Member Credit: xlack
This is from a G37 but the procedure pretty much identical to Nissan Maximas.
OEM Oil Pan completely stripped of silicon residue:
JWT Oil Pan Spacer:
New silicon applied:
Brush used to remove silicon remains: 
This bolt has to be bended in order for the oil pan spacer to fit. (guy from 370z forum had it cut off, but is not necessary):
Bolt is knocked back into position: 
my4dsc: 78
Member Credit: Nikky Nixmax
A few days ago, I went to start my 2009 Nissan Maxima in the evening. I came to find out that the car would not start. Initially, I thought it was the battery so I switched it with another car. Same results…. car would not just start. The dash and radio also were not coming on. The car has over 200K miles. My biggest concern was having to get the car towed!!! A bit frustrating.
I decided to do some research online and found that my symptoms were related to the infamous “Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL)” recall. I found some very helpful information online that allowed me to get the car started and ultimately remove the risk of this happening again. The fix was simply removing the 10A Steering Wheel lock fuse in the engine after getting the car started. All the information is posted further down below.
Nissan did offer an extended warranty on this but my car was……..way outside of this.
Your Nissan vehicle is equipped with an Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) unit that locks the steering wheel when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off to help prevent theft. On some vehicles, due to a manufacturing irregularity that has since been corrected, the ESCL may malfunction after the vehicle is locked and could prevent the engine from starting. This condition, should it occur, will only occur when attempting to start the vehicle, and not while driving.
Although Nissan believes the majority of owners will never experience this unique condition, to assure your continued satisfaction and confidence in your vehicle, Nissan has decided to extend the Nissan New Vehicle Limited Warranty, as it applies to the ESCL unit, from 3 years / 36,000 miles to 6 years / unlimited miles, whichever comes first.
Make sure the car is off. Remove the dash cover underneath the steering wheel to get to the steering column.
This is the module that you need to tap.
Tap at the steering lock itself GENTLY with a small hammer or plastic mallet…while you press the start button. You need to do both continuously various times. I used a ratchet from my trunk toolset. You can use anything you mind, including a rock.
At first, you may think this is not going to work but keep trying. It took me about 25 tries of tapping the steering wheel column and hitting the start button.
Finally, the car turned on. OMGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!
Next, you need to locate the 10A Steering Lock fuse in the engine bay (photos below). You need to ensure the car is running before removing the fuse (otherwise the car will never start). Also, don’t perform the procedure above without the fuse. You need to get the car started first. Put the fuse cover back on and turn off the car. Restart the car and confirm everything this good.
While you can later replace the steering lock module, I decided to just keep the fuse off. I’ve been driving for many miles and have not noticed any issues or bad symptoms. You just saved thousands of dollars. Without this information, you would have needed to get your car towed, taken to a shop and they would have likely replaced the steering wheel column module. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. I was able to resolve this issue at ZERO costs and the car is functioning 100% fine.
Hope this helps someone! Please leave a comment below if this has helped you.
my4dsc: 153
Member Credit: Candelario Amaya Jr
This my review on Xrross Android stereo. Installed into my 2014 Maxima without Bose or color screen. Had to use Axxess ASWC-1 for steering wheel controls and ASWC-1 programmed to Pioneer/Jensen. It is a great unit, the one installed is the higher end as of now.
I have been using it for a few days and updated it. Yes, it can be updated. I suggest a 4G dongle or talk to your carrier for a device to add WiFi to your car to get full effect of this. The unit in video also has two sets of AV RCA jacks. Also have headrest monitors connected to unit. Sorry for not showing that.
Model #: X7502A6-S
Price: $249.00
Additional Photos:
my4dsc: 331
Member Credit(s): Enygunna Aztec, Tesfa McGregor, Justin Funck
Official photos of the NISformance headers purchased by various Maxima members. They look great! The price of these headers is $1,550.00 and worth every penny! You can get them here: http://www.nisformance.com/NISformance-Headers-p/nisheaders.htm
These headers are currently available for: VQ35DE 1995-2003 Maxima, 2004-2006 Maxima with manual trans or 4spd auto, 2002-2006 Altima 3.5L with manual trans or 4spd auto.
Specifications:
Comparison of 3rdgen Altima / 6thgen Maxima Cattman Headers and NISformance Headers 
Price for Reference
my4dsc: 532
Member Credit: Kirill Savin
This is the size of the inlet of the stock hr fuel rails. Figured the boosted guys would like to see it. This is before the split and that is 6-AN bung next to in for reference.
my4dsc: 85
Owner: Nikky
Year: 2009
Model: Maxima
Color: Midnight Blue
Transmission: CVT
Trim: S
my4dsc: 103
We saw these 7thgen 2009-2015 Maxima LED Light Tube Projector Headlights on eBay and wanted to capture how they look installed. They are a direct fit to your original halogen OEM lights (not OEM HID). They cost approx. $259.99 (depending on seller). The headlights come with either chrome or black housings. Not a bad deal especially if you need to replace your headlights. We personally think they look great!
Note: These are halogen lights and not directly compatible w/ factory HID headlights. However, you can make it work or convert these to HID if you are mechanically inclined.
Manufacturer Part Number: 260609N00A, 260109N00A
Bulbs: Low Beam H7/ High Beam H1 Bulb
LED Type: SMD LED
my4dsc: 490
CVTz50 is an Android App that allows you to perform various diagnostics on your CVT transmission. No need to go buy special scanners, gauges and/or pay your Nissan dealer a “special diagnostic fee“. This app will tell you everything you need to know about your CVT including some additional nice features such as resetting your CVT fluid deterioration counter and adjusting your engine brake levels. Many 7thgen Maxima owners like to use this app to monitor the CVT temperature levels after installing an additional transmission oil cooler.
Special thanks to Eric Cruz for finding and validating this app for Nissan Maximas.
App Price: $4.99
Download Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cvtz50.cvtz50
You will need an ELM327 interface to use the app. You can buy them on eBay for around $15 bucks. It must be an ELM327 1.5 built on original Microchip PIC18F25K80. To ensure your ELM327 interface will work, you can try the demo app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cvtz50.cvtz50demo
Information Credit: http://cvtz50.info
To read Diagnostic Trouble Codes stored in CVT or in engine, press button Read/Clear CVT DTC or Read/Clear Engine DTC. After successful DTC reading, CVTz50 will show number of errors stored in corresponding control module and list of the codes.
In order to erase CVT/engine DTC, press and hold corresponding button, then confirm erasing by selecting YES in confirmation dialog.
Press Read/Clear CVTF Deterioration button to read deterioration data.
Nissan recommends to change CVT fluid if deterioration exceeded 210000 points. Note that on majority of the vehicles the deterioration counter takes into account CVT operation only in high temperature conditions (the counter increases only when CVT temperature is above 90°C). There might be other reasons to replace CVT fluid – they shall be considered even if deterioration counter is significantly below the threshold.
After replacing CVT fluid, CVTF Deterioration data should be cleared. To perform deterioration data erasing, hold Read/Clear CVTF Deterioration button and confirm the operation by selecting YES in confirmation dialog.
Press Engine Brake Adjustment button to change the level of engine braking. Current brake level will be retrieved from CVT control module and marked in the selection dialog. Select new brake level and confirm the change by pressing OK or press Cancel to exit without saving. Nissan is not recommending to select levels +1, -1 and -2.
Nissan is not recommending to select levels +1, -1 and -2.
Engine braking can be adjusted only on Nissan-based vehicles. Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Citroen, Jeep do not provide such ability in their CVT control firmware.
Press CVT Data Monitor button to start realtime monitoring of CVT parameters. Data monitoring will be also started automatically if no buttons pressed within 10 seconds after CVTz50 launched. In this mode, CVTz50 shows majority of significant realtime CVT parameters that can be seen in official diagnostic tool Consult-II:
Data updates every 5-8 seconds when CVTz50 reads data from CVT control module, engine control module and AWD control module. Update frequency can be increased to 5-8 updates per second by turning off reading of engine and AWD in CVTz50 menu.
Data chart showing last 200 values of specific CVT parameter can be opened by pressing parameter name or value in CVT Data Monitoring mode. Red line is the selected parameter and blue line is Vehicle Speed.
CVTz50 automatically tracks primary pulley pressure while vehicle stopped in D position after CVT fluid temperature reached 50°C and Step Motor got position 4. Under these conditions, primary pulley pressure should not drop below 0.5MPa. Once these conditions met, CVTz50 will display additional information block near Primary Pulley Pressure – Step4 %/min/avg showing percentage of Step Motor setting to 4 during continuous braking from 40km/h to 0km/h (more is better), minimum and average pressure during stop (closer to 0.7MPa is better). The block will be highlighted by yellow if minimum value drops below 0.5MPa; highlighted by red if drop below 0.3MPa.
This automatic test is applicable only to CVTs equipped with Step Motor (prior to CVT7).
During intensive acceleration from 0km/h (engine speed more than 3000 rpm), primary and secondary pulley pressure shall reach at least 5MPa. This test shall be performed in CVT-only monitoring mode (monitoring of engine and AWD turned off in CVTz50 menu) to ensure enough measurement sampling rate. Maximum primary and secondary pressures will be shown in fields sec max and pri max.
Note: maximum values can be reset only by exiting CVTz50 so cvtz50 should be restarted before each attempt.
In CVT-only monitoring mode (monitoring of engine and AWD turned off in CVTz50 menu) if accelerator pedal fully depressed, CVTz50 automatically measures acceleration time 0-50km/h, 0-100km/h, 0-150km/h, 0-200km/h. Measurement result will be shown near indication of gear lever position. Measurement accuracy is around 0.25s if data updated 4 times per second.
During monitoring, CVTz50 collects statistics on CVT temperature conditions, pressures, milage, fluid deterioration, engine runtime and other data. Statistics button opens new window showing graphical representation of collected statistical data which can be checked for any trends (like month-by-month pressure decrease illustrating fast CVT wear). Backup copy of statistical data is stored in Google account (if Android device is linked with Google account and applications data backup was not turned off during Android device setup) and will be restored in case of CVTz50 re-installation or during migration to new Android device using same Google account (if during migration to new device user allow “restore applications and their data from previous device”).
CVT Information button opens new window showing following information retrieved from TCM (transmission control module):
Idle Rpm Adjustment can be started by short pressing of button Idle Rpm Adj / Idle Air Learn (Nissan).
Ignition Timing adjustment can be started by long pressing of button Power Balance / Ign Timing (Nissan).
After starting an adjustment, CVTz50 reads current adjustment levels from engine control module and mark it in adjustment selection window. Press OK to save newly selected adjustment value to engine control module or press Cancel to quit without saving.
Adjustments can be performed only on warmed up engine. Idle Air Volume Learning might be required before performing these adjustments.
Long pressing of Idle Rpm Adj / Idle Air Learn (Nissan) button initiates the learning procedure. Learning should be performed on warmed up engine, all electronic load need to be switched off. Idle Rpm Adjustment and Ignition Timing adjustment need to be set to 0 before starting this procedure.
Power Balance dialog allows to temporary disable fuel injection in specific cylinder. Dialog title shows current engine RPM and minimum RPM observed after last switching of cylinders. This test allows to compare performance among cylinders.
CVTz50 allows to send any custom commands or command series to ELM327 or to any vehicle control unit.
CVTz50 optionally can connect to CVT control module or to engine control module before executing entered custom command.
Log containing main data exchange between CVTz50 and ELM327 adapter is stored in file cvtz50.txt which can be found on memory card of Android device.
CVT realtime parameters recorded during monitoring are stored in file cvtz50_params.txt which can be opened by Microsoft Excel for detailed offline analysis.
In engine-only monitoring mode, engine realtime parameters are stored in logfile cvtz50_engine.txt.
Fastest and most reliable way of getting proper ELM327v1.5 is buying it at local store. Check it immediately with CVTz50 or CVTz50 DEMO and get moneyback if it unable to connect to transmission. Just one disadvantage – price of the interface will be higher comparing to online stores.
It is also possible to buy a good ELM327 interface via Ebay or Aliexpress, search using keywords ELM327 PIC18F25K80 (PIC18F25K80 is name of the chip inside majority of “good” adapters). The problem is that some sellers are still shipping “fake” interfaces regardless of mentioning the name of good chip in item’s description, especially sellers offering lowest price. So before placing an order, it is necessary to check with the seller whether their product really has proper version 1.5 and build on appropriate hardware. Sample query to a seller: Is your ELM327 1.5 built on original Microchip PIC18F25K80? What’s the frequency of crystal oscillator there, 4mhz or 16mhz? Does it support commands ATAL and ATPPS?
Good ELM327 interface: microchip PIC18F25K80 and crystal oscillator 4MHz.
Might be built on one PCB (like on the picture), or on two or three PCBs soldered together
Bad ELM327 interface: fake microchip PIC18F25K80 with label 14309MP and crystal oscillator 16MHz
Bad ELM327 interface: microchip STM32
Sometimes such interfaces can work with limitations in mode “ELM327 v2.15 compatibility”
Bad ELM327 interface: unknown chip hidden under drop of varnish
my4dsc: 380
Member Credit: Kelby Mikhal Pickrell
The 2016+ 8thgen Intake Manifold directly fits the 2009-2015 7thgen Maxima. It will also fit other gens (4thgen, 5thgen, 6thgen) that have done the Gen2 VQ35DE (aka HR) engine swap. These can also be used to swap your 2007+ Altima Manifold to a Maxima one (direct fit as well).
You can find and buy these manifolds on eBay for around $150 or less.
Please Note: As of now, there hasn’t been any testing to prove additional gains in comparison to the 2009-2015 7thgen Maxima manifold. We will provide an update as we learn more.
my4dsc: 252
