EXPLANATION OF GENERAL
MAINTENANCE ITEMS Additional information on the following
items with ª*º is found later in this sec-
tion.
Outside the vehicle The maintenance items listed here should
be performed from time to time, unless
otherwise specified.
Doors and engine hood: Check that all
doors and the engine hood operate prop-
erly. Also ensure that all latches lock se-
curely. 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 lubrica-
tion frequently.
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 head-
light aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts): When
checking the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are missing, and check for any loose
wheel nuts. Tighten if necessary.
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge
often and always prior to long distance
trips. If necessary, adjust the pressure in
all tires, including the spare, to the speci-
fied pressure. Check carefully for damage,
cuts or excessive wear.
Tire rotation*:
Sedan: The tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km) to minimize tire
wear variation.
Coupe: The tires cannot be rotated.
Tire, wheel alignment and balance: If the
vehicle should pull 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.
O For additional information regarding
tires, refer to ªImportant Tire Safety
Informationº (US) or ªTire Safety Infor-
mationº (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet. Windshield: Clean the windshield on a
regular basis. Check the windshield at
least every six months for cracks or other
damage. Have a damaged windshield re-
paired by a qualified repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for
cracks or wear if they do not wipe prop-
erly.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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there is a smell of exhaust fumes, imme-
diately locate the trouble and correct it.
See ªPrecautions when starting and
drivingº in the ª5. Starting and drivingº
section for exhaust gas (Carbon mon-
oxide).
Fluid leaks: Check under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks after
the vehicle has been parked for a while.
Water dripping from the air conditioner
after use is normal. If you should notice
any leaks or if gasoline fumes are evi-
dent, check for the cause and have it cor-
rected immediately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines:
Check the level when the fluid is cold and
the engine is turned off. Check the lines
for proper attachment, leaks, cracks, etc.
Radiator and hoses: Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects,
leaves, etc., that may have accumulated.
Make sure the hoses have no cracks, de-
formation, deterioration or loose connec-
tions.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control
dust. It is very important to remove these
substances, otherwise rust will form on the floor pan, frame, fuel lines and
around the exhaust system. At the end of
winter, the underbody should be thor-
oughly flushed with plain water, being
careful to clean those areas where mud
and dirt may accumulate. For additional
information, see ªCleaning exteriorº in
the ª7. Appearance and careº section.
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that
there is adequate fluid in the tank. When performing any inspection or main-
tenance 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.
WARNING O Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply
the parking brake securely and block the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from
moving. For a manual transmission,
move the shift lever to N (Neutral) posi-
tion. For an automatic transmission
models, move the selector lever to P
(Park).
O Be sure the ignition key is in the OFF or
LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
O If you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans, belts
and any other moving parts.
O It is advisable to secure or remove any
loose clothing and remove any jewelry,MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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such as rings, watches, etc. before work-
ing on your vehicle.
O Always wear eye protection whenever
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 neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, support it
with safety stands.
O Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from the fuel tank and bat-
tery.
O On gasoline engine models with the Mul-
tiport Fuel Injection (MFI) System, the
fuel filter or fuel lines should be serviced
by an INFINITI dealer because the fuel
lines are under high pressure even when
the engine is off. CAUTION O Do not work under the hood while the en-
gine is hot. Turn the engine off and wait
until it cools down.
O Never connect or disconnect the battery
or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
O Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
ness connector disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
O Avoid contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine oil,
engine coolant and/or other vehicle
fluids can damage the environment. Al-
ways conform to local regulations for
disposal of vehicle fluid.
This ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº
section gives instructions regarding only
those items which are relatively easy for
an owner to perform. A genuine INFINITI Service Manual is also
available. See ªOwner's Manual/Service
Manual order informationº in the ª9.
Technical and consumer informationº sec-
tion.
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in oper-
ating difficulties or excessive emissions,
and could affect your warranty coverage.
If in doubt about any servicing, have it
done by an INFINITI dealer.
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O Waste oil must be disposed of prop-
erly.
O Check your local regulations.
4. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter
wrench
q B
. 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 sur-
face 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 pre-
vent oil spillage from the dipstick hole while
filling the engine with oil.
See ªCapacities and recommended
fuel/lubricantsº in the ª9. Technical
and consumer informationº section for
drain and refill capacity. The drain and
refill capacity depends on the oil tem-
perature and drain time. Use these
specifications for reference only. Al-
ways 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 dipstick. Add engine oil if
necessary.
After the operation 1. Install the engine undercover into po-
sition 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 under-
cover 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
undercover 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 prop-
erly.
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CAUTIONO Do not overfill.
O Use Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent. For additional brake fluid specification in-
formation, refer to ªCapacities and recom-
mended fuel/lubricantsº in the ª9. Tech-
nical and consumer informationº section.
WARNING Use only new fluid. Old, inferior, or contami-
nated fluid may damage the brake system.
Do not add synthetic brake fluid. The use of
improper fluids can damage the brake
system and affect the vehicle's stopping
ability.
CAUTION Do not spill the fluid on any painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid is
spilled, immediately wash the surface with
water.
BRAKE FLUID Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If
the fluid is below the MIN line
q 2
or the
brake warning light comes on, add Genu-
ine Nissan Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
or equivalent DOT 3 fluid up to the MAX
line
q 1
. If fluid must be added frequently,
the system should be thoroughly checked
by an INFINITI dealer. SDI1923
BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID
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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.
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TIRE PRESSURE
Tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) This vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS). It
monitors tire pressure of all tires except
the spare. When the low tire pressure
warning light is lit, one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated.
The TPMS will activate only when the ve-
hicle is driven at speeds above 16 MPH
(25 km/h). Also, this system may not de-
tect a sudden drop in tire pressure (for
example a flat tire while driving).
For more details, refer to ªLow tire pres-
sure warning lightº in the ª2. Instruments
and controlsº section, ªTire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS)º in the ª5.
Starting and drivingº section, and ªFlat
tireº in the ª6. In case of emergencyº sec-
tion. Tire inflation pressure Check the tire pressure of the tires (in-
cluding the spare) often and always
prior to long distance trips. The recom-
mended tire pressure specifications are
shown on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S.
label or the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label under the ªCOLD TIRE PRES-
SUREº heading. The Tire and Loading
Information label is affixed to the driver
side center pillar. Tire pressures should
be checked regularly because:
O Most tires naturally lose air over
time.
O Tires can lose air suddenly when
driven over potholes or other objects
or if the vehicle strikes a curb while
parking.
The tire pressures should be check
when the tires are cold. The tires are
considered COLD after the vehicle has
been parked for 3 or more hours, or
driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at mod-
erate speeds.SDI1779A
Vanity mirror light
SDI1401B
License plate light WHEELS AND TIRES
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Incorrect tire pressure, including under
inflation, may adversely affect tire life
and vehicle handling.
WARNINGO Improperly inflated tires can fail
suddenly and cause an accident.
O The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) is located on the
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. label. The
vehicle weight capacity is indi-
cated on the Tire and Loading In-
formation label. Do not load your
vehicle beyond this capacity.
Overloading your vehicle may re-
sult in reduced tire life, unsafe op-
erating conditions due to prema-
ture tire failure, or unfavorable
handling characteristics and could
also lead to a serious accident.
Loading beyond the specified capacity may also result in a mal-
function of other vehicle compo-
nents.
O Before taking a long trip, or when-
ever you heavily load your vehicle,
use a tire pressure gauge to en-
sure that the tire pressures are at
the specified level.
O Do not drive your vehicle over 85
MPH (137 km/h) unless it is
equipped with high speed rated
tires. Driving faster than 85 MPH
(137 km/h) may result in tire mal-
function, loss of control and pos-
sible injury.
O For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to ªImportant
Tire Safety Informationº (US) or
ªTire Safety Informationº (Canada)
in the Warranty Information
Booklet.
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