INDICATOR LIGHTS
For additional information, refer to “Vehicle infor-
mation display” in this section.
Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT) position
indicator light
When the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, this indicator light shows the shift lever
position. For additional information, refer to “Driv-
ing the vehicle” in the “Starting and driving” sec-
tion of this manual.
Front fog light indicator light
(green)
The front fog light indicator light illuminates when
the front fog lights are ON. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Fog light switch” in this section.
Front passenger air bag status
light
The front passenger air bag status light will be lit
and the passenger front air bag will be OFF
depending on how the front passenger seat is
being used.
For additional information, refer to “Front passen-
ger air bag and status light” in the “Safety —Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint sys-
tem” section of this manual.
High beam indicator light
(blue)
This blue light comes on when the headlight high
beams are on and goes out when the low beams
are selected.
The high beam indicator light also comes on
when the passing signal is activated.
Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)
If this indicator light comes on steady or blinks
while the engine is running, it may indicate a
potential emission control malfunction.
The MIL may also come on steady if the fuel-filler
cap is loose or missing, or if the vehicle runs out
of fuel. Check to make sure the fuel-filler cap is
installed and closed tightly, and that the vehicle
has at least 3 gal (11.4 L) of fuel in the fuel tank.
After a few driving trips, the
light should
turn off if no other potential emission control
system malfunction exists.
If this indicator light comes on steady for 20 sec-
onds and then blinks for 10 seconds when the
engine is not running, it indicates that the vehicle
is not ready for an emission control systeminspection/maintenance test. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Readiness for
inspection/maintenance (I/M) test” in the “Tech-
nical and consumer information” section of this
manual.
Operation
The MIL will come on in one of two ways:
●MIL on steady — An emission control system
malfunction has been detected. Check the
fuel-filler cap if the LOOSE FUEL CAP
warning appears in the vehicle information
display. If the fuel-filler cap is loose or miss-
ing, tighten or install the cap and continue to
drive the vehicle. The
light should turn
off after a few driving trips. If the
light
does not turn off after a few driving trips,
have the vehicle inspected. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service. You do not need to have your vehicle
towed to the retailer.
●MIL blinking — An engine misfire has been
detected which may damage the emission
control system. To reduce or avoid emission
control system damage:
– do not drive at speeds above 72 km
(45 mph) .
– avoid hard acceleration or deceleration.
Instruments and controls2-13
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT)
WARNING
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , D (Drive) , or M
(Manual shift mode) . Always depress
the brake pedal until shifting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause you
to lose control and have an accident.
●Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
●Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. this may cause a loss of control.
●Never shift to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is re-
versing. This could cause an accident or
damage the transmission.
●Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
CAUTION
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by depress-
ing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake
should be used for this purpose.
The CVT in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled to produce maximum power and smooth
operation.
The recommended operating procedures for this
transmission are shown on the following pages.
Follow these procedures for maximum vehicle
performance and driving enjoyment.
Engine power may be automatically re-
duced to protect the CVT if the engine
speed increases quickly when driving on
slippery roads or while being tested on
some dynamometers.
Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal before moving the shift
lever out of the P (Park) position.
This CVT is designed so that the foot
brake pedal must be depressed before
shifting from P (Park) to any driving
position while the ignition switch is in
the ON position.The shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of
the other positions if the ignition
switch is placed in the LOCK, OFF or
ACC position while the ready light illu-
minates.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
move the shift lever to a driving position.
3. Release the parking brake and foot brake
pedal and then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
WARNING
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) or D (Drive) position.
Always depress the brake pedal until
shifting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
●Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-18Starting and driving
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the
R (Reverse) position only when the vehicle
is completely stopped.
Use the R (Reverse) position to back up. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position.The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift lever
from P (Park) , N (Neutral) or any drive po-
sition to R (Reverse) .
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
engine can be started in this position. You may
shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled engine
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
Manual shift mode
When the shift lever is in the manual shift gate,
the transmission is ready for the manual shift
mode. Shift ranges can be selected manually by
moving the shift lever up or down. To cancelmanual shift mode, return the shift lever to the D
(Drive) position. The transmission returns to au-
tomatic driving mode.
When the shift lever is shifted from D (Drive) to
the manual shift gate with the vehicle stopped or
while driving, the transmission enters the manual
shift mode. Shift ranges can be selected manu-
ally. In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the meter.
When shifting the shift lever to the manual shift
gate, the position indicator displays 1 (1st) up to
7 (7th) depending on vehicle speed.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
1⇔2⇔3⇔4⇔5⇔6⇔7
7 (7th)
Use this position for all normal forward driving at
highway speeds.
6 (6th) and 5 (5th)
Use this position when driving up long slopes, or
for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.
4 (4th) , 3 (3rd) and 2 (2nd)
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.1 (1st)
Use this position when climbing steep hills slowly
or when driving slowly, or for maximum engine
braking on steep downhill grades.
●Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 7th
gear. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up
Move the shift lever to the + (up) side. (Shifts to
higher range.)
When shifting down
Move the shift lever to the(down) side. (Shifts
to lower range.)
●The transmission will automatically down-
shift the gears. (For example, if you select the
3rd range, the transmission will shift down
between the 3rd and 1st gears.)
●Moving the shift lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succession.
When canceling the manual shift mode
Return the shift lever to the D (Drive) position to
return the transmission to the normal driving
mode.
5-20Starting and driving
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid temperature
protection mode. If the fluid temperature be-
comes too high (for example, when climbing
steep grades in high temperatures with heavy
loads, such as when towing a trailer) , engine
power and, under some conditions, vehicle
speed will be decreased automatically to reduce
the chance of transmission damage. Vehicle
speed can be controlled with the accelerator
pedal, but the engine and vehicle speed may be
limited.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, the CVT will
not be shifted into the selected driving position.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. The Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) may come on to indi-
cate the fail-safe mode is activated. For
additional information, refer to “Malfunc-
tion Indicator Light (MIL)” in the “Instru-
ments and controls” section of this manual.
This will occur even if all electrical circuits
are functioning properly. In this case, place
the ignition switch in the OFF position andwait for 10 seconds. Then place the ignition
switch back in the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have the transmission
checked and repaired, if necessary. It is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually reduced.
The reduced speed may be lower than
other traffic, which could increase the
chance of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If necessary, pull to the side
of the road at a safe place and allow the
transmission to return to normal opera-
tion, or have it repaired if necessary.
WARNING
●Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
●Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
●Do not use the shift lever in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
●To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and /or its systems, do not leave
children, people who require the assis-
tance of others or pets unattended in
your vehicle. Additionally, the tempera-
ture inside a closed vehicle on a warm
day can quickly become high enough to
cause a significant risk of injury or
death to people and pets.
PARKING BRAKE
5-22Starting and driving
CAUTION
●Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
●Avoid contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine
oil, engine coolant and/or other vehicle
fluids can damage the environment. Al-
ways conform to local regulations for
disposal of vehicle fluid.
●Never leave the engine or Continuously
Variable Transmission (CVT) related
component harnesses disconnected
while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
●Never connect or disconnect the battery
or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
This “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items
which are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A Genuine INFINITI service manual is also avail-
able. For additional information, refer to “Owner’s
Manual/Service Manual order information” in the
“Technical and consumer information” section of
this manual.You should be aware that incomplete or improper
servicing may result in operating difficulties or
excessive emissions, and could affect warranty
coverage.If in doubt about any servicing, it
is recommended that you have it done by
an INFINITI retailer.
8-6Maintenance and do-it-yourself
The engine cooling system is filled at the factory
with a pre-diluted mixture of 50% Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) and
50% water to provide year-round antifreeze and
coolant protection. The antifreeze solution con-
tains rust and corrosion inhibitors. Additional en-
gine cooling system additives are not necessary.
WARNING
●Never remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap when the engine is hot.
Wait until the engine and radiator cool
down. Serious burns could be caused
by high pressure fluid escaping from
the radiator. For additional information
on precautions, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” found in the “In case of
emergency” section of this manual.
●The radiator is equipped with a pres-
sure type radiator cap. To prevent en-
gine damage, use only a Genuine
NISSAN radiator cap.
CAUTION
●Never use any cooling system additives
such as radiator sealer. Additives may
clog the cooling system and cause dam-
age to the engine, transmission and/or
cooling system.
●When adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-diluted
to provide antifreeze protection to -34°
F (-37° C) . If additional freeze protection
is needed due to weather where you
operate your vehicle, add Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant
(blue) concentrate following the direc-
tions on the container. If an equivalent
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is
used, follow the coolant manufacturer’s
instructions to maintain minimum anti-
freeze protection to -34° F (-37° C) . The
use of other types of coolant solutions
other than Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or equivalent
may damage the engine cooling
system.●The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 105,000 miles (168,000 km) or
7 years. Mixing any other type of cool-
ant other than Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) , includ-
ing Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (green) , or the use
of non-distilled water will reduce the
life expectancy of the factory-fill cool-
ant. For additional information, refer to
the INFINITI Service and Maintenance
Guide.
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
8-8Maintenance and do-it-yourself
CAUTION
●INFINITI recommends using Genuine
NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 (or equivalent)
ONLY in INFINITI CVTs. Do not mix with
other fluids.
●Do not use Automatic transmission
fluid (ATF) or Manual transmission fluid
in an INFINITI CVT, as it may damage
the CVT. Damage caused by the use of
fluids other than as recommended is
not covered under INFINITI’s New Ve-
hicle Limited Warranty.
●Using fluids that are not equivalent to
Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 may
also damage the CVT. Damage caused
by the use of fluids other than as recom-
mended is not covered under INFINITI’s
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
When checking or replacement of CVT fluid is
required, we recommend an INFINITI retailer for
servicing.Check the fluid level in the reservoir.
The fluid level should be checked when the fluid
is cold at fluid temperatures of 32 to 86ºF (0 to
30ºC) . The fluid level can be checked with the
level gauge which is attached to the cap. To
check the fluid level, remove the cap. The fluid
level should be between the MAX
Aand MINB
lines.
If the fluid is below the MIN
Bline, add Genuine
NISSAN E-PSF or equivalent. Remove the cap
and fill through the opening.
WARNING
Power steering fluid is poisonous and
should be stored carefully in marked con-
tainers out of the reach of children.
CAUTION
●DO NOT OVERFILL.
●Use of a power steering fluid other than
Genuine NISSAN E-PSF or equivalent
will prevent the power steering system
from operating properly.
LDI2861
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT) FLUIDPOWER STEERING FLUID
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-13
The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be slightly different. When refilling, follow the procedure
described in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Fluid types Capacity (Approximate) Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
US measure Imp measure Liter
Fuel 19-1/2 gal 16-1/4 gal 74 L• For additional information, refer to “Fuel recom-
mendation” in this section.
Engine oil
Drain and refillVQ35DEWith oil filter
change5-1/8 qt 4-1/4 qt 4.8 L• Genuine NISSAN engine oil or equivalent
• Viscosity SAE 0W-20
• As an alternative to this recommended oil, SAE
5W-30 conventions petroleum oils may be used.
• For additional information, refer to “Engine oil
and oil filter recommendations” in this section of
the manual.
• For additional information, refer to “Engine oil”
in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
of this manual.
• For additional information, refer to “Engine oil”
in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
of this manual. Without oil filter
change4-3/4 qt 4 qt 4.5 L
Engine coolant With reservoir 2-1/2 gal 2-1/8 gal9.6 L • Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or equivalent
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid — — —• Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3
• INFINITI recommends using Genuine NISSAN
CVT Fluid NS-3 ONLY in INFINITI CVTs. Do not
mix with other fluids. Using fluids that are not
equivalent to Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3
may damage the CVT. Damage caused by the
use of fluids other than as recommended is not
covered under the INFINITI New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
RECOMMENDED FLUIDS/
LUBRICANTS AND CAPACITIES
9-2Technical and consumer information