Is there any reason why you don't call upon the aid of the Nissan Factory Service manual?

 

I have all three manuals. In posts on this forum I try to point to useful information in Chilton or Haynes because those books are priced within reach of every owner. The aftermarket manuals are a good choice for most home mechanics. IMHO Haynes is better than Chilton. For a detailed comparison of manuals, see http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/manualcompare.html

 

I'm giving gentle encouragement to 4Gen owners to buy a manual. A book is a tool, and every bit as important as a jack or set of socket wrenches.

If you're serious about your car you should have a manual. The only people who don't need a manual are the Queeners.

 

I actually ended up going opposite of that. On My Max I went with the Chilton because on my Intrepid the Hayes was helpfull but the Chilton looked more packed and lots more info. Is it the same with the ones for the Max? I have the Chiltons manual for the Max ( couldnt find a Hayes anywhere actually) and it seems like it has tons of info in there.

SuDZ

 

I got the Chilton manual as well, the haynes manual just looked to me like it had less info, plus I couldnt find one for my 97 anywhere. Take Care

 

Daniel B. Martin,
If you don't mind I'm asking, what's your back ground and
how long have you been "wrenching" your own car ?

I just started last couple of years but would very
much want to get to your level of "know-how" eventually.

Thanks

 

What's a "queener"?

 

I prefer not to talk about myself because I think this forum should be focused on the car. It's not about you, it's not about me, it's about the 4Gen Maxima.

Other people have similar interests. I'll give this some thought and post a thread on "How to learn more" some time in the coming week.

 

I think Haynes and Chilton are good manuals, but the manual to get is the Factory Service Manual. My friend bought a FSM for his '93 3000GT VR4 and it has every information you ever want to know about your own car. However, the FSM is a bit expensive. If not, I would have bought one already. Although, I probably don't understand the stuff as much as Mr. Martin, but every little bit helps. You got to start somewhere.

 

I hear everyone saying that the factory one is much more expensive and all but have not seen an actual price. Anyone know?

SuDZ

 

The price varies by model year. I paid $119 for the '99 Maxima FSM. The price is even higher for 5Gen manuals.

 

Wow! That really is a noticable difference.

SuDZ

 

Maybe you have a different name for this bunch in your town. The Queeners are those drivers who congregate in the Dairy Queen parking lot. They spend a lot of time polishing their cars. They trade boasts with each other about their driving skills, their "wrenching" skills, their street racing "roadkills", and their vast knowledge of automotive technology. Some of their boasts are exaggerations, some are outright lies. I'm sure you know the type. I hope you aren't one of them.

 

SuDZ,

Answers to ALL of your questions can still be found in the sticky.

Have you even read it yet?

Dyment Distribution Services (at least at one time a year or two ago) had the 99 FSMs for $75......but that price could easily have risen, but for pre-2k models, I've never known them to sell a FSM for more than $100.........

The manual comparisons are in there, prices, where to get, etc.

Please read.

 

interesting. To me, and probably everyone else on the forum, you are kind of like a Maxima "God" that was put on this planet just to keep the 4th Gen owners in line. You seem to have a limitless/tireless attitude towards helping others with an enormous amount of patience (and patients!). It seems to me that you ought to paid by Nissan for the amount of goodwill the you have provided for them, but I'm sure (at least I hope) that you just get your satisfaction by helping others.

Keep up the great service that yoy are providing, and YES, we do appreciate your efforts. THANKS !!!

 

bahahahahaha.. that is funny
yeah i got them in my town , except by me they chill in the Dunkin Donuts parkin lot .. or as I like to call it Double D's

Ant

 

Yes I did read it. I was curious because I did not know if the prices had changed. As they seem to since in the sticky it was 75 and now seems to be a little higher according to Daniel. I must have missed it in there, but yes more than once I have read the sticky and usually find it helpfull but in some cases there are times you will forget a piece of information in it.

SuDZ

 

SuDZ,

Here is an opportunity for you to contribute:

Dyment Distribution Services
20770 Westwood Road
Strongsville, OH 44136

Fax: (216)572-0815
Phone: 1-800-247-5321

Call that number, and ask for prices for 3rd, 4th, and 5th gen Maximas. See how much the prices vary. Report it back here. You will be credited for your work, and it would be much appreciated.

I didn't put the number in there because I don't like to throw prices out unless I have direct knowledge of them currently. I do not for the FSM and the other manuals change daily in pricing.

The above company is the "middle man" for Nissan dealers, meaning you can buy a FSM direct from them for the same price that Nissan dealers get. Daniel's stated price of $120 sounds more like a dealer-inflated price than the "direct from the distributor" price, but that is speculation.

 

Ok Folks,
Here is the Run down on what I was able to find out. For 3rd and 4th Generations you can call 1-800-247-5321 For 2000 and newer models you will need to call 1-800-639-8841.


All third Generations seemed to be coming in at the same $73.00 Dollars.


Fourth Generations were as followed

1995 - $93
1996 - $107
1997 - $119
1998 - $119
1999 - $125

Fifth Generations are a little bit different. They come in two forms 1. Printed and 2. CD Rom. Also these prices will be higher if ordered through us since we are not dealers. Also if you call in for a 2000 you will be asked your VIN so please have it on hand. They ask for this because there are actually two editions avaiable. It may be the same with 2001 but they were not sure.

Prices:

Printed
2000 - $275 plus shipping
2001 - $275 plus shipping

CD-Rom
2000 - $210
2001 - $210


If you need more information let me know. I took some notes during the call but hoped I put in everything here that is needed.

 

Excuse me everyone while I cry uncontrollably.

SuDZ,

Thanks for your effort. The sticky will be updated with this info soon.

Good grief the 4th gens have gone up in prices........when I first got the 99, it was going to be around $80 or so.....that was a mere two years ago. Ugh.

 

In the case of the 5th gens though since that is the price we have to pay since we re not dealers, I am curious what dealers do pay because If they pay much less than that then I am sure after the raise the price it is around if not more than that one. Looking towards $300 almost.

SuDZ

 

LOl, in my town these people all hang out in the Auto Zone parking lot. I mean there is atleast 20 cars there every night until around 2am. It is ridiculous, most of their cars are pieces of **** anyways, I guess theres a group of them in every town. There are about 10 other groups here but the Auto Zone one is the biggest. Pretty dumb, Take Care

 

yeah there ar emore than a few of these groups where I am. Seems like they all follow the same trend. Ones I know of are the Tajma Dunks ( nicknamed be by and my friends because of the size), Advanced Auto Parts, a strip mall in our area ( alot of them work in it), and then another dunks up the street. Seems like they are everywhere I guess.

SuDZ

 

I make no false claims...all I really know about is headlamps.

 

When I bought my Maxima in March I didn't know much about car maintencance beyond changing oil, rotating tires and 50/50 in the radiator. I don't know that much more now, but with the help on this forum and the Haynes and FSM, I've changed brake rotors, found and fixed brake system leaks, repaired body imperfections and plan on moving up to brake line replacement and beyond (the next time a problem comes up). All my friends moved out of town after graduating college and my fiancee isn't interested in car repair, so I have to take my experimental endeavors slow, because I have to tackle them alone.

The FSM has been invaluable in my quest, and I was able to afford it only because I was patient. I bought a 1998 FSM on eBay for $65 used. I read something in it about every other day in anticipation of work I'll need to do eventually, and I love it. I love it. My father used to own an Austin Healey Sprite that he raced in a league at Watkins Glen before I was born. As I grew up, he tried to get me somewhat interested in car repair, but it was really to no avail. Do you know what I'd give now to have helped him replace the turbo in his Saab?

Well, the forum and the books are helping me make up a little for my regrettable mistakes. I doubt anyone has a story exactly like this, but I also doubt that you can't relate.

 

Please see my post How to learn more at http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=60492

 

In our town, they hang out by the taco bell, now, it used to be Sam's club, but now we have a 'Cruising Law' in affect and that changed it all...

 

Oh no... I don't have a FSM, the Chilton one I saw at the store covered 1993-1999 (way too vague, covering the VG, VE and VQ engines all at once!) and I haven't been able to find the right year Haynes. I guess that'd make me a Queener if I went to the Dairy Queen

-V

 

I too have a crowd such as that. Used to be the Mustangs hung out at Taco Bell. Now its become the rice boys who drive their slow imports hang out at the Super Fresh parking lot. And then on the other side of the plaza parking lot its the domestic hill billy car/truck club. Used to be the police kicked people out, but lately they havent. They probably figure its better to let the kids sit in a parking lot then to get stoned or wasted somewhere else or to go around and vandalize things as theres nothing to do in my town (remember my couch cushion burnout? :-))

 

Ok with a quote like that I have to ask -- Whats a couch cushion burnout. I can think of a few things in my head but want to figure it out from you.


SuDZ

 

I wish the 4th gen FSM came on CD-ROM