.Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pave-
ment.
. Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
. Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while on
the ice, and avoid any sudden steer-
ing maneuvers.
. Do not use the cruise control on
slippery roads.
. Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
Engine block heaters are used to assist in
cold temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20°F
(−7°C) or lower.
To use the engine block heater
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine
block heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected,
grounded 110-volt AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be plugged in for at least 2 - 4 hours, depending on
outside temperatures, to properly warm
the engine coolant. Use an appropriate
timer to turn the engine block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and properly store the cord to keep it away
from moving parts.
WARNING
.Do not use your engine block heater
with an ungrounded electrical system
or a 2-pronged adapter. You can be
seriously injured by an electrical
shock if you use an ungrounded
connection.
. Disconnect and properly store the
engine block heater cord before starting the engine. Damage to the
cord could result in an electrical shock
and can cause serious injury.
. Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged
extension cord rated for at least 10A.
Plug the extension cord into a Ground
Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected,
grounded 110-VAC outlet. Failure
to use the proper extension cord or
a grounded outlet can result in a fire
or electrical shock and cause serious
personal injury.
Starting and driving5-137
6-4In case of emergency
cause a malfunction of the tire pres-
sure sensors.
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road andaway from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking brake. Move the shift lever to the
P (Park) position.
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and to signal professional road assistance
personnel that you need assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place, away
from traffic and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
.Make sure the parking brake is
securely applied and the automatic
transmission is in the P (Park) posi-
tion. .
Never change tires when the vehicle
is on a slope, ice or slippery areas.
This is hazardous.
. Never change tires if oncoming traf-
fic is close to your vehicle. Wait for
professional road assistance.
MCE0001A
Blocking wheels
Place suitable blocksat both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the
flat tire to prevent the vehicle from moving
when it is jacked up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the vehicle
may move and result in personal injury.
6-6In case of emergency
JVE0423X
5. Securely screw to connect the T-shapedend of the jack rod and the extension bar
as illustrated.
6. Fit the square end of the jack rod into the square hole of the wheel nut wrench to
form a handle
. 7. Locate the oval opening above the
middle of the rear bumper.
8. Place the T-shaped end of the jack rod through the opening and direct it to-
wards the spare wheel winch assembly,
located directly above the spare wheel.
SCE0916
CAUTION
Do not insert the jack rod straight as it is
designed to be inserted at an angle as
shown.
9. Seat the T-shaped end of the jack rod into the T-shaped opening of the spare
wheel winch. Apply pressure to keep the
jack rod engaged in the spare wheel
winch and turn the jack rod counter-
clockwise to lower the spare wheel.
6-8In case of emergency
dropping of the wheel while driving.
Lower the wheel on the ground again,
and make sure that the hanging plate is
properly set. Hang the wheel again and
make sure that the wheel is held hor-
izontally, then store the wheel.
Jacking up the vehicle and removing
the damaged tire
WARNING
.Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by the jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Use only the jack provided with your
vehicle to lift the vehicle. Do not use
the jack provided with your vehicle on
other vehicles. The jack is designed
for lifting only your vehicle during a
tire change.
. Use the correct jack-up points. Never
use any other part of the vehicle for
jack support.
. Never jack up the vehicle more than
necessary.
. Never use blocks on or under the jack. .
Do not start or run the engine while
vehicle is on the jack, as it may cause
the vehicle to move. This is especially
true for vehicles with limited slip
differentials.
. Do not allow passengers to stay in
the vehicle while it is on the jack.
Carefully read the caution label attached to
the jack body and the following instruc-
tions.SCE0875
Jack-up point
1. Place the jack directly under the jack-up points as illustrated.
The jack should be used on level firm
ground.
SCE0876
2. Loosen each wheel nut one or two turnsby turning counterclockwise with the
wheel nut wrench. Do not remove the
wheel nuts until the tire is off the
ground.
NCE130
3. Install the assembled jack rod into the
jack as shown.
4. Carefully raise the vehicle until the clearance between the tire and ground
is achieved.
5. To lift the vehicle, securely hold the jack lever and rod with both hands and turn
the jack lever.
NOTE:
Before jacking up the vehicle, make sure the
ignition switch is placed in the OFF position.
If the vehicle is lifted up with the engine
running, the auto-leveling suspension will
become disabled after 120 seconds. To
reset the auto-leveling suspension, cycle
In case of emergency6-9
7-2Appearance and care
In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of
it.
To protect the paint surface, wash your
vehicle as soon as you can:
.after a rainfall to prevent possible da-
mage 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, store or park your
vehicle inside a garage or in a covered area.
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 the vehicle 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,
especially brushless ones, use some
acid for cleaning. The acid may react
with some plastic vehicle compo-
nents, causing them to crack. This
could affect their appearance, 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 de-
tergents, gasoline or solvents.
. Do not wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight or while the vehicle body is
hot, as the 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.
. Lock all doors before going through
automatic car wash. Locking doors
helps prevent fuel-filler door from
opening and becoming damaged.
Rinse the vehicle again with plenty of clean
water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable
to the effects of road salt. Therefore, these
areas must be regularly cleaned. Make sure
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.
Avoid leaving water spots on the paint
surface by using a damp chamois to dry the
vehicle.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
Polishing is recommended to remove built-
up wax residue and to avoid a weathered
appearance before reapplying wax.
An INFINITI retailer can assist you in choos-
ing the proper product.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
8-2Do-it-yourself
When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The
following are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
.Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
block the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving. Move the shift
lever to P (Park).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
. Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the igni-
tion switch is in the ON position.
. 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 working on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
. 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 fuel tank and the
battery.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always dis-
connect the negative battery cable
before working near the fan.
. On gasoline engine models, the fuel
filter or fuel lines should be serviced
because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
CAUTION
.
Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly dis-
posed engine oil, coolant, and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives in-
structions regarding only those items which
are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine INFINITI Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s Manual/Service
Manual order information” (P.10-34).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and could
affect your warranty coverage. If in doubt
about any servicing, it is recommended you
have it done by an INFINITI retailer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
SDI2528
Engine oil and filter
1. Place a large drain pan under the drainplug.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug
with a wrench
and completely drain the oil.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.
.Waste oil must be disposed of prop- erly.
.Check your local regulations.
4. (Perform steps 4 to 7 only when the engine oil filter change is needed.)
Loosen the oil filter
with an oil filter
wrench. Remove the oil filter by turning it
by hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting sur- face with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old rubber gasket
remaining on the mounting surface of
the engine. Failure to do so could lead to
engine damage.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean engine oil.
7. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten
additionally more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:11 to 15 ft-lb
(15 to 21 N·m)
8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a new washer. Securely tighten the drain
plug with a wrench. Drain plug tightening torque:
22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N·m)
Do not use excessive force.
9. Refill engine with recommended oil and install the oil filler cap securely.
CAUTION
The dipstick must be inserted in place to
prevent oil spillage from the dipstick
hole while filling the engine with oil.
See “Capacities and recommended
fluids/lubricants” (P.10-2) for drain and
refill capacity. The drain and refill capa-
city depends on the oil temperature and
drain time. Use these specifications for
reference only. Always use the dipstick
to determine the proper amount of oil in
the engine.
10. Start the engine and check for leakage around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required.
11. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.
Do-it-yourself8-7