I've been wondering what this tiny plastic cover right above the shifter is. What option (US/Japanese/other) utilizes this spot?



How about the plastic cover between the seat heater controls also?

 

It is a shift lock release. you have to pop off the little cover to get to the release switch. Use a screw driver to release. Used if your battery is dead, and you need to shift from Park to Neutral. Once you release, you would then also turn key to the position to unlock steering wheel.

You can then push the car manualy and steer. For emergency purposes.

 

Opps . . . I forgot the Maxima has the Intelligent Key system (My 2003 Altima has a key ignition).

Apparently we can only unlock the steering wheel if the battery is "almost dead", or have jumpers.

This means you can only push a Max with a dead battery in the direction the wheels were aiming when the car died.

Of course if you can jump start the car, you can also put your foot on the brake, allowing you to shift to Neutral anyway. Eliminating the need for a manual shift lock release

Seams like a far less useful feature than when you had an old "key ignition".

It on page 344 in the max manual.

 

Wow Yoadrian13, You don't own a max and yet you can still referance page numbers out of the manual. Very nice! Very nice.

 

And the plastic cover between the seat temperature controls is where the switch for the powered rear sunshade (premium package only) is mounted.

 

Just to clarify, I bought a 2010 Maxima in April. I held on to my 2003 Altima as my 15 year old son will be 16 in two months. I do not want him learning to drive on my new baby.

Hokusmax's question was a similar one I pondered when I first got my Altima years ago.

 

Thanks for you replies guys you are the best.