cooling INFINITI M 2012 Owners Manual

SAA3142
Front
SAA3012
RearOpen or close, and adjust the air flow
direction of ventilators.
: This symbol indicates that the ventilators are
closed.
: This symbol indicates that the ventilators are
open.
WARNING
. The air conditioner cooling function
operates only when the engine is run-
ning.
. Do not leave children or adults who
would normally require the support of
others alone in your vehicle. Pets should
not be left alone either. On hot, sunny
days, temperatures in a closed vehicle
could quickly become high enough to
cause severe or possibly fatal injuries to
people or animals.
. Do not use the recirculation mode for
long periods as it may cause the interior
air to become stale and the windows to
fog up.
Start the engine and operate the automatic
climate control system.
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-33
VENTILATORS AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL

4-36Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
(Type A)
Automatic operation
Cooling and/or dehumidified heating
(AUTO):
This mode may be used all year round. The
system works automatically to control the
inside temperature, air flow distribution
and fan speed after the preferred tempera-
ture is set manually.
1. Push the“AUTO ”button on. (The
indicator on the button will illuminate
and AUTO will be displayed.)
2. Push the temperature control button (driver side) to set the desired tem-
perature.
.The temperature can be set withinthe following range.
– For U.S.: 60 to 90 8F (16 to 32 8C)
– For Canada: 64 to 90 8F (18 to
32 8C)
.The temperature of the passenger
compartment will be maintained
automatically. Air flow distribution
and fan speed will also be controlled
automatically. 3. To turn off the climate control system,
push the “OFF ”button.
A visible mist may be seen coming from the
ventilators in hot, humid conditions as the
air is cooled rapidly. This does not indicate
a malfunction.
Dehumidified defrosting or defogging:
1. Push the front defroster “
”button.
(The indicator light on the button will
come on.)
2. Push the temperature control button (driver side) to set the desired tem-
perature.
.The temperature can be set withinthe following range.
– For U.S.: 60 to 90 8F (16 to 32 8C)
– For Canada: 64 to 90 8F (18 to
32 8C)
.The temperature of the passenger
compartment will be maintained
automatically. Air flow distribution
and fan speed will also be controlled
automatically.
3. To turn off the climate control system, push the “OFF ”button.
. To quickly remove ice from the outside
of the windows, push the fan speed increase
“
”button and set it to
the maximum position.
. As soon as possible after the wind-
shield is clean, push the “AUTO” button
to return to the auto mode.
. When the front defroster “
”button
is pushed, the air conditioner will
automatically be turned on at outside
temperatures above 23 8F( −58C) to
defog the windshield, and the air
recirculate mode will automatically be
turned off.
Outside air is drawn into the passenger
compartment to improve the defogging
performance.
Manual operation
Fan speed control:
Push the fan speed increase “
”or
decrease “
”button to manually control
the fan speed.
Push the “AUTO ”button to return to
automatic control of the fan speed.
Temperature control:
Turn the temperature control dial to set the
desired temperature.
. The temperature can be set within the
following range.

4-40Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
(Type B)
Automatic operation
Cooling and/or dehumidified heating
(AUTO):
This mode may be used year-round as the
system automatically controls constant
temperature, air flow distribution and fan
speed after the desired temperature is set
manually.
1. Push the“AUTO” button.
(The AUTO indicator light on the button
will illuminate and “AUTO” will appear
on the display.)
2. Push the temperature control button (driver ’s side) to set the desired tem-
perature.
.The temperature can be set within
the following range.
– For U.S.: 60 to 90 8F (16 to 32 8C)
– For Canada: 64 to 90 8F (18 to
32 8C)
.The temperature of the passenger
compartment will be maintained
automatically. Air flow distribution
and fan speed will also be controlled
automatically. 3. To turn off the climate control system,
push the “OFF ”button.
A visible mist may be seen coming from the
ventilators in hot, humid conditions as the
air is cooled rapidly. This does not indicate
a malfunction.
Dehumidified defrosting/defogging:
1. Push the “
”button. (The indicator
light will illuminate.)
2. Push the temperature control button (driver side) to set the desired tem-
perature.
.To remove frost from the outsidesurface of the windshield quickly,
set the temperature control and fan
speed control to their maximum
position.
.After the windshield is cleared, pushthe “AUTO” button to set to the
automatic mode.
.When the “”button is pushed,
the air conditioner will automatically
turn on when the outside air tem-
perature is above 23 8F( −58C) to
defog the windshield. The air recir-
culation mode will automatically
turn off. The outside air circulation
mode will be selected to improve the defogging performance.
Manual operation
The manual mode can be used to control
the heater and air conditioner to your
desired settings.
To turn off the heater and air conditioner,
push the
“OFF ”button.
Fan speed control:
Push the fan speed control “
”button
to increase the fan speed.
Push the fan speed control “
”button to
decrease the fan speed.
Push the “AUTO ”button to change the fan
speed to the automatic mode.
Air flow control:
Push the “
”button to change the air
flow mode.
: Air flows from the center and side ventilators.
: Air flows from the center and side ventilators, and foot outlets.
: Air flows mainly from the foot outlets.
: Air flows from the defogger and foot outlets.
Temperature control:
Turn the temperature control dial to set the
desired temperature.

or being driven at extremely low speed.
. The steering wheel is forcibly turned
beyond its operation limits.
. The battery voltage is reduced.
Repeated steering maneuvers that may
activate the protection mechanism will
damage the 4WAS system.
WARNING
The 4WAS system, although a sophisticated
device, cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving tech-
niques. Ultimately the responsibility for
safety of self and others rests in the hands
of the driver. Therefore only through atten-
tive and careful driving methods can the
4WAS system be fully appreciated and
safety optimized.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole or use the
Intelligent Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 32 8F
(0 8C), check antifreeze to assure proper
winter protection. For additional informa-
tion, see “Engine cooling system” in the
“ 8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself ”sec-
tion.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the
battery fluid may freeze and damage the
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency,
the battery should be checked regularly.
For additional information, see “Battery ”in
the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself ”
section.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, in-
cluding the engine block. Refill before
operating the vehicle. For details, see
“ Engine cooling system” in the“8. Main-
tenance and do-it-yourself ”section.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your
vehicle on snowy or icy roads, INFINITI
recommends the use of MUD & SNOW or
ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Consult an INFINITI retailer for the tire
type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
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.
Starting and driving5-101
COLD WEATHER DRIVING

6-8In case of emergency
.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 avail-
able. 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). To start your engine with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below
must be followed.
WARNING
.
If done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting in
severe injury or death. It could also
damage your vehicle.
. Explosive hydrogen gas is always pre-
sent in the vicinity of the battery. Keep
all sparks and flames away from the
battery.
. Do not allow battery fluid to come into
contact with eyes, skin, clothing or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a
corrosive sulphuric acid solution which
can cause severe burns. If the fluid
should come into contact with anything,
immediately flush the contacted area
with water.
. Keep the battery out of the reach of
children.
. The booster battery must be rated at 12
volts. Use of an improperly rated battery
can damage your vehicle. .
Whenever working on or near a battery,
always wear suitable eye protectors (for
example, goggles or industrial safety
spectacles) and remove rings, metal
bands, or any other jewelry. Do not lean
over the battery when jump starting.
. Do not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause
serious injury.
. Your vehicle has an automatic engine
cooling fan. It could come on at any time.
Keep hands and other objects away from
it.
If needed, Roadside Assistance is avail-
able. 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).
JUMP STARTING

CAUTION
.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 radiator cap while the
engine is still hot. When the radiator cap
is removed, pressurized 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 move the
selector lever to the P (Park) position.
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the climate control. Open all the windows, move the heater or air
conditioner temperature control to
maximum hot and fan control to high speed.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climbing a long hill on a hot day, run
the engine at a fast idle (approximately
1,500 rpm) until the temperature gauge
indication returns to normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for steam or coolant escaping from the
radiator 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.
5. Open the engine hood.WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the engine,
stand clear to prevent getting burned.
6. 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 cool-
ant is leaking 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.
7. After the engine cools down, check thecoolant level in the reservoir tank with
the engine running. Add coolant to the
reservoir tank if necessary. Have your
vehicle repaired at the nearest INFINITI
retailer.
If needed, Roadside Assistance is avail-
able. Please see your Warranty Information
Booklet or Roadside Assistance I.D. Card
for the toll-free number to call (U.S.) or
Warranty & Roadside Assistance Informa-
tion Booklet (Canada).
In case of emergency6-11
IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS

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 specifically for vehicle recovery.
Always follow the manufacturer ’s instruc-
tions for the recovery device.
Front:
1. Remove the cover with a suitable tool.
2. Securely install the vehicle recovery hook
*1stored 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. Rear:
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 structural 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,
steering, brake or cooling systems.
. Pulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
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 backward.
.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 beforeshifting 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
service to remove the vehicle.
In case of emergency6-15

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

vehicle has been parked for a while. Water
dripping from the air conditioner after use
is normal. If you should notice any leaks or
if gasoline fumes are evident, check for the
cause and have it corrected immediately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines:
Check the level when the fluid is cold,
with the engine off. Check the lines for
proper attachment, leaks, cracks, etc.
Radiator and hoses:Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects,
leaves, etc., that may have accumulated.
Make sure the hoses have no cracks,
deformation, rot or loose connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently
exposed to corrosive substances such as
those used on icy roads or to control dust.
It is very important to remove these
substances, otherwise rust will form on
the floor pan, frame, fuel lines and around
the exhaust system. At the end of winter,
the underbody should be thoroughly
flushed with plain water, being careful to
clean those areas where mud and dirt may
accumulate. For additional information,
see “Cleaning exterior ”in the “7. Appear-
ance and care ”section.
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there
is adequate fluid in the reservoir. When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The
following are general precautions which
should be closely observed.
WARNING
.
Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply
the parking brake securely and block the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from
moving. Move the selector lever to P
(Park).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF
or LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the battery
or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
. Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
. If you must work with the engine
running, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from moving fans, belts
and any other moving parts. .
It is advisable to secure or remove any
loose clothing and remove any jewelry,
such as rings, watches, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
. Always wear eye protection whenever
you work on your vehicle.
. Ifyoumustruntheengineinan
enclosed space such as a garage, be
sure there is proper ventilation for
exhaust gases to escape.
. Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
. Keep smoking materials, flame and
sparks away from fuel tank and the
battery.
. Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come on
at any time without warning, even if the
ignition key is in the OFF position and
the engine is not running. To avoid
injury, always disconnect the negative
battery cable before working near the
fan.
. The fuel filter or fuel lines should be
serviced by an INFINITI retailer because
the fuel lines are under high pressure
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-5
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) and 50% water to provide year-
round anti-freeze and coolant protection.
The anti-freeze solution contains rust and
corrosion inhibitors. Additional engine
cooling system additives are not neces-
sary.
WARNING
.Never remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. Wait until the engine and
radiator cool down. Serious burns could
be caused by high pressure fluid escap-
ing from the radiator. See precautions in
“If your vehicle overheats ”in the “6. In
case of emergency ”section of this
manual.
. The radiator is equipped with a pressure
type radiator cap. To prevent engine
damage, use only a genuine NISSAN
radiator cap.
CAUTION
.When adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or equiva-
lent. Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-
freeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-diluted to
provide antifreeze protection to −348F
( −37 8C). If additional freeze protection is
needed due to weather where you
operate your vehicle, add Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant
(blue) concentrate following the direc-
tions on the container. If an equivalent
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is used,
follow the coolant manufacture ’s instruc-
tions to maintain minimum antifreeze
protection to −348F( −37 8C). The use of
other types of coolant solutions other
than Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-
freeze/Coolant (blue) or equivalent may
damage the engine cooling system.
. The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 105,000 miles (168,000 km)
or 7 years. Mixing any other type of
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) , including Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (green), or the use of non-
distilled water will reduce the life
expectancy of the factory-fill coolant.
Refer to the INFINITI Service and Main-
tenance Guide for more details.
. Never use any additives in the coolant
such as radiator sealer in the cooling
system. This may cause damage to
electrical equipment such as the motor
and inverter, and also to engine and
transmission.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-11
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM