
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.
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Shift lock release If the battery charge is low or discharged, the
selector lever may not be moved from the P
(Park) position even with the brake pedal
depressed.
To move the selector lever, apply the parking
brake, depress the brake pedal, and push the
shift lock release button. The selector lever
can be moved to N (Neutral). This allows the
vehicle to be moved if the battery is dis-
charged.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park),
have your INFINITI retailer check the auto- matic transmission system as soon as pos-
sible.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Shifting To change gears, or when up shifting or down
shifting fully depress the clutch pedal, shift into
the appropriate gear then slowly and smoothly
release the clutch.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd,
3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gear in sequence accord-
ing to the vehicle speed.
To back up, depress the shift lever and then
move it to the R (Reverse) position after stop-
ping the vehicle completely.SSD0298 SSD0287
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O HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
j 2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
O HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
j 3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the
center of the road if it moves.
4. Turn the ignition key to the LOCK position
and remove the key. The power assisted steering is designed to
use a hydraulic pump, driven by the engine, to
assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, espe-
cially in sharp turns or at low speeds.
WARNING If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for the
steering will not work. Steering will be
much harder to operate. BRAKING PRECAUTIONS The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brake
The brake booster aids braking by using en-
gine vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop
the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal.
However, greater foot pressure on the brake
pedal will be required to stop the vehicle and
the stopping distance will be longer.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result,
your braking distance will be longer and the
vehicle may pull to one side during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to
heat-up the brakes. Do this until the brakes
return to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at
high speeds until the brakes function correctly.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This overheats the brakes, in-
creases wear on the brake linings and pads,
and reduces gas mileage.POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
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To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result
in loss of vehicle control.
WARNINGO While driving on a slippery surface,
be careful when braking, accelerating
or downshifting. Abrupt braking or
accelerating could cause the wheels
to skid and result in an accident.
O If the engine is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) The anti-lock brake system controls the brakes
at each wheel so the wheels will not lock when
braking abruptly or when braking on slippery
surfaces. The system detects the rotation
speed at each wheel and varies the brake fluid
pressure to prevent each wheel from locking
and sliding. By preventing wheel lockup, the
system helps the driver maintain steering con- trol and helps to minimize swerving and spin-
ning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
WARNING Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Normal operation The anti-lock brake system will not operate at
speeds below 3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h) to
completely stop the vehicle. (The speeds will
vary according to road conditions.) When the
anti-lock system senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
(under the hood) rapidly applies and releases
hydraulic pressure (like pumping the brakes
very quickly). While the actuator is working,
you may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from the actuator
under the hood. This is normal and indicates
that the anti-lock system is working properly.
However, the pulsation may indicate that road conditions are hazardous and extra care is
required while driving.
Self-test feature The anti-lock brake system consists of elec-
tronic sensors, electric pumps, and hydraulic
solenoids controlled by a computer. The com-
puter has a built-in diagnostic feature that tests
the system each time you start the engine and
move the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of any malfunction. If the computer
senses any malfunction, it switches the anti-
lock brake system OFF and turns on the ABS
warning light in the dashboard. The brake
system will then behave normally, but without
anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self check, or
while you are driving, you should take your
vehicle to your INFINITI retailer for repair at
your earliest convenience.
WARNING The anti-lock brake system is a sophis-
ticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
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cidents resulting from careless or dan-
gerous driving techniques. It can help
maintain vehicle control during braking
on slippery surfaces, but remember that
the stopping distance on slippery sur-
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces, even with the anti-lock sys-
tem. Stopping distances may also be
longer on rough, gravel or snow covered
roads, or if you are using tire chains.
Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the responsibility for safety of yourself
and others rests in the hands of the
driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may also
affect braking effectiveness.
O When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
O When installing a spare tire, make
sure it is the proper size and type as
specified on the tire placard. See ªVe-
hicle identificationº in the ª10. Tech-
nical and consumer informationº sec- tion for tire placard location. When driving on slippery surfaces or suddenly
avoiding obstacles on roads, the vehicle might
swerve or slip. With the vehicle dynamics
control (VDC) system, sensors detect these
movements and control the braking and en-
gine output to help improve vehicle stability
while driving.
O When the vehicle dynamics control system
is operating, the slip indicator in the instru-
ment panel blinks.
O When only the traction control system por-
tion of the vehicle dynamics control system
is operating, the slip indicator will also blink.
O If the slip indicator blinks, the vehicle is
under slippery conditions. Be sure to drive
carefully. See ªSlip indicator lightº, and ªVe-
hicle dynamics control off indicator lightº in
the ª2. Instruments and controlsº section.
O Indicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
SLIP and indicator lights come on in
the meter panel.
As long as these warning lights are on, the
traction control function is canceled.
The VDC system uses a Brake Limited Slip
Differential (LSD) system to improve vehicle
traction. The brake LSD system works when
one of the driving wheels is spinning on aVEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL
(VDC) SYSTEM
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FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer or glycerin to it through the key hole. If
the lock becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole.
ANTI-FREEZE In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32ÉF (0ÉC), check
anti-freeze to assure proper winter protection.
For additional information, see ªEngine Cool-
ing Systemº in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº section.
BATTERY If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For additional
information, see ªBatteryº in the ª8. Do-it-
yourselfº section.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER If the vehicle is to be left outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system by open-
ing the drain plug located under the radiator.
Refill before operating the vehicle. See ªEn-
gine cooling systemº in the ª8. Do-it-yourselfº
section for changing engine coolant. TIRE EQUIPMENT 1. SUMMER tires are of a tread design to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your
vehicle on snowy or icy roads, INFINITI
recommends the use of MUD & SNOW or
ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Please consult your INFINITI retailer for the
tire type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some prov-
inces and states prohibit their use. Check
local, state and provincial laws before in-
stalling studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
3. Tire chains may be used if desired. Make
sure they are of proper size for the tires on
your vehicle and are installed according to
the chain manufacturer's suggestions. Use
of tire chains may be prohibited according
to location. Check the local laws before
installing tire chains. When installing tire
chains, make sure they are of proper size
for the tires on your vehicle and are in- stalled according to the chain manufactur-
er's suggestions. Use only SAE Class S
chains. Class ªSº chains are used on ve-
hicles with restricted tire to vehicle clear-
ance. Vehicles that can use Class ªSº
chains are designed to meet the SAE stan-
dard minimum clearances between the tire
and the closest vehicle suspension or body
component required to accommodate the
use of a winter traction device (tire chains
or cables). The minimum clearances are
determined using the factory equipped tire
size. Other types may damage your ve-
hicle. Use chain tensioners when recom-
mended by the tire chain manufacturer to
ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the tire
chain must be secured or removed to pre-
vent the possibility of whipping action dam-
age to the fenders or underbody. If pos-
sible, avoid fully loading your vehicle when
using tire chains. In addition, drive at a
reduced speed. Otherwise, your vehicle
may be damaged and/or vehicle handling
and performance may be adversely af-
fected.
Never install tire chains on a T-type spare
tire. Do not use tire chains on dry roads.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT It is recommended that the following items beCOLD WEATHER DRIVING
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carried in the vehicle during winter:
O a scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
O a sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
O a shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-
drifts.
O extra window washer fluid to refill the res-
ervoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNINGO Wet ice (32ÉF, 0ÉC and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have a lot less traction or grip under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.
O Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shifting too fast, the drive wheels will lose even more traction.
O Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
O Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
O Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while
actually on the ice, and avoid any
sudden steering maneuvers.
O Do not use cruise control on slippery
roads.
O Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped) An engine block heater to assist extreme cold
temperature starting is available through your
INFINITI retailer. WARNING Do not use your heater with an un-
grounded electrical system or two-
pronged (cheater) adapters. You can be
injured by an electrical shock if you use
an ungrounded connection.
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Blocking wheels Place suitable blocks at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat
tire to prevent the vehicle from rolling when it is
jacked up.
WARNINGBe sure to block the wheel as the vehicle
may move and could cause personal
injury. Getting the spare tire and tools Remove jacking tools 1 and spare tire 2 from
the storage area located inside the trunk as
illustrated.
If spacers are equipped, remove them before
removing the spare tire.MCE0001 SCE0382A
SCE0383A
In case of emergency
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