How to Use a Murano All Wheel Drive
by Patrick Nelson
The Nissan Murano crossover utility vehicle has an all-wheel drive system that strikes a balance between a fully fledged four wheel drive and a regular two-wheel drive. The vehicle automatically maintains all-wheel drive where the distribution or torque to the front and rear wheels changes automatically depending on road conditions. You can drive on paved or slippery paved roads without losing traction. There is also a locking mode to hold the all wheel drive system in a more aggressive distribution which is used on rough roads.
Step 1
Identify the AWD switch. It's on the lower side of the instrument panel. It's used to switch between "Auto" and "Lock."
Step 2
Drive the vehicle normally on paved or paved slippery roads. The AWD will be engaged in "Auto" mode. The computer will make drive train adjustments. The AWD Lock indicator light will be off.
Step 3
Drive the vehicle onto a rough road. Maintain a straight line and press the AWD button. The AWD will switch into the more aggressive "Lock" mode. Don't operate the AWD button when the front wheels are spinning, or when you are backing up. The AWD Lock indicator will come on. Take advantage of the lock mode by driving the vehicle off-road or along rutted, sandy, snowy or muddy roads.
Step 4
Press the AWD switch again to go back to unlocked AWD when you reach a paved or paved slippery road.
Tips
- If you corner in Lock mode on dry, paved roads you may feel a braking effect. This is normal and is a characteristic of the vehicle's physics.
- The AWD mode will occasionally change to two-wheel drive to protect parts from temperature gain under heavy use--in snow or mud for example. The AWD warning light will blink rapidly if overheating is occurring. Just stop for awhile to let the drive train cool down.
Writer Bio
Patrick Nelson has been a professional writer since 1992. He was editor and publisher of the music industry trade publication "Producer Report" and has written for a number of technology blogs. Nelson studied design at Hornsey Art School.
