2011 INFINITI QX transmission

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

The FCW system will sound a warning chime
and the vehicle ahead detection indicator light
blinks to alert the driver if the vehicle is travel-
ing close to the vehicle ahead. (See “FORWARD
COLLISION WARNING (FCW) SYSTEM” in the “5.
Starting and driving” section.)
The LDW system will sound a warning chime
and blink the lane departure warning light
(orange) to alert the driver if the vehicle is
traveling close to either the left or the right of a
traveling lane with detectable lane markers.
(See “LANE DEPARTURE WARNING
(LDW)/PREVENTION (LDP) SYSTEM” in the “5.
Starting and driving” section.)
The BSW system will turn on the BSW indicator
lights, located next to the outside mirrors, if the
radar sensors detect a vehicle in the detection
zone. If the turn signal is activated in the
direction of the detected vehicle, a chime
sounds twice and the BSW indicator light will
flash. (See “BLIND SPOT WARNING (BSW) SYS-
TEM” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.)For driving or starting the vehicle on snowy
roads or slippery areas, push on the SNOW
mode switch. The SNOW mode indicator light
will illuminate. When the SNOW mode is acti-
vated, engine output is controlled to avoid
wheel spin.
Push off the SNOW mode for normal driving.
TOW MODE should be used when pulling a
heavy trailer or hauling a heavy load. Driving
the vehicle in TOW MODE with no trailer/load or
light trailer/light load will not cause any dam-
age. However, fuel economy may be reduced,
and the transmission/engine driving character-
istics may feel unusual.
SIC4454SIC4474
SNOW MODE SWITCH
TOW MODE SWITCH
Instruments and controls2-49

VANITY MIRROR
To use the front vanity mirror, pull down the sun
visor and pull up the cover.The automatic drive positioner system has two
features:
●
Entry/exit function
● Memory storage
ENTRY/EXIT FUNCTION
This system is designed so that the driver’s seat
and steering column will automatically move
when the automatic transmission selector lever
is in the P (Park) position. This allows the driver
to get into and out of the driver’s seat more
easily.
The driver’s seat will slide backward and the
steering wheel will move up when the driver’s
door is opened with the ignition switch in the
LOCK position.
The driver’s seat and steering wheel will return
to the previous positions when the ignition
switch is pushed to the ACC position.
The driver’s seat will not return to the previous
positions if the seat or steering adjusting
switch is operated when the seat is at the exit
position.
Cancel or activate entry/exit function
The selector lever must be in the P (Park)
position with the ignition switch in the OFF
position.
The entry/exit function can be activated or
canceled by pressing and holding the SET
switch for more than 10 seconds.
The indicator lights on the memory switches (1
and 2) will blink once when the function is
canceled, and the indicator lights will blink
twice when the function is activated. Note that
the indicator lights may illuminate after 5 sec-
onds while holding the SET switch. This indi-
cates readiness for linking the Intelligent Key to
a stored memory position. Keep the SET switch
pressed for more than 10 seconds to turn on or
off the entry/exit function.
The entry/exit function can also be activated or
canceled if the “Lift Steering Wheel on Exit” key
or “Slide Driver Seat Back on Exit” key is turned
to ON or OFF in the “Comfort” settings. (See
“VEHICLE INFORMATION AND SETTINGS” in the
“4. Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice
recognition systems” section.)
SIC4448
AUTOMATIC DRIVE POSITIONER
3-30Pre-driving checks and adjustments

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving.............. 5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) .................. 5-2
Three-way catalyst ............................. 5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ......... 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ................... 5-6
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions .................................... 5-6
Off-road recovery ............................... 5-7
Rapid air pressure loss ......................... 5-7
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .............. 5-8
Driving safety precautions ...................... 5-8
Push-button ignition switch .......................5-10
Operating range for engine start function ........5-10
Push-button ignition switch positions ............5-11
Emergency engine shut off ......................5-12
Intelligent Key battery discharge .................5-12
Before starting the engine .........................5-13
Starting the engine ................................ 5-13
Driving the vehicle ................................ 5-14
Engine protection mode ......................... 5-14
Automatic transmission ......................... 5-15
Parking brake ..................................... 5-19
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)/prevention (LDP)
system (if so equipped) ........................... 5-20Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system
..........5-20
Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system .........5-24
Blind spot warning (BSW) system
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-29
Bsw system operation ......................... 5-30
Bsw driving situations ......................... 5-33
Bsw malfunction .............................. 5-36
System maintenance .......................... 5-37
Cruise control .................................... 5-37
Precautions on cruise control ...................5-37
Cruise control operations ......................5-38
Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
(if so equipped) .................................. 5-39
Selecting vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode .................................. 5-41
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode .........5-41
Precautions on vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode .................................. 5-41
Vehicle-to-vehicle
distance control mode
operation ..................................... 5-43
Conventional (FIXED SPEED) cruise control
mode ........................................ 5-58
Preview function (for Intelligent Cruise
Control (ICC) system equipped model) ...........5-62

●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

5. To stop the engine, shift the selector leverto the P (Park) position and push the
ignition switch to the OFF position.ENGINE PROTECTION MODE
The engine has an engine protection mode to
reduce the chance of damage if the coolant
temperature becomes too high (for example,
when climbing steep grades in high tempera-
ture with heavy loads, such as when towing a
trailer).
When the engine temperature reaches a certain
level:
● The engine coolant temperature gauge will
move toward the H position.
● Engine power may be reduced.
● The air conditioning cooling function may be
automatically turned OFF for a short time
(the blower will continue to operate).
Engine power and, under some conditions, ve-
hicle speed will decrease. Vehicle speed can be
controlled with the accelerator pedal, but the
vehicle may not accelerate at the desired
speed. The transmission will downshift or up-
shift as it reaches prescribed shift points. You
can also shift manually.
As driving conditions change and engine cool-
ant temperature is reduced, vehicle speed can
be increased using the accelerator pedal, and
air conditioning cooling function will automati-
cally be turned back ON. If:1. The engine coolant temperature is not
reduced.
2. The air conditioning cooling function does not turn back ON.
3. The engine oil pressure warning light
illuminates or engine coolant tem-
perature gauge does not return to the
normal range from the H position, this
may indicate a malfunction. Move the
vehicle off the road to a safe area and
allow the engine to cool. If after checking
the oil and coolant, the
remains on
or engine coolant temperature does not
return to the normal range, do not con-
tinue to drive and contact an INFINITI
retailer.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)may also come ON. You do not need to have
your vehicle towed, unless it remains on, but
have it inspected soon by an INFINITI retailer.
See “WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND AU-
DIBLE REMINDERS” in the “2. Instruments and
controls” section.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-14Starting and driving

WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced engine
power and vehicle speed. The reduced speed
may be lower than other traffic, which could
increase the chance of a collision. Be especially
careful when driving. If the vehicle cannot
maintain a safe driving speed, pull to the side
of the road in a safe area. Allow the engine to
cool and return to normal operation. See “IF
YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section.
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil pres-
sure warning light on could cause serious dam-
age to the engine almost immediately. Such
damage is not covered by warranty. Turn off the
engine as soon as it is safe to do so.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7 speed automatic transmission
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission con-
trol module to produce maximum efficiency and
smooth operation.Shown on the following pages are the recom-
mended operating procedures for this transmis-
sion. Follow these procedures for maximum
vehicle performance and driving enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
After starting the engine, fully depress the foot
brake pedal and push the selector lever button
before shifting the selector lever to the R (Re-
verse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual shift
mode position. Be sure the vehicle is fully
stopped before attempting to shift the selector
lever.
This automatic transmission model is designed
so that the foot brake pedal must be depressed
before shifting from P (Park) to any drive posi-
tion while the ignition switch position is ON.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of the P
(Park) position and into any of the other gear
positions if the ignition switch is pushed to the
LOCK, OFF or ACC position.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the selector lever button to shift into
a driving gear. 2. Release the parking brake and foot brake,
then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
WARNING
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal while
shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Re-
verse), D (Drive) or manual shift mode. Al-
ways depress the brake pedal until shifting
is completed. Failure to do so could cause
you to lose control and have an accident.
● Cold engine idle speed is high, so use cau-
tion when shifting into a forward or reverse
gear before the engine has warmed up.
● Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse) while
vehicle is moving forward. Never shift to P
(Park), D (Drive) or manual shift mode while
vehicle is moving rearward. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and have an
accident.
● Except in an emergency, do not shift to the N
(Neutral) position while driving. Doing so
can cause a loss of engine braking which
may result in a collision, serious personal
injury or death. In addition, coasting with
the transmission in the N (Neutral) position
may cause serious damage to the
transmission.
Starting and driving5-15

CAUTION
●When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by depressing
the accelerator pedal. The foot brake should
be used for this purpose.
● Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads.
This may cause a loss of control.
Shifting
To move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing the
brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the selector lever.
The selector lever position indicator light (next
to the selector lever) will be illuminated for
approximately 30 minutes after the ignition
switch is turned off. The indicator light may also
illuminate when the vehicle receives radio
waves. This is not a malfunction. After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and shift the selector lever from P
(Park) to R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or
Manual shift mode position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector lever is
in any position while the engine is not running.
Failure to do so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
CAUTION
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped
and the transmission is in the P (Park) position.
P (Park) position :
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make sure
the vehicle is completely stopped. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the selector lever
button pushed in to move the selector lever from
the N (Neutral) position or any drive position to
the P (Park) position. Apply the parking brake.
Selector lever
SSD0945
5-16Starting and driving