2008 NISSAN MURANO trailer

Black plate (426,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
.The diameter of the threaded shank of the
hitch ball must be matched to the ball mount
hole diameter. The hitch ball shank should
be no more than 1/16@smaller than the hole
in the ball mount.
.The threaded shank of the hitch ball must be
long enough to be properly secured to the
ball mount. There should be at least 2
threads showing beyond the lock washer
and nut.Sway control deviceSudden maneuvers, wind gusts and buffeting
caused by other vehicles can affect trailer
handling. Sway control devices may be used to
help control these affects. If you choose to use
one, contact a reputable trailer hitch supplier to
make sure the sway control device will work with
the vehicle, hitch, trailer and the trailer’s brake
system. Follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer for installing and using the sway
control device.Class I hitchClass I trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 2,000 lb (907 kg) .Class II hitchClass II trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 3,500 lb (1,588 kg) .
CAUTION
.Special hitches which include frame
reinforcements are required for tow-
ing above 2,000 lb (907 kg) . Suitable
genuine NISSAN hitches for pickup
trucks and sport utility vehicles are
available at a NISSAN dealer.
.The hitch should not be attached to
or affect the operation of the im-
pact-absorbing bumper.
.Do not use axle-mounted hitches.
.Do not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc. to install
a trailer hitch.
.To reduce the possibility of addi-
tional damage if your vehicle is
struck from the rear, where practi-
cal, remove the hitch and/or recei-
ver when not in use. After the hitch
is removed, seal the bolt holes to
prevent exhaust fumes, water or
dust from entering the passenger
compartment.
.Regularly check that all trailer hitch
mounting bolts are securely
mounted.
Tire pressures.
When towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle
tires to the recommended cold tire
pressure indicated on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
.
Trailer tire condition, size, load rating
and proper inflation pressure should be
in accordance with the trailer and tire
manufacturers’ specifications.
Safety chainsAlways use a suitable chain between your
vehicle and the trailer. The safety chains should
be crossed and should be attached to the hitch,
not to the vehicle bumper or axle. The safety
chains can be attached to the bumper if the
hitch ball is mounted to the bumper. Be sure to
leave enough slack in the chains to permit
turning corners.Trailer lights
CAUTION
When splicing into the vehicle electrical
system, a commercially available
power-type module/converter must be
used to provide power for all trailer
lighting. This unit uses the vehicle
battery as a direct power source for all
9-20
Technical and consumer information

Black plate (427,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
trailer lights while using the vehicle tail
light, stoplight and turn signal circuits
as a signal source. The module/con-
verter must draw no more than 15
milliamps from the stop and tail lamp
circuits. Using a module/converter that
exceeds these power requirements may
damage the vehicle’s electrical system.
See a reputable trailer dealer to obtain
the proper equipment and to have it
installed.
Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. For assistance in hooking up
trailer lights, contact a NISSAN dealer or
reputable trailer dealer.Trailer brakesIf your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal and/or local
regulations and that it is properly installed.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.Pre-towing tips.Be certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded or unloaded trailer is
hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if it has anabnormal nose-up or nose-down condition;
check for improper tongue load, overload,
worn suspension or other possible causes
of either condition.
.Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
.Keep the cargo load as low as possible in
the trailer to keep the trailer center of gravity
low.
.Load the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half. Also make sure the load is
balanced side to side.
.Check your hitch, trailer tire pressure,
vehicle tire pressure, trailer light operation,
and trailer wheel lug nuts every time you
attach a trailer to the vehicle.
.Be certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
.Determine the overall height of the vehicle
and trailer so the required clearance is
known.
Trailer towing tipsIn order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is freefrom traffic. Steering stability, and braking
performance will be somewhat different than
under normal driving conditions.
.Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
.Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadver-
tently becoming unlatched.
.Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
.Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
.Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed. Some states or provinces have
specific speed limits for vehicles that are
towing trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
.When backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector lever to
the P (Park) position before blockingTechnical and consumer information
9-21

Black plate (428,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
the wheels and applying the parking
brake, transmission damage could oc-
cur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the downhill
side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly
release the brake pedal until the blocks
absorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .
6. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
.When going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.When going up a long grade, downshift the
transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating.
.If the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioning
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
.Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
.Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) .
.Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule in the NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide.
.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 affectvehicle handling. If swaying does occur,
firmly grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually)
reduce vehicle speed. This combination will
help stabilize the vehicle. Never increase
speed.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to
allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the
vehicle.
— Do not correct trailer sway by steering or
applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply
the brakes and pull to the side of the road in
a safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is
balanced as described earlier in this section.
.Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember the length of the trailer
must also pass the other vehicle before you
can safely change lanes.
.Down shift the transmission to a lower gear
for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle9-22
Technical and consumer information

Black plate (429,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
without applying the brakes.
.Avoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
.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.
.Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles
that are towing trailers. Obey the local
speed limits.
.Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness
connections, 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.
.When launching a boat, don’t allow the
water level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
.Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.When towing a trailer, the transmission
fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see the “8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWINGTowing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a
vehicle 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 back-
ward.
.DO NOT tow any continuously vari-
able transmission vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground (flat
towing) . Doing so WILL DAMAGE
internal transmission parts due to
lack of transmission lubrication.
.DO NOT tow an All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground. Doing somay cause serious and expensive
damage to the powertrain.
.For emergency towing procedures
refer to “TOWING RECOMMENDED
BY NISSAN” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section of this manual.
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT)All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models:
Do not tow an AWD vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground.
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models:
To tow a vehicle equipped with a Continuously
Variable Transmission (CVT) , an appropriate
vehicle dollyMUSTbe placed under the towed
vehicle’s driving wheels.Alwaysfollow the dolly
manufacturer’s recommendations when using
their product.Technical and consumer information
9-23

Black plate (6,1)
10-6Spark plugs ........................................ 8-16
Speedometer......................................... 2-5
Starting
Before starting the engine.................... 5-13
Jump starting..................................... 6-9
Precautions when starting and driving......... 5-2
Push starting................................... 6-10
Starting the engine............................ 5-13
STATUS button...................................... 4-8
Status light, Front passenger air bag............ 1-48
Steering
Power steering fluid........................... 8-11
Power steering system........................ 5-26
Steering lock release malfunction
indicator........................................ 2-18
Steering-wheel-mounted controls for
audio............................................ 4-60
Tilting telescopic steering column............ 3-25
Storage............................................. 2-41
Storage box........................................ 2-45
Sun visors.......................................... 3-26
Sunglasses holder................................. 2-42
Supplemental air bag warning labels............. 1-54
Supplemental air bag warning light....... 1-54, 2-14
Supplemental restraint system.................... 1-41
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system.......................................... 1-41
Switch
Autolight switch................................ 2-33
Fog light switch................................ 2-36
Hazard warning flasher switch................ 2-36
Headlight aiming control...................... 2-34
Headlight switch............................... 2-32
Overdrive OFF switch......................... 5-16
Power door lock switch......................... 3-6Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch........................................... 2-31
Turn signal switch.............................. 2-36
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch . . . 2-39
T
Tachometer........................................... 2-6
Temperature display............................... 2-23
Temperature gauge, Engine coolant
temperature gauge................................... 2-6
Theft (NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System) ,
Engine start........................................ 2-27
Three-way catalyst................................... 5-2
Tilting telescopic steering column................ 3-25
Tire
Pressure, Low tire pressure warning light . . . 2-13
Tire replacement indicator..................... 2-20
Tires
Flat tire............................................ 6-2
Low tire pressure warning system.............. 5-3
Tire and Loading information label........... 8-31
Tire and Loading Information label........... 9-10
Tire chains...................................... 8-36
Tire dressing..................................... 7-3
Tire pressure................................... 8-30
Tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS)..................................... 5-3, 6-2
Tire rotation.................................... 8-37
Types of tires................................... 8-35
Uniform tire quality grading................... 9-24
Wheel/tire size................................... 9-7
Wheels and tires............................... 8-30
Tonneau cover (see cargo cover)................. 2-46
Top tether strap child restraints.................. 1-25Touch screen system................................ 4-4
Towing
Flat towing...................................... 9-23
Tow truck towing............................... 6-12
Towing a trailer................................. 9-15
Towing load/specification chart............... 9-15
Towing safety .................................. 9-19
TPMS, Tire pressure monitoring system........... 5-3
TPMS, Tire pressure warning system.............. 6-2
Trailer towing....................................... 9-15
Transceiver, HomeLink
®Universal
Transceiver......................................... 2-57
Transmission
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
fluid............................................. 8-11
Driving with CVT
(Continuously Variable Transmission)......... 5-14
Transmission selector lever lock release..... 5-17
Transmitter (See remote keyless
entry system)....................................... 3-15
Traveling or registering your vehicle in another
country................................................ 9-8
Trip computer...................................... 2-21
Trip odometer...................................... 2-22
Turn signal switch.................................. 2-36
U
Underbody cleaning................................. 7-3
Uniform tire quality grading....................... 9-24
V
Vanity mirror........................................ 3-30
Vanity mirror lights................................. 2-56
Variable voltage control system................... 8-15
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 23