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 VK56VD engine ............................................... 8-7
VQ37VHR engine ............................................. 8-9
Engine cooling system ....................................... 8-11 Checking engine coolant level ....................... 8-12
Changing engine coolant ............................... 8-12
Engine oil .......................................................... 8-13 Checking engine oil level............................... 8-13
Changing engine oil and filter ....................... 8-13
Automatic transmission fluid ............................. 8-16
Power steering fluid........................................... 8-16
Brake fluid......................................................... 8-17 Brake fluid .................................................... 8-17
Window washer fluid ......................................... 8-18
Battery .............................................................. 8-19 Jump starting ................................................ 8-20
Variable voltage control system ......................... 8-20 Drive belts ........................................................ 8-21
Spark plugs ...................................................... 8-21
Replacing spark plugs ................................. 8-22
Air cleaner ........................................................ 8-22
Windshield wiper blades ................................... 8-24 Cleaning ...................................................... 8-24
Replacing..................................................... 8-24
Brakes .............................................................. 8-25 Self-adjusting brakes ................................... 8-25
Brake pad wear warning .............................. 8-25
Fuses ................................................................ 8-26 Engine compartment .................................... 8-26
Passenger compartment............................... 8-28
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................... 8-29
Lights................................................................ 8-31 Headlights ................................................... 8-31
Exterior and interior lights ........................... 8-32
Wheels and tires ............................................... 8-34 Tire pressure ............................................... 8-34
Tire labeling ................................................ 8-38
Types of tires............................................... 8-40
Tire chains ................................................... 8-41
Changing wheels and tires........................... 8-41
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself
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) mechan-
ism: On a fairly steep hill, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the selector
leverintheP(Park)positionwithout
applying any brakes.
Brake pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation. 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
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only
the parking brake applied. If the parking
brake needs adjusted, see an INFINITI
retailer.
Seat belts: Check that all parts of the seat
belt system (for example, buckles, an-
chors, adjuster and retractors) operate
properly and smoothly, and are installed securely. Check the belt webbing 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 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
steering conditions, such as excessive free
play, hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure that
all warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air
comes out of the defroster outlets properly
and in sufficient quantity when operating
the heater or air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly
and that the wipers do not streak.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked periodically (for example, each
time you check the engine oil or refuel). Battery*:
Check the fluid level in each cell.
It should be between the MAX and MIN
lines. Vehicles operated in high tempera-
tures or under severe condition require
frequent checks of the battery fluid level.
Brake fluid level*: Make sure that the
brake fluid level is between the MAX and
MIN lines on the reservoir.
Engine coolant level*: Check the coolant
level when the engine is cold.
Engine drive belts*: Make sure that no belt
is frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*: Check the level after
parking the vehicle on a level spot and
turning off the engine. Wait more than 15
minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil
pan.
Exhaust system: Make sure there are no
loose supports, cracks or holes. If the
sound of the exhaust seems unusual or
there is a smell of exhaust fumes, im-
mediately have the exhaust system in-
spected by an INFINITI retailer. (See
“ Precautions when starting and driving ”
in the “5. Starting and driving ”section for
exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide).)
Fluid leaks: Check under the vehicle for
fuel, oil, water or other fluid leaks after the
vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner after use
is normal. If you should notice any leaks or
if gasoline fumes are evident, check for the
cause and have it corrected immediately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines:
Check the level when the fluid is cold,
with the engine off. Check the lines for
proper attachment, leaks, cracks, etc.
Radiator and hoses:Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects,
leaves, etc., that may have accumulated.
Make sure the hoses have no cracks,
deformation, rot or loose connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control dust.
It is very important to remove these
substances, otherwise rust will form on
the floor pan, frame, fuel lines and around
the exhaust system. At the end of winter,
the underbody should be thoroughly
flushed with plain water, being careful to
clean those areas where mud and dirt may
accumulate. For additional information,
see “Cleaning exterior ”in the “7. Appear-
ance and care ”section.
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there
is adequate fluid in the reservoir. When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The
following are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
.
Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply
the parking brake securely and block the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from
moving. Move the selector lever to P
(Park).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF
or LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the battery
or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
. Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
. If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans, belts
and any other moving parts. .
It is advisable to secure or remove any
loose clothing and remove any jewelry,
such as rings, watches, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection whenever
you work on your vehicle.
. Ifyoumustruntheengineinan
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
. Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel tank and the
battery.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come on
at any time without warning, even if the
ignition key is in the OFF position and
the engine is not running. To avoid
injury, always disconnect the negative
battery cable before working near the
fan.
. The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by an INFINITI retailer because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-5
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-8Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI2538
1. Battery
2. Fuse/fusible link holder
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Window washer fluid reservoir
6. Power steering fluid reservoir
7. Air cleaner
8. Radiator filler cap
9. Engine coolant reservoir
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. Drive belts
12. Fuse/fusible link holder
8-10Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI2537
1. Battery
2. Fuse/fusible link holder
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Window washer fluid reservoir
6. Power steering fluid reservoir
7. Air cleaner
8. Radiator filler cap
9. Engine coolant reservoir
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. Drive belts
12. Fuse/fusible link holder
8-18Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI2544
WARNING
Antifreeze is poisonous and should be
stored carefully in marked containers out
of the reach of children.
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir
periodically. Add window washer fluid
when the low window washer fluid warning
appears on the dot matrix liquid crystal
display.
To fill the window washer fluid reservoir,
lift the cap off the reservoir tank and pour
the window washer fluid into the tankopening.
Add a washer solvent to the washer for
better cleaning. In the winter season, add a
windshield washer antifreeze. Follow the
manufacturer
’s instructions for the mixture
ratio.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when
driving conditions require an increased
amount of window washer fluid.
Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN
Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner &
Antifreeze or equivalent.
CAUTION
. Do not substitute engine anti-freeze
coolant for window washer solution. This
may result in damage to the paint.
. Do not fill the window washer reservoir
tank with washer fluid concentrates at
full strength. Some methyl alcohol
based washer fluid concentrates may
permanently stain the grille if spilled
while filling the window washer reser-
voir tank.
. Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates with
water to the manufacturer ’srecom-
mended levels before pouring the fluid into the window washer reservoir tank.
Do not use the window washer reservoir
tank to mix the washer fluid concentrate
and water.
WINDOW WASHER FLUID
9-2Technical and consumer information
The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
instructed in the“8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself ”section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)
Recommended specifications
US measure Imp measure Liter
Fuel 20-1/8 gal16-3/4 gal 76 See“Fuel recommendation” later in this section.
Engine oil*2
Drain and refill
With oil filter change VQ37VHR
5-1/8 qt4-3/8 qt 4.9
.Engine oil with API Certification Mark*1*10
. Viscosity SAE 5W-30
VK56VD (2WD) 6-3/8 qt
5-1/4 qt6.0
(AWD) 6-1/2 qt 5-3/8 qt6.1
Without oil filter change VQ37VHR
4-7/8 qt4.0 qt 4.6
VK56VD (2WD) 6.0 qt 5.0 qt5.7
(AWD) 6-1/8 qt 5-1/8 qt5.8
Cooling system
With reservoir VQ37VHR
8-7/8 qt7-3/8 qt 8.4
Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or equivalent
VK56VD
11-1/2 qt9-5/8 qt 10.9
Reservoir VQ37VHR
7/8 qt3/4 qt 0.8
VK56VD 7/8 qt3/4 qt 0.8
Automatic transmission fluid ———Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF*3
Differential gear oil ———Front:
Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 or API GL-5 Viscosity SAE
80W-90*4
Rear:
API GL-5 synthetic gear oil, Viscosity SAE 75W-90*5
Transfer fluid ———Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF*6
Power steering fluid (PSF) Refill to the proper oil level according to the instructions in the “8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself ”section. Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent*7
Brake fluid Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*8 or equivalent DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease Without limited slip differential ———
NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
With limited slip differential ———
Air conditioning system refrigerant ———HFC-134a (R-134a)*9
Air conditioning system lubricants ———NISSAN A/C System Oil
Type S or exact equivalent
Window washer fluid ———Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Antifreeze or equivalent
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED FUEL/
LUBRICANTS
Engine oil and oil filter recommendation ........ 9-6
Engine oil replacement indicator .................. 2-25
Engine oil viscosity ........................................ 9-6
Engine serial number ................................... 9-12
Engine specifications ..................................... 9-8
Engine start operation indicator ................... 2-22
If your vehicle overheats .............................. 6-11
Starting the engine ...................................... 5-13
Engine coolant temperature gauge ...................... 2-8
Entry/exit function
Automatic drive positioner ........................... 3-28
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................... 9-23
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) .......................... 5-3
F
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label ............. 9-12
Filter Air cleaner housing filter .............................. 8-22
Changing engine oil and filter ...................... 8-13
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher switch) .... 2-40
Flat tire ............................................................... 6-2
Flat towing ........................................................ 9-19
Floor mat cleaning .............................................. 7-5
Floor mat positioning aid .................................... 7-6
Fluid Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ............... 8-16
Brake fluid ................................................... 8-17
Capacities and
recommended fuel/lubricants ........................ 9-2
Engine coolant ............................................. 8-11
Engine oil .................................................... 8-13 Power steering fluid ..................................... 8-16
Window washer fluid ................................... 8-18
FM-AM-SAT radio with Compact Disc
(CD) player ........................................................ 4-61
Fog light switch ................................................ 2-39
Forest Air
TM....................................................... 4-42
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system ........... 5-82
Front passenger air bag and status light ........... 1-46
Front power seat adjustment ............................... 1-3
Front seat
Front seat adjustment .................................... 1-3
Front-seat active head restraints ......................... 1-7
Fuel
Capacities and
recommended fuel/lubricants ........................ 9-2
Fuel economy............................................... 5-90
Fuel economy information (display) .............. 4-12
Fuel octane rating .......................................... 9-4
Fuel recommendation ..................................... 9-4
Fuel-filler cap ............................................... 3-21
Fuel-filler door ............................................. 3-21
Gauge ............................................................ 2-9
Fuses ................................................................ 8-26
Fusible links ..................................................... 8-27
G
Garage door opener HomeLink®Universal Transceiver ................. 2-61
Gas cap ............................................................ 3-21
Gauge .......................................................... 0-9, 2-6
Engine coolant temperature gauge ................. 2-8 Fuel gauge ..................................................... 2-9
Odometer....................................................... 2-6
Speedometer ................................................. 2-6
Tachometer .................................................... 2-7
Trip computer .............................................. 2-26
General maintenance .......................................... 8-3
Glove box ......................................................... 2-50
H
Hands-free phone system Bluetooth®(models with
navigation system) ....................................... 4-89
Bluetooth
®(models without
navigation system) ..................................... 4-100
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................... 2-40
Head restraints ................................................... 1-4
Headlights Aiming control (See adaptive front lighting
system (AFS)) ............................................... 2-37
Bulb replacement ......................................... 8-31
Headlight switch .......................................... 2-35
Xenon headlights ......................................... 2-34
Headrest Adjustable headrests ..................................... 1-8
Heated seats .................................................... 2-41
Heated steering wheel ...................................... 2-40
Heater Automatic climate control ............................ 4-33
Engine block heater ................................... 5-102
Hill start assist system ................................... 5-100
HomeLink
®Universal Transceiver ...................... 2-61
10-3