5-10Starting and driving
SSD1021
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
OPERATION
GUID-C6263A80-71D5-4E6C-A272-3954A4B1DE47When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal (automatic
transmission model) or the clutch pedal
(manual transmission model), the ignition
switch position will change as follows:
.Push center once to change to ACC.
. Push center two times to change to ON.
. Push center three times to change to
OFF. (No position illuminates.)
. Push center four times to return to ACC.
. Open or close any door to return to
LOCK during the OFF position. The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch position cannot be switched
to LOCK until the selector lever is moved to
the P (Park) position (Automatic Transmis-
sion models).
When the ignition switch cannot be
switched toward the LOCK position, pro-
ceed as follows:
Move the selector lever into the P (Park)
position (Automatic Transmission models).
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF
position. The ignition switch position
indicator will not illuminate.
2. Open the door. The ignition switch will change to the LOCK position.
The selector lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in
the ON position and the brake pedal is
depressed (Automatic Transmission mod-
els).
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
POSITIONS
GUID-5594C9EB-1B19-4475-A290-A2506B3FE370
LOCK (Normal parking position)GUID-D0C119C0-1BBE-4AF7-942C-D28CC739D518The ignition switch can only be locked in
this position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when
it is pushed to the ACC position while
carrying the Intelligent Key or with the
Intelligent Key inserted in the port.
ACC (Accessories)GUID-040C2876-4A2A-44EF-A191-5E900C65DC9DThis position activates electrical acces-
sories such as the radio, when the engine
is not running.
ON (Normal operating position)GUID-02F15555-A981-4C64-B456-6091EC862A4DThis position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
OFFGUID-EA88ABAE-BF06-4939-87FD-B2E480AF6DB6The engine can be turned off in this
position.
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch cannot be switched to the
LOCK position until the selector lever is
moved to the P (Park) position.
5-12Starting and driving
GUID-D003D094-8840-4736-B337-1485A661FC0B.Make sure the area around the vehicle
is clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid and window
washer fluid as frequently as possible,
or at least whenever you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appear-
ance and condition. Also check tires for
proper inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head re-
straints.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passen-
gers to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to
the ON position. (See “Warning/indica-
tor lights and audible reminders” (P.2-
10).)GUID-50357232-D4C2-4AE6-8431-0F23544AEC8E1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Automatic Transmission (AT) model:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
or N (Neutral) position. (P is recom-
mended.)
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the selector lever is in either of
the above positions.
Manual Transmission (MT) model:
Move the shift lever to the N (Neutral)
position. Depress the clutch pedal fully
to the floor.
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the clutch pedal is fully de-
pressed.
The Intelligent Key must be carried
when operating the ignition switch.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal (AT
model) or the clutch pedal (MT model)
and push the ignition switch to start
the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while
depressing the brake pedal or the
clutch pedal (MT model) with the
ignition switch in any position..If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when
restarting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to
the floor) and while holding, crank
the engine. Release the accelerator
pedal when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to startbecause it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Push the ignition
switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6
seconds, stop cranking by pushing
the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the
accelerator pedal. Crank the engine
with your foot off the accelerator
pedal by depressing the brake pedal
and the clutch pedal (MT model) and
pushing the push-button ignition
switch to start the engine. If the
engine starts, but fails to run, repeat
the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than 15
seconds at a time. If the engine does not
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-14Starting and driving
The selector lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other gear positions if the ignition switch
is pushed to the LOCK, OFF or ACC
position.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressedand push the selector lever button to
shift into a driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle
in motion.
WARNING
. Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), DS
(Drive Sport) or manual shift mode.
Always depress the brake pedal until
shifting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and have
an accident.
. Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
. Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while vehicle is moving forward. Never shift to P (Park), D (Drive) or DS (Drive
Sport) while vehicle is moving rearward.
Failure to do so could cause you to lose
control and have an accident.
CAUTION
.
When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this
purpose.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
SSD0596
Selector lever
To move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing the brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the selector lever.
ShiftingGUID-D7BE0023-45FB-4407-8021-50172CE62578After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and shift the selector lever
from P (Park) to R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D
(Drive), DS (Drive Sport) or Manual shift
mode position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be
selected without pushing the button.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector lever
is in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll away
and result in serious personal injury or
property damage.
CAUTION
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped
and the transmission is in the P (Park)
position.
P (Park) position:GUID-D73A39BF-43C8-459F-9C24-47B7F579C407Use this selector position when the vehicle
is parked or when starting the engine.
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped.The brake pedal must be de-
pressed and the selector lever button
pushed in to move the selector lever from
the N (Neutral) position or any drive
position to the P (Park) position. Apply
the parking brake. When parking on a hill,
apply the parking brake first, then move the selector lever to the P (Park) position.
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
R (Reverse):GUID-D73A39BF-43C8-459F-9C24-47B7F579C407Use this position to back up. Always be
sure the vehicle is completely stopped
before selecting the R (Reverse) position.
The brake pedal must be depressed and
the selector lever button pushed in to
move the selector lever from the P (Park)
position, the N (Neutral) position or any
drive position to the R (Reverse) position.
N (Neutral):
GUID-D73A39BF-43C8-459F-9C24-47B7F579C407Neither forward nor reverse gear is en-
gaged. The engine can be started in this
position. You may shift to the N (Neutral)
position and restart a stalled engine while
the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
GUID-D73A39BF-43C8-459F-9C24-47B7F579C407Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
DS (Drive Sport) modeGUID-E727EBD0-E14C-4AF7-955A-15CC054497DEMove the selector lever from D (Drive) to
the left into the manual shift gate. The
transmission position indicator in the
meter shows
“DS”.
In the DS (Drive Sport) mode, the transmis-
sion changes to the “sporty”driving shift
operation, creating a more aggressive
acceleration feeling than the D (Drive)
mode and providing a gear change sensa-
tion when the driver accelerates quickly.
When the driver selects the manual shift
mode using the selector lever (or the
paddle shifter) during the DS (Drive Sport)
mode operation, the driver must move the
selector lever from DS (Drive Sport) to D
(Drive) and back again to re-select the DS
(Drive Sport) mode.
Starting and driving5-15
.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 —
GUID-06BB20B5-DB70-4A4E-BFAD-8895E4D6A7ADFor 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-safeGUID-95D61986-6CBA-49FB-BC3E-01783BEA6F87When 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 releaseGUID-274AEC6C-BC56-4620-B517-6BF60F025945If 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
5-20Starting and driving
For normal acceleration in low altitude
areas [less than 4,000 ft (1,219 m)]:
Gear changeMPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 8 (13)
2nd to 3rd 16 (25)
3rd to 4th 25 (40)
4th to 5th 28 (45)
5th to 6th 33 (53)
For quick acceleration in low altitude areas
or in high altitude areas [over 4,000 ft
(1,219 m)]:
Gear change
MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (24)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40)
3rd to 4th 40 (64)
4th to 5th 45 (72)
5th to 6th 50 (80)
Suggested maximum speed in each
gear
GUID-D80D8FFC-E243-4A42-80A1-F37E2DAD3435Downshift to a lower gear if the engine is
not running smoothly, or if you need to
accelerate.
Do not exceed the maximum suggested
speed (shown below) in any gear. For level
road driving, use the highest gear sug-
gested for that speed. Always observe
posted speed limits, and drive according
to the road conditions, which will ensure
safe operation. Do not over-rev the engine
when shifting to a lower gear as it may
cause engine damage or loss of vehicle
control.
Gear
MPH (km/h)
1st 37 (59)
2nd 60 (97)
3rd 86 (139)
4th —
5th —
6th —
GUID-C354B87D-A77A-4597-B44D-5DABBFE0B557
WARNING
.
Be sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
. Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
. Do not use the gear shift in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
. Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident.
PARKING BRAKE
SPA2331
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MOD-
ELS
GUID-7BD55BEB-D39A-46B1-B0E0-6BA2C1D8E099To apply:Fully depress the parking brake
pedal
*1.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake
*2.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal
*1and the parking brake will be released.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake
warning light goes out.
SPA2110
MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELSGUID-2785E65B-1C97-4514-9D4F-A25812E781CFTo apply: Pull the parking brake lever up
*1.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. While pulling up on the parking brake lever slightly, push the button
*2and
lower the lever completely
*3.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake
warning light goes out.
GUID-ADD2F317-BCB0-4856-B0CF-7BFF08E2F31E
PRECAUTIONS ON CRUISE CONTROLGUID-B32B526D-3157-4B40-8BC1-CC361B6ACA56.If the cruise control system malfunc-
tions, it will cancel automatically. The
SET indicator on the dot matrix crystal
display will then blink to warn the
driver.
. If the engine coolant temperature be-
comes excessively high, the cruise
control system will be canceled auto-
matically.
. If the SET indicator blinks, turn the
cruise control main switch off and have
the system checked by your INFINITI
retailer.
. The SET indicator may sometimes blink
when the cruise control main switch is
turned ON while pushing the ACCELER-
ATE/RESUME, COAST/SET or CANCEL
switch. To properly set the cruise
control system, perform the steps
below in the order indicated.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control when driving
under the following conditions:
. when it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed
Starting and driving5-21
CRUISE CONTROL
SSD0609
To set cruising speed,accelerate your
vehicle to the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it. (Vehicle
ahead detection indicator, set distance
indicator and set vehicle speed indicator
come on.) Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal. Your vehicle will maintain the set
speed.
SSD0784
When the COAST/SET switch is pushed
under the following conditions, the system
cannot be set and the ICC indicators will
blink for approximately 2 seconds.
. When traveling below 25 MPH (40
km/h) and the vehicle ahead is not
detected
. When the selector lever is not in the D,
DS or Manual mode
. When the windshield wipers are operat-
ing at low (LO) or high speed (HI)
. When the rain sensing auto wiper
system (if so equipped) is operated
and the wiper speed is at least the
same as the LO (low ) position speed .
When the brakes are operated by the
driver
. When the parking brake is applied
Starting and driving5-33