WARNING
Do not operate the push-button ignition switch
while driving the vehicle except in an emer-
gency. (The engine will stop when the ignition
switch is pushed 3 consecutive times or the
ignition switch is pushed and held for more
than 2 seconds.) If the engine stops while the
vehicle is being driven, this could lead to a
crash and serious injury.
Before operating the push-button ignition
switch, be sure to move the selector lever to the
P (Park) position (for automatic transmission
model) or the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position (for manual transmission model).
INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM
The Intelligent Key system can operate the
ignition switch without it being taken out from
your pocket or purse. The operating environ-
ment and/or conditions may affect the Intelli-
gent Key system operation.
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.)
CAUTION
● Be sure to carry the Intelligent Key with you
when operating the vehicle.
● Never leave the Intelligent Key inside the
vehicle when you leave the vehicle.
● If the vehicle battery is discharged, the igni-
tion switch cannot be switched from the
LOCK position, and if the steering lock (if so
equipped) is engaged, the steering wheel
cannot be moved. Charge the battery as
soon as possible. (See “JUMP STARTING” in
the “6. In case of emergency” section.)
OPERATING RANGE FOR ENGINE
START FUNCTION
The Intelligent Key can only be used for starting
the engine when the Intelligent Key is within the
specified operating range
1.
When the Intelligent Key battery is almost dis-
charged or strong radio waves are present near
the operating location, the Intelligent Key sys-
tem’s operating range becomes narrower and
may not function properly.
If the Intelligent Key is within the operating
range, it is possible for anyone, even someone
who does not carry the Intelligent Key, to push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
SSD0824
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
5-8Starting and driving
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.
VQ37VHR engine: 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.
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.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-12Starting and driving
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.
Shifting
To move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing the
brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the selector lever.
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and shift the selector lever from P
(Park) to R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), DS
(Drive Sport) or Manual shift mode position.
Selector lever
SSD0596
Starting and driving5-13
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector lever is
in any position while the engine is not running.
Failure to do so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
CAUTION
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped
and the transmission is in the P (Park) position.
P (Park) position :
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make sure
the vehicle is completely stopped. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the selector lever
button pushed in to move the selector lever from
the N (Neutral) position or any drive position to
the P (Park) position. Apply the parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
first, then move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
R (Reverse) :
Use this position to back up. Always be sure the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting
the R (Reverse) position. The brake pedal must
be depressed and the selector lever button
pushed in to move the selector lever from the P
(Park) position, the N (Neutral) position or any
drive position to the R (Reverse) position.
N (Neutral) :
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to the N (Neutral) position and restart
a stalled engine while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive) :
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
DS (Drive Sport) mode
Move the selector lever from D (Drive) to the left
into the manual shift gate. The transmission
position indicator in the meter shows “DS”.
In the DS (Drive Sport) mode, the transmission
changes to the “sporty” driving shift operation,
creating a more aggressive acceleration feeling
than the D (Drive) mode and providing a gear
change sensation when the driver accelerates
quickly.
When the driver selects the manual shift mode
using the selector lever (or the paddle shifter)
during the DS (Drive Sport) mode operation, the
driver must move the selector lever from DS
(Drive Sport) to D (Drive) and back again to
re-select the DS (Drive Sport) mode.
5-14Starting and driving
●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. 4. Push down the shift lock
Bas 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 (if so equipped). Now
the vehicle may be moved to the desired loca-
tion.
For models with a steering wheel lock mecha-
nism:
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.
SSD0598
5-16Starting and driving
The sensitivity level of the corner/center sonar
can be adjusted (higher or lower) in the SONAR
setting display. (See “HOW TO USE SETTING
BUTTON” in the “4. Monitor, climate, audio,
phone and voice recognition systems” section
for the “Sonar” settings.)
1Rear view monitor display
ACorner sonar indicator
BCenter sonar indicator
SONAR INDICATOR
With the “Sonar Display” key ON in the “Sonar”
settings, when the corner/center sonar detects
obstacles near the bumper, a tone will sound
and the sonar indicator will appear in the center
display. When the rear view monitor is dis-
played, the sonar indicator will appear in the
upper corner of the display
1.
The sonar indicators
AandBindicate the
position of the object and the distance to the
object with its color and rate of blinking. When an object is detected, the indicator
(green) appears and blinks (the tone sounds
intermittently). When the vehicle moves closer
to the object, the color of the indicator turns
yellow and the rate of blinking increases (the
rate of the tone increases). When the corner of
the vehicle is very close to the object, less than
11.8 in (30 cm) away, the indicator stops blink-
ing and turns red (the tone sounds continu-
ously).
When the rear view monitor is displayed, the
colors of the sonar indicator and the distance
guide lines in the rear view indicate different
distances to the object.
The sonar indicator can be turned off in the
SONAR setting display. (See “HOW TO USE
SETTING BUTTON” in the “4. Monitor, climate,
audio, phone and voice recognition systems”
section for the “Sonar” settings.) When the
sonar indicator is off, only a tone sounds when
the sonar detects obstacles.
SSD0928
5-48Starting and driving
10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) ........5-53
Advanced air bag system ............1-46
Air bag system Advanced air bag system ..........1-46
Front passenger air bag and status
light ..................... .1-47
Front-seat mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag system .......1-50
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag system .......1-50
Air bag warning labels .............1-53
Air bag warning light ...........1-53, 2-15
Air cleaner housing filter ............8-18
Air conditioner Air conditioner service ...........4-37
Air conditioner specification label .....9-14
Air conditioning system refrigerant and
lubricant recommendations ......4-37, 9-7
Automatic climate control .........4-28
In-cabin microfilter .............4-37
Alarm, How to stop alarm (see vehicle
security system) ............... .2-28
Alcohol, drugs and driving ...........5-7
All-wheel drive (AWD) driving safety
precautions ................... .5-7
All-wheel drive (AWD) ............. .5-44
All-wheel drive (AWD) warning light ......2-11
Antenna .................... .4-83
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........5-53Anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning
light
....................... .2-11
Appearance care Exterior appearance care ..........7-2
Interior appearance care ...........7-4
Armrest ..................... .1-12
Ashtrays (See cigarette lighter and
ashtrays) .................... .2-41
Audible reminders ............... .2-17
Audio operation precautions .........4-38
Audio system ................. .4-38
Steering wheel audio controls .......4-82
Autolight system ............... .2-33
Automatic Automatic adjusting function (front
windows) .................. .2-51
Automatic climate
control ......4-29, 4-31
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) . . . .8-12
Climate control .............. .4-28
Door locks .................. .3-5
Drive positioner .............. .3-29
Driving with automatic transmission . . .5-12
Moonroof .................. .2-51
Seat positioner .............. .3-29
Average fuel consumption and speed . . . .2-24
Avoiding collision and rollover .........5-5
B
Battery ..................... .8-14
Battery saver system ............2-34
Intelligent Key ............... .8-24Variable voltage control system
......8-16
Before starting the engine ...........5-11
Belts (See drive belts) .............8-17
Bluetooth hands-free phone system
(models with navigation system) . . . . . . .4-84
Bluetooth hands-free phone system
(models without navigation system) .....4-95
Bluetooth streaming audio ..........4-66
Booster seats ................. .1-36
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) . . . . . .5-53
Brake and clutch fluid ...........8-13
Brake fluid ................. .8-13
Brake system ............... .5-49
Parking brake operation ..........5-18
Warning light ................ .2-11
Break-in schedule ............... .5-43
Brightness control Display ON/OFF button ...........4-7
Instrument panel ............. .2-35
Bulb check/instrument panel .........2-10
Bulb replacement ............... .8-26
C
Cabin air filter ................. .4-37
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants ................. .9-2
Car phone or CB radio .............4-84
Card holder .................. .2-46
Cargo
net retainers .............. .2-48
Catalytic converter, Three way catalyst . . . .5-2