8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions.........................8-2
Engine compartment check locations ..............8-3
Engine cooling system ........................... 8-4
Checking engine coolant level ..................8-5
Changing engine coolant ......................8-5
Engine oil ........................................8-6
Checking engine oil level .......................8-6
Changing engine oil and oil filter ...............8-6
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fluid . . 8-10
Power Steering Fluid (PSF) .....................8-10
Brake fluid ...................................... 8-11
Windshield-washer fluid ......................... 8-11
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir .............8-11
Battery ........................................ 8-13
Jump starting ............................... 8-14
Drive belt ...................................... 8-15
Spark plugs .................................... 8-15
Replacing spark plugs ....................... 8-15
Air cleaner ..................................... 8-16
In-cabin microfilter .......................... 8-16Windshield wiper blades
........................ 8-17
Cleaning .................................... 8-17
Replacing ................................... 8-17
Brakes ......................................... 8-19
Fuses .......................................... 8-19
Engine compartment ........................ 8-20
Passenger compartment .....................8-21
Battery replacement ............................ 8-22
INFINITI Intelligent Key ......................8-22
Lights ......................................... 8-24
Headlights .................................. 8-24
Fog lights ................................... 8-24
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-24
Wheels and tires ............................... 8-26
Tire pressure ................................ 8-26
Tire labeling ................................. 8-30
Types of tires ............................... 8-33
Tire chains .................................. 8-34
Changing wheels
and tires ................... 8-35
When performing any inspection or mainte-
nance work on your vehicle, always take care
to prevent serious accidental injury to your-
self or damage to the vehicle. The following
are general precautions which should be
closely observed.
WARNING
∙ Park the vehicle on a level surface, applythe parking brake securely and block the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing. Move the shift lever to P (Park).
∙ Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF or LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
∙ 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 work-
ing on your vehicle.
∙ Always wear eye protection whenever you work on your vehicle. ∙ Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come on
at any time without warning, even if the
ignition switch is in the OFF position and
the engine is not running. To avoid injury,
always disconnect the negative battery
cable before working near the fan.
∙ 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 the fuel tank and
battery.
∙ Because the fuel lines on gasoline engine models are under high pressure even
when the engine is off, it is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for ser-
vice of the fuel filter or fuel lines.
CAUTION
∙ Do not work under the hood while theengine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down. ∙ Avoid contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine oil,
engine coolant and/or other vehicle flu-
ids can damage the environment. Always
conform to local regulations for disposal
of vehicle fluid.
∙ Never leave the engine or Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) related
component harnesses disconnected
while the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
∙ Never connect or disconnect the battery or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
This “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. For additional information, refer to
“Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order in-
formation” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
You should be aware that incomplete or im-
proper servicing may result in operating diffi-
culties or excessive emissions, and could af-
fect warranty coverage. If in doubt about any
servicing, it is recommended that you have it
done by an INFINITI retailer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself
VQ35DD engine
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Engine coolant reservoir
3. Drive belt location
4. Fuse box
5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Brake fluid reservoir
7. Air cleaner
8. Fuse box
9. Fuse/Fusible link box
10. Battery
11. Engine oil dipstick
12. Radiator cap
13. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
NOTE:
Some engine covers removed for clarity.
LDI3238
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
Do-it-yourself8-3
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface andapply the parking brake.
2. Start the engine and let it idle until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than
10 minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way. 5. Remove the dipstick again and check the
oil level. It should be between the H
(High) and L (Low) marksB. This is the
normal operating oil level range. If the oil
level is below the L (Low) mark
A, re-
move the oil filler cap and pour recom-
mended oil through the opening. Do not
fill oil level above H (High) mark
C.
6. Recheck the oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil main-
tenance intervals or during the break-in pe-
riod, depending on the severity of operating
conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly. Oper-
ating the engine with an insufficient
amount of oil can damage the engine, and
such damage is not covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND OIL
FILTER
For additional information on engine oil and
oil filter change, refer to the instructions out-
lined in this section.
Vehicle set-up
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait for 15 min- utes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suitable floor jack and safety jack stands.
∙ Place the safety jack stands under the vehicle jack-up points.
∙ A suitable adapter should be attached to the jack stand saddle.LDI3014WDI0214
ENGINE OIL
8-6Do-it-yourself
WARNING
∙ Use only new fluid from a sealed con-tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated fluid
may damage the brake system. 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 reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid is
spilled, immediately wash the surface with
water.
Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the
brake fluid is below the MIN line
B, the brake
warning light will illuminate. Add brake fluid
up to the MAX line
A. For additional infor-
mation on the recommended type of brake
fluid, refer to “Recommended
fluids/lubricants and capacities” in the “Tech-
nical and consumer information” section of
this manual.
If the brake fluid must be added frequently,
the brake system should be thoroughly
checked. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
For additional information on the location of
the brake fluid reservoir, refer to “Engine
compartment check locations” in this section.
WINDSHIELD-WASHER FLUID
RESERVOIR
Fill the windshield-washer fluid reservoir pe-
riodically. Add windshield-washer fluid when
the “Low Washer Fluid” warning message
shows on the vehicle information display.
To fill the windshield-washer fluid reservoir,
lift the cap off the reservoir and pour the
windshield-washer fluid into the reservoir
opening.
LDI3213LDI2583
BRAKE FLUID WINDSHIELD-WASHER FLUID
Do-it-yourself8-11
WARNING
Be sure the engine and ignition switch are
off and that the parking brake is engaged
securely.
CAUTION
Be sure to use the correct socket to remove
the spark plugs. An incorrect socket can
damage the spark plugs.
If replacement is required, it is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
WARNING
∙ Operating the engine with the air cleaner filter off can cause you or others to be
burned. The air cleaner filter not only
cleans the intake air, it also stops the
flame if the engine backfires. If the air
cleaner is not installed and the engine
backfires, you could be burned. Never
drive with the air cleaner filter off. Be
cautious working on the engine when the
air cleaner is off. ∙ Never pour fuel into the throttle body or
attempt to start the engine with the air
cleaner removed. Doing so could result in
serious injury.
To remove the filter from the air cleaner, push
the tabs
Aand pull the cover upward.
The viscous paper type filter element should
not be cleaned and reused. Replace it accord-
ing to the maintenance log shown in the
“Maintenance and schedules” section of this
manual.
When replacing the air filter, wipe the inside
of the air cleaner housing and the cover with
a damp cloth.
NOTE:
After installing a new air cleaner filter, make
sure the air cleaner cover is seated in the
housing and latch the clips
A.
IN-CABIN MICROFILTER
The in-cabin microfilter restricts the entry of
airborne dust and pollen particles and re-
duces some objectionable outside odors. The
filter is located behind the glove box. Refer to
the "Maintenance and schedules" section of
this manual for change intervals.
LDI3279
AIR CLEANER
8-16Do-it-yourself
If the brakes do not operate properly, it is
recommended that you have the brakes
checked. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Self-adjusting brakes
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The front and rear disc-type brakes self-
adjust every time the brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
Have your brake system checked if the
brake pedal height does not return to nor-
mal. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Brake pad wear indicators
The disc brake pads on your vehicle have
audible wear indicators. When a brake pad
requires replacement, a high pitched scraping
or screeching sound will be heard when the
vehicle is in motion. The noise will be heard
whether or not the brake pedal is depressed.
Have the brakes checked as soon as possible
if the wear indicator sound is heard.Under some driving or climate conditions, oc-
casional brake squeak, squeal or other noise
may be heard. Occasional brake noise during
light to moderate stops is normal and does
not affect the function or performance of the
brake system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should be
followed.
For additional information regard-
ing brake inspections, refer to the appropri-
ate maintenance schedule information in the
"Maintenance and schedules" section of this
manual.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
Fuses are used in the passenger and engine
compartment. Spare fuses are provided and
can be found in the passenger compartment
fuse box.
When installing a fuse make sure the fuse is
installed in the fuse box securely.
LDI2385
BRAKES FUSES
Do-it-yourself8-19
∙ If the wheels are changed for any reason,always replace with wheels which have
the same off-set dimension. Wheels of a
different off-set could cause premature
tire wear, degrade vehicle handling char-
acteristics, affect the VDC system
and/or interference with the brake discs.
Such interference can lead to decreased
braking efficiency and/or early brake
pad wear. For additional information on
wheel off-set dimensions, refer to
“Wheels and tires” in the “Technical and
consumer information” section of this
manual.
∙ When replacing a wheel without the TPMS, such as the spare tire, the TPMS
will not function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash for approximately
1 minute. The light will remain on after
1 minute. Have your tires replaced
and/or TPMS system reset as soon as
possible. It is recommended that you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
∙ 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 recom-
mended 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 malfunc-
tion 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 structural
damage and could fail without warning.
∙ The use of retread tires is not recommended.
∙ For additional information regarding tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle han-
dling and tire life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required. Wheel balance service should be performed
with the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balanc-
ing the wheels on the vehicle could lead to
mechanical damage.
∙ For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety In-
formation” (US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty Informa-
tion 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 washing 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
areas where it is used during winter.
Do-it-yourself8-37