4. Drive at economical speeds and dis-tances.
.Observing the speed limit and notexceeding 60 MPH (97 km/h) (where
legally allowed) can improve fuel
efficiency due to reduced aerody-
namic drag.
.Maintaining a safe following distance
behind other vehicles reduces unne-
cessary braking.
.Safely monitoring traffic to anticipatechanges in speed permits reduced
braking and smooth acceleration
changes.
.Select a gear range suitable to roadconditions.
5. Use cruise control.
.Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady speed.
.Cruise control is particularly effectivein providing fuel savings when driving
on flat terrains.
6. Plan for the shortest route.
.Utilize a map or navigation system to determine the best route to save time.
7. Avoid idling.
.Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30-60 seconds
saves fuel and reduces emissions. 8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to
use special lanes to maintain cruising
speed through the toll and avoid
stopping and starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no more than30 seconds of idling at start-up to
effectively circulate the engine oil
before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal oper-ating temperature more quickly while
driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered parking area or in the shade whenever possi-
ble.
.When entering a hot vehicle, openingthe windows will help to reduce the
inside temperature faster, resulting in
reduced demand on your A/C system. .
Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases tire
wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity engine
oil. (See “Engine oil and oil filter recom-
mendation” (P.10-9).)
Starting and driving5-117
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
5-118Starting and driving
SSD0336
The AWD warning light is located in the
meter.
The AWD warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is pushed to the ON position.
It turns off soon after the engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the Intelligent
AWD system while the engine is running, thewarning light will come on.
The warning light may blink rapidly (about
twice per second) while trying to free a stuck
vehicle due to high power train oil tempera-
ture. The driving mode may change to two-
wheel drive. If the warning light blinks
rapidly during operation, stop the vehicle
with the engine idling in a safe place
immediately. Then if the light goes off after
a while, you can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters of
front and rear wheels will make the warning
light blink slowly (about once per two
seconds). Pull off the road in a safe area,
and idle the engine. Check that all tire sizes
are the same, tire pressure is correct and
tires are not worn.
If the warning light is blinking after the
above operation, 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
engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
. Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dy-
namometer (such as the dynam-
ometers used by some states for
emissions testing) or similar equip-
ment even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure that
you inform the test facility personnel
that your vehicle is equipped with
AWD before it is placed on a dynam-
ometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage
or unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
CAUTION
.Do not operate the engine on a free
roller when any of the wheels are
raised.
. If the warning light comes on while
driving there may be a malfunction in
the AWD system. Reduce the vehicle
speed and have your vehicle checked
as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.
INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL
DRIVE (AWD) (if so equipped)
5-122Starting and driving
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force
than a conventional brake booster even with
light pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. It is the
driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive
safely and be in control of the vehicle at
all times.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
is a sophisticated device, but it
cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slip-
pery surfaces. Remember that
stopping distances on slippery sur- faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping
distances may also be longer on
rough, gravel or snow covered roads,
or if you are using tire chains. Always
maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the driver is responsible for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness.
— When replacing tires, install the specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
— When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
“Tire and loading information la-
bel” (P.10-16).
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-30).
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls
the brakes so the wheels do not lock during
hard braking or when braking on slippery
surfaces. The system detects the rotation
speed at each wheel and varies the brake
fluid pressure to prevent each wheel from
locking and sliding. By preventing each
wheel from locking, the system helps the driver maintain steering control and helps to
minimize swerving and spinning on slippery
surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels from
locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid
obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time you
start the engine and move the vehicle at a
low speed in forward or reverse. When the
self-test occurs, you may hear a “clunk”
noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and does not indicate a
malfunction. If the computer senses a mal-
function, it switches the ABS off and
BRAKE ASSIST
6 In case of emergency
Hazard warning flasher switch...................................... 6-2
Roadside assistance program......................................... 6-2
Emergency engine shut off............................................. 6-3
Flat tire ........................................................................\
......... 6-3Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ............ 6-3
Changing a flat tire...................................................... 6-4 Jump starting ..................................................................... 6-9
Push starting .................................................................... 6-11
If your vehicle overheats............................................... 6-12
Towing your vehicle........................................................ 6-13
Towing recommended by INFINITI..................... 6-14
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) ......... 6-15
To shut off the engine in an emergency
situation while driving, perform the follow-
ing procedure:
.Rapidly push the push-button ignition
switch 3 consecutive times in less than
1.5 seconds, or
. Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds.TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). It
monitors tire pressure of all tires except the
spare. When the low tire pressure warning
light is lit and the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
warning appears in the vehicle information
display, one or more of your tires is sig-
nificantly under-inflated. If the vehicle is
being driven with low tire pressure, the
TPMS will activate and warn you of it by
the low tire pressure warning light. This
system will activate only when the vehicle is
driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h).
For more details, see “Warning lights, in-
dicator lights and audible reminders” (P.2-
10) and “Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)” (P.5-5).
WARNING
. If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates or LOW PRESSURE in-
formation is displayed on the monitor
screen while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt brak-
ing, reduce vehicle speed, pull off the
road to a safe location and stop the
vehicle as soon as possible. Driving
with under-inflated tires may perma- nently damage the tires and increase
the likelihood of tire failure. Serious
vehicle damage could occur and may
lead to an accident and could result in
serious personal injury. Check the tire
pressure for all four tires. Adjust the
tire pressure to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label to
turn the low tire pressure warning
light OFF. If the light still illuminates
while driving after adjusting the tire
pressure, a tire may be flat. If you
have a flat tire, replace it with a spare
tire as soon as possible.
. 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.
. Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
In case of emergency6-3
EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFF FLAT TIRE
6-8In case of emergency
wheel nut wrench, tighten the wheel
nuts securely in the sequence illustrated.
Lower the vehicle completely.
WARNING
.Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to become loose or come off.
This could cause an accident.
. Do not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the
nuts to become loose.
. Retighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
.As soon as possible, tighten the wheel
nuts to the specified torque with a
torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque: 80 ft-lb (108 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tigh-
tened to specification at all times. It
is recommended that wheel nuts be
tightened to specifications at each
lubrication interval.
.Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure. COLD pressure:
After the vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more or driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km).
COLD tire pressures are shown on
the Tire and Loading Information
label affixed to the driver side center
pillar.
SCE0883
5. Securely store the flat tire and jacking
equipment in the vehicle.
6. Place the spare tire cover and the trunk floor carpeting over the damaged tire.
7. Close the trunk.
WARNING
. Always make sure that the spare tire
and jacking equipment are properly
secured after use. Such items can
become dangerous projectiles in an
accident or sudden stop.
. The T-type spare tire and small size
spare tire are designed for emergency
.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
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ................................................ 8-2
Engine compartment check locations .......................... 8-3VK56VD engine ............................................................ 8-3
VQ37VHR engine......................................................... 8-5
Engine cooling system...................................................... 8-8 Checking engine coolant level................................... 8-9
Changing engine 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........................................................ 8-14
Brake fluid...................................................................\
....... 8-14 Brake fluid .................................................................... 8-15
Window washer fluid...................................................... 8-15
Battery ........................................................................\
........ 8-16
Jump starting............................................................... 8-17
Variable voltage control system.................................. 8-18
Drive belts ........................................................................\
.. 8-18
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
8-19
Replacing spark plugs................................................ 8-19 Air cleaner........................................................................\
.. 8-19
Windshield wiper blades ............................................... 8-21
Cleaning....................................................................... 8-21
Replacing..................................................................... 8-21
Brakes..................................................................\
............... 8-22 Self-adjusting brakes............................................... 8-22
Brake pad wear warning........................................ 8-22
Fuses...................................................................\
................ 8-23 Engine compartment............................................... 8-23
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-24
Intelligent Key battery replacement........................... 8-25
Lights........................................................................\
.......... 8-27 Headlights.................................................................. 8-28
Exterior and interior lights.................................... 8-28
Wheels and tires............................................................. 8-30 Tire pressure ............................................................. 8-30
Tire labeling............................................................... 8-34
Types of tires............................................................. 8-36
Tire chains................................................................... 8-36
Changing wheels and tires..................................... 8-37