Infiniti Q50 Hybrid (2018 year). Manual — part 22

. Never allow water or other liquids to

come in contact with electronic com-
ponents inside the vehicle as this may
damage them.

Chemicals used for road surface deicing are
extremely corrosive. They accelerate corro-
sion and deterioration of underbody compo-
nents such as the exhaust system, fuel and
brake lines, brake cables, floor pan and
fenders.

In winter, the underbody must be cleaned
periodically.

For additional protection against rust and
corrosion, which may be required in some
areas, it is recommended you consult an
INFINITI retailer.

Appearance and care

7-9

7-10

Appearance and care

MEMO

8 Do-it-yourself

Maintenance precautions. . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Engine compartment check locations . . . . . . . 8-3

VQ35HR engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-3

Engine cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5

Checking engine coolant level . . . . . . . . .. 8-6
Changing engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-7

Inverter cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-7

Checking inverter coolant level . . . . . . . . 8-8
Changing inverter coolant . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9

Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9

Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Changing engine oil and oil filter. . . . . . .. 8-10

Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) . . . . . . . 8-12
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Window washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-13
12-volt battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14

Checking battery fluid level . . . . . . . . . 8-15
Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-15

Spark plugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-15

Replacing spark plugs . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-16

Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-16

Windshield wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-17

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-17
Replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18

Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-18

Self-adjusting brakes . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-18
Brake pad wear warning . . . . . . . . . ... 8-18

Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-19

Engine compartment and trunk . . . . . . ... 8-19
Passenger compartment . . . . . . . . . ... 8-20

Intelligent Key battery replacement . . . . . . .. 8-21
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-24

Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-25
Exterior and interior lights . . . . . . . . . 8-25

Wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28

Tire pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
Tire labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-32
Types of tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 8-34
Tire chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-35
Changing wheels and tires . . . . . . . . . 8-36
Jacking up the vehicle and replacing tires . . 8-39

8-2

Do-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

. This vehicle has high voltage DC and

AC systems as well as a 12-volt
system. DC and AC high voltage is
very dangerous and can cause severe
burns and electric shock that may
result in serious injury or death.

. Never touch, disassemble, remove or

replace the high voltage parts, har-
nesses and their connectors. High
voltage cables are orange. Touching,
disassembling, removing or replacing
those parts and harnesses can cause
severe burns or electric shock that
may result in serious injury or death.

. Never try to remove the service plug

located in the trunk room. The service
plug is used only when the vehicle is
serviced by trained technicians wear-
ing personal protection equipment
and is part of the high voltage
system. Touching the service plug
can cause severe burns or electric

shock that may result in serious injury
or death.

. The INFINITI Direct Response Hy-

brid

®

System uses high voltage up to

408 volts. The system can be hot
while and after starting. Be careful of
both the high voltage and the high
temperature. Obey the caution labels
attached to the vehicle.

. 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.

. The engine can start at any time

without warning when the hybrid
system is in the READY to drive
mode. If you must work with the
hybrid system in the READY to drive
mode, keep your hands, clothing, hair
and tools away from fans, belts and
any other parts that can move.

. 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.

. 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 of
the 12-volt battery before working
near the fan.

. 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 the fuel tank and
the 12-volt battery.

CAUTION

. Do not work under the hood while the

engine is hot. Turn the hybrid system
off and wait until it cools down.

MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS

. 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.

. Never leave the engine or the trans-

mission related component harness
connector disconnected while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.

. Never connect or disconnect the 12-

volt battery or any transistorized
component while the ignition switch
is in the ON position.

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.10-22).)

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.

JVM0249X

VQ35HR ENGINE

To remove the engine compartment cover,
unhook the clips located as illustrated.

Do-it-yourself

8-3

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS

8-4

Do-it-yourself

JVM0294X

1.

Engine oil filler cap

2.

Brake fluid reservoir

3.

Fuse/fusible link holder

4.

Air cleaner

5.

Inverter coolant reservoir

6.

Radiator filler cap

7.

Engine coolant reservoir

8.

Engine oil dipstick

9.

Window washer fluid reservoir
The 12-volt battery is located inside the
trunk.

The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) and 50% water to provide
year-round anti-freeze and coolant protec-
tion. The anti-freeze solution contains rust
and corrosion inhibitors. Additional engine
cooling system additives are not necessary.

WARNING

. Never remove the radiator cap when

the engine is hot. Wait until the
engine and radiator cool down. Ser-
ious burns could be caused by high
pressure fluid escaping from the
radiator. See precautions in “If your
vehicle overheats” (P.6-8) of this
manual.

. The radiator is equipped with a

pressure type radiator cap. To pre-
vent engine damage, use only a
genuine NISSAN radiator cap.

CAUTION

. Never use any cooling system addi-

tives such as radiator sealer. Addi-
tives may clog the cooling system and
cause damage to the engine, trans-

mission and/or cooling system.

. When adding or replacing coolant, be

sure to use only Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)
or equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-
diluted to provide antifreeze protec-
tion to −34°F(−37°C). If additional
freeze protection is needed due to
weather where you operate your
vehicle, add Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) con-
centrate following the directions on
the container. If an equivalent cool-
ant other than Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is
used, follow the coolant manufac-
ture’s instructions to maintain mini-
mum antifreeze protection to −34°F
(−37°C). The use of other types of
coolant solutions other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (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/Cool-
ant (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 “9. Maintenance and schedules”
section of this manual for more de-
tails.

Do-it-yourself

8-5

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM

8-6

Do-it-yourself

JVM0251X

CHECKING ENGINE COOLANT
LEVEL

Models with non-pressurized ra-
diator reservoir tank

Check the coolant level in the reservoir
when the engine is cold. If the coolant level
is below MIN

, open the reservoir tank cap

and add coolant up to the MAX

level. If the

reservoir tank is empty, check the coolant
level in the radiator when the engine is cold.
If there is insufficient coolant in the radiator,
fill the radiator with coolant up to the filler
opening and also add it to the reservoir tank
up to the MAX level

.

Tighten the cap securely after adding engine
coolant.

If the cooling system requires coolant fre-
quently, have it checked. It is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.

JVM0343X

Models with pressurized radiator
reservoir tank

Check the coolant level in the reservoir tank
when the engine is running and after it
reaches normal operating temperature. If
the coolant level is below MIN level

, add

coolant up to the MAX level

. If the

reservoir tank is empty, check the coolant
level in the radiator when the engine is cold.
If there is insufficient coolant in the radiator,
fill the radiator with coolant up to the filler
cap above the radiator upper hose opening
and also add it to the reservoir tank up to the
MAX level

. Put on the filler cap above the

radiator upper hose and with the reservoir
cap open, start the engine. Run the engine

until it reaches normal operating tempera-
ture. Add coolant up to the MAX level

.

Tighten the cap securely after adding engine
coolant.

If the cooling system requires coolant fre-
quently, have it checked. It is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.

CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT

It is recommended that major cooling system
repairs be performed by an INFINITI retailer.
The service procedures can be found in the
appropriate INFINITI Service Manual.

Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance and engine overheat-
ing.

WARNING

. To avoid the danger of being scalded,

never change the coolant when the
engine is hot.

. Never remove the radiator cap when

the engine is hot. Serious burns could
be caused by high pressure fluid
escaping from the radiator.

. Avoid direct skin contact with used

coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner

as soon as possible.

. Keep coolant out of reach of children

and pets.

Engine coolant must be disposed of prop-
erly. Check your local regulations.

The inverter cooling system is filled at the
factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50%
Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/
Coolant (blue) and 50% water to provide
year-round anti-freeze and coolant protec-
tion. The antifreeze solution contains rust
and corrosion inhibitors. Additional inverter
cooling system additives are not necessary.

WARNING

. Never remove the inverter coolant

reservoir cap when the engine and
inverter are hot. Wait until the engine
and inverter cool down. Serious burns
could be caused by high pressure fluid
escaping from the coolant reservoir.

. The inverter coolant reservoir is

equipped with a pressure type cap.
To prevent engine and inverter da-
mage, use only a genuine NISSAN
inverter reservoir cap.

CAUTION

. Never use any additives in the cool-

ant such as radiator sealer in the
cooling system. This may cause da-
mage to electrical equipment such as
the motor and inverter, and also to

Do-it-yourself

8-7

INVERTER COOLING SYSTEM

8-8

Do-it-yourself

engine and transmission.

. When adding or replacing coolant, be

sure to use only Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)
or equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-
diluted to provide antifreeze protec-
tion to −34°F(−37°C). If additional
freeze protection is needed due to
weather where you operate your
vehicle, add Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) con-
centrate following the directions on
the container. If an equivalent cool-
ant other than Genuine NISSAN Long
Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is
used, follow the coolant manufac-
ture’s instructions to maintain mini-
mum antifreeze protection to −34°F
(−37°C). The use of other types of
coolant solutions other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue) or equivalent may damage
the inverter cooling system.

. The life expectancy of the factory-fill

coolant is 125,000 miles (200,000
km) or 15 years. Mixing any other
type of coolant other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Cool-
ant (blue), including Genuine NISSAN
L o n g L i f e A n t i f r e e z e / C o o l a n t
(green), or the use of non-distilled

water will reduce the life expectancy
of the factory-fill coolant. Refer to
the “9. Maintenance and schedules”
section of this manual for more de-
tails.

JVM0326X

CHECKING INVERTER COOLANT
LEVEL

Check the coolant level in the reservoir when
the engine and inverter are cold. If the
coolant level is below the MIN level

, add

coolant to the MAX level

.

If the inverter cooling system frequently
requires coolant, have it checked. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.

CHANGING INVERTER COOLANT

An INFINITI ratailer can change the inverter
coolant. The service procedure can be found
in the INFINITI Service Manual.

Improper servicing can result in inverter
overheating.

WARNING

. To avoid the danger of being scalded,

never change the coolant when the
inverter is hot.

. Never remove the cap when the

inverter is hot. Serious burns could
be caused by high pressure fluid
escaping from the inverter coolant
reservoir.

. Avoid direct skin contact with used

coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.

. Keep coolant out of the reach of

children and pets.

Inverter coolant must be disposed of prop-
erly. Check your local regulations.

SDI2045

CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and

apply the parking brake.

2. Run the engine until it reaches operating

temperature.

3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than 15

minutes for the oil to drain back into the
oil pan.

4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.

Reinsert it all the way.

5. Remove the dipstick again and check the

oil level. It should be within the range

.

If the oil level is below

, remove the oil

filler cap and pour recommended oil
through the opening. Do not overfill

.

6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.

It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the break-
in period, depending on the severity of
operating conditions.

CAUTION

Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insuffi-
cient amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not covered
by warranty.

Do-it-yourself

8-9

ENGINE OIL

8-10

Do-it-yourself

CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND OIL
FILTER

Vehicle set-up

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and

apply the parking brake.

2. Run the engine until it reaches operating

temperature.

3. Turn the engine off and wait more than

15 minutes.

4. Raise and support the vehicle using a

suitable floor jack and safety jack stands.

.

Place the safety jack stands under the

vehicle jack-up points.

.

A suitable adapter should be attached

to the jack stand saddle.

5. Remove the plastic engine undercover.

.

Remove the small plastic clip at the

center point of the undercover.

.

Then remove the other bolts that hold

the undercover in place.

CAUTION

Make sure the correct lifting and sup-
port points are used to avoid vehicle
damage.

SDI2335

2WD models

SDI2047

AWD models

Engine oil and oil filter

1. Place a large drain pan under the drain

plug.

2. Remove the oil filler cap.

3. Remove the drain plug

with a wrench

and completely drain the oil.

CAUTION

Be careful not to burn yourself, as the
engine oil is hot.

.

Waste oil must be disposed of prop-

erly.

.

Check your local regulations.

4. (Perform steps 4 to 7 only when the

engine oil filter change is needed.)

Loosen the oil filter

with an oil filter

wrench. Remove the oil filter by turning it
by hand.

5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting sur-

face with a clean rag.

CAUTION

Be sure to remove any old rubber gasket
remaining on the mounting surface of
the engine. Failure to do so could lead to

engine damage.

6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with

clean engine oil.

7. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a

slight resistance is felt, then tighten
additionally more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:

11 to 15 ft-lb
(14.7 to 20.5 N·m)

8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a

new washer. Securely tighten the drain
plug with a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:

22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N·m)

Do not use excessive force.

9. Refill engine with recommended oil and

install the oil filler cap securely.

CAUTION

The dipstick must be inserted in place to
prevent oil spillage from the dipstick
hole while filling the engine with oil.

See “Capacities and recommended
fluids/lubricants” (P.10-2) for drain and

refill capacity. The drain and refill capa-
city depends on the oil temperature and
drain time. Use these specifications for
reference only. Always use the dipstick
to determine the proper amount of oil in
the engine.

10. Start the engine and check for leakage

around the drain plug and the oil filter.
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.

Do-it-yourself

8-11

8-12

Do-it-yourself

When checking or replacement is required,
we recommend an INFINITI retailer for
servicing.

CAUTION

. It is recommended you use only

Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do
not mix with other fluids.

. Using automatic transmission fluid

(ATF) other than Genuine NISSAN
Matic S ATF may cause deterioration
in driveability and automatic trans-
mission durability, and may damage
the automatic transmission. Damage
caused by the use of fluid other than
as recommended is not covered by
the INFINITI new vehicle limited
warranty.

For further brake fluid information, see
“Capacities and recommended fluids/lubri-
cants” (P.10-2) of this manual.

WARNING

. Use only new fluid from a sealed

container. Old, inferior or contami-
nated fluid may damage the brake
system. The use of improper fluids
can damage the brake system and
affect the vehicle’s stopping ability.

. Clean the filler cap before removing.
. Brake fluid is poisonous and should

be stored carefully in marked con-
tainers out of the reach of children.

CAUTION

Do not spill the fluid on painted surfaces.
This will damage the paint. If fluid is
spilled, wash the surface with water.

JVM0053X

Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the
fluid is below the MIN line

or the brake

warning light comes on, add Genuine
NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT 3 fluid up to the MAX line

.

If fluid must be added frequently, the system
should be checked. It is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FLUID (ATF)

BRAKE FLUID

JVM0253X

WARNING

Antifreeze is poisonous and should be
stored carefully in marked containers
out of the reach of children.

Fill the window washer fluid reservoir per-
iodically. Add window washer fluid when the
low window washer fluid warning appears in
the vehicle information display.

To fill the window washer fluid reservoir, lift
the cap off the reservoir and pour the
window washer fluid into the reservoir
opening.

To check the window washer fluid level, use
your finger to plug the hole

of the cap/

tube assembly, then remove it from the
reservoir. If there is no fluid in the tube,
add fluid.

Add a washer solvent to the washer for
better cleaning. In the winter season, add a
windshield washer antifreeze. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the mixture
ratio.

Refill the reservoir more frequently when
driving conditions require an increased
amount of window washer fluid.

Recommended fluid is Genuine NISSAN
Windshield Washer Concentrate Cleaner &
Antifreeze or equivalent.

CAUTION

. Do not substitute engine anti-freeze

coolant for window washer solution.
This may result in damage to the
paint.

. Do not fill the window washer re-

servoir with washer fluid concen-
trates at full strength. Some methyl
alcohol based washer fluid concen-
trates may permanently stain the
grille if spilled while filling the win-
dow washer reservoir.

. Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates

with water to the manufacturer’s
recommended levels before pouring
the fluid into the window washer
reservoir. Do not use the window
washer reservoir to mix the washer
fluid concentrate and water.

Do-it-yourself

8-13

WINDOW WASHER FLUID

8-14

Do-it-yourself

JVM0295X

The 12-volt battery

is located on the left

hand side of the trunk behind an access
panel.
. Keep the battery surface clean and dry.

Clean the battery with a solution of
baking soda and water.

. Make certain the terminal connections

are clean and securely tightened.

. If the vehicle is not to be used for 30 days

or longer, disconnect the negative (-)
battery terminal cable to prevent dis-
charging it.

NOTE:

Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential 12-volt battery

discharge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electro-

nic accessories that consume 12-volt
battery power when the engine is not
running (Phone chargers, GPS, DVD
players, etc.)

2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or

only driven short distances.

In these cases, the 12-volt battery may
need to be charged to maintain 12-volt
battery health.

WARNING

. Do not expose the 12-volt battery to

flames or electrical sparks. Hydrogen
gas generated by the 12-volt battery
is explosive. Do not allow battery
fluid to contact your skin, eyes,
fabrics or painted surfaces. After
touching a 12-volt battery, do not
touch or rub your eyes. Thoroughly
wash your hands. If the acid contacts
your eyes, skin or clothing, immedi-
ately flush with water for at least 15
minutes and seek medical attention.

. The hybrid vehicle uses a special

battery. If the 12-volt battery needs
to be replaced, use a 12-volt battery
of the same design. Using the wrong

battery can cause hydrogen gas to
build up in the vehicle, which could
lead to an explosion and personal
injury.

. When working on or near a 12-volt

battery, always wear suitable eye
protection and remove all jewelry.

. Battery posts, terminals and related

accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after hand-
ling.

. Keep the 12-volt battery out of the

reach of children.

12-VOLT BATTERY