Self-adjusting brakes Your vehicle is equipped with self-
adjusting brakes.
The disc-type brakes self-adjust every
time the brake pedal is applied.
WARNINGSee an INFINITI dealer for a brake system
check if the brake pedal height does not re-
turn 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 in-
dicator sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions,
occasional 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 the appropriate maintenance log
shown in the INFINITI Service and Mainte-
nance Guide.
High performance sports brake pads oc-
casionally make squeaks, squeals or
other braking noises because of their very
high friction coefficient.
These occasional brake noises are
normal, but if they continue, see an
INFINITI dealer.
BRAKE BOOSTER Check the brake booster function as fol-
lows:
1. With the engine off, press and release
the brake pedal several times. When
brake pedal movement (distance of
travel) remains 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 de-
pressed 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 gradually with each depres-
sion as the vacuum is released from
the booster.
If the brakes do not operate properly, see
an INFINITI dealer.
8-24 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
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rear tires and the direction of the wheel
rotation is fixed for each tire.
A pin is on the front brake rotor to pre-
vent the rear wheels from being in-
stalled in place of the front wheels. The
spare tire can be installed in place of
the front and rear wheels. When install-
ing the spare tire in the front wheel, the
hole in the spare tire wheel must be
aligned with the pin on the brake rotor.
WARNINGO Retighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600
miles (1,000 km) (also in cases of a
flat tire, etc.).
O For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to ªImportant
Tire Safety Informationº (US) or
ªTire Safety Informationº (Canada)
in the Warranty Information
Booklet. 1. Wear indicator
2. Location mark
Tire wear and damage
WARNINGO Tires should be periodically in-
spected for wear, cracking,
bulging or objects caught in the
tread. If excessive wear, cracks,
bulging or deep cuts are found, the
tire(s) should be replaced. O The original tires have built-in
tread wear indicators. When the
wear indicators are visible, the
tire(s) should be replaced.
O Tires degrade with age and use.
Have tires, including the spare,
over 6 years old checked by a
qualified technician because some
tire damage may not be obvious.
Replace the tires as necessary to
prevent tire failure and possible
personal injury.
O Improper service of the spare tire
may result in serious personal in-
jury. If it is necessary to repair the
spare tire, contact an INFINITI
dealer.
O For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to ªImportant
Tire Safety Informationº (US) or
ªTire Safety Informationº (Canada)
in the Warranty Information
Booklet.
Replacing wheels and tires When replacing a tire, use the same size,
speed rating and load carrying capacity
as originally equipped. See ªSpecifica- MDI0004C
8-46 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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X
tionsº in the ª9. Technical and consumer
informationº section for recommended
types and sizes of tires and wheels.
WARNINGO The use of tires other than those recom-
mended or the mixed use of tires of dif-
ferent brands, construction (bias, bias-
belted or radial), or tread patterns can ad-
versely affect the ride, braking, handling,
ground clearance, body-to-tire clearance,
tire chain clearance, speedometer calibra-
tion, headlight aim and bumper height.
Some of these effects may lead to accidents
and could result in serious personal injury.
O If the wheels are changed for any reason,
always replace with wheels which have
the same off-set dimension. Wheels of a
different off-set could cause premature
tire wear, degrade vehicle handling char-
acteristics and/or interference with the
brake discs. Such interference can lead
to decreased braking efficiency and/or
early brake pad wear.
O When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, tire pressure will not be indi-
cated, the TPMS will not function and the low tire pressure warning light will flash.
Contact your INFINITI dealer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or sys-
tem resetting.
O Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
O Do not install a deformed wheel or tire
even if it has been repaired. Such wheels
or tires could have structural damage
and could malfunction without warning.
O The use of retread tires is not recom-
mended.
O For additional information regarding tires,
refer to ªImportant Tire Safety Informationº
(US) or ªTire Safety Informationº (Canada)
in the Warranty Information Booklet.
CAUTION Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
Failure to do so may result in a circumference difference between tires on the front and
rear axles which will cause excessive tire
wear and may damage the transmission,
transfer case and differential gears (AWD
models).
Wheel balance Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be per-
formed with the wheels off the vehicle.
Spin balancing the wheels on the vehicle
could lead to transmission damage.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to ªImportant Tire Safety Informa-
tionº (US) or ªTire Safety Informationº
(Canada) in the INFINITI Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Care of wheels O Wash the wheels when washing the
vehicle to maintain their appearance.
O Clean the inner side of the wheels
when the wheel is changed or the un-
derside of the vehicle is washed.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
8-47
w 06.1.5/V35-D/V5.0
X
The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be slightly different. When refilling, follow the procedure in-
structed in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº section to determine the proper refill capacity. Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended
specificationsUS
measure Imp
measure Liter
Fuel*1 20 gal 16-5/8 gal 76
Engine oil (Drain and refill)*8
With oil filter change 5 qt 4-1/8 qt 4.7 O API Certification Mark*2, *3
O API grade SG/SH, Energy Conservin gI&IIorAPI grade SJ or SL, Energy Conserving*2, *3
O ILSAC grade GF-I, GF-II & GF-III*2, *3Without oil filter change 4-5/8 qt 3-7/8 qt 4.4
Cooling system
With reservoir 9-1/4 qt 7-5/8 qt 8.7
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant or equivalent
Reservoir 7/8 qt 3/5 qt 0.8
Automatic transmission fluid Ð Ð Ð Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF*4
Manual transmission gear oil Ð Ð Ð Genuine NISSAN Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF)
HQ Multi 75W-85 or API GL-4, Viscosity SAE 75W-85 or 75W-90
Differential gear oil Ð Ð Ð API GL-5, Viscosity SAE 80W-90*5
Transfer fluid Ð Ð Ð Genuine NISSAN Matic D ATF (Continental U.S. and Alaska) or CANADA NISSAN Automatic Trans-
mission Fluid*6
Power steering fluid (PSF) Refill to the proper fluid level according to the in-
structions in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº
section. Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent*10
Brake and clutch fluid Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*7 or equivalent DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease Ð Ð Ð NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant Ð Ð Ð HFC-134a (R-134a)*9
Air conditioning system lubricants Ð Ð Ð NISSAN A/C System Oil Type S or exact equivalent
Windshield washer fluid Ð Ð Ð Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Antifreeze or equivalent
*1: For additional information, see ªFuel recommendationº later in this section.
*2: For additional information, see ªEngine oil and oil filter recommendationº later in this section.
*3: For additional information, see ªRecommended SAE viscosity numberº later in this section.
*4: Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and automatic transmission durability, and may damage the automatic transmission, which is not
covered by the INFINITI new vehicle limited warranty.
*5: For hot climates, viscosity SAE 90 is suitable for ambient temperatures always above 32ÉF (0ÉC).
*6: DEXRON TM
III/MERCON TM
or equivalent may also be used. Outside the continental United States and Alaska contact an INFINITI dealer for more information regarding suitable fluids, including recommended
brand(s) of DEXRON TM
III/MERCON TM
automatic transmission fluid.
*7: Available in mainland US through an INFINITI dealer.
*8: For additional information, see ªEngine oilº in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº section for changing engine oil.
*9: For additional information, see ªVehicle identificationº later in this section for air conditioner specification label.
*10: For Canada, NISSAN Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF), DEXRON TM
III/MERCON TM
or equivalent ATF may also be used.CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2 Technical and consumer information
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X
CAUTIONO Do not use axle-mounted hitches.
O The hitch should not be attached to or af-
fect the operation of the impact-
absorbing bumper.
O Do not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc. to install a
trailer hitch.
O To reduce the possibility of additional
damage if your vehicle is struck from the
rear, where practical, remove the hitch
and/or receiver when not in use.
O After the hitch is removed, seal the bolt
holes to prevent exhaust fumes, water or
dust from entering the passenger com-
partment.
O Regularly check that all trailer hitch
mounting bolts are securely mounted. Tire pressures
O When towing a trailer, inflate the ve-
hicle tires to the recommended cold
tire pressure indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
O Trailer tire condition, size, load
rating and proper inflation pressure
should be in accordance with the
trailer and tire manufacturers' speci-
fications.
Safety chains Always use a suitable chains between
your vehicle and the trailer. The safety
chains should be crossed and should be
attached to the hitch, not to the vehicle
bumper or axle. Be sure to leave enough
slack in the chains to permit turning cor-
ners.
Trailer lights
CAUTION When splicing into the vehicle electrical sys-
tem, a commercially available power-type module/converter must be used to provide
power for all trailer lighting. This unit uses
the vehicle battery as a direct power source
for all trailer lights while using the vehicle
tail light, stoplight and turn signal circuits
as a signal source. The module/converter
must draw no more than 15 milliamps from
the stop and tail lamp circuits. Using a
module/converter that exceeds these power
requirements may damage the vehicle's
electrical system. See a reputable trailer
dealer to obtain the proper equipment and to
have it installed.
Trailer lights should comply with federal
and/or local regulations. For assistance in
hooking up trailer lights, contact an
INFINITI dealer or reputable trailer dealer.
Trailer brakes If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to federal
and/or local regulations and that it is
properly installed.
9-20 Technical and consumer information
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
WARNINGNever connect a trailer brake system directly
to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips O Be certain your vehicle maintains a
level position when a loaded and/or
unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not
drive the vehicle if it has an abnormal
nose-up or nose-down condition;
check for improper tongue load, over-
load, worn suspension or other pos-
sible causes of either condition.
O Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shifts while driving.
O Load the trailer so approximately 60%
of the trailer load is in the front half
and 40% is in the back half.
O Check your hitch, trailer tire pressure,
vehicle tire pressure, trailer light op-
eration, and trailer wheel lug nuts
every time you attach a trailer to the
vehicle.
O Be certain your rear view mirrors con-
form to all federal, state or local regula- tions. If not, install any mirrors required
for towing before driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips In order to gain skill and an under-
standing of the vehicle's behavior, you
should practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area which is free from
traffic. Steering stability, and braking per-
formance will be somewhat different than
under normal driving conditions.
O Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
O Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or
stops.
O Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
O Always drive your vehicle at a mod-
erate speed. Some states or provinces
have specific speed limits for vehicles
that are towing trailers. Obey the local
speed limits.
O When backing up, hold the bottom of
the steering wheel with one hand.
Move your hand in the direction in
which you want the trailer to go. Make
small corrections and back up slowly.
If possible, have someone guide you
when you are backing up. O Always block the wheels on both vehicle
and trailer when parking. Parking on a
slope is not recommended; however, if
you must do so, and if your vehicle is
equipped with automatic transmission,
first apply the parking brake and block
the wheels, and then move the transmis-
sion selector lever into the P (Park) posi-
tion. If you move the selector lever to
the P (Park) position before applying the
parking brake and blocking the wheels,
transmission damage could occur.
O When going down a hill, shift into a
lower gear and use the engine braking
effect. When going up a long grade,
downshift the transmission to a lower
gear and reduce speed to reduce
chances of engine overloading and/or
overheating.
However, for long steep grades, do
not stay in 1st or 2nd gear when
driving above 35 MPH (56 km/h).
O If the engine coolant rises to an ex-
tremely high temperature when the air
conditioning system is on, turn off the
air conditioner. Coolant heat can be
additionally vented by opening the
windows, switching the fan control to
high and setting the temperature con-
trol to the HOT position.
Technical and consumer information
9-21
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
O Trailer towing requires more fuel than
normal circumstances.
O Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500
miles (800 km).
O Have your vehicle serviced more often
than at intervals specified in the rec-
ommended maintenance schedule in
the INFINITI Service and Maintenance
Guide.
O When making a turn, your trailer
wheels will be closer to the inside of
the turn than your vehicle wheels. To
compensate for this, make a larger
than normal turning radius during the
turn.
O Crosswinds and rough roads will ad-
versely affect vehicle/trailer handling,
possibly causing vehicle sway. When
being passed by larger vehicles, be
prepared for possible changes in
crosswinds that could affect vehicle
handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradu-
ally) reduce vehicle speed. This combi-
nation will help stabilize the vehicle.
Never increase speed. O Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember the length of the
trailer must also pass the other vehicle
before you can safely change lanes.
O To maintain engine braking efficiency
and electrical charging performance,
do not use sixth gear (manual trans-
mission) or fifth position (automatic
transmission).
O Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This could
cause the brakes to overheat, re-
sulting in reduced braking efficiency.
O Increase your following distance to al-
low for greater stopping distances
while towing a trailer. Anticipate stops
and brake gradually.
O Do not use cruise control while towing
a trailer.
O Check your hitch, trailer wiring har-
ness connections, and trailer wheel
lug nuts after 50 miles (80 km) of
travel and at every break.
O When stopped in traffic for long pe-
riods of time in hot weather, put the
vehicle in the P (Park) position. When towing a trailer, transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently.
For additional information, see the ª8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING Towing your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground is sometimes called flat
towing. This method is sometimes used
when towing a vehicle behind a recre-
ational vehicle, such as a motor home.
CAUTION O Failure to follow these guidelines can re-
sult in severe transmission damage.
O Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
O DO NOT tow any automatic transmission
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing). Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts due
to lack of transmission lubrication.
9-22 Technical and consumer information
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
Your vehicle is equipped with a variety of
computers that monitor and control a
number of systems to optimize perfor-
mance and help service technicians with
diagnosis and repair. Some of the com-
puters monitor emission control systems,
braking systems, engine systems, trans-
mission systems, tire pressure systems,
and air bag systems. Some data about ve-
hicle operation may be stored in the com-
puters for use during servicing. Other
data may be stored if a crash event oc-
curs. For example, vehicle speed, brake
application, steering angle, air bag readi-
ness, air bag performance, and seat belt
use by the driver or passenger may be re-
corded. These types of systems are some-
times called Event Data Recorders. Special equipment can be used to access
the electronic data that may be stored in
the vehicle's computers (sounds are not
recorded). INFINITI and INFINITI dealers
have equipment to access some of this
data; others may also have this equip-
ment. The data may be retrieved during
routine vehicle servicing or for special re-
search. It might also be accessed with the
consent of the vehicle owner or lessee, in
response to a request by law enforce-
ment, or as otherwise required or permit-
ted by law. A genuine INFINITI Service Manual is the
best source of service and repair informa-
tion for your vehicle. Filled with wiring
diagrams, illustrations and step-by-step
diagnostic and adjustment procedures,
this manual is the same one used by the
factory trained technicians working at an
INFINITI dealer. Also available are genuine
INFINITI Owner's Manuals, and genuine
INFINITI Service and Owner's Manuals for
older INFINITI models.
In the USA:
For current pricing and availability of
genuine INFINITI Service Manuals for the
2000 model year and later, contact:
Tweddle Litho Company
1-800-450-9491
www.nissan-techinfo.com
For current pricing and availability of
genuine INFINITI Service Manuals for the
1999 model year and prior, see an INFINITI
dealer, or contact:
Resolve Corporation
20770 Westwood Road
Strongsville, OH 44136
1-800-247-5321
For current pricing and availability of
genuine INFINITI Owner's Manuals for thisEVENT DATA RECORDERS
OWNER'S MANUAL/SERVICE MANUAL
ORDER INFORMATION
9-26 Technical and consumer information
w 06.1.5/V35-D/V5.0
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