How to Disable 1998 Nissan Maxima

The most common reason you'd want to disable your 1998 Nissan Maxima is to prepare the car for storage. This involves unhooking the battery to prevent battery discharge and other problems with the electrical system. Another reason to disable the Maxima is to prevent someone from driving the vehicle without your permission. The secondary method of disabling the car may also help if you are trying to prevent an intoxicated driver from taking the Maxima for a spin.

Things You'll Need

• Pliers

Instructions

Disabling the Maxima for Storage

1. Park the Maxima where you want to store it. Turn off all the switches for the interior and exterior lights. Use the power window switch to roll the windows up. Turn off the engine. Open the hood.

2. Find the Maxima's battery in the front corner of the engine compartment, closest to the bumper. It is on the driver's side.

3. Loosen the nut behind the negative (black) cable with pliers, and then pull the cable away from the battery to unhook it. Then loosen the nut behind the red (positive) cable, and pull the cable away to disconnect it.

4. Close the hood to prepare the car for storage. Make to remove any personal items from the interior. Lock the doors.

Temporarily Disabling the Maxima for Other Reasons

1. Turn off the Maxima's engine and open the hood. Find the power distribution box in the front driver-side corner of the engine compartment.

2. Open the power distribution box's cover. Grasp the relay marked "Fuel Pump Rly." Pull it out to remove it. This deactivates the Maxima and prevents fuel from being provided to the fuel lines, which prevents it from cranking or running.

3. Close the hood. When you are ready to reenable the Maxima, reinsert the fuel pump relay and replace the cover.

References

• Nissan Extended: 1998 Nissan Maxima Manual (PDF)