The 2005 Nissan Murano comes equipped with two different drive belts. The front belt controls the power steering pump and the water pump. The second belt controls the alternator and the air conditioner pump. The main responsibility of the drive belts is to control the engine accessories. Both belts are driven around each accessory by the crankshaft. Both belts are tensioned to the pulleys by their own tensioning device. If either belt breaks or has excessive cracking, replace it immediately.
Park the 2005 Nissan Murano on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
Loosen the lug nuts from the front passenger-side wheel with the tire tool. Then, jack the front passenger side of the Murano up and place a jack stand under the front passenger-side frame rail of the car. Lower the Murano onto the jack stand and leave the jack in place.
Finish unscrewing the lug nuts from the front passenger-side wheel and pull the wheel off. Place the wheel in a flat position to prevent it from rolling. Then, locate the plastic splash guard in the back of the front passenger-side wheel compartment. Remove the splash guard by removing the small bolts with the ratchet and a socket. Then, pull the guard out and place it on the ground. Both belts can now be accessed from the wheel well.
Locate the front belt, which operates the power steering pump and the water pump. The power steering pump has an adjustable bracket on the side of it that is used to relieve the tension from the belt. Loosen the locking bolt on the front of the power steering pump bracket with the ratchet and a socket.
Unscrew the adjustment bolt on the end of the bracket with the ratchet and socket until the belt is loose. Pull the belt out of the power steering pump pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Then, pull the belt through the wheel well and place it on the ground.
Locate the adjustment pulley that tensions the alternator belt and the air conditioner pump belt. The adjustment pulley is located between the crankshaft and the alternator. Loosen the bolt from the middle of the adjustment pulley with the ratchet and a socket. Then, unscrew the adjustment bolt at the top of the adjustment pulley until the belt is loose. Pull the belt out of the pulleys and through the wheel well. Place the belt on the ground.
Route the new alternator/air conditioner belt through the wheel well and around the alternator pulley and the air conditioner pulley. Tighten the belt by turning the adjustment bolt clockwise with the ratchet and socket. Once the belt is tight, check the tension of the belt with your hand.
Push inward on the belt with your hand. If the belt has more than 1 inch of free play in the belt, continue to tighten the belt until there is less than 1 inch of free play.
Tighten the locking bolt down tight in the middle of the adjustment pulley with the ratchet and socket. Route the new power steering pump belt through the wheel well and around the power steering pump pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Tighten the belt by turning the adjustment bolt clockwise until the belt is tight. Check the tension of the belt with your hand.
Push inward on the belt. If the belt has more than 1 inch of free play, continue tightening it until there is less than 1 inch of free play. Then, tighten the locking bolt down in the middle of the bracket with the ratchet and socket.
Reinstall the splash guard and put the wheel back on. Tighten the lug nuts with the tire tool. Then, jack the front of the Murano back up and remove the jack stand. Lower the car to the ground. Crank the engine and let it run for about 20 seconds. Turn the engine off and check the belt by looking through the top of the engine. Make sure that the belt is secure inside of each pulley. Then, close the hood.
