8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions.................8-2
Engine compartment check locations.........8-3
2.0L Gasoline engine.................8-3
Engine cooling system...................8-3
Checking engine coolant level............8-4
Changing engine coolant...............8-4
Engine oil...........................8-5
Checking engine oil level...............8-5
Changing engine oil..................8-5
Changing engine oil filter...............8-6
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)..........8-7
Brake fluid..........................8-7
Window washer fluid...................8-8
Battery............................8-9
Accessing Vehicle battery...............8-9
Maintenance free battery..............8-10
Models with Idle Stop/Start System.......8-10
Battery replacement.................8-10
Reinitialisation procedure after battery
reconnection......................8-12
Jump-starting.....................8-12
Drive belt..........................8-12
Spark plugs.........................8-12
Air cleaner filter......................8-13
Wiper blades........................8-13Cleaning.........................8-13
Replacing front window wiper blades......8-14
Replacing rear window wiper blade.......8-16
Brakes............................8-17
Self-adjusting brakes.................8-17
Fuses.............................8-17
Before replacing a fuse...............8-17
Engine compartment.................8-18
Passenger compartment..............8-19
Intelligent Key battery replacement........
.8-20
Checking the battery.................8-21
Replacing the battery.................8-21
Lights............................8-23
Exterior and interior lights..............8-23
Replacement procedures..............8-25
Wheels and tires......................8-27
Tire Pressure......................8-27
Tire inflation pressure................8-30
Tire labeling......................8-30
Types of tires.....................8-32
Tire chains.......................8-33
Tire wear and damage................8-33
Tire rotation......................8-34
Replacing wheels and tires.............8-34
Wheel balance.....................8-36
Front turn signal light bulb
replacement (non-LED system only)
1. Open the hood. For details, see "Hood".
2. Disconnect the negative (—) battery cable.
3. Turn housing cover
1counterclockwise
and remove it.
4. Turn bulb holder
2counterclockwise and
pull out
5. Take the headlight bulb out of bulb holder
2.
6. Insert the new bulb into bulb holder
2.7. Insert bulb holder
2and turn it clockwise.
8. Press on housing cover
1and turn it to
the right.
9. Reconnect the negative (—) battery cable
and close the hood.If you have a flat tire, refer to "Flat tire".TIRE PRESSURE
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
monitors tire pressure of all tires. When the
low tire pressure warning light is lit, one or
more of the tires is significantly under-
inflated.
The TPMS will activate only when the vehicle
is driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h).
Also, this system may not detect a sudden
drop in tire pressure (for example a flat tire
while driving).
For additional information, refer to "Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)".
NDI1612
WHEELS AND TIRES
Do-it-yourself8-27
Tire inflation pressure
Check the tire pressures (including the spare)
often and always prior to long distance trips.
The recommended tire pressure specifica-
tions are shown on the F.M.V.S.S./
C.M.V.S.S. label or the Tire and Loading In-
formation label (if so equipped) under the
Cold Tire Pressure heading. The Tire and
Loading Information label is affixed to the
driver side center pillar. Tire pressures should
be checked regularly because:
•Most tires naturally lose air over time.
•Tires can lose air suddenly when driven
over potholes or other objects or if the
vehicle strikes a curb while parking.
The tire pressures should be checked when
the tires are cold. The tires are considered
COLD after the vehicle has been parked for
3 or more hours, or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km) at moderate speeds.
WARNING
•Improperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident.
•The Gross Vehicle Weight rating
(GVWR) is located on the F.M.V.S. S./
C.M.V.S.S. certification label. The ve-
hicle weight capacity is indicated on the
Tire and Loading Information label (if so
equipped). Do not load your vehicle be-
yond this capacity. Overloading your
vehicle may result in reduced tire life,
unsafe operating conditions due to pre-
mature tire failure, or unfavorable han-
dling characteristics and could also lead
to a serious accident. Loading beyond
the specified capacity may also result in
failure of other vehicle components.
•Before taking a long trip, or whenever
you heavily load your vehicle, use a tire
pressure gauge to ensure that the tire
pressures are at the specified level.
•For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
8-28Do-it-yourself
Tire and Loading Information label
1Seating capacity: The maximum number
of occupants that can be seated in the
vehicle.
2Vehicle load limit: See "Vehicle loading
information".
3Original size: The size of the tires origi-
nally installed on the vehicle at the fac-
tory.
4Cold tire pressure: Inflate the tires to this
pressure when the tires are cold. Tires are
considered COLD after the vehicle has
been parked for 3 or more hours, ordriven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at moder-
ate speeds. The recommended cold tire
inflation is set by the manufacturer to
provide the best balance of tire wear,
vehicle handling, driveability, tire noise,
etc., up to the vehicle’s GVWR.
5Tire size — see "Tire labeling" later in this
section.
6Spare tire size or compact spare tire size
(if so equipped).
SDI2703
Do-it-yourself8-29
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Checking tire pressure
1. Remove the valve stem cap from the tire.
2. Press the pressure gauge squarely onto
the valve stem. Do not press too hard or
force the valve stem sideways, or air will
escape. If the hissing sound of air escap-
ing from the tire is heard while checking
the pressure, reposition the gauge to
eliminate this leakage.
3. Remove the gauge.
4. Read the tire pressure on the gauge stem
and compare it to the specification shown
on the Tire and Loading Information label.5. Add air to the tire as needed. If too much
air is added, press the core of the valve
stem briefly with the tip of the gauge stem
to release pressure. Recheck the pressure
and add or release air as needed.
6. Install the valve stem cap.
7. Check the pressure of all other tires, in-
cluding the spare.
Tire Size Cold Tire Inflation
Pressure
Front Rear
235/50
R18(2WD) 35 psi,
240kPa35 psi,
240kPa
(4WD) 35 psi,
240kPa29 psi,
200kPa
235/45 R19 32 psi,
220kPa32 psi,
220kPa
Spare tire NONE
TIRE LABELING
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to
place standardized information on the side-
wall of all tires. This information identifies
and describes the fundamental characteris-
tics of the tire and also provides the tire iden-
tification number (TIN) for safety standard
certification. The TIN can be used to identify
the tire in case of a recall.
SDI1949ZSDI1575Z
Example
8-30Do-it-yourself
1Tire size (example: P215/60R16 94H)
1 P: The “P” indicates the tire is designed for
passenger vehicles. (Not all tires have this
information.)
2 Three-digit number (215): This number
gives the width in millimeters of the tire
from sidewall edge to sidewall edge.
3 Two-digit number (60): This number,
known as the aspect ratio, gives the tire’s
ratio of height to width.
4 R: The “R” stands for radial.
5 Two-digit number (16): This number is the
wheel or rim diameter in inches.
6
Two- or three-digit number (94): This num-
ber is the tire’s load index. It is a measurement
of how much weight each tire can support.
You may not find this information on all tires
because it is not required by law.
7H:Tire speed rating. You should not drive the
vehicle faster than the tire speed rating.
2TIN (Tire Identification Number) for a new
tire (example: DOT XX XX XXX XXXX)
1 DOT: Abbreviation for the “Department of
Transportation”. The symbol can be placed
above, below or to the left or right of the
Tire Identification Number.
2 Two-digit code: Manufacturer’s identifi-
cation mark
3 Two-digit code: Tire size
4 Three-digit code: Tire type code (Optional)
5 Four numbers represent the week and
year the tire was built. For example, the
numbers 3103 means the 31st week of
2003. If these numbers are missing, then
look on the other sidewall of the tire.
3Tire ply composition and material
The number of layers or plies of rubber-
coated fabric in the tire. Tire manufactur-
ers also must indicate the materials in thetire, which include steel, nylon, polyester,
and others.
4Maximum permissible inflation pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should be put in the tire. Do
not exceed the maximum permissible in-
flation pressure.
5Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum load
in kilograms and pounds that can be car-
ried by the tire. When replacing the tires
on the vehicle, always use a tire that has
the same load rating as the factory in-
stalled tire.
6Term of “tubeless” or “tube type”
Indicates whether the tire requires an in-
ner tube (“tube type”) or not (“tubeless”).
7The word “radial”
The word “radial” is shown, if the tire has
radial structure.
8Manufacturer or brand name”
Manufacturer or brand name is shown.
Other tire-related terminology:
In addition to the many terms that are de-
fined throughout this section, Intended Out-
board Sidewall is (1) the sidewall that con-
tains a whitewall, bears white lettering or
bears manufacturer, brand and/or model
SDI1606Z
Example
NDI1623
Example
Do-it-yourself8-31
name molding that is higher or deeper than
the same molding on the other sidewall of the
tire, or (2) the outward facing sidewall of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particular side
that must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
•When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(i.e, summer, all season or snow) and
construction. An INFINITI retailer may
be able to help you with information
about tire type, size, speed rating and
availability.
•Replacement tires may have a lower
speed rating than the factory equipped
tires, and they may not match the po-
tential maximum vehicle speed. Never
exceed the maximum speed rating of the
tire.
•Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction and tread pattern
on all four wheels. Failure to do so may
result in a circumference difference be-
tween tires on the front and rear axles
which can cause the Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) system to malfunctionresulting in personal injury or death, ex-
cessive tire wear and may damage the
transmission, transfer case and differ-
ential gears.
•For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation“ (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
CAUTION
ONLY use spare tires specified for the
model.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with
tires of the same size, brand, construction
and tread pattern. The tire pressure and
wheel alignment should also be checked and
corrected as necessary. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
All season tires
INFINITI specifies all season tires on some
models to provide good performance all year,
including snowy and icy road conditions. All
season tires are identified by ALL SEASON
and/or M&S on the tire sidewall. Snow tires
have better snow traction than all seasontires and may be more appropriate in some
areas.
Summer tires
INFINITI specifies summer tires on some
models to provide superior performance on
dry roads. Summer tire performance is sub-
stantially reduced in snow and ice. Summer
tires do not have the tire traction rating M&S
on the tire sidewall.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in snowy or
icy conditions, INFINITI recommends the use
of snow or all season tires on all four wheels.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load rating
to the original equipment tires. If you do not,
it can adversely affect the safety and han-
dling of your vehicle.
Generally, snow tires have lower speed rat-
ings than factory equipped tires and may not
match the potential maximum vehicle speed.
Never exceed the maximum speed rating of
the tire. If you install snow tires, they must be
the same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S. states
and Canadian provinces prohibit their use.
Check local, state and provincial laws before
8-32Do-it-yourself
installing studded tires. Skid and traction ca-
pabilities of studded snow tires on wet or dry
surfaces may be poorer than that of non-
studded snow tires.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with
tires of the same size, brand, construction
and tread pattern. The tire pressure and
wheel alignment should also be checked and
corrected as necessary. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer.
TIRE CHAINS
CAUTION
Tire chains/cables should not be installed
on 235/45 R19 or 235/50 R18 size tires.
Installation of the tire chains/cables on
235/45 R19 or 235/50 R18 size tires will
cause damage to the vehicle. If you plan to
use tire chains/cables, you should install
215/60 R17 size tires on your vehicle.
Use of tire chains may be prohibited accord-
ing to location. Check the local laws before
installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure that they are of proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are installed
according to the chain manufacturer’s in-
structions.Use chain tensioners when recommended by
the tire chain manufacturer to ensure a tight
fit. Loose end links of the tire chains must be
secured or removed to prevent the possibility
of whipping action damage to the fenders or
underbody. If possible, avoid fully loading
your vehicle when using tire chains. In addi-
tion, drive at a reduced speed. Otherwise,
your vehicle may be damaged and/or vehicle
handling and performance may be adversely
affected.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
front wheels and not on the rear wheels.
Never install tire chains on a T-type spare tire
(TEMPORARY USE ONLY).
Do not drive with tire chains on paved roads
which are clear of snow. Driving with chains
in such conditions can cause damage to the
various mechanisms of the vehicle due to
some overstress.
1: Wear indicator
2: Location mark
TIRE WEAR AND DAMAGE
WARNING
•Tires should be periodically inspected
for wear, cracking, bulging or objects
caught in the tread. If excessive wear,
cracks, bulging or deep cuts are found,
the tire should be replaced immediately.
•The original tires have a built-in tread
wear indicator. When the wear indicator
is visible, the tire should be replaced.
SDI1663Z
Do-it-yourself8-33