Just like the title says I totalled my 1997 SE Maxima and bought an old 1986 Maxima GXE (I think). I have many questions. What is the spark plug gap on this car? The engine is not the original engine, but it is a Nissan 3.0 V6. How do I find what it is? There are no service records or anything like that. The car its self has 287798 miles. Original everything, but the engine. My 'Sensor' light is on. What does that mean? O2 sensor, Knock Sensor? How do I get the codes for the buttons under the door? Well, that's all for now.

Joe

 

Wow....went from a 4th gen to a 2nd gen...ack!

Anyway, you have a GL. The GXE didn't come until 87. The likelihood is you have a the same VG30E motor as the stock motor. Red valve covers etc. The spark plug gap should be .044 IIRC. As for the sensor light, it sounds like the O2 sensor service light was never disconnected after the car turn 90k miles. If you remove the driver side kick panel, there should be a harness labeled sensor. Just simply disconnect that. There is no knock sensor on this version of the VG. As for the keyless entry, there is a master code in the trunk on the control unit under the parcel shelf. I forgot the process to reset the code, but you can either search, or someone will post how to do it.

S

 

I was incorrect about the year. When the VIN was ran at registration, it came up as an 87. There is a piece of paper in the glove box apparently from when the dealer ordered the vehicle from Nissan. I don't know if that makes a difference from the advice when you thought it was an 86.

I've replaced or changed the:
Air filter
Spark plugs
Spark plug wires
Distributor
Rotor
PCV valve
Oil
Oil filter
Bulbs

I am going to the fuel filter tomorrow and find somewhere to get my tranny flushed (auto). I would like to change the bulbs behind the dash to blue LED's or white or something. The corner lights to 55w white bulb, headlights to Phillips Hi-Vis 9007. Fix exhaust so it doesn't leak into the cabin.

I need to fix:
the air system because it only blows hot air, even when turned down to 65
The buttons on the drivers thatdoor don't have working LED's like on the passengers door.
The drivers door, because it is loose inside and has a broken closer peice.

 

the airconditioning if going to be expencive, R12 is expencive and if there no cold air at all and the compressors going then it sounds like to need some new tubing, which is expencive as well or you could go the 134A conversion way if the compressors broken which costs more

i have an 87 and i checked and i dont have any LEDs on my door...are you talking about the red light at the bottom corner of the door that comes on when you open it?

Edit:

these cars use 9004's unless they've been changed or something, last time i put a 9007 in a 9004 socket it didnt like it very well

 

There are green led's underneath the front handles that turn on when you lift on it. The headlights are 9004 now, I am going to re-wire and modify the headlight housing slightly. I've done this on my all my other 9004 headlight cars. Dramatically improves night visibility.

I posted a write up on how to convert the headlights to 9007 in the 4th gen fourum. Someone else did also, and there writeup is more complete than mine.

I think I'm gonna call around to junkyards to find a used drivers door.

About the heat, I don't understand what would make it blow only hot air constantly.

 

cars warmed up sucking air from the hot place (forry i am tired), no refrigerant to cool it off

leds, inside or out side? if out side then i can only think of the green led in my lock hole

 

There are a total of 4 LEDs on the outside of the door. 1 in the key hole and 3 behind the handle to light up the keypad. Yours doesn't have this? I am going to take the door apart to change the speakers. I will also at this time change the LEDs to super bright luxeon white ones. No real purpose to doing this, except I know how, so I might as well.

Does anyone know where to get the codes? I would like to use the alarm because I've never had a vehicle equipped with such a device.


-Joe

 

i see, i dont have a keypad, how ever it sounds like a neat mod to add one to mine

 

I do it wasnt on the SE's. Ive never taken it apart though to see. Mine does light up green as well. One cool feature I like is if you pull on the driver side door handle when it is locked the keyhole, locking pad and your interior lights turn on. Anyway, yes they are green. I have no intention to change them because it doesnt bother me with the green. For the dash lights there is a set of indiglo gauges you can by from Procarparts.com. I have them Sarin has them, as well as some others. They can be blue or indiglo green. They are only like 40 bucks!

 

i want bright green guages it looks like to get that though i'll be buying my own EL sheets and making my own

 

the codes are in the trunk under the back deck.there should be 3 boxes there.one will say anti theft there will be a 9 digit code there starting with the letter S take that code and go to the door press the start/clear key then enter the numbers it will beep at this time while it is beeping enter your own 4 digit code then you are done.

 

Ok does this have the auto climate controls? If so did you change the stereo out of it?If it does and you did it sounds to me like it is missing the sensor for part of the climate control. I did this when I changed the radio out on mine.the sensor was attached to the bottom of the radio so i assumed it was part of the radio man was I wrong.

 

Yes, I do have auto climate control.

I have changed the stereo, however, there was no sensor that I could make out.

Unless, it is that little fan kinda thing under the radio, is this it? Because it starts only when i help it and the key is turned to ACC. I just turn the fan part and it starts up. Could this have something to do with it?

 

Are you talking about the little grill that sits between the stock clock and eq? That's the AVC (auto volume control) mic.

S

 

I know what you are talking about. On the auto control climate, on some of the cars that had them, there was a fan, a very small one, right below the stereo. It is actually for smokers. When you place a cigarette right there it actually sucks up the smoke from the cigarette thus allowing you to smoke without having to roll down your windows. Its not a sensor just something nissan added that is only on the auto climate control cars.

 

yeah that is what I am talking about that piece has to be there or it does nothing but blow hot air I learned this the hard way.you will have to figure out a wat to mount it back in there and your controls will work fine again.

 

I never removed the little fan thing. I just sits in there and only starts to spin when I touch the blades. Is this the culprit? I'll have to give it a try.