2011 INFINITI QX 4WD

8. Parking brake release warning
This warning appears when the vehicle speed is
above 4 MPH (7 km/h) and the parking brake is
applied.
9. Low fuel warning
This warning appears when the fuel level in the
tank is getting low. Refuel as soon as it is
convenient, preferably before the fuel gauge
reaches the 0 (Empty) position.
There is a small reserve of fuel remaining in the
tank when the fuel gauge reaches the 0 (Empty)
position.
10. Low washer fluid warning
This warning appears when the washer tank
fluid is at a low level. Add washer fluid as
necessary. (See “WINDOW WASHER FLUID” in
the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion.)
11. Door/lift gate open warning
(ignition switch is in the ON position)
This warning appears if any of the doors and/or
the lift gate are open or not closed securely. The
vehicle icon indicates which door or the lift gate
is open on the display.
12. Loose fuel cap warning (if so
equipped)
This warning appears when the fuel-filler cap is
not tightened correctly after the vehicle has
been refueled. (See “FUEL-FILLER CAP” in the
“3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments” sec-
tion.)
13. Check tire pressure warning (if so
equipped)
This warning appears when the low tire pres-
sure warning light in the meter illuminates and
low tire pressure is detected. If this warning
appears, stop the vehicle and adjust the tire
pressure to the recommended COLD tire pres-
sure shown on the Tire and Loading Information
label. (See “Low tire pressure warning light”
earlier in this section and “TIRE PRESSURE
MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)” in the “5. Start-
ing and driving” section.)
14. “TIMER” indicator
This indicator appears when the set “TIMER”
indicator activates. You can set the time for up
to 6 hours. (See “TRIP COMPUTER” later in this
section.)
15. Low outside temperature warning
This warning appears if the outside temperature
is below 37°F (3°C). The warning can be set not
to be displayed. (See “TRIP COMPUTER” later in
this section.)
16. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) shift
indicator (4WD models)
This indicator shows the Four-Wheel Drive
(4WD) driving mode (AUTO, 4HI or 4LO) that is
selected by the 4WD shift switch. (See “INFINITI
ALL-MODE 4WD” in the “5. Starting and driv-
ing” section.)
17. Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
system MAIN switch indicator (if so
equipped)
The indicator is displayed when the Intelligent
Cruise Control (ICC) system main switch is
pushed. When the main switch is pushed again,
the indicator disappears. While the main switch
indicator is displayed, the ICC system is opera-
tional. (See “INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL
(ICC) SYSTEM” in the “5. Starting and driving”
section.)
2-24Instruments and controls

Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
(if so equipped).................................. 5-62
Precautions on distance control assist
system ....................................... 5-63
Distance control assist operation ...............5-64
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-75
Precautions on FCW system ....................5-76
Intelligent brake assist (IBA) system
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-80
Precautions on IBA system .....................5-80
Break-in schedule ................................ 5-83
Increasing fuel economy .......................... 5-83
INFINITI all-mode 4wd (if so equipped)............5-84
INFINITI all-mode 4wd system................. 5-84
4wd shift switch .............................. 5-88
4wd shift indicator ............................ 5-89
4wd warning light ............................. 5-89
Hill start assist system ........................... 5-91
Parking/parking on hills .......................... 5-92
Tow mode ....................................... 5-93Snow mode
...................................... 5-93
Power steering ................................... 5-94
Brake system .................................... 5-94
Braking precautions ........................... 5-94
Parking brake break-in ......................... 5-94
Brake assist ..................................... 5-95
Brake assist .................................. 5-95
Preview function (Intelligent Cruise Control
system equipped models) ......................5-95
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .................5-97
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .............5-98
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF switch ......5-100
Cold weather driving ............................. 5-101
Freeing a frozen door lock .....................5-101
Antifreeze .................................... 5-101
Battery ....................................... 5-101
Draining

of coolant water ...................... 5-101
Tire equipment ................................ 5-101
Special winter equipment ......................5-101
Driving on snow or ice ......................... 5-101
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ...........5-102

4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe loca-tion off the road and away from traffic if
possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and either contact a roadside emergency ser-
vice to change the tire or see “CHANGING
A FLAT TIRE” in the “6. In case of emer-
gency” section of this Owner’s Manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream reduces co-
ordination, delays reaction time and impairs
judgement. Driving after drinking alcohol in-
creases the likelihood of being involved in an
accident injuring yourself and others. Addition-
ally, if you are injured in an accident, alcohol
can increase the severity of the injury. INFINITI is committed to safe driving. However,
you must choose not to drive under the influ-
ence of alcohol. Every year thousands of people
are injured or killed in alcohol-related acci-
dents. Although the local laws vary on what is
considered to be legally intoxicated, the fact is
that alcohol affects all people differently and
most people underestimate the effects of alco-
hol.
Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix! And
that is true for drugs, too (over-the-counter,
prescription, and illegal drugs). Don’t drive if
your ability to operate your vehicle is impaired
by alcohol, drugs, or some other physical con-
dition.DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your INFINITI is designed for both normal and
off-road use. However, avoid driving in deep
water or mud as your INFINITI is mainly de-
signed for leisure use, unlike a conventional
off-road vehicle.
Remember that Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models
are less capable than Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
models for rough road driving and extrication
when stuck in deep snow, mud, or the like. Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
●
Drive carefully when off the road and avoid
dangerous areas. Every person who drives or
rides in this vehicle should be seated with
their seat belt fastened. This will keep you
and your passengers in position when driv-
ing over rough terrain.
● Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead
drive either straight up or straight down the
slopes. Off-road vehicles can tip over side-
ways much more easily than they can for-
ward or backward.
● Many hills are too steep for any vehicle. If
you drive up them, you may stall. If you drive
down them, you may not be able to control
your speed. If you drive across them, you
may roll over.
● Do not shift ranges while driving on downhill
grades as this could cause loss of control of
the vehicle.
● Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At
the top there could be a drop-off or other
hazard that could cause an accident.
5-8Starting and driving

●If your engine stalls or you cannot make it to
the top of a steep hill, never attempt to turn
around. Your vehicle could tip or roll over.
Always back straight down in R (Reverse)
range. Never back down in N (Neutral), using
only the brake, as this could cause loss of
control.
● Heavy braking going down a hill could cause
your brakes to overheat and fade, resulting
in loss of control and an accident. Apply
brakes lightly and use a low range to control
your speed.
● Unsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Properly se-
cure all cargo so it will not be thrown forward
and cause injury to you or your passengers.
● To avoid raising the center of gravity exces-
sively, do not exceed the rated capacity of
the roof rack (if so equipped) and evenly dis-
tribute the load. Secure heavy loads in the
cargo area as far forward and as low as pos-
sible. Do not equip the vehicle with tires
larger than specified in this manual. This
could cause your vehicle to roll over. ●
Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steer-
ing wheel when driving off-road. The steer-
ing wheel could move suddenly and injure
your hands. Instead drive with your fingers
and thumbs on the outside of the rim.
● Before operating the vehicle, ensure that the
driver and all passengers have their seat
belts fastened.
● Always drive with the floor mats in place as
the floor may became hot.
● Lower your speed when encountering strong
crosswinds. With a higher center of gravity,
your INFINITI is more affected by strong side
winds. Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
● Do not drive beyond the performance capa-
bility of the tires, even with 4WD engaged.
● For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not attempt
to raise two wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any drive or reverse po-
sition with the engine running. Doing so may
result in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal injury. ●
Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped ve-
hicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer (such as
the dynamometers used by some states for
emissions testing), or similar equipment
even if the other two wheels are raised off
the ground. Make sure you inform test facil-
ity personnel that your vehicle is equipped
with 4WD before it is placed on a dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal injury (4WD
models).
● When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
● Accelerating quickly, sharp steering maneu-
vers or sudden braking may cause loss of
control.
● If at all possible, avoid sharp turning maneu-
vers, particularly at high speeds. Your ve-
hicle has a higher center of gravity than a
conventional passenger car. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional passenger cars. Fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a rollover
accident.
Starting and driving5-9

●Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
Install tire chains on the rear wheels when
driving on slippery roads and drive carefully.
● Be sure to check the brakes immediately af-
ter driving in mud or water. See “BRAKE SYS-
TEM” later in this section for wet brakes.
● Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If
you get out of the vehicle and it rolls forward,
backward or sideways, you could be injured.
● Whenever you drive off-road through sand,
mud or water as deep as the wheel hub, more
frequent maintenance may be required. See
the maintenance information in the “INFINITI
Service and Maintenance Guide”.
● Spinning the rear wheels on slippery sur-
faces may cause the 4WD warning light to
flash. The 4WD system may also automati-
cally switch from the 4WD mode to the 2WD
mode. This could reduce traction. Be espe-
cially careful when towing a trailer (4WD
models).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.
OPERATING RANGE FOR ENGINE
START FUNCTION
The operating range for starting the engine
inside the vehicle
1is shown in the illustra-
tion.
● If the Intelligent Key is on the instrument
panel, cargo area, inside the glove box or
door pocket, or the corner of interior com-
partment, it may not be possible to start the
engine.
● If the Intelligent Key is near the door or door
glass outside the vehicle, it may be possible
to start the engine.
SSD0436
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
5-10Starting and driving

Condition C :
Under the following conditions, a beep will
sound and the LDP system will be canceled
automatically. The LDP ON indicator light will
blink in green, and the LDP system cannot be
activated:
●When the VDC system (except TCS function)
or ABS operates.
● When the VDC system is turned off.
● When the SNOW mode switch is turned on.
● When the 4WD shift switch is in the 4H or 4L
position.
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist, turn
off the LDP system by pushing the dynamic
driver assistance switch. Push the dynamic
driver assistance switch again to turn the LDP
system back on.Temporary disabled status at high temperature :
If the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight under
high temperature conditions (over approxi-
mately 104°F (40°C)) and then the LDP system is
turned on, the LDP system may be deactivated
automatically. The lane departure warning light
(orange) will blink.
When the interior temperature is reduced, turn
off the LDP system by pushing the dynamic
driver assistance switch. Push the dynamic
driver assistance switch again to turn the LDP
system back on.
Lane camera unit maintenance
The lane camera unit1for the LDW/LDP
system is located inside the map light cover. To
keep the proper operation of the LDW/LDP
systems and prevent a system malfunction, be
sure to observe the following:
● Always keep the windshield clean.
● Do not attach a sticker (including transpar-
ent material) or install an accessory near the
camera unit.
SSD0453
5-28Starting and driving

When the SET/COAST switch is pushed under
the following conditions, the system cannot be
set.
A warning chime will sound and the set vehicle
speed indicator will blink.
●When the SNOW mode is pushed (SNOW
mode switch) (To use the ICC system, turn off
the SNOW mode switch, push the MAIN
switch to turn off the ICC and reset the ICC
switch by pushing the MAIN switch again.)
For details about the SNOW mode switch,
see “SNOW MODE” later in this section. ●
When the 4WD shift switch is in the 4H or 4L
position. (To use the ICC system, place the
4WD shift switch in the AUTO position, push
the MAIN switch to turn off the ICC system
and reset the ICC switch by pushing the
MAIN switch again (for 4WD models).
For details about the 4WD shift switch, see
“INFINITI ALL-MODE 4WD” earlier in this
section.
● When the VDC system is off (To use the ICC
system, turn on the VDC system. Push the
MAIN switch to turn off the ICC system and
reset the ICC switch by pushing the MAIN
switch again.)
For details about the VDC system, see “VE-
HICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) SYSTEM”
later in this section.
● When ABS or VDC (including the traction
control system) is operating
● When driving into a strong light (i.e., sun-
light)
● When a wheel is slipping (To use the ICC
system, make sure the wheels are no longer
slipping. Push the MAIN switch to turn off
the ICC, and reset the ICC system by pushing
the MAIN switch again.)
SSD1106
5-50Starting and driving

NOTE:
The approach warning chime may sound and the
system display may blink when the ICC sensor
detects some reflectors
Awhich are fitted on
vehicles in other lanes or on the side of the road.
This may cause the ICC system to decelerate or
accelerate the vehicle. The ICC sensor may de-
tect these reflectors when the vehicle is driven
on winding roads, hilly roads or when entering
or exiting a curve. The ICC sensor may also de-
tect reflectors on narrow roads or in road con-
struction 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).
Automatic cancellation
A chime sounds under the following conditions
and the control is automatically canceled.
●
When the vehicle speed falls below approxi-
mately 15 MPH (24 km/h)
● When the system judges the vehicle is at a
standstill
● When the selector lever is shifted to the N
(Neutral) position
● When the windshield wipers are operating at
high speed. The system may cancel when
the wipers are set to the AUTO position.
● When the VDC is turned off
● When the ABS or VDC operates
● When the parking brake is applied
● When the SNOW mode switch is pushed on.
● When the 4WD shift switch is in the 4H or 4L
position (for 4WD models) ●
When driving into a strong light (i.e., sun-
light)
● When distance measurement becomes im-
paired due to adhesion of dirt or obstruction
to the sensor
● When a wheel slips
SSD0284A
Starting and driving5-55