automatic transmission INFINITI Q50 2020 User Guide

5-132Starting and driving
WARNING
.Never rely solely on the hill start
assist system to prevent the vehicle
from moving backward on a hill.
Always drive carefully and atten-
tively. Depress the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped on a steep hill.
Be especially careful when stopped
on a hill on frozen or muddy roads.
Failure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling backwards may result in a loss
of control of the vehicle and possible
serious injury or death.
. The hill start assist system is not
designed to hold the vehicle at a
standstill on a hill. Depress the brake
pedal when the vehicle is stopped on
a steep hill. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to roll backwards
and may result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
. The hill start assist system may not
prevent the vehicle from rolling back-
wards on a hill under all load or road
conditions. Always be prepared to
depress the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards.
Failure to do so may result in a
collision or serious personal injury. The hill start assist system automatically
keeps the brakes applied to help prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards in the time it
takes the driver to release the brake pedal
and apply the accelerator when the vehicle is
stopped on a hill.
The hill start assist system will operate
automatically under the following condi-
tions:
.
The transmission is shifted to a forward
or reverse gear.
. The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill
by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds.
After 2 seconds the vehicle will begin to roll
back and the hill start assist system will stop
operating completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate
when the transmission is shifted to the N
(Neutral) or P (Park) position or on a flat and
level road. The chassis control is an electric control
module that includes the following func-
tions:
.
Log-in function (See “Log-in function”
(P.3-15).)
. INFINITI Drive Mode Selector (See
“INFINITI Drive Mode Selector” (P.5-
21).)
. Active Lane Control (if so equipped) (See
“Active Lane Control” (P.5-25).)
. Active Trace Control (See “Active trace
control” (P.5-130).)
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM CHASSIS CONTROL

6. Keep the engine speed of the boostervehicleat about 2,000 rpm, and start
the engine of the vehicle being jump
started
.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged
for more than 10 seconds. If the engine
does not start right away, push the
ignition switch to the OFF position and
wait 10 seconds before trying again.
7. After starting your engine, carefully disconnect the negative cable and then
the positive cable (
???).
8. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped). Be sure to dispose of the cloth used to
cover the vent holes as it may be
contaminated with corrosive acid.
9. Put the battery cover and the engine cover back to the original location. Do not attempt to start the engine by
pushing.
CAUTION
.
Automatic Transmission (AT) models
cannot be push-started or tow-
started. Attempting to do so may
cause transmission damage.
. Three-way catalyst equipped models
should not be started by pushing
since the three-way catalyst may be
damaged.
. Never try to start the vehicle by
towing it; when the engine starts,
the forward surge could cause the
vehicle to collide with the tow vehi-
cle.
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
shift 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 condi-
tioner temperature control to maximum
hot and fan control to high speed.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climb- ing a long hill on a hot day, run the engine
In case of emergency6-7
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS

.Always attach safety chains before
towing.
For information about towing your vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle (RV), see “Flat
towing” (P.10-19) of this manual.
SCE0788
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
INFINITI
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models
INFINITI recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (rear) wheels off the
ground or place the vehicle on a flat bed
truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
. Never tow automatic transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground or four wheels on the ground (forward or backward), as this may
cause serious and expensive damage
to the transmission. If it is necessary
to tow the vehicle with the front
wheels raised, always use towing
dollies under the rear wheels.
. When towing rear wheel drive models
with the front wheels on the ground
or on towing dollies: Push the ignition
switch to the ACC or ON position,
and secure the steering wheel in a
straight-ahead position with a rope
or similar device.
In case of emergency6-9

8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ............................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ......................... 8-3VR30DDTT engine ..................................................... 8-3
Engine cooling system ..................................................... 8-3 Checking engine coolant level ................................ 8-4
Changing engine coolant .......................................... 8-5
Intercooler cooling system ............................................. 8-5 Checking intercooler coolant level ......................... 8-6
Changing intercooler coolant .................................. 8-6
Engine oil ........................................................................\
..... 8-7
Checking engine oil level ........................................... 8-7
Changing engine oil and filter .................................. 8-7
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) .......................... 8-9
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
8-10
Window washer fluid ................................................... 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
....... 8-11
Checking battery fluid level .................................... 8-12
Jump starting ............................................................. 8-13
Variable voltage control system ................................. 8-13
Drive belts ........................................................................\
. 8-13
Spark plugs ....................................................................... 8-14 Replacing spark plugs .............................................. 8-14 Air cleaner ........................................................................\
8-15
Windshield wiper blades .............................................. 8-15
Cleaning ..................................................................... 8-15
Replacing ................................................................... 8-16
Brakes ........................................................................\
........ 8-16 Self-adjusting brakes ............................................. 8-16
Brake pad wear warning ....................................... 8-16
Fuses ........................................................................\
.......... 8-17 Engine compartment .............................................. 8-17
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-18
Intelligent Key battery replacement ......................... 8-19
Lights ........................................................................\
......... 8-22 Headlights ................................................................. 8-23
Exterior and interior lights ................................... 8-24
Wheels and tires ............................................................. 8-26 Tire pressure ............................................................. 8-26
Tire labeling ............................................................. 8-30
Types of tires ........................................................... 8-32
Tire chains ................................................................ 8-34
Changing wheels and tires .................................. 8-34
Jacking up the vehicle and replacing tires ...... 8-38

8-2Do-it-yourself
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 shift
lever to P (Park).
. Be sure the ignition switch is in the
OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any parts replacement or
repairs.
. Never connect or disconnect the
battery or any transistorized compo-
nent while the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
. Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the igni-
tion 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 when-
ever you work on your vehicle.
. If you must run the engine in an
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
automatic engine cooling fan. It may
come on at any time without warn-
ing, even if the ignition key is in the
OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, always dis-
connect the negative battery cable
before working near the fan.
. Because the fuel lines are under high
pressure even when the engine is off,
it is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for service of the fuel filter or fuel lines.
CAUTION
.
Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
. Avoid direct contact with used en-
gine oil and coolant. Improperly dis-
posed engine oil, coolant, and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to lo-
cal regulations for disposal of vehicle
fluid.
This “8. Do-it-yourself” section gives in-
structions regarding only those items which
are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine INFINITI Service Manual is also
available. (See “Owner’s Manual/Service
Manual order information” (P.10-23).)
You should be aware that incomplete or
improper servicing may result in operating
difficulties or excessive emissions, and could
affect your warranty coverage. If in doubt
about any servicing, it is recommended you
have it done by an INFINITI retailer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

Correct as required.
11. 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. Install the engine undercover into posi-tion as the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clip
out.
b. Hold the engine undercover into posi- tion.
c. Insert the clip through the undercover into the hole in the frame, then push
the center of the clip in to lock the clip
in place.
d. Install the other bolts that hold the undercover in place. Be careful not to
strip the bolts or over-tighten them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
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. When checking or replacement is required,
we recommend an INFINITI retailer for
servicing.
CAUTION
.
It is recommended that you use only
Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do
not mix with other fluids.
. Using automatic transmission fluid
other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S
ATF or equivalent may cause dete-
rioration in driveability and auto-
matic transmission durability, and
may damage the automatic transmis-
sion. Damage caused by the use of
fluid other than as recommended is
not covered by the INFINITI new
vehicle limited warranty.
Do-it-yourself8-9
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID (ATF)

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 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
5,000 miles (8,000 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 speci-
fied. 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.
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. It is recommended
that you have a damaged windshield re-
paired by an INFINITI retailer, or an INFINITI
Certified Collision Center. To locate a colli-
sion center in your area, refer to http://
collision.infinitiusa.com.
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 scheduled 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) mechan-
ism: On a fairly steep hill, check that your vehicle is held securely with the shift lever in
the P (Park) position without applying any
brakes.
Brake pedal:
Check the pedal for smooth
operation. If the brake pedal suddenly goes
down further than normal, the pedal feels
spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer to
stop, have your vehicle checked immediately.
It is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service. 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
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only
the parking brake applied. If the parking
brake needs adjusted, it is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
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 restraints move up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped)
hold securely in all latched positions.
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 webbing for cuts, fraying,
Maintenance and schedules9-3

9-8Maintenance and schedules
STANDARD MAINTENANCEAbbreviations: I = Inspect and correct or replace as necessary, R = Replace
MAINTENANCE OPERA-
TION
Perform at number of miles,
kilometers or months, which-
ever comes first. Miles ×
1,000 (km ×
1,000)
Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
5
(8) 6 10
(16) 12 15
(24) 18 20
(32) 24 25
(40) 30 30
(48) 36 35
(56) 42 40
(64) 48 45
(72) 54 50
(80) 60 55
(88) 66 60
(96) 72 65
(104) 78 70
(112) 84 75
(120) 90 80
(128) 96 85
(136) 102 90
(144) 108 95
(152) 114 100
(160) 120 105
(168) 126 110
(176) 132 115
(184) 138 120
(192) 144
Air cleaner filter NOTE (1) RR R R
Automatic transmission fluid NOTE (2)
Brake fluid$ RR R R R R
Brake lines and cables IIII I I I II II I
Brake pads and rotors$ IIIIIIIIIIII
Drive belts NOTE (3) I* I* I*I*I* I*I*I* I*
Engine coolant* NOTE (4)
(5)
Engine oil & oil filter NOTE (6) R R R R R R RR R RR R
EVAP vapor lines & Fuel lines I*I* I* I* I* I*
Exhaust system$ II I I I I
Fuel filter NOTE (2)
In-cabin microfilter RRR R R R R R
Intake & exhaust valve clear-
ance NOTE
(7)
Intelligent Key battery IR R R R R R R
Propeller shaft & drive shaft
boots (AWD models)$ IIIIIIIIIIII
Spark plugs NOTE (8) Replace every 105,000 miles (168,000 km)
Steering gear and linkage, axle
and suspension parts$ II I I I I
Stop lamp switch and brake
pedal position switch NOTE (9) I
III I I I II II I
Tire rotation NOTE
(10)
Transfer fluid & differential
gear oil NOTE
(11) IIIIIIIIIIII

10-2Technical and consumer information
The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure
instructed in the “8. Do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Fluid type Capacity (approximate)
Recommended Fluids/Lubricants
Metric
Measure US
Measure Imperial
Measure
Fuel 76 L20 gal 16-5/8 gal

See “Fuel information” (P.10-4).
Engine oil
*1Drain and refill*1: For additional information,
see “Engine oil” (P.8-7). Two-Wheel
Drive (2WD)
model
With oil filter
change
5.3 L 5-5/8 qt 4-5/8 qt


Genuine “NISSAN Motor Oil 0W-20 SN” (or equivalent) is recommended.


If the above motor oil (or engine oil) is not available, a synthetic 0W-20 GF-
5 SN motor oil (or engine oil) may be used. Damage caused by the use of
motor oil (or engine oil) other than as recommended is not covered under
INFINITI’s new vehicle limited warranty. For additional information, see
“Engine oil and oil filter recommendation” (P.10-6).
Without oil filter
change
5.1 L 5-3/8 qt 4-1/2 qt
All-Wheel
Drive (AWD)
model With oil filter
change
5.9 L 6-1/4 qt 5-1/4 qt
Without oil filter
change 5.7 L
6 qt5 qt
Engine coolant Total (with reservoir)
Standard and premium grade 9.3 L 9-7/8 qt 8-1/8 qt


Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent
Total (with reservoir)
Sport grade 10.4 L
11 qt 9-1/8 qt
Reservoir 0.5 L1/2 qt 1/2 qt
Intercooler coolant Total (with reservoir) 3.2 L 3-3/8 qt 2-7/8 qt
Reservoir 0.4 L3/8 qt 3/8 qt
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)
———


Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF or equivalent


INFINITI recommends using Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF (or equivalent)
ONLY in INFINITI automatic transmissions. Do not mix with other fluids.
Using fluids that are not equivalent to Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF may
damage the automatic transmission. Damage caused by the use of fluids
other than as recommended is not covered under the INFINITI’s new
vehicle limited warranty.
Differential gear oil Front
———


Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 or
equivalent conventional (non-synthetic) oil.
Rear ———

Genuine NISSAN HYPOID FLUID·S1 GL-5 75W-80 or equivalent
Transfer fluid
———


Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF or equivalent


INFINITI recommends using Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF (or equivalent)
ONLY in INFINITI transfers. Do not mix with other fluids. Using fluids that
are not equivalent to Genuine NISSAN Matic J ATF may damage the
transfer. Damage caused by the use of fluids other than as recommended is
not covered under the INFINITI’s new vehicle limited warranty.
Brake fluid Refill to the proper oil level according to the
instructions in the “8. Do-it-yourself” section.


Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
*2or equivalent DOT 3*2: Available in mainland U.S.A. through an INFINITI retailer.
Multi-purpose grease — — —

NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FLUIDS/LUBRICANTS

Do not tow a trailer with your
vehicle.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is sometimes called flat towing.
This method is sometimes used when towing
a vehicle behind a recreational vehicle, such
as a motor home.
CAUTION
.Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
. Whenever flat towing your vehicle,
always tow forward, never back-
ward.
. DO NOT tow any Automatic Trans-
mission (AT) vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground (flat towing).
Doing so WILL DAMAGE internal
transmission parts due to lack of
transmission lubrication.
. DO NOT tow any All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) vehicle with any of the wheels
on the ground. Doing so may cause
serious and expensive damage to the
powertrain.
. For emergency towing procedures
refer to “Towing recommended by INFINITI” (P.6-9).
Automatic Transmission
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models:
Do not tow an AWD vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground.
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models:
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dolly
MUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s
drive wheels. Alwaysfollow the dolly man-
ufacturer’s recommendations when using
their product. DOT (Department Of Transportation) Qual-
ity Grades: All passenger car tires must
conform to federal safety requirements in
addition to these grades.
Quality grades can be found where applic-
able on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TREADWEAR
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon actual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road character-
istics and climate.
Technical and consumer information10-19
TOWING A TRAILERUNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING