6-22In case of emergency
at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm)
until the temperature gauge indication
returns to normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the
radiator before opening the hood. (If
steam or coolant is escaping, turn off the
engine.) Do not open the hood further
until no steam or coolant can be seen.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking or the cooling fan does not run,
stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine coolingfan can start at any time.
7. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the reservoir tank with
the engine running. Add coolant to the
reservoir tank if necessary. Have your
vehicle repaired. It is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.When towing your vehicle, all State (Pro-
vincial in Canada) and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle. Tow-
ing instructions are available from an
INFINITI retailer. Local service operators
are familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage to
your vehicle, INFINITI recommends that you
have a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator care-
fully read the following precautions.
WARNING
.Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
.Never get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
.When towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working con-
dition. If any unit is damaged, dollies
must be used.
.Always attach safety chains before
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-24In case of emergency
JVE0348X
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
models
INFINITI recommends that towing dollies be
used when towing your vehicle or the vehicle
be placed on a flat bed truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
Never tow Intelligent AWD models with
any of the wheels on the ground as this
may cause serious and expensive da-
mage to the powertrain.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a
stuck vehicle)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious perso-
nal injury or death when recovering a
stuck vehicle:
.Contact a professional towing ser-
vice to recover the vehicle if you have
any questions regarding the recovery
procedure.
.Tow chains or cables must be at-
tached only to main structural mem-
bers 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
manufacturer’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 attachment point.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device
designed specifically for vehicle recovery.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for the recovery device.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
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
backward.
.Shift back and forth between R (Re-
verse) and D (Drive).
.Apply the accelerator as little as
possible to maintain the rocking mo-
tion.
.Release the accelerator pedal before
shifting between R and D.
.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.
WARNING
.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.
In case of emergency6-25
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.
.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.
LEATHER CLEANING KIT (if so
equipped)
Spray onto the leather cleaning cloth, then
gently wipe the surface of leather. Use a dry
towel to absorb any excess moisture.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently
because soiling on such surfaces is much
more visible.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions supplied with the leather cleaning kit.
You can obtain the leather cleaning kit from
an INFINITI retailer or other authorized
repair shop.
CAUTION
Do not leave the leather cleaning kit
inside the vehicle. The leather cleaning
kit left in a closed vehicle can become
very hot.
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
Appearance and care7-5
CLEANING INTERIOR
7-6Appearance and care
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.7-6)..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.
JVA0023X
Floor mat installation
Your vehicle is equipped with floor mat
positioning hook(s). The number and shape
of the floor mat positioning hook(s) for each
seating position varies depending on the
vehicle.
When installing genuine INFINITI floor mats,
follow the installation instructions provided
with the floor mat and the following:
1. Position the floor mat in the floorwell so
that the mat grommet holes are aligned
with the hook(s).
2. Secure the grommet holes into the hook
(s) and ensure that the floor mat is
properly positioned.
3. Make sure the floor mat does not
interfere with pedal operation. With the
ignition in the OFF position and the shift
lever in the P (Park) position, fully apply
and release all pedals. The floor mat
must not interfere with pedal operation
or prevent the pedal from returning to its
normal position. It is recommended you
see an INFINITI retailer for details about
installing the floor mats in your vehicle.
SAI0051
Positioning hooks
The illustration shows the location of the
floor mat positioning hooks.
SEAT BELTS
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping
them with a sponge dampened in a mild soap
solution. Allow the belts to dry completely
before using them.
See “Seat belts” (P.1-11).
WARNING
Do not allow wet seat belts to roll up in
the retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye, or
chemical solvents to clean the seat belts,since these materials may severely
weaken the seat belt webbing.
Appearance and care7-7
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ................................................ 8-3
Engine compartment check locations .......................... 8-4
VR30DDTT engine....................................................... 8-4
2.0L turbo gasoline engine........................................ 8-5
Engine cooling system (for VR30DDTT
engine models).................................................................... 8-6
Checking engine coolant level ................................. 8-7
Changing engine coolant............................................ 8-7
Engine cooling system (for 2.0L turbo gasoline
engine models).................................................................... 8-8
Checking engine coolant level................................... 8-8
Changing engine coolant............................................ 8-9
Intercooler cooling system (for VR30DDTT
engine models).................................................................... 8-9
Checking intercooler coolant level........................ 8-10
Changing intercooler coolant................................. 8-10
Engine oil........................................................................... 8-10
Checking engine oil level .......................................... 8-11
Changing engine oil and filter................................. 8-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).......................... 8-13
Power steering fluid (models with hydraulic pump
electric power steering).................................................. 8-14
Brake fluid.......................................................................... 8-14
Window washer fluid...................................................... 8-15Battery................................................................................ 8-16
Main battery location.............................................. 8-17
Auxiliary battery location
(for 2.0L turbo gasoline engine models) ........... 8-17
Checking battery fluid level................................... 8-18
Jump starting............................................................. 8-19
Variable voltage control system ................................. 8-19
Drive belts ........................................................................ 8-20
Spark plugs........................................................................ 8-21
Replacing spark plugs.............................................. 8-21
Air cleaner.......................................................................... 8-21
Windshield wiper blades ............................................... 8-22
Cleaning....................................................................... 8-22
Replacing..................................................................... 8-22
Brakes................................................................................. 8-23
Self-adjusting brakes............................................... 8-23
Brake pad wear warning........................................ 8-23
Fuses................................................................................... 8-23
Engine compartment.............................................. 8-24
Passenger compartment ........................................ 8-25
Intelligent Key battery replacement........................... 8-26
Lights.................................................................................. 8-29
Headlights.................................................................. 8-30
Exterior and interior lights.................................... 8-30
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
.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.
.Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
.Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the igni-
tion switch is in the ON position.
.If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing,
hair and tools away from moving
fans, belts and any other movingparts.
.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.
.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 fuel tank and the
battery.
.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
before working near the fan.
.Because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off,
it is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for service of thefuel filter or fuel lines.
CAUTION
.Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
.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.
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.10-25).)
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.
Do-it-yourself8-3
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS