1. Roof rack (P. 2-46)
2. Rear window defroster (P. 2-24)
3. Glass hatch (P. 3-22)
4. Rear window washer (P.2-23)
5. Glass hatch release (P. 3-22)
6. Rearview monitor (P.4-18)
7. Towing/Trailer hitch (if so equipped)(P.9-16)
8. Lift gate release (P. 3-18)
9. Rear sonar system (P.5-52)
10. Replacing bulbs (P. 8-29)
11. Power vent windows (P.2-50)
12. Fuel-filler cap, fuel recommendation
(P. 3-23, P. 9-3)
13. Fuel-filler door (P. 3-23)
14. Child safety rear door locks (P. 3-6)
See the page number indicated in paren-
theses for operating details.
WII0122
EXTERIOR REAR
0-4Illustrated table of contents
REVIEW COPY—2010 Infiniti QX56 (iwz)
Owners Manual (owners)—USA_English (nna)
02/12/09—diane
WARNING
The front sonar system is a convenience
but it is not a substitute for proper driving.
The front sonar system is active when the ignition
is in the ON position and the shift selector is in a
forward gear position.
When sensors detect obstacles within 3 ft (1.0
m) of the front bumper, a beeping tone is emitted.
The front sonar system can be disabled by push-
ing the OFF switch. When the system is disabled,
the indicator light on the switch will illuminate.
Push the switch again to enable the system. The
indicator light will go off. The system will automatically reset the next time
the ignition switch is turned on.
See “Front sonar system” in the “Starting and
driving” section.
Tow mode should be used when pulling a heavy
trailer or hauling a heavy load. Driving the vehicle
in the tow mode with no trailer/load or light
trailer/light load will not cause any damage. How-
ever, fuel economy may be reduced, and the
transmission/engine driving characteristics may
feel unusual.
Press the tow mode switch to activate tow mode.
The indicator light on the tow mode switch illumi-
nates when tow mode is selected. Press the tow
mode switch again to turn tow mode OFF.
Tow mode is automatically canceled when the
ignition switch is placed in the OFF position.
LIC1182LIC0594
FRONT SONAR SYSTEM OFF
SWITCH (If so equipped) TOW MODE SWITCH
Instruments and controls2-33
REVIEW COPY—2010 Infiniti QX56
(iwz)
Owners Manual (owners)—USA_English (nna)
02/12/09—diane
●Do not fill a portable fuel container in
the vehicle or trailer. Static electricity
can cause an explosion of flammable
liquid, vapor or gas in any vehicle or
trailer. To reduce the risk of serious
injury or death when filling portable fuel
containers:
– Always place the container on the ground when filling.
– Do not use electronic devices when filling.
– Keep the pump nozzle in contact with the container while you are fill-
ing it.
– Use only approved portable fuel con- tainers for flammable liquid.CAUTION
●If fuel is spilled on the vehicle body,
flush it away with water to avoid paint
damage.
● Insert the fuel-filler cap straight into the
fuel-filler tube, then tighten until the
fuel-filler cap clicks. Failure to tighten
the fuel-filler cap properly may cause
the
malfunction indicator light
(MIL) to illuminate. If the
light
illuminates because the fuel-filler cap
is loose or missing, tighten or install the
cap and continue to drive the vehicle.
The
light should turn off after a
few driving trips. If the
light
does not turn off after a few driving
trips, have the vehicle inspected by an
INFINITI dealer.
● For additional information, see the
“Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)” in
the “Instruments and Controls” section
earlier in this manual.
TILT OPERATION
Push the switch1to adjust the steering wheel
up or down
2to the desired position.
WARNING
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving. You could lose control of your
vehicle and cause an accident.
LPD0285
STEERING WHEEL
3-24Pre-driving checks and adjustments
REVIEW COPY—2010 Infiniti QX56 (iwz)
Owners Manual (owners)—USA_English (nna)
02/12/09—diane
WARNING
●Do not leave children or adults who
would normally require the assistance
of others alone in your vehicle. Pets
should also not be left alone. They
could accidentally injure themselves or
others through inadvertent operation of
the vehicle. Also, on hot, sunny days,
temperatures in a closed vehicle could
quickly become high enough to cause
severe or possibly fatal injuries to
people or animals.
● Properly secure all cargo with ropes or
straps to help prevent it from sliding or
shifting. Do not place cargo higher than
the seatbacks. In a sudden stop or col-
lision, unsecured cargo could cause
personal injury.
EXHAUST GAS (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
● Do not breathe exhaust gases; they
contain colorless and odorless carbon
monoxide. Carbon monoxide is danger-
ous. It can cause unconsciousness or
death. ●
If you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all win-
dows fully open, and have the vehicle
inspected immediately.
● Do not run the engine in closed spaces
such as a garage.
● Do not park the vehicle with the engine
running for any extended length of time.
● Keep the lift gate and rear vent windows
closed while driving, otherwise exhaust
gases could be drawn into the passen-
ger compartment. If you must drive with
the lift gate or rear vent windows open,
follow these precautions:
1. Open all the windows.
2. Set the
air recirculation but-
ton to off and the fan control dial to
high to circulate the air.
● If electrical wiring or other cable con-
nections must pass to a trailer through
the seal on the lift gate or the body,
follow the manufacturer’s recommen-
dation to prevent carbon monoxide en-
try into the vehicle.
● The exhaust system and body should be
inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever: a. The vehicle is raised for service.
b. You suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering into the passenger
compartment.
c. You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust system.
d. You have had an accident involving damage to the exhaust system, un-
derbody, or rear of the vehicle.
THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission control
device installed in the exhaust system. Exhaust
gases in the three-way catalyst are burned at
high temperatures to help reduce pollutants.
WARNING
●The exhaust gas and the exhaust sys-
tem are very hot. Keep people, animals
or flammable materials away from the
exhaust system components.
● Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite
and cause a fire.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING
AND DRIVING
5-2Starting and driving
REVIEW COPY—2010 Infiniti QX56 (iwz)
Owners Manual (owners)—USA_English (nna)
02/12/09—debbie
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift selector to P (Park) or N(Neutral) . P (Park) is recommended.
The shift selector cannot be moved out
of P (Park) and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is
turned to the OFF position or if the key
is removed from the ignition switch.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the shift selector is in any of the driving
positions.
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.
● 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 hold it
and then crank the engine. Release the
key and the accelerator 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.
Crank the engine for 5 to 6 seconds. After
cranking the engine, release the accel- erator pedal. Crank the engine
with your
foot off the accelerator pedal by turn-
ing 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, otherwise
the starter could be damaged.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 sec- onds after starting. Do not race the engine
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.
ENGINE PROTECTION MODE
The engine has an engine protection mode to
reduce the chance of damage if the coolant tem-
perature becomes too high (for example, when
climbing steep grades in high temperature with
heavy loads, such as when towing a trailer) .
When the engine temperature reaches a certain
level: ● The engine coolant temperature gauge will
move toward the H position.
● Engine power may be reduced.
● The air conditioning cooling function may be
automatically turned OFF for a short time
(the blower will continue to operate) .
Engine power and, under some conditions, ve-
hicle speed will decrease. Vehicle speed can be
controlled with the accelerator pedal, but the
vehicle may not accelerate at the desired speed.
The transmission will downshift or upshift as it
reaches prescribed shift points. You can also
shift manually.
As driving conditions change and engine coolant
temperature is reduced, vehicle speed can be
increased using the accelerator pedal, and air
conditioning cooling function will automatically
be turned back ON.
STARTING THE ENGINE DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-12Starting and driving
REVIEW COPY—2010 Infiniti QX56(iwz)
Owners Manual (owners)—USA_English (nna)
02/12/09—diane
●The system may not detect the vehicle
in front of you in certain road or weather
conditions. To avoid accidents, never
use the Intelligent Cruise Control sys-
tem under the following conditions:
– On roads where the traffic is heavy or there are sharp curves.
– On slippery road surfaces such as on ice or snow, etc.
– During bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.) (When the windshield wiper is
operated at the low speed (LO) or
high speed (HI) position, the Intelli-
gent Cruise Control system is auto-
matically canceled.)
– When strong light (for example, at sunrise or sunset) is directly shining
on the front of the vehicle.
– When rain, snow or dirt adhere to the system sensor.
– On steep downhill roads (the vehicle may go beyond the set vehicle speed
and frequent barking may result in
overheating the brakes) .
– On repeated uphill and downhill roads. – When traffic conditions make it diffi-
cult to keep a proper distance be-
tween vehicles because of frequent
acceleration or deceleration.
● Do not use the Intelligent Cruise Con-
trol system if you are towing a trailer.
The system may not detect a vehicle
ahead.
● In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly
come into the sensor detection zone
and cause automatic braking. You may
need to control the distance from other
vehicles using the accelerator pedal. Al-
ways stay alert and avoid using the ICC
system when it is not recommended in
this section.
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance mode
operation
Always pay attention to the operation of the ve-
hicle and be ready to manually control the proper
following distance. The Intelligent Cruise Control
(ICC) system may not be able to maintain the
selected distance between vehicles (following
distance) or selected vehicle speed under some
circumstances.
The vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
uses a sensor
1located on the front of the
vehicle to detect vehicles ahead. The sensor
generally detects the signals returned from the
reflectors on a vehicle ahead. Therefore, if the
LSD0105
5-22Starting and driving
REVIEW COPY—2010 Infiniti QX56 (iwz)
Owners Manual (owners)—USA_English (nna)
02/12/09—diane
sensor cannot detect the reflector of the vehicle
ahead, the ICC system may not maintain the
selected distance.
The following are some conditions in which the
sensor cannot detect the signals:● When the reflector is positioned high on the
vehicle (trailer, etc.) .
● When the reflector on the vehicle ahead is
missing, damaged or covered.
● When the reflector is covered with dirt, snow
and road spray.
● When the snow or road spray from other
vehicles reduces the sensor’s visibility.
● When dense exhaust or other smoke (black
smoke) from vehicles reduces the sensor’s
visibility.
● When excessively heavy baggage is loaded
in the rear seat or the cargo area of your
vehicle.
● When your vehicle is towing a trailer, etc.
The ICC system is designed to automatically
check the sensor’s operation. When the sensor is
covered with dirt or obstructions, the system will
automatically be canceled while allowing con-
ventional cruise control to remain operational. If
the sensor is covered with ice, a transparent or translucent vinyl bag, etc., the ICC system may
not detect them. In these instances, the vehicle-
to-vehicle distance control mode may not cancel
and may not be able to maintain the selected
following distance from the vehicle ahead. Be
sure to clean the sensor regularly.
The vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode is
designed to maintain a selected distance and
reduce the speed to match the speed of a slower
vehicle ahead; the system decelerates the ve-
hicle as necessary. However, the ICC system can
only apply up to 25% of the vehicle’s total braking
power. This system should only be used when
traffic conditions allow vehicle speeds to remain
fairly constant or vehicle speeds change gradu-
ally. If a vehicle moves into the traveling lane
ahead or if a vehicle traveling ahead rapidly de-
celerates, the distance between vehicles may
become closer because the ICC system cannot
decelerate the vehicle quickly enough. If this oc-
curs, the ICC system will sound a warning chime
and blink the system display to notify the driver to
take necessary action.
The system will cancel and a warning chime will
sound if the speed falls below approximately 20
MPH (32km/h) . The system will also disengage
below the 20 MPH (32km/h) cut-off speed or
over the maximum set speed.
Refer to “Approach warning” later in this section.The following items are controlled when the se-
lector lever is in any D (Drive) position.
● When there are no vehicles traveling ahead,
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode maintains the speed set by the driver.
The set speed range is between approxi-
mately 25 and 89 MPH (40 and 144 km/h) .
● When there is a vehicle traveling ahead, the
vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
adjusts the speed to maintain the distance
selected by the driver from the vehicle
ahead. The adjusting speed range is be-
tween approximately 20 MPH (32 km/h) and
the set speed.
● When the vehicle traveling ahead has moved
out from its lane of travel, the vehicle-to-
vehicle distance control mode accelerates
and maintains speed up to the set speed.
The ICC system does not control vehicle speed
or warn you when you approach stationary and
slow moving vehicles. You must pay attention to
vehicle operation to maintain proper distance
from vehicles ahead when approaching toll gates
or traffic congestion.
Starting and driving5-23
REVIEW COPY—2010 Infiniti QX56 (iwz)
Owners Manual (owners)—USA_English (nna)
02/12/09—diane
If the indicator stays on, it may indicate that
the Preview Function is malfunctioning
(the brake is operative) . Although the Ve-
hicle is still driveable under normal condi-
tions, have the vehicle checked at an
INFINITI dealer.
Sensor maintenance
The sensor for the Preview Function, is common
with Intelligent Cruise Control and is located
below the front bumper.
To keep the Preview Function operating properly,
be sure to observe the following:● Always keep the sensor clean. Wipe with a
soft cloth carefully so as not to damage
them.
● Do not impact the areas around the sensor.
Do not touch or disassemble the screw lo-
cated on the sensor. Doing so could cause
failure or malfunction. If the sensor installa-
tion part is deformed due to an accident,
contact an INFINITI dealer.
● Do not attach a sticker (including transpar-
ent material) or install an accessory near the
sensor. This could cause failure or malfunc-
tion.
CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) ,
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and en-
sure the future reliability and economy of
your new vehicle. Failure to follow these
recommendations may result in short-
ened engine life and reduced engine
performance.
● Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow, and do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
● Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
● Avoid quick starts.
● Avoid hard braking as much as possible.
● Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) . Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged. ●
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
● Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
● Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a safe distance behind other ve-
hicles.
● Use a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
● Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
● Keep your engine tuned up.
● Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
● Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
● Keep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
● Air conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
5-40Starting and driving
REVIEW COPY—2010 Infiniti QX56(iwz)
Owners Manual (owners)—USA_English (nna)
02/12/09—diane