5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving.............. 5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) .................. 5-2
Three-way catalyst ............................. 5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ......... 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ................... 5-5
Off-road recovery ............................... 5-6
Rapid air pressure loss ......................... 5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .............. 5-7
Push-button ignition switch ........................ 5-7
Operating range for engine start function ......... 5-8
Push-button ignition switch operation ............ 5-8
Steering lock (if so equipped) ................... 5-9
Push-button ignition switch positions ............ 5-9
Emergency engine shut off ...................... 5-9
Intelligent Key battery discharge ................5-10
Before starting the engine .........................5-11
Starting the engine ................................ 5-11
Driving the vehicle ................................ 5-12
Automatic transmission ......................... 5-12
Manual transmission .......................... 5-16
Parking brake .................................... 5-18
Automatic transmission models .................5-18
Manual transmission models ....................5-19
Cruise control ..................................... 5-19Precautions on cruise control
....................5-19
Cruise control operations ......................5-20
Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
(if so equipped) ................................... 5-21
Selecting the vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode ................................. 5-22
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode ........5-22
Precautions on vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode ................................. 5-23
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
operation ..................................... 5-25
Conventional (FIXED SPEED) cruise control
mode ........................................ 5-38
Preview function (for Intelligent Cruise
Control system equipped models) ..............5-42
Break-in schedule ................................ 5-42
Increasing fuel economy .......................... 5-43
Parking/parking on hills .......................... 5-44
Sonar system (if so equipped) .....................5-45
Sonar
indicator ............................... 5-46
Sonar system off switch ....................... 5-47
Power steering ................................... 5-47
Brake system .................................... 5-48
Braking precautions ........................... 5-48
Parking brake break-in......................... 5-48
Brake assist ..................................... 5-49
Brake assist .................................. 5-49
Preview function (Intelligent Cruise Control
system equipped models) ......................5-49
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ..................5-51
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .............5-52
Cold weather driving ............................. 5-54Freeing a frozen door lock
.....................5-54
Antifreeze .................................... 5-54
Battery ....................................... 5-54
Draining of coolant water ......................5-54
Tire equipment ................................ 5-54
Special winter equipment ......................5-54
Driving on snow or ice ......................... 5-54
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ............5-55
MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS
To apply:Pull the parking brake lever up1.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. While pulling up on the parking brake lever slightly, push the button
2and
lower the lever completely
3.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE CONTROL
●If the cruise control system malfunctions, it
will cancel automatically. The SET indicator
on the dot matrix crystal display will then
blink to warn the driver.
● If the engine coolant temperature becomes
excessively high, the cruise control system
will be canceled automatically.
● If the SET indicator blinks, turn the cruise
control main switch off and have the system
checked by your INFINITI retailer.
● The SET indicator may sometimes blink
when the cruise control main switch is
turned ON while pushing the
RESUME/ACCELERATE, SET/COAST or CAN-
CEL switch. To properly set the cruise control
system, perform the steps below in the order
indicated.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driving un-
der the following conditions:
● when it is not possible to keep the vehicle at
a set speed
● in heavy traffic or in traffic that varies in
speed
● on winding or hilly roads
● on slippery roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.)
● in very windy areas
Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle control
and result in an accident.
CAUTION
On manual transmission models, do not shift
into N (Neutral) without depressing the clutch
pedal when the cruise control is set. Should
this occur, depress the clutch pedal and turn
the main switch off immediately. Failure to do
so may cause engine damage.
SPA2110
CRUISE CONTROL
Starting and driving5-19
1. RESUME/ACCELERATE switch
2. SET/COAST switch
3. CANCEL switch
4. MAIN (ON·OFF) switch
CRUISE CONTROL OPERATIONS
The cruise control allows driving at a speed
between 25 to 89 MPH (40 to 144 km/h) without
keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal.
To turn on the cruise control,push the MAIN
switch on. The CRUISE indicator will come on. To set cruising speed,
accelerate your vehicle to
the desired speed, push the SET/COAST switch
and release it. (The CRUISE SET indicator will
come on in the instrument panel.) 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
on winding or hilly roads. If this happens,
drive without the cruise control.
To cancel the preset speed, follow any of these
methods:
a) Push the CANCEL button. The SET indica- tor will go out.
b) Tap the brake pedal. The SET indicator will go out.
c) Move the selector lever to the N (Neutral) position. The SET indicator will go out.
d) Turn the MAIN switch off. Both the CRUISE indicator and SET indicator will go out.
●If you depress the brake pedal while pushing
the RESUME/ACCELERATE or SET/COAST
switch and reset at the cruising speed, the
cruise control will disengage. Turn the MAIN
switch off once and then turn it on again.
● The cruise control will automatically cancel if
the vehicle slows more than 8 MPH (12
km/h) below the set speed.
● If you depress the clutch pedal (Manual
Transmission models) or move the selector
lever to N (Neutral) position (Automatic
Transmission models), the cruise control will
be canceled.
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one of
the following methods:
● Depress the accelerator pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push and
release the SET/COAST switch.
● Push and hold the RESUME/ACCELERATE
switch. When the vehicle attains the speed
you desire, release the switch.
● Push, then quickly release the
RESUME/ACCELERATE switch. Each time you
do this, the set speed will increase by about
1 MPH (1.6 km/h).
SSD0600
5-20Starting and driving
To reset at a slower cruising speed,use one of
the following methods:
● Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the ve-
hicle attains the desired speed, push the
SET/COAST switch and release it.
● Push and hold the SET/COAST switch. Re-
lease the switch when the vehicle slows
down to the desired speed.
● Push, then quickly release the SET/COAST
switch. Each time you do this, the set speed
will decrease by about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h).
To resume the preset speed, push and release
the RESUME/ACCELERATE switch. The vehicle
will resume the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 25 MPH (40 km/h). The Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system au-
tomatically maintains a selected distance from
the vehicle traveling in front of you according to
that vehicle’s speed (up to the set speed), or at
the set speed when the road ahead is clear.
The ICC function can be set to one of two cruise
control modes:
●
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode:
For maintaining a selected distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you
up to the preset speed.
● Conventional (fixed speed) cruise control
mode:
For cruising at a preset speed.WARNING
● Always drive carefully and attentively when
using either cruise control mode. Read and
understand the Owner’s Manual thoroughly
before using the cruise control. To avoid se-
rious injury or death, do not rely on the sys-
tem to prevent accidents or to control the
vehicle’s speed in emergency situations. Do
not use cruise control except in appropriate
road and traffic conditions.
● In the conventional (fixed speed) cruise con-
trol mode, a warning chime will not sound to
warn you if you are too close to the vehicle
ahead. Pay special attention to the distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead
of you or a collision could occur.
INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL (ICC)
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-21
1. Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
2. Conventional (fixed speed) cruise controlmode
Push the MAIN switchAto choose the cruise
control mode between the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance control mode
1and the conventional
(fixed speed) cruise control mode
2.
Always confirm the setting in the Intelligent
Cruise Control system display.
For the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode, see the following description. For the
conventional (fixed speed) cruise control mode,
see page 5-39.
SELECTING THE VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE
DISTANCE CONTROL MODE
To choose the vehicle-to-vehicle distance con-
trol mode
1, quickly push and release the
MAIN switch
A.
Once a control mode is activated, it cannot be
changed to the other cruise control mode. To
change the mode, push the MAIN switch once to
turn the system off. Then push the MAIN switch
again to turn the system back on and select the
desired cruise control mode.
VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE DISTANCE
CONTROL MODE
In the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode,
the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system auto-
matically maintains a selected distance from
the vehicle traveling in front of you according to
that vehicle’s speed (up to the set speed), or at
the set speed when the road ahead is clear.
With ICC, the driver can maintain the same
speed as other vehicles without the constant
need to adjust the set speed as you would with
a normal cruise control system.
SSD0604
5-22Starting and driving
PRECAUTIONS ON VEHICLE-TO-
VEHICLE DISTANCE CONTROL MODE
The system is intended to enhance the opera-
tion of the vehicle when following a vehicle
traveling in the same lane and direction.
If the distance sensor
Adetects a slower
moving vehicle ahead, the system will reduce
the vehicle speed so that your vehicle follows
the vehicle in front at the selected distance.
The system automatically controls the throttle
and applies the brakes (up to 25% of vehicle
braking power) if necessary.
The detection range of the sensor is approxi-
mately 390 ft (120 m) ahead.
WARNING
● This system is only an aid to assist the driver
and is not a collision warning or avoidance
device. It is the driver’s responsibility to stay
alert, drive safely and be in control of the
vehicle at all times.
● The system is primarily intended for use on
straight, dry, open roads with light traffic. It
is not advisable to use the system in city
traffic or congested areas. ●
This system will not adapt automatically to
road conditions. This system should be used
in evenly flowing traffic. Do not use the sys-
tem on roads with sharp curves, or on icy
roads, in heavy rain or in fog.
The distance sensor will not detect under most
conditions:
● Stationary and slow moving vehicles
● Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
● Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
●
Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel lane
This system will not automatically brake the ve-
hicle to a stop.
WARNING
● As there is a performance limit to the dis-
tance control function, never rely solely on
the Intelligent Cruise Control system. This
system does not correct careless, inatten-
tive or absent-minded driving, or overcome
poor visibility in rain, fog, or other bad
weather. Decelerate the vehicle speed by de-
pressing the brake pedal, depending on the
distance to the vehicle ahead and the sur-
rounding circumstances in order to maintain
a safe distance between vehicles.
Type A
SSD0662
Type B
SSD1169
Starting and driving5-23
●Although the brake operation is controlled
by the system, the system does not auto-
matically stop the vehicle. If the vehicle
speed falls below approximately 20 MPH (32
km/h), the Intelligent Cruise Control system
is automatically canceled and a warning
chime sounds. (The brake control is also
canceled.)
● The system may not detect the vehicle in
front of you in certain road or weather condi-
tions. To avoid accidents, never use the In-
telligent Cruise Control system 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) po-
sition, the Intelligent Cruise Control sys-
tem is automatically canceled.
– When strong light (for example, at sun- rise or sunset) is directly shining on the
front of the vehicle
– When rain, snow or dirt adhere to the sys- tem sensor – On steep downhill roads (the vehicle may
go beyond the set vehicle speed and fre-
quent braking may result in overheating
the brakes)
– On repeated uphill and downhill roads
– When traffic conditions make it difficult to keep a proper distance between vehicles
because of frequent acceleration or
deceleration
● 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 dis-
tance from other vehicles using the accelera-
tor pedal. Always stay alert and avoid using
the ICC system when it is not recommended
in this section.
Type A
SSD0662
Type B
SSD1169
5-24Starting and driving