2012 INFINITI FX brakes

TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHARTUnit: lb (kg)
VQ35HR VK50VE
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) model All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
model All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
model
MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT*1 —2,000 (907) 3,500 (1,588)
MAXIMUM TONGUE LOAD —200 (91) 350 (159)
GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT RATING —7,355 (3,336)*3
8,825 (4,003)*4 9,109 (4,128)*3
9,098 (4,127)*4
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT*2 Sway Control Device (SCD)
1: All towing above 1,000 lb (454 kg) requires the use of trailer brakes. INFINITI
recommends the use of a tandem axle trailer whenever towing above 3,000 lb (1,361
kg).
2: A sway control device is recommended for all towing above 2,000 lb (907 kg). Sway control devices are not offered by INFINITI. See a professional trailer/hitch outlet for a
properly designed sway control device for your trailer.
3: For US
4: For Canada
TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitch
Choose a proper hitch for your vehicle and
trailer. A genuine INFINITI trailer hitch is
available from an INFINITI retailer. Make
sure the trailer hitch is securely attached to
the vehicle to help avoid personal injury or
property damage due to sway caused by
crosswinds, rough road surfaces or pas-
sing trucks.
WARNING
Trailer hitch components have specific
weight ratings. Your vehicle may be capable
of towing a trailer heavier than the weight
rating of the hitch components. Never
exceed the weight rating of the hitch
components. Doing so can cause serious
personal injury or property damage.
Hitch ball
Choose a hitch ball of the proper size and
weight rating for your trailer:
. The required hitch ball size is stamped
on most trailer couplers. Most hitch
balls also have the size printed on top
Technical and consumer information9-23

to the hitch, not to the vehicle bumper or
axle. The safety chains can be attached to
the bumper if the hitch ball is mounted to
the bumper. Be sure to leave enough slack
in the chains to permit turning corners.
Trailer lights
CAUTION
When splicing into the vehicle electrical
system, a commercially available power-
type module/converter must be used to
provide power for all trailer lighting. This
unit uses the vehicle battery as a direct
power source for all trailer lights while
using the vehicle tail light, stoplight and
turn signal circuits as a signal source. The
module/converter must draw no more than
15 milliamps from the stop and tail lamp
circuits. Using a module/converter that
exceeds these power requirements may
damage the vehicle’s electrical system.
See a reputable trailer retailer to obtain
the proper equipment and to have it
installed.
Trailer lights should comply with federal
and/or local regulations. For assistance in hooking up trailer lights, contact an
INFINITI retailer or reputable trailer retailer.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to federal
and/or local regulations and that it is
properly installed.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system directly
to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
.
Be certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the
vehicle if it has an abnormal nose-up
or nose-down condition; check for
improper tongue load, overload, worn
suspension or other possible causes of
either condition.
. Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
. Keep the cargo load as low as possible
in the trailer to keep the trailer center of
gravity low. .
Load the trailer so approximately 60%
of the trailer load is in the front half and
40% is in the back half. Also make sure
the load is balanced side to side.
. Check your hitch, trailer tire pressure,
vehicle tire pressure, trailer light opera-
tion, and trailer wheel lug nuts every
time you attach a trailer to the vehicle.
. Be certain your rearview mirrors con-
form to all federal, state or local
regulations. If not, install any mirrors
required for towing before driving the
vehicle.
. Determine the overall height of the
vehicle and trailer so the required
clearance is known.Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding
of the vehicle’ s behavior, you should
practice turning, stopping and backing up
in an area which is free from traffic.
Steering stability, and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than
under normal driving conditions.
. Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
. Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin
or lock to prevent the coupler from
Technical and consumer information9-25

ling. If swaying does occur, firmly grip
the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually)
reduce vehicle speed. This combination
will help stabilize the vehicle. Never
increase speed.
Do the following if the trailer begins to
sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer
as straight ahead as the road condi-
tions allow. This combination will help
stabilize the vehicle.
.Do not correct trailer sway by steer-ing or applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the brakes and pull to the side of
the road in a safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is balanced as described earlier in this
section.
. Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than nor-
mal passing. Remember the length of
the trailer must also pass the other
vehicle before you can safely change
lanes. .
Down shift the transmission to a lower
gear for engine braking when driving
down steep or long hills. This will help
slow the vehicle without applying the
brakes.
. Avoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause
the brakes to overheat, resulting in
reduced braking efficiency.
. Increase your following distance to
allow for greater stopping distances
while towing a trailer. Anticipate stops
and brake gradually.
. Do not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
. Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehi-
cles that are towing trailers. Obey the
local speed limits.
. Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness
connections, and trailer wheel lug nuts
after 50 miles (80 km) of travel and at
every break.
. When stopped in traffic for long periods
of time in hot weather, put the vehicle
in the P (Park) position.
. When launching a boat, don’t allow the
water level to go over the exhaust tail
pipe or rear bumper. .
Make sure you disconnect the trailer
lights before backing the trailer into the
water or the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, the transmission
fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see the “8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground is sometimes called flat towing.
This method is sometimes used when
towing a vehicle behind a recreational
vehicle, such as a motor home.
CAUTION
. Failure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
. Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.
. DO NOT tow any automatic transmission
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing). Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
Technical and consumer information9-27