with the mid year change from thr 4spd to the 5.

 

Just as VTmaximaVT said, wheel size has no impact on the speedo; it is the total outside diameter (total height) of the tire/wheel combo that controls things. If you step up to 18" wheels on your SL, but step down to a lower profile tire, the outside diameter should not change enough to distort the speedo reading.

The SL comes with 225/55HR17 tires.
Some 18" combos that should work:
235/50VR18 and 245/45VR18 (same as SE)

As the SL tranny switch (to 5 sp) came four months ago (Feb 5th), Nissan has assembled almost 40,000 cars (almost half were SLs) since then, and this is the first time I have seen this problem here, I would tend to think this is just a problem with your tranny, and not related to the switchover. Let us know what the dealer says.



p.s. - You know your Maxima is white. I know 'white is white'. But we have a few macho types here who might feel 'white' is a wimpy color for a Maxima. I would use either the term 'pearl' or 'pearl white' or 'frost' (my favorite) or 'winter frost' (Nissan's name for it).

I do like the color very much. If you look closely in good light, there are millions of very tiny gold flecks in this paint. A very good color choice, especially for hot climes.

 

[QUOTE=lightonthehill]
The SL comes with 225/55HR17 tires.

Actually Nissan changed the tire from a H to a V on the SL (atleast they did on my car )....don't know when....guess is when they did the trans change.

 

Do you have the separate little gate with the plus and minus signs? Also I agree with you on the turn signals. I started a post about it myself because the clicking sound is so soft you don't realize it's still on. I always heard never buy a car in it's first year of production and I think it's true. I'll bet next years model will have a lot of these little bugs fixed. Also I think if it was bolted together in japan it wouldn't have as many defects. Hate to bash our own factories.

 

Yes. I do have the gate. It is just like the one on my 350, so I am familiar with the operation. The first Nissan tech I took it to just looked at me and said in a not so certain voice.... "The SL isn't suppose to do that".

 

take it to nissan, who cars, u got warranty buddy

 

[QUOTE=jjsells]

1.) The gear shift lever has an indicator for manual operation. However, it does not function. You can tag that lever all you want, it just continues in regular drive mode. I know that they went from a 4spd to a 5, but I'm confused on the specifics.

3.) When making a left turn, the blinker seems to stick unless it is manually turned off. Is anyone else experiencing this problem?

QUOTE]

Just got it back from the shop, The following was uncovered.

In reference to the manual mode, the factory never installed a manual mode switch. The part was completely missing. The shop ordered it and it will arrive in 5-7 days. Not exactly the Nissan build quality that I was expecting.

In reference to the turn signal, this is not a part defect - but actually a common installation problem. The dealership realigned everything and now the left hand turn cancels correctly and the "click, click, click" sound is much more noticeable. -- Just FYI.

 

jjsells - With regard to the manual mode tranny switch having been left completely off your car, I absolutely have no idea what to say. I cannot even imagine how that could happen.

I could easily understand if they omitted attaching a wire, or a wire came loose, or somehow was cut or torn. I could easily understand if the part malfunctioned, or was damaged. But the whole switch totally missing? Wow!

I would bet money nobody else on this board has heard of this happening before on any '04. Sort of mind-blowing.

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Now the good part; several folks on this board have been unhappy with their turn signals. Per your experience, it seems these folks now have a redress. In fact, a double redress. The signals can be adjusted to stay on as they should, AND the click can be made louder. This will be very good news for a lot of posters on this board.

Thanks for the good poop, jjsells.

 

the guy who was installing that part must've been dreaming....
of driving one of those max he's assembling....

....ARG....

me that guy