6-16In case of emergency
Do not attempt to start the engine by
pushing.
CAUTION
.Automatic Transmission (AT) models
cannot be push-started or tow-
started. Attempting to do so may
cause transmission damage.
. Three-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three-way catalyst may be
damaged.
. 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 vehi-
cle.
CAUTION
.Do not continue to drive if your
vehicle overheats. Doing so could
cause engine damage or a vehicle fire.
. To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator cap while
the engine is still hot. When the
radiator cap is removed, pressurized
hot water will spurt out, possibly
causing serious injury.
. Do not open the hood if steam is
coming out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading),
or if you feel a lack of engine power, detect
abnormal noise, etc., take the following
steps:
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply the parking brake and move the
shift lever to the P (Park) position.
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the climate control. Open all the windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climb- ing a long hill on a hot day, run the engine at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm)
until the temperature gauge indication
returns to normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for steam or coolant escaping from the
radiator before opening the hood. (If
steam or coolant is escaping, turn off the
engine.) Do not open the hood further
until no steam or coolant can be seen.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking or the cooling fan does not run,
stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
7 Appearance and care
Cleaning exterior ................................................................ 7-2Washing ........................................................................\
.. 7-2
Waxing ........................................................................\
.... 7-2
Removing spots ............................................................ 7-3
Underbody ...................................................................... 7-3
Glass ........................................................................\
........ 7-3
Wheels ........................................................................\
..... 7-3
Chrome parts ................................................................ 7-4
Tire dressing ................................................................. 7-4 Cleaning interior ................................................................ 7-5
Air fresheners .............................................................. 7-5
Floor mats .................................................................... 7-5
Seat belts ...................................................................... 7-7
Corrosion protection ........................................................ 7-7 Most common factors contributing to
vehicle corrosion ......................................................... 7-7
Environmental factors influence the rate
of corrosion .................................................................. 7-7
To protect your vehicle from corrosion .............. 7-8
SAI0051
Positioning hooks
The illustration shows the location of the
floor mat positioning hooks.
SEAT BELTS
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping
them with a sponge dampened in a mild soap
solution. Allow the belts to dry completely
before using them.
See “Seat belts” (P.1-12).
WARNING
Do not allow wet seat belts to roll up in
the retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye, or
chemical solvents to clean the seat belts, since these materials may severely
weaken the seat belt webbing.
MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION
.
The accumulation of moisture-retaining
dirt and debris in body panel sections,
cavities, and other areas.
. Damage to paint and other protective
coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor traffic accidents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN-
FLUENCE THE RATE OF COR-
ROSION
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the
vehicle body underside can accelerate corro-
sion. Wet floor coverings will not dry
completely inside the vehicle, and should be
removed for drying 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
where atmospheric pollution exists, or where
road salt is used.
Appearance and care7-7
CORROSION PROTECTION
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ............................................... 8-3
Engine compartment check locations ......................... 8-4VR30DDTT engine ..................................................... 8-4
2.0L turbo gasoline engine ...................................... 8-5
Engine cooling system (for VR30DDTT
engine models) ................................................................... 8-6
Checking engine coolant level ................................ 8-7
Changing engine coolant .......................................... 8-7
Engine cooling system (for 2.0L turbo gasoline
engine models) ................................................................... 8-8
Checking engine coolant level ................................. 8-8
Changing engine coolant .......................................... 8-9
Intercooler cooling system (for VR30DDTT
engine models) ................................................................... 8-9 Checking intercooler coolant level ...................... 8-10
Changing intercooler coolant ............................... 8-10
Engine oil ........................................................................\
.. 8-10 Checking engine oil level ......................................... 8-11
Changing engine oil and filter ................................ 8-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ........................ 8-14
Power steering fluid (models with hydraulic pump
electric power steering) ................................................ 8-14
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
. 8-15
Window washer fluid .................................................... 8-15 Battery ........................................................................\
...... 8-16
Main battery location ............................................ 8-17
Auxiliary battery location (for 2.0L turbo
gasoline engine models) ........................................ 8-17
Checking battery fluid level .................................. 8-18
Jump starting ........................................................... 8-19
Variable voltage control system ................................ 8-19
Drive belts ........................................................................\
8-19
Spark plugs ..................................................................... 8-20 Replacing spark plugs ............................................ 8-21
Air cleaner ........................................................................\
8-21
Windshield wiper blades .............................................. 8-22 Cleaning ..................................................................... 8-22
Replacing ................................................................... 8-22
Brakes ........................................................................\
........ 8-23 Self-adjusting brakes ............................................. 8-23
Brake pad wear warning ....................................... 8-23
Fuses ........................................................................\
.......... 8-23 Engine compartment ............................................. 8-24
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-25
Intelligent Key battery replacement ......................... 8-26
Lights ........................................................................\
......... 8-29 Headlights ................................................................. 8-29
Exterior and interior lights ................................... 8-30
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.
. Because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off,
it is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for service of the fuel filter or fuel lines.
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.10-26).)
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.
Do-it-yourself8-3
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-4Do-it-yourself
JVC0968X
VR30DDTT ENGINE
1. Battery
2. Engine oil dipstick
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Fuse/fusible link holder6. Air cleaner
7. Engine drive belt location
8. Radiator filler cap
9 Intercooler cooling reservoir
10. Engine coolant reservoir
11. Window washer fluid reservoir
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
JVC0646X
2.0L TURBO GASOLINE ENGINE
1. Fuse and fusible link holder
2. Main battery*
3. Engine oil filler cap
4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Engine coolant reservoir6. Fuse and fusible link holder
7. Engine oil dipstick
8. Engine drive belt location
9. Power steering fluid reservoir (if so
equipped)
10. Window washer fluid reservoir *: The auxiliary battery is located in the
trunk. (See “Auxiliary battery location
(for 2.0L turbo gasoline engine mod-
els)” (P.8-17).)
Do-it-yourself8-5
JUMP STARTING
If jump starting is necessary, see “Jump
starting” (P.6-9). If the engine does not start
by jump starting, the battery may have to be
replaced. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.CAUTION
.Do not ground accessories directly to
the battery terminal. Doing so will
bypass the variable voltage control
system and the vehicle battery may
not charge completely.
. Use electrical accessories with the
engine running to avoid discharging
the vehicle battery.
The variable voltage control system mea-
sures the amount of electrical discharge
from the battery and controls voltage gen-
erated by the generator.
JVM0655X
VR30DDTT engine
1. Water pump
2. Alternator
3. Drive belt auto-tensioner
4. Crankshaft pulley
5. Air conditioner compressor
Do-it-yourself8-19
VARIABLE VOLTAGE CONTROL SYSTEMDRIVE BELTS