Need advice: 2005 Murano

[Hiram]

Hey guys,

So I inherited my Dad's 2005 Nissan Murano with 18,000 miles. Got rid of my 2005 Pathfinder and the Murano is making me nutty. I have read and searched through numerous threads on this site to try to correct my problem but I just can't seem to figure it out. So the Mo has a rebuilt CVT. It got rebuilt about 3000 miles ago. The car sat for a year until I got it last month. It ran pretty rough for the first week or so until I found that none of the connections past the air filter were on tight. I changed the oil, put in a new K&N air filter. It runs much better now except for two issues: the first is that when I am slowing down to come to a light and the RPM'S get to about 1000, it drops to about 400 and comes right back up again. Can't find a vacuum leak but I am also not great at anything past basic mechanic stuff. I took the car to AAMCO (they did the rebuild) to check the tranny, they said it was fine.

My other problem is that there is this burning smell coming into the cabin, almost like burning oil. I changed the cabin filter and that seemed to help. I also degreased the engine. Both have helped but I still get that smell.

I am not getting any codes either.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Hiram

[njjoe]

Hiram-

Welcome to the forum.

What makes you think the CVT was rebuilt? And what makes you think AAMCO did the rebuild?

The reason I ask is because Nissan has not released any parts nor test procedures required for a rebuild. Plus, your Dad's CVT is still covered by Nissan's 10-year/120,000-mile warranty, so why pay for a rebuild by a non-authorized repair center??

If AAMCO really did get their hands on it there is very little they could have done. Do you have paperwork showing what they did?

The RPM issue is a trait common to all MOs. The RPMS drop when the torque converter clutch disengages and the engine is no longer assisting in slowing down the vehicle. It just takes a little time to get used to it.

The loose air intake tracts are covered by a recall. Your local dealership will replace one piece of the intake tract and two clamps for free as part of the recall.

If the car sat for a year it is plausible a seal may have dried out causing oil to leak. That may be what you are smelling.

Good luck with your "new" MO.

-njjoe

[Hiram]

Thanks Joe. I have paperwork at my office. I actually noticed the CVT warranty extension today on this forum. I called Nissan and they asked me to fax them the invoices from AAMCO. They said that I may be eligible to be reimbursed for any work that was done. My brother took it to AAMCO because the car was out of the original warranty (I think it was 3 yr/ 30,000). My dad purchased the car in 2005 and rarely drove it. It is going to take some getting used to in terms of that RPM drop. I was driving a Pathfinder daily as well as a 93 Nissan 300zx (which I don't drive as much as I would like).

Thanks so much for the advice. When I get the invoice I will let you know what work was done.

Hiram

[Pilgrim]

I'd get rid of the K&N. Too much chance of over-oiling. Stock filters work great and (IMO) provide better filtration.

I can't imagine that AAMCO rebuilt that transmission.

[Hiram]

I will swap out the K&N as soon as I can. The AAMCO invoice states that "the transmission fluid is low and the condition is contaminated leaking from the case".

The service done was: AAMCO reconditioned transmission
-assembly kit
-banner kit
-main case
-fluid

Like I stated earlier, I took it back to AAMCO when I started to drive it because it felt like crap. Once I got the connections back on past the air filter, it seemed to run ok. Now as I am coming to a stop the rpms make a pretty dramatic drop from 1000 to about 400 and then back up. NJJOE says that it is pretty common for MO's to do that but I just can't get used to it. It just seems to jerky. Yesterday the check engine light came on and I got a Idle Air Control Code as the car was warming up. Over the weekend I had taken the battery out because I saw that a tube leading into the bottom of the air filter box was completely off. So I connected the tube into the bottom of the air box and put it all together. I read on the forum that sometimes after you disconnect the battery and you get that type of error code, you should do a idle air volume re-learn. I followed the instructions that WarHammer had posted and I am pretty sure I got it. The car still does the RPM drop and even feels like it is being held back a bit. Although, I am still getting pretty decent gas mileage 20+ which for me is good because I spend time in NYC traffic.

I appreciate all your advice guys. I am not sure which way I should go from here.

[Melodymurano]

Originally Posted by njjoe

Hiram-

Welcome to the forum.

What makes you think the CVT was rebuilt? And what makes you think AAMCO did the rebuild?

The reason I ask is because Nissan has not released any parts nor test procedures required for a rebuild. Plus, your Dad's CVT is still covered by Nissan's 10-year/120,000-mile warranty, so why pay for a rebuild by a non-authorized repair center??

If AAMCO really did get their hands on it there is very little they could have done. Do you have paperwork showing what they did?

The RPM issue is a trait common to all MOs. The RPMS drop when the torque converter clutch disengages and the engine is no longer assisting in slowing down the vehicle. It just takes a little time to get used to it.

The loose air intake tracts are covered by a recall. Your local dealership will replace one piece of the intake tract and two clamps for free as part of the recall.

If the car sat for a year it is plausible a seal may have dried out causing oil to leak. That may be what you are smelling.

Good luck with your "new" MO.

-njjoe

Hi njjoe,
So only Nissan can rebuilt their CVT if it goes wrong? if you are no longer under warantee and the CVT goes wrong what happens? I'm just curious. Thanks.

[Hiram]

I called Nissan Consumer Services and spoke to them about the Warranty Extension. They asked for my VIN and told me that my MO falls under the warranty. I then sent them a copy of the AAMCO invoice and it looks like they are going to reimburse me for the work on the tranny.