tires INFINITI EX 2011 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: INFINITI, Model Year: 2011, Model line: EX, Model: INFINITI EX 2011Pages: 480, PDF Size: 4.04 MB
Page 390 of 480

WARNING
●If the low tire pressure warning light illumi-
nates while driving, avoid sudden steering
maneuvers or abrupt braking, reduce vehicle
speed, pull off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Driving
with under-inflated tires may permanently
damage the tires and increase the likelihood
of tire failure. Serious vehicle damage could
occur and may lead to an accident and could
result in serious personal injury. Check the
tire pressure for all four tires. Adjust the tire
pressure to the recommended COLD tire
pressure shown on the Tire and Loading In-
formation label to turn the low tire pressure
warning light OFF. If the light still illumi-
nates while driving after adjusting the tire
pressure, a tire may be flat. If you have a flat
tire, replace it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.
● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel is
replaced, the TPMS will not function and the
low tire pressure warning light will flash for
approximately 1 minute. The light will re-
main on after 1 minute. Contact your INFINITI
retailer as soon as possible for tire replace-
ment and/or system resetting. ●
Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.
● Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol tire
sealant into the tires, as this may cause a
malfunction of the tire pressure sensors.
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and
away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking brake. Move the selector lever to
the P (Park) position.
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and to signal professional road assistance
personnel that you need assistance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place, away from
traffic and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
●Make sure the parking brake is securely ap-
plied and the automatic transmission is in
the P (Park) position.
● Never change tires when the vehicle is on a
slope, ice or slippery areas. This is
hazardous.
● Never change tires if oncoming traffic is
close to your vehicle. Wait for professional
road assistance.
In case of emergency6-3
Page 393 of 480

2. Loosen each wheel nut one or two turnsby turning counterclockwise with the
wheel nut wrench. Do not remove the
wheel nuts until the tire is off the ground. 3. Carefully raise the vehicle until the tire
clears the ground. To lift the vehicle,
securely hold the jack lever and rod with
both hands as shown above. Remove the
wheel nuts, and then remove the tire.Installing the spare tire
The T-type spare tire is designed for emergency
use. (See specific instructions under the head-
ing “WHEELS AND TIRES” in the “8. Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section.)
1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface
between the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the spare tire on and tighten the wheel nuts finger tight.
3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten wheel nuts alternately and evenly in the se-
quence as illustrated (
1,2,3,4,5)
until they are tight.
SCE0504SCE0661
6-6In case of emergency
Page 394 of 480

4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tiretouches the ground. Then, with the wheel
nut wrench, tighten the wheel nuts se-
curely in the sequence as illustrated.
Lower the vehicle completely.
WARNING
●Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become
loose or come off. This could cause an
accident.
● Do not use oil or grease on the wheel studs or
nuts. This could cause the nuts to become
loose.
● Retighten the wheel nuts when the vehicle
has been driven for 600 miles (1,000 km)
(also in cases of a flat tire, etc.).
● As soon as possible, tighten the wheel nuts
to the specified torque with a torque wrench. Wheel nut tightening torque:
80 ft-lb (108 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tightened to speci-
fication at all times. It is recommended that
wheel nuts be tightened to specifications at
each lubrication interval.
● Adjust tire pressure to the COLD pressure.
COLD pressure:
After the vehicle has been parked for three
hours or more or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
COLD tire pressures are shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label affixed to the
driver side center pillar.
Stowing the damaged tire and tools
1. Securely store the damaged tire, jack and tools in the storage area.
2. Close the luggage floor board.
3. Close the lift gate.
WARNING
● Always make sure that the spare tire and
jacking equipment are properly secured af-
ter use. Such items can become dangerous
projectiles in an accident or sudden stop.
● The T-type spare tire and small size spare
tire are designed for emergency use. See
specific instructions under the heading
“WHEELS AND TIRES” in the “8. Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section.
If needed, Roadside Assistance is available.
Please see your Warranty Information Booklet
or Roadside Assistance I.D. Card for the toll-free
number to call (U.S.) or Warranty Information
Booklet (Canada).
In case of emergency6-7
Page 401 of 480

VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
●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.
Pulling a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use a tow strap or other device designed spe-
cifically for vehicle recovery. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the recovery de-
vice.
Remove the recovery hook cover from the front
bumper using a suitable tool.
Securely install the vehicle recovery hook
1
stored with jacking tools as illustrated. Attach
the tow strap to the recovery hook. Make sure
that the hook is properly secured in the original
place after use.
Do not use the tie down hook
2for towing or
vehicle recovery.
CAUTION
● Tow chains or cables must be attached only
to the vehicle recovery hooks or main struc-
tural members of the vehicle. Otherwise, the
vehicle body will be damaged.
● Do not use the vehicle tie downs to free a
vehicle stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.
● Never tow a vehicle using the vehicle tie
downs or recovery hooks.
● Always pull the cable straight out from the
front of the vehicle. Never pull on the vehicle
at an angle.
● Pulling devices should be routed so they do
not touch any part of the suspension, steer-
ing, brake or cooling systems.
● Pulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in ve-
hicle towing or recovery.
SCE0806
6-14In case of emergency
Page 402 of 480

Rocking a stuck vehicle
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
shifting between R and D.
● 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.
In case of emergency6-15
Page 407 of 480

TIRE DRESSING
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 com-
pound. 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 coating
on the tire dissolves more easily 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).
● Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry
towel. 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. Occasionally remove loose dust from the inte-
rior 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.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot steam
cleaners) on the seat. This can damage the seat
or occupant classification sensors. This can
also affect the operation of the air bag system
and result in serious personal injury.
CAUTION
●
Never use benzine, thinner, or any similar
material. ●
Small dirt particles can be abrasive and dam-
aging to the 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.
● Only use fabric protectors approved by
INFINITI.
● Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on meter
or gauge lens covers. It may damage the lens
cover.
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 ve-
hicle 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.
CLEANING INTERIOR
7-4Appearance and care
Page 412 of 480

8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirement.......................... 8-2
Scheduled maintenance ........................ 8-2
General maintenance ........................... 8-2
Where to go for service ......................... 8-2
General maintenance .............................. 8-2
Explanation of maintenance items ............... 8-2
Maintenance precautions .......................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ................ 8-6
VQ35HR engine ................................ 8-6
Engine cooling system ............................. 8-6
Checking engine coolant level ................... 8-7
Changing engine coolant ........................ 8-8
Engine oil ........................................ 8-8
Checking engine oil level ....................... 8-8
Changing engine oil and filter ................... 8-8
Automatic transmission fluid .......................8-11
Power steering fluid ............................... 8-11
Brake fluid ...................................... 8-12
Window washer fluid ............................. 8-12
Battery .......................................... 8-13
Jump starting ................................. 8-14
Variable voltage control system ...................8-15
Drive belts ....................................... 8-15Spark plugs
..................................... 8-16
Replacing spark plugs ......................... 8-16
Air cleaner ....................................... 8-16
Windshield wiper blades .......................... 8-17
Cleaning ...................................... 8-17
Replacing ..................................... 8-18
Rear window wiper blades ........................8-19
Brakes .......................................... 8-19
Self-adjusting brakes .......................... 8-19
Brake pad wear warning ....................... 8-19
Fuses ........................................... 8-20
Engine compartment ........................... 8-20
Passenger compartment ....................... 8-21
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................8-22
Lights ........................................... 8-24
Headlights .................................... 8-25
Exterior
and interior lights ..................... 8-26
Wheels and tires ................................. 8-28
Tire pressure .................................. 8-28
Tire labeling .................................. 8-31
Types of tires ................................. 8-33
Tire chains ................................... 8-34
Changing wheels and tires..................... 8-35
Page 414 of 480

When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication fre-
quently.
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 operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
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
7,500 miles (12,000 km).
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If nec-
essary, adjust the pressure in all tires, includ-
ing the spare, to the pressure specified. Check
carefully for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) trans-
mitter components: Replace the TPMS transmit-
ter grommet seal, valve core and cap when the
tires are replaced due to wear or age.
Tire, 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 normal
highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
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.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for cracks or
wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing periodic maintenance, cleaning the
vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation and make sure the pedal does not
catch or require uneven effort. Keep the floor
mat away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mechanism: On
a fairly steep hill, check that your vehicle is held
securely with the selector lever in the P (Park)
position without applying any brakes. Brake pedal:
Check the pedal for smooth opera-
tion. If the brake pedal suddenly goes down
further than normal, the pedal feels spongy or
the vehicle seems to take longer to stop, see an
INFINITI retailer immediately. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes: Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake opera-
tion regularly. The vehicle should be securely
held on a fairly steep hill with only the parking
brake applied. If the parking brake needs ad-
justed, see an INFINITI retailer.
Seat belts: Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjuster
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt web-
bing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Seats: Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to ensure
they operate smoothly and that all latches lock
securely in every position. Check that the head
restraint/headrest moves up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped)
hold securely in all latched positions.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the steer-
ing conditions, such as excessive free play,
hard steering or strange noises.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
Page 439 of 480

If you have a flat tire, see “FLAT TIRE” in the “6. In
case of emergency” section.
TIRE PRESSURE
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS). It monitors tire
pressure of all tires except the spare. When the
low tire pressure warning light is lit and the
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning appears on the
dot matrix liquid crystal display, one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated.
The TPMS will activate only when the vehicle is
driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h). Also,
this system may not detect a sudden drop in tire
pressure (for example a flat tire while driving).
For more details, see “Low tire pressure warn-
ing light” in the “2. Instruments and controls”
section, “TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS)” in the “5. Starting and driving” section
and “TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS)” in the “6. In case of emergency” sec-
tion.
Tire inflation pressure
Check the pressure of the tires (includ-
ing the spare) often and always prior tolong distance trips. The recommended
tire pressure specifications are shown
on the Tire and Loading Information
label under the “Cold Tire Pressure”
heading. The Tire and Loading Informa-
tion label is affixed to the driver side
center pillar. Tire pressures should be
checked regularly because:
●Most tires naturally lose air over time.
●Tires can lose air suddenly when
driven over potholes or other objects
or if the vehicle strikes a curb while
parking.
The tire pressures should be checked
when the tires are cold. The tires are
considered COLD after the vehicle has
been parked for 3 or more hours, or
driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at mod-
erate speeds.
Incorrect tire pressure, including under
inflation, may adversely affect tire life
and vehicle handling.
WARNING
●Improperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident.
●The Gross Vehicle Weight rating
(GVWR) is located on the F.M.V.S.S./
C.M.V.S.S. certification label. The ve-
hicle weight capacity is indicated on the
Tire and Loading Information label. Do
not load your vehicle beyond this capac-
ity. Overloading your vehicle may result
in reduced tire life, unsafe operating
conditions due to premature tire failure,
or unfavorable handling characteristics
and could also lead to a serious acci-
dent. Loading beyond the specified ca-
pacity may also result in failure of other
vehicle components.
●Before taking a long trip, or whenever
you heavily load your vehicle, use a tire
pressure gauge to ensure that the tire
pressures are at the specified level.
WHEELS AND TIRES
8-28Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Page 440 of 480

●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.
Tire and Loading Information label
1Seating capacity: The maximum num-
ber of occupants that can be seated
in the vehicle.
2Vehicle load limit: See “VEHICLE
LOADING INFORMATION” in the “9.
Technical and consumer informa-
tion” section.
SDI2703
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-29