2021 INFINITI Q50 coolant level

5-14Starting and driving
WAF0237X
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DIS-
CHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is
discharged, or environmental conditions in-
terfere with the Intelligent Key operation,
start the engine according to the following
procedure:
1. Move the shift lever to the P (Park)position.
2. Firmly apply the foot brake.
3. Touch the ignition switch with the Intelligent Key as illustrated. (A chime
will sound.)
4. Push the ignition switch while depressing the brake pedal within 10 seconds after
the chime sounds. The engine will start.
After step 3 is performed, when the ignition
switch is pushed without depressing the
brake pedal, the ignition switch position will
change to ACC.
NOTE:
. When the ignition switch is pushed to
the ACC or ON position or the engine is
started by the above procedures, the
Intelligent Key battery discharge indi-
cator appears in the vehicle information
display even if the Intelligent Key is
inside the vehicle. This is not a malfunc-
tion. To turn off the Intelligent Key
battery discharge indicator, touch the
ignition switch with the Intelligent Key
again.
. If the Intelligent Key battery discharge
indicator appears, replace the battery as
soon as possible. (See “Intelligent Key
battery replacement” (P.8-19).)
. Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid and window washer
fluid as frequently as possible, or at least
whenever you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head restraints.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers
to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position. (See “Warning lights, in-
dicator lights and audible reminders”
(P.2-10).)
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE

6-8In case of emergency
at a fast idle (approximately 1,500 rpm)
until the temperature gauge indication
returns to normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for steam or coolant escaping from the
radiator before opening the hood. (If
steam or coolant is escaping, turn off the
engine.) Do not open the hood further
until no steam or coolant can be seen.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the
engine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is
leaking or the cooling fan does not run,
stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling 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.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE

8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ............................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ......................... 8-3VR30DDTT engine ..................................................... 8-3
Engine cooling system ..................................................... 8-3 Checking engine coolant level ................................ 8-4
Changing engine coolant .......................................... 8-5
Intercooler cooling system ............................................. 8-5 Checking intercooler coolant level ......................... 8-6
Changing intercooler coolant .................................. 8-6
Engine oil ........................................................................\
..... 8-7
Checking engine oil level ........................................... 8-7
Changing engine oil and filter .................................. 8-7
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) .......................... 8-9
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
8-10
Window washer fluid ................................................... 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
....... 8-11
Checking battery fluid level .................................... 8-12
Jump starting ............................................................. 8-13
Variable voltage control system ................................. 8-13
Drive belts ........................................................................\
. 8-13
Spark plugs ....................................................................... 8-14 Replacing spark plugs .............................................. 8-14 Air cleaner ........................................................................\
8-15
Windshield wiper blades .............................................. 8-15
Cleaning ..................................................................... 8-15
Replacing ................................................................... 8-16
Brakes ........................................................................\
........ 8-16 Self-adjusting brakes ............................................. 8-16
Brake pad wear warning ....................................... 8-16
Fuses ........................................................................\
.......... 8-17 Engine compartment .............................................. 8-17
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-18
Intelligent Key battery replacement ......................... 8-19
Lights ........................................................................\
......... 8-22 Headlights ................................................................. 8-23
Exterior and interior lights .................................... 8-23
Wheels and tires ............................................................. 8-25 Tire pressure ............................................................. 8-25
Tire labeling .............................................................. 8-29
Types of tires ........................................................... 8-31
Tire chains ................................................................. 8-33
Changing wheels and tires .................................. 8-34
Jacking up the vehicle and replacing 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 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.10-24).)
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

8-4Do-it-yourself
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) (or equivalent coolant),
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. Mainte-
nance and schedules” section of this
manual for more details.
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. The intercooler 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 antifreeze solution contains rust
and corrosion inhibitors. Additional inter-
cooler cooling system additives are not
necessary.
WARNING
.
Never remove the coolant reservoir
cap when the engine is hot. Wait until
the engine cools down. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure fluid
escaping from the coolant reservoir.
. The intercooler reservoir is equipped
with a pressure type cap. To prevent
engine and intercooler damage, use
only a genuine NISSAN intercooler
reservoir cap.
CAUTION
.Never use any additives in the cool-
ant such as radiator sealer in the
cooling system. This may cause da-
mage to the intercooler.
Do-it-yourself8-5
INTERCOOLER COOLING SYSTEM

8-6Do-it-yourself
.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 Intercooler cooling system.
JVM0653X
CHECKING INTERCOOLER
COOLANT LEVEL
Check the coolant level in the reservoir when
the engine is cold. If the coolant level is
below the MIN level
, add coolant to the
MAX level.
If the intercooler cooling system frequently
requires coolant, have it checked. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.
CHANGING INTERCOOLER
COOLANT
Intercooler coolant is maintenance-free.
If replacement is required, it is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Improper servicing can result in intercooler
overheating.
WARNING
. To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.
. Never remove the cap when the
engine is hot. Serious burns could be
caused by high pressure fluid escap-
ing from the intercooler cooling re-
servoir.
. 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 the reach of
children and pets.
Intercooler coolant must be disposed of
properly. Check your local regulations.

To check the window washer fluid level, use
your finger to plug the holeof the cap/
tube assembly, then remove it from the
reservoir. If there is no fluid in the tube,
add fluid.
Add a washer solvent to the washer for
better cleaning. In the winter season, add a
windshield washer antifreeze. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the mixture
ratio.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when
driving conditions require an increased
amount of window washer fluid.
Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN
Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner &
Antifreeze or equivalent.
CAUTION
. Do not substitute engine anti-freeze
coolant for window washer solution.
This may result in damage to the
paint.
. Do not fill the window washer re-
servoir with washer fluid concen-
trates at full strength. Some methyl
alcohol based washer fluid concen-
trates may permanently stain the
grille if spilled while filling the win-
dow washer reservoir. .
Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates
with water to the manufacturer’s
recommended levels before pouring
the fluid into the window washer
reservoir. Do not use the window
washer reservoir to mix the washer
fluid concentrate and water. .
Keep the battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the battery with a solution of
baking soda and water.
. Make certain the terminal connections
are clean and securely tightened.
. If the vehicle is not to be used for 30 days
or longer, disconnect the negative (−)
battery terminal cable to prevent dis-
charging it.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery discharge
and potential no-start conditions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume battery
power when the engine is not running
(Phone chargers, GPS, DVD players,
etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to be
charged to maintain battery health.
WARNING
. Do not expose the battery to flames
or electrical sparks. Hydrogen gas
generated by the battery is explosive.
Do not allow battery fluid to contact
your skin, eyes, fabrics, or painted
Do-it-yourself8-11
BATTERY