
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNINGNever drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream
reduces coordination, delays reaction
time and impairs judgment. Driving after
drinking alcohol increases the likeli-
hood of being involved in an accident
injuring yourself and others. Addition-
ally, if you are injured in the accident,
alcohol can increase the severity of the
injury.
INFINITI is committed to safe driving. You
must not drive under the influence of alcohol.
Every year thousands of people are injured or
killed in alcohol related accidents. Although
the local laws vary on what is considered to be
legally intoxicated, the fact is that alcohol
affects all people differently and most people
underestimate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don't mix!
And that's true for drugs too (over the counter,
prescription, and illegal drugs). Don't drive if your ability to operate your vehicle is impaired
by alcohol, drugs, or some other physical
condition.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION On automatic transmission models, the igni-
tion lock is designed so that the key cannot be
turned to LOCK and removed until the selector
lever is moved to the P (Park) position.
When removing the key from the ignition,
make sure the selector lever is in the P (Park)
position.
If the selector lever is not returned to P (Park)
position, the key cannot be moved toward
LOCK.
When the key cannot be turned toward the SSD0083
IGNITION SWITCH
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O Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
O Maintenance items should be checked pe-
riodically, e.g., each time you check engine
oil.
O Check that all windows and lights are clean.
O Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also, check tires for proper
inflation.
O Lock all doors.
O Position seat and adjust head restraints.
O Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
O Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
O Check the operation of warning lights when
key is turned to the ON (3) position. 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Automatic transmission:
Move the selector lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral). (P preferred.)
The starter is designed not to operate if the
selector lever is in one of the driving posi-
tions.
Manual transmission:
Move the shift lever to N (Neutral) position,
and depress the clutch pedal to the floor
while cranking the engine.
The starter is designed not to operate un-
less the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
3. Crank the engine with your foot off the
accelerator pedal by turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails
to run, repeat the above procedure.
O If the engine is very hard to start in ex-
tremely cold weather or when restarting,
depress the accelerator pedal a little (ap-
proximately 1/5 to the floor) and hold it then
crank the engine. Release the key and the
accelerator pedal when the engine starts.
O If the engine is very hard to start because it
is flooded, depress the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it. Crank the
engine for 5 to 6 seconds. After cranking
the engine, release the accelerator pedal.
Crank the engine with your foot off the
accelerator pedal by turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails
to run, repeat the above procedure.
CAUTION Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, other-
wise the starter could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather.BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
Starting and driving
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5 speed automatic transmission The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission con-
trol module to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this trans-
mission. Follow these procedures for maxi-
mum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle After starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal and push the selector lever button
before shifting the selector lever to the R
(Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual
shift mode position. Be sure the vehicle is fully
stopped before attempting to shift the selector
lever.
This automatic transmission model is de-
signed so that the foot brake pedal must be
depressed before shifting from P (Park) to
any drive position while the ignition switch
is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
P (Park) position and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is turned to the LOCK, OFF or ACC position or if the
key is removed from the switch.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the selector lever button to shift into a
driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
WARNING O Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or
manual shift mode. Always depress
the brake pedal until shifting is com-
pleted. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an acci-
dent.
O Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
O On slippery roads, do not downshift.
This may cause a loss of control.
O Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse) while vehicle is moving forward.
Never shift to P (Park) or D (Drive)
while vehicle is moving rearward.
These could cause an accident.
CAUTION When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. The foot
brakes should be used for this purpose.DRIVING THE VEHICLE
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manual shift mode. Shift range can be se-
lected manually.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the
meter. When shifting the selector lever to the
manual shift gate, the position indicator first
displays 4 M
(4th).
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows: 1 M
!
à 2 M
!
à 3 M
!
à 4 M
!
à 5 M
5 M
(5th):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
4 M
(4th):
For driving up or down long slopes where
engine braking would be advantageous.
3 M
(3rd) and 2 M
(2nd):
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on
downhill grades.
1 M
(1st):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
sand or mud, or for maximum engine braking
on steep downhill grades.
O Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 4 M
range. This reduces the fuel economy. O When shifting up, move the selector lever to
the + (up) side. (Shifts to higher range.)
O When shifting down, move the selector
lever to the þ (down) side. (Shifts to lower
range.)
O The transmission will automatically shift the
gears between the 1st and the selected
range. (For example, if you select the 3rd
range, the transmission will shift up or down
between 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears.
O Moving the selector lever rapidly to the
same side twice will shift the ranges in
succession.
O When canceling the manual shift mode,
return the selector lever to the D position.
The transmission returns to the normal
driving mode.
O In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving performance
and reduces the chance of vehicle dam-
age or loss of control.
O In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may shift up automatically over the
selected range, if the engine is revved
up to the hazardous speed. When the
vehicle speed decreases, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down and shifts to 1st gear before the vehicle
comes to a stop.
Manual shift mode (Coupe) When the selector lever is shifted from D to the
manual shift gate with the vehicle stopped or
while driving, the transmission enters the
manual shift mode. Shift range can be se-
lected manually.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the
meter.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows: M
1 !
à M
2 !
à M
3 !
à M
4 !
à M
5M
5 (5th):
Use this position for all normal forward driving. M
4 (4th):
For driving up or down long slopes where
engine braking would be advantageous. M
3 (3rd) and M
2 (2nd):
Use for hill climbing or engine braking on
downhill grades. M
1 (1st):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
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sand or mud, or for maximum engine braking
on steep downhill grades.
O Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than M
4
range. This reduces the fuel economy.
O When shifting up, move the selector lever to
the + (up) side. (Shifts to higher range.)
O When shifting down, move the selector
lever to the þ (down) side. (Shifts to lower
range.)
O Moving the selector lever to the same side
twice will shift the ranges in succession.
However, if this motion is rapidly done, the
second shifting may not be completed prop-
erly.
O In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down to 1st
gear before the vehicle comes to a stop.
When accelerating again, it is necessary
to shift up to the desired range.
O When canceling the manual shift mode,
return the selector lever to the D position.
The transmission returns to the normal
driving mode.
O In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving performance and reduces the chance of vehicle dam-
age or loss of control.
Accelerator downshift
Ð In D position Ð For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear, de-
pending on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe When the fail-safe operation occurs, the next
time the key is turned to the ON position, the
light will blink for approximately 8 sec-
onds after coming on for 2 seconds. While the
vehicle can be driven under these circum-
stances please note that the gears in the
automatic transmission will be locked in 4th
gear.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, turn the ignition key
OFF and wait for 3 seconds. Then turn the
key back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating con-
dition. If it does not return to its normal
operating condition, have your INFINITI re- tailer check the transmission and repair if
necessary.
Starting and driving
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Automatic transmission model To apply: Fully depress the parking brake
pedal.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal and the
parking brake will be released.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out. Manual transmission model To apply: Pull the lever up.
To release:
1. Firmly apply foot brake.
2. Place the shift lever in the N (Neutral)
position.
3. While pulling up on the lever slightly, push
the button and lower completely.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out. WARNING O Be sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do
so can cause brake failure and lead to
an accident.
O Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
O Do not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully en-
gaged.
O Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the park-
ing brake and cause an accident.SPA1286 PD1001M
PARKING BRAKE
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WARNINGDo not use the cruise control when driv-
ing under the following conditions:
O it is not possible to keep the vehicle
at a set speed.
O in heavy traffic or in traffic that varies
in speed.
O on winding or hilly roads.
O on slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,
etc.).
O in very windy areas.
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle
control and result in an accident.
CAUTIONOn manual transmission models, do not
shift into N (Neutral) without depressing
the clutch pedal when the cruise control
is set. Should this occur, depress the
clutch pedal and turn the main switch off
immediately. Failure to do so may cause engine damage.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE
CONTROL O If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
cancels automatically. The SET indicator
light on the meter panel then blinks to warn
the driver.
O If the engine coolant temperature becomes
excessively high, the cruise control system
will be canceled automatically.
O If the SET indicator light blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have the
system checked by your INFINITI retailer.
O The SET indicator light may blink when the
cruise control main switch is turned on
while pushing the RES/ACCEL, COAST/
SET, or CANCEL switch (located on the
steering wheel). To properly set the cruise
control system, perform the preceding
steps in the order indicated. 1. RESUME or ACCEL switch
2. COAST or SET switch
3. ON/OFF switch
4. CANCEL switch
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS The cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 to 89 MPH (40 to 144 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator
pedal.
To turn on the cruise control, push the main
switch on. The CRUISE indicator light on the
meter panel will come on. SSD0297
CRUISE CONTROL
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To set at cruising speed, accelerate your
vehicle to the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it. (The SET
indicator light will come on.) Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal. Your vehicle will main-
tain the set speed.
O To pass another vehicle, depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle will return to the previ-
ously set speed.
O The vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed, follow either of
these three methods:
a) Push the cancel switch; The SET indicator
light will go out.
b) Tap the brake pedal; The SET indicator
light will go out.
c) Turn the main switch off. Both the CRUISE
indicator and SET indicator lights will go
out.
O If you depress the brake pedal while push-
ing the RES/ACCEL set switch and reset at
the cruising speed, turn the main switch off
once and then turn it on again.
O The cruise control will automatically be can- celled if the vehicle slows down below
approximately 8 MPH (13 km/h).
O Depress the clutch pedal (manual transmis-
sion), or move the selector lever to N (Neu-
tral) position (automatic transmission). The
SET indicator light will go out.
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods:
a) Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the COAST/SET switch.
b) Push and hold the RES/ACCEL set switch.
When the vehicle attains the speed you
desire, release the switch.
c) Push, then quickly release the RES/ACCEL
set switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed will increase by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods:
a) Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve-
hicle attains the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it.
b) Push and hold the COAST/SET switch.
Release the switch when the vehicle slows
down to the desired speed. c) Push, then quickly release the COAST/
SET switch. Each time you do this, the set
speed will decrease by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).
To resume the preset speed, push and re-
lease the RES/ACCEL set switch. The vehicle
will resume the last set cruising speed when
the vehicle speed is over 25 MPH (40 km/h).
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