tires INFINITI M 2012 Owner's Guide

8 Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Maintenance requirement .................................... 8-2Scheduled maintenance .................................. 8-2
General maintenance....................................... 8-2
Where to go for service ................................... 8-2
General maintenance ........................................... 8-3 Explanation of maintenance items ................... 8-3
Maintenance precautions ..................................... 8-5
Engine compartment check locations ................... 8-7 VK56VD engine ............................................... 8-7
VQ37VHR engine ............................................. 8-9
Engine cooling system ....................................... 8-11 Checking engine coolant level ....................... 8-12
Changing engine coolant ............................... 8-12
Engine oil .......................................................... 8-13 Checking engine oil level............................... 8-13
Changing engine oil and filter ....................... 8-13
Automatic transmission fluid ............................. 8-16
Power steering fluid........................................... 8-16
Brake fluid......................................................... 8-17 Brake fluid .................................................... 8-17
Window washer fluid ......................................... 8-18
Battery .............................................................. 8-19 Jump starting ................................................ 8-20
Variable voltage control system ......................... 8-20 Drive belts ........................................................ 8-21
Spark plugs ...................................................... 8-21
Replacing spark plugs ................................. 8-22
Air cleaner ........................................................ 8-22
Windshield wiper blades ................................... 8-24 Cleaning ...................................................... 8-24
Replacing..................................................... 8-24
Brakes .............................................................. 8-25 Self-adjusting brakes ................................... 8-25
Brake pad wear warning .............................. 8-25
Fuses ................................................................ 8-26 Engine compartment .................................... 8-26
Passenger compartment............................... 8-28
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................... 8-29
Lights................................................................ 8-31 Headlights ................................................... 8-31
Exterior and interior lights ........................... 8-32
Wheels and tires ............................................... 8-34 Tire pressure ............................................... 8-34
Tire labeling ................................................ 8-38
Types of tires............................................... 8-40
Tire chains ................................................... 8-41
Changing wheels and tires........................... 8-41

During the normal day-to-day operation of
the vehicle, general maintenance should
be performed regularly as prescribed in
this section. If you detect any unusual
sounds, vibrations or smell, be sure to
check for the cause or have an INFINITI
retailer do it promptly. In addition, you
should notify an INFINITI retailer if you
think that repairs are required.
When performing any checks or mainte-
nance work, see“Maintenance precau-
tions ”later in this section.
EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found later in this
section.
Outside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be performed from time to time, unless
otherwise specified.
Doors and engine hood: Check that all
doors and the engine hood, operate
properly. Also ensure that all latches lock
securely. Lubricate hinges, latches, latch
pins, rollers and links if necessary. Make
sure that the secondary latch keeps the
hood from opening when the primary latch is released.
When driving in areas using road salt or
other corrosive materials, check lubrication
frequently.
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 check-
ing 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). If your
vehicle is equipped with different sized
tires in the front and rear, tires cannot be
rotated.
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge
often and always prior to long distance
trips. If necessary, adjust the pressure in
all tires, including the spare, to the
pressure specified. Check carefully for
damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components: Replace the TPMS
transmitter 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 Book-
let.
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.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3
GENERAL MAINTENANCE

8-34Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI1839
Vanity mirror lightIf 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 in 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
warning light ”in the “2. Instruments and
controls ”section, “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) ”in the “5. Starting and
driving ”section and “Tire Pressure Mon-
itoring System (TPMS) ”in the “6. In case
of emergency” section.
Tire inflation pressure
Check the pressure of the tires
(including the spare) often and al-
ways prior to long distance trips. The
recommended tire pressure specifi-
cations are shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label under the
“Cold Tire Pressure” heading. The
Tire and Loading Information 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 whendriven 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
moderate speeds.
WHEELS AND TIRES

Incorrect tire pressure, including
under inflation, may adversely affect
tire life and vehicle handling.
WARNING
.Improperly inflated tires can fail
suddenly and cause an accident.
. The Gross Vehicle Weight rating
(GVWR) is located on the F.M.V.S.
S./C.M.V.S.S. label. The vehicle
weight capacity is indicated on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. Do not load your vehicle
beyond this capacity. Overloading
your vehicle may result in reduced
tire life, unsafe operating condi-
tions due to premature tire failure,
or unfavorable handling character-
istics and could also lead to a
serious accident. Loading beyond
the specified capacity 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.
. For additional information regard-
ing tires, refer to “Important Tire
Safety Information ”(US) or “Tire
Safety Information ”(Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-35

8-36Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI2567
Tire and Loading Information label
*1Seating capacity: The maximum
number 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.
*3Original size: The size of the tires
originally installed on the vehicle
at the factory.
*4Cold tire pressure: Inflate the
tires to this pressure when the
tires are cold. Tires are consid-
ered COLD after the vehicle has
been parked for 3 or more hours,
or driven less than 1 mile (1.6
km) at moderate speeds. The
recommended cold tire inflation
is set by the manufacturer to
provide the best balance of tire
wear, vehicle handling, driveabil-
ity, tire noise, etc., up to the
vehicle ’s GVWR.
*5Tire size —see “Tire labeling ”
later in this section.
*6Spare tire size or compact spare
tire size (if so equipped)

SDI1949
Checking the tire pressure
1.Remove the valve stem cap from
the tire.
2.Press the pressure gauge
squarely onto the valve stem. Do
not press too hard or force the
valve stem sideways, or air will
escape. If the hissing sound of air
escaping from the tire is heard
while checking the pressure, re-
position the gauge to eliminate
this leakage.
3.Remove the gauge.
4.Read the tire pressure on the
gauge stem and compare it to
the specification shown on the
Tire and Loading Information la-
bel.
5.Add air to the tire as needed. If
too much air is added, press the
core of the valve stem briefly with
the tip of the gauge stem to
release pressure. Recheck the
pressure and add or release air
as needed.
6.Install the valve stem cap.
7.Check the pressure of all other
tires, including the spare.
SIZECOLD TIRE
INFLATION
PRESSURE
FRONT
ORIGINAL TIRE P245/50R18 99V
230 kPa,
33 PSI
245/40R20 95W 230 kPa,
33 PSI
REAR ORI-
GINAL TIRE P245/50R18 99V
230 kPa,
33 PSI
245/40R20 95W 230 kPa,
33 PSI
SPARE TIRE T165/80R17
420 kPa,
60 PSI
T165/80D17 420 kPa,
60 PSI
T155/80R18 420 kPa,
60 PSI
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-37

8-38Maintenance and do-it-yourself
SDI1575
Example
TIRE LABELING
Federal law requires tire manufac-
turers to place standardized informa-
tion on the sidewall of all tires. This
information identifies and describes
the fundamental characteristics of
the tire and also provides the tire
identification number (TIN) for safety
standard certification. The TIN can be
used to identify the tire in case of a
recall.
SDI1606
Example
*1Tire size (example: P215/60R16
94H)
1.P: The “P ” indicates the tire is
designed for passenger vehicles.
(Not all tires have this informa-
tion.)
2.Three-digit number (215): This
number gives the width in milli-
meters of the tire from sidewall
edge to sidewall edge.
3.Two-digit number (60): This num-
ber, known as the aspect ratio, gives the tire
’s ratio of height to
width.
4.R: The “R ” stands for radial.
5.Two-digit number (16): This num-
ber is the wheel or rim diameter in
inches.
6.Two- or three-digit number (94):
This number is the tire ’s load
index. It is a measurement of
how much weight each tire can
support. You may not find this
information on all tires because it
is not required by law.
7.H: Tire speed rating. You should
not drive the vehicle faster than
the tire speed rating.

SDI1607
Example
*2TIN (Tire Identification Number)
for a new tire (example: DOT XX XX
XXX XXXX)
1.DOT: Abbreviation for the “Depart-
ment of Transportation ”. The sym-
bol can be placed above, below or
to the left or right of the Tire
Identification Number.
2.Two-digit code: Manufacturer ’s
identification mark
3.Two-digit code: Tire size
4.Three-digit code: Tire type code
(Optional)
5.Three-digit code: Date of Manu-
facture
6.Four numbers represent the week
and year the tire was built. For
example, the numbers 3103
means the 31st week of 2003. If
these numbers are missing, then
look on the other sidewall of the
tire.
*3Tire ply composition and material
The number of layers or plies of
rubber-coated fabric in the tire.
Tire manufacturers also must indi-
cate the materials in the tire, which
include steel, nylon, polyester, and
others.
*4Maximum permissible inflation
pressure
This number is the greatest amount
of air pressure that should be put in
the tire. Do not exceed the maximum permissible inflation pressure.
*5Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that
can be carried by the tire. When
replacing the tires on the vehicle,
always use a tire that has the same
load rating as the factory installed
tire.
*6Term of “tubeless ”or “tube type ”
Indicates whether the tire requires an
inner tube ( “tube type ”)ornot
( “ tubeless ”).
*7The word “radial ”
The word “radial ”is shown, if the tire
has radial structure.
*8Manufacturer or brand name
Manufacturer or brand name is
shown.
Other tire-related terminology:
In addition to the many terms that
are defined throughout this section,
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-39

8-40Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Intended Outboard Sidewall is (1) the
sidewall that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering or bears manu-
facturer, brand and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than
the same molding on the other side-
wall of the tire, or (2) the outward
facing sidewall of an asymmetrical
tire that has a particular side that
must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
.When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(Example: Summer, All Season or Snow)
and construction. An INFINITI retailer
may be able to help you with information
about tire type, size, speed rating and
availability.
. Replacement tires may have a lower
speed rating than the factory equipped
tires, and may not match the potential
maximum vehicle speed. Never exceed the maximum speed rating of the tire.
. Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
. For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information ”(US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation ”(Canada) in the Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet.
All season tires
INFINITI specifies all season tires on some
models to provide good performance all
year, including snowy and icy road condi-
tions. All Season tires are identified by ALL
SEASON and/or M&S (Mud and Snow) on
the tire sidewall. Snow tires have better
snow traction than All Season tires and
may be more appropriate in some areas.
Summer tires
INFINITI specifies summer tires on some
models to provide superior performance on
dry roads. Summer tire performance is
substantially reduced in snow and ice.
Summer tires do not have the tire traction
rating M&S on the tire sidewall.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in snowy or icy conditions, INFINITI recommends the
use of SNOW tires or ALL SEASON tires on
all four wheels.
Snow tires
If snow tires are needed, it is necessary to
select tires equivalent in size and load
rating to the original equipment tires. If
you do not, it can adversely affect the
safety and handling of your vehicle.
Generally, snow tires will have lower speed
ratings than factory equipped tires and
may not match the potential maximum
vehicle speed. Never exceed the maximum
speed rating of the tire.
If you install snow tires, they must be the
same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
For additional traction on icy roads,
studded tires may be used. However, some
U.S. states and Canadian provinces prohi-
bit their use. Check local, state and
provincial laws before installing studded
tires. Skid and traction capabilities of
studded snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces,
may be poorer than that of non-studded
snow tires.

TIRE CHAINS
Use of tire chains may be prohibited
according to location. Check the local laws
before installing tire chains. When instal-
ling tire chains, make sure they are the
proper size for the tires on your vehicle and
are installed according to the chain man-
ufacturer’s suggestions. Use only SAE
Class S chains. Class“S ” chains are used
on vehicles with restricted tire to vehicle
clearance. Vehicles that can use Class “S ”
chains are designed to meet the SAE
standard minimum clearances between
the tire and the closest vehicle suspension
or body component required to accommo-
date the use of a winter traction device (tire
chains or cables). The minimum clearances
are determined using the factory equipped
tire size. Other types may damage your
vehicle. Use chain tensioners when recom-
mended by the tire chain manufacturer to
ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the
tire chain must be secured or removed to
prevent the possibility of whipping action
damage to the fenders or underbody. If
possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle
when using tire chains. In addition, drive at
a reduced speed. Otherwise, your vehicle
may be damaged and/or vehicle handling and performance may be adversely af-
fected.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Never install tire chains on a TEMPORARY
USE ONLY spare tire.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving
with tire chains in such conditions can
cause damage to the various mechanisms
of the vehicle due to some overstress.
SDI1662
CHANGING WHEELS AND TIRES
Tire rotation
INFINITI recommends rotating the
tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km).
(See
“Flat tire ”in the “6. In case of
emergency ”section for tire replacing
procedures.)
As soon as possible, tighten the
wheel nuts to the specified torque
with a torque wrench.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-41