2011 INFINITI QX 4WD

CAUTION
●Do not spin the tires excessively. Tires will
sink deep into the mud, making it difficult to
free the vehicle.
● Avoid shifting gears with the engine running
at high speeds as this may cause
malfunction.
4WD SHIFT SWITCH
● Shift the 4WD shift switch to either the
AUTO, 4H or 4L position, depending on
driving conditions.
● With the switch set to the AUTO position,
distribution of torque to the front and rear
wheels changes automatically, depending
on road conditions encountered [ratio; 0 :
100 (2WD) →50 : 50 (4WD)]. This results in
improved driving stability. ●
If the 4WD shift switch is operated while mak-
ing a turn, accelerating or decelerating or if
the ignition switch is placed in the OFF posi-
tion while in the AUTO, 4H or 4L, you may feel
a jolt. This is not abnormal.
● When the vehicle is stopped after making a
turn, you may feel a slight jolt after the selec-
tor lever is shifted to N (Neutral) or P (Park)
position. This occurs because the transfer
clutch is released and not because of a mal-
function.
CAUTION
● When driving straight, shift the 4WD shift
switch to the AUTO or 4H position. Do not
move the 4WD shift switch when making a
turn or reversing.
● Do not shift the 4WD shift switch while driv-
ing on steep downhill grades. Use the en-
gine brake and low automatic transmission
gears for engine braking.
● Do not operate the 4WD shift switch with the
rear wheels spinning.
● Before placing the 4WD shift switch in the 4H
position from AUTO, ensure the vehicle
speed is less than 62 MPH (100 km/h). Fail-
ure to do so can damage the 4WD system.
SSD1048
5-88Starting and driving

●Never shift the 4WD shift switch between 4L
and 4H while driving.
● Engine idling speed is high while warming
up the engine. Be especially careful when
starting or driving on slippery surfaces with
the 4WD shift switch in AUTO.
4WD SHIFT INDICATOR
The 4WD shift indicator is displayed in the
vehicle information display.
The indicator should turn off within 1 second
after placing the ignition switch in the ON
position.
While the engine is running, the 4WD shift
indicator will illuminate the position selected by
the 4WD shift switch. (See the 4WD shift proce-
dure list shown in the “INFINITI ALL-MODE
4WD SYSTEM” earlier in this section.) ●
The 4WD shift indicator may blink while shift-
ing from one drive mode to the other. When
the shifting is completed, the 4WD shift indi-
cator will come on. If the indicator does not
come on immediately, make sure the area
around the vehicle is safe, and drive the ve-
hicle straight, accelerate or decelerate or
move the vehicle in reverse, then shift the
4WD shift switch.
● If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
shift indicator turns off.
4WD WARNING LIGHT
Warning light Comes on or
blinks when:
Illuminates There is a mal-
function in the 4WD system
Blinks
rapidly The transfer
case oil tem-
perature is ab- normally high
Blinks
slowly The difference in
wheel rotation is large
The 4WD warning light is located in the meter.
4WD shift indicator
SSD1058
Starting and driving5-89

The 4WD warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is placed in the ON position. It
turns off soon after the engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the 4WD system
when the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the 4WD warning light will either
remain illuminated or blink.
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
shift indicator turns off.
High-temperature transfer case oil makes the
4WD warning light blink rapidly (about twice per
second). If the warning light blinks rapidly
during operation, stop the vehicle in a safe
place immediately. Then if the light turns off
after a while, you can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters of
front and rear wheels will make the 4WD warn-
ing light blink slowly (about once per two
seconds). Change the 4WD shift switch to AUTO
and do not drive fast.CAUTION
●If the 4WD warning light comes on or blinks
slowly during operation or rapidly after stop-
ping the vehicle for a while, have your ve-
hicle checked by an INFINITI retailer as soon
as possible.
● Shifting between 4HI and 4LO is not recom-
mended when the 4WD warning light turns
on.
● When the 4WD warning light comes on, the
2WD mode may be engaged even if the 4WD
shift switch is in AUTO or 4H. Be especially
careful when driving. If corresponding parts
are malfunctioning, the 4WD mode will not
be engaged even if the 4WD shift switch is
shifted.
● 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 4WD warning light turns on when driv-
ing on dry hard surface roads:
– in the AUTO or 4HI position, shift the 4WD shift switch to AUTO. – in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle and
shift the transmission selector lever to
the N (Neutral) position 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 warning light
blinking.
5-90Starting and driving

WARNING
●While driving on a slippery surface, be care-
ful when braking, accelerating or downshift-
ing. Abrupt braking or accelerating could
cause the wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
● If the engine is not running or is turned off
while driving, the power assist for the
brakes will not work. Braking will be harder.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force than
a conventional brake booster even with light
pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist braking
operation and is not a collision warning or
avoidance device. It is the driver’s responsibil-
ity to stay alert, drive safely and be in control of
the vehicle at all times.
PREVIEW FUNCTION (Intelligent Cruise
Control system equipped models)
When the Preview Function identifies the need
to apply emergency braking by sensing a ve-
hicle ahead in the same lane and the distance
and relative speed from it, it applies the brake
pre-pressure before the driver depresses the
brake pedal and helps improve brake response
by reducing pedal free play.
● This system will not operate when the ve-
hicle is moving at approximately 20 MPH (32
km/h) or less. ●
The pre-pressure function ceases when the
following conditions are met:
a) When the driver depresses the accelera- tor pedal or the brake pedal.
b) If the driver does not operate the accel- erator or brake pedal within approxi-
mately 1 second.
c) When the 4WD shift switch is in the 4H or 4L position (for 4WD models).
BRAKE ASSIST
Starting and driving5-95

When the VDC system operates, the VDC warn-
ing lightin the instrument panel flashes
so note the following:
● The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help
keep the vehicle on the steered path.
● You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under the
hood. This is normal and indicates that the
VDC system is working properly.
● Adjust your speed and driving to the road
conditions.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the VDC
warning light
illuminates in the instru-
ment panel. The VDC system automatically
turns off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC off indicator
illuminates
to indicate the VDC system is off. When the VDC
switch is used to turn off the system, the VDC
system still operates to prevent one drive wheel
from slipping by transferring power to a non
slipping drive wheel. The VDC warning light
flashes if this occurs. All other VDC
functions are off, and the VDC warning light
will not flash. The VDC system is auto-
matically reset to on when the ignition switch is
placed in the off position then back to the on
position. When the 4L position is selected with the 4WD
shift switch, the VDC system is disabled and the
VDC off indicator light illuminates.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light” in the “2. Instruments and controls”
section and “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off
indicator light” in the “2. Instruments and con-
trols” section.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise and/or
feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and is not an indication of a malfunc-
tion.
WARNING
●
The VDC system is designed to help improve
driving stability but does not prevent acci-
dents due to abrupt steering operation at
high speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle speed
and be especially careful when driving and
cornering on slippery surfaces and always
drive carefully. ●
Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If
suspension parts such as shock absorbers,
struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bushings
and wheels are not INFINITI recommended
for your vehicle or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly. This could adversely affect vehicle han-
dling performance, and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
● If brake related parts such as brake pads,
rotors and calipers are not INFINITI recom-
mended or are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate properly and
the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
● If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely de-
teriorated, the VDC warning light
may
illuminate.
● When driving on extremely inclined surfaces
such as higher banked corners, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and the VDC
warning light
may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
● When driving on an unstable surface such as
a turntable, ferry, elevator or ramp, the VDC
warning light
may illuminate. This is
not a malfunction. Restart the engine after
driving onto a stable surface.
Starting and driving5-99

●When towing rear wheel drive models with
the front wheels on the ground or on towing
dollies: Place the ignition in the ACC or ON
position, and secure the steering wheel in a
straight-ahead position with a rope or simi-
lar device. Never secure the steering wheel
by placing the ignition in the LOCK position.
This may damage the steering lock
mechanism.
Four-wheel Drive (4WD) models
INFINITI recommends that towing dollies be
used when towing your vehicle or the vehicle be
placed on a flat bed truck as illustrated.
Four-wheel drive models
SCE0907
6-16In case of emergency

CAUTION
Never tow 4WD models with any of the wheels
on the ground as this may cause serious and
expensive damage to the powertrain.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
●Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
● Do not spin your tires at high speed. This
could cause them to explode and result in
serious injury. Parts of your vehicle could
also overheat and be damaged.
Pulling a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use a tow strap or other device designed spe-
cifically for vehicle recovery. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the recovery de-
vice.
Attach the tow strap to the recovery hook.
CAUTION
● Tow chains or cables must be attached only
to the main structural members of the ve-
hicle or the towing hooks. Otherwise, the
vehicle body will be damaged.
Front
SCE0921
Rear
SCE0922
In case of emergency6-17

●If the wheels are changed for any reason,
always replace with wheels which have the
same off-set dimension. Wheels of a differ-
ent off-set could cause premature tire wear,
degrade vehicle handling characteristics
and/or interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference can lead to
decreased braking efficiency and/or early
brake pad/shoe wear. See “WHEELS AND
TIRES” in the “9. Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual for
wheel off-set dimensions.
● 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.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.
● Do not install a damaged or deformed wheel
or tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural damage
and could fail without warning.
● The use of retread tire is not recommended. ●
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
Four-wheel Drive (4WD) models
CAUTION
● Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
Failure to do so may result in a circumference
difference between tires on the front and
rear axles which will cause excessive tire
wear and may damage the transmission,
transfer case and differential gears.
● ONLY use spare tires specified for the 4WD
model.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with tires
of the same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern. The tire pressure and wheel alignment
should also be checked and corrected as nec-
essary. Contact an INFINITI retailer.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle handling
and tire life. Even with regular use, wheels can
get out of balance. Therefore, they should be
balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed with
the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balancing the
wheels on the vehicle could lead to mechanical
damage.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
to “Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in the
INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Care of wheels
See “CLEANING EXTERIOR” in the “7. Appear-
ance and care” section for details about care of
the wheels.
Spare tire
When a spare tire is mounted (TEMPORARY USE
ONLY or conventional), the TPMS will not func-
tion.
8-38Maintenance and do-it-yourself