This is probably a pretty stupid question, but this is my first Maxima. What is the little electrical gadget that hangs below the front bumper. It has only two wires that are connected to it but it doesn't appear connected to anything. I first assumed it might be the outside temperature sensor but I was hoping someone would be able to confirm.

 

I know what you are talking about. It's just inside the lower grille on the driver's side. It looks like a wire harness that serves no purpose.

 

Could that be the wiring for the plug in the bumper, which I assume is where you can plug in your engine block heater?

 

Boone, you are correct. I tried to remove what looks like a cap but couldn't and didn't want to force it off or break it.

K757, mine doesn't have the heater option plus it doesn't look like the normal kind that an extension cord plugs into.

I can't find anything in the manual about it either.

 

This is just a crazy guess on my part but could it be a place to hook up to the lights for when the car is being towed? It is definitely not the standard harness for this purpose but it could be a special Nissan harness.

Edit: After checking the Factory Service Manual, I found that this is in fact the ambient temperature sensor. Bizarjuggalo, you were right all along.

 

isnt it the temperature reader? lololol