•After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could
roll away There is a risk of an accident
and injury. Therefore, quickly move your
foot from the brake pedal to the accel-
erator pedal. Never leave the vehicle
when it is held by hill start assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient. It
holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake
pedal. This gives you enough time to move
your foot from the brake pedal to the accel-
erator pedal and depress it before the vehicle
begins to roll.
Hill start assist is not active if
•You are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
•On vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is in position N.
•The electric parking brake is applied.
•VDC is malfunctioning.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock be-
comes frozen, heat the key before inserting it
into the key hole, or use the INFINITI Intelli-
gent Key.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper winter
protection. For additional information, see
"Engine cooling system".
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For details, see
"Battery" of this manual.
DRAINING OF ENGINE COOLANT
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see "Changing engine
coolant" of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced in
snowy and icy conditions. If you operate
your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
INFINITI recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all four
wheels. It is recommended that you visit
an INFINITI retailer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, stud-
ded tires may be used. However, some
U.S. states and Canadian provinces pro-
hibit their use. Check local, state and pro-
vincial laws before installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-96Starting and driving
•Be sure that the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
9. Start the engine of the other vehicle
Aand let it run for a few minutes. Keep the
engine speed at about 2,000 rpm.
10. Start the engine of your vehicle
Bin the
normal way.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine does
not start right away, place the ignition
switch in the OFF position and wait 10 sec-
onds before trying again.
11. After starting the engine of your vehicle,
carefully disconnect the negative lead
and then the positive lead (
4→3→2→1).
12.
Remove and dispose of the cloth that was
used to cover the ventilator holes as it may
be contaminated with corrosive acid.
13. Install the ventilator caps (if equipped).
14. Close the hood.NOTE
For models which incorporate the Idle Stop/
Start System:
•Ensure that the battery fitted is the spe-
cial battery that is enhanced with regard
to the charge-discharge capacity and life
performance. Avoid using any other bat-
tery for the Idle Stop/Start System, as
this may cause early deterioration of the
battery or a malfunction of the Idle Stop/
Start System. It is recommended that a
Genuine INFINITI battery is fitted. For
more information, it is recommended you
contact an INFINITI retailer.
•If the battery terminal is disconnected
(for battery replacement, etc.) and then
reconnected, there may be some delay be-
fore the Idle top/Start System reacti-
vates.Do not attempt to start the engine by pushing
the vehicle.
CAUTION
•Automatic Transmission (AT) model
cannot be push-started or tow-started.
Attempting to do so may cause damage
to the transmission.
•Three-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing. At-
tempting to do so may cause damage to
the three-way catalyst.
•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 vehicle.
PUSH STARTING
6-12In 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
•On vehicles with a push button ignition
switch: you must remove the start/stop
button and use the key (see " Push-
button ignition switch (if equipped)").
Otherwise the automatic transmission
may shift to position P (Park) when the
driver's or front passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to
the transmission.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device designed
specifically for vehicle recovery. Always fol-
low the manufacturer’s instructions for the
recovery device.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
WARNING
•To avoid potential injury, stand clear of
a stuck vehicle.
•Do not spin your tires at high speed. This
could cause them to explode and result
in serious injury. Parts of your vehicle
could also overheat and be damaged.If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use the following procedure:
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the
vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to
clear an area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and back-
ward.
•Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and D (Drive).
•Apply the accelerator as little as possible
to maintain the rocking motion.
•Release the accelerator pedal before shift-
ing between R (Reverse) and D (Drive).
•Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH
(55 km/h).
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few
tries, contact a professional towing ser-
vice to remove the vehicle.
6-16In case of emergency
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
5. Wipe the engine oil filter sealing surface
with a clean rag.
CAUTION
•Be sure to remove any old gasket mate-
rial remaining on the sealing surface of
the engine. Failure to do so could lead to
an oil leak and engine damage.
•The dipstick must be inserted in place to
prevent oil spillage from the dipstick
hole when filling the engine with oil.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with
clean engine oil.
7. Screw on the oil filter until a slight resis-
tance is felt, then tighten an additional
2/3 turn.
Engine oil filter tightening torque: 19 ft-lb,
25 N•m
8. Start the engine and check for leakage
around the oil filter. Correct as required.
9. Turn the engine off and wait more than
15 minutes. Check the oil level. Add engine
oil if necessary.It is recommended that you visit an INFINITI
retailer if checking or replacement is required.
CAUTION
•Use only Shell DCT-M1 or equivalent.
Do not mix with other fluids.
•Using automatic transmission fluid
other than Shell DCT-M1 may cause de-
terioration in driveability and automatic
transmission durability, and may dam-
age the automatic transmission. Dam-
age caused by the use of fluids other
than as recommended is not covered by
the warranty.
WARNING
•Use only new fluid. Old, inferior, or con-
taminated fluid may damage the brake
systems. The use of improper fluids can
damage the brake system and affect the
vehicle's stopping ability.
•Clean the filler cap before removing.
•Brake fluid is poisonous and should be
stored carefully in marked containers
out of the reach of children.
CAUTION
•Do not spill the fluid on painted surfaces.
This will damage the paint. If fluid is
spilled, wash with water.
NDI1599
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID
(ATF)BRAKE FLUID
Do-it-yourself8-7
primary latch is released. When driving in ar-
eas using road salt or other corrosive materi-
als, check lubrication 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 op-
erating properly and installed securely. Also
check the aim of the headlights.
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 marked with directional
indicators can only be rotated between front
and rear. Make sure that the directional indi-
cators point in the direction of wheel rotation
after the tire rotation is completed.
Tires*:
Check the pressure with a gauge often and
always prior to long distance trips. Adjust the
pressure in all tires to the pressure specified.
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 re-
placed 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 nor-
mal highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires, re-
fer 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.
Wiper blades*:
Check for cracks or wear if not functioning
correctly. Replace as necessary.Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing scheduled maintenance, cleaning
the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal:
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
make sure that the pedal does not catch or
require uneven effort. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mecha-
nism:
On a fairly steep hill, check that your vehicle is
held securely when P (Park) has been acti-
vated, 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 ve-
hicle 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.
Maintenance and Schedules9-3
CHASSIS & BODY MAINTENANCE
Abbreviations: I = Inspect and correct or replace as necessary, R = Replace
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONmiles x 1,000MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
Perform at number of miles, kilometers or
months, whichever comes first.51015202530354045505560
(km x 1,000) (8) (16) (24) (32) (40) (48) (56) (64) (72) (80) (88) (96)
months 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
Brake lines and cables I I I I I I
Brake pads and rotors I I I I I I
Brake fluidRRR
Automatic transmission fluid I I I
Automatic transmission fluid and filter Replace every 60,000 miles or 60 months
Differential gear oil I I I I I I
Steering gear and linkage, axle and
suspension partsIII
Tire rotation See NOTE (1)
Propeller shaft & drive shaft boots (4WD
models)II IIII
Exhaust systemIII
In-cabin microfilterRRR
I-key battery R R R R
NOTE:
(1) Refer to "Tire rotation*" earlier in this section.
Maintenance and Schedules9-11