automatic transmission INFINITI QX 2011 Owner's Manual

For information about towing your vehicle be-
hind a recreational vehicle (RV), see “FLAT
TOWING” in the “9. Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
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 & Roadside
Assistance Information Booklet (Canada).
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 illus-
trated.
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 neces-
sary to tow the vehicle with the front wheels
raised, always use towing dollies under the
rear wheels.
Two-wheel drive models
SCE0925
In case of emergency6-15

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
Vk56vd engine model ........................... 8-6
Engine cooling system ............................. 8-7
Checking engine coolant level ................... 8-8
Changing engine coolant ........................ 8-8
Engine oil ........................................ 8-9
Checking engine oil level ....................... 8-9
Changing engine oil and filter ................... 8-9
Automatic transmission fluid .......................8-11
Power steering fluid .............................. 8-12
Brake fluid ...................................... 8-12
Brake fluid ................................... 8-13
Window washer fluid ............................. 8-14
Battery .......................................... 8-15
Jump starting ................................. 8-16
Variable voltage control system ...................8-16
Drive belts ....................................... 8-17Spark plugs
..................................... 8-17
Replacing spark plugs ......................... 8-18
Air cleaner ....................................... 8-18
Windshield wiper blades .......................... 8-19
Cleaning ...................................... 8-19
Replacing ..................................... 8-19
Rear window wiper blades ........................8-20
Brakes .......................................... 8-20
Self-adjusting brakes .......................... 8-20
Brake pad wear warning ....................... 8-20
Brake booster ................................. 8-21
Fuses ........................................... 8-21
Engine compartment ........................... 8-22
Passenger compartment ....................... 8-23
Intelligent Key battery replacement ................8-24
Lights ........................................... 8-26
Headlights .................................... 8-27
Exterior

and interior lights ..................... 8-27
Wheels and tires ................................. 8-29
Tire pressure .................................. 8-29
Tire labeling .................................. 8-33
Types of tires ................................. 8-35
Tire chains ................................... 8-35
Changing wheels and tires..................... 8-36

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
restraints/headrests move 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

11. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.
After the operation
1. Install the engine undercover into positionas the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clip out.
b. Hold the engine undercover into position.
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 un- dercover 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. Contact an INFINITI retailer if replacement is
required.
CAUTION
●
Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do
not mix with other fluids.
● Using automatic transmission fluid other
than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF will cause
deterioration in driveability and automatic
transmission durability, and may damage
the automatic transmission, which is not
covered by the INFINITI new vehicle limited
warranty.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-11

The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be a little different. When refilling, follow the procedure instructed in the “8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (Approximate)Recommended specifications
US measure Imp mea- sureLiter
Fuel 26 gal 21-5/8 gal 98.4 See “FUEL RECOMMENDATION” later in this section.
Engine oil*1
Drain and refill With oil filter change 6-7/8 qt 5-3/4 qt 6.5 •Engine oil with API Certification Mark*2, *3
•Viscosity SAE 5W-30
Without oil filter change 6-1/2 qt 5-1/2 qt 6.2
Cooling system With reservoir 15-3/4 qt 13-1/8 qt 14.9 50% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or equivalent
50% Demineralized or distilled water
Automatic transmission fluid ——— Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF*4
Transfer fluid ——— Genuine NISSAN Transfer Fluid for ATX90A transfer*5*6
Front differential gear oil ——— Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 or API GL-5, Viscosity SAE
80W-90*7
Rear differential gear oil ——— Genuine NISSAN differential oil synthetic 75W-90 or API GL-5 synthetic gear oil, Viscosity
SAE 75W-90*8
Power steering fluid (PSF) Refill to the proper oil level according to the
instructions in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section. Genuine NISSAN PSF or equivalent*9
Brake fluid Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*10 or equivalent DOT 3
Suspension fluid ——— Genuine NISSAN Hydraulic Suspension Fluid*11*12
Multi-purpose grease ——— NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant ——— HFC-134a (R-134a)*13
Air conditioning system lubricants ——— NISSAN A/C System Oil Type S or exact equivalent
Window washer fluid ——— Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner & Antifreeze or equivalent
*1: For additional information, see “ENGINE OIL” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section for changing engine oil.
*2: For additional information, see “ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER RECOMMENDATION” later in this section.
*3:INFINITI recommends Genuine NISSAN Ester Engine Oil available at INFINITI retailers.
*4: Using automatic transmission fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF will cause deterioration in driveability and automatic transmission durability, and may damage the automatic transmission, which is not
covered by the INFINITI new vehicle limited warranty.
*5: Using transfer fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Transfer Fluid will damage the transfer, which is not covered by the INFINITI new vehicle limited warranty.
*6: See your INFINITI retailer for recommended transfer fluid.
*7: For hot climates, Viscosity SAE 90 is suitable for ambient temperatures above 32°F (0°C).
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
FUEL/LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information

Temperature conditions can also affect towing.
For example, towing a heavy trailer in high
outside temperatures on graded roads can af-
fect engine performance and cause overheat-
ing. The transmission high fluid temperature
and engine protection mode, which helps re-
duce the chance of transmission and engine
damage, could activate and automatically de-
crease engine power. Vehicle speed may de-
crease under high load. Plan your trip carefully
to account for trailer and vehicle load, weather
and road conditions.
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced engine
power and vehicle speed. The reduced speed
may be lower than other traffic, which could
increase the chance of a collision. Be especially
careful when driving. If the vehicle cannot
maintain a safe driving speed, pull to the side
of the road in a safe area. Allow the engine to
cool and return to normal operation. See “IF
YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section of this manual.
CAUTION
Vehicle damage resulting from improper tow-
ing procedures is not covered by INFINITI
warranties.
Tongue load
When using a weight carrying or a weight
distributing hitch, keep the tongue load be-
tween 10 to 15% of the total trailer load or use
the trailer tongue load specified by the trailer
manufacturer. The tongue load must be within
the maximum tongue load limits shown in the
following “Towing Load/Specification” chart. If
the tongue load becomes excessive, rearrange
cargo to allow for proper tongue load.
STI0542
9-18Technical and consumer information

Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the wheels and
applying the parking brake, transmission dam-
age could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the down-hill side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly release the brake pedal until the blocks
absorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park).
6. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models:
Make sure that the 4WD shift switch is
engaged in the AUTO, 4HI or 4LO position
and the Automatic Transmission (AT) park
warning light is turned off.
7. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer
are clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
● While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descending
a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness and
could cause overheating. Shifting to a lower
gear instead provides “engine braking” and
reduces the need to brake as frequently.
● If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, see “IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS” in the “6. In case of emer-
gency” section.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than nor-
mal circumstances. ●
Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (800 km).
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule in the INFINITI Service
and Maintenance Guide.
● 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.
● 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 ve-
hicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions
allow. This combination will help stabilize
the vehicle.
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering orapplying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the brakes and pull to the side of the road
in a safe area.
9-26Technical and consumer information

3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it isbalanced as described earlier in this sec-
tion.
●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.
● Use the Tow mode or downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear for engine braking
when driving down steep or long hills. This
will help slow the vehicle without applying
the brakes.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
● Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
● INFINITI recommends that the cruise control
not be used while towing a trailer. ●
While towing a trailer, do not use the follow-
ing systems (if so equipped):
– the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) sys- tem
– the Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system
– the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
– the Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
– Intelligent Brake Assist ( IBA) system
● Some states or provinces have specific regu-
lations and speed limits for vehicles that are
towing trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
● Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
● When launching a boat, do not allow the
water level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
● Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, the transmission fluid
should be changed more frequently. For addi-
tional information, see the INFINITI Service and
Maintenance Guide.
TOW mode
Using TOW mode is recommended when pulling
a heavy trailer or hauling a heavy load. Push the
TOW MODE switch to activate tow mode. The
TOW MODE indicator light in the meter illumi-
nates when TOW mode is selected. Push the
TOW MODE switch again to turn TOW mode off.
TOW mode is automatically cancelled when the
ignition switch is placed in the OFF position.
TOW mode includes the following features:
● Grade logic — Adjusts transmission shifts
when pulling a trailer or hauling a load up a
grade.
● Downhill Speed Control (DSC) — automati-
cally downshifts when driving down a grade
with a trailer or heavy load to help control
vehicle speed.
Driving the vehicle in the TOW mode with no
trailer/load or light trailer/light load will not
cause any damage. However, fuel economy may
be reduced and the transmission/engine driv-
ing characteristics may feel unusual.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil should
be replaced and transmission oil/fluid should be
changed more frequently. For additional infor-
mation, see the 9. “Technical and consumer in-
formation” section later in this manual.
Technical and consumer information9-27

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 backward.
● DO NOT tow any automatic transmission ve-
hicle with all four wheels on the ground (flat
towing). Doing so WILL DAMAGE internal
transmission parts due to lack of transmis-
sion lubrication.
● DO NOT tow an Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) ve-
hicle 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” in the
“6. In case of emergency” section of this
manual.
Automatic Transmission
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models :
Do not tow a 4WD 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 manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product. 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
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, 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 characteristics
and climate.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
9-28Technical and consumer information

10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) .......5-97
Adaptive front lighting system (AFS) ....2-40
Advanced air bag system ...........1-55
Aiming control Adaptive front lighting system (AFS) . . 2-40
Headlights ................. 2-39
Air bag system Advanced air bag system .........1-55
Front passenger air bag and status
light ..................... 1-57
Front-seat mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag system ......1-60
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and
rollover supplemental air bag system . . 1-60
Air bag warning labels ............1-63
Air bag warning light ..........1-63, 2-16
Air cleaner housing filter ...........8-18
Air conditioner Advanced Climate Control System
(ACCS) ................... 4-35
Air conditioner service ..........4-40
Air conditioner specification label ....9-12
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations .....4-40, 9-7
Automatic climate control .....4-31, 4-34
In-cabin microfilter ............4-39
Alarm, How to stop alarm
(see vehicle security system) .........2-31
Alcohol, drugs and driving ...........5-8
Antenna .................... 4-82Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
.......5-97
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning
light ....................... 2-11
Appearance care Exterior appearance care ..........7-2
Interior appearance care ..........7-4
Armrest ..................... 1-16
Around View™ Monitor ............4-19
Audible reminders ............... 2-20
Audio operation precautions .........4-40
Audio system ................. 4-40
Steering wheel audio controls ......4-81
Auto closure .................. 3-23
Autolight system ................ 2-37
Automatic Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ....8-11
Climate control ........... 4-31,
4-34
Door locks ..................3-5
Drive positioner .............. 3-30
Driving with automatic transmission . . . 5-15
Moonroof .................. 2-64
Seat positioner .............. 3-30
Average fuel consumption and speed ....2-27
Avoiding collision and rollover ........5-6
B
Back door (See lift gate) ...........3-19
Battery ..................... 8-15
Battery saver system ........2-39, 2-66
Intelligent Key ............... 8-24
Variable voltage control system .....8-16 Before starting the engine
..........5-13
Belts (See drive belts) .............8-17
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system . . . . . . 5-29
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system warning
light ....................... 2-12
Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System . . . 4-96
Booster seats ................. 1-47
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) . ....5-97
Brake booster ............... 8-21
Brake fluid .............. 8-12, 8-13
Brake system ............... 5-94
Parking brake operation .........5-19
Warning light ................ 2-12
Break-in schedule ............... 5-83
Brightness control Display ON/OFF button ...........4-7
Instrument panel .............. 2-41
Bulb check/instrument panel .........2-11
Bulb replacement ............... 8-26
C
Cabin air filter ................. 4-39
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants .................9-2
Car phone or CB radio ............4-95
Cargo floor box ................ 2-60
Cargo light ................... 2-68
Catalytic converter, Three way catalyst ....5-2
CD/CF/USB memory care and cleaning . . . 4-80
Center
multi-function control panel . . ....4-3