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Kinda hard to tell from the pics, but it looks like they had to make it extra wide to find proper mounting points just like I did, so you do end up seeing it a bit in front of the rear wheels even when standing fairly close to the vehicle.

I would hope that the aluminum shields would be stronger and therefore less big and bulky, but who knows until somebody gets a set put on...
 
Gonzo said:
Hmmm I wonder. Which might be a little better, plastic or aluminum... plastic? Less chance of rattles?
The service pictures didn't scan so well but is sort of looks like the aluminum ones may be angled back about 45 degrees. While the plastic ones I have are clearly 90 from the the undercarriage. So to me that would mean aluminum = less drag and wind noise.

Pacmo
 
Discussion starter · #64 ·
Service bulletin picture quality

Hey guys - yea, sorry about the picture quality (or lack thereof). I pulled these directly off the NHTSA website so I'm guessing that it was a copy of the official file version - and the copy was then scanned into PDF format. I converted it to JPG for posting, but the quality is the same regardless of format. Maybe someone friendly with a dealer service manager can get a better copy?
 
Jim C.-

Excellent post. Thanx for posting the bulletin.

Now the debate begins.... Aluminum or Plastic.

Since the recall does not affect units made after November 24 I can only assume those new cars either have different tanks or the shields already installed. It will be interesting to see how the 2006 tanks are protected.

Thanx again.

-njjoe
 
I have to give NissanUSA credit.

There were only 4 complaints out of a population of 205,000. That is less than 0.002%. There were no accidents, no fires, and no injuries.

I had assumed all along that there had to be at least one hundred incidents. I never would never have guessed there were only 4.

Kudos to NissanUSA for stepping up to the plate.

-njjoe
 
njjoe said:
I have to give NissanUSA credit.

There were only 4 complaints out of a population of 205,000. That is less than 0.002%. There were no accidents, no fires, and no injuries.

I had assumed all along that there had to be at least one hundred incidents. I never would never have guessed there were only 4.

Kudos to NissanUSA for stepping up to the plate.

-njjoe
I think credit should go to NHTSA, not Nissan. I doubt Nissan would have done anything unless NHTSA had a talk with them.....just as in the alternator case. It was not Nissan who decided to launch a recall campaign (even though they were being bombarded by alternator replacements and compliants) and did so only after NHTSA sent them a letter...They are ignoring it now but I bet if NHTSA sends them a letter on the 03-04 steering issue they will jump again...
 
Discussion starter · #68 ·
I don't know for sure, but after looking at the Defects Investigation file from NHTSA, it appears that NHTSA really took this one seriously and obtained a lot of data on comparable failure rates from Toyota, Honda, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler. Seems to me (and this is pure speculation) that the rates and descriptions of failures from peer vehicles was probably such that it made the Murano look bad. Either that or Nissan didn't want to get into the dogfight and figured recall was easier.
 
Jim C said:
I don't know for sure, but after looking at the Defects Investigation file from NHTSA, it appears that NHTSA really took this one seriously and obtained a lot of data on comparable failure rates from Toyota, Honda, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler. Seems to me (and this is pure speculation) that the rates and descriptions of failures from peer vehicles was probably such that it made the Murano look bad. Either that or Nissan didn't want to get into the dogfight and figured recall was easier.
Fact:
One of NHTSA main office is in downtown DC.
Older forum member: remember the campaign when we keep writing/calling the NHTSA about their website not allowing ppl to file complain for alt failure a while ago? I got a call from one of their directors in DC, literally. He told me that the 'problem' with their website will be fixed. He apologized and he did chat with me for a couple minutes on the problem on Murano alternator. Gave me his direct # and tell me to call him if anyday NHTSA website does not look right in future.

Theory:
Now this same director (or his family) may drive a murano too. This will lead him to take any Murano defects problem as 'personal'. Gas tank puncture? NHTSA slaps them a recall letter :2:
 
Just got a call from my dealership that some other parts for TSBs they had ordered for me (sunvisor clips - the second time, and the drivers lumbar support) had come in (after waiting nearly a month), so I asked the service manager about the fuel shield recall. He said yes he knows of the recall, but so far he only had VIN numbers for 2005 models affected, but not 2003-2004. I told him the NHTSA recall notice documents say 2003-2006 Muranos, and he said unless he had it "in the computer" he could not install the fuel shield for me.

Yep Nissan does it to me again. :rolleyes:
 
My dealer told me that my alternator for my year was not part of the alternator recall. So, either they fixed the problem in the 05 or my dealer has no clue on what they are talking about.

As far as the fuel tank goes with the 05 versus the 03 - 04 models - I guess they "unfixed it" in the 05. :confused:
 
biggun said:
My dealer told me that my alternator for my year was not part of the alternator recall. So, either they fixed the problem in the 05 or my dealer has no clue on what they are talking about.

As far as the fuel tank goes with the 05 versus the 03 - 04 models - I guess they "unfixed it" in the 05. :confused:
Reconfigured (improved) alternators were factory installed on new Muranos beginning in June/July '05. MOs arriving in the USA from August on have the "good" alternators.

It appears that all "older" (2003 - 2005) Muranos are affected by the fuel shield recall.

-njjoe
 
I purchased my MO in February 05. Should I get a second opinion?
 
biggun said:
I purchased my MO in February 05. Should I get a second opinion?
Have your dealership run your VIN again, or have them physically inspect the part number on the alternator. Posts involving alternators should go into the alternator thread, not the fuel tank shield recall thread.
 
I'm waiting to see a picture of the aluminum shield. I'm thinking that might look better on my Platinum MO, but want to see before I go for it.

I plan to call around to different dealers to fine one that will install the particular part that I want (plastic or aluminum).

Has anyone else had it installed?
 
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.
 
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
 
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. :(
 
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
 
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