CAUTION
•When VDC is deactivated, the
VDC OFF warning light lights up con-
tinuously.
•If both thewarning light and
warning light are lit continuously, VDC
is not available due to a malfunction.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
(TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS) is part of
VDC.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate VDC.
CHARACTERISTICS OF VDC
If theVDC warning light goes out before
beginning the journey, VDC is automatically
active.If VDC intervenes, the
VDC warning
light flashes in the combination meter.
If VDC intervenes:
•Do not deactivate VDC under any circum-
stances.
•When pulling away, only depress the ac-
celerator pedal as far as is necessary.
•Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Deactivating/activating VDC
WARNING
If you deactivate VDC, VDC no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate VDC in the situations
described in the following section.
You can select between the following sta-
tuses of VDC:
•VDC is activated.
•VDC is deactivated.
It may be best to deactivate VDC in the fol-
lowing situations:
•When using snow chains.
•In deep snow.
•On sand or gravel.NOTE
Activate VDC as soon as the situations de-
scribed above no longer apply. VDC will oth-
erwise not be able to stabilize the vehicle if
the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin.
You can activate/deactivate VDC using the
vehicle information display. To activate/
deactivate VDC:
1. Start the engine
2. Press the
orbutton on the
steering wheel to select the [DriveAssist]
menu in the vehicle information display.
3. Press the
orbutton to select
VDC.
4. Press the
wheel. The current selection is displayed.
5. To activate/deactivate: press the
button again.
VDC is deactivated if the
warning
light in the combination meter lights up
continuously when the engine is running.
Characteristics when VDC is deactivated:
If VDC is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the
VDC warning light
flashes in the combination meter. In such
situations, VDC will not stabilize the vehicle.
5-94Starting and driving
3. Tire chains may be used if desired. Make
sure they are the proper size for the tires
on your vehicle and are installed according
to the chain manufacturer’s instructions.
Use chain tensioners when recommended
by the tire chain manufacturer to ensure a
tight fit. Loose end links of the tire chains
must be secured or removed to prevent
the possibility of whipping action damage
to the fenders or underbody. In addition,
drive at a reduced speed, otherwise, your
vehicle may be damaged and/or vehicle
handling and performance may be ad-
versely affected.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during the winter:
•A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-
move ice and snow from the windows.
•A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
•A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-
drifts.
•Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
•Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until the road is salted or sanded.
•Whatever the condition, drive with cau-
tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even more
traction.
•Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
•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 steering maneuvers.
•Do not use cruise control on slippery
roads.
•Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gas
under your vehicle. Keep snow clear of
the exhaust pipe and from around your
vehicle.
Starting and driving5-97
When towing your vehicle, all jurisdictions and
local regulations for towing must be followed.
Incorrect towing equipment could damage
your vehicle. Towing instructions are available
from an INFINITI retailer. Local service opera-
tors are generally familiar with the applicable
laws and procedures for towing. To assure
proper towing and to prevent accidental dam-
age to your vehicle, INFINITI recommends
having a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator carefully
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 trans-
mission, axles, steering system and
powertrain are in working condition. If
any of these conditions apply, dollies or
a flatbed tow truck must be used.
•Always attach safety chains before
towing.
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
INFINITI
INFINITI recommends towing your vehicle
based upon the type of drivetrain. Please re-
fer to the diagrams in this section to ensure
that your vehicle is properly towed.
NCE451
FWD (2WD) models
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-14In case of emergency
Two-Wheel Drive (FWD) models
CAUTION
NEVER tow automatic transmission (DCT)
models with the front wheels on the
ground or with all four wheels on the
ground (forwards or backwards), as this
may cause serious and expensive damage
to the transmission. If it is necessary to tow
the vehicle with the rear wheels raised, al-
ways use towing dollies under the front
wheels.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models
INFINITI recommends that towing dollies be
used under the front or rear wheels when
towing your vehicle or the vehicle be placed
on a flatbed tow truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
Never tow 4WD models with any of the
wheels on the ground. Doing so will cause
serious and expensive damage to the
drivetrain.
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious personal
injury or death when recovering a stuck ve-
hicle:
•Contact a professional towing service to
recover the vehicle if you have any ques-
tions regarding the recovery procedure.
•Tow chains or cables must be attached
only to main structural members of the
vehicle.
•Do not use the vehicle tie downs to tow
or free a stuck vehicle.
•Only use devices specifically designed
for vehicle recovery and follow the
manufacturer's instructions.
•Always pull the recovery device straight
out from the front of the vehicle. Never
pull at an angle.
•Route recovery devices so they do not
touch any part of the vehicle except the
attachment point.
NCE450
4WD models
In case of emergency6-15
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions.................8-2
Engine compartment check locations.........8-3
2.0L Gasoline engine.................8-3
Engine cooling system...................8-3
Checking engine coolant level............8-4
Changing engine coolant...............8-4
Engine oil...........................8-5
Checking engine oil level...............8-5
Changing engine oil..................8-5
Changing engine oil filter...............8-6
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)..........8-7
Brake fluid..........................8-7
Window washer fluid...................8-8
Battery............................8-9
Accessing Vehicle battery...............8-9
Maintenance free battery..............8-10
Models with Idle Stop/Start System.......8-10
Battery replacement.................8-10
Reinitialisation procedure after battery
reconnection......................8-12
Jump-starting.....................8-12
Drive belt..........................8-12
Spark plugs.........................8-12
Air cleaner filter......................8-13
Wiper blades........................8-13Cleaning.........................8-13
Replacing front window wiper blades......8-14
Replacing rear window wiper blade.......8-16
Brakes............................8-17
Self-adjusting brakes.................8-17
Fuses.............................8-17
Before replacing a fuse...............8-17
Engine compartment.................8-18
Passenger compartment..............8-19
Intelligent Key battery replacement........
.8-20
Checking the battery.................8-21
Replacing the battery.................8-21
Lights............................8-23
Exterior and interior lights..............8-23
Replacement procedures..............8-25
Wheels and tires......................8-27
Tire Pressure......................8-27
Tire inflation pressure................8-30
Tire labeling......................8-30
Types of tires.....................8-32
Tire chains.......................8-33
Tire wear and damage................8-33
Tire rotation......................8-34
Replacing wheels and tires.............8-34
Wheel balance.....................8-36
installing studded tires. Skid and traction ca-
pabilities of studded snow tires on wet or dry
surfaces may be poorer than that of non-
studded snow tires.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with
tires of the same size, brand, construction
and tread pattern. The tire pressure and
wheel alignment should also be checked and
corrected as necessary. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer.
TIRE CHAINS
CAUTION
Tire chains/cables should not be installed
on 235/45 R19 or 235/50 R18 size tires.
Installation of the tire chains/cables on
235/45 R19 or 235/50 R18 size tires will
cause damage to the vehicle. If you plan to
use tire chains/cables, you should install
215/60 R17 size tires on your vehicle.
Use of tire chains may be prohibited accord-
ing to location. Check the local laws before
installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure that they are of proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are installed
according to the chain manufacturer’s in-
structions.Use chain tensioners when recommended by
the tire chain manufacturer to ensure a tight
fit. Loose end links of the tire chains must be
secured or removed to prevent the possibility
of whipping action damage to the fenders or
underbody. If possible, avoid fully loading
your vehicle when using tire chains. In addi-
tion, drive at a reduced speed. Otherwise,
your vehicle may be damaged and/or vehicle
handling and performance may be adversely
affected.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
front wheels and not on the rear wheels.
Never install tire chains on a T-type spare tire
(TEMPORARY USE ONLY).
Do not drive with tire chains on paved roads
which are clear of snow. Driving with chains
in such conditions can cause damage to the
various mechanisms of the vehicle due to
some overstress.
1: Wear indicator
2: Location mark
TIRE WEAR AND DAMAGE
WARNING
•Tires should be periodically inspected
for wear, cracking, bulging or objects
caught in the tread. If excessive wear,
cracks, bulging or deep cuts are found,
the tire should be replaced immediately.
•The original tires have a built-in tread
wear indicator. When the wear indicator
is visible, the tire should be replaced.
SDI1663Z
Do-it-yourself8-33
adversely affect the ride, braking, han-
dling, VDC system, ground clearance,
body-to-tire clearance, tire chain clear-
ance, speedometer calibration, head-
light aim and bumper height. Some of
these effects may lead to accidents and
could result in serious personal injury.
•For 2WD models, if your vehicle was
originally equipped with 4 tires that
were the same size and you are only re-
placing 2 of the 4 tires, install the new
tires on the rear axle. Placing new tires
on the front axle may cause loss of ve-
hicle control in some driving conditions
and cause an accident and personal in-
jury.
•If the wheels are changed for any rea-
son, always replace with wheels which
have the same offset dimension. Wheels
of a different offset could cause prema-
ture tire wear, degrade vehicle handling
characteristics, affect the VDC system
and/or interference with the brake
discs. Such interference can lead to de-
creased braking efficiency and/or early
brake pad wear. For additional informa-
tion on wheel offset dimensions, refer to
"Wheels and Tires".
•When a replacement tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, the TPMS will not
function and the low tire pressure warn-
ing light will flash for approximately 1
minute. The light will remain on after 1
minute. Contact an INFINITI retailer as
soon as possible for tire replacement
and/or system resetting.
•Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
•The TPMS sensor may be damaged if it
is not handled correctly. Be careful when
handling the TPMS sensor.
•When replacing the TPMS sensor, the ID
registration may be required. It is rec-
ommended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for ID registration.
•Do not use a valve stem cap that is not
specified by INFINITI. The valve stem
cap may become stuck.
•Be sure that the valve stem caps are cor-
rectly fitted. Otherwise the valve may
be clogged up with dirt and cause a mal-
function or loss of pressure.
•Do not install a damaged or deformed
wheel or tire even if it has been repaired.
Such wheels or tires could have struc-
tural damage and could fail without
warning.
•The use of retread tires is not recom-
mended.
•For additional information regarding
tires, refer to "Important Tire Safety
Information" (US) or "Tire Safety Infor-
mation" (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
Care of wheels
•Wash the wheels when washing the ve-
hicle to maintain their appearance.
•Clean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
•Do not use abrasive cleaners when wash-
ing the wheels.
•Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. Such damage may cause loss of
pressure or poor seal at the tire bead.
•INFINITI recommends waxing the road
wheels to protect against road salt in ar-
eas where it is used during winter.
Do-it-yourself8-35
Some day-to-day and regular maintenance is
essential to maintain your vehicle’s good me-
chanical condition, as well as its emission and
engine performance.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure
that the specified maintenance, as well as
general maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one
who can ensure that your vehicle receives the
proper maintenance care. You are a vital link
in the maintenance chain.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
General maintenance includes those items
which should be checked during normal day-
to-day operation of the vehicle. They are es-
sential if your vehicle is to continue to operate
properly. It is your responsibility to perform
these procedures regularly as prescribed.
Performing general maintenance checks re-
quires minimal mechanical skill and only a few
general automotive tools.
These checks and inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician, or if you pre-
fer, an INFINITI retailer.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
The maintenance items listed under "Mainte-
nance schedules" later in this section are re-
quired to be serviced at regular intervals.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICE
If maintenance service is required or your
vehicle appears to malfunction, have the sys-
tems checked and serviced. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
INFINITI technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists and are kept up to date with the latest
service information through technical bulle-
tins, service tips and training programs. They
are completely qualified to work on INFINITI
vehiclesbeforework begins.
You can be confident that an INFINITI retail-
er’s service department can perform the ser-
vice needed to meet the maintenance re-
quirements on your vehicle.During normal day-to-day operation of the
vehicle, general maintenance should be per-
formed regularly as prescribed in this section.
If you detect any unusual sounds, vibrations
or smells, be sure to check for the cause or
have an INFINITI retailer do it promptly. In
addition, it is recommended you notify an
INFINITI retailer if you think that repairs are
required.
When performing any checks or maintenance
work, closely observe "Explanation of general
maintenance items" later in this section.
EXPLANATION OF GENERAL
MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found later in the “Do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
Outside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless other-
wise specified.
Doors and engine hood:
Check that all doors, the lift gate and the
engine hood operate smoothly. Also make
sure that all latches lock securely. Lubricate if
necessary. Make sure that the secondary
latch keeps the hood from opening when the
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS GENERAL MAINTENANCE
9-2Maintenance and Schedules