TOWING RECOMMENDED BY INFINITI
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models
INFINITI recommends that your vehicle be towed
with the driving (rear) wheels off the ground or
place the vehicle on a flat bed truck as illus-
trated.
CAUTION
●Never tow automatic transmission models
with the rear wheels on the ground or four
wheels on the ground (forward or backward),
as this may cause serious and expensive
damage to the transmission. If it is neces-
sary to tow the vehicle with the front wheels
raised, always use towing dollies under the
rear wheels. ●
When towing rear wheel drive models with
the front wheels on the ground or on towing
dollies: Push the ignition switch to the ACC
or ON position, and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position with a
rope or similar device. Never secure the
steering wheel by selecting the LOCK posi-
tion. This may damage the steering lock
mechanism.
Two-wheel drive models
SCE0768
6-12In case of emergency
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08/03/09—pattie
VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
●Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
● Do not spin your tires at high speed. This
could cause them to explode and result in
serious injury. Parts of your vehicle could
also overheat and be damaged.
Pulling a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use a tow strap or other device designed spe-
cifically for vehicle recovery. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the recovery de-
vice.
Securely install the vehicle recovery hook
1
stored with jacking tools as illustrated. Attach
the tow strap to the recovery hook. Make sure
that the hook is properly secured in the original
place after use.
Do not use the tie down hooks
2for towing or
vehicle recovery.
CAUTION
● Tow chains or cables must be attached only
to the vehicle recovery hooks or main struc-
tural members of the vehicle. Otherwise, the
vehicle body will be damaged.
● Do not use the vehicle tie downs to free a
vehicle stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.
● Never tow a vehicle using the vehicle tie
downs or recovery hooks.
● Always pull the cable straight out from the
front of the vehicle. Never pull on the vehicle
at an angle.
● Pulling devices should be routed so they do
not touch any part of the suspension, steer-
ing, brake or cooling systems.
● Pulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in ve-
hicle towing or recovery.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use the following procedure:
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions. 3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to
clear an area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and back- ward.
●Shift back and forth between R (reverse)
and D (drive).
● Apply the accelerator as little as possible
to maintain the rocking motion.
● Release the accelerator pedal before
shifting between R and D.
● Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH
(55 km/h).
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing ser-
vice to remove the vehicle.
6-14In case of emergency
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8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirement.......................... 8-2
Scheduled maintenance ........................ 8-2
General maintenance ........................... 8-2
Where to go for service ......................... 8-2
General maintenance .............................. 8-2
Explanation of maintenance items ............... 8-2
Maintenance precautions .......................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ................ 8-6
VQ35HR engine ................................ 8-6
Vk50ve engine ................................. 8-7
Engine cooling system ............................. 8-9
Checking engine coolant level ................... 8-9
Changing engine coolant ....................... 8-10
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 fluid ...................................... 8-14
Brake fluid ................................... 8-14
Window washer fluid ............................. 8-14
Battery .......................................... 8-15
Jump starting ................................. 8-16
Variable voltage control system ...................8-17Drive belts
....................................... 8-17
Spark plugs ..................................... 8-18
Replacing spark plugs ......................... 8-18
Air cleaner ....................................... 8-19
Windshield wiper blades .......................... 8-19
Cleaning ...................................... 8-19
Replacing ..................................... 8-20
Rear window wiper blades ........................8-21
Brakes .......................................... 8-21
Self-adjusting brakes .......................... 8-21
Brake pad wear warning ....................... 8-21
Fuses ........................................... 8-22
Engine compartment ........................... 8-22
Passenger compartment ....................... 8-23
Intelligent
Key battery replacement ................8-23
Lights ........................................... 8-25
Headlights .................................... 8-26
Exterior and interior lights .....................8-26
Wheels and tires ................................. 8-28
Tire pressure .................................. 8-28
Tire labeling .................................. 8-32
Types of tires ................................. 8-34
Tire chains ................................... 8-35
Changing wheels and tires..................... 8-36
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08/03/09—pattie
When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication fre-
quently.
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 headlight 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.
Tire rotation*: Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km).
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If nec-
essary, adjust the pressure in all tires, includ-
ing the spare, to the pressure specified. Check
carefully for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) trans-
mitter components: Replace the TPMS transmit-
ter grommet seal, valve core and cap when the
tires are replaced due to wear or age.
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.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
to “Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in the
INFINITI Warranty Information 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 repaired by a qualified
repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for cracks or
wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing periodic maintenance, cleaning the
vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation and make sure the pedal does not
catch or require uneven effort. Keep the floor
mat away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mechanism: On
a fairly steep hill, check that your vehicle is held
securely with the selector lever in the P (Park)
position without applying any brakes. Brake pedal:
Check the pedal for smooth opera-
tion. If the brake pedal suddenly goes down
further than normal, the pedal feels spongy or
the vehicle seems to take longer to stop, see an
INFINITI retailer immediately. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes: Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake opera-
tion regularly. The vehicle should be securely
held on a fairly steep hill with only the parking
brake applied. If the parking brake needs ad-
justed, see an INFINITI retailer.
Seat belts: Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjuster
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt web-
bing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Seats: Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to ensure
they operate smoothly and that all latches lock
securely in every position. Check that the head
restraints/headrests move up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped)
hold securely in all latched positions.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the steer-
ing conditions, such as excessive free play,
hard steering or strange noises.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
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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 dam-
age the vehicle’s electrical system. See a repu-
table trailer retailer to obtain the proper equip-
ment 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 retailer or
reputable trailer retailer.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking sys-
tem, make sure it conforms to federal and/or
local regulations and that it is properly in-
stalled.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system directly to
the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
● Be certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded 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, overload,
worn suspension or other possible causes of
either condition.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
● Keep the cargo load as low as possible in the
trailer to keep the trailer center of gravity
low.
● Load the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half. Also make sure the load is
balanced side to side.
● Check your hitch, trailer tire pressure, ve-
hicle tire pressure, trailer light operation,
and trailer wheel lug nuts every time you
attach a trailer to the vehicle.
● Be certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not, install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
● Determine the overall height of the vehicle
and trailer so the required clearance is
known.Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of
the vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turn-
ing, stopping and backing up in an area which
is free from traffic. Steering stability, and brak-
ing performance will be somewhat different
than under normal driving conditions.
● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
● Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadvert-
ently becoming unlatched.
● Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
● Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
● Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed. Some states or provinces have spe-
cific speed limits for vehicles that are towing
trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
● 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
Technical and consumer information9-25
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08/03/09—pattie
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the wheels and
applying the parking brake, transmission dam-
age could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the down- hill side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly release the brake pedal until the blocks
absorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park).
6. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake. 5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer
are clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
● 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 overload-
ing and/or overheating.
● If the engine coolant rises to an extremely
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
control to the HOT position.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than nor-
mal circumstances.
● Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km).
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule in the INFINITI Service
and Maintenance Guide.
● 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.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually) re-
duce vehicle speed. This combination will
help stabilize the vehicle. Never increase
speed.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions
allow. This combination will help stabilize
the vehicle.
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering orapplying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the brakes and pull to the side of the road
in a safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is balanced as described earlier in this sec-
tion.
9-26Technical and consumer information
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08/03/09—pattie
10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ........5-76
Adaptive front lighting system (AFS) .....2-38
Advanced air bag system ...........1-45
Aiming control, Adaptive front lighting
system (AFS) ................. .2-38
Air bag system Advanced air bag system .........1-45
Front passenger air bag and status
light ..................... 1-47
Front-seat mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag system .......1-50
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and
rollover supplemental air bag system . . 1-50
Air bag warning labels .............1-53
Air bag warning light ..........1-53 , 2-17
Air cleaner housing filter ...........8-19
Air conditioner Advanced Climate Control System
(ACCS) ................... .4-44
Air conditioner service ..........4-46
Air conditioner specification label ....9-13
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations .......4-46
Automatic climate control ........4-40
In-cabin microfilter ............4-45
Operation (See automatic climate
control) ................... 4-40
Alarm, How to stop alarm
(see vehicle security system) .........2-31Alcohol, drugs and driving
...........5-7
All-wheel drive (AWD) .............5-69
All-wheel drive (AWD) warning light .....2-13
Antenna .................... .4-90
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........5-76
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning
light ...................... .2-13
Appearance care Exterior appearance care ..........7-2
Interior appearance care ..........7-4
Armrest .................... .1-12
Around view monitor .............4-28
Audible reminders .............. .2-20
Audio operation precautions .........4-46
Audio system ................. .4-46
Audio system, Steering wheel audio
controls .................... .4-89
Auto closure .................. .3-17
Autolight
system ............... .2-36
Automatic Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) . . . .8-13
Climate control .............. 4-40
Driving with automatic transmission . . . 5-13
Automatic door locks ..............3-5
Automatic drive positioner ..........3-25
Automatic seat positioner ...........3-25
Average fuel consumption and speed . . . .2-27
Avoiding collision and rollover .........5-5 B
Back door (See lift gate) ............3-16
Battery ..................... .8-15
Battery Battery saver system ............2-37
Intelligent Key ............... 8-23
Variable voltage control system . ....8-17
Before starting the engine ...........5-12
Belts (See drive belts) .............8-17
Bluetooth hands-free phone system
(models with navigation system) ......4-104
Booster seats ................. .1-35
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......5-76
Brake fluid ................. 8-14
Brake system ................ 5-73
Parking brake operation ..........5-17
Brake warning light ............. .2-13
Break-in schedule .............. .5-68
Brightness control and display ON/OFF
button ...................... .4-7
Brightness control, Instrument panel . . . .2-39
Bulb check/instrument panel . . . . . . . . .2-12
Bulb replacement .............. .8-25
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Preview Function warning light........2-17
Push starting .................. .6-9
Push-button ignition switch ..........5-9
R
Radio ..................... .4-46
Radio Car phone or CB radio ..........4-103
FM-AM-SAT radio with Compact Disc (CD)
player .................... 4-61
Rain-sensing auto wiper system .......2-33
Rapid air pressure loss .............5-6
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M)
test ...................... .9-30
Rear Active Steer system ...........5-79
Rear Active Steer warning light ........2-17
Rear center seat belt ............. .1-19
Rear door lock, Child safety rear door lock . .3-6
Rear seats ................... .1-5
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch ..................... .2-35
Rear window wiper blades ..........8-21
Rearview monitor ............... .4-22
Recorders, Event data .............9-31
Registering your vehicle in another
country .................... .9-10
Remote controller (DVD) ...........4-102
Remote keyless entry system .........3-13
Reporting safety defects (US only) ......9-29
Roadside assistance program .........6-2
Rollover ..................... .5-5
Roof Moonroof ................. .2-56Roof rack
.................. 2-53
Safety
Child seat belts .............. .1-15
Reporting safety defects (US only) . . . 9-29
Towing safety ............... 9-23
S
Satellite radio operation ...........4-62
Seat adjustment Front power seat adjustment ........1-2
Front seats ..................1-2
Seat belt(s)
Child safety ................ .1-15
Infants .................... 1-15
Injured persons ............... 1-16
Larger
children ............... 1-15
Pre-crash seat belts with comfort
function ................... 1-16
Precautions on seat belt usage ......1-12
Pregnant women .............. 1-16
Rear center seat belt ...........1-19
Seat belt cleaning ..............7-5
Seat belt extenders ............1-19
Seat belt maintenance ..........1-20
Seat belt warning light and chime ....2-17
Seat belts .................. 1-12
Seat belts with pretensioners ......1-52
Shoulder belt height adjustment .....1-19
Small children ............... 1-15
Three-point type .............. 1-17
Seat synchronization function ........3-26
Seat(s) Climate controlled seats ..........2-41
Driver-side memory ............3-25Seats
.....................1-2
Security system (INFINITI Vehicle Immobilizer
System), Engine start .............2-31
Security system, Vehicle security system . .2-29
Selector lever Shift lock release ............. .5-16
Servicing air conditioner
(See automatic climate control) . . . .4-40 , 4-42
Servicing climate control ...........4-46
SETTING button ................ .4-13
Shift lock release Transmission ............... .5-16
Shifting, Automatic transmission .......5-13
Shoulder belt height adjustment, For front
seats ...................... .1-19
Small light indicator light ...........2-20
Snow mode switch .............. .2-43
Spare tire .................... .9-9
Spark plugs .................. .8-18
Speedometer .................. .2-6
Starting Before starting the engine .........5-12
Precautions when starting and driving . . 5-2
Starting
the engine ............ 5-12
STATUS button ................. .4-7
Status light, Front passenger air bag . . . .1-47
Steering Power steering fluid ............8-13
Power steering system ..........5-72
Rear Active Steer system .........5-79
Steering lock release malfunction
indicator .................. 2-23
Steering-wheel-mounted controls for
audio .................... 4-89
Tilt/telescopic steering ..........3-19
Storage .................... .2-46
10-6
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