2012 INFINITI M warning light

5-70Starting and driving
SSD0943
PRECAUTIONS ON DISTANCE CON-
TROL ASSIST SYSTEM
The system is intended to assist the driver
to keep a following distance from the
vehicle ahead traveling in the same lane
and direction.
If the distance sensor
*Adetects a slower
moving vehicle ahead, the system will
reduce the vehicle speed to help assist
the driver to maintain a following distance.
The system automatically controls the
throttle and applies the brakes (up to
25% of vehicle braking power) if neces-
sary. The detection range of the sensor is
approximately 390 ft (120 m) ahead.
WARNING
.
This system is only an aid to assist the
driver and is not a collision warning or
avoidance device. It is the driver’ s
responsibility to stay alert, drive safely
and be in control of the vehicle at all
times.
. This system will not adapt automatically
to road conditions. Do not use the
system on roads with sharp curves, or
on icy roads, in heavy rain or in fog.
The distance sensor will not detect the
following objects:
.Stationary and slow moving vehicles
. Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
. Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
. Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel
lane
WARNING
. As there is a performance limit to the
distance control function, never rely
solely on the Distance Control Assist
system. This system does not correct
careless, inattentive or absent-minded
driving, or overcome poor visibility in
rain, fog, or other bad weather. Decele-
rate the vehicle speed by depressing the
brake pedal, depending on the distance
to the vehicle ahead and the surround-
ing circumstances in order to maintain a
safe distance between vehicles.
. The system may not detect the vehicle in
front of you in certain road or weather
conditions. To avoid accidents, never use
the Distance Control Assist system
under the following conditions:
—On roads with sharp curves
—On slippery road surfaces such as
on ice or snow, etc.
—During bad weather (rain, fog, snow,etc.)
—When strong light (for example, atsunrise or sunset) is directly shin-
ing on the front of the vehicle

5-74Starting and driving
SSD0253
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.
SSD0994
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):

The light comes on if there is a
malfunction in the DCA system.
SSD0995
Operating Distance Control Assist
(DCA) system
The DCA system turns on when the
dynamic driver assistance switch on the
steering wheel is pushed when the“Dis-
tance Control Assist ”is enabled in the
settings menu on the center display. The
Distance Control Assist (DCA) system in-
dicator in the dot matrix liquid crystal
display appears when the DCA system is
turned on.
The system will start to operate after the
vehicle speed becomes above approxi-
mately 3 MPH (5 km/h).
WARNING
When the DCA system is not necessary, be
sure to turn off the dynamic driver assis-
tance switch. Using the system when it is
not necessary may result in an accident.
Starting and driving5-75

5-76Starting and driving
SSD0939
With navigation system
SSD1001
How to enable/disable the DCA system
using the settings menu:
Perform the following steps to enable or
disable the DCA system.
1. Push the SETTING
*1button and high-
light the “Driver Assistance ”key on the
display using the INFINITI controller.
Then push the ENTER
*2button.
2. Highlight the “Dynamic Assistance Set-
tings ”key,andpushtheENTER
*2
button.
SSD1002
3. Highlight the “Distance Control Assist ”
key, select ON (enabled) or OFF (dis-
abled) and push the ENTER
*2button.
For the LDP and BSI systems, see “Lane
Departure Warning (LDW) system/Lane
Departure Prevention (LDP) system” earlier
in this section and “Blind Spot Warning
(BSW) system/Blind Spot Intervention
TM
(BSI) system” earlier in this section.

5-78Starting and driving
SSD0997
1. System set display with vehicle ahead
2. System set display without vehicleahead
System operation
WARNING
The Distance Control Assist system auto-
matically decelerates your vehicle to help
assist the driver to maintain a following
distance from the vehicle ahead. Manually
brake when deceleration is required to
maintain a safe distance upon sudden
braking by the vehicle ahead or when a vehicle suddenly appears in front of you.
Always stay alert when using the DCA
system.
The Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
helps assist the driver to keep a following
distance to the vehicle ahead by braking
and moving the accelerator pedal upward
in the normal driving condition.
When a vehicle is detected ahead:
The vehicle ahead detection indicator
comes on.When vehicle approaches a vehicle ahead:
.
If the driver ’sfootisnotonthe
accelerator pedal, the system activates
the brakes to decelerate smoothly as
necessary. If the vehicle ahead comes
to a stop, the vehicle decelerates to a
standstill within the limitations of the
system.
. If the driver ’s foot is on the accelerator
pedal, the system moves the accelera-
tor pedal upward to assist the driver to
release the accelerator pedal.
When brake operation by driver is re-
quired:
The system alerts the driver by a warning
chime and blinking the vehicle ahead
detection indicator. If the driver’ s foot is
on the accelerator pedal after the warning,
the system moves the accelerator pedal
upward to assist the driver to switch to the
brake pedal.
The stoplights of the vehicle come on
when braking is performed by the DCA
system.
When the brake operates, a noise may be
heard. This is not a malfunction.

WARNING
.When the vehicle ahead detection in-
dicator light is not illuminated, system
will not control or warn the driver.
. Never place your foot under the brake
pedal. Your foot may be caught when the
system controls the brake.
. Depending on the position of the accel-
erator pedal, the system may not be able
to assist the driver to release the
accelerator pedal appropriately.
. If the vehicle ahead comes to a stand-
still, the vehicle decelerates to a stand-
still within the limitations of the system.
The system will release brake control
with a warning chime once it judges the
vehicle is at a standstill. To prevent the
vehicle from moving, the driver must
depress the brake pedal. (The system
will resume control automatically once
the system reaches 3 MPH (5 km/h)).
Overriding the system:
The following driver’ s operation overrides
the system operation. .
When the driver depresses the accel-
erator pedal even further while the
system is moving the accelerator pedal
upward, the DCA system control of the
accelerator pedal is canceled.
. When the driver ’s foot is on the accel-
erator pedal, the brake control by the
system is not operated.
. When the driver ’s foot is on the brake
pedal, neither the brake control nor the
alert by the system operates.
. When the Intelligent Cruise Control
system is set, the DCA system will be
cancelled.
Approach warning
If your vehicle comes closer to the vehicle
ahead due to rapid deceleration of that
vehicle or if another vehicle cuts in, the
system warns the driver with the chime
and DCA system display. Decelerate by
depressing the brake pedal to maintain a
safe vehicle distance if:
. The chime sounds.
. The vehicle ahead detection indicator
blinks.
The warning chime may not sound in some
cases when there is a short distance
between vehicles. Some examples are: .
When the vehicles are traveling at the
same speed and the distance between
vehicles is not changing
. When the vehicle ahead is traveling
faster and the distance between vehi-
cles is increasing
. When a vehicle cuts in near your vehicle
The warning chime will not sound when
your vehicle approaches vehicles that are
parked or moving slowly.
Starting and driving5-79

5-80Starting and driving
SSD0284A
NOTE:
The approach warning chime may sound
and the system display may blink when
the sensor detects some reflectors
*A
which 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).
SSD0996
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 drive mode select switch is
turned to the SNOW mode

.When driving into a strong light (i.e.,
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.
SSD0998
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.
SSD0999
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
Starting and driving5-81