2011 INFINITI M Owners Manual

WARNING
●Every person who drives or rides in this ve-
hicle should use a seat belt at all times. Chil-
dren should be properly restrained in the
rear seat and, if appropriate, in a child
restraint.
● The seat belt should be properly adjusted to
a snug fit. Failure to do so may reduce the
effectiveness of the entire restraint system
and increase the chance or severity of injury
in an accident. Serious injury or death can
occur if the seat belt is not worn properly.
● Always route the shoulder belt over your
shoulder and across your chest. Never run
the belt behind your back, under your arm or
across your neck. The belt should be away
from your face and neck, but not falling off
your shoulder.
● Position the lap belt as low and snug as
possible AROUND THE HIPS, NOT THE WAIST.
A lap belt worn too high could increase the
risk of internal injuries in an accident.
● Be sure the seat belt tongue is securely fas-
tened to the proper buckle.
● Do not wear the seat belt inside out or
twisted. Doing so may reduce its
effectiveness. ●
Do not allow more than one person to use the
same seat belt.
● Never carry more people in the vehicle than
there are seat belts.
● If the seat belt warning light glows continu-
ously while the ignition is turned ON with all
doors closed and all seat belts fastened, it
may indicate a malfunction in the system.
Have the system checked by an INFINITI
retailer.
● No changes should be made to the seat belt
system. For example, do not modify the seat
belt, add material or install devices that may
change the seat belt routing or tension. Do-
ing so may affect the operation of the seat
belt system. Modifying or tampering with
the seat belt system may result in serious
personal injury.
● Once a seat belt pretensioner has activated,
it cannot be reused and must be replaced
together with the retractor. See an INFINITI
retailer.
● Removal and installation of the pretensioner
seat belt system components should be
done by an INFINITI retailer. ●
All seat belt assemblies, including retractors
and attaching hardware, should be in-
spected after any collision by an INFINITI re-
tailer. INFINITI recommends that all seat belt
assemblies in use during a collision be re-
placed unless the collision was minor and
the belts show no damage and continue to
operate properly.
Seat belt assemblies not in use during a col-
lision should also be inspected and replaced
if either damage or improper operation is
noted.
● All child restraints and attaching hardware
should be inspected after any collision. Al-
ways follow the restraint manufacturer’s in-
spection instructions and replacement rec-
ommendations. The child restraints should
be replaced if they are damaged.
1-12Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
—
—
01/11/10—pattie


PREGNANT WOMEN
INFINITI recommends that pregnant women use
seat belts. The seat belt should be worn snug,
and always position the lap belt as low as
possible around the hips, not the waist, and
place the shoulder belt over your shoulder and
across your chest. Never run the lap/shoulder
belt over your abdominal area. Contact your
doctor for specific recommendations.
INJURED PERSONS
INFINITI recommends that injured persons use
seat belts, depending on the injury. Check with
your doctor for specific recommendations.
PRE-CRASH SEAT BELTS WITH
COMFORT FUNCTION (front seats) (if
so equipped)
The pre-crash seat belt tightens the seat belt
with a motor to help restrain front seat occu-
pants. This helps reduce the risk of injury in a
collision.
The motor retracts the seat belt under the
following emergency conditions:
●During emergency braking
● During sudden steering maneuvers ●
Activation of the Intelligent Brake Assist
(IBA) system. (See “INTELLIGENT BRAKE AS-
SIST (IBA) SYSTEM” in the “5. Starting and
driving” section.)
The pre-crash seat belt will not be active when:
● the seat belt is not fastened
● the vehicle speed is under 10 MPH (15 km/h)
during emergency braking
● the vehicle speed is under 16 MPH (30 km/h)
during sudden steering maneuvers.
The pre-crash seat belt will not be active when
the brake pedal is not depressed except when
sudden steering maneuvers occur and the Intel-
ligent Brake Assist (IBA) system activates.
The motor also retracts the seat belt when the
seat belt is fastened or unfastened. When the
seat belt is fastened, the motor tightens the
seat belt for a snug fit. When the seat belt is
unfastened, the motor retracts the seat belt. If
the seat belt is not fully retracted, the motor
retracts the seat belt when the door is opened.
Always wear your seat belt correctly and sit
upright and well back.
If the motor cannot retract the seat belt when
the seat belt is fastened or unfastened, it may
SSS0016
SSS0014
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-13
—
—
01/13/10—pattie


indicate the pre-crash seat belt system has a
malfunction. Have your INFINITI retailer check
and repair the system.
When the seat belt is retracted repeatedly in a
short period of time, the motor may not be able
to retract the seat belt. After 30 seconds, the
motor reactivates and retracts the seat belt. If
the seat belt still cannot be retracted by the
motor, the pre-crash seat belt system has a
malfunction. Have your INFINITI retailer check
and repair the system.
THREE-POINT TYPE SEAT BELT
WARNING
●Every person who drives or rides in this ve-
hicle should use a seat belt at all times.
● Do not ride in a moving vehicle when the
seatback is reclined. This can be dangerous.
The shoulder belt will not be against your
body. In an accident, you could be thrown
into it and receive neck or other serious inju-
ries. You could also slide under the lap belt
and receive serious internal injuries.
● For the most effective protection when the
vehicle is in motion, the seat should be up-
right. Always sit well back in the seat with
both feet on the floor and adjust the seat belt
properly.
Fastening the seat belts
1. Adjust the seat. (See “SEATS” earlier in this section.)
2. Slowly pull the seat belt out of the retrac- tor and insert the tongue into the buckle
until you hear and feel the latch engage.
●The retractor is designed to lock during a
sudden stop or on impact. A slow pulling mo-
tion permits the belt to move, and allows you
some freedom of movement in the seat.
● If the seat belt cannot be pulled from its fully
retracted position, firmly pull the belt and
release it. Then smoothly pull the belt out of
the retractor.
3. Position the lap belt portion low and snug
on the hips as shown.
4. Pull the shoulder belt portion toward the retractor to take up extra slack. Be sure
the shoulder belt is routed over your
shoulder and across your chest.
The three-point type seat belts have two modes
of operation:
●Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
● Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
The Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) mode
allows the seat belt to extend and retract to
allow the driver and passengers some freedom
SSS0292SSS0290
1-14Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
—
—
01/13/10—tbrooks


of movement in the seat. The ELR locks the seat
belt when the vehicle slows down rapidly or
during impacts.
The Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode
(child restraint mode) locks the seat belt for
child restraint installation.
When the ALR mode is activated the seat belt
cannot be extended again until the seat belt
tongue is detached from the buckle and fully
retracted. The seat belt returns to the ELR mode
after the seat belt fully retracts. For additional
information, see “CHILD RESTRAINTS” later in
this section.
The ALR mode should be used only for child
restraint installation. During normal seat belt
use by an occupant, the ALR mode should not be
activated. If it is activated, it may cause uncom-
fortable seat belt tension.
WARNING
When fastening the seat belts, be certain that
seatbacks are completely secured in the
latched position. If they are not completely se-
cured, passengers may be injured in an acci-
dent or sudden stop.
Unfastening the seat belts
To unfasten the seat belt, push the button on
the buckle. The seat belt automatically retracts.
Checking seat belt operation
Seat belt retractors are designed to lock seat
belt movement by two separate methods:
●When the belt is pulled quickly from the
retractor.
● When the vehicle slows down rapidly. To increase your confidence in the seat belts,
check the operation as follows:
●
Grasp the shoulder belt and pull forward
quickly. The retractor should lock and re-
strict further belt movement.
If the retractor does not lock during this check
or if you have any question about seat belt
operation, see an INFINITI retailer.
SSS0326
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-15
—
—
01/11/10—pattie


Center of rear seat
Selecting correct set of seat belts :
The center seat belt buckle is identified by the
CENTER mark
A. The center seat belt tongue
can be fastened onlyinto the center seat belt
buckle.
Shoulder belt height adjustment
(front seats)
The shoulder belt anchor height should be
adjusted to the position best for you. (See
“PRECAUTIONS ON SEAT BELT USAGE” earlier in
this section.)
To adjust, push the button
A, and then move
the shoulder belt anchor to the desired posi-
tion, so that the belt passes over the center of
the shoulder. The belt should be away from
your face and neck, but not falling off of your
shoulder. Release the adjustment button to lock
the shoulder belt anchor into position.
WARNING
● After adjustment, release the adjustment
button and try to move the shoulder belt
anchor up and down to make sure it is se-
curely fixed in position.
● The shoulder belt anchor height should be
adjusted to the position best for you. Failure
to do so may reduce the effectiveness of the
entire restraint system and increase the
chance or severity of injury in an accident.
SEAT BELT EXTENDERS
If, because of body size or driving position, it is
not possible to properly fit the lap-shoulder belt
and fasten it, an extender that is compatible
with the installed seat belts is available that
can be purchased. The extender adds approxi-
mately 8 in (200 mm) of length and may be
used for either the driver or front passenger
seating position. See an INFINITI retailer for
assistance with purchasing an extender if an
extender is required.
SSS1084SSS0294A
1-16Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
—
—
01/11/10—pattie


WARNING
●Only INFINITI seat belt extenders, made by
the same company which made the original
equipment seat belts, should be used with
the INFINITI seat belts.
● Adults and children who can use the stan-
dard seat belt should not use an extender.
Such unnecessary use could result in seri-
ous personal injury in the event of an
accident.
● Never use seat belt extenders to install child
restraints. If the child restraint is not se-
cured properly, the child could be seriously
injured in a collision or a sudden stop.
SEAT BELT MAINTENANCE
● To clean the seat belt webbing, apply a mild
soap solution or any solution recommended
for cleaning upholstery or carpets. Then,
wipe with a cloth and allow the seat belts to
dry in the shade. Do not allow the seat belts
to retract until they are completely dry.
● If dirt builds up in the shoulder belt guide of
the seat belt anchors, the seat belts may
retract slowly. Wipe the shoulder belt guide
with a clean, dry cloth.
● Periodically check to see that the seat belt
and the metal components such as buckles,
tongues, retractors, flexible wires and an-
chors work properly. If loose parts, deterio-
ration, cuts or other damage on the webbing
is found, the entire seat belt assembly
should be replaced. Children need adults to help protect them.
They need to be properly restrained.
In addition to the general information in this
manual, child safety information is available
from many other sources, including doctors,
teachers, government traffic safety offices, and
community organizations. Every child is differ-
ent, so be sure to learn the best way to trans-
port your child.
There are three basic types of child restraint
systems:
●
Rear-facing child restraint
● Forward-facing child restraint
● Booster seat
The proper restraint depends on the child’s
size. Generally, infants up to about 1 year and
less than 20 lbs (9 kg) should be placed in
rear-facing child restraints. Forward-facing child
restraints are available for children who out-
grow rear-facing child restraints and are at least
1 year old. Booster seats are used to help
position a vehicle lap/shoulder belt on a child
who can no longer use a forward-facing child
restraint.
CHILD SAFETY
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-17
—
—
01/11/10—pattie


WARNING
Infants and children need special protection.
The vehicle’s seat belts may not fit them prop-
erly. The shoulder belt may come too close to
the face or neck. The lap belt may not fit over
their small hip bones. In an accident, an im-
properly fitting seat belt could cause serious or
fatal injury. Always use appropriate child
restraints.
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces or terri-
tories require the use of approved child re-
straints for infants and small children. See
“CHILD RESTRAINTS” later in this section.
A child restraint may be secured in the vehicle
by using either the LATCH (Lower Anchor and
Tethers for CHildren) system or with the vehicle
seat belt. See “CHILD RESTRAINTS” later in this
section for more information.
INFINITI recommends that all pre-teens and chil-
dren be restrained in the rear seat. Studies show
that children are safer when properly restrained
in the rear seat than in the front seat.
This is especially important because your ve-
hicle has a supplemental restraint system (Air
bag system) for the front passenger. See
“SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM” later in
this section.
INFANTS
Infants up to at least 1 year old should be
placed in a rear-facing child restraint. INFINITI
recommends that infants be placed in child
restraints that comply with Federal Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standards or Canadian Motor Ve-
hicle Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint that fits your vehicle and always
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for in-
stallation and use.
SMALL CHILDREN
Children that are over one year old and weigh at
least 20 lbs (9 kg) can be placed in a forward-
facing child restraint. Refer to the manufactur-
er’s instructions for minimum and maximum
weight and height recommendations. INFINITI
recommends that small children be placed in
child restraints that comply with Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards or Canadian Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards. You should choose a
child restraint that fits your vehicle and always
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for in-
stallation and use.
LARGER CHILDREN
Children who are too large for child restraints
should be seated and restrained by the seat
belts which are provided. The seat belt may not
fit properly if the child is less than 4 ft 9 in
(142.5 cm) tall and weighs between 40 lbs (18
kg) and 80 lbs (36 kg). A booster seat should be
used to obtain proper seat belt fit.
INFINITI recommends that a child be placed in a
commercially available booster seat if the
shoulder belt fits close to the face or neck or if
the lap portion of the seat belt goes across the
abdomen. The booster seat should raise the
child so that the shoulder belt is properly
positioned across the top, middle portion of the
shoulder and the lap belt is low on the hips. A
booster seat can only be used in seating posi-
tions that have a three-point type seat belt. The
booster seat should fit the vehicle seat and
have a label certifying that it complies with
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or Ca-
nadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Once
the child has grown so the shoulder belt is no
longer on or near the face and neck, use the
shoulder belt without the booster seat.
1-18Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
—
—
01/11/10—pattie


WARNING
Never let a child stand or kneel on any seat and
do not allow a child in the cargo area. The child
could be seriously injured or killed in a sudden
stop or collision.
PRECAUTIONS ON CHILD RESTRAINTS
WARNING
●Failure to follow the warnings and instruc-
tions for proper use and installation of child
restraints could result in serious injury or
death of a child or other passengers in a
sudden stop or collision:
– The child restraint must be used and in- stalled properly. Always follow all of the
child restraint manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for installation and use.
– Infants and children should never be held on anyone’s lap. Even the strongest adult
cannot resist the forces of a collision.
– Do not put a seat belt around both a child and another passenger.
– INFINITI recommends that all child re- straints be installed in the rear seat. Stud-
ies show that children are safer when
properly restrained in the rear seat than
in the front seat. If you must install a
forward-facing child restraint in the front
seat, see “FORWARD-FACING CHILD RE-
STRAINT INSTALLATION USING THE SEAT
BELTS” later in this section.
SSS0099
SSS0100
CHILD RESTRAINTS
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-19
—
—
01/11/10—pattie