Remember, drinking and driving don't
mix!
And that's true for drugs too (over the
counter, prescription, and illegal drugs).
Don't drive if your ability to operate your
vehicle is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or
some other physical condition.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) DRIVING
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (for AWD
models)
WARNINGO Do not drive beyond the performance ca-
pability of the tires, even with AWD en-
gaged. Accelerating quickly, sharp
steering maneuvers or sudden braking
may cause loss of control.
O Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Install tire chains on the rear
wheels when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully. O This vehicle is not designed for off-road
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy
or muddy roads that tires may get stuck
in.
O Do not place an AWD equipped vehicle
on a two wheel dynamometer or raise
two wheels off the ground and shift the
transmission to any D (drive) or R (re-
verse) position. Doing so may result in
transmission damage or unexpected ve-
hicle movement which could result in se-
rious vehicle damage or personal injury.
O Never operate the accelerator pedal with
any wheels raised and the other wheels
on the ground while jacking up or with
any wheels on a roller and the other
wheels on the ground. Otherwise, the
vehicle could lurch forward or backward.
O When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION The ignition lock is designed so the key
cannot be turned to the LOCK position
and removed until the selector lever is
moved to the P (Park) position.
When removing the key from the ignition
switch, make sure the selector lever is in
the P (Park) position.
If the selector lever is not returned to the
P (Park) position, the key cannot be
moved to the LOCK position. SSD0392
IGNITION SWITCH (except Intelligent Key
system)
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WARNINGDo not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Normal operation The ABS will not operate at speeds below
3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h) to stop the ve-
hicle. (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 re-
leases hydraulic pressure (like pumping
the brakes very quickly). While the actua-
tor is working, you may feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal and hear a noise or vibra-
tion from the actuator under the hood.
This is normal and indicates that the ABS
is working properly. However, the ABS op-
eration may indicate that road conditions
are hazardous and extra care is required
while driving.
Self-test feature The anti-lock brake system consists of
electronic sensors, electric pumps, and
hydraulic solenoids controlled by a com- puter. The computer has a built-in diag-
nostic feature that tests the system each
time you start the engine and move the
vehicle at a low speed in forward or re-
verse. 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 ABS off and turns on the
ABS warning light in the instrument
panel. The brake system operates nor-
mally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self-test
or while driving, take the vehicle to an
INFINITI dealer for repair.
WARNING The anti-lock brake system is a sophisticated
device, but it cannot prevent accidents re-
sulting from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain vehicle con-
trol during braking on slippery surfaces, but
remember that the stopping distance on slip-
pery surfaces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with the anti-lock brake system. Stopping distances may also be
longer on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains. Always
maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you. Ultimately, the responsibility
for safety of self and others rests in the
hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may also af-
fect braking effectiveness.
O When replacing tires, install the speci-
fied size of tires to the front and rear.
O When installing a spare tire, make sure it
is the proper size and type as specified
on the Tire and Loading Information
label. See ªVehicle identificationº in the
ª9. Technical and consumer informa-
tionº section for the Tire and Loading In-
formation label location.
Starting and driving
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O If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not stan-
dard equipment or are extremely dete-
riorated, the ªVDC OFFº indicator or
ªSLIPº indicator or both indicator lights
may illuminate.
O When driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners, the
Vehicle Dynamic Control system may not
operate properly and the ªVDC OFFº indi-
cator or ªSLIPº indicator or both indi-
cator lights may illuminate. Do not drive
on these types of roads.
O When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the ªVDC OFFº indicator or ªSLIPº
indicator or both indicator lights may il-
luminate. This is not a malfunction. Re-
start the engine after driving onto a
stable surface.
O If wheels or tires other than those rec-
ommended are used, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the ªVDC
OFFº indicator or ªSLIPº indicator or
both indicator lights may illuminate. O The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road. The Rear Active Steer (RAS) system is an
electronically controlled four-wheel
steering system.
The angle of the rear wheels are adjusted
by the RAS system, depending on the ve-
hicle speed and steering angle. The rear
wheels are designed to turn momentarily
in the opposite direction and then change
to the same direction as the front wheels.
At low speeds, the rear wheels will not
turn and the system functions as a two-
wheel steering system.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
RAS function will stop but the ordinary
two-wheel steering system will operate
normally. The ªRASº warning light will il-
luminate.
If the light illuminates while you are driv-
ing, contact an INFINITI dealer for repair.REAR ACTIVE STEER (RAS) SYSTEM (if so
equipped)
Starting and driving
5-29
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WARNINGThe RAS system, although a sophisticated
device, cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving tech-
niques. Ultimately the responsibility for
safety of self and others rests in the hands of
the driver. Therefore only through attentive
and careful driving methods can the RAS
system be fully appreciated and safety as-
sured. FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key
hole. If the lock becomes frozen, heat the
key before inserting it into the key hole.
ANTI-FREEZE In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC),
check antifreeze to assure proper winter
protection. For additional information, see
ªEngine cooling systemº in the ª8. Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourselfº section.
BATTERY If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the
battery fluid may freeze and damage the
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency,
the battery should be checked regularly.
For additional information, see ªBatteryº
in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº
section.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system by
opening the drain plug located under the
radiator. Refill before operating the ve-
hicle. See ªEngine cooling systemº in the ª8. Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº sec-
tion for changing engine coolant.
TIRE EQUIPMENT 1. SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance
of these tires will be substantially re-
duced in snowy and icy conditions. If
you operate your vehicle on snowy or
icy roads, INFINITI recommends the
use of MUD & SNOW or ALL SEASON
tires on all four wheels. Please consult
an INFINITI dealer for the tire type,
size, speed rating and availability in-
formation.
2. For additional traction on icy roads,
studded tires may be used. However,
some provinces and states prohibit
their use. Check local, state and pro-
vincial laws before installing studded
tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of
studded snow tires, on wet or dry sur-
faces, may be poorer than that of non-
studded snow tires.
3. Tire chains may be used if desired.
Make sure they are of proper size for
the tires on your vehicle and are in-COLD WEATHER DRIVING
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stalled according to the chain manu-
facturer's suggestions. However, some
provinces and states prohibit their
use. Check local state and provincial
laws before installing tire chains. Use
only SAE Class S chains. Class ªSº
chains are used on vehicles with re-
stricted tire to vehicle clearance. Ve-
hicles that can use Class ªSº chains
are designed to meet the SAE stan-
dard minimum clearances between the
tire and the closest vehicle suspen-
sion or body component required to
accommodate the use of a winter trac-
tion device (tire chains or cables). The
minimum clearances are determined
using the factory equipped tire size.
Other types may damage your vehicle.
Use chain tensioners when recom-
mended by the tire chain manufac-
turer to ensure a tight fit. Loose end
links of the tire chain must be secured
or removed to prevent the possibility
of damage to the fenders or under-
body. If possible, avoid fully loading
your vehicle when using tire chains. In
addition, drive at a reduced speed.
Otherwise, your vehicle may be dam-
aged and/or vehicle handling and per-
formance may be adversely affected. O Never install the tire chains on TEMPO-
RARY USE ONLY spare tires.
O Do not use the tire chains on dry roads.
O The tire chains must be installed only
on the rear wheels and not on the front
wheels.
Do not drive with tire chains on paved
roads which are clear of snow. Driving
with chains in such conditions can
cause damage to the various mecha-
nisms of the vehicle due to some over-
stress.
4. For all-wheel drive (AWD):
If you install snow tires, they must
also be the same size, brand, con-
struction and tread pattern on all four
wheels.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
O a scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-
move ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.
O a sturdy, flat board to be placed under
the jack to give it firm support. O a shovel to dig the vehicle out of
snow-drifts.
O extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING O Wet ice (32ÉF, 0ÉC and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or ªgripº under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until the road is salted or sanded.
O Whatever the condition, drive with cau-
tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even
more traction.
O Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
Starting and driving
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Getting the spare tire and tools Remove jacking tools 1 and spare tire 2
from the storage area located inside the
trunk as illustrated.
If spacers are equipped, remove them be-
fore removing the spare tire. SCE0382B
Sedan Ð Type A SCE0563
Sedan Ð Type B
SCE0383B
Sedan
6-4 In case of emergency
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5. Securely store the flat tire and jacking
equipment in the vehicle.
6. Place the spare tire cover and the
trunk floor carpeting over the dam-
aged tire.
7. Close the trunk.
WARNINGO Always make sure that the spare tire and
jacking equipment are properly secured
after use. Such items can become dangerous projectiles in an accident or
sudden stop.
O The T-type spare tire and small size
spare tire are designed for emergency
use. See ªWheels and tiresº in the ª8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourselfº sec-
tion.
If needed, Roadside Assistance is avail-
able. Please see your Warranty Information
Booklet or Roadside Assistance I.D. Card
for the toll-free number to call (U.S.) or War-
ranty Information Booklet (Canada). To start your engine with a booster bat-
tery, the instructions and precautions
below must be followed.
WARNING O If done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting in
severe injury or death. It could also dam-
age your vehicle.
O Explosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the battery.
Keep all sparks and flames away from
the battery.
O Do not allow battery fluid to come into
contact with eyes, skin, clothing or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a corro-
sive sulfuric acid solution which can
cause severe burns. If the fluid should
come into contact with anything, imme-
diately flush the contacted area with wa-
ter.
O Keep battery out of the reach of children.SCE0384B
Sedan SCE0425A
Coupe JUMP STARTING
6-8 In case of emergency
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8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself Maintenance requirements ............................... 8-2
General maintenance........................................ 8-2
Explanation of general maintenance
items .......................................................... 8-3
Maintenance precautions .................................. 8-5
Engine compartment check locations................ 8-7
Engine cooling system ..................................... 8-8
Checking engine coolant level..................... 8-8
Changing engine coolant............................. 8-9
Engine oil ....................................................... 8-10
Checking engine oil level........................... 8-10
Changing engine oil and filter ................... 8-11
Automatic transmission fluid........................... 8-13
Power steering fluid ........................................ 8-13
Brake and clutch fluid..................................... 8-14
Brake fluid................................................. 8-14
Clutch fluid ............................................... 8-15
Window washer fluid ....................................... 8-15
Battery ............................................................ 8-16
Jump starting ............................................. 8-18
Drive belts ...................................................... 8-19
Spark plugs .................................................... 8-19
Replacing spark plugs ............................... 8-20 Air cleaner...................................................... 8-20
Windshield wiper blades ................................. 8-21
Cleaning .................................................... 8-21
Replacing .................................................. 8-22
Parking brake and brake pedal....................... 8-23
Checking parking brake............................. 8-23
Checking brake pedal................................ 8-23
Brake booster ........................................... 8-24
Fuses .............................................................. 8-25
Engine compartment.................................. 8-25
Passenger compartment ............................ 8-27
Keyfob battery replacement ............................ 8-28
Keyfob (except Intelligent Key) .................. 8-28
Intelligent Key ........................................... 8-29
Lights.............................................................. 8-31
Headlights................................................. 8-33
Exterior and interior lights......................... 8-33
Wheels and tires ............................................ 8-37
Tire pressure ............................................. 8-37
Tire labeling .............................................. 8-41
Types of tires ............................................ 8-43
Tire chains ................................................ 8-44
Changing wheels and tires ........................ 8-45
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