being pulled, use the recovery hook stored in
the vehicle trunk.
WARNING
•Use the recovery hook only. Do not attach
the pulling device to any other part of the
vehicle body. Otherwise, the vehicle body
may be damaged.
•Use the recovery hook to free a vehicle only.
Never tow a vehicle using only the recovery
hook.
•The recovery hook is under tremendous
stress when used to free a trapped vehicle.
Always pull the pulling device straight out
from the vehicle. Never pull on the recovery
hook at an angle.
Securely install the recovery hook (stored in the
vehicle trunk) to the attaching mount located on
the front or rear bumper.
Make sure that the recovery hook is properly
secured in its storage location after use and the
license plate is properly reinstalled before driv-
ing the vehicle.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
WARNING
•To avoid potential injury, 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.
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 back- ward.
•Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and
D (Drive).
•Apply the accelerator as little as possible to
maintain the rocking motion.
•Release the accelerator pedal before shifting
between R (Reverse) and D (Drive).
•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.
6-16In case of emergency
TIRE DRESSINGS
INFINITI does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating
to the tires to help reduce discoloration of the
rubber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires,
it may react with the coating and form a com-
pound. This compound may come off the tire
while driving and stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:
•Use a water-based tire dressing. The coating
on the tire dissolves more easily than with an
oil-based tire dressing.
•Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help
prevent it from entering the tire tread/
grooves (where it would be difficult to re-
move).
•Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry
towel. Make sure the tire dressing is com-
pletely removed from the tire tread/grooves.
•Allow the tire dressing to dry as recom-
mended by tire dressing manufacturer.Occasionally remove loose dust from the inte-
rior trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum
cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe the vinyl
and leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth
dampened in mild soap solution, then wipe
clean with a dry, soft cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in order to
maintain the appearance of the leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer’s recommendations. Some fabric
protectors contain chemicals that may stain or
bleach the seat material.
Use a soft cloth dampened only with water to
clean the meter and gauge lens covers.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot steam
cleaners) on the seat. This can damage the
seat or occupant classification sensor. This
can also affect the operation of the air bag
system and result in serious personal injury.
CAUTION
•Never use benzine, thinner or any similar
material on the interior surfaces or surface
damage may occur. Such damage is not cov-
ered under the INFINITI warranty.
•Small dirt particles can be abrasive and
damaging to leather surfaces and should be
removed promptly. Do not use saddle soap,
car waxes, polishes, oils, cleaning fluids,
solvents, detergents or ammonia-based
cleaners as they damage the leather’s natu-
ral finish.
•Never use fabric protectors unless recom-
mended by the manufacturer.
•Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on meter
or gauge lens covers. It may damage the
lens covers.
AIR FRESHENERS
Most air fresheners use a solvent that could
affect the vehicle interior. If you use an air
freshener, take the following precautions:
•Hanging-type air fresheners can cause per-
manent discoloration when they contact ve-
hicle interior surfaces. Place the air fresh-
ener in a location that allows it to hang free
and not contact an interior surface.
•Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip on
the ventilators. These products can cause
immediate damage and discoloration when
spilled on interior surfaces.
CLEANING INTERIOR
7-4Appearance and care
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions..................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ...........8-3
2.0L Gasoline engine .................. .8-3
Engine cooling system ................... .8-3
Checking engine coolant level .............8-4
Changing engine coolant ................8-4
Engine oil ........................... .8-5
Checking engine oil level ................8-5
Changing engine oil .................. .8-5
Changing engine oil filter ................8-6
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ............8-7
Brake fluid .......................... .8-7
Window washer fluid .................... .8-8
Battery ............................ .8-9
Accessing Vehicle battery ...............8-10
Maintenance free battery ................8-10
Models with Idle Stop/Start System .........8-10
Battery replacement .................. .8-11
Reinitialisation procedure after battery
reconnection ...................... .8-12
Jump-starting ...................... .8-12
Drive belt .......................... .8-12
Spark plugs ..........................8-13
Air cleaner filter ...................... .8-13
Wiper blades .........................8-13 Cleaning
..........................8-13
Replacing front window wiper blades ........8-14
Replacing rear window wiper blade ..........8-15
Brakes ............................ .8-17
Self-adjusting brakes ..................8-17
Fuses ............................. .8-17
Before replacing a fuse .................8-17
Engine compartment .................. .8-17
Passenger compartment ................8-18
Intelligent key battery replacement ..........
.8-20
Checking the
battery ..................8-20
Replacing the battery ..................8-20
Lights ............................ .8-22
Exterior and interior lights ...............8-22
Replacement procedures ................8-24
Wheels and tires ..................... .8-26
Tire Pressure ...................... .8-26
Tire inflation pressure .................8-28
Tire labeling ...................... .8-28
Types of tires ..................... .8-30
Tire chains ....................... .8-31
Tire wear and damage .................8-31
Tire rotation ...................... .8-32
Replacing wheels and tires ..............8-32
Wheel balance ..................... .8-34
8. Press on housing cover1and turn it to the
right.
9. Reconnect the negative (—) battery cable and close the hood. If you have a flat tire, refer to
Flat tirein the6.
In case of emergency section.
TIRE PRESSURE
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
monitors tire pressure of all tires. When the low
tire pressure warning light is lit, one or more of
the 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 additional information, refer to Tire Pres-
sure Monitoring System (TPMS) in the
5. Starting and driving section.
Tire inflation pressure
Check the tire pressures (including the spare)
often and always prior to long distance trips.
The recommended tire pressure specifications
are shown on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. label or
the Tire and Loading Information label (if so
equipped) under the Cold Tire Pressure head-
ing. The Tire and Loading Information label is
affixed to the driver side center pillar. Tire pressures should be checked regularly be-
cause:
•Most tires naturally lose air over time.
•Tires can lose air suddenly when driven 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.
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. certi-
fication label. The vehicle weight capacity is
indicated on the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label (if so equipped). Do not load your
vehicle beyond this capacity. Overloading
your vehicle may result in reduced tire life,
unsafe operating conditions due to prema-
ture tire failure, or unfavorable handling
characteristics and could also lead to a se-
rious accident. Loading beyond the speci-
fied capacity may also result in failure of
other vehicle components.
WHEELS AND TIRES
8-26Do-it-yourself
•Before taking a long trip, or whenever you
heavily load your vehicle, use a tire pres-
sure gauge to ensure that the tire pressures
are at the specified level.
•For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada)
in the Warranty Information Booklet.
Tire and Loading Information label
1Seating capacity: The maximum number of
occupants that can be seated in the vehicle.
2Vehicle load limit: See Vehicle loading
information in the10. Technical informa-
tion section.
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
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.
The recommended cold tire inflation is set
by the manufacturer to provide the best
balance of tire wear, vehicle handling,
driveability, tire noise, etc., up to the vehi-
cle’s GVWR.
5Tire size — see Tire labelinglater in this
section.
6Spare tire size or compact spare tire size (if
so equipped).
SDI2703
Do-it-yourself8-27
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Checking tire pressure
1. Remove the valve stem cap from the tire.
2. Press the pressure gauge squarely onto thevalve 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,
reposition 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 label.
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, includ- ing the spare.
Size Cold tire in- flation pres-
sure
Front original
tire 235/50 R18
(2WD) 35 psi,
240kPa
235/50 R18
(4WD/AWD) 35 psi,
240kPa
235/45 R19
(2WD 32 psi,
220kPa
Rear original
tire 235/50 R18
(2WD) 32 psi,
220kPa
235/50 R18
(4WD/AWD) 35 psi,
240kPa
235/45 R19
(2WD 32 psi,
220kPa
Spare tire NONE
TIRE LABELING
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place
standardized information 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.
SDI1949ZSDI1575ZExample
8-28Do-it-yourself
** Click HERE to see "Owner's Manual Supplement" **
1Tire size (example: P215/60R16 94H)
1 P: The “P” indicates the tire is designed for passenger vehicles. (Not all tires have this
information.)
2 Three-digit number (215): This number gives the width in millimeters of the tire from
sidewall edge to sidewall edge.
3 Two-digit number (60): This number, 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 number 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.
2TIN (Tire Identification Number) for a new
tire (example: DOT XX XX XXX XXXX)
1 DOT: Abbreviation for the “Department of Transportation”. The symbol 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 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 material
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 permissible infla-
tion pressure.
5Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum 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 requires 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.
SDI1606ZExampleNDI1623Example
Do-it-yourself8-29
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 sidewall 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 TIRES
WARNING
•When changing or replacing tires, be sure
all four tires are of the same type (i.e, sum-
mer, 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
they may not match the potential maximum
vehicle speed. Never exceed the maximum
speed rating of the tire.
•Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction and tread pattern on allfour wheels. Failure to do so may result in a
circumference difference between tires on
the front and rear axles which can cause the
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system to
malfunction resulting in personal injury or
death, excessive tire wear and may damage
the transmission, transfer case and differ-
ential gears.
•For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information“ (Canada)
in the Warranty Information Booklet.
CAUTION
ONLY use spare tires specified for the model.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with tires
of the same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern. The tire pressure and wheel alignment
should also be checked and corrected as nec-
essary. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
All season tires
INFINITI specifies all season tires on some
models to provide good performance all year,
including snowy and icy road conditions. All season tires are identified by ALL SEASON
and/or M&S on the tire sidewall. Snow tires
have better snow traction than all season tires
and may be more appropriate in some areas.
Summer tires
INFINITI specifies summer tires on some models
to provide superior performance on dry roads.
Summer tire performance is substantially re-
duced 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 or all season tires on all four wheels.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating to
the original equipment tires. If you do not, it can
adversely affect the safety and handling of your
vehicle.
Generally, snow tires have lower speed ratings
than factory equipped tires and may not match
the potential maximum vehicle speed. Never
exceed the maximum speed rating of the tire. If
you install snow tires, they must be the same
size, brand, construction and tread pattern on
all four wheels.
8-30Do-it-yourself