Hi all, former 4th and current 5th gen owner here. I have spent quite some time looking around the board in 7+ years of Max ownership but still have some questions about the 4th Gens. FWIW - we got rid of the 4th gen because it was cheaper to trade out of the lease and buy a 5th gen (with ABS/TC) than it was to buy out the lease on the 4th Gen (no ABS/TC)

Anyway... We need another car and I am considering a 2k1 Altima or a 99 Maxima. Is there an easy way to tell if a car has ABS? I know most of the 4th gens I encounter don't have ABS but dealers that list them "think" they do and have that included in listings on web sites. I will likely be driving to Chicago or Milwaukee to look at a car and don't want to make a wasted trip for a car without ABS.

I know the basics
- "ABS" light in cluster at start up
- sensors in the hubs
- Assembly under the hood

Is there a way to tell from the VIN? I know the 8th digit will be an "A" if it has side air bags and I believe that does not require ABS.

Any help from the org on this would be great!

Peace,
Travis

 

Uhm, not that I'm aware of, with the VIN that is. I'd say you already got the easiest one listed. ABS light in the cluster on-startup. I've seen non-ABS 4th gens and there is definately no light. You could also drive it, go like 60mph and just slam the break to the floor to see if it locks up or auto pumps on ya

 

Yeah.. stomp the brakes always works but I am trying to figure this out before I drove 150 miles and waste a day because dealers are idiots...

 

Call the dealer before you go tell him to walk the lot and check the cluster. If you get hassle and run around from that then you dont want to buy from them anyway. Tell him straight up that if you drive there and it doesnt have what he said you wont buy anything from them. Firm but not rude, the only way to deal with car salesman.

 

Thanks...good advice and that was in the back of my mind. Maybe I am trying a control freak but I want to have as much control and as many facts as possible before I start calling. You are very right.. if they don't work with me then they loose the sale.

T

 

What are abs brakes exactly for? I think i have abs since the abs light blinks when i turn the car on, but my brakes always lock up in the snow, or on ice to the point where i am not able to brake untill i get on clean road.

 

... okay 1st pick it up off the ground.. jack.. lift.. .. soemthign of that sort.. then put it in drive let the tires move freely on thier own... whichout giving gass.. tehn the ABS light ocmes on.. if you haev abs.. if not.. then it wont..

 

Do people READ? I am looking for a way to know if a car HAS ABS before I drive to look at it.

 

AntiLock Braking System... (ABS) prevents the wheels from locking up and allows you to control the direction of the car under a potential wheel lock up situation. Hard stop on ice, gravel etc. The brake pedal will pulsate and try to push your foot back (off the pedal) and for abs to work properly, you need to keep on applying pressure to the pedal.
If your light is blinking, you might have a malfunction with the system. I would get it checked.

 

Mine doesnt blink upon start up. Its on constant for maybe a couple seconds but thats it. Mine locked up as well, when trying to avoid some lady darting out in front of me. I believe there was some loose gravel on the road or something but afterwards I was questioning what happened to abs. I remember in my moms 1995 Volvo 850 you could hear the pulsating and feel the pedal pulsate too. I didnt feel that with my car, nor did I hear any pulsating. By the time the car stopped I was a foot from hitting her. Not a happy feeling.

 

Is ABS that important to you? It's not that hard to pump the breaks, but if it is, good luck in having a dealer tell you 100% positively that it has it.

 

For me? I can drive without them w/out a problem. Now, there is someone who would drive it and now that she is COMFORTABLE with ABS I want to stick to a car that has it. Plus, I hope to find side air bags if possible. She is important to me and want a car she is comfortable driving and that is SAFE. Safety is tops for me.

I am thinking a used I30 might be better because I KNOW they have ABS and side air bags. Their prices are right in line with Maximas.

 

That makes sense. Good luck in your search.

 

Just look at the engine pics they send you, can't miss the big abs system under the hood, big empty spot w/o it. Save you a drive, and most places have photos on file, or will take some.

 

That's another thought.... It's been 5+ years since I was under the hood of a 4th gen. I guess I will look for some pics of that crazy unit.

T

 

Thank you!