The ignition switch is equipped with an anti-
theft steering lock device.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a right or left turn
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, shift the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. To unlock the steer-
ing wheel, push the ignition switch. If the steer-
ing lock release malfunction indicator appears
on the dot matrix liquid crystal display, push the
push-button ignition switch again while lightly
turning the steering wheel right and left. (See
“DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY” in the
“2. Instruments and controls” section.)
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged, the
push-button ignition switch cannot be turned
from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for operation are
displayed on the dot matrix liquid crystal dis-
play between the speedometer and tachometer.
(See “DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY” in
the “2. Instruments and controls” section.)
Automatic transmission models
The ignition lock is designed so that the ignition
switch position cannot be switched to LOCK
until the selector lever is moved to the P (Park)
position.When the ignition switch cannot be pushed
toward the LOCK position, proceed as follows:
1. Move the selector lever into the P (Park)
position.
2. Push the ignition switch to the OFF posi- tion. The ignition switch position indicator
will not illuminate.
3. Open the door. The ignition switch will change to the LOCK position.
The selector lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position if the ignition switch is in the ON posi-
tion and the brake pedal is depressed.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)
The ignition switch can only be locked in this
position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed to the ACC position while carrying the
Intelligent Key or with the Intelligent Key in-
serted in the port.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the engine is not
running.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system and
electrical accessories.
OFF
The engine can be turned off without locking
the steering wheel.
The ignition lock is designed so that the ignition
switch cannot be switched to the LOCK position
until the selector lever is moved to the P (Park)
position.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the push-button
ignition switch in ACC or ON positions when the
engine is not running for an extended period.
This can discharge the battery.
Emergency engine shut off
To shut off the engine in an emergency situation
while driving peform the following procedure:
− Rapidly push the push-button ignition switch3 consecutive times, or
− Push and hold the push-button ignition for more than 2 seconds.
Starting and driving5-9
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04/21/10—debbie
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DISCHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is almost
discharged, the guide light
Bof the Intelligent
Key port
Ablinks and the indicator appears on
the dot matrix liquid crystal display. (See “DOT
MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY” in the “2.
Instruments and controls” section.)
In this case, inserting the Intelligent Key into
the port
1allows you to start the engine. Make
sure that the key ring side faces backward as
illustrated. Insert the Intelligent Key in the port
until it is latched and secured.
To remove the Intelligent Key from the port,
push the ignition switch to the OFF position and
pull the Intelligent Key out of the port. NOTE:
The Intelligent Key port does not charge the In-
telligent Key battery. If you see the low battery
indicator in the dot matrix liquid crystal display,
replace the battery as soon as possible. (See
“INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY REPLACEMENT” in
the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion.)
CAUTION
●
Never place anything except the Intelligent
Key in the Intelligent Key port. Doing so may
cause damage to the equipment.
● Make sure the Intelligent Key is in the cor-
rect direction when inserting it to the Intelli-
gent Key port. The engine may not start if it is
in the incorrect direction.
● Remove the Intelligent Key from the Intelli-
gent Key port after the ignition switch is
pushed to the OFF position. ●
Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
● Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid and window washer fluid as
frequently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
● Check that all windows and lights are clean.
● Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
● Lock all doors.
● Position seat and adjust head restraints.
● Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
● Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
● Check the operation of warning lights when
the ignition switch is pushed to the ON
position. (See “WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS
AND AUDIBLE REMINDERS” in the “2. Instru-
ments and controls” section.)
SSD0768
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
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04/21/10—debbie
1. Apply the parking brake.
2.Automatic Transmission (AT) model:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the selector lever is in either of the above
positions.
Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion. Depress the clutch pedal fully to the
floor.
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the clutch pedal is fully depressed.
The Intelligent Key must be carried when op-
erating the ignition switch.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi-
tion. Depress the brake pedal (AT model)
or the clutch pedal (MT model) and push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push and
release the ignition switch while depressing
the brake pedal or clutch pedal (MT model)
with the ignition switch in any position. ●
If the engine is very hard to start in ex-
tremely cold weather or when restarting,
depress the accelerator pedal a little (ap-
proximately 1/3 to the floor) and while hold-
ing, crank the engine. Release the accelera-
tor pedal when the engine starts.
● 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. Push the
ignition switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6 seconds,
stop cranking by pushing the ignition switch
to OFF. After cranking the engine, release the
accelerator pedal. Crank the engine with
your foot off the accelerator pedal by de-
pressing the brake pedal and pushing the
push-button ignition switch to start the en-
gine. 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,
push the ignition switch to OFF and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, otherwise the
starter could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the en-
gine while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather. In cold weather, keep the
engine running for a minimum of 2 - 3
minutes before shutting it off. Starting and
stopping the engine over a short period of
time may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
When racing the engine up to 4,000 rpm or
more under no load condition, the engine
will enter the fuel cut mode.
5. To stop the engine, shift the selector lever
to the P (Park) position (AT model) or
move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position (MT model), and push the igni-
tion switch to the OFF position.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Starting and driving5-11
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04/21/10—debbie
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7 speed automatic transmission
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission con-
trol module to produce maximum efficiency and
smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this transmis-
sion. Follow these procedures for maximum
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 (Re-
verse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), DS (Drive Sport) or
Manual shift mode position. Be sure the vehicle
is fully stopped before attempting to shift the
selector lever.
This automatic transmission model is designed
so that the foot brake pedal must be depressed
before shifting from P (Park) to any drive posi-
tion while the ignition switch position is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of the P
(Park) position and into any of the other gear
positions if the ignition switch is pushed to the
LOCK, OFF or ACC position.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed andpush 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
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal while
shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Re-
verse), D (Drive), DS (Drive Sport) or manual
shift mode. Always depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and have an
accident.
● Cold engine idle speed is high, so use cau-
tion when shifting into a forward or reverse
gear before the engine has warmed up.
● Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse) while
vehicle is moving forward. Never shift to P
(Park), D (Drive) or DS (Drive Sport) while
vehicle is moving rearward. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and have an
accident.
CAUTION
● When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by depressing
the accelerator pedal. The foot brake should
be used for this purpose.
● Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads.
This may cause a loss of control.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
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M6 (6th) andM5 (5th) :
Use this position when driving up long slopes,
or for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.
M4 (4th),M3 (3rd) andM2 (2nd) :
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
M1 (1st) :
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow, or
for maximum engine braking on steep downhill
grades.
● Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 7th
gear. This reduces fuel economy.
● Moving the selector lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion.
● In the manual shift mode, the transmission
may not shift to the selected gear. This helps
maintain driving performance and reduces
the chance of vehicle damage or loss of con-
trol.
When this situation occurs, the Automatic
Transmission (AT) position indicator light (on
the dot matrix liquid crystal display) will
blink and the chime will sound. ●
In the manual shift mode, the transmission
automatically shifts down to 1st gear before
the vehicle comes to a stop. When accelerat-
ing again, it is necessary to shift up to the
desired range.
Accelerator downshift — In D (Drive)
position —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear, depend-
ing on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, note that
the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme conditions,
such as excessive wheel spinning and subse-
quent hard braking, the fail-safe system may be
activated. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this case,
push the ignition switch to the OFF position and
wait for 3 seconds. Then push the ignition switch
back to the ON position. The vehicle should re-
turn to its normal operating condition. If it does
not return to its normal operating condition,
have an INFINITI retailer check the transmission
and repair if necessary.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 de-
pressed and the selector lever button pushed.
To move the selector lever, perform the follow-
ing procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or
LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
Ausing a
suitable tool.
SSD0598
Starting and driving5-15
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04/21/10—debbie
4. Push down the shift lockBas illustrated.
5. Push the selector lever button
Cand
move the selector lever to N (Neutral)
position
Dwhile holding down the shift
lock.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position to
unlock the steering wheel. Now the vehicle may
be moved to the desired location.
If the battery is discharged completely, the
steering wheel cannot be unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel
locked.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park),
have an INFINITI retailer check the automatic
transmission system as soon as possible.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING
● Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads.
This may cause a loss of control.
● Do not over-rev the engine when shifting to a
lower gear. This may cause a loss of control
or engine damage.
CAUTION
● Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal
while driving. This may damage the clutch.
● Fully depress the clutch pedal before shift-
ing to help prevent transmission damage.
● Stop your vehicle completely before shifting
into R (Reverse).
● When the vehicle is stopped for a period of
time, for example at a stop light, shift to N
(Neutral) and release the clutch pedal with
the foot brake applied.
Shifting
To change gears, or when upshifting or down-
shifting, fully depress the clutch pedal, shift
into the appropriate gear, then slowly and
smoothly release the clutch pedal.
This vehicle is equipped with a short throw
shifter manual transmission. To ensure smooth
gear changes, fully depress the clutch pedal
before operating the shift lever. If the clutch
pedal is not fully depressed before the trans-
mission is shifted, a gear noise may be heard.
Transmission damage could occur.
Start the vehicle in 1st gear and shift to 2nd,
3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th gear in sequence accord-
ing to vehicle speed.
SSD0536
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5) Set vehicle speed indicator:Indicates the set vehicle speed.
For Canadian models, the speed is dis-
played in km/h.
6) Intelligent Cruise Control system warn- ing light (orange):
The light comes on if there is a malfunc-
tion in the ICC system.
When the ignition switch is pushed to the ON
position, the indicators come on as illustrated
to check for a burned-out bulb, and it turns off
when the engine is started.Operating vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode
To turn on the cruise control, quickly push and
release the MAIN switch
Aon. The cruise
indicator light, set distance indicator and set
vehicle speed indicator come on and in a
standby state for setting.
SSD0607SSD0608
5-30Starting and driving
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04/29/10—pattie
Operating conventional (fixed speed)
cruise control mode
To turn on the conventional (fixed speed) cruise
control mode,push and hold the MAIN switch
Afor longer than about 1.5 seconds.
When pushing the MAIN switch on, the Intelli-
gent Cruise Control system display and the
CRUISE indicator are displayed on the dot ma-
trix crystal display. After you hold the MAIN
switch on for longer than about 1.5 seconds, the
Intelligent Cruise Control system display goes
out. The CRUISE indicator stays lit. You can now
set your desired cruising speed. Pushing the
MAIN switch again will turn the system com-
pletely off. When the ignition switch is pushed to the OFF
position, the system is also automatically
turned off. To use the Intelligent Cruise Control
again, quickly push and release the MAIN
switch (vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode) or push and hold it (conventional cruise
control mode) again to turn it on.
CAUTION
To avoid accidentally engaging cruise control,
make sure to turn the MAIN switch off when not
using the Intelligent Cruise Control system.
To set cruising speed,accelerate your vehicle to
the desired speed, push the SET/COAST switch
and release it. (The SET indicator will come on in
the display.) Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal. Your vehicle will maintain the set speed.
● To pass another vehicle, depress the accel-
erator pedal. When you release the pedal,
the vehicle will return to the previously set
speed.
● The vehicle may not maintain the set speed
when going up or down steep hills. If this
happens, manually maintain vehicle speed.
To cancel the preset speed, use any of the
following methods:
a) Push the CANCEL button. The SET indica- tor will go out.
SSD0619SSD0620
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