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MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION: O The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt
and debris in body panel sections, cavities,
and other areas.
O Damage to paint and other protective coat-
ings caused by gravel and stone chips or
minor traffic accidents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION:
Moisture Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the
vehicle body underside can accelerate corro-
sion. Wet floor coverings will not dry com-
pletely inside the vehicle, and should be re-
moved for drying to avoid floor panel
corrosion.
Relative humidity Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of high
relative humidity, especially those areas where
the temperatures stay above freezing and
where atmospheric pollution exists and road
salt is used. Temperature A temperature increase will accelerate the rate
of corrosion to those parts which are not well
ventilated.
Air pollution Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in the
air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt use will
accelerate the corrosion process. Road salt
will also accelerate the disintegration of paint
surfaces.
TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE
FROM CORROSION: O Wash and wax your vehicle often to keep
the vehicle clean.
O Always check for minor damage to the paint
and repair it as soon as possible.
O Keep drain holes at the bottom of the doors
open to avoid water accumulation.
O Check the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with water
as soon as possible. CAUTION O NEVER remove dirt, sand or other
debris from the passenger compart-
ment by washing it out with a hose.
Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner or
broom.
O Never allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electronic com-
ponents inside the vehicle as this
may damage them.
Chemicals used for road surface de-icing are
extremely corrosive. They accelerate corro-
sion and deterioration of underbody compo-
nents such as the exhaust system, fuel and
brake lines, brake cables, floor pan and fend-
ers.
In winter, the underbody must be cleaned
periodically.
For additional protection against rust and cor-
rosion, which may be required in some areas,
consult your local INFINITI retailer.CORROSION PROTECTION
Appearance and care
7-5
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MEMO
7-6 Appearance and care
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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
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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
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available. See ªOwner's Manual/Service
Manual order informationº in the ª10. Technical
and consumer informationº section.
You should be aware that incomplete or im-
proper servicing may result in operating diffi-
culties or excessive emissions, and could af-
fect your warranty coverage. If in doubt about
any servicing, have it done by your INFINITI
retailer.
Do-it-yourself
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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
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The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a high-quality, year-round, anti-
freeze coolant solution. The anti-freeze solu-
tion contains rust and corrosion inhibitors,
therefore additional cooling system additives
are not necessary.
CAUTIONWhen adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only a genuine NISSAN anti-
freeze coolant or equivalent with the
proper mixture ratio of 50% anti-freeze
and 50% demineralized water/distilled
water. The use of other types of coolant
solutions may damage your engine
cooling system. Outside temperature
down to
Anti-
freeze Deminer-
alized
water/
distilled
waterÉC ÉF
þ35 þ30 50% 50% WARNING O Never remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator. Wait
until the engine and radiator cool
down.
O See ªIf your vehicle overheatsº in the
ª6. In case of emergencyº section.
O The radiator is equipped with a pres-
sure cap. To prevent engine damage,
use only a genuine NISSAN radiator
cap.
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL Check the coolant level in the reservoir tank
when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is
below MIN, add coolant up to the MAX level. If
the reservoir tank is empty, check the coolant
level in the radiator when the engine is cold.
If there is insufficient coolant in the radiator, fill
the radiator with coolant up to the filler opening
and also add it to the reservoir tank up to the
MAX level.
If the engine cooling system frequently
requires coolant, have it checked by your
INFINITI retailer. SDI1385
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
Do-it-yourself
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CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT O Major cooling system repairs should be
performed by your INFINITI retailer. The
service procedures can be found in the
appropriate INFINITI Service Manual. O Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING O To avoid being scalded, never change
the coolant when the engine is hot.
O Never remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator.
O Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
O Keep coolant out of reach of children
and pets.
1. Open radiator drain plug at the bottom of
radiator, and remove radiator filler cap.
O Be careful not to allow coolant to con-
tact drive belts.
O Waste coolant must be disposed of
properly. Check your local regulations.
2. Close the radiator drain plug securely after
the coolant is drained. 3. Fill the radiator slowly with the proper mix-
ture of anti-freeze solution and demineral-
ized water/distilled water. Fill the reservoir
tank up to the MAX level. Then install the
radiator filler cap.
4. Start the engine and warm it up until it
reaches normal operating temperature.
Then race the engine 2 or 3 times under no
load. Watch the engine coolant tempera-
ture gauge for signs of overheating.
5. Stop the engine. After it completely cools
down, refill the radiator up to the filler
opening. Fill the reservoir tank up to the
MAX level. Check the drain plug for any
sign of leakage.
6. Recheck the coolant level after the vehicle
has been driven for a day.SDI0114
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