6.Avoid Idling
•Shutting off your engine when safe for
stops exceeding 30 seconds saves fuel
and reduces emissions.
7. Buy an Automated Pass for Toll Roads
•Automated passes permit drivers to use
special lanes to maintain cruising speed
through the toll and avoid stopping and
starting.
8. Winter Warm Up
•Limit idling time to minimize impact to
fuel economy.
•Vehicles typically need no more than 30
seconds of idling at start-up to effectively
circulate the engine oil before driving.
•Your vehicle will reach its ideal operating
temperature more quickly while driving
versus idling.
9. Keeping your Vehicle Cool
•Park your vehicle in a covered parking
area or in the shade whenever possible.
•When entering a hot vehicle, opening the
windows will help to reduce the inside
temperature faster, resulting in reduced
demand on your A/C system.
•Keep your engine tuned up.
•Follow the recommended scheduled mainte-
nance.
•Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
•Keep all the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
•Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
For additional information, see Recom-
mended fluids/lubricants and capacities in
the 10. Technical information section
WARNING
•Do not drive beyond the performance capa-
bility of the tires, even with 4WD engaged.
Accelerating quickly, sharp steering ma-
neuvers or sudden braking may cause loss
of control.
•Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
•This vehicle is not designed for off-road
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy or
muddy roads that tires may get stuck in.
•For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not attempt
to raise two wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any drive or reverse po-
sition with the engine running. Doing so
may result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could re-
sult in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
•Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped ve-
hicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer (such as
the dynamometers used by some states for
emissions testing) or similar equipment
even if the other two wheels are raised off
the ground. Make sure that you inform the
test facility personnel that your vehicle is
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (IF EQUIPPED)
Starting and driving5-83
CAUTION
Always secure the vehicle correctly against
rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or its drive
train could be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
•The electric parking brake must be applied.
•The transmission must be in position P (Park)
and the transmission position display must
show P in the vehicle information display.
•The key must be removed from the ignition
switch.
•On uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb. 1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Press the P (Park) button.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from moving into
traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB
1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb. Then apply the
parking brake.
HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB
2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
allow the vehicle to move back until the curb
side wheel gently touches the curb. Then
apply the parking brake. HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, WITHOUT
CURB
3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the
center of the road if the vehicle moves. Then
apply the parking brake.
4. Put the ignition switch in the OFF position.
SSD0488Z
Starting and driving5-85
SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to posi-
tion N (Neutral) when you switch off the en-
gine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk
of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to position P (Park). Prevent the parked vehicle
from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
Procedure
1. Apply the electric parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to position P (Park).
3.With the key: turn the key to the position OFF
in the ignition switch and remove it The
immobilizer is activated.
If you switch the engine off with the transmis-
sion in position R (Reverse) or D (Drive), the
automatic transmission shifts to N (Neutral)
automatically.
With the key: if you then open the driver’s door
or the front-passenger door or remove the key
from the ignition, the automatic transmission
shifts to P (Park) automatically. If you want the automatic transmission to re-
main in neutral N (Neutral), e.g. when having
the vehicle cleaned in an automatic car wash
with a towing system:
With the key
:
1. Switch the ignition on.
2. Depress the brake pedal and keep it de-
pressed.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Release the brake pedal.
5. Release the electric parking brake.
6. Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the ignition switch.
EXTENDED PARKING
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than six weeks, it may suffer from lack of use.
Visit an INFINITI retailer and seek advice
NOTE
You can obtain information about trickle char-
gers from an INFINITI retailer. The electric power steering system is designed
to reduce the driver effort required to steer the
vehicle.
WARNING
If during operation a fault is detected the fol-
lowing message will be displayed in the ve-
hicle information display along with an audible
warning tone.
[Power Steering Malfunction See Operators
Manual]
In conjunction with this warning, steering as-
sistance will no longer be provided by the sys-
tem.
The effort required to steer the vehicle will
increase. This will be most noticeable at low
speed and when performing a tight turning
maneuver.
Check whether you are able to provide the ex-
tra effort required.
If you are able to steer safely: Carefully drive on
to an INFINITI retailer.
If you are unable to steer safely: Do NOT drive
on. It is recommended you contact the nearest
INFINITI retailer for assistance.
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM
5-86Starting and driving
WARNING
•Never rely solely on the Hill Start Assist
(HSA) system to prevent the vehicle from
moving backward on a hill. Always drive
carefully and attentively. Depress the brake
pedal when the vehicle is stopped on a
steep hill. Be especially careful when
stopped on a hill on frozen or muddy roads.
Failure to prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards may result in a loss of control of
the vehicle and possible serious injury or
death.
•The Hill Start Assist system is not designed
to hold the vehicle at a standstill on a hill.
Depress the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to roll backwards and may
result in a collision or serious personal in-
jury.
•The Hill Start Assist system may not prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards on a hill
under all load or road conditions. Always be
prepared to depress the brake pedal to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling backwards.
Failure to do so may result in a collision or
serious personal injury.
•After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could rollaway There is a risk of an accident and in-
jury. Therefore, quickly move your foot from
the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal.
Never leave the vehicle when it is held by
hill start assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient. It
holds the vehicle for a short time after you have
removed your foot from the brake pedal. This
gives you enough time to move your foot from
the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and
depress it before the vehicle begins to roll.
Hill start assist is not active if
•You are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
•On vehicles with automatic transmission, the
transmission is in position N.
•The electric parking brake is applied.
•VDC is malfunctioning.
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 INFINITI Intelligent Key.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C), check
the antifreeze to assure proper winter protec-
tion. For additional information, see Engine
cooling system in the8. Do-it-yourself sec-
tion.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For details, see
Battery in the8. Do-it-yourself section of this
manual.
DRAINING OF ENGINE COOLANT
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see Changing engine
HILL START ASSIST (HSA) COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-93
CAUTION
•Always connect positive+to positive+and negative-to body ground (for ex-
ample, strut mounting bolt, engine lift
bracket, etc.) – not to the battery’s negative
-.
•Be sure that the jumper cables do not touch
moving parts in the engine compartment
and that the cable clamps do not contact
any other metal.
9. Start the engine of the other vehicle
Aand
let it run for a few minutes. Keep the engine
speed at about 2,000 rpm.
10. Start the engine of your vehicle
Bin the
normal way.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine does not
start right away, place the ignition switch in
the OFF position and wait 10 seconds before
trying again.
11. After starting the engine of your vehicle, carefully disconnect the negative lead and
then the positive lead (
4→3→2→
1). 12. Remove and dispose of the cloth that was
used to cover the ventilator holes as it may
be contaminated with corrosive acid.
13. Install the ventilator caps (if equipped).
14. Close the hood.
NOTE
For models which incorporate the Idle Stop/
Start System:
•Ensure that the battery fitted is the special
battery that is enhanced with regard to the
charge-discharge capacity and life perfor-
mance. Avoid using any other battery for the
Idle Stop/Start System, as this may cause
early deterioration of the battery or a mal-
function of the Idle Stop/Start System. It is
recommended that a Genuine INFINITI bat-
tery is fitted. For more information, it is
recommended you contact an INFINITI re-
tailer.
•If the battery terminal is disconnected (for
battery replacement, etc.) and then recon-
nected, there may be some delay before the
Idle top/Start System reactivates. Do not attempt to start the engine by pushing
the vehicle.
CAUTION
•Automatic Transmission (AT) model cannot
be push-started or tow-started. Attempting
to do so may cause damage to the transmis-
sion.
•Three-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing. Attempt-
ing to do so may cause damage to the three-
way catalyst.
•Never try to start the vehicle by towing it;
when the engine starts, the forward surge
could cause the vehicle to collide with the
tow vehicle.
PUSH STARTING
6-12In case of emergency
Two-Wheel Drive (FWD) models
CAUTION
NEVER tow automatic transmission (DCT) mod-
els with the front wheels on the ground or with
all four wheels on the ground (forwards or
backwards), as this may cause serious and ex-
pensive damage to the transmission. If it is
necessary to tow the vehicle with the rear
wheels raised, always use towing dollies un-
der the front wheels.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models
INFINITI recommends that towing dollies be
used under the front or rear wheels when
towing your vehicle or the vehicle be placed on
a flatbed tow truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
Never tow 4WD models with any of the wheels
on the ground. Doing so will cause serious and
expensive damage to the drivetrain.
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious personal in-
jury or death when recovering a stuck vehicle:
•Contact a professional towing service to re-
cover the vehicle if you have any questions
regarding the recovery procedure.
•Tow chains or cables must be attached only
to the vehicle recovery hooks or main struc-
tural members of the vehicle.
•Do not use the vehicle tie downs to tow or
free a stuck vehicle.
•Only use devices specifically designed for
vehicle recovery and follow the manufactur-
er’s instructions.
•Always pull the recovery device straight out
from the front of the vehicle. Never pull at an
angle.
•Route recovery devices so they do not touch
any part of the vehicle except the attach-
ment point.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, or mud,
and the vehicle is unable to free itself without
NCE4504WD models
In case of emergency6-15
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
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care to
prevent serious accidental injury to yourself or
damage to the vehicle. The following are gen-
eral precautions which should be closely ob-
served.
WARNING
•Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply the
parking brake securely and block the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving.
Press the P (Park) button.
•Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF
position when performing any parts re-
placement or repairs.
•Do not work under the hood while the en-
gine is hot. Always turn off the engine and
wait until it cools down.
•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 any jewelry, such as rings,
watches, etc. before working on your ve-
hicle.
•If you must run the engine in an enclosed
space such as a garage, be sure there is
proper ventilation for exhaust gases to es-
cape.
•Never get under the vehicle while it is sup-
ported by a jack.
•Keep smoking materials, flame and sparks
away from fuel and the battery.
•Never connect or disconnect either the bat-
tery or any transistorized component con-
nector while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
•On gasoline engine models with the Multi-
port Fuel Injection system, the fuel filter and
fuel lines should be serviced by an INFINITI
retailer or qualified workshop because the
fuel lines are under high pressure even
when the engine is turned off.
•Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
engine cooling fan. It may come on at any
time without warning, even if the ignition
switch is in the OFF position and the engine
is not running. To avoid injury, always dis-
connect the negative battery cable before
working near the fan.
•Always wear eye protection whenever you
work on your vehicle.
•Never leave the engine or the transmission
related component harness connector dis-
connected while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
•Avoid direct contact with used engine oil
and coolant. Improperly disposed engine
oil, engine coolant, and/or other vehicle flu-
ids can hurt the environment. Always con-
form to local regulations for disposal of ve-
hicle fluids.
This “ 8. Do-it-yourself” section provides in-
structions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
You should be aware that incomplete or im-
proper servicing may result in operating diffi-
culties or excessive emissions, and could affect
your warranty coverage. If in doubt about any
servicing, it is recommended you have it done by
an INFINITI retailer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself