Page 180 of 256

When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to yourself
or damage to the vehicle. The following are
general precautions which should be closely
observed.
WARNINGO Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. For a manual
transmission, move the shift lever to
N (Neutral) position. For an automatic
transmission, move the selector lever
to P (Park) position.
O Be sure the ignition key is OFF or
LOCK when performing any parts re-
placement or repairs.
O If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving
fans, belts and any other moving
parts.
O It is advised to secure or remove any loose clothing and any jewelry, such
as rings, watches, etc. before work-
ing on your vehicle.
O Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
O If you must run the engine in an
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
O Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is nec-
essary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
O Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel and the bat-
tery.
O On gasoline engine models with the
Multiport Fuel Injection (MFI) System,
the fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by an INFINITI retailer be-
cause the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off. CAUTION O Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn off the engine and
wait until it cools down.
O Never connect or disconnect either
the battery or any transistorized com-
ponent connector while the ignition
key is on.
O Never leave any engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
ness connector disconnected while
the ignition key is on.
O Avoid direct contact with used engine
oil and coolant. Improperly disposed
engine oil, engine coolant and/or
other vehicle fluids can hurt the envi-
ronment. Always conform to local
regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
This ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine INFINITI Service Manual is alsoMAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2 Do-it-yourself
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 182 of 256
1. Fuse/fusible link holder
2. Battery
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Clutch fluid reservoir
6. Power steering fluid reservoir
7. Engine coolant reservoir
8. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
9. Radiator filler cap
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. Air cleaner
SDI1485ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
8-4 Do-it-yourself
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 185 of 256
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL 1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating
temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than 10
minutes for the oil to drain back into the
oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
Reinsert it all the way. 5. Remove the dipstick again and check the
oil level. It should be between the H and L
marks. If the oil level is below the L mark,
remove the oil filler cap and pour recom-
mended oil through the opening. Do not
overfill.
6. Recheck oil level with dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the
break-in period, depending on the severity
of operating conditions. CAUTION Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating with insufficient amount of oil
can damage the engine, and such dam-
age is not covered by warranty.SDI1386 SDI1402
ENGINE OIL
Do-it-yourself
8-7
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 186 of 256

CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND
FILTER Change the engine oil and filter according to
the maintenance intervals shown in the ª9.
Maintenanceº section.
Vehicle set-up 1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating
temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10
minutes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suit-
able floor jack and safety jack stands.
O Place the safety jack stands under the
vehicle jack-up points.
O A suitable adapter should be attached to
the jack stand saddle.
5. Remove the plastic engine undercover.
a. Remove the small plastic clip at the center
point of the undercover.
b. Then remove the other bolts that hold the
undercover in place. CAUTION Make sure the correct lifting and support
points are used to avoid vehicle dam-
age.
Engine oil and filter 1. Place a large drain pan under the drain
plug.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug with a wrench and
completely drain the oil.
CAUTION Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
O Waste oil must be disposed of properly. SDI1520
8-8 Do-it-yourself
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 187 of 256

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
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 188 of 256

O Keep used engine oil out of reach of
children. If checking or replacement is required, we
recommend your INFINITI retailer for servic-
ing.
CAUTION O Use only Genuine Nissan ATF Matic
Fluid J. Do not mix with other fluids.
O Using automatic transmission fluid
other than Genuine Nissan ATF Matic
Fluid J will cause deterioration in
driveability and automatic transmis-
sion durability, and may damage the
automatic transmission, which is not
covered by the INFINITI new vehicle
limited warranty.
The specified automatic transmission fluid is
also described on caution labels located in the
engine compartment. Check the fluid level in the reservoir tank.
The fluid level should be checked using the
HOT range at fluid temperatures of 122 to
176ÉF (50 to 80ÉC) or using the COLD range at
fluid temperatures of 32 to 86ÉF (0 to 30ÉC).
CAUTION O Do not overfill.
O Use Genuine Nissan PSF II or equiva-
lent. SDI1408
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID POWER STEERING FLUID
8-10 Do-it-yourself
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 193 of 256

unexpectedly.
1. Visually inspect each belt for signs of un-
usual wear, cuts, fraying, oil adhesion or
looseness. If the belt is in poor condition or
loose, have it replaced or adjusted by your
INFINITI retailer.
2. Have the belts checked regularly for condi-
tion and tension in accordance with the
maintenance schedule in this manual.
WARNING Be sure the engine and ignition switch
are off and that the parking brake is
engaged securely.
CAUTION Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
REPLACING SPARK PLUGS If replacement is required, see your INFINITI
retailer for servicing.
Platinum-tipped spark plugs It is not necessary to replace the platinum-
tipped spark plugs as frequently as the con-
ventional type spark plugs since they will last
much longer. Follow the maintenance sched-
ule but, do not reuse them by cleaning or
regapping.
Always replace with recommended
platinum-tipped spark plugs. SDI0145
SPARK PLUGS
Do-it-yourself
8-15
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 200 of 256

Make sure that the ! side faces the
bottom case.
3. Close the lid securely.
4. Push the keyfob button two or three times
to check its operation.
See your INFINITI retailer if you need any
assistance for replacement.
If the battery is removed for any reason
other than replacement, perform step 4
above.
O Be careful not to touch the circuit board
and the battery terminal.
O An improperly disposed battery can
harm the environment. Always confirm
local regulations for battery disposal.
O The keyfob is water-resistant; however,
if it gets wet, immediately wipe it com-
pletely dry.
O When changing batteries, do not let dust
or oil get on the keyfob.
FCC Notice:
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the manufacturer compliance
could void the user's authority to operate
the equipment. This device complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules and RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) This de-
vice may not cause harmful interference,
and (2) this device must accept any inter-
ference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation of the
device.
8-22 Do-it-yourself
Z 02.7.29/V35-D/V5.0
X