2021 INFINITI QX50 check engine

CAUTION
• Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT) models cannot be push-started or
tow-started. Attempting to do so may
cause transmission damage.
• Do not push start this vehicle. The three-
way catalyst may be damaged.WARNING
• Do not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
• To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the coolant reservoir cap
while the engine is still hot. When the
coolant reservoir cap is removed, pres-
surized hot water will spurt out, possibly
causing serious injury.
• Do not open the hood if steam is coming
out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading),
or if you feel a lack of engine power, detect
abnormal noise, etc. take the following steps.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply the parking brake and engage the P (Park)
position.
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the windows, move the heater or air condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed. 3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radia-
tor 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.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the en-
gine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. 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,
the water pump belt is missing or loose, 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.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-7

6. After the engine cools down, check thecoolant level in the engine coolant reser-
voir tank with the engine running. Add
coolant to the engine coolant reservoir
tank if necessary. Have your vehicle re-
paired. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service. When towing your vehicle, all jurisdictions
and local regulations for towing must be fol-
lowed. Incorrect towing equipment could
damage your vehicle. Towing instructions are
available from an INFINITI retailer. Local ser-
vice operators are generally familiar with the
applicable laws and procedures for towing.
To assure proper towing and to prevent ac-
cidental damage 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 pow-
ertrain are in working condition. Use dol-
lies or flatbed if any of the listed systems
are not working.
• Always attach safety chains before
towing. For additional information about towing your
vehicle behind a Recreational Vehicle (RV),
see “Flat towing for all-wheel drive vehicle”
(P. 10-28) or “Flat towing for front wheel
drive vehicle” (P. 10-29).
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
INFINITI
INFINITI recommends towing your vehicle
based upon the type of drivetrain. For addi-
tional information, refer to the diagrams in
this section to ensure that your vehicle is
properly towed.
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-8In case of emergency

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

2.0L 4 Cylinder (KR20DDET engine model)
1. Engine coolant reservoir
2. Drive belt location
3. Air cleaner4. Brake fluid reservoir
5. Battery
6. Fuse/Fusible link box
7. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir8. Engine oil filler cap
9. Engine oil dipstick
LDI3173
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
Do-it-yourself8-3

CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the engine is cold. If the coolant level is below
the MIN level
OB, add coolant to the MAX
level
OA.
This vehicle contains Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue). The life ex-
pectancy of the factory-fill coolant is
105,000 miles (168,000 km) or 7 years.
Mixing any other type of coolant or the use of
non-distilled water will reduce the life expec-
tancy of the factory-fill coolant. For addi- tional information, see "Maintenance and
schedules" (P. 9-2).
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
For additional information on the location of
the engine coolant reservoir, see “Engine
compartment check locations” (P. 8-3).
CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT
An INFINITI retailer can change the engine
coolant. The service procedure can be found
in the INFINITI Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheating.
WARNING
• To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never change the coolant when the en-
gine is hot.
• Never remove the coolant reservoir 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 cool-
ant. If skin contact is made, wash thor-
oughly with soap or hand cleaner as soon
as possible.
• Keep coolant out of the reach of children
and pets.
Engine coolant must be disposed of properly.
Check your local regulations.
LDI3157
Do-it-yourself8-5

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) marksOB. This is the normal
operating oil level range. If the oil level is
below the L (Low) mark
OA, remove the oil
filler cap and pour recommended oil
through the opening. Do not fill oil level
above H (High) mark
OC.
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 minutes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suit- able floor jack and safety jack stands.
• Place the safety jack stands under the ve- hicle jack-up points.
• A suitable adapter should be attached to the jack stand saddle.LDI3158LDI0371
ENGINE OIL
8-6Do-it-yourself

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