Nissan Murano 2005 and earlier

srikanth2305

I am not an expert and this may bee a stupid question. Still I wanted to find out whether this is common in MO. I have a 2005 SL AWD with all the gizmos and 7300 miles on it. Lately I am noticing when I start it in the morning, the engine revs about 2500 RPM for 60 MPH, and within five miiles of driving it settles down to 1500 RPM. Also the engine noise is high during the intial period and once it settles down it is fine. I did not notice this until the first 5000 miles ans also during the cold Jan. Is this normal?

PS: I only use a regular unleaded. Thanks in advance.

dherzfeld

I've been pretty much sold on the BMW X3, but am now reconsidering due to cost reasons. How do the X3 and Murano compare from a handling standpoint? I've driven the X3 several times and it is spot on handling IMO. It's stiff and responsive to the point of almost jarring in some aspects, especially over rough concrete, and that's with the non-sport suspension. From a power/weight ratio, the Murano beats the X3 hands down. Also from a price standpoint. The X3 may have a higher level of refinement in some areas.

Opinions?

jmaxe

Well the Merlot was just too hard to find so after driving a Midnight Blue SL the wife decided that was the one for her. Includes premium package, roof rails, cargo protector, splash guards and mats. Priced right at $1000 below invoice so I'm happy with the deal. I was able to sneak in about 100 miles before she took over for the return trip from Ft Worth to Austin; we love the smooth handling. Plan to add the rear bumper protector strip but that's about it. I'll be back later as we have more to share.

tigger5753

I went through same dilemma back in '04 and ended up with the Murano. X3 is more compact SUV, Murano
more mid-size - therefore Murano has much more room for passenger and cargo. The rear seat has tons
of legroom, and the seats are great.

Murano has much more standard features for the price - HID, heated seats, 6 disc BOSE, auto-climate
control, larger engine (245 HP vs 225/184), moonroof, leather, etc.

In terms of ride, the X3 is better than the Murano, though not sure how much more. I took the X3 on a
BMW autocross and did some wild turns with ease. My Murano handles beautifully on turns, and is a
very pleasant drive, esp. with the very smooth CVT. The ride is stiff at times, but I also noticed
that in the X3. Test drive them both...

droo

jmaxe, I have a couple of questions...

It sounds like you're from Austin, but went to Fort Worth to do the deal? Any reason other than finding a particular color combo? Just curious about your dealer experience in Austin (if any), and if you'd recommend the Fort Worth dealer. I'm in Austin, looking to purchase around the end of the year, and since there aren't that many options here, I'm wondering if I'll have to go to Houston/SA/DFW to find what I want and get a better deal.

Thanks for any info.

Edit: Just saw your post in the Prices Paid forum, sounds like you're happy with the Fort Worth dealer. Still curious if you're from Austin, and if you had also shopped here.

jmaxe

Actually part of the reason we went to Ft Worth was to buy a Merlot/charcoal cloth SL which was non-existent in Austin. The other was to visit with family so it was a dual-purpose trip. Anyway, after a closer look at the Merlot/charcoal we decided it was just too dark and so we opted for the Blue/latte. I didn't ever get to the point of serious negotiations in Austin so I can't comment on the potential for a similar deal. The price from Jerry's was their first offer and I didn't try to drive it any lower as it was already a pretty nice deal. There are several blue/ latte models here in Austin so I would have had some negotiating leverage had I stayed in town.

droo

Cool, thanks for the info. Interesting that they cut to the chase so quickly, at that price I'd have bought it right then as well.

tkoimm

Yes, cabernet is still an option. I have it on my 2005 Murano. Check out the descriptions of the Muranos that are in the dealers' inventories on the Nissan home page, and you will find Muranos with cabernet interiors, although they are a minority.......

jmaxe

Has anyone actually installed their own XM radio in an 05 MO? Other than the receiver and antenna are any other parts needed? What wiring is involved and are you happy with the end result? I have seen very detailed installation instructions in another forum but that was for a pre-05 MO and I wonder if it is any easier now.

viffer

You can go the route with an FM transmitter(built in on some XM units like the Roady2)and or install a line in interface that plugs into the rear of the radio(check for the PAC AAI-NIS on ebay or electronics stores). The interface will probably yield better and consistent reception. I do not believe the 05 is different from the 04 in that respect.

jmaxe

Thanks. I guess I'm confused by statements that the Murano is "pre-wired" for XM satellite. I hate the idea of trying to get to the rear of the radio and was hoping there was some easier way to make all the necessary comnnections.

viffer

Pre wired means that you can control and use the center data display for the "Nissan ready unit that is supplied by the dealer or Grubbs for around $400. I prefer the Roady2 because I can take the cigarette box sized unit and play it on my home stereo. Cost is about $130 with home hookup wiring also sweetens the deal. This unit is playable with the SAT button on your console if used in conjunction with the PAC adapter, you will not be able to view selections on your console data screen though.

andytommo

I have an '04 and have been weighing up which route to take RE: sat radio, so last week I took the plunge and just had Sirius installed by the dealer at a cost of $700. More than I would prefer to have spent on this, but now I have it I love it. When I first bought the car, the dealer told me the only thing mine didnt have was sat radio, and your best bet is just to go to Best Buy or Circuit City and have it installed there for probably around $400. I did some research, drove to all the B.B's and C.C's around and spoke to the people who would be doing the work. A number of them actually STILL didnt know what the Murano was (kinda put me off a little!), some claimed you couldn't install sat radio to work with the dash display, even after i insisted you could; and the remainder of the 'technicians' had never done one before.
I didn't want to take the risk of having a bodge job done, so I went to the dealer and they did it for me. They gave me the choice of Sirius or XM, I went for the former, and haven't regretted it yet. I have 3 months free, and thereafter its $12 a month.

mkamal

Do you know where i can get murano manual

satrista

A PDF version of the full manual is available on the web at

link title

Hope this helps!

brianm4

I had 15 dealers in Southern California looking for a Cooper / Cabernet Murano. No luck. I ended up with the Cooper / Charcoal. They said they could order me one if I wanted to wait 6-8 weeks.
I guess they only made a couple for the photo shoot of the brochure.

brianm4

I was looking at the Lexus RX330 and BMW X3. I then noticed the Murano on the highway and went to check it out.
I think the Murano blows away the X3, the X3 seemed cheap with plastic bumpers, no automatic climate control etc.
I couldn't justify spending the money on the Lexus. I got my Murano for $384 a month (36 month lease) and the RX was $515 a month. :shades:

brianm4

This might be to late, but I just purchased the Copper MO two weeks ago.
Actually I leased it, don't think I would buy one because of potential re-sale problems.
I love driving around in it, people are always looking.

dklanecky

"Actually I leased it, don't think I would buy one because of potential re-sale problems."

Care to expound further on your statement?

brianm4

Out of the 15 dealers I contacted for my cooper MO, only 2 or 3 actually had one in stock, the rest were going to "get" it.
This tells me that cooper is not a popular color, which is exactly why I wanted it. :shades:
I was concerned that trying to sell it (had I purchased the MO) the color would be a potential turn off.

terry92270

:sick:

Actually the color is Copper, and it is one of the most sought-after they have. Most likely due to the fact it is featured in the brochures, print ads, and TV adverts.

They (Nissan) have limited production in that featured color combo of copper and the red leather interior, which is why it is somewhat difficult to find!

But I am very glad you seem to be happy with your purchase!

blindbat

The Murano site doesn’t really explain the AWD system well and my dealer doesn't know how it works either.
Does it just apply 50% to the rear wheels when the front wheels slip, or can it work like the FX35 - applying additional power to an individual wheel? In other words, can it apply a percentage left and right, or just front to back?
Thank you,
Steve

k9guy

Go to NIssan.Com and you can order one from them, or go directly to the dealer and they might have one in stock. If they are nice they might even give it to you for Free.

tip1

I am ready to purchase a new Murano and wonder if the Tech Package with the Nav System and the Back-up Camera Display was worth the extra coins it cost. Any thoughts?

hand1

I was impressed with the 2005 Murano while test-driving this vehicle, and am more impressed now that I have made the negotiated sale and now own.

I traded in my 2002 Altima in for a Murano 2005 SL, FWD and the difference was a total purchase price was $13,000.00 even, including taxes, titling and etc. Competition from the Internet allowed me to have competiting dealerships in trying to earn my business and at the end I was victorious in my desired pricing.

I would urge anyone who resides within the boundaries of Nashville, Tennessee to contact Mike Creque Nissan in Franklin, Tennessee. Your inquiry might be worth your while, even though you may have to make an extended trip to this dealership.

srikanth2305

I have a 2005 SL loaded with Tech package and I think it is very well worth. The navigation is one of the best I have seen and had a eagle eye view which is fantastic. Also the rear view camera is very useful since the visibility in Murano is not very good in my opinion. I have enjoyed mine so far and I think it is worth it.

chrwill

I also think that the Tech Package is worth it, along with the smart key system. One problem that I have with the nav system (well several...lol). You can only make small adjustments to the system while you are driving unlike several nav systems I had before this car (i.e honda's/volvo's) The system takes awhile to find where you actually are it you move the car before the dvd drive loads up. But other then that its great. I just wish it was voice activated and touch screen. But that color screen is a whole lot better then standard screen you get when you do not purchase the tech package.

murano_owner

I recently pruchased a 2005 Murano. it did not have the VDC package. I really want the feature that shows me the tire pressure. Do any of you know if it can be added on after you have purchased the Murano?

murano_owner

I just bought a Nissan Murano with the Sirius Radio option. I am supposed to have 3 months free but I only seem to get about 15 stations. DO any of you know if we only get a limited amount of stations for the 3 free months

satrista

That doesn't sound right. I got the same option and I get a bunch of stations. Are you sure that you aren't just scrolling through the categories and hearing the 1st station in each category? I think 15 sounds about right for that. I can't even remember them all right now. Pop, Country, Rock, Talk, Sports, World, R&B, News, Traffic, etc.

satrista

I think the Back-up Camera is worth it's weight in gold. I really didn't want it, but bought it because the vehicle had the other options I wanted. I wouldn't trade it and I think that I enjoy driving the car more because I have it. I use the NAV system too, but not nearly as much as the camera. Just my two cents.

murano_owner

I agree. We have really tight spots at work and with the backup camera I am able to park on a dime. I fit into spots that no one else wants because of poles etc... but I can see exactly where they are and avoid them. I am not too crazy about the NAV though. My street is not on it and it has been around for over 5 years. I can find my street on google maps, expedia and mapquest but not with th NAV System. Plus It is a pain since I cannot setup my home base so right now it thinks the nissan dealership is home and always tries to navigate me there. I guess it will be worth it when I drive to Vegas. There is an updated diskl that comes out in November but it costs $185 and I would hate to purchase it and still find out that my street is not on it. I also really like the color screen, the boring amber screen is not worth it. The first Murano I test drove had the amber screen and I was not happy at all, then the dealer told me that they have full color ones. Then I was impressed. That pretty much sold me.

murano_owner

Thanks. Someone else told me that as well. For the life of me I cannot figure out how to get away from only scrolling through the headings. I did not get a manual that explains the Satelite radio functions. I guess I have to call Nissan and harass them

murano_owner

I have been reading about people with the 2003 and 2004 Muranos that have had bad alternators, fuel pump issues, bad acceleration and crappy Bose CD players. I was wondering if anyone has encountered any issues with the 2005 Murano? I just bought mine and I love it but I am now worried about the problems that I have read about in the older ones. Every car manufacturer always have issues with a first year release vehicle so it explains the 2003 version. I just want to make sure that Nissan corrected these problems in 2005.

By the way, 2005 SIlver with charcoal Leather interior. Sweeeet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nowakj66

When do Murano's switch from being produced in Japan to being produced in the US?

murano_owner

Just called Nissan and the service department told me that since I get a free 3 month trail that I only get a taste of what Sirius has to offer. Based on this free sample I would not buy it. The music list has some great channels but the ones I get free are awful. Sirius should really evaluate which stations they give for free during this probation period if they want people to buy into it.

murano_owner

Has anyone upgraded or installed an aftermarket alarm on their Murano? I want to upgrade mine with shock sensors. I am afraid to go to a third party dealer who will mess around with the electronic system since I have all of tech package isntalled.

andytommo

I originally thought that when I had my unit installed.

What you need to do is call Sirius, not Nissan. When you had it installed, Nissan should have given you a little brochure which lists all the channels, and also has the number to call (I cant remember off hand, if you don't have the brochure, it's also listed on one of the channels, and also on their website - www.sirius.com) to activate your system. Once you call, they'll ask for your name, address, serial number of the unit (once again, available on one of the channels), and within 5 or 10 minutes, you will have access to all 100+ channels, free for 3 months. If you like it (I cant remember the last time I listened to a regular radio station now!!) then after the 3 free months is up, call Sirius back and give them your credit card details.
OK, I'm not quite so lazy, here's the number: 1-888-539-SIRIUS (7474)
Enjoy

andytommo

Quick lesson on SAT radio:
-The seek button on the radio (when in SAT mode) seeks between headings. It'll take you from channel 1 to 14 i think it is, and then it'll skip to 30 or something.
-This helps you get from lower channels to higher ones quickly.
-Then use the tune (I think thats what its labeled) button (the bottom of the two) to flick a channel at a time.
-Also, the twiddly round knob on the right hand side, (one you use to control bass etc) if you (for want of more technical term) twiddle it clockwise or anti-clockwise, you can also skip a channel at a time.
-You can save Sirius channels as presets just as you would a normal radio station.
-When in SAT mode, the seek button on the steering wheel (bottom of 3 buttons), if you push and hold up or down, it will also seek up or down headings.
-Back to the right hand side round twiddly knob- if you push it once when listening to a Sirius channel, it will tell you the artist currently playing, push it once more and you get the song, push it a third time to get back to the regular audio controls.

Hope this helps

murano_owner

Thanks. You are exactly right. I spent 30 minutes with Nissan getting transferred back and forth and no one could answer my Sirius SAT questions. I finally gave up and called Sirius. They told me that I would get all channels free for 3 months with activation. They said they needed the serial number to activate. They told me that I could check the SAT channels and one would list it or call Nissan and they can give it to me. I was too lazy to go to my car so I called Nissan for the serial number. NEVER CALL NISSAN!!! They were useless. Again, I got the run around and no one had a clue about what the serial was or how to get it. I must have spoken to everyone there. I went out to my car and within 10 seconds found the serial number. I called Sirius and they set me up with all of the channels. Which by the way are fantastic. I used to hate commuting to work. Now I look forward to being in traffic. Is it just me or does driving the MO make the entire driving experience better? Thanks for your help guys.
Cheers.

satrista

So glad you got this resolved. I went out to leave for work this AM and scrolled through all the stations I'm getting on the trial and knew you'd gotten bad info. My salesman activated mine the day I took delivery so I didn't know about how to activate it. They did it for me. You can also listen to it over the internet, which I do quite frequently at work. It was a bunch of fun here during the NBA Finals, as I got to listen to both the Detroit and SA feeds of our games. Being from San Antonio, I must admit I much preferred the SA feed . Enjoy your Sirius!

murano_owner

I bit the bullet and had nissan upgrade my alarm. Great move. It is all still integrated though my key fob. this way I don't have to use a separate key fob to disarm and arm the alarm. Now my MO has all of the features of a top line alarm except for a space barrier.

tig2002

Hello happy Murano owners (most of us),

A while ago (#2417) I asked if anyone installed an aftermarket towing hitch and harness, and I did not see any response. I recently purchased a towing hitch for my ’04 Murano from eBay ($119 including shipping) and installed myself. It is made by Quality-S in Arizona. It is a decent hitch with round tube, although not nicely hidden under rear bumper as the genuine Nissan hitch, but savings are noticeable when comparing with Nissan hitch.

Now I want to install a wiring harness that is available only from Nissan dealer, and the price for the harness is $100 – ridiculous price for set of wires and connector. I would like to purchase a standard harness from local AutoZone and do the wiring myself, but I cannot find the connector on Murano that is used for connecting the factory towing harness.

Does anyone know where the connector for connecting genuine Murano harness is located? I can only find harness in rear of vehicle in the spare tire compartment, and it does not have any connector for the towing harness. But it should be somewhere as there is a towing harness available from Nissan.

Also, I have very annoying rattle from the passenger door. It is not loud, but it is annoying when I drive in quite environment. I disassembled the door materials and test drove the car – the rattle is still there. It appears that the rattling noise comes from window area, and I did not want to go that far and disassemble the window. Do you think it is something that can be repaired under warranty. Does anyone have rattling noise from passenger door that does not go away even when you press all materials on the door while driving?

Your input would be much appreciated.

wannamurano

Does anyone know if the Muranos can burn ethanol gas? Thanks.

nowakj66

Here are the details off of Nissan's web site:

The 2006 Nissan Murano crossover sport utility vehicle combines the uncompromising functional aspects of a true SUV with the ride comfort of a sport sedan in a highly refined, well-equipped package. Murano comes standard with a 245-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6 for superior acceleration and offers standard Nissan’s Xtronic™ CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which provides smooth, quiet, responsive acceleration while virtually eliminating shift shock and providing better gas mileage than conventional automatic transmissions.

To maintain Murano’s fresh look in 2006, Nissan adds several refinements, including two new colors.

Enhancements to the 2006 Murano:
· New wheel design and restyled front grille
· Brushed aluminum roof rail (SE)
· Chrome accent lower front bumper
· Chrome accent fog lamp rings and side sills (SL, SE)
· Brushed aluminum rear bumper protector
· LED rear combination lamps
· Enhanced driver instrumentation to improve both daytime and nighttime visibility
· 7-inch LCD color display standard on all models
· Audio system adds the ability to play mp3 CDs
· Illuminated steering wheel controls
· Added Advanced Air Bag System (AABS)
· RearView Monitor standard on SL and SE
· New Leather Package
· New interior color – Hazelnut, and new exterior colors – Sunset Red and Brilliant Silver

nowakj66

Now if anyone can show me a photo of the changed vehicle, I'd appreciate it.

homeouner

To Murano owner; My neighbor found a bootleg shop manual CD For $15.00 for his MO And a NAV system for his X5 for half price. Google was very helpful.

scrum

I thought I'd provide a little gas mileage info on our Murano.

2003 SE 2WD
93 Octane Gas.
K&N air filter
Oil & Filter changed every 3000 miles using Castrol GTX 10W-30 and Fram Toughguard oil filter. We had had a problem with valve noise at idle, but switching to the Toughguard filter which has more surface area solved that annoyance.

These numbers are from calculating mileage/fuel used and are not from the trip computer which is usually about 0.6 mpg high.

After 57,000 miles here are the results:

Best tank: 24.5 mpg
Worst tank: 19.5 mpg

Around town: 20-21 mpg
Hwy below 80mph: 22-23 mpg

Above 75mph the mileage drops off.

aturny

FWIW, after about 300 miles on my recently purchased 04 SL FWD 17kmiles, I've gotten at most 13 mpg in city driving. This is in heavy stop-and-go driving with jackrabbit start driver and a/c always at full blast (in upper 90's Houston). (According to Nissan service records, the previous owner had complained about poor mileage, too.) I had a 97 supercharged Toyota 4Runner right before this that got about the same mileage. I didn't expect EPA-type figures with my driving habits but I'd hoped for a little better. Can anyone do worse than this dubious achievement?

murano_owner

I'm right on par with you. I am getting 12.7 mpg with city driving. I do not use the freeways to get to work and my commute is 4 miles each way. The only way I even get close to 14 is if I jump on the freeway for a bit. I did a lot of freeway diving after filling up a couple weeks back and it got as high as 18 but not even close to the 26 that is listed by the EPA. I do have the AC running all the time as well since it is hot. I even put in a K&N air filter and I use premium gas.
I am not sure how accurate the epa labels are. Do other cars come close to their estimates or is there some sort of 50% buffer that is expected?