Black plate (366,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 1/ 17 Model: V36-D ]5-46 Starting and drivingIf any malfunction occurs in the AWD
system while the engine is running, the
warning light will come on.
The warning light may blink rapidly (about
twice per second) while trying to free a
stuck vehicle due to high power train oil
temperature. The driving mode may change
to two-wheel drive. If the warning light
blinks rapidly during operation, stop the
vehicle with the engine idling in a safe
place immediately. Then if the light goes
off after a while, you can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters
of front and rear wheels will make the
warning light blink slowly (about once per
two seconds). Pull off the road in a safe
area, and idle the engine. Check that all
tire sizes are the same, tire pressure is
correct and tires are not worn.
If the warning light is blinking after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an INFINITI retailer as soon as
possible.
WARNING. For AWD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the ground and shift the transmission to
any drive or reverse position with the
engine running. Doing so may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury.
. Do not attempt to test an AWD equipped
vehicle 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 that
you inform the test facility personnel
that your vehicle is equipped with AWD
before it is placed on a dynamometer.
Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
CAUTION . Do not operate the engine on a free
roller when any of the wheels are raised.
. If the warning light comes on while
driving there may be a malfunction in the AWD system. Reduce the vehicle
speed and have your vehicle checked by
an INFINITI retailer as soon as possible.
. If the warning light remains on after the
above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an INFINITI retailer as soon
as possible.
. The power train may be damaged if you
continue driving with the warning light
blinking.
Black plate (367,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 1/ 17 Model: V36-D ]GUID-C8DF6266-360E-49F0-8414-C6DFBBF885DB
SD1006MA
WARNING. Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite and
cause a fire.
. Never leave the engine running while the
vehicle is unattended.
. Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly
activate switches or controls. Unat-
tended children could become involved
in serious accidents. . Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be applied and
the transmission placed into P (Park) for
Automatic Transmission (AT) model or in
an appropriate gear for Manual Trans-
mission (MT) model. Failure to do so
could cause the vehicle to move un-
expectedly or roll away and result in an
accident.
. Make sure the automatic transmission
selector lever has been pushed as far
forward as it can go and cannot be
moved without depressing the foot
brake pedal. 1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Automatic transmission models:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the R (Reverse)
gear. When parking on an uphill grade,
place the shift lever in the 1st gear.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling
into the street when parked on a
sloping drive way, it is a good practice
to turn the wheels as illustrated. .
HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
* 1
Turn the wheels into the curb and
move the vehicle forward until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb. .
HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
* 2
Turn the wheels away from the curb
and move the vehicle back until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb. .
HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
* 3
Turn the wheels toward the side of
the road so the vehicle will move
away from the center of the road if it
moves.
Starting and driving
5-47PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Black plate (370,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 1/ 17 Model: V36-D ]5-50 Starting and drivingto the object with its color and rate of
blinking.
When an object is detected, the indicator
(green) appears and blinks (the tone
sounds intermittently). When the vehicle
moves closer to the object, the color of the
indicator turns yellow and the rate of
blinking increases (the rate of the tone
increases). When the corner of the vehicle
is very close to the object, less than 11.8 in
(30 cm) away, the indicator stops blinking
and turns red (the tone sounds continu-
ously).
When the rear view monitor is displayed,
the colors of the sonar indicator and the
distance guide lines in the rear view
indicate different distances to the object.
The sonar indicator can be turned off in the
SONAR setting display. (See “ How to use
SETTING button ” (P.4-14) for the “ Sonar ”
settings.) When the sonar indicator is off,
only a tone sounds when the sonar detects
obstacles. SSD0929
SONAR SYSTEM OFF SWITCH GUID-446340A3-E5C0-4566-9701-88DF98FE3774
The sonar system OFF switch on the
instrument panel allows the driver to turn
the sonar system on and off. To turn the
sonar system on and off, the ignition
switch must be in the “ ON ” position. The
indicator light
* 1
on the switch will
illuminate when the system is turned off.
If the indicator light flashes when the
sonar system is not turned off, it may
indicate a malfunction in the sonar system. GUID-7A26DC9E-F480-487F-A4C2-174FF498CC5C
WARNING If the engine is not running or is turned off
while driving, the power assist for the
steering will not work. Steering will be
harder to operate.
The power assisted steering uses a hy-
draulic pump, driven by the engine, to
assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks,
you will still have control of the vehicle.
However, much greater steering effort is
needed, especially in sharp turns and at
low speeds.POWER STEERING
Black plate (371,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 1/ 17 Model: V36-D ]GUID-D12A8E6E-B2CE-4633-80C5-8B66D102DAA5
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS GUID-69469B45-E0A5-4BC3-B99F-C3213CC27874
The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions,
you will still have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brakes GUID-95686AE6-7A34-4D3E-9305-085085C76F84
The brake booster aids braking by using
engine vacuum. If the engine stops, you
can stop the vehicle by depressing the
brake pedal. However, greater foot pres-
sure on the brake pedal will be required to
stop the vehicle and the stopping distance
will be longer.
When the brake pedal is depressed slowly
and firmly, you may hear a clicking noise
and feel a slight pulsation. This is normal
and indicates that the Brake Assist System
is operating.
Wet brakes GUID-B2433212-C5E2-4B61-9394-8ED34BB6A681
When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet.
As a result, your braking distance will be
longer and the vehicle may pull to one side
during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly tapping the brake pedal
to heat-up the brakes. Do this until the
brakes return to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-IN GUID-B441C7AD-F0BB-453E-A531-8E92178C3484
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced,
in order to assure the best braking
performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual and can be performed by
an INFINITI retailer.
Using the brakes GUID-EB3F3C9C-0F2F-47F8-8239-331D9D489654
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will cause overheating
of the brakes, wearing out the brake and
pads faster and reduce gas mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed
and downshift to a lower gear before going
down a slope or long grade. Overheated
brakes may reduce braking performance
and could result in loss of vehicle control. WARNING . While driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating 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.
Starting and driving
5-51BRAKE SYSTEM
Black plate (374,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 1/ 17 Model: V36-D ]5-54 Starting and drivingHow to handle the sensor GUID-89745A21-1C60-412A-886B-4129187B34E7
The sensor for the Preview Function is
common with Intelligent Cruise Control and
is located below the front bumper.
To keep the Preview Function operating
properly, be sure to observe the following:
. Always keep the sensor clean. Wipe
with a soft cloth carefully so as not to
damage the sensor.
. Do not strike or damage the areas
around the sensor. Do not touch or
remove the screw located on the
sensor. Doing so could cause failure
or malfunction. If the sensor is da-
maged due to an accident, contact an
INFINITI retailer.
. Do not attach a sticker (including
transparent material) or install an
accessory near the sensor. This could
cause failure or malfunction. ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) GUID-FD13D872-FF09-485D-9889-39301203B8FE
WARNING . The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a
sophisticated device, but it cannot pre-
vent accidents resulting from careless or
dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces. Remember
that stopping distances on slippery
surfaces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if you
are using tire chains. Always maintain a
safe distance from the vehicle in front of
you. Ultimately, the driver is responsible
for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also affect
braking effectiveness.
— When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
— When installing a spare tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See “ Tire and loading information label ” (P.9-
14) of this manual.
— For detailed information, see
“ Wheels and tires ” (P.8-33) of this
manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) con-
trols the brakes so the wheels do not lock
during hard braking or when braking on
slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies
the brake fluid pressure to prevent each
wheel from locking and sliding. By pre-
venting each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system GUID-CD765EBE-4FB0-423D-988E-36D396A7E6A5
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels
from locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid
obstacles.
Black plate (375,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 1/ 17 Model: V36-D ]WARNINGDo not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature GUID-EC96AE96-D9F6-4F19-A5A9-937C4D6337A4
The ABS includes electronic sensors, elec-
tric pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a
computer. The computer has a built-in
diagnostic feature that tests the system
each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a “ clunk ” noise and/or feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal. This is normal and
does not indicate a malfunction. If the
computer senses a malfunction, it switches
the ABS off and illuminates the ABS
warning light on the instrument panel.
The brake system then operates normally,
but without anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the
vehicle checked by an INFINITI retailer. Normal operation GUID-36C3BA08-72B5-4E9B-96CF-93CCD7FE6655
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6
MPH (5 to 10 km/h).
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic
pressure. This action is similar to pumping
the brakes very quickly. You may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a
noise from under the hood or feel a
vibration from the actuator when it is
operating. This is normal and indicates
that the ABS is operating properly. How-
ever, the pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care is
required while driving. GUID-B2222C83-77D9-46CF-971F-591ADE2397C3
The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
uses various sensors to monitor driver
inputs and vehicle motion. Under certain
driving conditions, the VDC system helps
to perform the following functions.
. Controls brake pressure to reduce
wheel slip on one slipping drive wheel
so power is transferred to a non
slipping drive wheel on the same axle.
. Controls brake pressure and engine
output to reduce drive wheel slip based
on vehicle speed (traction control func-
tion).
. Controls brake pressure at individual
wheels and engine output to help the
driver maintain control of the vehicle in
the following conditions:
— understeer (vehicle tends to not
follow the steered path despite
increased steering input)
— oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due
to certain road or driving condi-
tions).
The VDC system can help the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle, but it
cannot prevent loss of vehicle control in
all driving situations.
When the VDC system operates, the VDC
warning light
in the instrument panel
Starting and driving
5-55VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) SYSTEM
Black plate (377,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 1/ 17 Model: V36-D ]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. GUID-5A0B024F-3785-40BC-BF28-384D2975453D
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 driving
5-574 WHEEL ACTIVE STEER (4WAS) SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
Black plate (379,1)
[ Edit: 2012/ 1/ 17 Model: V36-D ]more traction.
. Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
. Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
. Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise clear
road in shaded areas. If a patch of ice is
seen ahead, brake before reaching it. Try
not to brake while on the ice, and avoid
any sudden steering maneuvers.
. Do not use the cruise control on slippery
roads.
. Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gases
under your vehicle. Keep snow clear of
the exhaust pipe and from around your
vehicle. ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (for Canada
only) GUID-57C14237-474B-4E2F-8C23-788BAC9DC9B0
Engine block heaters are used to assist in
cold temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 20 8 F
( − 7 8 C) or lower.
To use the engine block heater GUID-DCD15CC7-8B8D-45F0-802F-80EFDBCBADD5
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine
block heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a
grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground
Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected,
grounded 110-volt AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be
plugged in for at least 2 - 4 hours,
depending on outside temperatures, to
properly warm the engine coolant. Use
an appropriate timer to turn the engine
block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and
properly store the cord to keep it away
from moving parts. WARNING . Do not use your engine block heater with
an ungrounded electrical system or a 2-
pronged adapter. You can be seriously
injured by an electrical shock if you use
an ungrounded connection.
. Disconnect and properly store the en-
gine block heater cord before starting
the engine. Damage to the cord could
result in an electrical shock and can
cause serious injury.
. Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged
extension cord rated for at least 10A.
Plug the extension cord into a Ground
Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-VAC outlet. Failure to use the proper
extension cord or a grounded outlet can
result in a fire or electrical shock and
cause serious personal injury.
Starting and driving
5-59