NOOBIES: "I AM NEW HERE BUT HAVE A QUESTION" thread. Read FIRST post BEFORE posting!

[phenryiv1]

Since people with less than 15 posts cannot start their own thread, but MIGHT have a legitimate question, I am opening another thread for noobie questions.

First off, I will answer a few general questions:

Q: Why can't I start a new thread?
A: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=413179

Q: Why can't I search maxima.org?
A: How to inspect Swaybar endlinks ?

With that out of the way...

This thread is for the new members so that they are able to post a LEGITIMATE question. It can be ANYTHING that is 4th generation related and NOT covered in the existing sticky threads. If we think it is important, we will either answer or make it into its own thread. If not, I will delete it.

This is only for LEGIT 4th Gen questions that may be specific to one user.

SPAM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

This is for noobs only and will be open only as long as I feel like maintaining it.

ALL RESPONSES MUST BE A QUOTE OF THE ORIGINAL QUESTION!
New questions, obviously, need not have any quotes.

Postwhoring will not be tolerated!
-If you get an answer to your question, please move along.
-If you have a followup, by all means, post it.
-No posts to say "Thanks!" (We don't need 10,000 posts thanking someone for helping them out.)
-No posting "I want to know that, too."
-Incorrect answers or answers that are just plain annoying will be removed.

All of these will be deleted. If it gets bad enough, I will just ban you.

Here are some links that will also be helpful:
4th gen FAQs (READ ME! PLEASE! READ ME!):
reset airbag warning light ok, but the car won't crank

If you are having mechanical problems (INCLUDING a "Check Engine" light), this thread is a GREAT place to start:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=512892

All other sticky threads have answers to common questions, information about common modifications, and other generally good info. I took a week and re-organized it. I did not do this for my own benefit- I don't even OWN a 4th gen.

One more reminder: THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SEARCHING!!!
How do I search? How to inspect Swaybar endlinks ?

[Cdg2125]

Hey pat, I know this may not be needed but I figured I'd ask before the thread takes off. You can delete this post afterwards if you'd like as well. I was thinking that a lot of the new guys come in and start posting answers to past questions and give incorrect info just to get the 15 posts up. Just thought you could mention something about it in the rules so we don't have to deal with it. Just an idea. Good looking out on the new thread tho.

[ABDU89]

Alright, I just had a Tokico HP Struts and Shocks and Springs kit installed on my car. (My car is a 96 Nissan Maxima SE 5 spd.) I watched the mechanic do the job. The springs for both the shocks and struts are more closer together from one side and farther apart on the other. On the back shocks, the mechanic put the side of the spring that is closer together up. I called a friend and made sure that was right. On the front though, he put the the side of the spring that are closer together on the bottom. I thought this was wrong and i bugged him about it. He said thats the way its supposed to be. Drove it home and seems to be driving fine but when I crank the steering wheel all the way or alot to the to left or to the right, I hear some noise coming from the front. Im wondering if i should go back to him and tell him to reverse the springs or does it just need to settle. This is the link to the exact parts I bought if it helps any: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKIC...spagenameZWDVW . Please help.
Thanks

[Cdg2125]

edit: Just looked at the link. I believe they are in correctly since they are only tokico springs. the tight part should have be on the bottom. With after market springs that lower, the tighter area goes up top.

[CRiME]

Originally Posted by Cdg2125

edit: Just looked at the link. I believe they are in correctly since they are only tokico springs. the tight part should have be on the bottom. With after market springs that lower, the tighter area goes up top.

no, no, no! those springs do lower the car, 1.4 front, 1.25 rear. So the last part of what cdg2125 said is correct. they are progressive rate springs, meaning the tight part compresses after the wide part. the tight part should face UP on the front and the rear. I just installed that exact same kit this weekend. I have no noises whatsoever, everything is riding great. Here's what you can show your mechanic - point out to him that the words "tokico" in white stamped across the spring should be upright. If the installed the springs with the tight part on the bottom, then "tokico" will be upside down. Take your car back to him and have him do it properly ASAP!!

[s1mm01485]

What springs would people recommend for the gr-2? I want to lower my ride height (1 or 1.5 inches) without too much harshness. Thanks in advance.

[nicki]

the stickies say how to find out what the trouble codes are. but i didn't see anything about clearing them. is there a special way the codes need to be cleared, maybe by the dealer only?
i've been having some trouble with my car. i had the transmission rebuilt. after driving it for a day the engine light came back on with the same transmission code. i called the shop & they said it could be that they weren't able to 'fully clear the code'. i will be taking the car in on monday to get looked at. i'm just wondering if the problem wasn't fixed or if their equipment is really not able to clear out the code. thanks
nicki

[Cdg2125]

Originally Posted by 2pb

no, no, no! those springs do lower the car, 1.4 front, 1.25 rear. So the last part of what cdg2125 said is correct. they are progressive rate springs, meaning the tight part compresses after the wide part. the tight part should face UP on the front and the rear. I just installed that exact same kit this weekend. I have no noises whatsoever, everything is riding great. Here's what you can show your mechanic - point out to him that the words "tokico" in white stamped across the spring should be upright. If the installed the springs with the tight part on the bottom, then "tokico" will be upside down. Take your car back to him and have him do it properly ASAP!!

Well tokicos blues are not really designed for lowering. They are stock comparisons. On the springs, the tokico signature should be readable. Make him fix it.

In this kit, they are also paired with an oem replacement strut. What I was referring to is that the tokico combo of blues are considered more of an oem replacment. The springs can be paired with others such as Illuminas to make them more of a lowering combo yes. But I meant the combo itself. Tokico Blue combo is considered OEM replacement.

Getting it fixed is the most important part.

[Cdg2125]

Originally Posted by nicki

the stickies say how to find out what the trouble codes are. but i didn't see anything about clearing them. is there a special way the codes need to be cleared, maybe by the dealer only?
i've been having some trouble with my car. i had the transmission rebuilt. after driving it for a day the engine light came back on with the same transmission code. i called the shop & they said it could be that they weren't able to 'fully clear the code'. i will be taking the car in on monday to get looked at. i'm just wondering if the problem wasn't fixed or if their equipment is really not able to clear out the code. thanks
nicki

Well if they don't then go to autozone and have them clear the code.

[CRiME]

Originally Posted by Cdg2125

Well tokicos are not really lowering springs. They are stock comparison...

? Read the first sentence in the link:

TOKICO HP BLUE STRUTS/SHOCKS and 4( 2 front , 2 rear ) High performance Tokico lowering springs, with a 1.25 inch drop front and back, TO FIT 1995 to 3/1999 Nissan Maxima all models .

The picture is not accurate, that is not how the actual springs look. They are lowering springs. I just installed that exact same kit this past weekend.

[CRiME]

Tokico HP struts and shocks can be considered an OEM replacement, but the springs are not an OEM replacement. We were talking about the springs, not the struts. Didn't look like you were talking about the "tokico combo of blues" when you wrote "Well tokicos are not really lowering springs. They are stock comparison..."

But anyway, I don't really care what you were saying, I just wanted to make sure that the OP gets the correct information and returns to his mechanic ASAP to do the job properly. That's all that matters.

[kc10fish]

Originally Posted by s1mm01485

What springs would people recommend for the gr-2? I want to lower my ride height (1 or 1.5 inches) without too much harshness. Thanks in advance.

springs= maxspeed, if you want to go only that much of a drop. i have them and like them.

[phenryiv1]

REMEMBER to QUOTE the question in all replies!

[phenryiv1]

Originally Posted by s1mm01485

What springs would people recommend for the gr-2? I want to lower my ride height (1 or 1.5 inches) without too much harshness. Thanks in advance.

I recommend Tein H-Tech springs for that drop. I have had them on my own car and found them to be the perfect spring for the A32.

[woofy]

quick question,whats the best strut/shock and spring combo for the lowest drop? i'll still be on stock 97 5spokes so i wanna go as low as i can(i hate wheel gap)

[tong]

Originally Posted by nicki

the stickies say how to find out what the trouble codes are. but i didn't see anything about clearing them. is there a special way the codes need to be cleared, maybe by the dealer only?
i've been having some trouble with my car. i had the transmission rebuilt. after driving it for a day the engine light came back on with the same transmission code. i called the shop & they said it could be that they weren't able to 'fully clear the code'. i will be taking the car in on monday to get looked at. i'm just wondering if the problem wasn't fixed or if their equipment is really not able to clear out the code. thanks
nicki

to clear the code: It is in the stickies just a link to another location that has the info but here it is:

1. Turn the selector screw clockwise to its stop.
2. Wait 2 seconds.
3. Return back by turning the screw counterclockwise to its stop.
4. IMMEDIATELY REPEAT steps 1 to 3.

[Cdg2125]

Originally Posted by woofy

quick question,whats the best strut/shock and spring combo for the lowest drop? i'll still be on stock 97 5spokes so i wanna go as low as i can(i hate wheel gap)

coilovers. go to the suspension sticky for more info.

[allblackmax96]

where can i get a good price on a vq35de engine with a 6mt. any info would be helpful

[maxima_fan_boy]

ok i have a quick question ok i got a free used amp with a set of 15inch subs i bought from a friend and it doesn't work the power light comes one with i have it wired up but no sound comes out when i have a speaker wired up to it and i know the wires from the head unit are wired correctly so is there any way i can fix it

i know the subs work i tested them with a 500watt bazuka amp

[Cdg2125]

Originally Posted by allblackmax96

where can i get a good price on a vq35de engine with a 6mt. any info would be helpful

car-parts.com

[EnervinE]

1st page baybee.

Originally Posted by maxima_fan_boy

ok i have a quick question ok i got a free used amp with a set of 15inch subs i bought from a friend and it doesn't work the power light comes one with i have it wired up but no sound comes out when i have a speaker wired up to it and i know the wires from the head unit are wired correctly so is there any way i can fix it

Ever consider that it was free? The amp/subs/both are probably blown.

[Cdg2125]

Originally Posted by maxima_fan_boy

yeah i guess but i know the subs work i tested them with a 500watt bazuka amp

if they work and you're not getting sound then you do not have them hooked up correctly

[headhunt3r]

I know this could be considered as a silly question...

But I'm quite annoyed at the fact that my wipers always leave a trail of water after a wipe. They were just recently replaced (Bosch) and the car was cleaned very recently... is there anything I can do about this? Maybe there's a particular brand of wipers....? I can't come up with any other factors besides cleaniness and brand of wipers.

I already use Rain-X on my windshield, and even on all the other glass around the car.

[Cdg2125]

Originally Posted by headhunt3r

I know this could be considered as a silly question...

But I'm quite annoyed at the fact that my wipers always leave a trail of water after a wipe. They were just recently replaced (Bosch) and the car was cleaned very recently... is there anything I can do about this? Maybe there's a particular brand of wipers....? I can't come up with any other factors besides cleaniness and brand of wipers.

Thanks

get better wipers and use rain-x on the windshield