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
Do not use excessive force.
9. Refill engine with recommended oil and
install the oil filler cap securely.
See “Capacities and recommended
fluids/lubricants” (P.10-2) for drain and
refill capacity. The drain and refill capa-
city depends on the oil temperature and
drain time. Use these specifications for
reference only. Always use the dipstick
to determine the proper amount of oil in
the engine.
10. Start the engine and check for leakage
around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required.
11. Turn the engine off and wait more than
15 minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.
After the operation
1. Install the engine undercover into posi-
tion as the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clip
out.
b. Hold the engine undercover into posi-
tion.
c. Insert the clip through the undercover
into the hole in the frame, then push
the center of the clip in to lock the clip
in place.d. Install the other bolts that hold the
undercover in place. Be careful not to
strip the bolts or over-tighten them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the
ground.
3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
WARNING
.Prolonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin cancer.
.Try to avoid direct skin contact with
used oil. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
.Keep used engine oil out of reach of
children.When checking or replacement is required,
we recommend an INFINITI retailer for
servicing.
CAUTION
.It is recommended that you use only
Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do
not mix with other fluids.
.Using automatic transmission fluid
other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S
ATF may cause deterioration in dri-
veability and automatic transmission
durability, and may damage the
automatic transmission. Damage
caused by the use of fluid other than
as recommended is not covered by
the INFINITI new vehicle limited
warranty.
Do-it-yourself8-13
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID (ATF)
other corrosive materials, check lubrication
frequently.
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*:When checking
the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are
missing, and check for any loose wheel nuts.
Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*:Tires should be rotated every
5,000 miles (8,000 km). If your vehicle is
equipped with different sized tires in the
front and rear, tires cannot be rotated.
Tires*:Check the pressure with a gauge
often and always prior to long distance trips.
If necessary, adjust the pressure in all tires,
including the spare, to the pressure speci-
fied. Check carefully for damage, cuts or
excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components:Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and
cap when the tires are replaced due to wear
or age.
Wheel alignment and balance:If the vehicle
should pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may be
a need for wheel alignment.If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at
normal highway speeds, wheel balancing
may be needed.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield:Clean the windshield on a
regular basis. Check the windshield at least
every six months for cracks or other damage.
Have a damaged windshield repaired by a
qualified repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*:Check for cracks
or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing scheduled maintenance, cleaning
the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal:Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort.
Keep the floor mat away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mechan-
ism:On a fairly steep hill, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the shift lever in
the P (Park) position without applying any
brakes.
Brake pedal:Check the pedal for smooth
operation. If the brake pedal suddenly goesdown further than normal, the pedal feels
spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer to
stop, have your vehicle checked immediately.
It is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes:Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Parking brake:Check the parking brake
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only
the parking brake applied. If the parking
brake needs adjusted, it is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Seats:Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to
ensure they operate smoothly and that all
latches lock securely in every position. Check
that the head restraints move up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped)
hold securely in all latched positions.
Seat belts:Check that all parts of the seat
belt system (for example, buckles, anchors,
adjuster and retractors) operate properly
and smoothly, and are installed securely.
Check the belt webbing for cuts, fraying,
wear or damage.
Steering wheel:Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free
play, hard steering or strange noises.
Maintenance and schedules9-3
9-6Maintenance and schedules
Fuel lines*:
Check the fuel hoses, piping and connections
for leaks, looseness, or deterioration. Tight-
en connections or replace parts as necessary.
Spark plugs:
Replace at specified intervals. Install new
plugs of the type as originally equipped.
CHASSIS AND BODY MAINTE-
NANCE
Brake lines and cables:
Visually inspect for proper installation.
Check for chafing, cracks, deterioration,
and signs of leaking. Replace any deterio-
rated or damaged parts immediately.
Brake pads, rotors, drums and linings:
Check for wear, deterioration and fluid
leaks. Replace any deteriorated or damaged
parts immediately.
Exhaust system:
Visually inspect the exhaust pipes, muffler
and hangers for leaks, cracks, deterioration,
and damage. Tighten connections or replace
parts as necessary.
In-cabin microfilter:
Replace at specified intervals. When driving
for prolonged periods in dusty conditions,
replace the filter more frequently.Propeller shaft(s):
Check for damage, looseness, and grease
leakage. (4WD/AWD/RWD)
Steering gear and linkage, axle and suspen-
sion parts, drive shaft boots:
Check for damage, looseness, and leakage
of oil or grease. Under severe driving condi-
tions, inspect more frequently.
Tire rotation:
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles
(8,000 km) according to the instructions
under “Explanation of general maintenance
items” (P.9-2). When rotating tires, check for
damage and uneven wear. Replace if neces-
sary.
Transmission fluid/oil, differential oil and
transfer case oil:
Visually inspect for signs of leakage at
specified intervals.
To help ensure smooth, safe and economical
driving, INFINITI provides two maintenance
schedules that may be used, depending upon
the conditions in which you usually drive.
These schedules contain both distance and
time intervals, up to 120,000 miles
(192,000 km)/144 months. For most peo-
ple, the odometer reading will indicate when
service is needed. However, if you drive very
little, your vehicle should be serviced at the
regular time intervals shown in the schedule.
After 120,000 miles (192,000 km)/144
months, continue maintenance at the same
mileage/time intervals.
ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE
ITEMS FOR SEVERE OPERATING
CONDITIONS
Additional maintenance items for severe
operating conditions;should be performed
on vehicles that are driven under especially
demanding conditions. Additional mainte-
nance items should be performed if you
primarily operate your vehicle under the
following conditions:
.Repeated short trips of less than 5 miles
(8 km).
.Repeated short trips of less than 10 miles
(16 km) with outside temperatures re-
maining below freezing.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES
CHASSIS AND BODY MAINTENANCE
Abbreviations: I = Inspect and correct or replace as necessary, R = Replace
MAINTENANCE OP-
ERATION
Perform at of miles,
kilometers or months,
whichever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000)
MonthsMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
5
(8)
610
(16)
1215
(24)
1820
(32)
2425
(40)
3030
(48)
3635
(56)
4240
(64)
4845
(72)
5450
(80)
6055
(88)
6660
(96)
72
Brake lines and cables I I I I I I
Brake pads and rotors$II I I I I
Brake fluid$RR R
Automatic transmission
fluidSee NOTE (1)
Transfer fluid and dif-
ferential gear oilSee NOTE (2) I I I I I I
Steering gear and link-
age, axle and suspension
parts$II I
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Propeller shaft and drive
shaft boots (AWD mod-
els)$II I I I I
Exhaust system$II I
In-cabin microfilter R R R R
Stop lamp switch and
brake pedal positionSee NOTE (4) I I I I I I
Intelligent Key battery R R R R
Maintenance and schedules9-13
9-14Maintenance and schedules
MAINTENANCE OP-
ERATION
Perform at of miles, kilo-
meters or months,
whichever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000)
MonthsMAINTENANCE INTERVAL
65
(104)
7870
(112)
8475
(120)
9080
(128)
9685
(136)
10290
(144)
10895
(152)
114100
(160)
120105
(168)
126110
(176)
132115
(184)
138120
(192)
144
Brake lines & cables I I I I I I
Brake pads & rotors$II II I I
Brake fluid$RR R
Automatic transmission
fluidSee NOTE (1)
Transfer fluid & differen-
tial gear oilSee NOTE (2) I I I I I I
Steering gear & linkage,
axle & suspension parts$II I
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Propeller shaft & drive
shaft boots (AWD mod-
els)$II II I I
Exhaust system$II I
In-cabin microfilter R R R R
Stop lamp switch and
brake pedal positionSee NOTE (4) I I I I I I
Intelligent Key battery R R R R