NISSAN MURANO . ORG Archive - Cruising Speed & Auto On lights

NISSAN MURANO . ORG Archive > General > Performance

Cruising Speed & Auto On lights - Click HERE for Original Thread

BigMax72

Hi all, I'm new to the MO. I just bought a used '05 AWD after driving GM H-body type vehicles (Bonneville, 88 LSS) for the past 11 years. I could use some help and I have 2 questions:

1. At any speed, when I cruise, the MO will slow down on it's own. It's like downshifting the transmission in 2nd gear, where the engine drag will slow the vehicle down. Is this just how the MO drives? With my old Bonneville and 88 LSS, if I took my foot off the excellerator, the car would just keep cruising at that speed for a while, then start to slow down, but not like what I experience with my MO. Also, I do not have the AWD lock on and I have the transmission in drive "D".

2. My MO does not have the "Auto On" light system, not does it have DRLs. I have read the threads on DRL conversions, but I'm curious about Auto On. Can my MO be converted to this?

Thanks.

Jim C

Bigmax - Congrats on the new-to-you purchase. Can't speak to the DRL conversion, but on the coasting issue, I do notice myself that the Murano does not coast very well. That's likely an inherent characteristic of the CVT transmission. My wife has a GM minivan and by contrast, that thing will coast a country mile after taking your foot off the accelerator compared to the Murano. In addition, if you are going downhill when you coast, you should be aware that the Murano has something called "hill detection" or some such thing where the vehicle will automatically down shift as you coast down hill to provide more engine braking.

BikerJohn

BigMax72;
Welcome to the forum and to the MO!
1.- Sounds pretty normal. The CVT is not much of a coaster like auto-clutched trannys.
2.- I'm not sure if there is a conversion kit for Auto lights. Does your MO have a Silver-Dollar sized sensor on the top dash up by the front defroster vents where the windsheild meets the dash? There's should be 2; one in front of the driver and one in front of the passenger. They are sensors and look black-red in colour(like infared filters). The one in front of the passenger is to measure outside temp and the one in front of the driver detects available light. That one triggers the Auto lights to come on when light levels get low. If you have the one sensor in front you the driver's side; maybe an upgrade would be availalbe through your local dealer.??

BTW-Don't use the AWD lock on dry road surfaces; not a good thing....

njjoe

BigMax72-

Welcome to the forum.

I am assuming you bought an S model, correct? If that is the case, then adding the auto-on feature would be a very expensive proposition. You would first have to install the dash-mounted light sensor and a new headlight switch, then have the dealer reprogram the Body Control Module to acknowledge the new hardware. I am sure that no one outside the factory has ever touched the BCM.

-njjoe

mgthe3

quote:
Originally posted by BikerJohn
BigMax72;
The one in front of the passenger is to measure outside temp and the one in front of the driver detects available light. That one triggers the Auto lights to come on when light levels get low.

I am fairly certain that the sensor in front of the passenger is also a light sensor to alter your HVAC system if it thinks it is in the sun or not. Outside temp is a sensor in the front lower grill. Inside temp is a sensor on the driver's side lower dash.

And as others have said, wow this would be expensive to do. (the auto on thing)

It is kinda weird this being an added accessory as GM has been making it standard for almost 2 decades.
:rolleyes:

BigMax72

Thanks to you all for the information. I do feel better about the coasting characteristics of the MO now. Yes, I do have an "S" model which has a placeholder for the sun sensor, but does not actually have ansensor in it. You confirmed my thoughts that it would be an expensive upgrade attempt. MGTHE3, you are right, I have had Auto-On for years, so when i bought my MO, i assumed it would already have it. That's what I get for "assuming"!

I'm not going to complain. I love my MO. I'm 6'3" and most of my height is in my torso. The MO is the only SUV in it's class that I can fit into. I bought the "S" model so it would n ot have a sunroof. That way, I get plenty of headroom.