There is an outline of a small square to the right of the steering wheel, underneath the tachometer, on the black piece of plastic trim.

You can see what I am talking about in Pmas' signature pic (below). It is a completely separate piece on the dash kit, although it just covers the same square.

Is this an option I am missing? I thought my car was loaded.

 

ya know, i was thinking the same thing when i installed the darn wood kit. What the heck is that for? Also, what is the square below that which i don't even have a wood piece for?

 

Its for the Traction Control System (TCS) option or standard feature for automatic Maximas depending on which years and trim line. There's suppose to be a button there to turn on and off that system. Also, if you notice on the left side of the steering wheel on the lower part of the dash board, there's 2 other square knock-outs. One of them is suppose to be for a light that turns on/off if the TCS senses one of the drive wheels slipping when the TCS is "on". This system uses the brakes to control the slippage.

 

I have a 2k-SE and that's where my Traction control switch is.

 

Ah.. Thanks. I have a 5 speed, therefore I don't have that......

 

If you were wondering about the hole that looks like a little vent, that is for the Auto CC inside temperature censor. Disregard if thats not what your talking about.

 

pmas' car is an auto and it comes with trac control.

The trac control for my car is located on the left side of the steering wheel not the right

 

PMas is 2K2. I think that they changed it.

 

Yeah, they moved the TCS switch to the left side of the steering wheel, by the dimmer. The right side square is no longer used in 2k2, that's why it is solid and not one of those pop-out pieces. The wood kits just never updated.

 

so what does the TCS exactly do?

if it's on or if it's off...

 

I have a 2k2 with the NAVI and that's where my rear defogger button is. I guess they couldn't configure the touch screen with a button for the rear defogger. It sucks too, because it's a REALLY bad location!!!

 

Ahh, that explains it.

 

TCS controls wheel slip..so you won't get into uncontrollable slide..

but it only prevents the slide, it doesn't stop it once it happens.

in a RWD car, if you turn off the TCS, you can have some fun with the car's rear end..cough*cough*drift*cough*cough*..

but on certain cars like BMW, even if you turned the TCS off, it doesn't completely shut off but only raises the limit..it will kick in once the computer thinks you're having way too much fun with the car..

 

why the hell would they want to do THAT?!

and also Omegasrk....TCS doesn't have to do anything with brakes(that's ABS)

 

Some TCS's do. They can ease off the throttle, shift, or brake if the circumstances are bad enough. In fact I think I read on nissandriven.com that the Maxima's TCS uses the brakes too.

 

im pretty sure the TCS on maximas cuts fuel to one or more cylinders depending on how much force. some systems do brake for you though, one example was my stepdads 00 bmw 740iL.

 

Opps. yeah, 2001SE, your right. According to the 2001 Maxima brochure, "TCS...to help keep your wheels from spinning, it can cut fuel to one or more cylinders, or even shift the automatic transmission. Unlike other cars' system, it doesn't interfere with throttle or brake" (pg.19).