2009 NISSAN MURANO brakes

Black plate (369,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2007/ 10/ 2
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular basis.
Make sure that the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights, and other lights are all
operating properly and installed securely. Also
check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*:When checking
the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are missing,
and check for any loose wheel nuts. Tighten if
necessary.
Tire rotation*:Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km) .
Tires*:Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If
necessary, adjust the pressure in all tires,
including the spare, to the pressure specified.
Check carefully for damage, cuts or excessive
wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components:Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and cap
when the tires are replaced due to wear or age.
Wheel alignment and balance:If the vehicle
should pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect uneven or
abnormal tire wear, there may be a need for
wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at normal
highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.For additional information regarding tires, refer
to “Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in the War-
ranty Information Booklet.
Windshield:Clean the windshield on a regular
basis. Check the windshield at least every six
months for cracks or other damage. Have a
damaged windshield repaired by a qualified
repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*:Check for cracks
or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing scheduled maintenance, cleaning
the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal:Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort. Keep
the floor mat away from the pedal.
Brake pedal:Check the pedal for smooth
operation. If the brake pedal suddenly goes
down further than normal, the pedal feels
spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer to
stop, see a NISSAN dealer immediately. Keep
the floor mat away from the pedal.
Brakes:Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
P (Park) position mechanism:On a fairly
steep hill, check that the vehicle is held securely
with the selector lever in the P (Park) position
without applying any brakes.
Parking brake:Check the parking brake
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only the
parking brake applied. If the parking brake needs
adjustment, see a NISSAN dealer.
Seat belts:Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjusters
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt
webbing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Seats:Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to ensure
they operate smoothly and that all latches lock
securely in every position. Check that the head
restraints move up and down smoothly and that
the locks (if so equipped) hold securely in all
latched positions.
Steering wheel:Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free play,
hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes:Make sure that
all warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3

Black plate (385,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2007/ 10/ 2
Contact a NISSAN dealer if checking or
replacement is required.If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked by a NISSAN dealer.
SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The disc-type brakes self-adjust every time the
brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
See a NISSAN dealer for a brake
system check if the brake pedal height
does not return to normal.
BRAKE PAD WEAR INDICATORS
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have
audible wear indicators. When a brake pad
requires replacement, it will make a high pitched
scraping or screeching sound when the vehicle
is in motion. The sound will be heard whether or
not the brake pedal is depressed. Have the
brakes checked as soon as possible if the wear
indicator sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions,
occasional brake squeak, squeal or other noise
may be heard. Occasional brake noise during
light to moderate stops is normal and does not
affect the function or performance of the brake
system.Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.For additional information, see the
maintenance log section of your “NISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guide”.
REAR WINDOW WIPER BLADE BRAKES
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-19

Black plate (425,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2007/ 10/ 2
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHART
Unit: lb (kg)
MODELVQ35DE
WEIGHT CVT
MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT*1 3,500 (1,588)
MAXIMUM TONGUE LOAD 350 (159)
GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT RATING 8,300 (3,765)
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT*2
Sway Control Device (SCD)
1: All towing above 1,000 lb (454 kg) requires the use of trailer brakes. NISSAN recommends the use of a tandem
axle trailer whenever towing above 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) .
2: A sway control device is recommended for all towing above 2,000 lb (907 kg) . Sway control devices are not
offered by NISSAN. See a professional trailer/hitch outlet for a properly designed sway control device for your
trailer.
TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitch
Choose a proper hitch for your vehicle and
trailer. A genuine NISSAN trailer hitch is
available from a NISSAN dealer. Make sure the
trailer hitch is securely attached to the vehicle to
help avoid personal injury or property damage
due to sway caused by crosswinds, rough road
surfaces or passing trucks.
WARNING
Trailer hitch components have specific
weight ratings. Your vehicle may be
capable of towing a trailer heavier than
the weight rating of the hitch compo-
nents. Never exceed the weight rating
of the hitch components. Doing so can
cause serious personal injury or prop-
erty damage.
Hitch ball
Choose a hitch ball of the proper size and
weight rating for your trailer:
.The required hitch ball size is stamped on
most trailer couplers. Most hitch balls also
have the size printed on top of the ball.
.Choose the proper class hitch ball based on
the trailer weight.
Technical and consumer information9-19

Black plate (427,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2007/ 10/ 2
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 brakes
If 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 tips
In 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 blocking
Technical and consumer information9-21

Black plate (428,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2007/ 10/ 2
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 vehicle
9-22Technical and consumer information

Black plate (429,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2007/ 10/ 2
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 TOWING
Towing 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 information9-23