2011 INFINITI QX four wheel drive

CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation without having
the emission control system checked and re-
paired as necessary could lead to poor drive-
ability, reduced fuel economy, and possible
damage to the emission control system.
Security indicator light
The light blinks when the ignition switch is in
the ACC, OFF and LOCK position. This function
indicates the security system equipped on the
vehicle is operational.
If the security system is malfunctioning, this
light will remain on while the ignition switch is
in the ON position. For additional information,
see “SECURITY SYSTEMS” later in this section.
SNOW mode indicator light
When selecting SNOW mode while the engine is
running, this light will illuminate. (See “SNOW
MODE” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.)
TOW mode indicator light
This light will illuminate when the TOW MODE is
selected while the engine is running. (See “TOW
MODE” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.)
Turn signal/hazard indicator
lights
The light flashes when the turn signal switch
lever or hazard switch is turned on.
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light
The light comes on when the vehicle dynamic
control off switch is pushed to OFF. This indi-
cates that the vehicle dynamic control system is
not operating. When the 4L position is selected
with the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) shift switch,
the VDC system is disabled and the VDC off
indicator light illuminates. For additional infor-
mation, see “VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM” in the “5. Starting and driving” sec-
tion of this manual.
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
Key reminder chime
A chime will sound if the driver side door is
opened while the ignition switch is pushed to
the ACC position. Make sure the ignition switch
is pushed to the OFF position, and take the
Intelligent Key with you when leaving the ve-
hicle.
Light reminder chime
A chime will sound when the driver side door is
opened with the light switch in theorposition and the ignition switch in the
ACC, OFF or LOCK position.
Turn the light switch off when you leave the
vehicle.
The chime will also sound for 2 seconds when
the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position
with the fog lights on while the headlight switch
is in the AUTO position.
Parking brake reminder chime
The chime will sound if the vehicle is driven at
more than 4 MPH (7 km/h) with the parking
brake applied. Stop the vehicle and release the
parking brake.
2-20Instruments and controls

Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear warn-
ings. When a brake pad requires replacement, it
will make a high pitched scraping sound when
the vehicle is in motion. This scraping sound
will first occur only when the brake pedal is
depressed. After more wear of the brake pad,
the sound will always be heard even if the brake
pedal is not depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the warning
sound is heard.The dot matrix liquid crystal display appears in
the vehicle information display
1located be-
tween the speedometer and odometer, and
shows the indicators for the driving systems,
Intelligent Key operation and various warnings
and information.
For detailed information about each system, see
the following sections:
● Automatic Transmission (AT)
– “WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND AU- DIBLE REMINDERS” earlier in this section.
– “DRIVING THE VEHICLE” in the “5. Start- ing and driving” section. ●
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) system
– “INFINITI ALL-MODE 4WD” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.
● Cruise control system
– “CRUISE CONTROL” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.
● Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
– “INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL (ICC) SYSTEM” in the “5. Starting and driving”
section.
● Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
– “DISTANCE CONTROL ASSIST (DCA) SYS- TEM” in the “5. Starting and driving”
section.
● Intelligent Key system
– “INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM” in the “3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments” sec-
tion.
– “PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.
SIC4379
DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY
Instruments and controls2-21

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

Additional information
●The TPMS does not monitor the tire pressure
of the spare tire.
● The TPMS will activate only when the vehicle
is driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h).
Also, this system may not detect a sudden
drop in tire pressure (for example a flat tire
while driving).
● The low tire pressure warning light does not
automatically turn off when the tire pressure
is adjusted. After the tire is inflated to the
recommended pressure, the vehicle must be
driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h) to
activate the TPMS and turn off the low tire
pressure warning light. Use a tire pressure
gauge to check the tire pressure.
● The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning appears
in the dot matrix liquid crystal display when
the low tire pressure warning light is illumi-
nated and low tire pressure is detected. The
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning turns off
when the low tire pressure warning light
turns off.
The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning does not
appear if the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates to indicate a TPMS malfunction. ●
Tire pressure rises and falls depending on
the heat caused by the vehicle’s operation
and the outside temperature. Low outside
temperature can lower the temperature of
the air inside the tire which can cause a
lower tire inflation pressure. This may cause
the low tire pressure warning light to illumi-
nate. If the warning light illuminates in low
ambient temperature, check the tire pres-
sure for all four tires.
● You can also check the pressure of all tires
(except the spare tire) on the display screen.
The order of the tire pressure figures dis-
played on the screen does not correspond
with the actual order of the tire position. See
“TIRE PRESSURE information” in the “4.
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice
recognition systems” section.
For additional information, see “Low tire pres-
sure warning light” in the “2. Instruments and
controls” section and “TIRE PRESSURE MONI-
TORING SYSTEM (TPMS)” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section.
WARNING
●If the low tire pressure warning light illumi-
nates or LOW PRESSURE information is dis-
played on the monitor screen while driving,
avoid sudden steering maneuvers or abrupt
braking, reduce vehicle speed, pull off the
road to a safe location and stop the vehicle as
soon as possible. Driving with under-inflated
tires may permanently damage the tires and
increase the likelihood of tire failure. Serious
vehicle damage could occur and may lead to
an accident and could result in serious per-
sonal injury. Check the tire pressure for all
four tires. Adjust the tire pressure to the rec-
ommended COLD tire pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label to turn the
low tire pressure warning light OFF. If the light
still illuminates while driving after adjusting
the tire pressure, a tire may be flat. If you have
a flat tire, replace it with a spare tire as soon as
possible. (See “FLAT TIRE” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section for changing a flat tire.)
● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel is
replaced, the TPMS will not function and the
low tire pressure warning light will flash for
approximately 1 minute. The light will re-
main on after 1 minute. Contact your INFINITI
retailer as soon as possible for tire replace-
ment and/or system resetting.
5-4Starting and driving

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

●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

WARNING
●Do not attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to any
drive or reverse position with the engine run-
ning. Doing so may result in drivetrain dam-
age or unexpected vehicle movement which
could result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
● Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped ve-
hicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer or similar
equipment even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure you inform
test facility personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with 4WD before it is placed on a
dynamometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage or un-
expected vehicle movement which could re-
sult in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
CAUTION
● Do not drive the vehicle in the 4HI or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driving
on dry, hard surfaces in 4HI or 4LO may
cause unnecessary noise, tire wear and in-
creased fuel consumption.
If the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) warning light
turns on when driving on dry hard surface
roads:
– in the 4HI position, shift the 4WD shift switch to AUTO.
– in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle and shift the transmission lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position with the brake pedal de-
pressed and shift the 4WD shift switch to
AUTO.
If the 4WD warning light is still on after
the above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an INFINITI retailer as soon as
possible.
● The transfer case may be damaged if you
continue driving with the 4WD warning light
blinking.
See “ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD DRIVING
PRECAUTIONS” earlier in this section for other
precautions for offroad driving.
INFINITI ALL-MODE 4WD SYSTEM
The all mode 4WD system provides 3 positions
(AUTO, 4HI and 4LO), so you can select the
desired drive mode according to the driving
conditions.
INFINITI ALL-MODE 4WD(if so equipped)
5-84Starting and driving

Warning light and display
When the Preview Function is not operating
properly, the chime sounds and the system
warning light (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 resume driving.
If the indicator stays on, it may indicate that the
Preview Function is malfunctioning (the brake is
operative). Although the Vehicle is still drive-
able under normal conditions, have the vehicle
checked at an INFINITI retailer.
How to handle the sensor
The sensor for the Preview Function is common
with Intelligent Cruise Control and is located
below the front bumper.
To keep the Preview Function operating prop-
erly, be sure to observe the following:
●Always keep the sensor clean. Wipe with a
soft cloth carefully so as not to damage the
sensor.
● Do not strike or damage the areas around
the sensor. Do not touch or remove the
screw located on the sensor. Doing so could
cause failure or malfunction. If the sensor is
damaged due to an accident, contact an
INFINITI retailer.
● Do not attach a sticker (including transpar-
ent material) or install an accessory near the
sensor. This could cause failure or malfunc-
tion.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
● The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a so-
phisticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dangerous
driving techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slippery sur-
faces. Remember that stopping distances on
slippery surfaces will be longer than on nor-
mal surfaces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough, gravel
or snow covered roads, or if you are using
tire chains. Always maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the driver is responsible for safety.
● Tire type and condition may also affect brak-
ing effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install the specified size of tires on all four wheels.
–
When installing a spare tire, make sure that
it is the proper size and type as specified on
the Tire and Loading Information label. See
“TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL”
in the “9. Technical and consumer informa-
tion” section of this manual.
– For detailed information, see “WHEELS AND TIRES” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
SSD0471
Starting and driving5-97