2012 INFINITI FX steering

The Rear Active Steer system is an electro-
nically controlled four-wheel steering sys-
tem.
The angle of the rear wheels are adjusted
by the Rear Active Steer system, depending
on the vehicle 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
Rear Active Steer function will stop but the
ordinary two-wheel steering system will
operate normally. The“RAS”warning light
will illuminate. If the light illuminates while
driving, contact an INFINITI retailer for
repair.
WARNING
The Rear Active Steer system, although a
sophisticated device, cannot prevent acci-
dents resulting from careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Ultimately the responsi-
bility for safety of self and others rests in
the hands of the driver. Therefore only through attentive and careful driving meth-
ods can the Rear Active Steer system be
fully appreciated and safety assured.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole or use the
Intelligent Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 328F
(08C), check antifreeze to assure proper
winter protection. For additional informa-
tion, see “Engine cooling system” (P.8-9).
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 “Battery”
(P.8-17).
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, in-
cluding the engine block. Refill before
operating the vehicle. For details, see
“Engine cooling system” (P.8-9).
Starting and driving5-85
REAR ACTIVE STEER SYSTEM (if so
equipped) COLD WEATHER DRIVING

5-86Starting and driving
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced 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.
Consult an INFINITI retailer for the tire
type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
For additional traction on icy roads,
studded tires may be used. However, some
U.S. states and Canadian provinces prohi-
bit their use. Check local, state and
provincial laws before installing studded
tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see
“Tire chains”(P.8-39) of this manual.
For all-wheel drive
If you install snow tires, they must also be
the same size, brand, construction and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
.A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to
remove ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.
. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under
the jack to give it firm support.
. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of
snowdrifts.
. Extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
. Wet ice (328F, 0 8C 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 “grip”under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.
. 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.
. Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
. Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
. Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise clear
road in shaded areas. If a patch of ice is
seen ahead, brake before reaching it. Try
not to brake while on the ice, and avoid
any sudden steering maneuvers.
. Do not use the cruise control on slippery
roads.
. Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gases
under your vehicle. Keep snow clear of
the exhaust pipe and from around your
vehicle.

6-2In case of emergency
In the event of a roadside emergency,
Roadside Assistance Service is available to
you. Please refer to your Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet (U.S.) or Warranty & Roadside
Assistance Information Booklet (Canada)
for details.To shut off the engine in an emergency
situation while driving perform the follow-
ing procedure:
.
Rapidly push the push-button ignition
switch 3 consecutive times in less than
1.5 seconds, or
. Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds.TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYS-
TEM (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 and the CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE warning appears on the dot
matrix liquid crystal display, one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
If the vehicle is being driven with low tire
pressure, the TPMS will activate and warn
you of it by the low tire pressure warning
light. This system will activate only when
the vehicle is driven at speeds above 16
MPH (25 km/h). For more details, see
“Warning/indicator lights and audible re-
minders” (P.2-12),“TIRE PRESSURE infor-
mation” (P.4-11) and “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” (P.5-4).
WARNING
.If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates or LOW PRESSURE informa-
tion is displayed on the monitor screen
while driving, avoid sudden steering
maneuvers or abrupt braking, reduce
vehicle speed, pull off the road to a safe
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFF FLAT TIRE

6-12In case of emergency
When towing your vehicle, all State (Pro-
vincial in Canada) and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle.
Towing instructions are available from an
INFINITI retailer. Local service operators are
familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage
to your vehicle, INFINITI recommends that
you have a service operator tow your
vehicle. It is advisable to have the service
operator carefully read the following pre-
cautions.
WARNING
.Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
. Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
.When towing, make sure that the trans-
mission, axles, steering system and
powertrain are in working condition. If
any unit is damaged, dollies must be used.
. Always attach safety chains before tow-
ing.
For information about towing your vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle (RV), see
“Flat towing” (P.9-27) of this manual.
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
Warranty & Roadside Assistance Informa-
tion Booklet (Canada).
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE

SCE0768
Two-wheel drive models
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 illustrated.
CAUTION
.Never tow automatic transmission mod-
els 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 transmis-
sion. If it is necessary 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.
In case of emergency6-13

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 specifically for vehicle recovery.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for the recovery device.
Securely install the vehicle recovery hook
*1stored 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 structural 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,
steering, brake or cooling systems.
. Pulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle 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 backward.
.Shift back and forth between R
(reverse) and D (drive).
.Apply the accelerator as little aspossible to maintain the rocking
motion.
.Release the accelerator pedal beforeshifting 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
service to remove the vehicle.
In case of emergency6-15

8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirement .................................... 8-2Scheduled maintenance .................................. 8-2
General maintenance....................................... 8-2
Where to go for service ................................... 8-2
General maintenance ........................................... 8-3 Explanation of maintenance items ................... 8-3
Maintenance precautions ..................................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ................... 8-7 VQ35HR engine ............................................... 8-7
VK50VE engine ................................................ 8-8
Engine cooling system ......................................... 8-9 Checking engine coolant level ....................... 8-10
Changing engine coolant ............................... 8-11
Engine oil .......................................................... 8-11 Checking engine oil level............................... 8-12Changing engine oil and filter ....................... 8-12
Automatic transmission fluid ............................. 8-15
Power steering fluid........................................... 8-15
Brake fluid......................................................... 8-16 Brake fluid .................................................... 8-16
Window washer fluid ......................................... 8-16
Battery .............................................................. 8-17 Jump starting ................................................ 8-19
Variable voltage control system ......................... 8-19 Drive Belts ........................................................ 8-19
Spark plugs ...................................................... 8-20
Replacing spark plugs ................................. 8-21
Air cleaner ........................................................ 8-21
Windshield wiper blades ................................... 8-22 Cleaning ...................................................... 8-22
Replacing..................................................... 8-23
Rear window wiper blades ................................ 8-24
Brakes .............................................................. 8-24 Self-adjusting brakes ................................... 8-24
Brake pad wear warning .............................. 8-24
Fuses ................................................................ 8-25 Engine compartment .................................... 8-25
Passenger compartment............................... 8-26
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................... 8-27
Lights................................................................ 8-29
Headlights ................................................... 8-30
Exterior and interior lights ........................... 8-30
Wheels and tires ............................................... 8-32 Tire pressure ............................................... 8-32
Tire labeling ................................................ 8-36
Types of tires............................................... 8-38
Tire chains ................................................... 8-39
Changing wheels and tires........................... 8-39

During the normal day-to-day operation of
the vehicle, general maintenance should
be performed regularly as prescribed in
this section. If you detect any unusual
sounds, vibrations or smell, be sure to
check for the cause or have an INFINITI
retailer do it promptly. In addition, you
should notify an INFINITI retailer if you
think that repairs are required.
When performing any checks or mainte-
nance work, see“Maintenance precau-
tions” (P.8-5).
EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found later in this
section.
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
properly. Also ensure that all latches lock
securely. Lubricate hinges, latches, latch
pins, rollers and links 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 lubrication
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 headlight
aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*: When check-
ing 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 necessary, adjust the pressure in
all tires, including the spare, to the
pressure specified. Check carefully for
damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components: Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and
cap when the tires are replaced due to
wear or age.
Tire, wheel alignment and balance: If thevehicle 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 Book-
let.
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.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
GENERAL MAINTENANCE