I have a questions specifically for any 2005 Maxima owners. When you open your trunk lid...it has a little resistence. Does it have a little resistance when you close it? If I bring my trunk lid down slightly and let go...it slams. I thought it's suppose to close softly...if that's the correct term. I'm thinking the two shocks (I know that's the wrong term...can't think of the correct one) on the left and right are messed up. Any thoughts? How does your trunks close...?

Jimbo

 

It doesnt close softly, kinda have to let it drop by its self when its half way up. That's the softest i can get it to close. The damn license plate frame rattles every time i close too. I have a Nismo license frame. Anyone know how to alleviate that?

 

Put some 3M tape behind the frame to absorb the vibration

 

I had some leftover dynamat, fixed the problem instantly.

 

I put like 3 of the 3M double sided sticky square pads near the bottom(bcuz of no screws on bottom of plate) in back of it and it still rattles. It's not that big of a problem though. It only does it when I close the trunk. At least it doesnt rattle when i blast my stereo.

 

Yes, your trunk lid is fine. I drop mine from about a foot above the latch when closing, and it latches perfectly with a very comforting and solid 'thump'. I like that.

My license tag rattled when I first bought my car. I could not accept that. I put a little 'stick-on' rubber bumper/nipple (available at WalMart, Home Depot, Lowes, or any hardware store) on the back at both lower corners. problem solved.

If the tag is rattling WITHIN the frame, cut the nipples to fit between the tag and the frame on the bottom corners and that will keep the tag from moving within the frame.

Do NOT EVER tolerate a rattle on a Maxima. Image thing, you know . . .

 

Thanks for the info...but when I open my truck...it's all the way open...I can start closing to the point where I release it it will literally slam...if I had my hand in the area...would break it. It's not stiff or anything...completely loose and totally slams. Is that normal? I checked out a 2007 and 2006 Maxima today...they are not loose like mine. I was able to put the truck almost, not quite half-way close and it closed not softly, but more gentle than mine. I didn't get a chance to check a 2005 though...didn't see any.

I guess they can check it at the next maintenance check up.

Jimbo

 

dynamat? is that the sound deadening stuff?

 

Sounds as if the hydraulic struts have lost pressure.

Which means they need to be replaced. This is not uncommon.

 

I have the same problem of slamming as yours...did you have yours fixed?

 

Yes, Prjct!

 

It's projected to get fixed. I took my car in for schedule maintenance and talked to them about it. They determined that the hydraulic struts/arms were bad as they compared my trunk closing with another 2005, and 2006 Maxima. I showed the dealership with a plastic clip board. I put the plastic clip board down near the latch and let the trunk close on it. It busted it, in half.

Either case...it should close in a manner that it does not "slam" real hard. Basically mine closed as if it didn't have any hydraulic support at all. If yours is the same...can't hurt to have the dealership look at it. Mine is being fixed under warranty. Since I've arrived back from Iraq...this is the second warranty issue I've dealt with...the first being the clear coat coming off my stock wheels...they replaced two under warranty on that issue.

Jimbo

 

thanks Jimbo, I'll probably need to do the same

 

MAJ-Jimbo - My '04 SL trunk closing has been the same since the day I bought it new. Yes, if I don't control the descent by hand, it could easily crush a clipboard.

Next trip to the dealer, I will have him compare it with the lid of a newer Maxima. My hydraulic struts may have been bad from day one.

 

Gentleman,

First, the dealership installed new hydraulic struts on my trunk lid. It operates much better, and much more safe. It does not close as hard as it did before.

Definitely do a comparison. They did mine pretty much side by side Maxima's on the maintenance floor. At first they said it might be my installed warning triangle that I took off my VW Passat and installed on the inside trunk lid, but it did the same thing - basicall a major slam, without it.

It's worth checking out. Now I do have to admit, and I only compare this to VW's as that's all I've previously owned, that it does not close as soft as other cars, but the new struts were a improvement. I'm even looking into other car type hydraulic struts to possible install to make it a real soft close. Mainly because my 4 year old loves to help us take stuff out of the car after going to the store...and already once, her hand was almost in the line of fire so to speak in which I broke the fall with a bottle of water, otherwise it probably would have broken her hand. Let me know what you all come up with and if it's an improvement on your car.

Jimbo

 

How are the people with the 07' spoiler on their 04-06 Maximas dealing with this? I installed the 07' spoiler on my 04' maxima, and wow..talk about being careful when you close the trunk..

 

Good point...I was thinking of getting the spoiler. I imagine it shakes the hell out of it if you let it close naturally. I know the fix on my car was a little better, not as hard, but with the spoiler on there...not sure how that plays with the additional weight. How much weight does it add to it? I guess I'm really going to look into other hydraulic struts now...since this is an upgrade I do plan for the future. Thanks for the insight...

Jimbo

 

As info, the Nissan precursors (Datsuns) of the 1970s had two levels of trunklid springs available; one for use with a spoiler, and one for use without. Maybe the larger spoiler on the '07 meant that Nissan had to come up with two strengths of hydraulic struts. But maybe not.

 

I found that one of the hydraulic arms was bad in my trunk, could hear a sound like air escaping on open and close, the dealer was very accommodating for a replacement - no charge.