
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 ...
........................................... 8-3
Explanation of maintenance items ...
................... 8-3
Maintenance precautions ...
..................................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ...
................... 8-7
VQ37VHR engine ...
............................................. 8-7
Engine cooling system ...
......................................... 8-8
Checking engine coolant level ...
......................... 8-9
Changing engine coolant ...
................................. 8-9
Engine oil ...
.......................................................... 8-10
Checking engine oil level ...
............................... 8-10
Changing engine oil and filter ...
....................... 8-10
Automatic transmission fluid ...
............................. 8-12
Power steering fluid ...
........................................... 8-13
Brake and clutch fluid ...
....................................... 8-13
Brake fluid ...
.................................................... 8-14
Clutch fluid (if so equipped) ...
.......................... 8-14
Window washer fluid ...
......................................... 8-14
Battery ...
.............................................................. 8-15
Jump starting ...
................................................ 8-17
Variable voltage control system ...
......................... 8-17 Drive belt
...
.......................................................... 8-17
Spark plugs ...
...................................................... 8-18
Replacing spark plugs ...
................................. 8-18
Air cleaner ...
........................................................ 8-19
Windshield wiper blades ...
................................... 8-20
Cleaning ...
...................................................... 8-20
Replacing ...
..................................................... 8-20
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 ...
................... 8-24
Lights ...
................................................................ 8-26
Headlights ...
................................................... 8-26
Exterior and interior lights ...
........................... 8-27
Wheels and tires ...
............................................... 8-29
Tire pressure ...
............................................... 8-29
Tire labeling ...
................................................ 8-32
Types of tires ...
............................................... 8-34
Tire chains ...
................................................... 8-35
Changing wheels and tires ...
........................... 8-35

GUID-7E681473-8113-4EFB-B5DA-7A7484E2409FDuring 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
GUID-4DADA991-350E-4791-AC1F-B7D348E957C5Additional information on the following
items with “*”is found later in this
section.
Outside the vehicleGUID-935F9711-28E8-44B7-926E-055C6CC77282The 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
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 cannot be rotated, as
front tires are a different size from rear
tires and the direction of wheel rotation is
fixed in each tire.
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 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 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 vehicleGUID-AAA8A546-692D-407E-9E98-33BD16F490A2The maintenance items listed here should
be checked on a regular basis, such as
when performing scheduled maintenance,
cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
GENERAL MAINTENANCE

GUID-1FF8645E-BD26-49E1-8ACE-3D93C44CADF6If you have a flat tire, see“Flat tire”(P.6-
2).
TIRE PRESSUREGUID-BDD15B46-98E3-4A60-8D4D-2328B8986E37
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
GUID-92F1DBE9-C4EF-4679-8E12-AEDD5231258DThis 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.
The TPMS will activate only when the
vehicle is driven at speeds above 16 MPH
(25 km/h). Also, this system may not
detect a sudden drop in tire pressure (for
example a flat tire while driving).
For more details, see “Low tire pressure
warning light” (P.2-12),“Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” (P.5-4) and
“Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)”
(P.6-2).
Tire inflation pressureGUID-1E5BCB99-CF5B-436E-822C-36E9EA89ED84Check the pressure of the tires
(including the spare) often and al- ways prior to long distance trips. The
recommended tire pressure specifi-
cations are shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label under the
“Cold Tire Pressure”
heading. The
Tire and Loading Information label is
affixed to the driver side center pillar.
Tire pressures should be checked
regularly because:
.Most tires naturally lose air over time.
.Tires can lose air suddenly whendriven over potholes or other
objects or if the vehicle strikes a
curb while parking.
The tire pressures should be checked
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
moderate speeds.
Incorrect tire pressure, including
under inflation, may adversely affect
tire life and vehicle handling.
WARNING
. Improperly inflated tires can fail
suddenly and cause an accident.
. 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 indicated on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. Do not load your vehicle
beyond this capacity. Overloading
your vehicle may result in reduced
tire life, unsafe operating condi-
tions due to premature tire failure,
or unfavorable handling character-
istics and could also lead to a
serious accident. Loading beyond
the specified capacity may also
result in failure of other vehicle
components.
. Before taking a long trip, or
whenever you heavily load your
vehicle, use a tire pressure gauge
to ensure that the tire pressures
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-29
WHEELS AND TIRES

8-30Maintenance and do-it-yourself
are at the specified level.
. For additional information regard-
ing tires, refer to “Important Tire
Safety Information ”(US) or “Tire
Safety Information ”(Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
SDI2720
Tire and Loading Information labelGUID-0CCE6085-7E8E-4C48-ABCC-DBD2555096F8*1Seating capacity: The maximum
number of occupants that can be
seated in the vehicle.
*2Vehicle load limit: See “Vehicle
loading information” (P.9-17).
*3Original size: The size of the tires
originally installed on the vehicle
at the factory.
*4Cold tire pressure: Inflate the
tires to this pressure when the
tires are cold. Tires are consid-

ered COLD after the vehicle has
been parked for 3 or more hours,
or driven less than 1 mile (1.6
km) at moderate speeds. The
recommended cold tire inflation
is set by the manufacturer to
provide the best balance of tire
wear, vehicle handling, driveabil-
ity, tire noise, etc., up to the
vehicle’s GVWR.
*5Tire size—see “Tire labeling”
(P.8-32).
*6Spare tire size or compact spare
tire size (if so equipped)
SDI1949
Checking the tire pressureGUID-6180484A-6593-4643-801D-6889016CD8CA1.Remove the valve stem cap from
the tire.
2.Press the pressure gauge
squarely onto the valve stem. Do
not press too hard or force the
valve stem sideways, or air will
escape. If the hissing sound of air
escaping from the tire is heard
while checking the pressure, re-
position the gauge to eliminate
this leakage.
3.Remove the gauge.
4.Read the tire pressure on the
gauge stem and compare it to
the specification shown on the
Tire and Loading Information la-
bel.
5.Add air to the tire as needed. If
too much air is added, press the
core of the valve stem briefly with
the tip of the gauge stem to
release pressure. Recheck the
pressure and add or release air
as needed.
6.Install the valve stem cap.
7.Check the pressure of all other
tires, including the spare.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-31

8-32Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SIZECOLD TIRE
INFLATION
PRESSURE
FRONT
ORIGINAL TIRE 225/45R19 96W
XL
270 kPa,
39 PSI
P225/50R18 94V 260 kPa,
38 PSI
REAR ORI-
GINAL TIRE 245/40R19 98W
XL
270 kPa,
39 PSI
P245/45R18 96V 260 kPa,
38 PSI
SPARE TIRE T145/70D18
107M 420 kPa,
60PSI
SDI1575
Example
TIRE LABELINGGUID-C591E2BD-CAF2-47B8-A4FE-A6CF0FC5130AFederal law requires tire manufac-
turers to place standardized informa-
tion on the sidewall of all tires. This
information identifies and describes
the fundamental characteristics of
the tire and also provides the tire
identification number (TIN) for safety
standard certification. The TIN can be
used to identify the tire in case of a
recall.
SDI1606
Example*1Tire size (example: P215/60R16
94H)
1.P: The
“P”indicates the tire is
designed for passenger vehicles.
(Not all tires have this informa-
tion.)
2.Three-digit number (215): This
number gives the width in milli-
meters of the tire from sidewall
edge to sidewall edge.
3.Two-digit number (60): This num-
ber, known as the aspect ratio,

gives the tire’s ratio of height to
width.
4.R: The“R”stands for radial.
5.Two-digit number (16): This num-
ber is the wheel or rim diameter in
inches.
6.Two- or three-digit number (94):
This number is the tire’s load
index. It is a measurement of
how much weight each tire can
support. You may not find this
information on all tires because it
is not required by law.
7.H: Tire speed rating. You should
not drive the vehicle faster than
the tire speed rating.
SDI1607
Example*2TIN (Tire Identification Number)
for a new tire (example: DOT XX XX
XXX XXXX)
1.DOT: Abbreviation for the “Depart-
ment of Transportation”. The sym-
bol can be placed above, below or
to the left or right of the Tire
Identification Number.
2.Two-digit code: Manufacturer’s
identification mark
3.Two-digit code: Tire size
4.Three-digit code: Tire type code
(Optional)
5.Three-digit code: Date of Manu-
facture
6.Four numbers represent the week
and year the tire was built. For
example, the numbers 3103
means the 31st week of 2003. If
these numbers are missing, then
look on the other sidewall of the
tire.
*3Tire ply composition and materi-
al
The number of layers or plies of
rubber-coated fabric in the tire.
Tire manufacturers also must
indicate the materials in the tire,
which include steel, nylon,
polyester, and others.
*4Maximum permissible inflation
pressure
This number is the greatest
amount of air pressure that
should be put in the tire. Do
not exceed the maximum per-
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-33

8-34Maintenance and do-it-yourself
missible inflation pressure.
*5Maximum load rating
This number indicates the max-
imum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by
the tire. When replacing the tires
on the vehicle, always use a tire
that has the same load rating as
the factory installed tire.
*6Term of“tubeless” or“tube
type”
Indicates whether the tire re-
quires an inner tube (“tube
type”) or not (“tubeless”).
*7The word “radial”
The word “radial”is shown, if
the tire has radial structure.
*8Manufacturer or brand name
Manufacturer or brand name is
shown.
Other tire-related terminology:
In addition to the many terms that
are defined throughout this section,
Intended Outboard Sidewall is (1) the
sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white lettering or bears manu-
facturer, brand and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than
the same molding on the other side-
wall of the tire, or (2) the outward
facing sidewall of an asymmetrical
tire that has a particular side that
must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRESGUID-0F3309CD-2C8B-4C37-9605-B2B74CF8D48F
WARNING
.
When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(Example: Summer, All Season or Snow)
and construction. An INFINITI retailer
may be able to help you with information
about tire type, size, speed rating and
availability.
. Replacement tires may have a lower
speed rating than the factory equipped
tires, and may not match the potential
maximum vehicle speed. Never exceed
the maximum speed rating of the tire.
. Replacing tires with those not originally specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
. For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or“Tire Safety Infor-
mation” (Canada) in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet.
All season tiresGUID-AA383A95-D373-488B-A8E8-CDBF6791B263INFINITI specifies all season tires on some
models to provide good performance all
year, including snowy and icy road condi-
tions. All Season tires are identified by ALL
SEASON and/or M&S (Mud and Snow) on
the tire sidewall. Snow tires have better
snow traction than All Season tires and
may be more appropriate in some areas.
Summer tiresGUID-B04DEE83-96EC-4740-BF40-CCAB483BBE93INFINITI specifies summer tires on some
models to provide superior performance on
dry roads. Summer tire performance is
substantially reduced in snow and ice.
Summer tires do not have the tire traction
rating M&S on the tire sidewall.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in snowy
or icy conditions, INFINITI recommends the
use of SNOW tires or ALL SEASON tires on