In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of
it.
To protect the paint surfaces, wash your ve-
hicle as soon as you can:
• After a rainfall to prevent possible damagefrom acid rain.
• After driving on coastal roads.
• When contaminants such as soot, bird droppings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs
get on the paint surface.
• When dust or mud builds up on the surface.
Whenever possible, store or park your vehicle
inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body cover.
WASHING
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty
of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly using a
mild soap, a special vehicle soap or general
purpose dishwashing liquid mixed with clean,
lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
• Do not concentrate water spray directly
on the sonar sensors (if so equipped) on
the bumper as this will result in damage
to the sensors. Do not use pressure
washers capable of spraying water over
1,200 psi (8,274 kPa) to wash your ve-
hicle. Use of high-pressure washers over
1,200 psi (8,274 kPa) can result in dam-
age to or removal of paint or graphics.
Avoid using a high-pressure washer
closer than 12 inches (30 cm) to the ve-
hicle. Always use a wide-angle nozzle
only, keep the nozzle moving and do not
concentrate the water spray on any one
area.
• Do not use car washes that use acid in the
detergent. Some car washes, especially
brushless ones, use some acid for clean-
ing. The acid may react with some plastic
vehicle components, causing them to
crack. This could affect their appear-
ance, and also could cause them not to
function properly. Always check with
your car wash to confirm that acid is not
used.
• Do not wash the vehicle with strong
household soap, strong chemical deter-
gents, gasoline or solvents. •
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight
or while the vehicle body is hot, as the
surface may become water-spotted.
• Avoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths, such as washing mitts. Care must
be taken when removing caked-on dirt
or other foreign substances so the paint
surface is not scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside edges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable
to the effects of road salt. Therefore, these
areas must be cleaned regularly. Take care
that the drain holes in the lower edge of the
door are open. Spray water under the body
and in the wheel wells to loosen the dirt and
wash away road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the ve-
hicle to avoid water spots.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
Polishing is recommended to remove built-up
wax residue and to avoid a weathered ap-
pearance before re-applying wax.
An INFINITI retailer can assist you in choos-
ing the proper product.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care
• Wax your vehicle only after a thoroughwashing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
• Do not use a wax containing any abrasives, cutting compounds or cleaners that may
damage the vehicle finish.
Machine compounding or aggressive polish-
ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish may
dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, in-
sects, and tree sap as quickly as possible from
the surface of the paint to avoid lasting dam-
age or staining. Special cleaning products are
available at an INFINITI retailer or any auto-
motive accessory store. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for these
products.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter, it is
necessary to clean the underbody regularly in
order to prevent dirt and salt from building up
and causing the acceleration of corrosion on
the underbody and suspension. Before the
winter period and again in the spring, the
underseal must be checked and, if necessary,
re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust
film from the glass surfaces. It is normal for
glass to become coated with a film after the
vehicle is parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner
and a soft cloth will easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the windows,
do not use sharp-edged tools, abrasive
cleaners or chlorine-based disinfectant
cleaners. They could damage the electrical
conductors, radio antenna elements or rear
window defroster elements.
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS
Wash the wheels regularly with a sponge
dampened in a mild soap solution, especially
during winter months in areas where road
salt is used. If not removed, road salt can
discolor the wheels.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid stain-
ing or discoloring the wheels:
• Do not use a cleaner that uses strong acid
or alkali contents to clean the wheels. •
Do not apply wheel cleaners to the
wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as am-
bient temperature.
• Rinse the wheel to completely remove
the cleaner within 15 minutes after the
cleaner is applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
TIRE DRESSINGS
INFINITI does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating
to the tires to help reduce discoloration of the
rubber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires,
it may react with the coating and form a
compound. This compound may come off the
tire while driving and stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:
• Use a water-based tire dressing. The coat- ing on the tire dissolves more easily than
with an oil-based tire dressing.
• Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help prevent it from entering the tire tread/
grooves (where it would be difficult to
remove).
Appearance and care7-3
• Wipe off excess tire dressing using a drytowel. Make sure the tire dressing is com-
pletely removed from the tire
tread/grooves.
• Allow the tire dressing to dry as recom- mended by tire dressing manufacturer. This vehicle has new and unique surfaces on
the center console and door pull finishers. If
cleaning is required use mild soap and water.
However if mild soap and water won’t clean
the center console and door pull finishers, use
Genuine INFINITI Vinyl and Leather Cleaner
(or equivalent).
Occasionally remove loose dust from the in-
terior trim, plastic parts and seats using a
vacuum cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe
the vinyl and leather surfaces with a clean,
soft cloth dampened in mild soap solution,
then wipe clean with a dry, soft cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in order
to maintain the appearance of the leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer's recommendations. Some
fabric protectors contain chemicals that may
stain or bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water to
clean the meter and gauge lens.
Use a slightly moist (with water) microfiber
cloth to clean the wood trim. If necessary, use
water with natural soap or wood dedicated
cleaning products, such as furniture polish.WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can dam-
age the seat or occupant classification sen-
sor. This can also affect the operation of
the air bag system and result in serious per-
sonal injury.
CAUTION
• Never use benzine, thinner, or any similar
material on the interior surfaces or sur-
face damage may occur. Such damage is
not covered under the INFINITI
warranty.
• Small dirt particles can be abrasive and
damaging to leather surfaces and should
be removed promptly. Do not use saddle
soap, car waxes, polishes, oils, cleaning
fluids, solvents, detergents or ammonia-
based cleaners as they may damage the
leather's natural finish.
• Never use fabric protectors unless rec-
ommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on me-
ter or gauge lens covers. It may damage
the lens cover.
CLEANING INTERIOR
7-4Appearance and care
LEATHER CLEANING KIT (if so
equipped)
Spray onto leather cleaning cloth, then gently
wipe the surface of the leather. Use a dry
towel to absorb any excess moisture.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently
because soiling on such surfaces is much
more visible.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions supplied with the leather cleaning kit.
You can obtain the leather cleaning kit from
an INFINITI retailer or other authorized repair
shop.
CAUTION
Do not leave the leather cleaning kit inside
the vehicle. The leather cleaning kit left in a
closed vehicle can become very hot.
AIR FRESHENERS
Most air fresheners use a solvent that could
affect the vehicle interior. If you use an air
freshener, take the following precautions:
• Hanging-type air fresheners can cause per- manent discoloration when they contact
vehicle interior surfaces. Place the air fresh-
ener in a location that allows it to hang free
and not contact an interior surface. • Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip on
the vents. These products can cause imme-
diate damage and discoloration when
spilled on interior surfaces.
Carefully read and follow the manufacturer's
instructions before using the air fresheners.
POWER MOONROOF (if so
equipped)
The sunshade is made from a tricot material.
CAUTION
To help prevent damaging the moonroof
while cleaning:
• Do not rub the material with a cloth. Do-
ing so can damage the surface of the ma-
terial or cause a stain to spread.
• Never use benzine, thinner or any similar
chemical to clean the sunshade. This may
discolor the moonroof and damage the
surface.
• Clean water based stains by patting the
surface with a clean soft cloth dampened
in warm water. Press a clean dry cloth
onto the surface to remove as much
dampness as possible and then let air dry. •
Clean oil based stains by patting the sur-
face with a clean soft cloth dampened in
warm water. Press a clean dry cloth onto
the surface to remove as much dampness
as possible and then let air dry.
Appearance and care7-5
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
Brake fluid ..................................... 8-10
Windshield-washer fluid ......................... 8-11
Windshield-washer fluid reservoir .............8-11
Battery ........................................ 8-12
Jump starting ............................... 8-14
Variable voltage control system ................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 .......................................... 8-20
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 (if so equipped) ...................8-24
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-25
Replacement procedures ....................8-26
Wheels and tires ............................... 8-27
Tire pressure ................................ 8-27
Tire labeling ................................ 8-30
Types
of tires ............................... 8-33
Tire chains .................................. 8-36
Changing wheels and tires ...................8-36
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the en-
gine oil is hot.
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.
4. Loosen the oil filter with an oil filter wrench by turning it counterclockwise.
Remove the oil filter by turning it by hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting sur- face with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old gasket material
remaining on the sealing surface of the en-
gine. 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 in the oil filter clockwise until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten addi-
tionally more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque: 14.7 to 20.6 N·m (11 to 15 ft-lb)
8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a new washer. Securely tighten the drain
plug with a wrench. Do not use excessive
force.
Drain plug tightening torque: 29.4 to 39.2 N·m (22 to 29 ft-lb)
9. Refill the engine with the recommended oil through the oil filler opening, and install
the oil filler cap securely.
For additional information about drain and
refill capacity, see “Recommended fluids/
lubricants and capacities” (P. 10-2). The drain
and refill capacity depends on the oil tem-
perature and drain time. Use these specifica-
tions for reference only. Always use the dip-
stick 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. 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. Reinstall engine protectors in reverse or-der of removal.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
3. Reset the oil control system. For addi- tional information, see “Vehicle informa-
tion display” (P. 2-19)
• Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
• Check your local regulations.
Do-it-yourself8-9
CAUTION
• INFINITI recommends using Genuine
NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 (or equivalent)
ONLY in INFINITI CVTs. Do not mix with
other fluids.
• Do not use Automatic Transmission
Fluid (ATF) or manual transmission fluid
in an INFINITI CVT, as it may damage the
CVT. Damage caused by the use of fluids
other than as recommended is not cov-
ered under INFINITI's New Vehicle Lim-
ited Warranty outlined in your Warranty
Information Booklet.
• Using fluids that are not equivalent to
Genuine NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 may
also damage the CVT. Damage caused by
the use of fluids other than as recom-
mended is not covered under INFINITI's
New Vehicle Limited Warranty outlined
in your Warranty Information Booklet.
When checking or replacement of CVT fluid is
required, it is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
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
OB, the
brake warning light will illuminate. Add brake
fluid up to the MAX line
OA. For additional
information on the recommended type of
brake fluid, see “Recommended fluids/
lubricants and capacities” (P. 10-2).
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, see “Engine com-
partment check locations” (P. 8-3).
LDI3161
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT) FLUID BRAKE FLUID
8-10Do-it-yourself
Rear window wiper blade
If checking or replacement is required, it is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service.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" (P. 9-2).
BRAKES
Do-it-yourself8-19