towing INFINITI G35 2003 User Guide

Change intervals The oil and oil filter change intervals for your
engine are based on the use of the specified
quality oils and filters. Oil and filter other than
the specified quality, or oil and filter change
intervals longer than recommended could re-
duce engine life. Damage to engines caused
by improper maintenance or use of incorrect
oil and filter quality and/or viscosity is not
covered by the new INFINITI vehicle warran-
ties.
Your engine was filled with a high quality
engine oil when it was built. You do not have to
change the oil before the first recommended
change interval. Oil and filter change intervals
depend upon how you use your vehicle. Op-
eration under the following conditions may
require more frequent oil and filter changes.
O repeated short distance driving at cold out-
side temperatures,
O driving in dusty conditions,
O extensive idling,
O towing a trailer,
O stop and go ªrush hourº traffic.
O aggressive driving RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY
NUMBER
SAE 5W-30 viscosity oil is preferred for all
ambient temperatures. SAE 10W-30,
10W-40 viscosity oil may be used if the
ambient temperature is above 0ÉF (þ18ÉC). AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
REFRIGERANT AND LUBRICANT
RECOMMENDATIONS The air conditioning system in this INFINITI
vehicle must be charged with the refriger-
ant HFC-134a (R-134a) and the lubricant,
Nissan A/C System Oil Type S or the exact
equivalents.
CAUTION The use of any other refrigerant or lubri-
cant will cause severe damage to the air
conditioning system and will require the
replacement of all air conditioner sys-
tem components.
The refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a) in your
INFINITI vehicle will not harm the earth's
ozone layer. Although this refrigerant does not
affect the earth's atmosphere, certain govern-
mental regulations require the recovery and
recycling of any refrigerant during automotive
air conditioning system service. Your INFINITI
retailer has the trained technicians and equip-
ment needed to recover and recycle your air
conditioning system refrigerant.
Contact your INFINITI retailer when servicing
your air conditioning system. TI1028-C
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Use the following steps to mount the license
plate:
Before mounting the license plate, confirm that
the following parts are enclosed in the vinyl
bag.
O License plate bracket
O J-nut x 2
O Screw x 2
O Screw grommet x 2
1. Temporarily place the license plate bracket
and mark the pilot hole points j A
using
holes j B
while aligning the towing hook hole
of the front bumper fascia.
2. Remove the license plate bracket.
3. Carefully drill two pilot holes j A
using a 0.39
in (10 mm) drill bit at the marked locations.
(Be sure that the drill only goes through
the fascia, or damage to the nut may
occur.)
4. Insert grommets into the hole on the fascia.
5. Insert a flat-blade screwdriver into the
grommet hole to turn part j C
90 degrees.
6. Insert a J-nut into the license plate bracket
before placing the license plate bracket on
the fascia. STI0332INSTALLING FRONT LICENSE
PLATE
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ceeded. If GVWR is exceeded, remove
cargo as necessary. If either the front or
rear GAWR is exceeded, shift the load or
remove cargo as necessary.
LOADING TIPS O The GVW must not exceed GVWR or
GAWR as specified on the F.M.V.S.S. cer-
tification label.
O Do not load the front and rear axle to the
GAWR. Doing so will exceed the GVWR.
WARNINGO Properly secure all cargo to help pre-
vent it from sliding or shifting. Do not
place cargo higher than the seat-
backs. In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could cause per-
sonal injury.
O Do not load your vehicle any heavier
than the GVWR or the maximum front
and rear GAWRs. If you do, parts on
your vehicle can break, or it can
change the way your vehicle handles.
This could result in loss of control and cause personal injury.
O Overloading can shorten the life of
your vehicle. Failures caused by
overloading are not covered by your
warranty.
Your new vehicle was designed to be used
primarily to carry passengers and cargo. Re-
member that towing a trailer will place addi-
tional loads on your vehicle's engine, drive
train, steering, braking and other systems.
Information on trailer towing ability and the
special equipment required should be ob-
tained from your INFINITI retailer. Your retailer
can obtain an INFINITI Trailer Towing Guide
for you. TI1011M
TOWING A TRAILER
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MAXIMUM LOAD LIMITS
Maximum trailer loads Never allow the total trailer load to exceed
1,000 lb (454 kg). The total trailer load equals
trailer weight plus its cargo weight. Towing
loads greater than 1,000 lb (454 kg) or using
improper towing equipment could adversely
affect vehicle handling, braking and perfor-
mance.
The ability of your vehicle to tow a trailer is not
only related to the maximum trailer loads, but
also the places you plan to tow. Tow weights
appropriate for level highway driving may have
to be reduced on very steep grades or in low
traction situations (for example, on slippery
boat ramps).
WARNINGVehicle damage and/or personal injury
resulting from improper towing proce-
dures are not covered by INFINITI war-
ranties. An INFINITI Trailer Towing Guide
(U.S. only) containing information on
trailer towing ability and the special equipment required may be obtained
from an authorized INFINITI retailer.
Tongue load Keep the tongue load between 9 and 11% of
the total trailer load. If the tongue load be-
comes excessive, rearrange cargo to allow for
proper tongue load.
Maximum gross vehicle weight/
maximum gross axle weight The gross vehicle weight of the towing vehicle
must not exceed. GVWR shown on the
F.M.V.S.S. certification label. The gross ve-
hicle weight equals the combined weight of the
unloaded vehicle, passengers, luggage, hitch,
trailer tongue load and any other optional
equipment. In addition, front or rear gross axle
weight must not exceed GAWR shown on the
F.M.V.S.S. certification label. TI1012M
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TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHART
Unit: lb (kg)
MAXIMUM
TOWING LOAD 1,000 (454)
MAXIMUM
TONGUE LOAD 110 (49)
TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitch Choose a proper hitch for your vehicle and
trailer. Make sure the trailer hitch is securely
attached to the vehicle, to help avoid personal
injury or property damage due to sway caused
by crosswinds, rough road surfaces or passing
trucks.
CAUTIONO Do not use axle-mounted hitches.
O The hitch should not be attached to
or affect the operation of the impact-
absorbing bumper.
O Do not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc. to install a
trailer hitch. O To reduce the possibility of additional
damage if your vehicle is struck from
the rear, where practical, remove the
hitch and/or receiver when not in use.
After the hitch is removed, seal the
bolt holes to prevent exhaust fumes,
water or dust from entering the pas-
senger compartment.
O Regularly check that all hitch mount-
ing bolts are securely mounted.
Tire pressures O When towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle
tires to the recommended cold tire pressure
indicated on the tire placard (located on the
inside of the rear left door opening (Sedan),
the driver side center pillar (Coupe).
O Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in ac-
cordance with the trailer and tire manufac-
turers' specifications.
Safety chain Always use a suitable chain between your
vehicle and the trailer. The chain should be
crossed and should be attached to the hitch, not to the vehicle bumper or axle. Be sure to
leave enough slack in the chain to permit
turning corners.
Trailer lights Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. When wiring the vehicle for
towing, connect the stop and tail light pickup
into the vehicle electrical circuit at a point
between the sensor and stop light or light
switch.
Trailer brakes If your trailer is equipped with a braking sys-
tem, make sure it conforms to federal and/or
local regulations and that it is properly in-
stalled.
WARNING Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips O Be certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if
it has an abnormal nose-up or nose-down Technical and consumer information
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condition; check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other pos-
sible causes of either condition.
O Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shifts while driving.
O Be certain your rear view mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing be-
fore driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips In order to gain skill and an understanding of
the vehicle's behavior, you should practice
turning, stopping and backing up in an area
which is free from traffic. Steering stability, and
braking performance will be somewhat differ-
ent than under normal driving conditions.
O Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
O Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
O Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
O Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
O Always block the wheels on both vehicle
and trailer when parking. Parking on a
slope is not recommended; however, if you
must do so, and if your vehicle is equipped with automatic transmission, first apply the
parking brake and block the wheels, and
then move the transmission selector lever
into the P (Park) position. If you move the
selector lever to the P (Park) position be-
fore blocking the wheels and applying the
parking brake, the transmission may be
damaged.
O When going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending on a long grade, down-
shift the transmission to a lower gear and
reduce speed to reduce chances of engine
overloading and/or overheating.
O If the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioning
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
O Trailer towing consumes more fuel than
normal circumstances.
O Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km).
O Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule. O When making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
O Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being passed
by larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect
vehicle handling. If swaying does occur,
firmly grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually) re-
duce vehicle speed. This combination will
help stabilize the vehicle. Never increase
speed.
O Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember the length of the trailer
must also pass the other vehicle before you
can safely change lanes.
O To maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
sixth gear (manual transmission) or fifth
position (automatic transmission).
O Avoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently such as on long
down-hill sections of road. This could cause
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the brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency. Shift down and use en-
gine braking.
When towing a trailer, change transmission
oil more frequently.
See ªPeriodic maintenance schedulesº in
the ª9. Maintenanceº section. Shift down
and use engine braking. DOT (Department Of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform
to federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear Treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on tire wear rate when tested under
controlled conditions on specified government
test courses. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well
on the government course as a tire graded
100. However, relative tire performance de-
pends on actual driving conditions, and may
vary significantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B and C The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
WARNING The traction grade assigned to your ve-
hicle tires is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests, and does not in-
clude acceleration, cornering, hydro-
planing, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A, B and C Temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C. They represent a tire's resistance to
heat build-up, and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sus-
tained high temperature can cause tire mate-
rial to degenerate, reducing tire life. Excessive
temperatures can lead to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a performance level
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of
performance on laboratory test wheels than
the minimum required by law.UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY
GRADING
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Rear power point ............................................ 2-23
Rear seat adjustment ....................................... 1-7
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .............................................................. 2-16
Registering your vehicle in another country ... 10-9
Remote keyless entry system........................... 3-5
Reporting safety defects (US only)............... 10-21
Roadside assistance program .......................... 6-2
Rollover ............................................................. 5-3
S
Safety
Child seat belts.......................................... 1-27
Reporting safety defects (US only) ......... 10-21
Towing safety .......................................... 10-17
Satellite radio antenna .................................... 4-18
Satellite radio operation .................................. 4-12
Satellite radio reception .................................... 4-8
Seat
Belt warning light ....................................... 1-25
Belt warning light and chime ..................... 2-11
Seat adjustment
Front manual seat adjustment .................... 1-2
Front power seat adjustment ...................... 1-4
Rear seat adjustment .................................. 1-7
Seat belt(s)
Child safety................................................ 1-27
Infants and small children ......................... 1-28
Injured persons.......................................... 1-29
Larger children .......................................... 1-28
Pre-tensioner seat belt system ................. 1-22
Precautions on seat belt usage ................ 1-25
Pregnant women ....................................... 1-29 Seat belt cleaning........................................ 7-4
Seat belt extenders ................................... 1-32
Seat belt maintenance .............................. 1-32
Seat belts .................................................. 1-25
Three-point type with retractor .................. 1-29
Seat(s)
Heated seats ............................................. 2-21
Seats ........................................................... 1-2
Secondary trunk lid release ............................ 3-13
Security system, vehicle security system ....... 2-13
Security systems (Infiniti Vehicle Immobilizer
System), Engine start ..................................... 2-14
Security systems (See vehicle security
system) ........................................................... 2-13
Servicing air conditioner ............................ 4-3, 4-6
Shift lock release ............................................ 5-12
Shifting
Automatic transmission ........................ 5-4, 5-8
Manual transmission .......................... 5-5, 5-12
Shoulder belt height adjustment (For Sedan front
seats) .............................................................. 1-31
Shoulder belt guide (Coupe)........................... 1-32
Small cargo net (Sedan for Canada).............. 2-30
Soft bottle holder ............................................ 2-27
Stowing golf bags ........................................... 2-30
Spark plugs ..................................................... 8-15
Speedometer .................................................... 2-4
Starting
Before starting the engine ........................... 5-7
Jump starting ............................................... 6-7
Precautions when starting and driving ........ 5-2
Push starting ............................................... 6-9
Starting the engine ...................................... 5-7 Steering
Power steering fluid................................... 8-10
Power steering system .............................. 5-19
Steering switch for audio control............... 4-17
Tilting steering wheel ................................ 3-16
Storage ........................................................... 2-25
Sun shade....................................................... 2-34
Sun visors ....................................................... 3-16
Sunroof ........................................................... 2-33
Supplemental air bag warning labels ............. 1-23
Supplemental air bag warning light ....... 1-23, 2-11
Supplemental front air bag system ................. 1-17
Supplemental restraint system ....................... 1-11
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................................................... 1-11
Supplemental side air bag and curtain side-impact
air bag systems .............................................. 1-20
Switch
Audio control ............................................. 4-17
Fog light switch ......................................... 2-20
Hazard warning flasher switch .................. 2-20
Headlight switch ........................................ 2-17
Ignition switch .............................................. 5-4
Ignition switch automatic transmission
models.................................................. 5-4, 5-8
Ignition switch manual transmission
models................................................ 5-5, 5-12
Power door lock switch ............................... 3-4
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch......................................................... 2-16
Turn signal switch ..................................... 2-19
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T
Tachometer ....................................................... 2-4
Temperature gauge, Engine coolant temperature
gauge ................................................................ 2-5
Theft (Infiniti Vehicle Immobilizer System), Engine
start ................................................................. 2-14
Three way catalyst ............................................ 5-3
Tilting steering wheel ...................................... 3-16
Tire
Flat tire ........................................................ 6-2
Uniform tire quality grading ..................... 10-19
Tires
Spare tire ................................................... 8-34
Tire chains ................................................. 8-31
Tire placard ............................................. 10-11
Tire pressure ............................................. 8-30
Types of tires............................................. 8-30
wheel/tire size............................................ 10-8
Wheels and tires ....................................... 8-30
Top tether strap child restraints ...................... 1-41
Towing
Tow truck towing ....................................... 6-11
Towing a trailer........................................ 10-15
Towing load/specification chart ............... 10-15
Towing safety .......................................... 10-17
Trailer towing ................................................ 10-15
Transceiver, HomeLink
Universal
Transceiver ..................................................... 2-37
Transmission
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ........... 8-10
Driving with automatic transmission .... 5-4, 5-8
Driving with manual transmission ...... 5-5, 5-12 Transmission selector lever lock
release ....................................................... 5-12
Transmitter (See remote keyless entry
system) ............................................................. 3-5
Traveling or registering your vehicle in another
country ............................................................ 10-9
Trunk
Access through rear seat ............................ 1-8
Interior trunk lid release ............................ 3-12
Lid lock opener lever ................................. 3-10
Light ........................................................... 2-37
Secondary trunk lid release ...................... 3-13
Turn signal switch ........................................... 2-19
U
Underbody cleaning .......................................... 7-3
Uniform tire quality grading........................... 10-19
V
Vanity mirror light ............................................ 2-36
Vehicle
Dimensions and weights ........................... 10-8
Dynamics control (VDC) system ............... 5-21
Identification number (VIN) ....................... 10-9
Loading information ................................. 10-14
Recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle)............ 6-13
Security system ......................................... 2-13
Ventilators ......................................................... 4-2 W
Warning labels, Air bag warning labels .......... 1-23
Warning light
Air bag warning light ........................ 1-23, 2-11
Anti-lock brake warning light ....................... 2-9
Brake warning light...................................... 2-9
Door open warning light ............................ 2-10
Seat belt warning light and chime............. 2-11
Warning lights ................................................... 2-9
Warning, Hazard warning flasher switch ........ 2-20
Warning, Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders .......................................................... 2-9
Warranty, Emission control system
warranty ........................................................ 10-20
Washer switch, Windshield wiper and washer
switch .............................................................. 2-16
Washing ............................................................ 7-2
Waxing .............................................................. 7-2
Weights (See dimensions and weights) ......... 10-8
Wheel/tire size ................................................ 10-8
Wheels and tires ............................................. 8-30
Cleaning aluminum alloy wheels................. 7-3
Window washer fluid ....................................... 8-12
Window(s)
Automatic adjustment function (Coupe) .... 2-33
Automatic operation (For all door windows or
front door windows) ................................... 2-32
Cleaning ...................................................... 7-3
Open/close with key .................................... 3-3
Power windows ......................................... 2-31
Windshield wiper and washer switch.............. 2-16
Wiper
Windshield wiper and washer switch ........ 2-16
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