fan can start at any time.
7. After the engine cools down, check the coolant level in the reservoir tank with
the engine running. Add coolant to the
reservoir tank if necessary. Have your
vehicle repaired. It is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service. When towing your vehicle, all State (Pro-
vincial in Canada) and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle. Tow-
ing instructions are available from an
INFINITI retailer. Local service operators
are familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage to
your vehicle, INFINITI recommends that you
have a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator care-
fully read the following precautions.
WARNING
.
Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
. Never get under your vehicle after it
has been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
.When towing, make sure that the
transmission, axles, steering system
and powertrain are in working con-
dition. If any unit is damaged, dollies
must be used. .
Always attach safety chains before
towing.
For information about towing your vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle (RV), see “Flat
towing” (P.10-22) of this manual.
In case of emergency6-17
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
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
8-6Do-it-yourself
The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) and 50% water to provide
year-round anti-freeze and coolant protec-
tion. The anti-freeze solution contains rust
and corrosion inhibitors. Additional engine
cooling system additives are not necessary.
WARNING
.Never remove the radiator cap when
the engine is hot. Wait until the
engine and radiator cool down. Ser-
ious burns could be caused by high
pressure fluid escaping from the
radiator. See precautions in “If your
vehicle overheats” (P.6-16) of this
manual.
. The radiator is equipped with a
pressure type radiator cap. To pre-
vent engine damage, use only a
genuine NISSAN radiator cap.
CAUTION
.Never use any cooling system addi-
tives such as radiator sealer. Addi-
tives may clog the cooling system and
cause damage to the engine, trans- mission and/or cooling system.
. When adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)
or equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-
diluted to provide antifreeze protec-
tion to −34°F (−37°C). If additional
freeze protection is needed due to
weather where you operate your
vehicle, add Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) con-
centrate following the directions on
the container. If an equivalent cool-
ant other than Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is
used, follow the coolant manufac-
ture’s instructions to maintain mini-
mum antifreeze protection to −34°F
(−37°C). The use of other types of
coolant solutions other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) or equivalent may damage
the engine cooling system.
. The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 105,000 miles (168,000
km) or 7 years. Mixing any other type
of coolant other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue), including Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/ Coolant
(green), or the use of non-distilled water will reduce the life expectancy
of the factory-fill coolant. Refer to
the “9. Maintenance and schedules”
section of this manual for more de-
tails.
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM (for
VR30DDTT engine models)
JVM0652X
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant level in the reservoir tank
when the engine is running and after it
reaches normal operating temperature. If
the coolant level is below MIN level
, add
coolant up to the MAX level. If the
reservoir tank is empty, check the coolant
level in the radiator when the engine is cold.
If there is insufficient coolant in the radiator,
fill the radiator with coolant up to the filler
cap above the radiator upper hose opening
and also add it to the reservoir tank up to the
MAX level
. Put on the filler cap above the
radiator upper hose and with the reservoir
cap open, start the engine. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating tempera-
ture. Add coolant up to the MAX level
.
Tighten the cap securely after adding engine
coolant.
If the cooling system requires coolant fre-
quently, have it checked. It is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
It is recommended that major cooling system
repairs be performed by an INFINITI retailer.
The service procedures can be found in the
appropriate INFINITI Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.
WARNING
. To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
. Never remove the radiator 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
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner as soon as possible.
. Keep coolant out of reach of children
and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of prop-
erly. Check your local regulations.
Do-it-yourself8-7
8-8Do-it-yourself
The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
BASF Glysantin
®G48®and 50% water to
provide year-round anti-freeze and coolant
protection. The anti-freeze solution contains
rust and corrosion inhibitors. Additional
engine cooling system additives are not
necessary.
WARNING
Never remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. Wait until the engine and
radiator cool down. Serious burns could
be caused by high pressure fluid escaping
from the radiator. See precautions in “If
your vehicle overheats” (P.6-16) of this
manual.
CAUTION
. Never use any cooling system addi-
tives such as radiator sealer. Addi-
tives may clog the cooling system and
cause damage to the engine, trans-
mission and/or cooling system.
. When adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only BASF Glysantin
®
G48®or equivalent. BASF Glysantin®
G48®is pre-diluted to provide anti-
freeze protection to −34°F (−37°C). If
additional freeze protection is
needed due to weather where you
operate your vehicle, add BASF Gly-
santin
®G48®concentrate following
the directions on the container. If an
equivalent coolant other than BASF
Glysantin
®G48®is used, follow the
coolant manufacture’s instructions to
maintain minimum antifreeze protec-
tion to −34°F (−37°C). The use of
other types of coolant solutions
other than BASF Glysantin
®G48®
or equivalent may damage the engine
cooling system.
. The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 120,000 miles (192,000
km) or 10 years. Mixing any other
type of coolant other than BASF
Glysantin
®G48®, or the use of non-
distilled water will reduce the life
expectancy of the factory-fill cool-
ant. Refer to the “9. Maintenance
and schedules” section of this manual
for more details.
JVM0303X
CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant level in the reservoir when
the engine is running and after it reaches
normal operating temperature. If the coolant
level is below MIN level
, add coolant up to
the MAX level. Tighten the cap securely
after adding engine coolant.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked. It is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM (for
2.0L turbo gasoline engine models)