2000 Nissan Maxima Owner's Manual - Page 124

d. You have had an accident involving damage to the exhaust system, underbody, or rear of the vehicle. CAUTION ¼ Do not use leaded gasoline. Deposits from leaded gasoline seriously reduce the three way catalyst's ability to help reduce exhaust pollutants. ¼ Keep your engine tuned up. Malfunctions in the ignition, fuel injection, or electrical systems can cause overrich fuel flow into the three way catalyst, causing it to overheat. Do not keep driving if the engine misfires, or if noticeable loss of performance or other unusual operating conditions are detected. Have the vehicle inspected promptly by an authorized NISSAN dealer. ¼ Avoid driving with an extremely low fuel level. Running out of fuel could cause the engine to misfire, damaging the three way catalyst. ¼ Do not race the engine while warming it up. ¼ Do not push or tow your vehicle to start the engine. AVOIDING COLLISION AND ROLLOVER WARNING Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe and prudent manner may result in loss of control or an accident. Be alert and drive defensively at all times. Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive speed, high speed cornering, or sudden steering maneuvers, because these driving practices could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. As with any vehicle, a loss of control could result in a collision with other vehicles or objects, or cause the vehicle to rollover, particularly if the loss of control causes the vehicle to slide sideways. Be attentive at all times, and avoid driving when tired. Never drive when under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including prescription or over-the-counter drugs which may cause drowsiness). Always wear your seat belt. See "Seat Belts" in the "1. Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems" section. And also instruct your passengers to do so. Starting and driving THREE WAY CATALYST The three way catalyst is an emission control device installed in the exhaust system. Exhaust gases in the converter are burned at high temperatures to help reduce pollutants. WARNING ¼ The exhaust gas and the exhaust system are very hot. Keep people, animals or flammable materials away from the exhaust system components. ¼ Do not stop or park the vehicle over flammable materials such as dry grass, waste paper or rags. They may ignite and cause a fire. 5-3