If any malfunction occurs in the Intelligent
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system while the
INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
®System is
running, warning messages appear in the
vehicle information display.
JVS0228M
If the “AWD Error” warningappears, there
may be a malfunction in the Intelligent AWD
system. Reduce vehicle speed and have the
system checked as soon as possible. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.
The “AWD High Temp.” (high temperature)
warning
may appear while trying to free a stuck vehicle due to increased oil tempera-
ture. The driving mode may change to Two-
Wheel Drive (2WD). If this warning is
displayed, stop the vehicle with the hybrid
system idling, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Then if the warning turns off, you can
continue driving.
The “Tire Size Incorrect” warning
may
appear if there is a large difference between
the diameters of front and rear wheels. Pull
off the road in a safe area, with the hybrid
system idling. Check that all tire sizes are the
same, that the tire pressure is correct and
that the tires are not excessively worn.
If any warning message continues to be
displayed, have your vehicle checked as soon
as possible. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
WARNING
. For AWD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
hybrid system running. Doing so may
result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
Starting and driving5-123
INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL
DRIVE (AWD) (if so equipped)
.Do not use a wax containing any abra-
sives, cutting compounds or cleaners
that may damage the vehicle finish.
Machine compound or aggressive polishing
on a base coat/clear coat paint finish may
dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the paint surface to avoid lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning pro-
ducts are available at an INFINITI retailer or
any automotive accessory stores.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter, the
underbody must be cleaned regularly. This
will prevent dirt and salt from building up
and causing the acceleration of corrosion on
the underbody and suspension. Before the
winter period and again in the spring, the
underseal must be checked and, if necessary,
re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust
film from the glass surfaces. It is normal for
glass to become coated with a film after the
vehicle is parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner
and a soft cloth will easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the win-
dows, do not use sharp-edged tools,
abrasive cleaners or chlorine-based dis-
infectant cleaners. They could damage
the electrical conductors, radio antenna
elements or rear window defroster ele-
ments.
WHEELS
Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle
to maintain their appearance.
. Clean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
. Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. Such damage may cause loss
of pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
. INFINITI recommends that the road
wheels be waxed to protect against road
salt in areas where it is used during winter.
CAUTION
Do not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
Aluminum alloy wheels
Wash regularly with a sponge dampened in a
mild soap solution, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheels if not removed.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:
.
Do not use a cleaner that uses strong
acid or alkali contents to clean the
wheels.
. Do not apply wheel cleaners to the
wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as
ambient temperature.
. Rinse the wheel to completely re-
move the cleaner within 15 minutes
after the cleaner is applied.
Appearance and care7-3
7-4Appearance and care
Bright wheels (if so equipped)
The bright wheels use a different coating
process than typical aluminum alloy wheel
and they are not plated wheels. These
wheels are clear-coated and require the
following special cleaning. They should be
regularly washed with a soft sponge soaked
in a lot of water. After washing with water,
wipe clean with a dry, soft cloth and dry
completely. When there is chemical or tire
wax, or dirt such as an antifreeze agent on
the surface, wash them with water as soon
as possible.
CAUTION
.The surfaces of the wheels use a
different coating process than typical
aluminum alloy wheels. Do not use
aluminum alloy wheel cleaners or
abrasive cleaners to clean the wheels.
Using such cleaners could damage the
wheel surfaces.
. Do not use an automatic car wash if
the vehicle is equipped with bright
wheels. The wheel coating may be
damaged.
. Do not use a brush to wash the
wheels if the vehicle is equipped with
bright wheels. The wheel coating may be damaged.
CHROME PARTS
Clean chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the
finish.
TIRE DRESSING
INFINITI does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coat-
ing 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 compound. 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
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
remove).
. Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry
towel. Make sure the tire dressing is
completely 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
interior 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 cloth dampened only with water, to
clean the meter and gauge lens.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classifica-
tion sensors. 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. .
For cleaning, use a soft cloth, dam-
pened with water. Never use a rough
cloth, alcohol, benzine, thinner or any
kind of solvent or paper towel with a
chemical cleaning agent. They will
scratch or cause discoloration to the
lens.
. Do not spray any liquid such as water
on the meter lens. Spraying liquid
may cause the system to malfunction.
. Small dirt particles can be abrasive
and damaging to the leather surfaces
and should be removed promptly. Do
not use saddle soap, car waxes,
polishes, oils, cleaning fluids, sol-
vents, detergents or ammonia-based
cleaners as they may damage the
leather’s natural finish.
. Do not clean the interior or trunk
using water. If water contacts the
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, it may
cause a short circuit and damage the
battery.
. Only use fabric protectors approved
by INFINITI.
. Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on
meter or gauge lens covers. It may
damage the lens cover.
JVO0114X
LITHIUM-ION (Li-ion) BATTERY
AND DC/DC CONVERTER AIR
VENT
CAUTION
.Do not place objects over or into the
air vent. The Li-ion battery or DC/
DC converter may overheat and be
damaged.
. Do not allow any liquid to get on or in
the air vent. It may cause a short
circuit and damage the Li-ion battery
or DC/DC converter.
Appearance and care7-5
CLEANING INTERIOR
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ................................................ 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ......................... 8-3VQ35HR engine ........................................................... 8-3
Engine cooling system ..................................................... 8-5 Checking engine coolant level .................................. 8-6
Changing engine coolant ........................................... 8-7
Inverter cooling system ................................................... 8-7 Checking inverter coolant level ................................ 8-8
Changing inverter coolant ......................................... 8-9
Engine oil ........................................................................\
..... 8-9
Checking engine oil level ............................................ 8-9
Changing engine oil and oil filter .......................... 8-10
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ......................... 8-12
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
. 8-12
Window washer fluid ..................................................... 8-13
12-volt battery ................................................................. 8-14
Checking battery fluid level .................................... 8-15
Jump starting .............................................................. 8-15
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
8-15 Replacing spark plugs ............................................... 8-16
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
.. 8-16 Windshield wiper blades ............................................... 8-17
Cleaning ...................................................................... 8-17
Replacing .................................................................... 8-18
Brakes ........................................................................\
........ 8-18 Self-adjusting brakes .............................................. 8-18
Brake pad wear warning ....................................... 8-18
Fuses ........................................................................\
.......... 8-19 Engine compartment and trunk ........................... 8-19
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-20
Intelligent Key battery replacement .......................... 8-21
Lights ........................................................................\
........ 8-24 Headlights .................................................................. 8-25
Exterior and interior lights .................................... 8-25
Wheels and tires ............................................................ 8-28 Tire pressure ............................................................. 8-28
Tire labeling ............................................................... 8-32
Types of tires ........................................................... 8-34
Tire chains .................................................................. 8-35
Changing wheels and tires .................................... 8-36
Jacking up the vehicle and replacing tires ........ 8-39
.Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly dis-
posed engine oil, coolant, and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
. Never leave the engine or the trans-
mission related component harness
connector disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
. Never connect or disconnect the 12-
volt battery or any transistorized
component while the ignition switch
is in the ON position.
This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives in-
structions regarding only those items which
are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine INFINITI Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s Manual/Service
Manual order information” (P.10-22).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties 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.
JVM0249X
VQ35HR ENGINE
To remove the engine compartment cover,
unhook the clips located as illustrated.
Do-it-yourself8-3
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
8-4Do-it-yourself
JVM0294X
1. Engine oil filler cap
2. Brake fluid reservoir
3. Fuse/fusible link holder
4. Air cleaner
5. Inverter coolant reservoir
6. Radiator filler cap
7. Engine coolant reservoir
8. Engine oil dipstick
9. Window washer fluid reservoirThe 12-volt battery is located inside the
trunk.
CHANGING INVERTER COOLANT
An INFINITI ratailer can change the inverter
coolant. The service procedure can be found
in the INFINITI Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in inverter
overheating.
WARNING
.To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
inverter is hot.
. Never remove the cap when the
inverter is hot. Serious burns could
be caused by high pressure fluid
escaping from the inverter coolant
reservoir.
. Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
. Keep coolant out of the reach of
children and pets.
Inverter coolant must be disposed of prop-
erly. Check your local regulations.
SDI2045
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than 15
minutes for the oil to drain back into the
oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the range
.
If the oil level is below, remove the oil
filler cap and pour recommended oil
through the opening. Do not overfill
.6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the break-
in period, depending on the severity of
operating conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not covered
by warranty.
Do-it-yourself8-9
ENGINE OIL