POWER/COMFORT switch on 1994 nissan maxima auto.

[Volante86]

Has anybody ever seen the little switch that says P on one end and C on the other and also has a middle position. I have this switch on my 94 maxima, and i was just wondering what it was for and how it works. I suppose that P stands for Power and C for comfort. Any info would be appreciated.
(i don't have an owner's manual)

[beef_bourito]

where was it? cuz my mom's '91 accord has a switch on her automatic shifter thing that says sport and normal. i think the engine is a vtec-e or 3 stage vtec (see honda's vtec thread) so i think it just makes the 2nd intake valve work and give more power or uses the second cam configuration in the case of the 3 stage.

I've heard of some companies trying to make their own versions of the vtec without as much success so that might be one of those and the switch might make the cams use the second cam configuration (see the honda's vtec thread) or open the second valve (i dont know if anyone ever made another engine like the vtec-e)

I dont know for sure but that might be it. one way to find out, however, might be to go to a dealership.

[Racincc85]

yea, just check the manual and it should tell you. All those switches do is change the shift points so that the trans shifts later letting the engine spin up to a higher rpm easily making the car feel a little more like a race car, but if you want that screw the auto and get a manual =)

[Racincc85]

sorry, i missed that little detail about you not having the manual.

[Kurtdg19]

The "P" probably means performance, and the "C" is most likely cruise. They could be different though. I know the 3000GT's are performance and cruise. They are just different settings to optimize performance and optimize economical driving say for better milage. They can change shift points for the tranny and allow more airflow to increase power. I don't have that option on my car, but from what I know thats what they do.

[burly]

They are fairly common switches. The Jeep Cherokee we owned had a Power/Comfort switch and the Saturn my parents own has a Performance/Normal switch. It just moves the shift points of the transmission to make city and hilly driving more responsive than just highway cruising - but with a possible loss of a few MPG. If you are on the highway cruising and using performance you probably won't notice a difference or a change in MPG. If you are in the mountains or in the city, you will notice that the engine is allowed to "lug" a bit more before shifting with it off, and that it is more responsive with it on. I've never heard of actual engine and cam/timing curves being altered due to the switch, but I wouldn't doubt that its possible/been done.