5-124Starting and driving
ing onto a stable surface.
. If wheels or tires other than the
INFINITI recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
. The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow covered road.
WARNING
.Never rely solely on the hill start
assist system to prevent the vehicle
from moving backward on a hill.
Always drive carefully and atten-
tively. 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 injury.
. The hill start assist system may not
prevent the vehicle from rolling back-
wards on a hill under all load or road
conditions. Always be prepared to
depress the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards.
Failure to do so may result in a
collision or serious personal injury. The hill start assist system automatically
keeps the brakes applied to help prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards in the time it
takes the driver to release the brake pedal
and apply the accelerator when the vehicle is
stopped on a hill.
The hill start assist system will operate
automatically under the following condi-
tions:
.
The transmission is shifted to a forward
or reverse gear.
. The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill
by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds.
After 2 seconds the vehicle will begin to roll
back and the hill start assist system will stop
operating completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate
when the transmission is shifted to the N
(Neutral) or P (Park) position or on a flat and
level road.
When staring the vehicle on a steep uphill
grade, wait one second after shifting the
shift lever into the driving position.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
JVE0010X
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage to
the charging system and cause personal
injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
, position the two vehicles (and) to bring the 12-volt battery and
fuse box into close proximity to each
other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch. 2. Apply parking brake. Move the shift lever
to the P (Park) position. Switch off all
unnecessary electrical systems (light,
heater, air conditioner, etc.).
3. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
???).
For models with a steering wheel lock
mechanism: If the 12-volt battery is
disconnected or discharged, the steering
wheel will lock and cannot be turned.
Supply power using jumper cables be-
fore pushing the ignition switch and
disengaging the steering lock.
CAUTION
. Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (−) to body
ground (as illustrated) − not to the
12-volt battery.
. Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that clamps do
not contact any other metal.
4. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
and let it run for a few minutes.
5. Start the hybrid system of the vehicle being jump started
.
CAUTION
If the hybrid system does not start right
away, push the ignition switch to the
OFF position and wait 10 seconds
before trying again.
6. After starting your vehicle, carefully disconnect the negative cable and then
the positive cable (
???).
7. Put the battery cover and fuse cover on.
In case of emergency6-11
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............................................ 8-6
Inverter cooling system.................................................... 8-7 Checking inverter coolant level ................................ 8-8
Changing inverter coolant.......................................... 8-8
Engine oil.....................................................................\
......... 8-8
Checking engine oil level ............................................ 8-8
Changing engine oil and filter................................... 8-9
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).......................... 8-11
Power steering fluid........................................................ 8-11
Brake fluid...................................................................\
....... 8-12 Brake fluid .................................................................... 8-12
Window washer fluid...................................................... 8-12
12-volt battery ................................................................. 8-13 Checking battery fluid level..................................... 8-14
Jump starting............................................................... 8-15
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
8-15 Replacing spark plugs................................................ 8-15 Air cleaner........................................................................\
.. 8-16
Windshield wiper blades ............................................... 8-17
Cleaning....................................................................... 8-17
Replacing..................................................................... 8-17
Brakes..................................................................\
............... 8-18 Self-adjusting brakes............................................... 8-18
Brake pad wear warning........................................ 8-18
Fuses...................................................................\
................ 8-19 Engine compartment or trunk room ................... 8-19
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-20
Intelligent Key battery replacement........................... 8-21
Lights........................................................................\
.......... 8-23 Headlights.................................................................. 8-24
Exterior and interior lights.................................... 8-24
Wheels and tires.............................................................. 8-26 Tire pressure .............................................................. 8-26
Tire labeling............................................................... 8-30
Types of tires............................................................. 8-32
Tire chains................................................................... 8-32
Changing wheels and tires..................................... 8-33
8-12Do-it-yourself
For further brake fluid information, see
“Capacities and recommended fluids/lubri-
cants” (P.10-2).
WARNING
.Use only new fluid from a sealed
container. Old, inferior or contami-
nated fluid may damage the brake
system. The use of improper fluids
can damage the brake system and
affect the vehicle’s stopping ability.
. Clean the filler cap before removing.
. Brake fluid is poisonous and should
be stored carefully in marked con-
tainers out of the reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on painted surfaces.
This will damage the paint. If fluid is
spilled, wash the surface with water.
JVM0053X
BRAKE FLUID
Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the
fluid is below the MIN lineor the brake
warning light comes on, add Genuine
NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT 3fluid up to the MAX line
.
If fluid must be added frequently, the system
should be checked. It is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
SDI2544
WARNING
Antifreeze is poisonous and should be
stored carefully in marked containers
out of the reach of children.
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir per-
iodically. Add window washer fluid when the
low window washer fluid warning appears
on the vehicle information display.
To fill the window washer fluid reservoir, lift
the cap off the reservoir tank and pour the
window washer fluid into the tank opening.
Add a washer solvent to the washer for
BRAKE FLUID WINDOW WASHER FLUID
8-18Do-it-yourself
SDI2362
Be careful not to clog the washer nozzle.
This may cause improper windshield washer
operation. If the nozzle is clogged, remove
any objects with a needle or small pin
.Be
careful not to damage the nozzle. If the brakes do not operate properly, it is
recommended you have the brakes checked
by an INFINITI retailer.
SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The disc-type brakes self-adjust every time
the brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
Have your brake system checked if the
brake pedal height does not return to
normal. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires repla-
cement, it will make a high pitched scraping
sound when the vehicle is in motion. This
scraping sound will first occur only when the
brake pedal is depressed. After more wear of
the brake pad, the sound will always be
heard even if the brake pedal is not
depressed. Have the brakes checked as soon
as possible if the wear warning sound is
heard.Under some driving or climate conditions,
occasional brake squeak, squeal or other
noise may be heard. Occasional brake noise
during light to moderate stops is normal and
does not affect the function or performance
of the brake system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should be
followed.
For additional information, see the
maintenance schedule shown in the “9.
Maintenance and schedules” section.
BRAKES
.If the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same off-set dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different off-set
could cause premature tire wear,
degrade vehicle handling character-
istics and/or interference with the
brake discs/drums. Such interference
can lead to decreased braking effi-
ciency and/or early brake pad/shoe
wear. See “Wheels and tires” (P.10-
7) of this manual for wheel off-set
dimensions.
. Since the spare tire is not equipped
with the TPMS, when a spare tire is
mounted or a wheel is replaced, the
TPMS will not function and the low
tire pressure warning light will flash
for approximately 1 minute. The light
will remain on after 1 minute. Have
your tires replaced and/or TPMS
system reset as soon as possible. It
is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for these services.
. Replacing tires with those not origin-
ally specified by INFINITI could affect
the proper operation of the TPMS.
. The TPMS sensor may be damaged if
it is not handled correctly. Be careful
when handling the TPMS sensor. .
When replacing the TPMS sensor, the
ID registration may be required. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for ID registration.
. Do not use a valve stem cap that is
not specified by INFINITI. The valve
stem cap may become stuck.
. Be sure that the valve stem caps are
correctly fitted. Otherwise the valve
may be clogged up with dirt and
cause a malfunction or loss of pres-
sure.
. Do not install a damaged or deformed
wheel or tire even if it has been
repaired. Such wheels or tires could
have structural damage and could fail
without warning.
. The use of retread tire is not recom-
mended.
. For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety
Information” (Canada) in the War-
ranty Information Booklet.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle hand-
ling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required. Wheel balance service should be performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin
balancing the wheels on the vehicle could
lead to mechanical damage.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Care of wheels
See “Cleaning exterior” (P.7-2) for details
about care of the wheels.
Spare tire (TEMPORARY USE
ONLY (T-type) spare tire)
Since the spare tire is not equipped with the
TPMS, when a spare tire is mounted (TEM-
PORARY USE ONLY or conventional), the
TPMS will not function.
Observe the following precautions if the T-
type spare tire must be used, otherwise your
vehicle could be damaged or involved in an
accident.
WARNING
.
The T-type spare tire should be used
for emergency use. It should be
replaced with the standard tire at
the first opportunity to avoid possi-
Do-it-yourself8-35
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).
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 periodic 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 goes
down 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.
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.
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.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free
play, hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure that
all warning lights and chimes are operating
Maintenance and schedules9-3
Do not attempt to test the vehicle on a
dynamometer (such as the dynamometers
used by some states for emissions testing),
or similar equipment. Doing so may cause
damage to the drivetrain or the high voltage
battery. Make sure you inform test facility
personnel that your vehicle is hybrid. Using
the wrong test equipment may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or pearsonal injury.
Due to legal requirements in some states/
areas, your vehicle may be required to be in
what is called the “ready condition” for an
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) test of the
emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition”
when it is driven through certain driving
patterns. Usually, the “ready condition” can
be obtained by ordinary usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is re-
paired or the 12-volt battery is discon-
nected, the vehicle may be reset to a “not
ready condition”. Before taking the I/M test,
check the vehicle’s inspection/maintenance
test readiness condition. Place the ignition
switch in the ON position without starting
the engine. If the Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL) comes on steady for 20 seconds
and then blinks for 10 seconds, the I/M test
condition is “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink after 20 seconds, the I/M test condi-tion is “ready”.
It is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer to set the “ready condition” or to
prepare the vehicle for testing.
This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data
Recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an
EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data
that will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is
designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record
such data as:
.
How various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
. Whether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were buckled/fastened;
. How far (if at all) the driver was depres-
sing the accelerator and/or brake pedal;
and,
. How fast the vehicle was traveling.
. Sounds are not recorded.
These data can help provide a better under-
standing of the circumstances in which
crashes and injuries occur.
NOTE: EDR data are recorded by your
vehicle only if a nontrivial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR
under normal driving conditions and no
personal data (e.g. name, gender, age and
crash location) are recorded. However, other
parties, such as law enforcement, could
combine the EDR data with the type of
Technical and consumer information10-19
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST (US only)EVENT DATA RECORDERS (EDR)