2013 INFINITI M-HEV light

5-86Starting and driving
JVS0069X
SSD0749
Vehicle ahead detection indicator lightThe IBA system uses a distance sensor
*A
located 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
traveling lane, the vehicle ahead detection
indicator light on the instrument panel
blinks and a warning chime sounds.
The IBA system will be turned on/off by
pushing the IBA OFF switch. The IBA OFF
indicator light display will illuminate when
the system is turned off.
PRECAUTIONS ON IBA SYSTEM
WARNING
.
The IBA system is not a collision
avoidance system. 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 or
braking 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 and it isimpossible to detect the distance
from the vehicle ahead.
—When the reflectors on the vehicle
ahead are missing, damaged or
covered.
—When the reflectors of the vehicleahead are covered with dirt, snow or

5-88Starting and driving
system may not detect them. In these
instances the system may not be able to
warn the driver properly. Be sure to
check and clean the sensor regularly.
. Excessive noise will interfere with the
warning chime sound, and the chime
may not be heard.
. A sudden appearance of a vehicle in
front (for example, it abruptly cuts in)
may not be detected and the system may
not warn the driver soon enough.
. The system will be cancelled automati-
cally with a beep sound and the IBA
warning light will illuminate under the
following conditions:
—When the sensor window is dirty
—When the system malfunctions
If the IBA OFF indicator light illuminates
with a beep sound, pull off the road to a
safe location, stop the vehicle and turn the
hybrid system off. Check to see if the
sensor window is dirty. If the sensor
window is dirty, clean it with a soft cloth
and restart the hybrid system. If the sensor
window is not dirty, restart the hybrid
system. If the IBA OFF indicator light
continues to illuminate even if the IBA system is turned on, have the system
checked by an INFINITI retailer.
SSD1000
IBA system operation
The IBA system will function when your
vehicle is driven at speeds of approxi-
mately 10 MPH (15 km/h) or above, and
when the vehicle’s speed is approximately
10 MPH (15 km/h) faster than that of the
vehicle ahead.
To turn the system off/on, push and hold
the IBA OFF switch
*Bfor more than 1
second after starting the hybrid system.
When the IBA OFF indicator light
*Aon the
instrument panel turns off and the IBA OFF
switch is pushed, the system will turn off
and the IBA OFF indicator light will
illuminate. When the IBA OFF switch is

pushed again, the system will turn on and
the IBA OFF indicator light will turn off.
The IBA system will remain in the last ON
or OFF state it was left in until it is
manually changed by pressing the IBA
OFF switch.
Illumination of the IBA OFF indicator light
without the warning chime sound is an
indication that the IBA system is tempora-
rily unavailable. It will occur under the
following conditions:
.When driving into a strong light (for
example, sunlight)
The IBA OFF indicator light will turn off
when the system returns to its normal
operating conditions.
For the sensor maintenance, see “Intelli-
gent Cruise Control (ICC) system” earlier in
this section.
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.
Starting and driving5-89
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY

JVS0122X
SONAR SYSTEM OFF SWITCH
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
*1on the switch will
illuminate when the system is turned on.
If the indicator light flashes when the
sonar system is not turned off, it may
indicate a malfunction in the sonar system.
WARNING
. If the hybrid system is not in the ready
to drive mode or is turned off while
driving, the power assist for the steering
will not work. Steering will be harder to
operate.
. When the power steering warning light
illuminates with the hybrid system in
the ready to drive mode, there will be no
power assist for the steering. You will
still have control of the vehicle but the
steering will be harder to operate. Have
the power steering system checked by
an INFINITI retailer.
When the steering wheel is operated
repeatedly or continuously while parking
or driving at a very low speed, or when the
steering wheel is operated keeping full-
steer, the power assist for the steering
wheel will be reduced. This is to prevent
overheating of the Hybrid EPS(Electrical
Power Steering) system and protect it from
getting damaged. While the power assist is
reduced, steering wheel operation will
become heavy. but, this is not a malfunc-
tion. If the steering wheel is still operated, the Hybrid EPS may stop and the Hybrid
EPS warning light will illuminate. Stop the
hybrid system and push the ignition switch
to the
“OFF”position. If the steering wheel
is not operated for a while, the tempera-
ture of Hybrid EPS system will go down and
the power assist level will return to normal
after starting the hybrid system. Avoid
repeating such steering wheel operations
that could cause the electric power steer-
ing system to overheat. You may hear a
operational noise from the vehicle when
the steering wheel is operated quickly this
is not malfunction.
Starting and driving5-93
POWER STEERING

5-94Starting and driving
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
This vehicle is equipped with two braking
systems.
.Hydraulic brake system
. Regenerative brake system
Hydraulic brake system
The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions,
you will still have braking at two wheels.
Regenerative brake system
Refer to the “Regenerative brake” in the
“Hybrid System. Hybrid System Overview”
section.
Wet brakes
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
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
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 hybrid system is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will not work.
Braking will be harder.
CAUTION
You may hear a operational noise when the
brake pedal is depressed. This is not
malfunction.
BRAKE SYSTEM

BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force
than a regenerative brake booster even
with light pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation 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.
PREVIEW FUNCTION (Intelligent
Cruise Control system equipped
models)
When the Preview Function identifies the
need to apply emergency braking by
sensing a vehicle ahead in the same lane
and the distance and relative speed from
it, it applies the brake pre-pressure before
the driver depresses the brake pedal and
helps improve brake response by reducing
pedal free play..
This system will not operate when the
vehicle is moving at approximately 20
MPH (32 km/h) or less.
. The pre-pressure function ceases when
the following conditions are met:
1) When the driver depresses the
accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal.
2) If the driver does not operate the accelerator or brake pedal within
approximately 1 second.
SSD0338
.The sensor will not detect:
1) Pedestrians or objects in the road- way
2) Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
3) Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel lane as illustrated
WARNING
. This system is only an aid to assist
braking operation 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
Starting and driving5-95
BRAKE ASSIST

5-96Starting and driving
all times.
. As there is a performance limit to the
Preview Function, never rely solely on
this system. This system does not
correct careless inattentive or absent-
minded driving, or overcome poor visi-
bility in rain, fog, or other bad weather.
Reduce vehicle speed by depressing the
brake pedal, 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. The Preview Function may
not operate properly under the following
conditions. The vehicle is still driveable
under normal conditions and the Brake
Assist will operate.
—When rain, snow or dirt adhere to
the system sensor
—When strong light (for example, atsunrise or sunset) is directly shining
on the front of the vehicle
—Winding or hilly roads may causethe sensor to temporarily not detect
a vehicle in the same lane or may
detect objects or vehicles in other
lanes.
—Vehicle position in the lane maycause the sensor to temporarily not
detect a vehicle in the same lane or
may detect objects or vehicles in
other lanes.
SSD0471
Warning light and display
When the Preview Function is not operating
properly, a chime sounds and the system
warning light (orange) will come on.
Action to take:
If the warning light comes on, park the
vehicle in a safe place. Turn the hybrid
system off, restart the hybrid system and
resume driving.
If the indicator stays on, it may indicate
that the Preview Function is malfunction-
ing (the brake is operative). Although the
vehicle is still driveable under normal
conditions, have the vehicle checked at

5-98Starting and driving
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature
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 hybrid system 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
pulsation 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
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. 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 or
mortor output to reduce drive wheel
slip based on vehicle speed (traction
control function).
. Controls brake pressure at individual
wheels and engine or motor 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
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) SYSTEM