2006 NISSAN MURANO manual transmission

mains on after approximately 7 seconds.

The supplemental air bag warning light
flashes intermittently.

The supplemental air bag warning light does
not come on at all.
Unless checked and repaired, the Supplemental
Restraint System and/or the pre-tensioner seat
belt may not function properly. For additional
information, see “Supplemental restraint system”
in the “1. Safety — seats, seat belts and supple-
mental restraint system” section.
WARNING
If the supplemental air bag warning
light is on, it could mean that the
supplemental front air bag, supplemen-
tal side air bag, curtain air bag systems
and/or pre-tensioner seat belt system
will not operate in an accident. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have
your vehicle checked by a NISSAN
dealer as soon as possible.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
All-wheel drive (AWD) LOCK
indicator light (AWD models)
This light comes on when the ignition switch is
turned to ON, and turns off within 1 second.
When selecting LOCK mode while the engine is
running, this light will illuminate. See “Using
all-wheel drive (AWD)” in the “5. Starting and
driving” section.
Continuously variable
transmission (CVT) indicator
light
When the ignition switch is turned ON, the light
comes on for 2 seconds.
Cruise main switch indicator
light
The light comes on when the cruise control main
switch is pushed. The light goes out when the
main switch is pushed again. When the cruise
main switch indicator light comes on, the cruise
control system is operational.
Cruise set indicator light
The light comes on while the vehicle speed is
controlled by the cruise control system. If thelight blinks while the engine is running, it may
indicate the cruise control system is not func-
tioning properly. Have the system checked by a
NISSAN dealer.
Front passenger air bag status
light
The front passenger air bag status light
(
) will be lit and the passenger front air bag
will be OFF depending on how the front passen-
ger seat is being used.
For front passenger air bag status light opera-
tion, see “NISSAN advanced air bag system” in
the “1. Safety — Seats, seat belts and supple-
mental restraint system” section of this manual.High beam indicator light
(Blue)
This light comes on when the headlight high
beam is on and goes out when the low beam is
selected.
Malfunction indicator lamp
(MIL)
If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on
steady or blinks while the engine is running, it
may indicate a potential emission control and/or
CVT malfunction.
The malfunction indicator lamp may also come
2-14
Instruments and controls


05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0


5 Starting and drivingPrecautions when starting and driving ............................. 5-2
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide) .................................. 5-2
Three-way catalyst ........................................................... 5-3
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
(if so equipped) ............................................................... 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ...................................... 5-5
On-pavement and offroad driving precautions
(AWD) ................................................................................. 5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .............................. 5-6
Driving safety precautions.............................................. 5-6
Ignition switch (Except for Intelligent Key equipped
model) ....................................................................................... 5-9
Key positions ..................................................................... 5-9
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System (NVIS) ......... 5-10
Ignition switch (Intelligent Key System equipped
model)..................................................................................... 5-10
Ignition switch positions .............................................. 5-11
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System (NVIS) ......... 5-12
Before starting the engine ................................................ 5-12
Starting the engine ............................................................. 5-12
Driving the vehicle ............................................................... 5-13
CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)............. 5-13
M-CVT (CVT with Manual shift mode)..................... 5-16
Parking brake........................................................................ 5-21Cruise control ....................................................................... 5-21
Precautions on cruise control .................................... 5-21
Cruise control operations ............................................ 5-22
Break-in schedule .............................................................. 5-23
Increasing fuel economy .................................................... 5-24
Using all-wheel drive (AWD) (if so equipped) ............ 5-24
AWD lock switch operations...................................... 5-25
AWD warning light ........................................................ 5-27
Parking/parking on hills...................................................... 5-29
Power steering ..................................................................... 5-30
Brake system ........................................................................ 5-30
Braking precautions ...................................................... 5-30
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) .................................... 5-31
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system
(if so equipped) .................................................................. 5-32
Cold weather driving .......................................................... 5-34
Freeing a frozen door lock .......................................... 5-34
Antifreeze ......................................................................... 5-34
Battery .............................................................................. 5-34
Draining of coolant water ............................................ 5-34
Tire equipment................................................................ 5-34
Special winter equipment ............................................ 5-35
Driving on snow or ice ................................................. 5-35
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ....................... 5-36


05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0


CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, other-
wise the starter could be damaged.
4.Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the en-
gine while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather.
In cold weather, keep the engine running for
a minimum of2-3minutes before shutting it
off. Starting and stopping the engine over a
short period of time may make the vehicle
more difficult to start.
CVT (Continuously Variable
Transmission)
Gate type shiftThe CVT in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled by a transmission control module to pro-
duce maximum power and smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this transmis-
sion. Follow these procedures for maximum ve-
hicle performance and driving enjoyment.Starting the vehicleAfter starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal before shifting the selector lever to
the R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), S (Sec-
ond) or L (Low) position. Be sure the vehicle is
fully stopped before attempting to shift the se-
lector lever.
This CVT model is designed so that the
foot brake pedal must be depressed be-
fore shifting from P (Park) to any drive
position while the ignition switch is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) position and into any of the other
shift range if the ignition switch is turned
to the LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the
key is removed from the switch.1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
shift into a driving range.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
WARNING

Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), or D (Drive)
or manual shift mode. Failure to do
so could cause you to lose control
and have an accident.

Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse range before the engine
has warmed up.

On slippery roads, do not downshift.
This may cause a loss of control.

Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving. Failure to
do so could cause you to lose control
and have an accident.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving
5-13


05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0


system as soon as possible.Accelerator downshift
— In D position —For rapid passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into lower range, depending
on the vehicle speed.High fluid temperature protection
modeThis transmission has a high fluid temperature
protection mode. If the fluid temperature be-
comes too high (for example, when climbing
steep grades in high temperature with heavy
loads, such as when towing a trailer), engine
power and, under some conditions, vehicle
speed will be decreased automatically to reduce
the chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the vehicle may not accelerate above
approximately 40 to 50 MPH (65 to 80 km/h).Fail-safeIf the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. The MIL may
come on to indicate the fail-safe mode is
activated, see “Malfunction indicator lamp(MIL)” in the “2. Instrument and controls”
section. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, turn the ignition switch to the OFF
position and wait for 10 seconds. Then turn
the switch back to the ONposition. The
vehicle should return to its normal operat-
ing condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have a
NISSAN dealer check the transmission and
repair if necessary.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually re-
duced. The reduced speed may be lower
than other traffic, which could increase
the chance of a collision. Be especially
careful when driving. If necessary, pull
to the side of the road at a safe place
and allow the transmission to return to
normal operation, or have it repaired if
necessary.
M-CVT (CVT with Manual shift mode)
Gate type shift with manual modeThe M-CVT in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled by a transmission control module to pro-
duce maximum power and smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this transmis-
sion. Follow these procedures for maximum ve-
hicle performance and driving enjoyment.Starting the vehicleAfter starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal before shifting the selector lever to
the R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or manual
shift mode position. Be sure the vehicle is fully
stopped before attempting to shift the selector
lever.
This M-CVT is designed so that the foot
brake pedal MUST be depressed before
shifting from P (Park) to any drive position
while the ignition switch is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) and into any of the other gear
positions if the ignition switch is turned to
the LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the
key is removed from the ignition switch.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
5-16
Starting and driving


05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0


or roll away and result in serious per-
sonal injury or property damage.
If the ignition switch is turned to OFF or ACC for
any reason while the vehicle is in R (Reverse), N
(Neutral), or any D (Drive) position, the key
cannot be turned to LOCK and be removed from
the ignition switch. Additionally, the selector
lever cannot be moved to R (Reverse) from N
(Neutral) or any D (Drive) position for about 3
minutes after the ignition switch is turned to the
ACC or OFF position. The selector lever can be
moved from R (Reverse) to P (Park) with the key
in the OFF or ACC position. If this occurs,
perform the following steps:
1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is
stopped.
2. Turn the key to ON.
3. Depress the foot brake pedal if the vehicle is
in the N (Neutral) or any D (Drive) position.
4. If necessary, move the selector lever to P
(Park) or N (Neutral) to restart the vehicle (P
is preferred) or move the selector lever to P
(Park) to park the vehicle.
5. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK to remove
the key.P (Park):
Use this shift position when the vehicle is parked
or when starting the engine. Make sure the
vehicle is completely stopped. For maximum
safety, depress the brake pedal, then move the
lever to the P (Park) position.The brake pedal
must be depressed any time the selector
lever is moved to P (Park).Apply the parking
brake. When parking on a hill, apply the parking
brake first, then move the lever to the P (Park)
position.
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle
is completely stopped.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure the
vehicle is completely stopped when selecting R
(Reverse).The brake pedal must be de-
pressed to move the selector lever from P
(Park) to R (Reverse).
The selector lever can be moved to R (Reverse)
from any of the D (Drive) positions within 3
minutes after the ignition switch is turned to the
ACC or OFF position.N (Neutral):
Neither forward or reverse gear is engaged. The
engine can be started in this position. You may
shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
Manual shift modeWhen the selector lever is shifted from D to the
manual shift gate with the vehicle stopped or
while driving, the transmission enters the manual
shift mode. Shift ranges can be selected manu-
ally.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the meter.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:M1→
←M2→
←M3→
←M4→
←M5→
←M6M6 (Sixth):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
M5 (Fifth):
For driving up or down long slopes where engine
braking would be advantageous.
5-18
Starting and driving


05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0


M4 (Fourth), M3 (Third) and M2 (Second):
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on down-
hill grades.
M1 (First):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine braking on
steep downhill grades.

Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than M6
range. This reduces fuel economy.

When shifting up, move the selector lever to
the + (up) side. (Shifts to higher range.)

When shifting down, move the selector lever
to the − (down) side. (Shifts to lower range.)

Moving the selector lever to the same side
twice will shift the ranges in succession.
However, if this motion is rapidly done, the
second shifting may not be completed prop-
erly.

In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down to M1
(First) before the vehicle comes to a
stop. When accelerating again, it is nec-
essary to shift up to the desired range.

When canceling the manual shift mode, re-
turn the selector lever to the D position. Thetransmission returns to the normal driving
mode.

In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving performance
and reduces the chance of vehicle dam-
age or loss of control.

When the CVT fluid temperature is extremely
low, the manual shift mode may not work and
automatically shift as a drive mode. This is not
a malfunction. In this case, return the selector
lever to D range and drive for a while and then
shift to the manual shift mode.

When the CVT fluid temperature is high, the
shift range may upshift in lower rpm than
usual. This is not a malfunction.
Shift lock releaseIf the battery is discharged, the selector lever
may not be moved from the P (Park) position
even with the brake pedal depressed.
To move the selector lever, push the shift lock
release button while depressing the foot brake
and applying the parking brake. The selector
lever can be moved to N (Neutral). This allows
the vehicle to be moved if the battery is dis-
charged, after releasing the parking brake.
If the battery is discharged in N (Neutral), D
(Drive) or Manual shift mode, the selector lever
may not be moved to the P (Park) position.
SSD0352
Starting and driving
5-19


05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0


When towing your vehicle, all State, provincial
and local regulations for towing must be fol-
lowed. Incorrect towing equipment could dam-
age your vehicle. Towing instructions are avail-
able from a NISSAN dealer. Local service
operators are generally familiar with the appli-
cable laws and procedures for towing. To assure
proper towing and to prevent accidental damage
to your vehicle, NISSAN recommends having a
service operator tow your vehicle. It is advisable
to have the service operator carefully read the
following precautions.
WARNING

Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.

Never get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION

When towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working condi-
tion. If any unit is damaged, dolliesmust be used.

Always attach safety chains before
towing.
For information about towing your vehicle behind
a recreational vehicle (RV), refer to “Flat towing”
in the “Technical and consumer information”
section of this manual.TOWING YOUR VEHICLE6-12
In case of emergency


05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0


trol to the HOT position.

If the transmission fluid rises to an extremely
high temperature, a high fluid temperature
protection mode may operate. See page
5-15 for details. If necessary, pull to the side
of the road at a safe place and let the
transmission cool before continuing.

Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.

Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(805 km).

Have your vehicle serviced more often than at
intervals specified in the recommended main-
tenance schedule.

When making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this, make
a larger than normal turning radius during the
turn.

Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight ahead,
and immediately (but gradually) reduce ve-
hicle speed. This combination will help stabi-lize the vehicle. Never increase speed.

Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal passing.
Remember the length of the trailer must also
pass the other vehicle before you can safely
change lanes.

Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the brakes
to overheat, resulting in reduced braking ef-
ficiency.

Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.

Do not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.

Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.

When stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.
FLAT TOWINGTowing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a ve-hicle behind a recreational vehicle, such as a
motor home.
CAUTION

Failure to follow these guidelines
can result in severe transmission
damage.

Whenever flat towing your vehicle,
always tow forward, never backward.

DO NOT tow any continuously vari-
able transmission vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground (flat tow-
ing). Doing so WILL DAMAGE internal
transmission parts due to lack of
transmission lubrication.

For emergency towing procedures re-
fer to “Towing recommended by
NISSAN” in the “6. In case of emer-
gency” section of this manual.Continuously variable transmissionTo tow a vehicle equipped with a continuously
variable transmission, an appropriate vehicle
dollyMUSTbe placed under the towed vehi-
cle’s drive wheels.Alwaysfollow the dollyTechnical and consumer information
9-23


05.8.26/Z50-D/V5.0