When the VDC system operates, the VDC
warning light in the instrument panel flashes
so note the following:
•The road may be slippery or the system
may determine some action is required to
help keep the vehicle on the steered path.
•You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under
the hood. This is normal and indicates that
the VDC system is working properly.
•Adjust your speed and driving to the road
conditions.
See " Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light".
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
VDC warning light
illuminates in the
instrument panel. The VDC system automati-
cally turns off.
WARNING
•The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain stability but does not
prevent accidents due to abrupt steer-
ing operation at high speeds or by care-
less or dangerous driving techniques.Reduce vehicle speed and be especially
careful when driving and cornering on
slippery surfaces and always drive care-
fully.
•Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars,
bushings and wheels are not INFINITI
recommended for your vehicle or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly. This could
adversely affect vehicle handling per-
formance, and the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
•If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
•If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
•When driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners, the
VDC system may not operate properly and
the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
Do not drive on these types of roads.
•When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the VDC warning light
may
illuminate. This is not a malfunction.
Restart the engine after driving onto a
stable surface.
•If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI
recommended ones are used, the VDC
system may not operate properly and the
VDC warning light
may illuminate.
•The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road.
•If VDC is malfunctioning, VDC is unable
to stabilize the vehicle. In addition,
other driving safety systems are
switched off. This increases the risk of
skidding and an accident. Drive on care-
fully. Have VDC checked. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
Starting and driving5-93
If you deactivate VDC:
•VDC no longer intervenes in understeer or
oversteer situations.
•Engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action, so the tires cut through the
loose surface until the hit solid ground,
giving better traction.
•Traction control is still activated.
•VDC still provides support when you brake.
EBD (ELECTRONIC BRAKE
FORCE DISTRIBUTION)
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to help improve han-
dling during braking.
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the EBD [Inop-
erative See Operator's Manual] warning is
displayed in the vehicle information dis-
play. The
VDC warning light may also
light up.
If EBD is malfunctioning as a result of a
VDC malfunction, the rear wheels can lock,
e.g. under full braking. This increases the
risk of skidding and an accident.You should therefore adapt your driving
style to the different handling characteris-
tics. Have the brake system checked. It is
recommended you see an INFINITI retailer.
STEER CONTROL
STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting
a noticeable steering force to the steering
wheel in the direction required for vehicle
stabilisation.
This steering support is provided in particular
if:
•Both right wheels or both left wheels are
on a wet or slippery road surface when
you brake.
•The vehicle starts to skid.
WARNING
No steering support is provided from
STEER CONTROL, if:
•VDC is malfunctioning.•The steering is faulty.
Power steering will, however, continue to
function.
WARNING
•Never rely solely on the Hill Start Assist
(HSA) system to prevent the vehicle
from moving backward on a hill. Always
drive carefully and attentively. 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 re-
sult in a loss of control of the vehicle and
possible serious injury or death.
•The Hill Start Assist system is not de-
signed 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 colli-
sion 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 de-
press the brake pedal to prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards. Failure
to do so may result in a collision or seri-
ous personal injury.
HILL START ASSIST (HSA)
Starting and driving5-95
In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
To protect the paint surfaces, please wash
your vehicle as soon as you can:
•After a rainfall, to prevent possible dam-
age from acid rain.
•After driving on coastal roads.
•When contaminants such as soot, bird
droppings, tree sap, metal particles or
bugs get on the paint surface.
•When dust or mud builds up on the surface.
Whenever possible, park your vehicle inside a
garage or in a covered area to minimize the
chances of damaging the paint surface of
your vehicle.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover.Be careful not to scratch the paint
surface when putting on or removing the
body cover.
WASHING
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly using a
mild soap, a special vehicle soap or general
purpose dishwashing liquid mixed with clean,
lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
•Do not use car washes that use acid in
the detergent. Some car washes, espe-
cially brushless ones, use some acid for
cleaning. The acid may react with some
plastic vehicle components, causing
them to crack. This could affect their ap-
pearance, and also could cause them not
to function properly. Always check with
your car wash to confirm that acid is not
used.
•Do not wash the vehicle with strong
household soap, strong chemical deter-
gents, gasoline or solvents.
•Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun-
light or while the vehicle body is hot, as
the paint surface may become water-
spotted.
•Avoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths, such as washing mitts. Care must
be taken when removing caked-on dirt
or other foreign substances so the paint
surface is not scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.Inside edges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable
to the effects of road salt. Therefore, these
areas must be cleaned regularly. Take care
that the drain holes in the lower edge of the
door are open. Spray water under the body
and in the wheel wells to loosen the dirt and
wash away road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the ve-
hicle to avoid water spots.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface and
helps maintain a new vehicle appearance.
After waxing, polishing is recommended to
remove built-up residue and to avoid a
weathered appearance.
An INFINITI retailer can assist you in choos-
ing the appropriate waxing products.
•Wax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
•Do not use a wax containing any abra-
sives, cutting compounds or cleaners that
may damage the vehicle finish.
Machine compounding or aggressive polish-
ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish may
dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, in-
sects, and tree sap as quickly as possible from
the paint surface to avoid lasting damage or
staining. Special cleaning products are avail-
able at an INFINITI retailer or any automotive
accessory store.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in the winter,
it is necessary to clean the vehicle’s under-
body regularly in order to prevent dirt and salt
from building up and causing the acceleration
of corrosion on the underbody and suspen-
sion.
Before the winter 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 windows,
do not use sharp-edged tools, abrasive
cleaners or chlorine-based disinfectant
cleaners. They could damage the electrical
conductors, radio antenna elements or rear
window defroster elements.
WHEELS
•Wash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance.
•Clean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
•Do not use abrasive cleaners when wash-
ing the wheels.
•Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. This may cause loss of pressure
or damage the tire bead.
•INFINITI recommends that the road
wheels be waxed to protect against road
salt in areas where it is used during winter.
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS
Wash the wheels regularly with a sponge
dampened in a mild soap solution, especially
during winter in areas where road salt is used.The salt residue from road salt could discolor
the wheels if it is not washed off regularly.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid stain-
ing 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 am-
bient temperature.
•Rinse the wheel to completely remove
the cleaner within 15 minutes after the
cleaner is applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
TIRE DRESSINGS
INFINITI does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating
to the tires to help reduce discoloration of the
rubber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires,
it may react with the coating and form a
compound. This compound may come off the
tire while driving and stain the vehicle paint.
Appearance and care7-3
MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION
Most vehicle corrosion is caused by:
•The accumulation of moisture-retaining
dirt and debris in body panel sections, cavi-
ties, and other areas.
•Damage to the paint surface and other
protective coatings caused by gravel and
stone chips or minor traffic accidents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION
Moisture
The accumulation of sand, dirt and water on
the inside floor of the vehicle can accelerate
corrosion. Wet floor carpet/floor mats will
not dry completely inside the vehicle. They
should be removed and completely dried to
avoid floor panel corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of high
relative humidity, especially those areas
where the temperatures stay above freezing
and where atmospheric pollution exists and
road salt is used.
Temperature
High temperatures accelerate the rate of cor-
rosion to those parts which are not well ven-
tilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in the
air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt use
accelerates the corrosion process. Road salt
also accelerates the disintegration of paint
surfaces.
TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE
FROM CORROSION
•Wash and wax your vehicle often to keep
the vehicle clean.
•Always check for minor damage to the
paint surface and repair it as soon as pos-
sible.
•Keep drain holes in the lower edge of the
doors open to avoid water accumulation.
•Check the underbody for accumulation of
sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with
water as soon as possible.
CAUTION
•NEVER remove dirt, sand or other de-
bris from the passenger compartment
by washing it out with a hose. Remove
dirt with a vacuum cleaner or broom.
•Never allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electronic compo-
nents inside the vehicle as this may dam-
age them.
Chemicals used for road surface deicing are
extremely corrosive. They accelerate corro-
sion and deterioration of underbody compo-
nents such as the exhaust system, fuel and
brake lines, brake cables, floor pan and fend-
ers.
In winter, the underbody must be cleaned
periodically.
For additional protection against rust and
corrosion, which may be required in some
areas, it is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer.
CORROSION PROTECTION
Appearance and care7-7
5. Insert the new battery with the positive
terminal facing upwards. Use a lint-free
cloth to do so.
6. Make sure that the surface of the battery
is free of lint, grease and other contami-
nation.
7. Insert the front tabs of battery cover
1and then press to close it.
8. Insert emergency key element into the key
(see "Mechanical key").
9. Check the function of all key buttons on
the vehicle.
If you need assistance with replacement, it is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service.FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) This device may not
cause harmful interference, and (2) this de-
vice must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause unde-
sired operation.
NOTE
Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compli-
ance could void the user’s authority to oper-
ate the equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with Industry Canada
license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation
is subject to the following two conditions: (1)
this device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference,
including interference that may cause unde-
sired operation of the device.
SPA0784Z
8-22Do-it-yourself
The headlight is a semi-sealed beam type
which uses a replaceable headlight (halogen)
bulb. A bulb can be replaced from inside the
engine compartment without removing the
headlight assembly.
If you need assistance for bulb replacement,
it is recommended that you visit an INFINITI
retailer.
Low/High beam Headlight bulb replace-
ment:
1. Open the hood. For details, see "Hood".
2. Disconnect the negative (—) battery cable.
3. Remove the corresponding access cover
from the wheel arch.
4. Turn housing cover
1counterclockwise
and remove it.
5. Turn bulb holder
2counterclockwise and
pull out
6. Take the headlight bulb out of bulb holder
2.
7. Insert the new bulb into bulb holder
2.
8. Insert bulb holder
2and turn it clockwise.9. Press on housing cover
1and turn it to
the right.
10. Replace the cover in the front wheel arch
11. Reconnect the negative (—) battery cable
and close the hood.
NOTE
Fog may temporarily form inside the lens of
the exterior lights in the rain or in a car wash.
The fog is caused by a temperature differ-
ence between the inside and the outside of
the lens. This is not a malfunction. If large
droplets can be seen, it is recommended that
you visit an INFINITI retailer.
NDI1611
8-26Do-it-yourself
Some day-to-day and regular maintenance is
essential to maintain your vehicle’s good me-
chanical condition, as well as its emission and
engine performance.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure
that the specified maintenance, as well as
general maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one
who can ensure that your vehicle receives the
proper maintenance care. You are a vital link
in the maintenance chain.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
General maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normal day-
to-day operation of the vehicle. They are es-
sential if your vehicle is to continue to operate
properly. It is your responsibility to perform
these procedures regularly as prescribed.
Performing general maintenance checks re-
quires minimal mechanical skill and only a few
general automotive tools.
These checks and inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician, or if you pre-
fer, an INFINITI retailer.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
The maintenance items listed under "Mainte-
nance schedules" later in this section are re-
quired to be serviced at regular intervals.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICE
If maintenance service is required or your
vehicle appears to malfunction, have the sys-
tems checked and serviced. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
INFINITI technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists and are kept up to date with the latest
service information through technical bulle-
tins, service tips and training programs. They
are completely qualified to work on INFINITI
vehiclesbeforework begins.
You can be confident that an INFINITI retail-
er’s service department can perform the ser-
vice needed to meet the maintenance re-
quirements on your vehicle.During normal day-to-day operation of the
vehicle, general maintenance should be per-
formed regularly as prescribed in this section.
If you detect any unusual sounds, vibrations
or smells, be sure to check for the cause or
have an INFINITI retailer do it promptly. In
addition, it is recommended you notify an
INFINITI retailer if you think that repairs are
required.
When performing any checks or maintenance
work, closely observe "Explanation of general
maintenance items" later in this section.
EXPLANATION OF GENERAL
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found later in the “Do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
Outside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless other-
wise specified.
Doors and engine hood:
Check that all doors, the lift gate and the
engine hood operate smoothly. Also make
sure that all latches lock securely. Lubricate if
necessary. Make sure that the secondary
latch keeps the hood from opening when the
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS GENERAL MAINTENANCE
9-2Maintenance and Schedules