WARNING
●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.
● Never leave the engine running while the
vehicle is unattended.
● Do not leave children unattended inside the
vehicle. They could unknowingly activate
switches or controls. Unattended children
could become involved in serious accidents. ●
Safe parking procedures require that both
the parking brake be applied and the trans-
mission placed into P (Park) for Automatic
Transmission (AT) model or in an appropri-
ate gear for Manual Transmission (MT)
model. Failure to do so could cause the ve-
hicle to move unexpectedly or roll away and
result in an accident.
● Make sure the automatic transmission se-
lector lever has been pushed as far forward
as it can go and cannot be moved without
depressing the foot brake pedal.
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) gear.
When parking on an uphill grade, place the
shift lever in the 1st gear.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling
into the street when parked on a sloping
drive way, it is a good practice to turn the
wheels as illustrated.
●HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
● HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
● HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO CURB:
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.
SD1006MA
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
5-44Starting and driving
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. How-
ever, greater foot pressure on the brake pedal
will be required to stop the vehicle and the
stopping distance will be longer.
When the brake pedal is depressed slowly and
firmly, you may hear a clicking noise and feel a
slight pulsation. This is normal and indicates
that the Brake Assist System is operating.
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 whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weak-
ened or whenever the parking brake shoes
and/or drums/rotors are replaced, in order to
assure the best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle ser-
vice manual and can be performed by an
INFINITI retailer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will cause overheating of the
brakes, wearing out the brake and pads faster
and reduce gas mileage.
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.
WARNING
●While driving on a slippery surface, be care-
ful when braking, accelerating or downshift-
ing. Abrupt braking or accelerating could
cause the wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
● 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.
BRAKE SYSTEM
5-48Starting and driving
This vehicle does not have a spare tire. The
emergency tire puncture repair kit (Emergency
Tire Sealant) is supplied with the vehicle in-
stead of a spare tire. It can be used to tempo-
rarily repair minor tire punctures.
If possible, have the vehicle towed to a facility
that can repair or replace the flat tire. Using the
emergency tire puncture repair kit may cause a
malfunction of the tire pressure sensor and
cause the low tire pressure warning light to
illuminate.
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.
CAUTION
●To avoid the emergency tire puncture kit be-
ing damaged during storage or use:
– Only use the emergency tire puncture re- pair kit on your vehicle. Do not use it on
other vehicles.
– Only use the kit to inflate the tires of your vehicle and to check the vehicle’s tire
pressure.
– Only plug the compressor into a 12V DC car power point.
– Keep the kit free of water and dirt.
– Do not disassemble or modify the kit. – Do not drop the kit or allow hard impacts
to the kit.
● Do not use the emergency tire puncture re-
pair kit under the following conditions. Con-
tact an INFINITI retailer or professional road
assistance.
– when the sealant has passed its expira- tion date (shown on the label attached to
the bottle)
– when the cut or the puncture is approxi- mately 0.16 in (4 mm) or longer
– when the tire sidewall is damaged
– when the vehicle has been driven with extremely low tire pressure
– when the tire has come off the inside or the outside of the wheel.
– when the tire wheel is damaged
– when two or more tires are flat
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking brake. 4.
Automatic Transmission models:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual Transmission models:
Move the shift lever to the R (Reverse)
position.
5. Turn off the engine.
6. Raise the hood to warn other traffic and to
signal professional road assistance per-
sonnel that you need assistance.
7. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place, away from
traffic and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
Make sure the parking brake is securely ap-
plied and the manual transmission is shifted
into R (Reverse) or the automatic transmission
into P (Park).
●Never repair tires when the vehicle is on a
slope, ice or slippery areas. This is
hazardous.
● Never repair tires if oncoming traffic is close
to your vehicle. Wait for professional road
assistance.
6-4In case of emergency
3. Park on a level surface and apply theparking brake.
4. Automatic Transmission model:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual Transmission model:
Move the shift lever to the R (Reverse)
position.
5. Turn off the engine.
6. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and
to signal professional road assistance
personnel that you need assistance.
7. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place, away from
traffic and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
●Make sure the parking brake is securely ap-
plied and the manual transmission is shifted
into R (Reverse), or the automatic transmis-
sion into P (Park).
●
Never change tires when the vehicle is on a
slope, ice or slippery areas. This is hazardous.
● Never change tires if oncoming traffic is
close to your vehicle. Wait for professional
road assistance.
Blocking wheels
Place suitable blocks1at both the front and
back of the wheel diagonally opposite the flat
tire to prevent the vehicle from moving when it
is jacked up.
WARNING
Be sure to block the wheel as the vehicle may
move and result in personal injury.
Getting the spare tire and tools
1. Fold the separator down.
2. Raise the trunk floor board, and then hang it on the edge of the trunk opening
using the hook.
MCE0001ASCE0804
In case of emergency6-9
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below. Failure to
do so could result in damage to the charging
system and cause personal injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
A, position the two vehicles (AandB)
to bring their batteries into close proxim-
ity to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. 3.
Automatic Transmission model:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual Transmission model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion.
4. Switch off all unnecessary electrical sys-
tems (headlights, heater, air conditioner,
etc.).
5. Remove the vent caps on the battery (if so equipped). Cover the battery with a firmly
wrung out moist cloth
Cto reduce explo-
sion hazard. 6. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as
illustrated (
1→2→3→4).
For models with a steering wheel lock
mechanism: If the battery is disconnected or
discharged, the steering wheel will lock and
cannot be turned. Supply power using
jumper cables before pushing the ignition
switch and disengaging the steering lock.
CAUTION
●Always connect positive (+) to positive (+)
and negative () to body ground (as illus-
trated) — not to the battery.
● Make sure the jumper cables do not touch
moving parts in the engine compartment and
that clamps do not contact any other metal.
7. Start the engine of the booster vehicleA
and let it run for a few minutes.
8. Keep the engine speed of the booster vehicle
Aat about 2,000 rpm, and start
the engine of the vehicle
Bbeing jump
started.
SCE0653
In case of emergency6-15
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged for more
than 10 seconds. If the engine does not start
right away, push the ignition switch to the OFF
position and wait 10 seconds before trying
again.
9. After starting your engine, carefully dis-connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable (
4→3→2→1).
10. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped). Be sure to dispose of the cloth used to
cover the vent holes as it may be con-
taminated with corrosive acid.
Do not attempt to start the engine by pushing.
CAUTION
●Automatic transmission models cannot be
push-started or tow-started. Attempting to
do so may cause transmission damage.
● Three way catalyst equipped models should
not be started by pushing since the three
way catalyst may be damaged.
● Never try to start the vehicle by towing it;
when the engine starts, the forward surge
could cause the vehicle to collide with the
tow vehicle.
If needed, Roadside Assistance is available.
Please see your Warranty Information Booklet
or Roadside Assistance I.D. Card for the toll-free
number to call (U.S.) or Warranty & Roadside
Assistance Information Booklet (Canada).
CAUTION
● Do not continue to drive if your vehicle over-
heats. Doing so could cause engine damage
or a vehicle fire.
● To avoid the danger of being scalded, never
remove the radiator cap while the engine is
still hot. When the radiator cap is removed,
pressurized hot water will spurt out, possi-
bly causing serious injury.
● Do not open the hood if steam is coming out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading), or
if you feel a lack of engine power, detect
abnormal noise, etc., take the following steps:
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply the parking brake.
2. Automatic Transmission model:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual Transmission model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral) posi-
tion.
Do not stop the engine.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
6-16In case of emergency
●If you have to tow manual transmission mod-
els with the rear wheels on the ground (if you
do not use towing dollies) or four wheels on
the ground:
– Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion and turn off all accessories.
– Always release the parking brake.
– Move the transmission shift lever to the N (Neutral) position.
– Observe the following restricted towing speeds and distances for manual trans-
mission models only:
●Rear wheels on the ground:
Speed: Below 50 MPH (80 km/h)
Distance: Less than 50 miles (80 km)
● Four wheels on the ground:
Speed: Below 70 MPH (112 km/h)
Distance: Less than 500 miles (800 km)
– If the speed or distance must necessarily be greater, remove the propeller shaft be-
fore towing to prevent damage to the
drivetrain.VEHICLE RECOVERY (Freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
●Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
● Do not spin your tires at high speed. This
could cause them to explode and result in
serious injury. Parts of your vehicle could
also overheat and be damaged.
Pulling a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use a tow strap or other device designed spe-
cifically for vehicle recovery. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the recovery de-
vice.
Front (except for Aerodynamic Package models):1. To remove the hook cover from the bum-
per, insert a suitable tool into the mesh
and take off the removable part.
Front (except for Aerodynamic Package models)
SCE0893
In case of emergency6-19
When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication fre-
quently.
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*: When checking the
tires, make sure no wheel nuts are missing, and
check for any loose wheel nuts. Tighten if
necessary.
Tire rotation*: Tires cannot be rotated, as front
tires are a different size from rear tires and the
direction of wheel rotation is fixed in each tire.
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If nec-
essary, adjust the pressure in all tires, includ-
ing the spare, to the pressure specified. Check
carefully for damage, cuts or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) trans-
mitter components: Replace the TPMS transmit-
ter grommet seal, valve core and cap when the
tires are replaced due to wear or age. Tire, wheel alignment and balance:
If the vehicle
should pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect uneven
or abnormal tire wear, there may be a need for
wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at normal
highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
to “Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in the
INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield: Clean the windshield on a regular
basis. Check the windshield at least every six
months for cracks or other damage. Have a
damaged windshield repaired by a qualified
repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for cracks or
wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing scheduled maintenance, cleaning
the vehicle, etc. Accelerator pedal:
Check the pedal for smooth
operation and make sure the pedal does not
catch or require uneven effort. Keep the floor
mat away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mechanism: On
a fairly steep hill, check that the vehicle is held
securely with the selector lever in the P (Park)
position without applying any brakes.
Brake pedal: Check the pedal for smooth opera-
tion. If the brake pedal suddenly goes down
further than normal, the pedal feels spongy or
the vehicle seems to take longer to stop, see an
INFINITI retailer immediately. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes: Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake opera-
tion regularly. The vehicle should be securely
held on a fairly steep hill with only the parking
brake applied. If the parking brake needs ad-
justed, see an INFINITI retailer.
Seat belts: Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjust-
ers and retractors) operate properly and
smoothly, and are installed securely. Check the
belt webbing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-3