I always see many 4th generation Maxima's where the two tail light pieces dont line up on one side. It wasnt really obvious until we did my clear/red tails and I started to look at the back closely. I was just wondering if anyone had a fix for this or some other solution. I should have pics within a couple of days but I'm sure many members have this problem. BTW, the car has never had any kind of bodywork or anything.

 

Is it always the right side u see this happening to? I have this problem too, even thought it is slight, it is sorta annoying. I think you just have to bend the trunk by hand, thats what i plan on doing when i have the time.

 

I also noticed this, that the lights on the trunk seemed to sit about 1/8" higher then the lights on the body of the car. What I did to adjust this, is if you open the trunk and look down into the latching mechanism, its held in by 2 10 mm bolts. I dont remember if you gotta remove the trunk liner to get to them or not. But in anycase, I loosened them and then set the latch as low as it would go cause theres a little bit of play. I then tightened the latch down and closed the trunk. Sure enough, the trunk sits perfect now. And, an added plus is fewer rattles from the stereo.

 

Huh? that doesnt make sense. if u lowerd ur trunk from the latching mechanism then that would only mean u pushed ur trunk inward(which would not affect the hight of the trunk up or down when it is closed).

 

I had this problem as well, then I got my rear bumper replaced, put on my red/clear tails and the problem is fixed. I don't know which one of these things fixed the problem though. Can you move the inner tail light down a bit? I've never tried that...

 

My local body shop just fixed the problem within a minute, I'm so relieved because I thought I'd have to live with this and it would keep on bothering me. All he did was loosen something right in the center of the inner trunk lining, played with it for like 30 seconds, closed it, it lined up, so he tightened it and now it lines up PERFECT.

 

I had that problem too, I just tried what eric did and the trunk lines up perfect, it took less than a minute. But now my cheap aftermarket power trunk release is not working, even when I adjust the latch to where it was origonally It was working most of the time before, now it will not work at all I guess i am going to have to go to a junkyard and buy a factory one, unless they are reasonaby priced at the dealer

 

The latch mechanism moves up and down, as in vertical to the car, not front and back. Even if only one side is off, it may correct it. I'd give it a shot.

 

i just re-read ur og post, i read it wrong. U are right it would adjust it up or down, i was thinking of the supports that hold the trunk, i dunno why. Anway, i had to fiddle witht he latch system when i did my 96-->97+ conversion. I had a bad problem with the trunk not closing, i had to push the latch all the way up and now i can only put the top 10mm hex bolt. Then only will my trunk close. Ill try to bring it down a little but i dont have much room for play.