•Keep your engine tuned up.
•Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
•Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
•Keep all the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
•Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
For additional information, see "Recom-
mended fluids/lubricants and capacities"
WARNING
•Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with 4WD
engaged. Accelerating quickly, sharp
steering maneuvers or sudden braking
may cause loss of control.
•Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels.
•This vehicle is not designed for off-road
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy
or muddy roads that tires may get stuck
in.
•For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt 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 drive-
train damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury.
•Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped
vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer
(such as the dynamometers used by
some states for emissions testing) or
similar equipment 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 4WD before it is placed on a dyna-
mometer. 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.
•When a wheel is off the ground due to an
uneven surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (IF
EQUIPPED)
5-86Starting and driving
CAUTION
Never tow the vehicle with one axle raised.
This may damage the differential. Damage
of this sort is not covered by the warranty.
All wheels must be fully raised (see "Four-
Wheel Drive (4WD) models")
4WD, together with VDC, improves the trac-
tion of your vehicle whenever a drive wheel
spins due to insufficient grip.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4WD
can neither reduce the risk of an accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4WD cannot
take account of road, weather, and traffic
conditions. 4WD is only an aid. You are re-
sponsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time, and for staying in lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip
•When pulling away, only depress the ac-
celerator pedal as far as is necessary.
•Accelerate less when driving.
NOTE
In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effectiveness of 4WD can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
WARNING
•Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
•Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be applied and
the P (Park) position engaged. Failure to
do so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result in
an accident.
•When parking the vehicle, make sure the
P (Park) position is engaged. The shift
lever cannot be moved out of the P
(Park) position without depressing the
brake pedal.
•Never leave the engine running while the
vehicle is unattended.
•Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls or move the
vehicle. Unattended children could be-
come involved in serious accidents.
•To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not leave
children, people who require the assis-
tance of others, or pets unattended in
your vehicle. Additionally, the tempera-
ture inside a closed vehicle on a warm
day can quickly become high enough to
cause a significant risk of injury or death
to people and pets.
CAUTION
Always secure the vehicle correctly against
rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or its
drive train could be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
•The electric parking brake must be applied.
•The transmission must be in position P
(Park) and the transmission position dis-
play must show P in the vehicle informa-
tion display.
•The key must be removed from the ignition
switch.
•On uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb.
PARKING
Starting and driving5-87
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Press the P (Park) button.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from moving
into traffic when parked on an incline, it is
a good practice to turn the wheels as
illustrated.
HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB
1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb. Then apply
the parking brake.
HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB
2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
allow the vehicle to move back until the
curb side wheel gently touches the curb.
Then apply the parking brake.HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL,
WITHOUT CURB
3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away from
the center of the road if the vehicle moves.
Then apply the parking brake.
4.
Put the ignition switch in the OFF position.
SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
position N (Neutral) when you switch off
the engine. The vehicle may roll away.
There is a risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always
switch to position P (Park). Prevent the
parked vehicle from rolling away by apply-
ing the parking brake.
Procedure
1. Apply the electric parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to position P (Park).
3.With the key:turn the key to the position
OFF in the ignition switch and remove it
The immobilizer is activated.
If you switch the engine off with the trans-
mission in position R (Reverse) or D (Drive),
the automatic transmission shifts to N (Neu-
tral) automatically.
With the key: if you then open the driver's
door or the front-passenger door or remove
the key from the ignition, the automatic
transmission shifts to P (Park) automatically.
If you want the automatic transmission to
remain in neutral N (Neutral), e.g. when hav-
ing the vehicle cleaned in an automatic car
wash with a towing system:
With the key:
1. Switch the ignition on.
2. Depress the brake pedal and keep it de-
pressed.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
SSD0488Z
5-88Starting and driving
•After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could
roll away There is a risk of an accident
and injury. Therefore, quickly move your
foot from the brake pedal to the accel-
erator pedal. Never leave the vehicle
when it is held by hill start assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient. It
holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake
pedal. This gives you enough time to move
your foot from the brake pedal to the accel-
erator pedal and depress it before the vehicle
begins to roll.
Hill start assist is not active if
•You are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
•On vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is in position N.
•The electric parking brake is applied.
•VDC is malfunctioning.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock be-
comes frozen, heat the key before inserting it
into the key hole, or use the INFINITI Intelli-
gent Key.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper winter
protection. For additional information, see
"Engine cooling system".
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For details, see
"Battery" of this manual.
DRAINING OF ENGINE COOLANT
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see "Changing engine
coolant" of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced in
snowy and icy conditions. If you operate
your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
INFINITI recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all four
wheels. It is recommended that you visit
an INFINITI retailer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, stud-
ded tires may be used. However, some
U.S. states and Canadian provinces pro-
hibit their use. Check local, state and pro-
vincial laws before installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-96Starting and driving
•Be sure that the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
9. Start the engine of the other vehicle
Aand let it run for a few minutes. Keep the
engine speed at about 2,000 rpm.
10. Start the engine of your vehicle
Bin the
normal way.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine does
not start right away, place the ignition
switch in the OFF position and wait 10 sec-
onds before trying again.
11. After starting the engine of your vehicle,
carefully disconnect the negative lead
and then the positive lead (
4→3→2→1).
12.
Remove and dispose of the cloth that was
used to cover the ventilator holes as it may
be contaminated with corrosive acid.
13. Install the ventilator caps (if equipped).
14. Close the hood.NOTE
For models which incorporate the Idle Stop/
Start System:
•Ensure that the battery fitted is the special
battery that is enhanced with regard to the
charge-discharge capacity and life perfor-
mance. Avoid using any other battery for
the Idle Stop/Start System, as this may
cause early deterioration of the battery or
a malfunction of the Idle Stop/Start Sys-
tem. It is recommended that a Genuine
INFINITI battery is fitted. For more infor-
mation, it is recommended you contact an
INFINITI retailer.
•If the battery terminal is disconnected (for
battery replacement, etc.) and then recon-
nected, there may be some delay before
the Idle top/Start System reactivates.Do not attempt to start the engine by pushing
the vehicle.
CAUTION
•Automatic Transmission (AT) model
cannot be push-started or tow-started.
Attempting to do so may cause damage
to the transmission.
•Three-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing. At-
tempting to do so may cause damage to
the three-way catalyst.
•Never try to start the vehicle by towing
it; when the engine starts, the forward
surge could cause the vehicle to collide
with the tow vehicle.
PUSH STARTING
6-12In case of emergency
Two-Wheel Drive (FWD) models
CAUTION
NEVER tow automatic transmission (DCT)
models with the front wheels on the
ground or with all four wheels on the
ground (forwards or backwards), as this
may cause serious and expensive damage
to the transmission. If it is necessary to tow
the vehicle with the rear wheels raised, al-
ways use towing dollies under the front
wheels.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models
INFINITI recommends that towing dollies be
used under the front or rear wheels when
towing your vehicle or the vehicle be placed
on a flatbed tow truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
Never tow 4WD models with any of the
wheels on the ground. Doing so will cause
serious and expensive damage to the
drivetrain.
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious personal
injury or death when recovering a stuck ve-
hicle:
•Contact a professional towing service to
recover the vehicle if you have any ques-
tions regarding the recovery procedure.
•Tow chains or cables must be attached
only to main structural members 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.
NCE450
4WD models
In case of emergency6-15
•On vehicles with a push button ignition
switch: you must remove the start/stop
button and use the key (see " Push-
button ignition switch (if equipped)").
Otherwise the automatic transmission
may shift to position P (Park) when the
driver's or front passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to
the transmission.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device designed
specifically for vehicle recovery. Always fol-
low the manufacturer’s instructions for the
recovery device.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
WARNING
•To avoid potential injury, 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.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 back-
ward.
•Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and D (Drive).
•Apply the accelerator as little as possible
to maintain the rocking motion.
•Release the accelerator pedal before shift-
ing between R (Reverse) and D (Drive).
•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 ser-
vice to remove the vehicle.
6-16In case of emergency
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