2012 INFINITI FX sensor

5-56Starting and driving
—When rain, snow or dirt adhere tothe system sensor
—On steep downhill roads (frequentbraking may result in overheating
the brakes)
—On repeated uphill and downhill
roads
. Do not use the Distance Control Assist
system if you are towing a trailer. The
system may not detect a vehicle ahead.
. In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly come
into the sensor detection zone and cause
automatic braking. You may need to
control the distance from other vehicles
using the accelerator pedal. Always stay
alert and avoid using the DCA system
when it is not recommended in this
section.
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DISTANCE CONTROL ASSIST OP-
ERATION
Always pay attention to the operation of
the vehicle and be ready to manually
decelerate to maintain the proper following
distance. The Distance Control Assist (DCA)
system may not be able to decelerate the
vehicle under some circumstances.
The DCA system uses a sensor
*Alocated
on the front of the vehicle to detect
vehicles traveling ahead. The sensor gen-
erally detects the signals returned from the
reflectors on a vehicle ahead. Therefore, if
the sensor cannot detect the reflector on the vehicle ahead, the DCA system may not
operate.
The following are some conditions in which
the sensor cannot detect the signals:
.
When the reflector of the vehicle ahead
is positioned high on the vehicle
(trailer, etc.)
. When the reflector on the vehicle ahead
is missing, damaged or covered
. When the reflector of the vehicle ahead
is covered with dirt, snow and road
spray
. When the snow or road spray from
traveling vehicles reduces the sensor’s
visibility
. When dense exhaust or other smoke
(black smoke) from vehicles reduces
the sensor’s visibility
. When excessively heavy baggage is
loaded in the rear seat or the luggage
room of your vehicle
The DCA system is designed to automati-
cally check the sensor’s operation. When
the sensor is covered with dirt or is
obstructed, the system will automatically
be canceled. If the sensor is covered with
ice, a transparent or translucent vinyl bag,
etc., the DCA system may not detect them.

In these instances, the Distance Control
Assist (DCA) system may not be able to
decelerate the vehicle properly. Be sure to
check and clean the sensor regularly.
The DCA system is designed to help assist
the driver to maintain a following distance
from the vehicle ahead. The system will
decelerate as necessary and if the vehicle
ahead comes to a stop, the vehicle
decelerates to a standstill. However, the
DCA system can only apply up to 25% of
the vehicles total braking power. If a
vehicle moves into the traveling lane ahead
or if a vehicle traveling ahead rapidly
decelerates, the distance between vehicles
may become closer because the DCA
system cannot decelerate the vehicle
quickly enough. If this occurs, the DCA
system will sound a warning chime and
blink the system display to notify the driver
to take necessary action.
See“Approach warning” (P.5-46).
This system only brakes and moves the
accelerator pedal upward to help assist the
driver to maintain a following distance
from the vehicle ahead. Acceleration
should be operated by the driver.
The DCA system does not control vehicle
speed or warn you when you approach stationary and slow moving vehicles. You
must pay attention to vehicle operation to
maintain proper distance from vehicles
ahead.
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5-58Starting and driving
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The detection zone of the sensor is limited.
A vehicle ahead must be in the detection
zone for the system to operate.
A vehicle ahead may move outside of the
detection zone due to its position within
the same lane of travel. Motorcycles may
not be detected in the same lane ahead if
they are traveling offset from the centerline
of the lane. A vehicle that is entering the
lane ahead may not be detected until the
vehicle has completely moved into the
lane.If this occurs, the system may warn
you by blinking the system indicator and
sounding the chime. The driver may have
to manually control the proper distance away from vehicle traveling ahead.

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When driving on some roads, such as
winding, hilly, curved, narrow roads, or
roads which are under construction, the
sensor may detect vehicles in a different
lane, or may temporarily not detect a
vehicle traveling ahead. This may cause
the system to work inappropriately.
The detection of vehicles may also be
affected by vehicle operation (steering
maneuver or traveling position in the lane,
etc.) or vehicle condition.If this occurs, the
system may warn you by blinking the
system indicator and sounding the chime
unexpectedly. You will have to manually
control the proper distance away from the vehicle traveling ahead.
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Distance Control Assist system
display and indicators
The display is located between the speed-
ometer and tachometer.
1. Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
switch indicator:
Indicates that the dynamic driver assis-
tance switch is ON.
2. Vehicle ahead detection indicator: Indicates whether it detects a vehicle in
front of you.
3. Distance Control Assist system warning light (orange):
Starting and driving5-59

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NOTE:
The approach warning chime may sound
and the system display may blink when
the sensor detects some reflectors
*Awhich are fitted on vehicles in other lanes
or on the side of the road. This may cause
the DCA system to operate inappropriately.
The sensor may detect these reflectors
when the vehicle is driven on winding
roads, hilly roads or when entering or
exiting a curve. The sensor may also detect
reflectors on narrow roads or in road
construction 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 condition (for example, if a vehicle
is being driven with some damage).
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Automatic cancellation
Condition A:
Under the following conditions, the Dis-
tance Control Assist system is automati-
cally canceled. The chime will sound and
the Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
switch indicator light will blink. The system
will not be able to be set.
.
When the VDC system is turned off
. When the VDC or ABS (including the
traction control system) operates
. When the SNOW mode switch is turned
ON
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5-66Starting and driving
.When driving into a strong light (for
example, sunlight)
Action to take:
When the conditions listed above are no
longer present, turn the system off with the
dynamic driver assistance switch. Turn the
DCA system back on to use the system.
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Condition B:
When the sensor window is dirty, making it
impossible to detect a vehicle ahead, the
DCA system is automatically canceled.
The chime sounds and the system warning
light (orange) will come on and the “CLEAN
SENSOR” indicator will appear.
Action to take:
If the warning light comes on, park the
vehicle in a safe place, turn the engine off.
Clean the sensor window with a soft cloth
and then perform the settings again.
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Condition C:
When the DCA system is not operating
properly, the chime sounds and the system
warning light (“CRUISE” 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 turn on the DCA
system again.
If it is not possible to set the system or the
indicator stays on, it may indicate that the
system is malfunctioning. Although the
vehicle is still driveable under normal

conditions, have the vehicle checked at an
INFINITI retailer.
Sensor maintenance
How to handle the sensor:
The sensor for the DCA system is common
with Intelligent Cruise Control and is
located below the front bumper.
To handle the sensor, see“Intelligent
Cruise Control (ICC) system (FULL SPEED
RANGE)” (P.5-31). The Forward Collision Warning (FCW) sys-
tem will warn the driver by a warning light
and chime when your vehicle is getting
close to the vehicle ahead in the traveling
lane.
The FCW system will function when your
vehicle is driven at speeds of approxi-
mately 10 MPH (15 km/h) and above.
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Vehicle ahead detection light
Starting and driving5-67
FORWARD COLLISION WARNING (FCW)
SYSTEM (if so equipped)

5-68Starting and driving
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Warning systems switch
The FCW system uses the distance sensor
*Alocated below the front bumper to
measure the distance to the vehicle ahead.
When the system judges that your vehicle
is getting close to the vehicle ahead in the
travel lane, the vehicle ahead detection
indicator light on the instrument panel
blinks and a warning chime sounds.
The FCW system will be turned on/off by
pushing the warning systems switch. The
warning systems ON indicator light
*1on
the switch will illuminate when the system
turns on.
PRECAUTIONS ON FCW SYSTEM
WARNING
. The FCW system is intended to warn you
before a collision but will not avoid a
collision. It is the driver’s responsibility
to stay alert, drive safely and be in
control of the vehicle at all times.
. As there is a performance limit, the
system may not provide a warning in
certain conditions.
. The system will not detect the following
objects:
—Pedestrians, animals or obstacles in
the roadway
—Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
. The system will not detect another
vehicle under the following conditions:
—When the sensor gets dirty and it is
impossible to detect the distance
from the vehicle ahead.
—When driving into a strong light (forexample, sunlight)
. The sensor generally detects the signals
returned from the reflectors on a vehicle ahead. Therefore, the system may not
function properly under the following
conditions:
—When the reflectors of the vehicle
ahead are positioned high or close to
each other (including a small vehicle
such as motorcycles).
—When the sensor gets dirty or it isimpossible to detect the distance
from the vehicle ahead.
—When the reflectors on the vehicleahead are missing, damaged or
covered.
—When the reflectors of the vehicle
ahead are covered with dirt, snow or
road spray.
—When visibility is low (such as rain,fog, snow, etc.).
—When snow or road spray fromtraveling vehicles is splashed.
—When dense exhaust or other smoke (black smoke) from vehicles reduces
the visibility of the sensor.
—When excessively heavy baggage isloaded in the rear seat or the
luggage room of your vehicle.