do it yourself NISSAN MURANO 2008 Owner's Guide

Black plate (371,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or
damage to the vehicle. The following are general
precautions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
.Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely
and block the wheels to prevent
the vehicle from moving. Move the
selector lever to P (Park) .
.Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
.If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving
fans, belts and any other moving
parts.
.It is advisable to secure or remove
any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
.Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
.If you must run the engine in anenclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
.Never get under the vehicle while it
is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
.Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel tank and the
battery.
.The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by a NISSAN dealer be-
cause the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is
off.
CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while
the engine is hot. Turn the engine
off and wait until it cools down.
.Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly
disposed engine oil, and engine
coolant and/or other vehicle fluids
can damage the environment. Al-
ways conform to local regulations
for disposal of vehicle fluid..Never leave the engine or the CVT
related component harnesses dis-
connected while the ignition switch
is in the ON position.
.Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized com-
ponent while the ignition switch is
in the ON position.
.Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always
disconnect the negative battery
cable before working near the fan.
This “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items
which are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. (See “OWNER’S MANUAL/SERVICE
MANUAL ORDER INFORMATION” in the “9.
Technical and consumer information” section.)
Youshouldbeawarethatincompleteor
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and could
affect warranty coverage.If in doubt about
any servicing, we recommend that it be
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-5

Black plate (372,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
done by a NISSAN dealer.
SDI2172
VQ35DE ENGINE1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Drive belt location
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Air cleaner6. Fuse/fusible link holder
7. Window washer fluid reservoir
8. Engine coolant reservoir
9. Radiator filler cap
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. BatteryENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
8-6
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (373,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
The engine cooling system is filled at the factory
with a high-quality, year-round, anti-freeze cool-
ant solution. The anti-freeze solution contains
rust and corrosion inhibitors, therefore additional
cooling system additives are not necessary.
WARNING
.Never remove the radiator or cool-
ant reservoir cap when the engine is
hot. Wait until the engine and
radiator cool down. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
See precautions in “IF YOUR VEHI-
CLE OVERHEATS” in the “6. In case
of emergency” section of this man-
ual.
.The radiator is equipped with a
pressure type radiator cap. To pre-
vent engine damage, use only a
genuine NISSAN radiator cap.
CAUTION
When adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only a Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (green) or
equivalent with the proper mixture ratioof 50% anti-freeze and 50% deminer-
alized or distilled water. The use of
other types of coolant solutions may
damage the engine cooling system.
Outside
temperature
down toAnti-freezeDeminera-
lized water
or distilled
water
8C8F
3530 50%
50%
SDI2173
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT LEVELCheck the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the engine is cold.If the coolant level is below
the MIN level
*2, open the reservoir cap and
add coolant up to the MAX level
*1. If the
reservoir is empty, check the coolant level in the
radiatorwhen the engine is cold.If there is
insufficient coolant in the radiator, fill the radiator
with coolant up to the filler opening and also add
it to the reservoir up to the MAX level*1.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by a NISSAN
dealer.
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-7

Black plate (374,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANTMajor cooling system repairs should be per-
formed by a NISSAN dealer. The service
procedures can be found in the appropriate
NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
.To avoid the danger of being
scalded, never change the coolant
when the engine is hot.
.Never remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
.Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made,
wash thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
.Keep coolant out of reach of chil-
dren and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
SDI2174
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating
temperature.
3. Turn off the engine.Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil
level. It should be within the range
*1. If the
oil level is below
*2, remove the oil filler capand pour recommended oil through the
opening.Do not overfill
*3.
6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the break-
in period, depending on the severity of
operating conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not cov-
ered by warranty.CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTERChange the engine oil and filter according to the
maintenance log shown in the NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide.Vehicle set-up1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches
operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes.
ENGINE OIL
8-8
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (375,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a
suitable floor jack and safety jack stands.
.Place the safety jack stands under the
vehicle jack-up points.
.A suitable adapter should be attached to
the jack stand saddle.
CAUTION
Make sure the correct lifting and sup-
port points are used to avoid vehicle
damage.
SDI2175
SDI2176
Engine oil and filter1. Place a large drain pan under the drain plug
*A
.
2. Remove the oil filler cap
*B.
3. Remove the drain plug with a wrench and
completely drain the oil.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-9

Black plate (376,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
.Waste oil must be disposed of
properly.
.Check your local regulations.
Perform steps 4 to 9 when the engine oil
filter change is needed.
4. Remove the plastic cover over the oil filter
location by removing the small plastic clips
as illustrated.
5. Loosen the oil filter
*C
with an oil filter
wrench. Remove the oil filter by turning it by
hand.
6. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface
with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old gasket
material remaining on the mounting
surface of the engine. Failure to do so
could lead to engine damage.
7. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.8. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a slight
resistance is felt, then tighten additionally
more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:
11 to 15 ft-lb (14.7 to 20.5 N·m)
9. Install the plastic cover.
10. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a
new washer. Securely tighten the drain plug
with a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 to 29 ft-lb (29 to 39 N·m)
Do not use excessive force.
11. Refill engine with recommended oil through
the oil filler opening, and install the oil filler
cap securely.
See “CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS” in the “9. Technical
and consumer information” section for drain
and refill capacity. The drain and refill
capacity depends on the oil temperature
and drain time. Use these specifications for
reference only. Always use the dipstick to
determine the proper amount of oil in the
engine.
12. Start the engine and check for leakage
around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required.
13. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10minutes. Check the oil level with the dipstick.
Add engine oil if necessary.
After the operation1. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
2. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
WARNING
.Prolonged and repeated contact
with used engine oil may cause skin
cancer.
.Try to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made,
wash thoroughly with soap or hand
cleaner as soon as possible.
.Keep used engine oil out of reach of
children.
8-10
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (377,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
CAUTION
.Use only Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid
NS-2. Do not mix with other fluids.
.Using transmission fluid other than
Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-2
will damage the CVT, which is not
covered by the NISSAN new vehicle
limited warranty.
When checking or replacement is required, we
recommend a NISSAN dealer for servicing.
SDI2177
Check the fluid level in the reservoir.
The fluid level should be checked using the HOT
range (
*1: HOT MAX.,
*3: HOT MIN.) at fluid
temperatures of 122 to 1768F (50 to 808C) or
using the COLD range (
*2: COLD MAX.,
*3:
COLD MIN.) at fluid temperatures of 32 to 868F
(0 to 308C) .
If the fluid is below the MIN line, add Genuine
NISSAN PSF or equivalent. Remove the cap
and fill through the opening.
CAUTION
.Do not overfill.
.Use Genuine NISSAN PSF or
equivalent.
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT) FLUIDPOWER STEERING FLUID
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-11

Black plate (378,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
For additional brake fluid information, see
“CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED FUEL/
LUBRICANTS” in the “9. Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this manual.
WARNING
.Use only new fluid from a sealed
container. Old, inferior or contami-
nated fluid may damage the brake
system. The use of improper fluids
can damage the brake system and
affect the vehicle’s stopping ability.
.Clean the filler cap before removing.
.Brake fluid is poisonous and should
be stored carefully in marked con-
tainers out of the reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted
surfaces. This will damage the paint. If
fluid is spilled, immediately wash the
surface with water.
SDI2178
Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid is
below the MIN line
*2
or the brake warning
light comes on, add Genuine NISSAN Super
Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or equivalentDOT 3
fluid up to the MAX line*1. If fluid must be
added frequently, the system should be checked
by a NISSAN dealer.
SDI2179
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir periodi-
cally. Add window washer fluid when the low
window washer fluid warning light illuminates.
To fill the window washer fluid reservoir, lift the
cap and pour the window washer fluid into the
reservoir opening.
Add a washer solvent to the water for better
cleaning. In the winter season, add a windshield
washer antifreeze. Follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for the mixture ratio.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when driving
conditions require an increased amount of
window washer fluid.
BRAKE FLUID WINDOW WASHER FLUID8-12
Maintenance and do-it-yourself

Black plate (379,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
Recommended fluid:
Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concen-
trate Cleaner & Antifreeze or equivalent
CAUTION
.Do not substitute engine anti-freeze
coolant for window washer solution.
This may result in damage to the
paint.
.Do not fill the window washer
reservoir tank with washer fluid
concentrates at full strength. Some
methyl alcohol based washer fluid
concentrates may permanently stain
the grille if spilled while filling the
window washer reservoir tank.
.Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates
with water to the manufacturer’s
recommended levels before pouring
the fluid into the window washer
reservoir tank. Do not use the
window washer reservoir tank to
mix the washer fluid concentrate
and water..Keep the battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the battery with a solution of baking
soda and water.
.Make certain the terminal connections are
clean and securely tightened.
.If the vehicle is not to be used for 30 days or
longer, disconnect the negative () battery
terminal cable to prevent discharging it.
WARNING
.Do not expose the battery to flames
or electrical sparks. Hydrogen gas
generated by the battery is explo-
sive. Do not allow battery fluid to
contact your skin, eyes, fabrics, or
painted surfaces. After touching a
battery or battery cap, do not touch
or rub your eyes. Thoroughly wash
your hands. If the acid contacts your
eyes, skin or clothing, immediately
flush with water for at least 15
minutes and seek medical attention.
.Do not operate the vehicle if the
fluid in the battery is low. Low
battery fluid can cause a higher load
on the battery which can generate
heat, reduce battery life, and in
some cases lead to an explosion..When working on or near a battery,
always wear suitable eye protection
and remove all jewelry.
.Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after
handling.
.Keep the battery out of the reach of
children.BATTERY
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-13

Black plate (380,1)
Model "Z51-D" EDITED: 2008/ 6/ 26
DI0137MA
Check the fluid level in each cell. (Remove the
battery cover if it is necessary.) It should be
between the UPPER LEVEL
*1
and LOWER
LEVEL
*2
lines.
If it is necessary to add fluid, add only distilled
water to bring the level to the indicator in each
filler opening.Do not overfill.
SDI1480C
1. Remove the cell plugs
*A
.
2. Add distilled water up to the UPPER LEVEL
*1
line.
If the side of the battery is not clear, check
the distilled water level by looking directly
above the cell; the condition
*1
indicates
OK and the conditions
*2
needs more to
be added.
3. Tighten cell plugs
*A
.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or under
severe conditions require frequent checks of the
battery fluid level.
JUMP STARTINGIf jump starting is necessary, see “JUMP
STARTING” in the “6. In case of emergency”
section. If the engine does not start by jump
starting, the battery may have to be replaced.
Contact a NISSAN dealer.
8-14
Maintenance and do-it-yourself