
5 Starting and driving Precautions when starting and driving ...................... 5-2
Exhaust gas (Carbon monoxide).......................... 5-2
Three way catalyst ............................................... 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover .............................. 5-3
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ....................... 5-4
Ignition switch............................................................ 5-4
Automatic transmission ........................................ 5-4
Manual transmission ............................................ 5-5
Key positions ........................................................ 5-6
Infiniti vehicle immobilizer system ....................... 5-6
Before starting the engine ......................................... 5-7
Starting the engine .................................................... 5-7
Driving the vehicle ..................................................... 5-8
Automatic transmission ........................................ 5-8
Manual transmission .......................................... 5-12
Parking brake .......................................................... 5-14
Cruise control .......................................................... 5-15
Precautions on cruise control ............................. 5-15
Cruise control operations ................................... 5-15
Break-in schedule ................................................... 5-17
Increasing fuel economy ......................................... 5-17
Parking/parking on hills ........................................... 5-18
Power steering ........................................................ 5-19
Brake system .......................................................... 5-19 Braking precautions............................................ 5-19
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ........................... 5-20
Vehicle dynamics control (VDC) system................. 5-21
Cold weather driving ............................................... 5-23
Freeing a frozen door lock ................................. 5-23
Anti-freeze .......................................................... 5-23
Battery ................................................................ 5-23
Draining of coolant water ................................... 5-23
Tire equipment ................................................... 5-23
Special winter equipment ................................... 5-23
Driving on snow or ice ....................................... 5-24
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ................. 5-24
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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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LOCK position, proceed as follows to remove
the key:
1. Move the selector lever into the P (Park)
position.
2. Turn the ignition key slightly in the ON
direction.
3. Turn the key toward the LOCK position.
4. Remove the key.
If the key is removed from the ignition switch,
the selector lever cannot be moved from P
(Park) position. The selector lever can be
moved if the ignition switch is in the ON
position and the foot brake pedal is de-
pressed.
There is an OFF position in between LOCK
and ACC, although it does not show on the
lock cylinder. When the ignition is in OFF the
steering wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn counter-
clockwise from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to
the LOCK position. Remove the key. To
unlock the steering wheel, insert the key
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left. WARNING Never remove or turn the key to the
LOCK position while driving. The steer-
ing wheel will lock. This may cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle and
could result in serious vehicle damage
and/or personal injury.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION The switch includes an anti-theft steering lock
device.
The ignition key can only be removed when
the switch is in the LOCK position.
On manual transmission models, to turn the
ignition key to LOCK from ACC or ON, first turn
the key to OFF and turn the key to LOCK while
pushing the key in.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn clockwise
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the key to SSD0082C
Starting and driving
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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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To move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing the
brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the selector lever.
Shifting After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and shift the selector lever from P
(Park) to R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive),
or Manual shift mode position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button. WARNING Apply the parking brake if the selector
lever is in any position while the engine
is not running. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly
or roll away and result in serious per-
sonal injury and/or property damage.
If the key is turned to OFF or ACC for any
reason while the vehicle is in R (Reverse), N
(Neutral), or any D (Drive) position, the key
cannot be turned to LOCK and be removed
from the ignition switch. Move the selector
lever to P (Park) position, then the key can be
turned to LOCK.
P (Park):
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make sure
the vehicle is completely stopped. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the selector
lever button pushed in to move the selector
lever from N (Neutral) or any drive position
to P (Park). Apply the parking brake. When
parking on a hill, apply the parking brake first,
then move the lever to the P (Park) position. CAUTION Use this position only when the vehicle
is completely stopped.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure
the vehicle is completely stopped before se-
lecting R (Reverse). The brake pedal must
be depressed and the selector lever button
pushed in to move the selector lever from P
(Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position to R
(Reverse).
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled
engine while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
Manual shift mode (Sedan) When the selector lever is shifted from D to the
manual shift gate with the vehicle stopped or
while driving, the transmission enters theSSD0240
Starting and driving
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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
5-11
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