•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"
in the "10. Technical information" section
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)
Starting and driving5-87
vehicle at high speeds until the brakes func-
tion correctly.
Driving uphill
When starting on a steep gradient, it is some-
times difficult to operate the brake. Use the
parking brake to hold the vehicle. When ready
to start, make sure that the shift lever is in an
appropriate forward or reverse driving posi-
tion, release the parking brake while depress-
ing the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle has
an electric parking brake, this will automati-
cally release when you depress the accelera-
tor pedal (DCT models).
Driving downhill
The engine braking action is effective for
controlling the vehicle while descending hills.
A low gear position in the manual shift mode,
low enough to obtain sufficient engine brak-
ing, should be selected.
Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced, in
order to assure the best braking perfor-
mance.This procedure is described in the vehicle ser-
vice manual and can be performed by an
INFINITI retailer.
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 dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking on
slippery surfaces. Remember that stopping
distances on slippery surfaces will be lon-
ger than on normal surfaces even with
ABS. Stopping distances may also be lon-
ger on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains. Al-
ways maintain a safe distance from the ve-
hicle 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 replacement tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire and loading informa- tion label. (See "Wheels and Tires" in the
"9. Maintenance and Schedules" section.)
– For detailed information, see "Wheels and
tires" in the "8. Do-it-yourself" section.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls
the brakes so the wheels do not lock during
hard braking or when braking on slippery sur-
faces. The system detects the rotation speed
at each wheel and varies the brake fluid pres-
sure to prevent each wheel from locking and
sliding. By preventing each wheel from lock-
ing, the system helps the driver maintain
steering control and helps to minimize swerv-
ing and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using 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 ob-
stacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
5-92Starting and driving
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" in the "8. Do-it-
yourself" section.
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" in the "8. Do-it-yourself" section 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" in the "8. Do-it-yourself" section 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.
3. Tire chains may be used if desired. Make sure they are the proper size for the tires
on your vehicle and are installed according
to the chain manufacturer’s instructions.
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. In addition,
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-97
WARNING TRIANGLE (IF
EQUIPPED)
Removing and refitting the warning
triangle
To remove:
1. Open the lift gate and lift the luggagecompartment floor upwards.
2. To release warning triangle, push back the retainers on the bracket.
3. Remove warning triangle
1from the
bracket.
To refit:
1. Place warning triangle
1back into the
bracket and push down to secure.
2. Fold down the luggage compartment floor.
3. Close the lift gate.
Setting up the warning triangle
1. Fold legs out to the side.
2. Fold side reflectors upwards to form a triangle and lock them at the top using
press stud.
RUN-FLAT TIRES
With special run-flat tires, you can continue
to drive your vehicle even if there is a total
loss of pressure in one or more tires. The
affected tire must not show any clearly visible
damage.
You can recognize run-flat tires by the mark-
ing which appears on the tire side wall. You
will find this marking next to the tire size
designation, the load-bearing capacity and
the speed index.
Run-flat tires may only be used in conjunction
with an activated tire pressure loss warning
system or tire pressure monitor.
Pressure loss warning message
If a pressure loss warning message appears
in the vehicle information display:
•Observe the instructions in the display
messages.
•Check the tire for damage.
•If driving on, observe the following notes.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
is approximately 50 miles (80 km) when the
vehicle is partially laden and approximately
20 miles (30 km) when the vehicle is fully
laden.NIC2686
6-4In case of emergency
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving
distance possible depends upon:
•Vehicle speed.
•Road condition.
•Outside temperature.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving
conditions/maneuvers, or it can be increased
through a moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
is counted from the moment the tire pressure
loss warning appears in the vehicle informa-
tion display.
You must not exceed a maximum speed of 50
MPH (80 km/h).
When replacing one or all tires, observe the
following specifications for your vehicle's
tires:
•Size
•Type
•Run-flat mark
If a tire has gone flat and cannot be replaced
with a run flat tire, a standard tire may be
used as a temporary measure. Make sure that
you use the proper size and type (summer or
winter tire).
WARNING
Do not exceed the stated maximum speed.
Avoid abrupt steering and driving maneu-
vers, and driving over obstacles (curbs, pot
holes, off road). This applies in particular to
a laden vehicle.
Stop driving in emergency mode if:
•You hear banging noises.
•The vehicle starts to shake.
•You see smoke and smell rubber.
•VDC is intervening constantly.
•There are tears in the sidewalls of the
tire.
After driving in emergency mode, have the
wheel rims checked with regard to their
further use. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service. The faulty
tire must be replaced.
REMOVING AND FITTING
WHEELS
NOTE
A spare wheel is not provided with your ve-
hicle.
Blocking the wheels
WARNING
Make sure to block the appropriate wheel
to prevent the vehicle from moving, which
may cause personal injury.
Place suitable blocks
1in front of and be-
hind the wheel diagonally opposite the flat
tire
Ato prevent the vehicle from moving
when it is on the jack.
MCE0001DZ
In case of emergency6-5
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" in the "10. Technical infor-
mation" section.
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, or driven 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
8-28Do-it-yourself
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Checking tire pressure
1. Remove the valve stem cap from the tire.
2. Press the pressure gauge squarely ontothe 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
Do-it-yourself8-29
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
number is the tire’s load index. It is a mea-
surement of how much weight each tire
can support. You may not find this infor-
mation on all tires because it is not re-
quired by law.
7 H: Tire speed rating. You should not drive the vehicle faster than the tire speed rat-
ing.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.
SDI1606Z
Example
NDI1623
Example
8-30Do-it-yourself