8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirements.......................8-2
General maintenance .............................8-2
Explanation of general maintenance
items .........................................8-2
Maintenance precautions .........................8-5
Engine compartment check locations ..............8-6
Engine cooling system ........................... 8-8
Checking engine coolant level ................. 8-8
Changing engine coolant ......................8-9
Engine oil ........................................8-9
Checking engine oil level .......................8-9
Changing engine oil ......................... 8-10
Changing engine oil filter ....................8-12
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid . . 8-13
Power steering fluid ............................ 8-13
Brake fluid ..................................... 8-14
Windshield-washer fluid ........................ 8-14
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir ............8-14
Battery ........................................ 8-16
Jump starting ............................... 8-18
Drive belt ...................................... 8-18
Spark plugs .................................... 8-19
Replacing spark plugs ....................... 8-19Air cleaner
..................................... 8-20
Air conditioner filter ......................... 8-20
Windshield wiper blades ........................ 8-21
Cleaning .................................... 8-21
Replacing ................................... 8-21
Parking brake and brake pedal ..................8-22
Checking parking brake ......................8-22
Checking brake pedal ........................ 8-23
Brake booster ............................... 8-23
Fuses .......................................... 8-24
Engine compartment ........................ 8-24
Passenger compartment .....................8-25
Battery replacement ............................ 8-25
INFINITI Intelligent Key ......................8-26
Lights ......................................... 8-28
Headlights .................................. 8-28
Fog
lights ................................... 8-28
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-29
Wheels and tires ............................... 8-31
Tire pressure ................................ 8-31
Types of tires ............................... 8-34
Tire chains .................................. 8-35
Changing wheels and tires ...................8-35
vehicle is held securely on a fairly steep hill
when only the parking brake is applied.
Seat beltsCheck that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, ad-
justers and retractors) operate properly and
smoothly, and are installed securely. Check
the belt webbing for cuts, fraying, wear or
damage.
Steering wheel Check for changes in the
steering condition, such as excessive play,
hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes Make sure that all
warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Windshield defogger Check that the air
comes out of the defogger outlets properly
and in good quantity when operating the
heater or air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer* Check that
the wipers and washer operate properly and
that the wipers do not streak.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically (for example, each time
you check the engine oil or refuel). Battery* (except for maintenance free bat-
teries)
Check the fluid level in each cell. The
fluid should be at the bottom of the filler
opening. Vehicles operated in high tempera-
tures or under severe conditions require fre-
quent checks of the battery fluid level.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery discharge
and potential no-start conditions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec-
tronic accessories that consume battery
power when the engine is not running
(Phone chargers, GPS, DVD players,
etc.).
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to be
charged to maintain battery health.
Brake (and clutch) fluid level(s)* For Manual
Transmission (M/T) model; make sure that
the brake and clutch fluid levels are between
the MAX and MIN lines on the reservoirs.
Except for Manual Transmission (M/T)
model; make sure that the brake fluid level is
between the MAX and MIN lines on the res-
ervoir. Engine coolant level*
Check the coolant level
when the engine is cold. Make sure that the
coolant level is between the MAX and MIN
lines on the reservoir.
Engine drive belt(s)* Make sure the drive
belt(s) is not frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level* Check the level after parking
the vehicle (on level ground) and turning off
the engine.
Fluid leaks Check under the vehicle for fuel,
oil, water or other fluid leaks after the vehicle
has been parked for a while. Water dripping
from the air conditioner after use is normal. If
you should notice any leaks or if fuel fumes
are evident, check for the cause and have it
corrected immediately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines Check
the level when the fluid is cold with the engine
off. Check the lines for proper attachment,
leaks, cracks, etc.
Windshield-washer fluid* Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to your-
self or damage to the vehicle. The following
are general precautions which should be
closely observed.
WARNING
∙ Park the vehicle on a level surface, applythe parking brake securely and block the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing. Move the shift lever to P (Park).
∙ Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF or LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
∙ If you must work with the engine running, keep your hands, clothing, hair and tools
away from moving fans, belts and any
other moving parts.
∙ It is advisable to secure or remove any loose clothing and remove any jewelry,
such as rings, watches, etc. before work-
ing on your vehicle.
∙ Always wear eye protection whenever you work on your vehicle. ∙ Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come on
at any time without warning, even if the
ignition switch is in the OFF position and
the engine is not running. To avoid injury,
always disconnect the negative battery
cable before working near the fan.
∙ If you must run the engine in an enclosed space such as a garage, be sure there is
proper ventilation for exhaust gases to
escape.
∙ Never get under the vehicle while it is supported only by a jack. If it is necessary
to work under the vehicle, support it with
safety stands.
∙ Keep smoking materials, flame and sparks away from the fuel tank and
battery.
∙ The fuel filter or fuel lines should be ser- viced. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer because the fuel lines
are under high pressure even when the
engine is off.
CAUTION
∙ Do not work under the hood while theengine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
∙ Avoid contact with used engine oil and coolant. Improperly disposed engine oil,
engine coolant and/or other vehicle flu-
ids can damage the environment. Always
conform to local regulations for disposal
of vehicle fluid.
∙ Never leave the engine or continuously variable transmission related component
harnesses disconnected while the igni-
tion switch is in the ON position.
∙ Never connect or disconnect the battery or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
This “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion gives instructions regarding only those
items which are relatively easy for an owner
to perform.
You should be aware that incomplete or im-
proper servicing may result in operating diffi-
culties or excessive emissions, and could af-
fect warranty coverage. If in doubt about any
servicing, it is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-5
VQ35DE engine
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Engine coolant reservoir
3. Drive belt location
4. Fuse box
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Brake fluid reservoir
7. Air cleaner
8. Fuse box
9. Fuse/Fusible link box
10 Fuse/Fusible link box
11. Battery
12. Engine oil dipstick
13. Radiator cap
14. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
LDI2498
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
8-6Maintenance and do-it-yourself
VQ35DD engine
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Engine coolant reservoir
3. Drive belt location
4. Fuse box
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Brake fluid reservoir
7. Air cleaner
8. Fuse box
9. Fuse/Fusible link box
10 Fuse/Fusible link box
11. Battery
12. Engine oil dipstick
13. Radiator cap
14. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
LDI3012
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-7
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, it is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
For additional information on the location of
the engine coolant reservoir, refer to "Engine
compartment check locations" in this section.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
An INFINITI retailer can change the engine
coolant. The service procedure can be found
in the INFINITI Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheating.
WARNING
∙ To avoid the danger of being scalded,never change the coolant when the en-
gine is hot.
∙ Never remove the radiator or engine coolant reservoir cap when the engine is
hot. Serious burns could be caused by
high pressure fluid escaping from the
radiator.
∙ Avoid direct skin contact with used cool- ant. If skin contact is made, wash thor-
oughly with soap or hand cleaner as soon
as possible. ∙ Keep coolant out of the reach of children
and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than
10 minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
VQ35DE
LDI2087
ENGINE OIL
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-9
5. Remove the dipstick again and check theoil level. It should be between the H
(High) and L (Low) marks
B. This is the
normal operating oil level range. If the oil
level is below the L (Low) mark
A, re-
move the oil filler cap and pour recom-
mended oil through the opening. Do not
fill oil level above H (High) mark
C.
6. Recheck the oil level with the dipstick. It is normal to add some oil between oil main-
tenance intervals or during the break-in pe-
riod, depending on the severity of operating
conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly. Oper-
ating the engine with an insufficient
amount of oil can damage the engine, and
such damage is not covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.
VQ35DD
LDI3014WDI0214
VQ35DELDI2622
8-10Maintenance and do-it-yourself
2. Start the engine and let it idle until itreaches operating temperature, then
turn it off.
3. Remove the oil filler cap
Aby turning it
counterclockwise. 4. Place a large drain pan under the drain
plug
B.
5. Remove the drain plug
Bwith a wrench
by turning it counterclockwise and com-
pletely drain the oil.
If the oil filter is to be changed, remove
and replace it at this time. For additional
information, refer to “Changing engine
oil filter” in this section.
∙ Waste oil must be disposed of properly.
∙ Check your local regulations.
WARNING
∙ Prolonged and repeated contact with
used engine oil may cause skin cancer.
∙ Try to avoid direct skin contact with used oil. If skin contact is made, wash thor-
oughly with soap or hand cleaner as soon
as possible.
∙ Keep used engine oil out of reach of children.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself. The engine
oil may be hot. 6. Clean and reinstall the drain plug and a
new washer. Securely tighten the drain
plug with a wrench. Do not use excessive
force.
Drain plug tightening torque: 34 N·m (25 ft-lb)
7. Refill engine with recommended oil through the oil filler opening, then install
the oil filler cap securely.
For additional information on drain and
refill capacity, refer to “Recommended
fluids/lubricants and capacities” in the
“Technical and consumer information”
section of this manual.
The drain and refill capacity depends on
the oil temperature and drain time. Use
these specifications for reference only.
Always use the dipstick to determine
when the proper amount of oil is in the
engine.
8. Start the engine. Check for leakage around the drain plug and oil filter. Cor-
rect as required.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than 10 minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.
VQ35DD
LDI3013
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-11