sand or mud, or for maximum engine braking
on steep downhill grades.
O Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than M
4
range. This reduces the fuel economy.
O When shifting up, move the selector lever to
the + (up) side. (Shifts to higher range.)
O When shifting down, move the selector
lever to the þ (down) side. (Shifts to lower
range.)
O Moving the selector lever to the same side
twice will shift the ranges in succession.
However, if this motion is rapidly done, the
second shifting may not be completed prop-
erly.
O In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down to 1st
gear before the vehicle comes to a stop.
When accelerating again, it is necessary
to shift up to the desired range.
O When canceling the manual shift mode,
return the selector lever to the D position.
The transmission returns to the normal
driving mode.
O In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving performance and reduces the chance of vehicle dam-
age or loss of control.
Accelerator downshift
Ð In D position Ð For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear, de-
pending on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe When the fail-safe operation occurs, the next
time the key is turned to the ON position, the
light will blink for approximately 8 sec-
onds after coming on for 2 seconds. While the
vehicle can be driven under these circum-
stances please note that the gears in the
automatic transmission will be locked in 4th
gear.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, turn the ignition key
OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then turn the
key back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have your INFINITI re- tailer check the transmission and repair if
necessary.
Starting and driving
5-11
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WARNINGDo not use the cruise control when driv-
ing under the following conditions:
O it is not possible to keep the vehicle
at a set speed.
O in heavy traffic or in traffic that varies
in speed.
O on winding or hilly roads.
O on slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.).
O in very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTIONOn manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depressing
the clutch pedal when the cruise control
is set. Should this occur, depress the
clutch pedal and turn the main switch off
immediately. Failure to do so may cause engine damage.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL O If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The SET indicator
light on the meter panel then blinks to warn
the driver.
O If the engine coolant temperature becomes
excessively high, the cruise control system
will be canceled automatically.
O If the SET indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked by your INFINITI retailer.
O The SET indicator light may blink when the
cruise control main switch is turned on
while pushing the RES/ACCEL, COAST/
SET, or CANCEL switch (located on the
steering wheel). To properly set the cruise
control system, perform the preceding
steps in the order indicated. 1. RESUME or ACCEL switch
2. COAST or SET switch
3. ON/OFF switch
4. CANCEL switch
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS The cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 to 89 MPH (40 to 144 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.
To turn on the cruise control, push the main
switch on. The CRUISE indicator light on the
meter panel will come on. SSD0297
CRUISE CONTROL
Starting and driving
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To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result
in loss of vehicle control.
WARNINGO While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerating
or downshifting. Abrupt braking or
accelerating could cause the wheels
to skid and result in an accident.
O If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) The anti-lock brake system controls the brakes
at each wheel so the wheels will not lock when
braking abruptly or when braking on slippery
surfaces. The system detects the rotation
speed at each wheel and varies the brake fluid
pressure to prevent each wheel from locking
and sliding. By preventing wheel lockup, the
system helps the driver maintain steering con- trol and helps to minimize swerving and spin-
ning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Normal operation The anti-lock brake system will not operate at
speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h) to
completely stop the vehicle. (The speeds will
vary according to road conditions.) When the
anti-lock system senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
(under the hood) rapidly applies and releases
hydraulic pressure (like pumping the brakes
very quickly). While the actuator is working,
you may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from the actuator
under the hood. This is normal and indicates
that the anti-lock system is working properly.
However, the pulsation may indicate that road conditions are hazardous and extra care is
required while driving.
Self-test feature The anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic
solenoids controlled by a computer. The com-
puter has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests
the system each time you start the engine and
move the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of any malfunction. If the computer
senses any malfunction, it switches the anti-
lock brake system OFF and turns on the ABS
warning light in the dashboard. The brake
system will then behave normally, but without
anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self check, or
while you are driving, you should take your
vehicle to your INFINITI retailer for repair at
your earliest convenience.
WARNING The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
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8 Do-it-yourself Maintenance precautions .......................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ....................... 8-4
Engine cooling system .............................................. 8-5
Checking engine coolant level ............................. 8-5
Changing engine coolant ..................................... 8-6
Engine oil .................................................................. 8-7
Checking engine oil level ..................................... 8-7
Changing engine oil and filter .............................. 8-8
Automatic transmission fluid ................................... 8-10
Power steering fluid ................................................ 8-10
Brake and clutch fluid ............................................. 8-11
Brake fluid .......................................................... 8-11
Clutch fluid.......................................................... 8-11
Window washer fluid ............................................... 8-12
Battery ..................................................................... 8-13
Jump starting ...................................................... 8-14
Drive belts ............................................................... 8-14
Spark plugs ............................................................. 8-15
Replacing spark plugs ........................................ 8-15
Air cleaner ............................................................... 8-16
Windshield wiper blades ......................................... 8-16
Cleaning ............................................................. 8-16
Replacing............................................................ 8-17 Parking brake and brake pedal ............................... 8-18
Checking parking brake ..................................... 8-18
Checking brake pedal ........................................ 8-18
Brake booster ..................................................... 8-19
Fuses....................................................................... 8-20
Engine compartment .......................................... 8-20
Passenger compartment .................................... 8-21
Keyfob battery replacement .................................... 8-21
Lights ....................................................................... 8-23
Headlights........................................................... 8-25
Exterior and interior lights .................................. 8-26
Wheels and tires ..................................................... 8-30
Tire pressure ...................................................... 8-30
Types of tires...................................................... 8-30
Tire chains .......................................................... 8-31
Changing wheels and tires ................................. 8-32
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
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O Check your local regulations.
4. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter wrench.
Remove the oil filter by turning it by hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting surface
with a clean rag.
Be sure to remove any old rubber gasket
remaining on the mounting surface of
the engine.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean
engine oil.
7. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a slight
resistance is felt, then tighten additionally
more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:
11 to 15 ft-lb
(14.7 to 20.5 N z m)
8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a
new washer. Securely tighten the drain plug
with a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:
22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N z m)
Do not use excessive force.
9. Refill engine with recommended oil and
install the cap securely. CAUTION The dipstick must be inserted in place to
prevent oil spillage from the dipstick
hole while filling the engine with oil.
See ªCapacities and recommended fuel/
lubricantsº in the ª9. Technical and con-
sumer informationº section for drain and
refill capacity. The drain and refill capacity
depends on the oil temperature and drain
time. Use these specifications for reference
only. Always use the dipstick to determine
the proper amount of oil in the engine.
CAUTION When filling oil, do not pull out the
dipstick.
10.Start the engine and check for leakage
around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required.
11.Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes. Check the oil level with the dip-
stick. Add engine oil if necessary. After the operation 1. Install the engine undercover into position
as the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clip out.
b. Hold the engine undercover into position.
c. Insert the clip through the undercover into
the hole in the frame, then push the center
of the clip in to lock the clip in place.
d. Install the other bolts that hold the under-
cover in place. Be careful not to strip the
bolts or over-tighten them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
WARNING O Prolonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin can-
cer.
O Try to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
Do-it-yourself
8-9
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WARNINGSee your INFINITI retailer and have it
checked if the brake pedal height does
not return to normal.
Brake pad wear indicators The disc brake pads on your vehicle have
audible wear indicators. When a brake pad
requires replacement, it will make a high
pitched scraping or screeching sound when
the vehicle is in motion whether or not the
brake pedal is depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the wear indi-
cator sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions, oc-
casional brake squeak, squeal or other noise
may be heard. Occasional brake noise during
light to moderate stops is normal and does not
affect the function or performance of the brake
system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed. For additional information, see
ªPeriodic maintenance schedulesº in the ª9.
Maintenanceº section for maintenance inter-
vals. High performance sports brake pad occasion-
ally makes squeak, squeal or other braking
noise because of its very high friction coeffi-
cient.
These occasional brake noise is normal, but if
it continues, see your INFINITI retailer.
BRAKE BOOSTER Check the brake booster function as follows:
1. With the engine off, press and release the
brake pedal several times. When brake
pedal movement (distance of travel) re-
mains the same from one pedal application
to the next, continue on to the next step.
2. While depressing the brake pedal, start the
engine. The pedal height should drop a
little.
3. With the brake pedal depressed, stop the
engine. Keeping the pedal depressed for
about 30 seconds, the pedal height should
not change.
4. Run the engine for one minute without
depressing the brake pedal, then turn it off.
Depress the brake pedal several times. The
pedal travel distance will decrease gradu-
ally with each depression as the vacuum is
released from the booster. If the brakes do not operate properly, see your
INFINITI retailer.
Do-it-yourself
8-19
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CAUTIONNever use a fuse of higher amperage
rating than that specified on the fuse
box cover. This could damage the elec-
trical system or cause a fire.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Be sure the ignition key and headlight
switch are OFF.
2. Open the engine hood and remove the
cover on the battery and the fuse/fusible
link holder.
3. Remove the fuse/fusible link holder cover.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller.
5. If the fuse is open, replace it with a new
fuse. 6. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical
system checked and repaired by your
INFINITI retailer.
Fusible links If any electrical equipment does not operate
and fuses are in good condition, check the
fusible links. If any of these fusible links are
melted, replace only with genuine NISSAN
parts. SDI1392
FUSES
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Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
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EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMS Additional information on the following
items with ª*º is found in the ª8. Do-it-
yourselfº section.
Outside the vehicle The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge at
least once a month and always prior to long
distance trips. If necessary, adjust the pres-
sure in all tires, including the spare, to the
specified pressure. Check carefully for dam-
age, cuts or excessive wear.
Wheel nuts*: When checking the tires, make
sure no nuts are missing, and check for any
loose nuts. Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*: Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km) (Sedan).
Tires cannot be rotated (Coupe).
Wheel alignment and balance: If the vehicle
pulls to either side while driving on a straight
and level road, or if you detect uneven or
abnormal tire wear, there may be a need for
wheel alignment. If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at normal
highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
to ªImportant Tire Safety Informationº (US) or
ªTire Safety Informationº (Canada) in the
INFINITI Warranty Information booklet.
Windshield: Clean the windshield on a regu-
lar basis. Check the windshield at least every
six months for cracks or other damage. Have a
damaged windshield repaired by a qualified
repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for cracks
or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Doors and engine hood: Check that all doors
and the engine hood, operate properly. Also
ensure that all latches lock securely. Lubricate
hinges and latches if necessary. Make sure
that the secondary latch keeps the hood from
opening when the primary latch is released.
When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication fre-
quently.
Inside the vehicle The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when performing periodic maintenance, cleaning the
vehicle, etc.
Lights*: Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure that
all warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and
that the wipers do not streak.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly and
in sufficient quantity when operating the heater
or air conditioner.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free
play, hard steering or strange noises.
Seats: Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to en-
sure they operate smoothly and that all latches
lock securely in every position. Check that the
head restraints move up and down smoothly
and that the locks (if so equipped) hold se-
curely in all latched positions. Maintenance
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