2013 INFINITI M-HEV light

flashes so note the following:
.The road may be slippery or the system
may determine some action is required
to help keep the vehicle on the steered
path.
. You may feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal and hear a noise or vibration
from under the hood. This is normal
and indicates that the VDC system is
working properly.
. Adjust your speed and driving to the
road conditions.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warn-
ing light” in the“2. Instruments and
controls” section.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
VDC warning light
illuminates in the
instrument panel. The VDC system auto-
matically turns off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the
VDC system. The VDC off indicator
illuminates to indicate the VDC system is
off. When the VDC switch is used to turn off
the system, the VDC system still operates
to prevent one drive wheel from slipping by
transferring power to a non slipping drive
wheel. The VDC warning light
flashes if
this occurs. All other VDC functions are off,
except for rise-up and build-up and brake force distribution, and the VDC warning
light
will not flash. The VDC system is
automatically reset to on when the ignition
switch is placed in the off position then
back to the on position.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warn-
ing light” in the“2. Instruments and
controls” section and “Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) off indicator light” in the“2.
Instruments and controls” section.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time you
start the hybrid system and move the
vehicle forward or in reverse at a slow
speed. 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
is not an indication of a malfunction.
ACTIVE TRACE CONTROL (if so
equipped)
This system senses driving based on the
driver’s steering and acceleration/braking
patterns, and individually controls the
braking and application of engine or motor
torque to each of the four wheels to help
smooth vehicle response.
When the drive mode selector switch is set
to the “SPORT” mode, the amount of brake control provided by active trace control is
reduced.
When the VDC OFF switch is used to turn off
the VDC system, the active trace control
system is also turned off.
If the active trace control is not functioning
properly, the IBA OFF indicator light illumi-
nates in the instrument panel.
RISE-UP AND BUILD-UP
The system gradually adjusts braking
power during normal braking to help
provide an enhanced brake feel.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns,
the system optimizes the distribution of
force to each of the four wheels depending
on the radius of the turn.
WARNING
.
The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain stability but does not
prevent accidents due to abrupt steering
operation at high speeds or by careless
or dangerous driving techniques. Reduce
vehicle speed and be especially careful
when driving and cornering on slippery
Starting and driving5-99

5-100Starting and driving
surfaces and always drive carefully.
. The active trace control (if so equipped),
rise-up and build-up and brake force
distribution systems may not be effec-
tive depending on the driving condition.
Always drive carefully and attentively.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock
absorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer
bars, bushings and wheels are not
INFINITI recommended for your vehicle
or are extremely deteriorated, the VDC
system may not operate properly. This
could adversely affect vehicle handling
performance, and the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
. If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not INFINITI
recommended or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate
properly and the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
. If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
. When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked corners, the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly and the VDC warning light
may
illuminate. Do not drive on these types
of roads.
. When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the VDC warning light
may
illuminate. This is not a malfunction.
Restart the hybrid system after driving
onto a 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.
WARNING
.Never rely solely on the hill start assist
system to prevent the vehicle from
moving backward on a hill. Always drive
carefully and attentively. Depress the
brake pedal when the vehicle is stopped
on a steep hill. Be especially careful
when stopped on a hill on frozen or
muddy roads. Failure to prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards may
result in a loss of control of the vehicle
and possible serious injury or death.
. The hill start assist system is not
designed to hold the vehicle at a
standstill on a hill. Depress the brake
pedal when the vehicle is stopped on a
steep hill. Failure to do so may cause the
vehicle to roll backwards and may result
in a collision or serious personal injury.
. The hill start assist system may not
prevent the vehicle from rolling back-
wards on a hill under all load or road
conditions. Always be prepared to de-
press the brake pedal to prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards. Failure to
do so may result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM

6-2In case of emergency
In the event of a roadside emergency,
Roadside Assistance Service is available to
you. Please refer to your Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet (U.S.) or Warranty & Roadside
Assistance Information Booklet (Canada)
for details.To shut off the INFINITI Direct Response
HybridTMSystem in an emergency situa-
tion, while driving perform the following
procedure:
. Rapidly push the push-button ignition
switch 3 consecutive times, or
. Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds.TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYS-
TEM (TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). It
monitors tire pressure of all tires except
the spare. When the low tire pressure
warning light is lit and the CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE warning appears in the dot
matrix liquid crystal display, one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
If the vehicle is being driven with low tire
pressure, the TPMS will activate and warn
you of it by the low tire pressure warning
light. This system will activate only when
the vehicle is driven at speeds above 16
MPH (25 km/h). For more details, see
“Warning/indicator lights and audible re-
minders” in the“2. Instruments and
controls” section and “Tire Pressure Mon-
itoring System (TPMS) ”in the “5. Starting
and driving” section.
WARNING
.If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates or LOW PRESSURE informa-
tion is displayed on the monitor screen
while driving, avoid sudden steering
maneuvers or abrupt braking, reduce
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EMERGENCY INFINITI DIRECT RESPONSE
HYBRIDTMSYSTEM SHUT OFFFLAT TIRE

vehicle speed, pull off the road to a safe
location and stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. Driving with under-inflated
tires may permanently damage the tires
and increase the likelihood of tire fail-
ure. Serious vehicle damage could occur
and may lead to an accident and could
result in serious personal injury. Check
the tire pressure for all four tires. Adjust
the tire pressure to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light OFF. If
the light still illuminates while driving
after adjusting the tire pressure, a tire
may be flat. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.
. When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel
is replaced, the TPMS will not function
and the low tire pressure warning light
will flash for approximately 1 minute.
The light will remain on after 1 minute.
Contact your INFINITI retailer as soon as
possible for tire replacement and/or
system resetting.
. Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS. .
Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pressure
sensors.
CHANGING A FLAT TIRE
If you have a flat tire, follow the instruc-
tions below.
Stopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road
and away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking brake. Move the selector lever
to the P (Park) position.
4. Turn off the INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
TMSystem.
5. Raise the hood to warn other traffic, and to signal professional road assis-
tance personnel that you need assis-
tance.
6. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place, away
from traffic and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
. Make sure the parking brake is securely
applied and the automatic transmission
into P (Park).
. Never change tires when the vehicle is
on a slope, ice or slippery areas. This is
hazardous.
. Never change tires if oncoming traffic is
close to your vehicle. Wait for profes-
sional road assistance.
In case of emergency6-3

6-8In case of emergency
JVE0012X
6. Put trunk floor cover*1against in the
trunk room and store the damaged tire.
7. Close the trunk.
WARNING
. Always make sure that the spare tire and
jacking equipment are properly secured
after use. Such items can become
dangerous projectiles in an accident or
sudden stop.
. The T-type spare tire and small size
spare tire are designed for emergency
use. See specific instructions under the heading
“Wheels and tires” in the“8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
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 Information Booklet (Canada). Before attempting to jump start the vehi-
cle, make sure the fuel tank is not empty
and the correct starting procedure is
followed. See
“Starting the INFINITI Direct
Response HybridTMSystem” in the“5.
Starting and driving” section. Do not drive
the vehicle on battery power only if the fuel
tank is empty. The Lithium ion (Li-ion)
battery will become discharged and the
INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
TMSystem
will turn off.
CONFIRM BATTERY IS DISCHARGED
If any of the following conditions occurs,
the 12-volt battery might discharged:
. The instrument cluster and/or head-
lights are not normal brightness.
. Audio accessories cannot be turned on.
. The hybrid system does not become
ready to drive mode.
. The ignition switch cannot be placed in
the ON position.
Check the following if you notice above
conditions.
1. Check that the 12-volt battery terminals are tight and clean. See “12-volt
battery” in the“8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section. The battery is
located on the left hand side of the
IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START

6-10In case of emergency
Booklet or Roadside Assistance I.D. Card
for the toll-free number to call (U.S.) or
Warranty Information Booklet (Canada).
JVE0010X
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 the 12-volt
battery and fuse box into close proxi-
mity to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch. 2. Apply parking brake. Move the selector
lever to the P (Park) position. Switch off
all unnecessary electrical systems
(light, heater, air conditioner, etc.).
3. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
*1?*2?*3?*4).
For models with a steering wheel lock
mechanism: If the 12-volt battery is
disconnected or discharged, the steer-
ing wheel will lock and cannot be
turned. Supply power using jumper
cables before pushing the ignition
switch and disengaging the steering
lock.

7-2Appearance and care
In order to maintain the appearance of
your vehicle, it is important to take proper
care of it.
To protect the paint surface, wash your
vehicle as soon as you can:
.after a rainfall to prevent possible
damage from acid rain
. after driving on coastal roads
. when contaminants such as soot, bird
droppings, tree sap, metal particles or
bugs get on the paint surface
. when dust or mud builds up on the
surface
Whenever possible, store or park your
vehicle inside a garage or in a covered
area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park
in a shady area or protect the vehicle with
a body cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body
cover.WASHING
Wash dirt off the vehicle with a wet sponge
and plenty of water. Clean the vehicle
thoroughly using a mild soap, a special
vehicle soap or general purpose dishwash-
ing liquid mixed with clean, lukewarm
(never hot) water.
CAUTION
. Do not use car washes that use acid in
the detergent. Some car washes, espe-
cially brushless ones, use some acid for
cleaning. The acid may react with some
plastic vehicle components, causing
them to crack. This could affect their
appearance, and also could cause them
not to function properly. Always check
with your car wash to confirm that acid
is not used.
. Do not wash the vehicle with strong
household soap, strong chemical deter-
gents, gasoline or solvents.
. Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun-
light or while the vehicle body is hot, as
the surface may become water-spotted.
. Avoid using tight-napped or rough
cloths, such as washing mitts. Care must be taken when removing caked-on
dirt or other foreign substances so the
paint surface is not scratched or da-
maged.
Rinse the vehicle again with plenty of clean
water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the
doors, hatches and hood are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of road salt.
Therefore, these areas must be regularly
cleaned. Make sure that the drain holes in
the lower edge of the door are open. Spray
water under the body and in the wheel
wells to loosen the dirt and wash away
road salt.
Avoid leaving water spots on the paint
surface by using a damp chamois to dry
the vehicle.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface
and helps retain new vehicle appearance.
Polishing is recommended to remove built-
up wax residue and to avoid a weathered
appearance before reapplying wax.
An INFINITI retailer can assist you in
choosing the proper product.
CLEANING EXTERIOR

7-4Appearance and care
ambient temperature.
. Rinse the wheel to completely remove
the cleaner within 15 minutes after the
cleaner is applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the
finish.
TIRE DRESSING
INFINITI does not recommend the use of
tire dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a
coating to the tires to help reduce dis-
coloration of the rubber. If a tire dressing is
applied to the tires, it may react with the
coating and form a compound. This com-
pound may come off the tire while driving
and stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take
the following precautions:
.Use a water-based tire dressing. The
coating on the tire dissolves more
easily with an oil-based tire dressing.
. Apply a light coat of tire dressing to
help prevent it from entering the tire
tread/grooves (where it would be diffi-
cult to remove). .
Wipe off excess tire dressing using a
dry towel. Make sure the tire dressing
is completely removed from the tire
tread/grooves.
. Allow the tire dressing to dry as
recommended by tire dressing manu-
facturer. Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim, plastic parts and seats using
a vacuum cleaner or soft bristled brush.
Wipe the vinyl and leather surfaces with a
clean, soft cloth dampened in mild soap
solution, then wipe clean with a dry soft
cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in
order to maintain the appearance of the
leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer’
s recommendations. Some
fabric protectors contain chemicals that
may stain or bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water, to
clean the meter and gauge lens.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classification
sensors. This can also affect the operation
of the air bag system and result in serious
personal injury.
CLEANING INTERIOR