7-6Appearance and care
.Clean the air vent regularly to pre-
vent the Li-ion battery or DC/DC
converter from overheating.
Regularly clean the air vent
with a dry
cloth to prevent the vent from being blocked.
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
permanent discoloration when they con-
tact vehicle interior surfaces. Place the
air freshener in a location that allows it
to hang free and not contact an interior
surface.
. Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip
on the vents. These products can cause
immediate damage and discoloration
when spilled on interior surfaces.
Carefully read and follow the manufac-
turer’s instructions before using air fresh-
eners.
FLOOR MATS
WARNING
To avoid potential pedal interference
that may result in a collision, injury or
death:
. NEVER place a floor mat on top of
another floor mat in the driver front
position or install them upside down
or backwards.
. Use only genuine INFINITI floor mats
or equivalent floor mats that are
specifically designed for use in your
vehicle model and model year.
. Properly position the mats in the
floorwell using the floor mat posi-
tioning hook. See “Floor mat installa-
tion” (P.7-7).
. Make sure the floor mat does not
interfere with pedal operation.
. Periodically check the floor mats to
make sure they are properly installed.
. After cleaning the vehicle interior,
check the floor mats to make sure
they are properly installed.
The use of genuine INFINITI floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and make it easier to clean the interior. Mats
should be maintained with regular cleaning
and replaced if they become excessively
worn.
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
8-2Do-it-yourself
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
.This vehicle has high voltage DC and
AC systems as well as a 12-volt
system. DC and AC high voltage is
very dangerous and can cause severe
burns and electric shock that may
result in serious injury or death.
. Never touch, disassemble, remove or
replace the high voltage parts, har-
nesses and their connectors. High
voltage cables are orange. Touching,
disassembling, removing or replacing
those parts and harnesses can cause
severe burns or electric shock that
may result in serious injury or death.
. Never try to remove the service plug
located in the trunk room. The service
plug is used only when the vehicle is
serviced by trained technicians wear-
ing personal protection equipment
and is part of the high voltage
system. Touching the service plug
can cause severe burns or electric shock that may result in serious injury
or death.
. The INFINITI Direct Response Hy-
brid
®System uses high voltage up to
408 volts. The system can be hot
while and after starting. Be careful of
both the high voltage and the high
temperature. Obey the caution labels
attached to the vehicle.
. Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving. Move the shift
lever to P (Park).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. The engine can start at any time
without warning when the hybrid
system is in the READY to drive
mode. If you must work with the
hybrid system in the READY to drive
mode, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from fans, belts and
any other parts that can move.
. 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 when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always dis-
connect the negative battery cable of
the 12-volt battery before working
near the fan.
. If you must run the engine in an
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 the fuel tank and
the 12-volt battery.
CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the hybrid system
off and wait until it cools down.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
.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.
8-14Do-it-yourself
JVM0295X
The 12-volt batteryis located on the left
hand side of the trunk behind an access
panel.
. Keep the battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the battery with a solution of
baking soda and water.
. Make certain the terminal connections
are clean and securely tightened.
. If the vehicle is not to be used for 30 days
or longer, disconnect the negative (-)
battery terminal cable to prevent dis-
charging it.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential 12-volt battery discharge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1.
Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume 12-volt
battery power when the engine is not
running (Phone chargers, GPS, DVD
players, etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances.
In these cases, the 12-volt battery may
need to be charged to maintain 12-volt
battery health.WARNING
. Do not expose the 12-volt battery to
flames or electrical sparks. Hydrogen
gas generated by the 12-volt battery
is explosive. Do not allow battery
fluid to contact your skin, eyes,
fabrics or painted surfaces. After
touching a 12-volt battery, do not
touch or rub your eyes. Thoroughly
wash your hands. If the acid contacts
your eyes, skin or clothing, immedi-
ately flush with water for at least 15
minutes and seek medical attention.
. The hybrid vehicle uses a special
battery. If the 12-volt battery needs
to be replaced, use a 12-volt battery
of the same design. Using the wrong battery can cause hydrogen gas to
build up in the vehicle, which could
lead to an explosion and personal
injury.
. When working on or near a 12-volt
battery, always wear suitable eye
protection and remove all jewelry.
. Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after hand-
ling.
. Keep the 12-volt battery out of the
reach of children.
12-VOLT BATTERY
JVM0729X
CHECKING BATTERY FLUID LE-
VEL
.(blue) indicates OK.
.
(white) indicates that charging is
necessary.
.
(red) indicates that replacement is
necessary.
If it is necessary to replace the 12-volt
battery, it is recommended you contact an
INFINITI retailer.
JUMP STARTING
If jump starting is necessary, see “Jump
starting” (P.6-5). If the INFINITI Direct
Response Hybrid
®System does not start
by jump starting, the 12-volt battery may
have to be replaced. It is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
WARNING
Be sure the engine and the ignition
switch are off and that the parking
brake is engaged securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to
remove the spark plugs. An incorrect
socket can damage the spark plugs.
Do-it-yourself8-15
SPARK PLUGS
JVM0257X
Extended storage fuse switch (if so
equipped)
To reduce 12-volt battery drain, the ex-
tended storage fuse switch comes from the
factory switched off. Prior to delivery of
your vehicle, the switch is pushed in
(switched on) and should always remain on.
If the extended storage fuse switch is not
pushed in (switched on), the “Shipping Mode
On, Push Storage Fuse” warning may appear
in the vehicle information display. See “23.
Extended storage fuse warning” (P.2-23).
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
remove the extended storage fuse switch
and check for an open fuse.NOTE:
If the extended storage fuse switch mal-
functions or if the fuse is open, it is not
necessary to replace the switch. In this case,
remove the extended storage fuse switch
and replace it with a new fuse of the same
rating.
How to remove the extended storage fuse
switch:
1. To remove the extended storage fuse
switch, be sure the ignition switch is in
the OFF or LOCK position.
2. Be sure the headlight switch is in the OFF position.
3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Pinch the locking tabs
found on each
side of the storage fuse switch.
5. Pull the storage fuse switch straight out from the fuse box
.
CAUTION
Be careful not to allow children to
swallow the battery and removed parts.
Do-it-yourself8-21
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY
REPLACEMENT