and avoid driving when tired. Never drive
when under the influence of alcohol or
drugs (including prescription or over-the-
counter drugs which may cause drowsi-
ness). Always wear your seat belt as
outlined in the“Seat belts”(P.1-14) of this
manual, and also instruct your passengers
to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in
collisions and rollovers. In a rollover crash,
an unbelted or improperly belted person is
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
If the right side or left side wheels may
unintentionally leave the road surface.
Maintain control of the vehicle by following
the procedure below. Please note that this
procedure is only a general guide. The
vehicle must be driven as appropriate
based on the conditions of the vehicle,
road and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course. 4. When appropriate, slowly release the
accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while the
vehicle speed is reduced. Do not
attempt to drive the vehicle back onto
the road surface until vehicle speed is
reduced.
6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the steering wheel until both tires
return to the road surface. When all
tires are on the road surface, steer the
vehicle to stay in the appropriate
driving lane..If you decide that it is not safe toreturn the vehicle to the road surface
based on vehicle, road or traffic
conditions, gradually slow the vehi-
cle to a stop in a safe place off the
road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS
Rapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out”can
occur if the tire is punctured or is damaged
due to hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air
pressure loss can also be caused by
driving on under-inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the
handling and stability of the vehicle,
especially at highway speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by
maintaining the correct air pressure and
visually inspect the tires for wear and
damage. See “Wheels and tires” (P.8-33) of
this manual.
If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or
“blows-out” while driving maintain control
of the vehicle by following the procedure
below. Please note that this procedure is
only a general guide. The vehicle must be
driven as appropriate based on the condi-
tions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if
there is a sudden loss of tire air pressure.
Losing control of the vehicle may cause a
Starting and driving5-7
5-8Starting and driving
collision and result in personal injury.
.The vehicle generally moves or pulls in
the direction of the flat tire.
. Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
. Do not rapidly release the accelerator
pedal.
. Do not rapidly turn the steering wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering
wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from
traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradu- ally stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and either contact a roadside emer-
gency service to change the tire or see
“Changing a flat tire” (P.6-3) 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
coordination, delays reaction time and im-
pairs judgement. Driving after drinking
alcohol increases the likelihood of being
involved in an accident injuring yourself and
others. Additionally, 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 influence of alcohol. Every year
thousands of people are injured or killed in
alcohol-related accidents. 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
alcohol.
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 condition.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) DRIVING
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
WARNING
.
Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with AWD
engaged. Accelerating quickly, sharp
steering maneuvers or sudden braking
may cause loss of control.
. Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Install tire chains on the rear
wheels when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully.
. This vehicle is not designed for offroad
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy
or muddy roads that tires may get stuck
in.
. For AWD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to
any D (Drive) or R (Reverse) position with
the engine running. Doing so may result
M4 (4th),M3 (3rd) andM2 (2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or
engine braking on downhill grades.
M1 (1st):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep
snow, or for maximum engine braking on
steep downhill grades.
. Remember not to drive at high speeds
for extended periods of time in lower
than 7th gear. This reduces fuel econ-
omy.
. Moving the selector lever rapidly to the
same side twice will shift the ranges in
succession.
. In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving perfor-
mance and reduces the chance of
vehicle damage or loss of control.
When this situation occurs, the Auto-
matic Transmission (AT) position indi-
cator light (on the dot matrix liquid
crystal display) will blink and the
chime will sound.
. In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down to 1st
gear before the vehicle comes to a stop. When accelerating again, it is
necessary to shift up to the desired
range.Accelerator downshift
—In D (Drive)
position —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into the lower
gear, depending on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, note
that the transmission will be locked in any
of the forward gears according to the
condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel spin-
ning and subsequent hard braking, the
fail-safe system may be activated. This will
occur even if all electrical circuits are
functioning properly. In this case, push
the ignition switch to the OFF position and
wait for 3 seconds. Then push the ignition
switch back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return to its normal operating
condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have an
INFINITI retailer check the transmission
and repair if necessary.SSD0598
Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged,
the selector lever may not be moved from
the P (Park) position even with the brake
pedal depressed and the selector lever
button pushed.
To move the selector lever, perform the
following procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or
LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
*Ausing a
suitable tool.
Starting and driving5-17
5-28Starting and driving
traveling ahead. The sensor generally
detects the signals returned from the
reflectors on a vehicle ahead. Therefore, if
the sensor cannot detect the reflector on
the vehicle ahead, the ICC system may not
maintain the selected distance.
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 trunk of
your vehicle
The ICC system is designed to automati-
cally check the sensor’s operation within
the limitations of the system. When the sensor is covered with dirt or obstructs, the
system will automatically be canceled. If
the sensor is covered with ice, a transpar-
ent or translucent vinyl bag, etc., the ICC
system may not detect them. In these
instances, the vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode may not cancel and may not
be able to maintain the selected following
distance from the vehicle ahead. Be sure to
check and clean the sensor regularly.
The vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode is designed to maintain a selected
distance and reduce the speed to match
the slower vehicle ahead; the system will
decelerate the vehicle as necessary. How-
ever, the ICC system can only apply up to
25% of the vehicles total braking power.
This system should only be used when
traffic conditions allow vehicle speeds to
remain fairly constant or when vehicle
speeds change gradually. If a vehicle
moves into the traveling lane ahead or if
a vehicle traveling ahead rapidly decele-
rates, the distance between vehicles may
become closer because the ICC system
cannot decelerate the vehicle quickly en-
ough. If this occurs, the ICC system will
sound a warning chime and blink the
system display to notify the driver to take
necessary action.
The system will cancel and a warning
chime will sound if the speed falls below
approximately 20 MPH (32 km/h). The
system will also disengage below the 20
MPH (32 km/h) cut-off speed or over the
maximum set speed.
See
“Approach warning” (P.5-37).
The following items are controlled in the
vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode:
. When there are no vehicles traveling
ahead, the vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode maintains the speed set
by the driver. The set speed range is
between approximately 25 and 90 MPH
(40 and 144 km/h).
. When there is a vehicle traveling ahead,
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode adjusts the speed to maintain the
distance, selected by driver, from the
vehicle ahead. The adjusting speed
range is between approximately 20
MPH (32 km/h) and up to the set
speed.
. When the vehicle traveling ahead has
moved out from its lane of travel, the
vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode accelerates and maintains vehi-
CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km),
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and ensure
the future reliability and economy of your
new vehicle.
Failure to follow these recommendations
may result in shortened engine life and
reduced engine performance.
.Avoid driving for long periods at con-
stant speed, either fast or slow. Do not
run the engine over 4,000 rpm.
. Do not accelerate at full throttle in any
gear.
. Avoid quick starts.
. Avoid hard braking as much as possi-
ble. .
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Main-
tain cruising speeds with a constant
accelerator position.
. Drive at moderate speeds on the high-
way.
. Avoid unnecessary stopping and brak-
ing. Keep a safe distance behind other
vehicles.
. Select a gear range suitable to road
conditions.
. Avoid unnecessary prolonged engine
idling.
. Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended periodic main-
tenance schedule.
. Keep the tires inflated at the correct
pressure. Improper tire pressure will
increase wear and waste fuel.
. Make sure the front wheels are properly
aligned. Improper alignment will cause
premature tire wear and lower fuel
economy.
. Climate control operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only
when necessary.
. When cruising at highway speeds, it is
more economical to use the air condi-
tioner and leave the windows closed to
reduce drag.
SSD0336
The AWD warning light is located in the
meter.
The AWD warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is pushed to the ON
position. It turns off soon after the engine
is started.
Starting and driving5-45
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL ECONOMYALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) (if so equipped)
stable surface.
. If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI
recommended ones are used, the VDC
system may not operate properly and
the VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate.
. The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
The 4 Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) system is
an electronically controlled four-wheel
steering system.
Depending on the vehicle speed and
steering angle, the angles of the front
and rear wheels are adjusted by the 4WAS
system to help improve driving perfor-
mance.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
4WAS function will stop but the ordinary
two-wheel steering system will operate
normally. The “4WAS”warning light will
illuminate. If the light illuminates while you
are driving, contact an INFINITI retailer for
repair.
The steering wheel may be slightly turned
even when driving on a straight road due to
a protection mechanism for the 4WAS
system. This is not a malfunction. The
steering wheel will return to the normal
position after the protection mechanism
deactivates.
The protection mechanism activates under
the following conditions:
. The steering wheel is operated forcibly
when it is hard to operate or the tires
are blocked by obstacles.
. The steering wheel is continuously
operated when the vehicle is parked or being driven at extremely low speed.
. The steering wheel is forcibly turned
beyond its operation limits.
. The battery voltage is reduced.
Repeated steering maneuvers that may
activate the protection mechanism will
damage the 4WAS system.
WARNING
The 4WAS system, although a sophisticated
device, cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving tech-
niques. Ultimately the responsibility for
safety of self and others rests in the hands
of the driver. Therefore only through atten-
tive and careful driving methods can the
4WAS system be fully appreciated and
safety optimized.
Starting and driving5-57
4 WHEEL ACTIVE STEER (4WAS) SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
SCE0653
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below. Failure
to do so could result in damage to the
charging system and cause personal injury.
1. If the booster battery is in anothervehicle
*A, position the two vehicles
(
*Aand*B) to bring their batteries
into close proximity to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply parking brake. Move the selector lever to the P (Park) position (Automatic transmission models). Move the shift
lever to the N (Neutral) position (Man-
ual transmission models). Switch off all
unnecessary electrical systems (light,
heater, air conditioner, etc.).
3. Remove vent caps on the battery (if so equipped). Cover the battery with a
firmly wrung out moist cloth
*Cto
reduce explosion hazard.
4. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
*1?*2?*3?*4).
CAUTION
. Always connect positive (+) to positive
(+) and negative (−) to body ground (as
illustrated) —not to the battery.
. Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine com-
partment and that clamps do not contact
any other metal.
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
*Aand let it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster vehicle
*Aat about 2,000 rpm, and
start the engine of the vehicle being
jump started
*B.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine does
not start right away, push the ignition
switch to the OFF position and wait 10
seconds before trying again.
7. After starting your engine, carefully disconnect the negative cable and then
In case of emergency6-9
the windows, move the heater or air
conditioner temperature control to
maximum hot and fan control to high
speed.
3. If engine overheating is caused by climbing a long hill on a hot day, run
the engine at a fast idle (approximately
1,500 rpm) until the temperature gauge
indication returns to normal.
4. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for steam or coolant escaping from the
radiator before opening the hood. (If
steam or coolant is escaping, turn off
the engine.) Do not open the hood
further until no steam or coolant can be
seen.
5. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the engine,
stand clear to prevent getting burned.
6. Visually check drive belts for damage or looseness. Also check if the cooling fan
is running. The radiator hoses and
radiator should not leak water. If cool-
ant is leaking or the cooling fan does not run, stop the engine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling fan
can start at any time.
7. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the reservoir tank with
the engine running. Add coolant to the
reservoir tank if necessary. Have your
vehicle repaired at the nearest INFINITI
retailer.
If needed, Roadside Assistance is avail-
able. Please see your Warranty Information
Booklet or Roadside Assistance I.D. Card
for the toll-free number to call (U.S.) or
Warranty & Roadside Assistance Informa-
tion Booklet (Canada). When towing your vehicle, all State (Pro-
vincial in Canada) and local regulations for
towing must be followed. Incorrect towing
equipment could damage your vehicle.
Towing instructions are available from an
INFINITI retailer. Local service operators are
familiar with the applicable laws and
procedures for towing. To assure proper
towing and to prevent accidental damage
to your vehicle, INFINITI recommends that
you have a service operator tow your
vehicle. It is advisable to have the service
operator carefully read the following pre-
cautions.
WARNING
.
Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
. Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
.When towing, make sure that the trans-
mission, axles, steering system and
powertrain are in working condition. If
any unit is damaged, dollies must be
In case of emergency6-11
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE