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New Recall Announced - Fuel Shields!

92K views 351 replies 80 participants last post by  njjoe  
#1 ·
Wow! I didn't think this was that big a deal, but it looks like Nissan is stepping up to the plate without the pressure it took to get the alternator recall (which, IMHO, was a bigger issue). Here's a blurb from the official Nissan press release:

Nissan will be conducting a voluntary safety recall on approximately 226,000 Model Year 2003-2006 Murano vehicles to add a fuel tank shield in front of the fuel tank. Note: This issue was first raised as a preliminary investigation in September of 2005 – GOV05:190
Guess those guys with fuel tank punctures really weren't kidding!

JC
 
#77 ·
Aha! So THAT's what that plastic thing is in front of my rear wheel! Picked my new MO up last saturday and noticed it when I was doing the inspection prior to signing the papers. Asked the salesman what it was, he said it was an air intake which I knew was BS. Right....a flat plate that absorbs in air and is in front of the REAR wheel. :rolleyes:

Well....good to know mine was delivered with the shield and I don't have to take it back.
 
#78 ·
762x51 said:
Aha! So THAT's what that plastic thing is in front of my rear wheel! Picked my new MO up last saturday and noticed it when I was doing the inspection prior to signing the papers. Asked the salesman what it was, he said it was an air intake which I knew was BS. Right....a flat plate that absorbs in air and is in front of the REAR wheel. :rolleyes:

Well....good to know mine was delivered with the shield and I don't have to take it back.
Actually, what you are referring to is not the fuel tank shield. The small vertical, plastic piece directly in front of each rear wheel is a wheel well splash guard. The fuel tank shield would be a boxy-looking structure located inboard of the rear wheels.

There is a picture of the wheel well splash guard earlier in this thread. Check out figure 7 in Jim C.'s post dated 1/27/06 11:44 A.M. (EDST).

I love your dealer's explanation. :1pat: That is just typical.

-njjoe
 
#79 ·
Well technically the fuel tank shield *does* direct some air somewhere. :D :D :D

My car is at the dealership now getting the seatback TSB performed, and they still claim "your VIN" is not in the system, so no fuel tank shield for me yet. :(
 
#80 ·
njjoe said:


Actually, what you are referring to is not the fuel tank shield. The small vertical, plastic piece directly in front of each rear wheel is a wheel well splash guard. The fuel tank shield would be a boxy-looking structure located inboard of the rear wheels.

There is a picture of the wheel well splash guard earlier in this thread. Check out figure 7 in Jim C.'s post dated 1/27/06 11:44 A.M. (EDST).

I love your dealer's explanation. :1pat: That is just typical.

-njjoe
I was referring to the plastic plate type structure visible from the side of the vehicle that "pacmo" has pointed to in his picture here. Is that a splashguard, or the shield?

Image
 
#81 ·
762x51 said:


I was referring to the plastic plate type structure visible from the side of the vehicle that "pacmo" has pointed to in his picture here. Is that a splashguard, or the shield?

Image
Oops. Sorry. :rolleyes:

I believe you're correct, that is the fuel tank shield.

Either that, or it's the air intake your dealer spoke about. :21: I still cannot get over the fact that your dealer told you it was an air intake. :32:

Good luck with your MO. It's a great car.

-njjoe
 
#82 ·
Thank you...I love it already. :cool:

Maybe it IS an air intake though? Maybe it's a rear engine vehicle and the front "engine" is just for show? Or maybe it's a brake cooling duct for the massive stealth 8 piston rear calipers that can't be seen with the naked eye?

The world may never know. :19:
 
#83 ·
762x51 said:
...Maybe it IS an air intake though? Maybe it's a rear engine vehicle and the front "engine" is just for show? Or maybe it's a brake cooling duct for the massive stealth 8 piston rear calipers that can't be seen with the naked eye?...
No. It is another cooler for the CVT. Except they ran out of room for another one in the front so they put it in the back....:D
 
#84 ·
Hehehe.... You guys are killing me. Yes the arrow is pointing at the shield. The splash guard is also visible in the pic. It is about six inches behind the shield and a little to the right. Ok Ok so six inches would be way off the edge of the pic so I guess I mean six scale inches or 200 pixels or so give or take a pixel...:D Ya know now that I think about it I do remeber seeing some sort of air director pointing in the direction of the rear engine, but I will have to crawl under there tonight to verify it.
:2:

Pacmo
 
#86 ·
jaak said:
I thought it was a spoiler to create downforce!;)
O.K. Picture this. You are living in Southern California. You just picked up your MO from the dealer where he has installed the new fuel tank shield. You then decide to take your significant other into Mexico for some shopping, dinner, whatever. On the the way back into the US the Border Patrol notices something hanging from the underside of the car, something that is obvious an add-on since it definitely does not look like it belongs on the underside of a car with such an elegantly sculptured design. Even the Border Patrol realizes such an chunky looking box does not belong on a car with smooth flowing lines. On closer inspection they see that the "box" has been recently installed. They instruct you to get out of the car...

-njjoe
 
#87 ·
njjoe said:


O.K. Picture this. You are living in Southern California. You just picked up your MO from the dealer where he has installed the new fuel tank shield. You then decide to take your significant other into Mexico for some shopping, dinner, whatever. On the the way back into the US the Border Patrol notices something hanging from the underside of the car, something that is obvious an add-on since it definitely does not look like it belongs on the underside of a car with such an elegantly sculptured design. Even the Border Patrol realizes such an chunky looking box does not belong on a car with smooth flowing lines. On closer inspection they see that the "box" has been recently installed. They instruct you to get out of the car...

-njjoe
njjoe

you are not pessimist, are you?

But you are right, it looks awful. Then again some may argue safety first…….I do not like the center muffler as it distorts the beautiful lines of the Murano. Now “this”……..what ever you call it…..I have to think if I get it installed. I am not so sure.
 
#88 ·
Kris-

Pessimist? Me? Nah, I just hate the way those damn optimists walk around all day with their damn positive attitudes and cheery outlooks.... ;)

Actually, I just enjoy playing Devil's advocate when discussing car dealers, poor workmanship, inferior customer support, etc.

Have a nice day. :D

-njjoe
 
#92 ·
mgthe3

I like your idea. How it would look from a side?
 
#93 ·
It would look like the silly pic I did. That is the side view.
At the angle of the photos pacmo has, you wouldn't even see it. Give it a coat of undercoating and you would think it was stock.

That is what prompted me to make my own if I have to.
Kinda silly to have a huge piece of metal or plastic hanging down there like the OEM one appears.
In deflecting projectiles, you never use something perpendicular to the angle of incidence. The greater the angle of incidence, the less penetration=the less armor thickness you need.

What is sad is that there already is a remnant of a shield there. Had they just gone on across the length of the tank, we wouldn't be having this conversation. All they needed was about 12 inches more to cover the entire front of it. It confounded me looking at it.

What I propose would be 18 inches wide and I'm not sure yet how long; to protect the entire underside of the tank might be a little longer than the sheets I have, I'll have to look tomorrow--it's gettin cold in Atlanta huh?

I'll mock one up and do some pics when I get the time.

;)
 
#94 ·
Took mine to the dealer for something else and asked about the recall and they said no problem they would do it also. We will see how it turns out. I have to pick it up tomorrow. I was surprised when I asked he said he had about 100 on hand. :cool:
 
#95 ·
Ohio Murano said:
Took mine to the dealer for something else and asked about the recall and they said no problem they would do it also. We will see how it turns out. I have to pick it up tomorrow. I was surprised when I asked he said he had about 100 on hand. :cool:
O.M.-

Were you given the option of plastic or metal?

-njjoe
 
#97 ·
Well went and picked it up today and Nissan service basically did nothing for me. They didn't fix my problem and said I wasn't covered under the recall for the fuel shields. So I guess I'll have to wait until I get official notice from Nissan.
 
#100 ·
The situation now is slightly different than the alternator recall since this one officially doesn't go into effect until March. So I can understand if dealers are not completely informed about this yet. I had the same experience at my dealership - they knew about the recall but said my VIN did not appear on the list yet.
 
#101 ·
Ohio Murano said:
Well went and picked it up today and Nissan service basically did nothing for me. They didn't fix my problem and said I wasn't covered under the recall for the fuel shields. So I guess I'll have to wait until I get official notice from Nissan.
That is one of the great things I just love about some car dealers... not fully understanding the car, the warranty, or the support programs.

I realize the shield program does not officially commence until March, so regardless if the shields are in stock they do not have to install them on your car. However, in this case the dealer said he would install them. If the dealer made a commitment he should follow through. It is obvious your 2005 MO will eventually be covered by the recall. So why not minimize your inconvenience and install the shields while he has a chance? :3:

-njjoe