Page 225 of 344

To set at cruising speed, accelerate your
vehicle to the desired speed, push the
SET/COAST switch and release it. (The
SET indicator light will come on.) Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal. Your
vehicle will maintain the set speed.
O To pass another vehicle, depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release
the pedal, the vehicle will return to
the previously 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 indi-
cator 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
pushing the RESUME/ACCELERATE
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 cancelled if the vehicle slows down
below approximately 8 MPH (13 km/h).
O If you depress the clutch pedal
(manual transmission), or move the
selector lever to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion (automatic transmission), the
cruise control will be canceled.
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one
of the following methods:
a) Depress the accelerator pedal. When
the vehicle reaches the desired speed,
push and release the SET/COAST
switch.
b) Push and hold the RESUME/
ACCELERATE switch. When the vehicle
reaches the speed you desire, release
the switch.
c) Push, then quickly release the
RESUME/ACCELERATE set switch. This
will increase the vehicle speed by
about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h). To reset at a slower cruising speed, use
one of the following methods:
a) Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the
vehicle reaches the desired speed,
push the SET/COAST switch and re-
lease it.
b) Push and hold the SET/COAST switch.
Release the switch when the vehicle
slows down to the desired speed.
c) Push, then quickly release the SET/
COAST switch. This will decrease the
vehicle speed by about 1 MPH (1.6
km/h).
To resume the preset speed, push and re-
lease the RESUME/ACCELERATE switch.
The vehicle will resume the last set cruis-
ing speed when the vehicle speed is over
25 MPH (40 km/h).
Starting and driving
5-21
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 226 of 344

CAUTIONDuring the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km),
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and ensure
the future reliability and economy of your
new vehicle. Failure to follow these recom-
mendations may result in shortened engine
life and reduced engine performance.
O Avoid driving for long periods at con-
stant speed, either fast or slow. Do
not run the engine over 4,000 rpm.
O Do not accelerate at full throttle in any
gear.
O Avoid quick starts.
O Avoid hard braking as much as pos-
sible.
O Do not tow a trailer or haul a heavy
load for the first 500 miles (800 km). O Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Main-
tain cruising speeds with a constant
accelerator position.
O Drive at moderate speeds on the high-
way. Driving at high speed will lower
fuel economy.
O Avoid unnecessary stopping and brak-
ing. Maintain a safe distance behind
other vehicles.
O Use a proper gear range which suits
road conditions. On level roads, shift
into high gear as soon as possible.
O Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
O Keep your engine tuned up.
O Follow the recommended periodic
maintenance schedule.
O Keep the tires inflated at the correct
pressure. Low pressure will increase
tire wear and waste fuel.
O Keep the front wheels in correct align-
ment. Improper alignment will cause
not only tire wear but also lower fuel
economy.
O Air conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only
when necessary. O When cruising at highway speeds, it is
more economical to use the air condi-
tioner and leave the windows closed
to reduce drag.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
5-22 Starting and driving
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 227 of 344

The full-time all-wheel drive (AWD) system
automatically changes the driving mode. ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) WARNING
LIGHT The AWD warning light is located on the
instrument panel.
The AWD warning light comes on when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON po-
sition. It turns off soon after the engine is
started.
If any malfunction occurs in the AWD sys-
tem while the engine is running, the
warning light will come on.
The warning light may blink rapidly (about
twice per second) while trying to free a
stuck vehicle due to high power train oil
temperature. The driving mode may
change to 2 wheel drive. If the warning
light blinks rapidly during operation, stop
the vehicle with the engine idling in a
safe place immediately. Then if the light
goes off after a while, you can continue
driving.
A large difference between the diameters
of front and rear wheels will make the
warning light blink slowly (about once per
two seconds). Pull off the road in a safe
area, and idle the engine. Check that all
tire sizes are the same, tire pressure is
correct and tires are not worn. If the warning light is blinking after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an INFINITI dealer as soon as
possible.
WARNING Do not attempt to test an AWD equipped vehicle
with two wheels on a two wheel dynamometer
and the other two wheels raised. Doing so may
result in transmission damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury.
CAUTION O Do not operate the engine on a free roller
when any of the wheels are raised.
O If the warning light comes on while
driving there may be a malfunction in the
AWD system. Reduce the vehicle speed
and have your vehicle checked by an
INFINITI dealer as soon as possible.
O Never drive on dry hard surface roads in
the SNOW mode, as this will over load
the power train and may cause a serious
malfunction.SSD0336AALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) (if so equipped)
Starting and driving
5-23
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 228 of 344
O If the warning light remains on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an INFINITI dealer as soon as
possible.
O The power train may be damaged if you
continue driving with the warning light
blinking rapidly.
WARNING O Do not stop or park the vehicle over flam-
mable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite and
cause a fire.
O Never leave the engine running while the
vehicle is unattended.
O Never leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. O Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park).
Failure to do so could cause the vehicle
to move unexpectedly or roll away and
result in an accident.
O Make sure the shift lever has been
pushed as far forward as it can go and
cannot be moved without depressing the
button at the end of the lever. SD1006MA
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
5-24 Starting and driving
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 229 of 344

1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Automatic transmission models:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the R (Reverse)
position. When parking on an uphill
grade, place the shift lever in the 1
(Low gear) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from
rolling into the street when parked on
a sloping drive way, it is a good prac-
tice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
O HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
q 1
Turn the wheels into the curb and
move the vehicle forward until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb.
O HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
q 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:
q 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 switch to the LOCK
position and remove the key. The power assisted steering uses a hy-
draulic pump, driven by the engine, to as-
sist 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, especially 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 steer-
ing will not work. Steering will be much
harder to operate.POWER STEERING
Starting and driving
5-25
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 230 of 344

BRAKING PRECAUTIONS The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunc-
tions, you will still have braking ability at
two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brake
The brake booster aids braking by using
engine vacuum. If the engine stops, you
can stop the vehicle by depressing the
brake pedal. However, greater foot pres-
sure on the brake pedal will be required
to stop the vehicle and the stopping dis-
tance 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 tapping 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.
Parking brake break-in
Break-in the parking brake shoes when-
ever the stopping effect of the parking brake is weakened or whenever the park-
ing brake shoes and/or drums/rotors are
replaced, in order to assure the best
braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual and can be performed by
your INFINITI dealer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will cause overheating
of the brakes, increases wear on the
brakes and pads, and reduces gas
mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent
the brakes from overheating, reduce
speed and downshift to a lower gear be-
fore going down a slope or long grade.
Overheated brakes may reduce braking
performance and could result in loss of
vehicle control.
WARNING O While driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel- erating 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 (ABS) controls
the brakes so the wheels will not lock when
braking abruptly or when braking on slip-
pery surfaces. The system detects the rota-
tion 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 control and helps to mini-
mize swerving and spinning on slippery sur-
faces.
Using the system Depress the brake pedal and hold it
down.BRAKE SYSTEM
5-26 Starting and driving
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 231 of 344

WARNINGDo not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Normal operation The ABS will not operate at speeds below
3 to 6 MPH (5 to 10 km/h) to stop the ve-
hicle. (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 re-
leases hydraulic pressure (like pumping
the brakes very quickly). While the actua-
tor is working, you may feel a pulsation in
the brake pedal and hear a noise or vibra-
tion from the actuator under the hood.
This is normal and indicates that the ABS
is working properly. However, the ABS op-
eration may indicate that road conditions
are hazardous and extra care is required
while driving.
Self-test feature The anti-lock brake system consists of
electronic sensors, electric pumps, and
hydraulic solenoids controlled by a com- puter. The computer has a built-in diag-
nostic feature that tests the system each
time you start the engine and move the
vehicle at a low speed in forward or re-
verse. 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 ABS off and turns on the
ABS warning light in the instrument
panel. The brake system operates nor-
mally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the light comes on during the self-test
or while driving, take the vehicle to an
INFINITI dealer for repair.
WARNING The anti-lock brake system is a sophisticated
device, but it cannot prevent accidents re-
sulting from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain vehicle con-
trol during braking on slippery surfaces, but
remember that the stopping distance on slip-
pery surfaces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with the anti-lock brake system. 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 self and others rests in the
hands of the driver.
Tire type and condition of tires may also af-
fect braking effectiveness.
O When replacing tires, install the speci-
fied size of tires to the front and rear.
O When installing a spare tire, make sure it
is the proper size and type as specified
on the Tire and Loading Information
label. See ªVehicle identificationº in the
ª9. Technical and consumer informa-
tionº section for the Tire and Loading In-
formation label location.
Starting and driving
5-27
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X
Page 232 of 344

When accelerating or driving on a slippery
surface, the tires may spin or slide. With
the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system, sensors detect these movements
and control the braking and engine
output to help improve vehicle stability.
O When the VDC system is operating,
the ªSLIPº indicator in the instrument
panel blinks.
O When only the Traction Control System
(TCS) portion of the VDC system is op-
erating, the ªSLIPº indicator in the in-
strument panel blinks.
O If the ªSLIPº indicator blinks, the road
conditions are slippery. Be sure to ad-
just your speed and driving to these
conditions. Be sure to drive carefully.
See ªSlip indicator lightº, and ªVe-
hicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off indica-
tor lightº in the ª2. Instruments and
controlsº section.
O Indicator light
If a malfunction occurs in the system,
the ªSLIPº and ªVDC OFFº indicator
lights illuminate in the instrument
panel. As long as these indicators are
illuminated, the VDC system function
is canceled. The VDC system uses an Active Brake Lim-
ited Slip (ABLS) system to improve vehicle
traction. The ABLS system works when
one of the driving wheels is spinning on a
slippery surface. The ABLS system brakes
the spinning wheel which distributes the
driving power to the other driving wheel.
If the vehicle is operated with the VDC
system turned off, all VDC system func-
tions and TCS functions will be turned off.
The ABLS system and ABS will still op-
erate with the VDC system off. When the
ABLS system is activated, the ªSLIPº indi-
cator light will blink and you may hear a
clunk noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an
indication of a malfunction.
While the VDC system is operating, you
may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal and
hear a noise or feel a vibration from under
the hood. This is normal and indicates that
the VDC system is working properly.
The VDC system computer has a built in
diagnostic feature that tests the system
each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle forward or backward. 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 indica-
tion of a malfunction. WARNING O The VDC system is designed to help im-
prove driving stability but does not pre-
vent accidents due to abrupt steering op-
eration at high speeds or due to careless
or dangerous driving. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when
driving and cornering on slippery sur-
faces and always drive carefully.
O If engine related parts such as muffler
are not standard equipment or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the ªVDC OFFº in-
dicator or ªSLIPº indicator or both indi-
cator lights may illuminate.
O Do not modify the vehicle's suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars
and bushings are not INFINITI-approved
or are extremely deteriorated, the VDC
system may not operate properly. This
could adversely affect vehicle handling
performance, and the ªVDC OFFº indi-
cator or ªSLIPº indicator or both indi
cator lights may illuminate.VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
5-28 Starting and driving
w 06.1.4/V35-D/V5.0
X