2011 INFINITI M sensor

The warning chime may not sound in some
cases when there is a short distance between
vehicles. Some examples are:
●When the vehicles are traveling at the same
speed and the distance between vehicles is
not changing
● When the vehicle ahead is traveling faster
and the distance between vehicles is in-
creasing
● When a vehicle cuts in near your vehicle
The warning chime will not sound when your
vehicle approaches vehicles that are parked or
moving slowly. NOTE:
The approach warning chime may sound and the
system display may blink when the sensor de-
tects some reflectors
Awhich are fitted on ve-
hicles in other lanes or on the side of the road.
This may cause the DCA system to operate inap-
propriately. The sensor may detect these reflec-
tors when the vehicle is driven on winding roads,
hilly roads or when entering or exiting a curve.
The sensor may also detect reflectors on narrow
roads or in road construction zones. In these
cases you will have to manually control the
proper distance ahead of your vehicle. Also, the sensor sensitivity can be affected by
vehicle operation (steering maneuver or driving
position in the lane) or traffic or vehicle condi-
tion (for example, if a vehicle is being driven
with some damage).
SSD0284A
Starting and driving5-71
—
—
01/12/10—pattie


Automatic cancellation
Condition A :
Under the following conditions, the Distance
Control Assist system is automatically can-
celed. The chime will sound and the Distance
Control Assist (DCA) system switch indicator
light will blink. The system will not be able to be
set.
●When the VDC system is turned off
● When the VDC or ABS (including the traction
control system) operates
● When the drive mode select switch is turned
to the SNOW mode ●
When driving into a strong light (i.e., sun-
light)
Action to take :
When the conditions listed above are no longer
present, turn the system off with the dynamic
driver assistance switch. Turn the DCA system
back on to use the system.
Condition B :
When the sensor window is dirty, making it
impossible to detect a vehicle ahead, the DCA
system is automatically canceled.
The chime sounds and the system warning light
(orange) will come on and the “CLEAN SENSOR”
indicator will appear.
Action to take :
If the warning light comes on, park the vehicle
in a safe place, turn the engine off. Clean the
sensor window with a soft cloth and then
perform the settings again.
SSD0996SSD0998
5-72Starting and driving
—
—
01/12/10—pattie


Condition C :
When the DCA system is not operating properly,
the chime sounds and the system warning light
(“CRUISE” orange) will come on.
Action to take :
If the warning light comes on, park the vehicle
in a safe place. Turn the engine off, restart the
engine, and turn on the DCA system again.
If it is not possible to set the system or the
indicator stays on, it may indicate that the sys-
tem is malfunctioning. Although the vehicle is
still driveable under normal conditions, have the
vehicle checked at an INFINITI retailer.
Sensor maintenance
How to handle the sensor :
The sensor for the DCA system is common with
Intelligent Cruise Control and is located below
the front bumper.
To handle the sensor, see “INTELLIGENT CRUISE
CONTROL (ICC) SYSTEM” earlier in this section.The Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system
will warn the driver by the vehicle ahead detec-
tion indicator light and chime when your vehicle
is getting close to the vehicle ahead in the
traveling lane.
The FCW system will function when your vehicle
is driven at speeds of approximately 10 MPH
(15 km/h) and above.
SSD0999
FORWARD COLLISION WARNING (FCW)
SYSTEM (if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-73
—
—
01/12/10—pattie


The FCW system uses the distance sensorA
located below the front bumper to measure the
distance to the vehicle ahead. When the system
judges that your vehicle is getting close to the
vehicle ahead in the travel lane, the vehicle
ahead detection indicator light on the instru-
ment panel blinks and a warning chime sounds.
The FCW system will be turned on/off by push-
ing the warning systems switch. The warning
systems ON indicator light
1on the switch will
illuminate when the system turns on.
PRECAUTIONS ON FCW SYSTEM
WARNING
● The FCW system is intended to warn you be-
fore a collision but will not avoid a collision.
It is the driver’s responsibility to stay alert,
drive safely and be in control of the vehicle at
all times.
● As there is a performance limit, the system
may not provide a warning in certain
conditions.
● The system will not detect the following
objects:
– Pedestrians, animals or obstacles in the roadway
– Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
● The system will not detect another vehicle
under the following conditions:
– When the sensor gets dirty and it is im- possible to detect the distance from the
vehicle ahead.
– When driving into a strong light (i.e., sunlight)
SSD0943
Vehicle ahead detection indicator light
SSD0749
Warning systems switch
SIC4335
5-74Starting and driving
—
—
01/12/10—pattie


●The sensor generally detects the signals re-
turned from the reflectors on a vehicle
ahead. Therefore, the system may not func-
tion properly under the following conditions:
– When the reflectors of the vehicle ahead are positioned high or close to each other
(including a small vehicle such as
motorcycles).
– When the sensor gets dirty or it is impos- sible to detect the distance from the ve-
hicle ahead.
– When the reflectors on the vehicle ahead are missing, damaged or covered.
– When the reflectors of the vehicle ahead are covered with dirt, snow or road spray.
– When visibility is low (such as rain, fog, snow, etc.).
– When snow or road spray from traveling vehicles is splashed.
– When dense exhaust or other smoke (black smoke) from vehicles reduces the
visibility of the sensor.
– When excessively heavy baggage is loaded in the rear seat or the luggage
room of your vehicle. – When abruptly accelerating or
decelerating.
– On a steep downhill slope or on roads with sharp curves.
– When there is a highly reflective object near the vehicle ahead (i.e., being very
close to another vehicle, signboard, etc.)
– When you are towing a trailer.
● Depending on certain road conditions
(curved or beginning of a curve), vehicle con-
ditions (steering position or vehicle posi-
tion), or the preceding vehicle’s conditions
(position in lane, etc.), the system may not
function properly. The system may detect
highly reflective objects such as reflectors,
signs, white markers, and other stationary
objects on the road or near the traveling lane
and provide unnecessary warning.
● The system may not function in offset
conditions.
● The system may not function when the dis-
tance to the vehicle ahead is extremely
close. ●
The system is designed to automatically
check the sensor’s functionality. If the sen-
sor is covered with ice, a transparent or
translucent plastic bag, etc., the system may
not detect them. In these instances the sys-
tem may not be able to warn the driver prop-
erly. Be sure to check and clean the sensor
regularly.
● Excessive noise will interfere with the warn-
ing chime sound, and the chime may not be
heard.
● A sudden appearance of a vehicle in front
(i.e., it abruptly cuts in) may not be detected
and the system may not warn the driver soon
enough.
● The system will be cancelled automatically
with a beep sound and the IBA OFF indicator
light will illuminate under the following
conditions:
– When the sensor window is dirty
– When the system malfunctions
Starting and driving5-75
—
—
01/12/10—pattie


If the IBA OFF indicator lightAilluminates with
a beep sound, pull off the road to a safe
location, stop the vehicle and turn the engine
off. Check to see if the sensor window is dirty.
If the sensor window is dirty, clean it with a soft
cloth and restart the engine. If the sensor
window is not dirty, restart the engine. If the
IBA OFF indicator light continues to illuminate
even if the IBA system is turned on with the IBA
OFF switch
B, have the system checked by an
INFINITI retailer.
To turn on the IBA system, see “INTELLIGENT
BRAKE ASSIST (IBA) SYSTEM” later in this sec-
tion.
FCW system operation
The FCW system will function at speeds of
approximately 10 MPH (15 km/h) and above,
when the system turns on.
The FCW system is automatically turned on
when the engine is started and the warning
systems ON indicator
1illuminates on the
switch. You can turn the FCW system off by
pushing the warning systems switch on the
instrument panel. This switch will turn on and
off the LDW, BSW and FCW systems at the same
time. See “WARNING SYSTEMS SWITCH” in the
“2. Instruments and controls” section for more
details. NOTE:
If you continue to push the warning systems
switch from off to on for over 4 seconds, a chime
will sound. This will change the default status of
the LDW, BSW and FCW systems to OFF so that
these systems will not automatically turn on
when the engine is started. If this procedure is
repeated, the default status will return to ON.
For the sensor maintenance, see “INTELLIGENT
CRUISE CONTROL (ICC) SYSTEM” earlier in this
section.
SSD1000
Warning systems switch
SIC4335
5-76Starting and driving
—
—
01/12/10—pattie


The Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) system warns
the driver by a warning light and chime when
there is a risk of a collision with the vehicle
ahead in the traveling lane and the driver must
take avoidance action immediately. The system
helps reduce the rear-end collision speed by
applying the brakes when the system judges
that the collision cannot be prevented.
The IBA system will function when your vehicle
is driven at speeds of approximately 10 MPH (15
km/h) and above, and when your vehicle is
driven at speeds approximately 10 MPH
(15 km/h) faster than the vehicle ahead.The IBA system uses a distance sensorA
located below the front bumper to measure the
distance to the vehicle ahead. When the system
judges that your vehicle is getting close to the
vehicle ahead in the traveling lane, the vehicle
ahead detection indicator light on the instru-
ment panel blinks and a warning chime sounds.
The IBA system will be turned on/off by pushing
the IBA OFF switch. The IBA OFF indicator light
display will illuminate when the system is
turned off.
PRECAUTIONS ON IBA SYSTEM
WARNING
●
The IBA system is not a collision avoidance
system. It is the driver’s responsibility to
stay alert, drive safely and be in control of
the vehicle at all times.
● As there is a performance limit, the system
may not provide a warning or braking in cer-
tain conditions.
● The system will not detect the following
objects:
– Pedestrians, animals or obstacles in the roadway
– Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
SSD0943
Vehicle ahead detection indicator light
SSD0749
INTELLIGENT BRAKE ASSIST (IBA) SYSTEM
(if so equipped)
Starting and driving5-77
—
—
01/12/10—pattie


●The system will not detect another vehicle
under the following conditions:
– When the sensor gets dirty and it is im- possible to detect the distance from the
vehicle ahead.
– When driving into a strong light (i.e., sunlight)
● The sensor generally detects the signals re-
turned from the reflectors on a vehicle
ahead. Therefore, the system may not func-
tion properly under the following conditions:
– When the reflectors of the vehicle ahead are positioned high or close to each other
(including a small vehicle such as
motorcycles).
– When the sensor gets dirty and it is im- possible to detect the distance from the
vehicle ahead.
– When the reflectors on the vehicle ahead are missing, damaged or covered.
– When the reflectors of the vehicle ahead are covered with dirt, snow or road spray.
– When visibility is low (such as rain, fog, snow, etc.).
– When snow or road spray from traveling vehicles is splashed. – When dense exhaust or other smoke
(black smoke) from vehicles reduces the
visibility of the sensor.
– When excessively heavy baggage is loaded in the rear seat or the luggage
room of your vehicle.
– When abruptly accelerating or decelerating.
– On a steep downhill slope or on roads with sharp curves.
– When there is a highly reflective object near the vehicle ahead (i.e., being very
close to another vehicle, signboard, etc.)
– When you are towing a trailer.
● Depending on certain road conditions
(curved or beginning of a curve), vehicle con-
ditions (steering position or vehicle posi-
tion), or the preceding vehicle’s conditions
(position in lane, etc.), the system may not
function properly. The system may detect
highly reflective objects such as reflectors,
signs, white markers, and other stationary
objects on the road or near the traveling lane
and provide unnecessary warning.
● The system may not function in offset
conditions. ●
The system may not function when the dis-
tance to the vehicle ahead is extremely
close.
5-78Starting and driving
—
—
01/12/10—pattie