8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ............................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ......................... 8-3VK56VD engine ........................................................... 8-3
VQ37VHR engine ........................................................ 8-5
Engine cooling system ..................................................... 8-8 Checking engine coolant level ................................. 8-9
Changing engine coolant ....................................... 8-10
Engine oil ........................................................................\
.. 8-10 Checking engine oil level ......................................... 8-11
Changing engine oil and filter ................................ 8-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) ........................ 8-13
Power steering fluid ....................................................... 8-14
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
. 8-14 Brake fluid ................................................................... 8-15
Window washer fluid .................................................... 8-15
Battery ........................................................................\
....... 8-16
Jump starting ............................................................. 8-17
Variable voltage control system ................................. 8-18
Drive belts ........................................................................\
. 8-18
Spark plugs ....................................................................... 8-19
Replacing spark plugs .............................................. 8-19 Air cleaner ........................................................................\
8-19
Windshield wiper blades .............................................. 8-21
Cleaning ..................................................................... 8-21
Replacing ................................................................... 8-21
Brakes ........................................................................\
........ 8-22 Self-adjusting brakes ............................................. 8-22
Brake pad wear warning ....................................... 8-22
Fuses ........................................................................\
.......... 8-23 Engine compartment .............................................. 8-23
Passenger compartment ...................................... 8-24
Intelligent Key battery replacement ......................... 8-25
Lights ........................................................................\
......... 8-27 Headlights ................................................................ 8-28
Exterior and interior lights ................................... 8-28
Wheels and tires ............................................................ 8-30 Tire pressure ............................................................ 8-30
Tire labeling ............................................................. 8-34
Types of tires ........................................................... 8-36
Tire chains ................................................................. 8-36
Changing wheels and tires ................................... 8-37
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.
. 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 instruc-
tions 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.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
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.
After the operation
1. Install the engine undercover into posi-
tion as the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clipout.
b. Hold the engine undercover into posi- tion.
c. Insert the clip through the undercover into the hole in the frame, then push
the center of the clip in to lock the clip
in place.
d. Install the other bolts that hold the undercover in place. Be careful not to
strip the bolts or over-tighten them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground. 3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
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
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
. Keep used engine oil out of reach of
children. When checking or replacement is required,
we recommend an INFINITI retailer for
servicing.CAUTION
.
It is recommended that you use only
Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do
not mix with other fluids.
. Using automatic transmission fluid
(ATF) other than Genuine NISSAN
Matic S ATF may cause deterioration
in driveability and automatic trans-
mission durability, and may damage
the automatic transmission. Damage
caused by use of fluids other than as
recommended is not covered by the
INFINITI new vehicle limited war-
ranty.
Do-it-yourself8-13
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID (ATF)
frequently.
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*: When checking
the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are
missing, and check for any loose wheel nuts.
Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*: Tires should be rotated every
5,000 miles (8,000 km).
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge
often and always prior to long distance trips.
If necessary, adjust the pressure in all tires,
including the spare, to the pressure speci-
fied. Check carefully for damage, cuts or
excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components: Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and
cap when the tires are replaced due to wear
or age.
Wheel alignment and balance: If the vehicle
should pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may be
a need for wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at
normal highway speeds, wheel balancing may be needed.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield:
Clean the windshield on a
regular basis. Check the windshield at least
every six months for cracks or other damage.
Have a damaged windshield repaired by a
qualified repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for cracks
or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing periodic maintenance, cleaning
the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort.
Keep the floor mat away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mechan-
ism: On a fairly steep hill, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the shift lever in
the P (Park) position without applying any
brakes.
Brake pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation. If the brake pedal suddenly goes
down further than normal, the pedal feels
spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer to stop, have your vehicle checked immediately.
It is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes:
Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only
the parking brake applied. If the parking
brake needs adjusted, it is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Seats: Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to
ensure they operate smoothly and that all
latches lock securely in every position. Check
that the head restraints move up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped)
hold securely in all latched positions.
Seat belts: Check that all parts of the seat
belt system (for example, buckles, anchors,
adjuster 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 conditions, such as excessive free
play, hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure that
all warning lights and chimes are operating
properly.
Maintenance and schedules9-3
9-10Maintenance and schedules
CHASSIS AND BODY MAINTENANCE
Abbreviations: I = Inspect and correct or replace as necessary, R = Replace
MAINTENANCE OP-
ERATION
Perform at of miles,
kilometers or months,
whichever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000) Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
5
(8) 6 10
(16) 12 15
(24) 18 20
(32) 24 25
(40) 30 30
(48) 36 35
(56) 42 40
(64) 48 45
(72) 54 50
(80) 60 55
(88) 66 60
(96) 72
Brake lines and cables I I I I I I
Brake pads and rotors$ II I I I I
Brake fluid$ RR R
Automatic transmission
fluid See NOTE (1)
Transfer fluid and dif-
ferential gear oil See NOTE (2)
II I I I I
Steering gear and link-
age, axle and suspension
parts$ II I
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Propeller shaft and drive
shaft boots (AWD mod-
els)$ II I I I I
Exhaust system$ II I
In-cabin microfilter RR R R
Intelligent Key battery RR R R
MAINTENANCE OP-
ERATION
Perform at of miles, kilo-
meters or months,
whichever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000) Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
65
(104) 78 70
(112) 84 75
(120) 90 80
(128) 96 85
(136) 102 90
(144) 108 95
(152) 114 100
(160) 120 105
(168) 126 110
(176) 132 115
(184) 138 120
(192) 144
Brake lines & cables II II I I
Brake pads & rotors$ II II I I
Brake fluid$ RR R
Automatic transmission
fluid See NOTE (1)
Transfer fluid & differen-
tial gear oil See NOTE (2)
II II I I
Steering gear & linkage,
axle & suspension parts$ II I
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Propeller shaft & drive
shaft boots (AWD mod-
els)$ II II I I
Exhaust system$ II I
In-cabin microfilter RRR R
Intelligent Key battery RRR R
Maintenance and schedules9-11
10-2Technical and consumer information
The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
instructed in the “8. Do-it yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Fluid typeCapacity (approximate)
Recommended Fluids/Lubricants
Metric
Measure US
Measure Imperial
Measure
Fuel 76 L 20-1/8 gal 16-3/4 gal ÂSee “Fuel information (for VK56VD engine model)” (P.10-6).
Engine oil
*1VQ37VHR With oil filter
change 4.9 L 5-1/8 qt 4-3/8 qt
ÂGenuine “NISSAN Motor Oil Ester 5W-30 SN” is recommended.
 If the above motor oil is not available, use an equivalent motor oil that matches
the above grade and viscosity. For additional information, see “Engine oil and
oil filter recommendation” (P.10-9).
Drain and refill
*1: For additional in-
formation, see “En-
gine oil” (P.8-10) for
changing engine oil. Without oil filter
change
4.6 L 4-7/8 qt 4.0 qt
VK56VD 2WD With oil filter change6.0 L 6-3/8 qt 5-1/4 qt
Without oil filter
change 5.7 L 6.0 qt 5.0 qt
AWD With oil filter change 6.1 L 6-1/2 qt 5-3/8 qt
Without oil filter
change 5.8 L 6-1/8 qt 5-1/8 qt
Engine coolant VQ37VHR Reservoir0.8 L 7/8 qt 3/4 qt ÂPre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or equivalent
VK56VD
VQ37VHR Non-pressur- ized radiator
reservoir tank With reservoir 8.7 L 9-1/4 qt 7-5/8 qt
Pressurized ra-
diator reservoir
tank 9.3 L 9-7/8 qt 8-1/8 qt
VK56VD 10.9 L 11-1/2 qt 9-5/8 qt
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ——— ÂGenuine NISSAN Matic S ATF
 INFINITI recommends using Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF ONLY in INFINITI
automatic transmissions. Do not mix with other fluids. Using fluids that are not
equivalent to Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF may damage the automatic
transmission. Damage caused by the use of fluids other than as recommended
is not covered under the INFINITI’s new vehicle limited warranty.
Differential gear oil Front ——— ÂGenuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W- 90 or equivalent
conventional (non-synthetic) oil
Rear ——— ÂGenuine NISSAN HYPOID FLUID·S1 GL-5 75W-80 or equivalent
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FLUIDS/LUBRICANTS
10-22Technical and consumer information
Do not tow a trailer with your
vehicle.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is sometimes called flat towing.
This method is sometimes used when towing
a vehicle behind a recreational vehicle, such
as a motor home.
CAUTION
.Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
. Whenever flat towing your vehicle,
always tow forward, never back-
ward.
. DO NOT tow any automatic trans-
mission vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground (flat towing). Doing so
WILL DAMAGE internal transmis-
sion parts due to lack of transmission
lubrication.
. For emergency towing procedures
refer to “Towing recommended by
INFINITI” (P.6-14).
Automatic transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dolly
MUST be placed under the towed vehicle’s
drive wheels. Alwaysfollow the dolly man-
ufacturer’s recommendations when using
their product. DOT (Department Of Transportation) Qual-
ity Grades: All passenger car tires must
conform to federal safety requirements in
addition to these grades.
Quality grades can be found where applic-
able on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TREADWEAR
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road character-
istics and climate.
TOWING A TRAILERUNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING