VQ37VHR ENGINE
1. Fuse/fusible link holder (P. 8-19)
2. Battery (P. 8-13)
3. Engine oil filler cap (P. 8-8)
4. Brake fluid reservoir (P. 8-11)5. Clutch fluid reservoir
(Manual Transmission models) (P. 8-11)
6. Window washer fluid reservoir (P. 8-12)
7. Power steering fluid reservoir (P. 8-11)
8. Air cleaner (P. 8-17) 9. Radiator filler cap (P. 8-7)
10. Drive belts location (P. 8-15)
11. Engine Coolant reservoir (P. 8-7)
12. Engine oil dipstick (P. 8-8)
SSI0345
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Illustrated table of contents0-9
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WARNING LIGHTS
orAnti-lock Braking
System (ABS)
warning light
When the ignition switch is in the ON position,
the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning
light illuminates and then turns off. This indi-
cates the ABS is operational.
If the ABS warning light illuminates while the
engine is running, or while driving, it may
indicate the ABS is not functioning properly.
Have the system checked by an INFINITI retailer.
If an ABS malfunction occurs, the anti-lock
function is turned off. The brake system then
operates normally, but without anti-lock assis-
tance. (See “BRAKE SYSTEM” in the “5. Starting
and driving” section.)
Automatic transmission
check warning light (if so
equipped)
When the ignition switch is pushed to the ON
position, the light comes on for 2 seconds. If
the light comes on at any other time, it may
indicate the transmission is not functioning
properly. Have your INFINITI retailer check and
repair the transmission.
orBrake warning
light
This light functions for both the parking brake
and the foot brake systems.
Parking brake indicator
When the ignition switch is in the ON position,
the light comes on when the parking brake is
applied.
Low brake fluid warning light
When the ignition switch is in the ON position,
the light warns of a low brake fluid level. If the
light comes on while the engine is running with
the parking brake not applied, stop the vehicle
and perform the following:
1. Check the brake fluid level. If brake fluid isnecessary, add fluid and have the system
checked by your INFINITI retailer. (See
“BRAKE AND CLUTCH FLUID” in the “8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.)
2. If the brake fluid level is correct, have the warning system checked by an INFINITI
retailer.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning indica-
tor
When the parking brake is released and the
brake fluid level is sufficient, if both the brake
warning light and the Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) warning light illuminate, it may indicate
the ABS is not functioning properly. Have the
brake system checked, and if necessary re-
paired, by an INFINITI retailer promptly. (See
“Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning light”
earlier in this section.)
WARNING
●Your brake system may not be working prop-
erly if the warning light is on. Driving could
be dangerous. If you judge it to be safe, drive
carefully to the nearest service station for
repairs. Otherwise, have your vehicle towed
because driving it could be dangerous.
● Pressing the brake pedal with the engine
stopped and/or low brake fluid level may
increase your stopping distance and braking
will require greater pedal effort as well as
pedal travel.
● If the brake fluid level is below the minimum
or MIN mark on the brake fluid reservoir, do
not drive until the brake system has been
checked at an INFINITI retailer.
Instruments and controls2-9
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8. Intelligent Key battery discharge
indicator
This indicator appears when the Intelligent Key
battery is running out of power.
If this indicator appears, replace the battery
with a new one. (See “INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY
REPLACEMENT” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.)
9. Engine start operation indicator
(Manual Transmission models)
This indicator means that the engine will start
by pushing the ignition switch with the clutch
pedal depressed.
10. Parking brake release warning
This warning appears when the vehicle speed is
above 4 MPH (7 km/h) and the parking brake is
applied.
11. Low fuel warning
This warning appears when the fuel level in the
tank is getting low. Refuel as soon as it is
convenient, preferably before the fuel gauge
reaches the empty (E) position.
There is a small reserve of fuel remaining in the
tank when the fuel gauge reaches the empty (E)
position.
12. Low washer fluid warning
This warning appears when the washer tank
fluid is at a low level. Add washer fluid as
necessary. (See “WINDOW WASHER FLUID” in
the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion.)
13. Door/trunk open warning (ignition
switch is in the ON position)
This warning appears if any of the doors and/or
the trunk lid are open or not closed securely.
The vehicle icon indicates which door or the
trunk lid is open on the display.
14. Loose fuel cap warning (if so
equipped)
This warning appears when the fuel-filler cap is
not tightened correctly after the vehicle has
been refueled. (SeeFUEL-FILLER DOORin the
3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments sec-
tion.)
15. Check tire pressure warning (if so
equipped)
This warning appears when the low tire pres-
sure warning light in the meter illuminates to
indicate the low tire pressure. If this warning
appears, stop the vehicle and adjust the tire
pressure to the recommended COLD tire pres- sure shown on the Tire and Loading Information
label. (See
Low tire pressure warning light
earlier in this section and TIRE PRESSURE
WARNING SYSTEM (TPMS) in the5. Starting
and driving section.)
16. “Time to rest” indicator
This indicator appears when the set “time to
rest” indicator activates. You can set the time
for up to 6 hours. (See “TRIP COMPUTER” later
in this section.)
17. Low outside temperature warning
This warning appears if the outside temperature
is below 37°F (3°C). The warning can be set not
to be displayed. (See “TRIP COMPUTER” later in
this section.)
18. Cruise indicator
Cruise main switch indicator
The indicator is displayed when the cruise
control main switch is pushed. When the main
switch is pushed again, the indicator disap-
pears. When the cruise control main switch
indicator is displayed, the cruise control system
is operational.
Instruments and controls2-19
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●The trunk area is not included in the operat-
ing range but the Intelligent Key may func-
tion.
● If the Intelligent Key is placed on the instru-
ment panel, rear parcel shelf, inside the
glove box or door pocket, the Intelligent Key
may not function.
● If the Intelligent Key is placed near the door
or window outside the vehicle, the Intelli-
gent Key may function.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
OPERATION
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal (automatic trans-
mission model) or the clutch pedal (manual
transmission model), the ignition switch posi-
tion will change as follows:
● Push center once to change to ACC.
● Push center two times to change to ON.
● Push center three times to change to OFF.
(No position illuminates.)
● Push center four times to return to ACC.
● Open or close any door to return to LOCK
during the OFF position. The ignition switch is equipped with an anti-
theft steering lock device.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a right or left turn
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, shift the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. To unlock the steer-
ing wheel, push the ignition switch. If the steer-
ing lock release malfunction indicator appears
on the dot matrix liquid crystal display, push the
push-button ignition switch again while lightly
turning the steering wheel right and left. (See
“DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY” in the
“2. Instruments and controls” section.)
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged, the
push-button ignition switch cannot be turned
from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for operation are
displayed on the dot matrix liquid crystal dis-
play between the speedometer and tachometer.
(See “DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY” in
the “2. Instruments and controls” section.)
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NOTE:
The Intelligent Key port does not charge the In-
telligent Key battery. If you see the low battery
indicator in the dot matrix liquid crystal display,
replace the battery as soon as possible. (See
“INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY REPLACEMENT” in
the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion.)
CAUTION
●Never place anything except the Intelligent
Key in the Intelligent Key port. Doing so may
cause damage to the equipment.
● Make sure the Intelligent Key is in the cor-
rect direction when inserting it to the Intelli-
gent Key port. The engine may not start if it is
in the incorrect direction.
● Remove the Intelligent Key from the Intelli-
gent Key port after the ignition switch is
pushed to the OFF position. ●
Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
● Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid and window washer fluid as
frequently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
● Check that all windows and lights are clean.
● Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
● Lock all doors.
● Position seat and adjust head restraints.
● Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
● Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
● Check the operation of warning lights when
the ignition switch is pushed to the ON
position. (See “WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS
AND AUDIBLE REMINDERS” in the “2. Instru-
ments and controls” section.)
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Automatic Transmission (AT) model:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the selector lever is in either of the above
positions.
Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion. Depress the clutch pedal fully to the
floor.
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
The Intelligent Key must be carried when op-
erating the ignition switch.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
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3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi-tion. Depress the brake pedal (AT model)
or the clutch pedal (MT model) and push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push and
release the ignition switch while depressing
the brake pedal or the clutch pedal (MT model)
with the ignition switch in any position.
●If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold weather or when restart-
ing, depress the accelerator pedal a little
(approximately 1/3 to the floor) and while
holding, crank the engine. Release the
accelerator pedal when the engine starts.
● If the engine is very hard to start because
it is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Push the ignition switch to the ON posi-
tion to start cranking the engine. After 5
or 6 seconds, stop cranking by pushing
the ignition switch to OFF. After cranking
the engine, release the accelerator pedal.
Crank the engine with your foot off the
accelerator pedal by depressing the brake
pedal and the clutch pedal (MT model)
and pushing the push-button ignition
switch to start the engine. If the engine
starts, but fails to run, repeat the above
procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than 15
seconds at a time. If the engine does not start,
push the ignition switch to OFF and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, otherwise the
starter could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the en-
gine while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather. In cold weather, keep the
engine running for a minimum of2-3
minutes before shutting it off. Starting and
stopping the engine over a short period of
time may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
When racing the engine up to 4,000 rpm or
more under no load condition, the engine
will enter the fuel cut mode.
5. To stop the engine, shift the selector lever
to the P (Park) position (AT model) or
move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position (MT model), and push the igni-
tion switch to the OFF position.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7 speed automatic transmission
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission con-
trol module to produce maximum efficiency and
smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this transmis-
sion. Follow these procedures for maximum
vehicle performance and driving enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
After starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal and push the selector lever button
before shifting the selector lever to the R (Re-
verse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), DS (Drive Sport) or
Manual shift mode position. Be sure the vehicle
is fully stopped before attempting to shift the
selector lever.
This automatic transmission model is designed
so that the foot brake pedal must be depressed
before shifting from P (Park) to any drive posi-
tion while the ignition switch position is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of the P
(Park) position and into any of the other gear
positions if the ignition switch is pushed to the
LOCK, OFF or ACC position.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
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CAUTION
●Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may damage the clutch.
● Fully depress the clutch pedal before shift-
ing to help prevent transmission damage.
● Stop your vehicle completely before shifting
into the R (Reverse) position.
● When the vehicle is stopped with the engine
running for a period of time, for example at a
stop light, shift to the N (Neutral) position
and release the clutch pedal with the foot
brake applied.
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, fully depress the clutch pedal, fully
shift into the appropriate gear, then release the
clutch pedal slowly and smoothly.
This vehicle is equipped with a short throw
shifter manual transmission. To ensure smooth
gear changes, fully depress the clutch pedal
before operating the shift lever. If the clutch
pedal is not fully depressed before the trans-
mission is shifted, a gear noise may be heard.
Transmission damage could occur. Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd,
3rd, 4th and 5th up to 6th gear in sequence
according to vehicle speed.
To back up, depress the shift lever and then
move it to the R (Reverse) position after stop-
ping the vehicle completely.
The shift lever returns to its original position
when the shift lever is moved to the N (Neutral)
position.
If it is difficult to move the shift lever into the R
(Reverse) or 1st gear, shift the N (Neutral)
position, and then release the clutch pedal
once. Fully depress the clutch pedal again and
shift into the R (Reverse) or 1st gear.
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●on slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.)
● in very windy areas
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle control
and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not shift
into N (Neutral) without depressing the clutch
pedal when the cruise control is set. Should
this occur, depress the clutch pedal and turn
the main switch off immediately. Failure to do
so may cause engine damage.
1. RESUME/ACCELERATE switch
2. SET/COAST switch
3. CANCEL switch
4. MAIN (ON·OFF) switch
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 to 89 MPH (40 to 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control, push the MAIN
switch on. The CRUISE indicator will come on.
To set cruising speed, accelerate your vehicle to
the desired speed, push the SET/COAST switch
and release it. (The CRUISE SET indicator will come on in the instrument panel.) Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal. Your vehicle will
maintain the set speed.
●
To pass another vehicle, depress the accel-
erator pedal. When you release the pedal,
the vehicle will return to the previously set
speed.
● The vehicle may not maintain the set speed
on winding or hilly roads. If this happens,
drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed, follow any of these
methods:
a) Push the CANCEL button. The SET indica- tor will go out.
b) Tap the brake pedal. The SET indicator will go out.
c) Move the selector lever to the N (Neutral) position. The SET indicator will go out.
d) Turn the MAIN switch off. Both the CRUISE indicator and SET indicator will go out.
●If you depress the brake pedal while pushing
the RESUME/ACCELERATE or SET/COAST
switch and reset at the cruising speed, the
cruise control will disengage. Turn the MAIN
switch off once and then turn it on again.
● The cruise control will automatically cancel if
the vehicle slows more than 8 MPH (12
km/h) below the set speed.
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