Nissan Problems

The Murano was a revelation in the SUV market when it first hit town back in 2004. It was a four-wheel drive wagon designed for people who preferred to look good driving around town than getting down and dirty.NEWThe new model launched in 2009 built on the same theme, but turned in a more luxurious direction. While it was an evolution of the first model, every panel on the new one was new, the grille and headlights were new, so too was the interior.It came in two versions, the ST starter car and the fully fruited Ti. The ST came with stability control, ABS brakes, with electronic brake distribution and emergency brake assistance, six airbags, a full-sized spare wheel, air, cruise, power seats, six-speaker CD sound, MP3, and a trip computer.Had you stepped up to the Ti you would have also got sat-nav, reversing camera, power folding rear seats, power tailgate, driver's seat memory, keyless entry, premium Bose sound with 11 speakers, Bluetooth, rain-sensing wipers, roof rails and fog lights.Weighing nearly 1800 kg and 4.8 metres long the Murano was large, a factor for anyone planning to use it in the city. It wasn't particularly quick off the mark and its size became evident when you had to park it.For all that it drove well, the wonderful 3.5-litre Nissan V6 always a joy to drive. In the Murano it boasted 191 kW and 336 Nm, enough to move it along at a steady clip while returning a claimed 10.9 L/100 km. There was just the one transmission on offer; that was a CVT, while the final drive was through all four wheels as needed.The CVT was rated an improvement over previous attempts at the quirky transmission, and there were six pre-set change points that made it feel more like a normal gearbox. A high driving position and good vision in all directions aided navigation around town, and with its light steering it was relatively easy to park.On the open road the Murano was benign rather than engaging, but it was comfortable and poised if lacking in agility and response.NOWGenerally the Murano is a solid and sound car that gives little trouble. The V6 engine is a jewel and widely acclaimed for its smoothness and performance, and mechanics say it's a reliable unit that rarely causes any concern providing it's serviced as recommended.The downside is the fuel consumption, which is high around town, where the weight really comes into play. Servicing is at 10,000 km intervals and missing, or delaying them is a recipe for an expensive disaster.While the engine is sound the CVT needs a thorough check to make sure all is well. CVTs have been around for a long time, but it's only relatively recently that they have been widely used. The reason is simple, it's taken many years of development to get them to a point they could be released to the general public.But even then they can give trouble, so they need to be carefully assessed before any cash changes hands. Drive the car in as many different situations as possible, at high speed, low speed, walking speed, taking off quickly, slowly, accelerating fast, accelerating steadily. All the time observe for any shuddering, jerkiness, reluctance to move, or any clunks or other noises that seem out of place.Nissan recommends the CVT oil be changed every 100,000 km and it's not to be missed. With the servicing so important it's vital that a check is made of the service record of any car under consideration for purchase. A few minutes spent checking the service record of a car could save thousands of dollars down the track.The Murano only has a braked towing rating of 1500 kg, so it's not a car to consider if you want to tow anything heavy, like a large caravan. The trade gives the Murano a big tick of approval, saying little goes wrong with them as long as they are serviced according to the recommended schedule.SMITHY SAYSIf you want a large, comfortable, stylish town wagon go no further.Nissan Murano 2009-2011Price new: $45,990 to $55,890Engine: 3.5-litre V6, 191 kW/336 NmTransmission: CVT, 4WDEconomy: 10.9 L/100 kmBody: 4-door wagonVariants: ST, TiSafety: ESP, ABS, six airbagsCOMING UPDo you own a Toyota Tarago? If so tell us what you think of it by sending your comments to Graham Smith at grah.smith@bigpond.com or Carsguide, PO Box 4245, Sydney, NSW, 2010.

Nissan Maxima is the largest car sold in Australia by the Japanese giant. For some reason it’s frequently overlooked by those shopping in the family car scene.Maxima is about the same size as the Toyota Aurion and isn’t a lot smaller than the Commodore and Falcon. It’s well worth including on your short list.The Maxima can carry four adults and a child with ease. Five adults will fit if they don’t mind doing some squeezing up, but that applies to all cars of this size.Though it's not quite as good on really rough corrugations as cars that are specifically built for Australian roads, it copes reasonably well with Aussie dirt roads. Ride on smooth surfaces is quiet and comfortable.Handling is softer and less responsive than that of the local sixes, but the Nissan is safe and predictable and will suit all but sports sedan enthusiasts.Nissan couldn't seem to make up its corporate mind on how the Maxima should look; it was somewhat unusual in the pre-1995 models but then went mainstream for a few years.Maxima from late 2003 then went the radical route in its shape, something that increased buyer awareness and certainly helped sales. But the 2009 model went back onto the conservative track, though it is still a handsome machine and suits many shopping in this usually conservative class.Maximas prior to the 2003 model, use a 3.0-litre V6 engine. From the 1995 model, a twin-cam 3.0 was installed. It has plenty of low-down torque and immediate throttle response so appeals to drivers of cars set up in the Australian fashion. The twin-cam engine is also noticeably smoother and quieter than the old single-cam one. The 2003 Maxima received an excellent 3.5-litre V6 and it’s better still.In 2009, Nissan Australia made an interesting move introducing a small 2.5-litre V6 as an option to the 3.5-litre unit. The smaller engine has more performance than you might expect, but traditionally buyers of six-cylinder family cars in Australia want plenty of grunt and the 2.5 may disappoint those people.Nissan Maxima is unusual in having a manual transmission option in a market that’s normally auto-only. However, the manual was only offered during 1995 and 1996 and only in the lower-cost model. This five-speed unit is not common and could be difficult to resell. Then again, if you are doing a lot of country driving where few gear changes are required, a manual will save on fuel.The automatic transmission had four forward ratios until becoming one of the early adopters of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in 2006. The CVT gives a little more performance and there's some reduction in fuel consumption. But not all may like the different sound and feel it displays. It's an acquired taste so give it a good long road test if you haven’t experienced a CVT before.Maxima model names have a somewhat confusing history. The lower-priced versions, called Maxima M in the pre-1995 models, Maxima 30J until October 1996, Maxima 30S Touring, and currently Maxima S, come well-equipped, with air conditioning, alloy wheels, power windows, cruise control and a quality stereo.The topline cars, tagged Maxima Ti then Maxima 30GV, then back to Maxima Ti again, are positively luxurious, with power-operated front seats, leather trim (not used in all early Ti models) and ABS anti-lock brakes. Additionally the 30GV and later Ti variants have climate-controlled air conditioning, a power sunroof, dual airbags, a built-in alarm system and foglights.From 2003, the lower-cost model became the ST-L, with the Ti tag being retained by the upper-crust variants, a further upgrade to the Ti is called the Ti-L and is loaded with good gear. Spare parts prices are often a little higher than average for this class, reflecting the fact that the Maxima is fully imported. We hear very few complaints about prices so owners obviously consider them acceptable.The good home mechanic can do some of their own maintenance and minor repair work on older models, later ones are pretty complex in places. Underbonnet access is good but make sure you have a workshop manual before diving in too deep.The Australian Nissan dealer network is long established and works well with outlets in virtually every area, even those deep in the outback. The latter may not always keep spare parts on hand for the Maxima so you may face a wait if unlucky enough to have problems in the bush.Insurance charges, though usually higher than for Aussie family sixes, aren't excessive. There can be a bigger than average range of premium charges so it's smart to take time to shop around.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe engine should start almost the moment you turn the key and idle smoothly and quietly immediately.A smoking exhaust is probably a sign of expensive wear – and the older Maximas are often getting towards their use-buy date.If the automatic transmission is slow to go into gear or harsh in its changes it could be due for an overhaul – though you may get away with simply having it serviced.Check the brakes pull up the car in a straight line and that one wheel doesn’t lock before the others. If ABS is installed you should feel a pulsing through the pedal during hard braking. If it’s too harsh have an expert look it over.Make sure there are no suspension noises when the car is driven on rough roads. This could indicate the car has had a rough life in the bush.Look for body damage or repairs following a crash, an inspection of the front tyres for uneven wear and a look over the seats, door trim and carpets for signs of rough use.Always have a professional do a final inspection as these are relatively complex cars and it’s easy to miss some items.CAR BUYING TIPIf shopping for something out of the ordinary try looking for a car club featuring the model.The gals and guys there can be a superb source of information.