2011 INFINITI M Owners Manual

When the VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the
VDC system, the active trace control system is
also turned off.
If the active trace control is not functioning
properly, the IBA OFF indicator light illuminates
in the instrument panel.
RISE-UP AND BUILD-UP
The system gradually adjusts braking power
during normal braking to help provide an en-
hanced brake feel.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns, the
system optimizes the distribution of force to
each of the four wheels depending on the
radius of the turn.
WARNING
●The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain stability but does not pre-
vent accidents due to abrupt steering opera-
tion at high speeds or by careless or danger-
ous driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when driving
and cornering on slippery surfaces and al-
ways drive carefully. ●
The active trace control (if so equipped),
rise-up and build-up and brake force distri-
bution systems may not be effective depend-
ing on the driving condition. Always drive
carefully and attentively.
● Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If
suspension parts such as shock absorbers,
struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bushings
and wheels are not INFINITI recommended
for your vehicle or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly. This could adversely affect vehicle han-
dling performance, and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
● If brake related parts such as brake pads,
rotors and calipers are not INFINITI recom-
mended or are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate properly and
the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
● If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely de-
teriorated, the VDC warning light
may
illuminate. ●
When driving on extremely inclined surfaces
such as higher banked corners, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and the VDC
warning light
may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
● When driving on an unstable surface such as
a turntable, ferry, elevator or ramp, the VDC
warning light
may illuminate. This is
not a malfunction. Restart the engine after
driving onto a stable surface.
● If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI rec-
ommended ones are used, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate.
● The VDC system is not a substitute for winter
tires or tire chains on a snow covered road.
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WARNING
●Never rely solely on the hill start assist sys-
tem to prevent the vehicle from moving back-
ward on a hill. Always drive carefully and
attentively. Depress the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped on a steep hill. Be
especially careful when stopped on a hill on
frozen or muddy roads. Failure to prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards may result in
a loss of control of the vehicle and possible
serious injury or death.
● The hill start assist system is not designed
to hold the vehicle at a standstill on a hill.
Depress the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to roll backwards and may
result in a collision or serious personal
injury.
● The hill start assist system may not prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards on a hill
under all load or road conditions. Always be
prepared to depress the brake pedal to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling backwards. Fail-
ure to do so may result in a collision or seri-
ous personal injury.
The hill start assist system automatically keeps
the brakes applied to help prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards in the time it takes the driver to release the brake pedal and apply the
accelerator when the vehicle is stopped on a
hill.
The hill start assist system will operate auto-
matically under the following conditions:
●
The transmission is shifted to a forward or
reverse gear.
● The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill
by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds. After 2
seconds the vehicle will begin to roll back and
the hill start assist system will stop operating
completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate
when the transmission is shifted to the N
(Neutral) or P (Park) position or on a flat and
level road. The 4 Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) system is an
electronically controlled four-wheel steering
system.
Depending on the vehicle speed and steering
angle, the angles of the front and rear wheels
are adjusted by the 4WAS system to help
improve driving performance.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the 4WAS
function will stop but the ordinary two-wheel
steering system will operate normally. The
“4WAS” warning light will illuminate. If the light
illuminates while you are driving, contact an
INFINITI retailer for repair.
The steering wheel may be slightly turned even
when driving on a straight road due to a
protection mechanism for the 4WAS system.
This is not a malfunction. The steering wheel
will return to the normal position after the
protection mechanism deactivates.
The protection mechanism activates under the
following conditions:
●
The steering wheel is operated forcibly when
it is hard to operate or the tires are blocked
by obstacles.
● The steering wheel is continuously operated
when the vehicle is parked or being driven at
extremely low speed.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM 4 WHEEL ACTIVE STEER (4WAS) SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
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●The steering wheel is forcibly turned beyond
its operation limits.
● The battery voltage is reduced.
Repeated steering maneuvers that may activate
the protection mechanism will damage the
4WAS system.
WARNING
The 4WAS system, although a sophisticated
device, cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving techniques.
Ultimately the responsibility for safety of self
and others rests in the hands of the driver.
Therefore only through attentive and careful
driving methods can the 4WAS system be fully
appreciated and safety optimized.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock becomes
frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the
key hole or use the Intelligent Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check antifreeze to assure proper winter protec-
tion. For additional information, see “ENGINE
COOLING SYSTEM” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For additional
information, see “BATTERY” in the “8. Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see “ENGINE COOLING SYS-
TEM” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be
substantially reduced in snowy and icy condi-
tions. If you operate your vehicle on snowy or
icy roads, INFINITI recommends the use of MUD
& SNOW or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Consult an INFINITI retailer for the tire type,
size, speed rating and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S. states
and Canadian provinces prohibit their use.
Check local, state and provincial laws before
installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded snow
tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be poorer than
that of non-studded snow tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see “TIRE
CHAINS” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
For all-wheel drive
If you install snow tires, they must also be the
same size, brand, construction and tread pat-
tern on all four wheels.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
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SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
●A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
ice and snow from the windows and wiper
blades.
● A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
● A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
● Extra window washer fluid to refill the reser-
voir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
● Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain), very
cold snow or ice can be slick and very hard to
drive on. The vehicle will have much less
traction or “grip” under these conditions.
Try to avoid driving on wet ice until the road
is salted or sanded.
● Whatever the condition, drive with caution.
Accelerate and slow down with care. If accel-
erating or downshifting too fast, the drive
wheels will lose even more traction. ●
Allow more stopping distance under these
conditions. Braking should be started
sooner than on dry pavement.
● Allow greater following distances on slip-
pery roads.
● Watch for slippery spots (glare ice). These
may appear on an otherwise clear road in
shaded areas. If a patch of ice is seen ahead,
brake before reaching it. Try not to brake
while on the ice, and avoid any sudden steer-
ing maneuvers.
● Do not use the cruise control on slippery
roads.
● Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gases un-
der your vehicle. Keep snow clear of the ex-
haust pipe and from around your vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
Engine block heaters are used to assist in cold
temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used when
the outside temperature is 20°F (7°C) or
lower.
To use the engine block heater
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine
block heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-volt AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be plugged in for at least2-4hours, depending on
outside temperatures, to properly warm
the engine coolant. Use an appropriate
timer to turn the engine block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and properly store the cord to keep it away
from moving parts.
WARNING
●Do not use your engine block heater with an
ungrounded electrical system or a
2-pronged adapter. You can be seriously in-
jured by an electrical shock if you use an
ungrounded connection.
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●Disconnect and properly store the engine
block heater cord before starting the engine.
Damage to the cord could result in an electri-
cal shock and can cause serious injury.
● Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged exten-
sion cord rated for at least 10A. Plug the
extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt
(GFI) protected, grounded 110-VAC outlet.
Failure to use the proper extension cord or a
grounded outlet can result in a fire or electri-
cal shock and cause serious personal injury.
This system uses microphones
1located in-
side the vehicle to detect engine booming
sound. The system then automatically produces
a muted engine booming sound through the
speakers
2and woofer3(if so equipped) to
reduce engine booming sound. NOTE:
To operate the active noise control system prop-
erly:
●
Do not cover the speakers or woofer.
● Do not cover the microphones.
SAA3004
ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL
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●Do not change or modify speakers including
the woofer and any audio related parts such
as the amplifier.
● Do not make any modification including
sound deadening or modifications around
the microphones or speakers.
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5-96Starting and driving
MEMO

6 In case of emergency
Roadside assistance program...................... 6-2
Emergency engine shut off ......................... 6-2
Flat tire ........................................... 6-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ......... 6-2
Changing a flat tire ............................. 6-3
Jump starting ..................................... 6-8 Push starting
.................................... 6-10
If your vehicle overheats ........................... 6-11
Towing your vehicle .............................. 6-12
Towing recommended by INFINITI ...............6-13
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) ........6-15
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07/15/10—tbrooks