2013 INFINITI QX56 four wheel drive

2) Avoid hard acceleration or decelera-tion.
3) Avoid steep uphill grades.
4) If possible, reduce the amount of cargo being hauled or towed.
The malfunction indicator light may
stop blinking and remain on.
Have the vehicle inspected by an
INFINITI retailer. You do not need to
have your vehicle towed to the retailer.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation without having
the emission control system checked and
repaired as necessary could lead to poor
driveability, reduced fuel economy, and
possible damage to the emission control
system.
Security indicator light
The light blinks when the ignition switch is
in the ACC, OFF and LOCK position. This
function indicates the security system
equipped on the vehicle is operational.
If the security system is malfunctioning,
this light will remain on while the ignition switch is in the ON position. For additional
information, see
“Security systems” later
in this section.
SNOW mode indicator light
When selecting SNOW mode while the
engine is running, this light will illuminate.
(See “SNOW mode” in the“5. Starting and
driving” section.)
TOW mode indicator light
This light will illuminate when the TOW
MODE is selected while the engine is
running. (See “Tow mode” in the“5.
Starting and driving” section.)
Turn signal/hazard indicator
lights
The light flashes when the turn signal
switch lever or hazard switch is turned on.
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
off indicator light
The light comes on when the vehicle
dynamic control off switch is pushed to
OFF. This indicates that the vehicle dynamic
control system is not operating.
When the 4L position is selected with the
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) shift switch, the
VDC system is disabled and the VDC off indicator light illuminates. (4WD models)
For additional information, see
“Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system” in the“5.
Starting and driving” section of this
manual.
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
Key reminder chime
A chime will sound if the driver side door is
opened while the ignition switch is pushed
to the ACC position. Make sure the ignition
switch is pushed to the OFF position, and
take the Intelligent Key with you when
leaving the vehicle.
Light reminder chime
A chime will sound when the driver side
door is opened with the light switch in the
orposition and the ignition switch
in the ACC, OFF or LOCK position.
Turn the light switch off when you leave the
vehicle.
The chime will also sound for 2 seconds
when the ignition switch is turned to the
OFF position with the fog lights on while
the headlight switch is in the AUTO
position (if so equipped).
Instruments and controls2-21

2-22Instruments and controls
Parking brake reminder chime
The chime will sound if the vehicle is driven
at more than 4 MPH (7 km/h) with the
parking brake applied. Stop the vehicle
and release the parking brake.
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires
replacement, it will make a high pitched
scraping sound when the vehicle is in
motion. This scraping sound will first occur
only when the brake pedal is depressed.
After more wear of the brake pad, the
sound will always be heard even if the
brake pedal is not depressed. Have the
brakes checked as soon as possible if the
warning sound is heard.
SIC4379
The dot matrix liquid crystal display
appears in the vehicle information display
*1located between the speedometer and
odometer, and shows the indicators for the
driving systems, Intelligent Key operation
and various warnings and information.
For detailed information about each sys-
tem, see the following sections:
. Automatic Transmission (AT)
—“ Warning/indicator lights and audi-
ble reminders” earlier in this sec-
tion.
—“ Driving the vehicle” in the“5.
Starting and driving” section..
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) system
—“ INFINITI all-mode 4WD
®”in the “5.
Starting and driving” section.
. Back-up Collision Intervention (BCI)
system
—“ Blind Spot Warning/Blind Spot
Intervention
TM/Back-up Collision In-
tervention systems” in the“5. Start-
ing and driving” section.
. Cruise control system
—“ Cruise control” in the“5. Starting
and driving” section.
. Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
—“ Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) sys-
tem” in the “5. Starting and driving”
section.
. Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
—“ Distance Control Assist (DCA) sys-
tem” in the “5. Starting and driving”
section.
. Intelligent Key system
—“ Intelligent Key system” in the“3.
Pre-driving checks and adjust-
ments” section.
—“ Push-button ignition switch” in the
“5. Starting and driving” section.
DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY

2-26Instruments and controls
17.“TIMER” indicator
This indicator appears when the set
“TIMER” indicator activates. You can set
the time for up to 6 hours. (See “Trip
computer” later in this section.)
18. Low outside temperature warn-
ing
This warning appears if the outside tem-
perature is below 378F(3 8C). The warning
can be set not to be displayed. (See “Trip
computer” later in this section.)
19. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) shift
indicator (4WD models)
This indicator shows the Four-Wheel Drive
(4WD) driving mode (AUTO, 4HI or 4LO) that
is selected by the 4WD shift switch. (See
“INFINITI all-mode 4WD
®”in the “5. Start-
ing and driving” section.)
20. Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
system MAIN switch indicator (if so
equipped)
The Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
main switch indicator (CRUISE) is displayed
when the ICC main switch is pushed. When
the main switch is pushed again, the
indicator disappears. While the CRUISE indicator is displayed, the ICC system is
operational.
The cruise control set indicator (SET) is
displayed while the vehicle is controlled by
the conventional (fixed speed) cruise con-
trol mode of the ICC system.
For more details, see
“Intelligent Cruise
Control (ICC) system” in the“5. Starting
and driving” section.
21. Distance Control Assist (DCA)
system switch indicator (if so
equipped)
The indicator is displayed when the Dis-
tance Control Assist (DCA) system switch is
pushed on. When the switch is pushed
again, the indicator disappears. While the
indicator is displayed, the DCA system is
operational. (See “Distance Control Assist
(DCA) system” in the“5. Starting and
driving” section.)
22. Back-up Collision Intervention
(BCI) system indicator (if so
equipped)
The BCI ON indicator (SYSTEM ON) appears
when the shift lever is in the R (Reverse)
position with the Back-up Collision Inter-
vention (BCI) system turned on. If the BCI system is turned off using the BCI
switch, the BCI OFF indicator (SYSTEM OFF)
appears.
For more details, see
“Blind Spot Warning/
Blind Spot Intervention
TM/Back-up Colli-
sion Intervention systems” in the“5.
Starting and driving” section.

tions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if
there is a sudden loss of tire air pressure.
Losing control of the vehicle may cause a
collision and result in personal injury.
.The vehicle generally moves or pulls in
the direction of the flat tire.
. Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
. Do not rapidly release the accelerator
pedal.
. Do not rapidly turn the steering wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering
wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from
traffic if possible. 5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradu-
ally stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and either contact a roadside emer-
gency service to change the tire or see
“Changing a flat tire” in the“6. In case
of emergency” section of this Owner’s
Manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream reduces
coordination, delays reaction time and im-
pairs judgement. Driving after drinking
alcohol increases the likelihood of being
involved in an accident injuring yourself and
others. Additionally, if you are injured in an
accident, alcohol can increase the severity
of the injury.
INFINITI is committed to safe driving.
However, you must choose not to drive
under the influence of alcohol. Every year
thousands of people are injured or killed in
alcohol-related accidents. Although the local laws vary on what is considered to
be legally intoxicated, the fact is that
alcohol affects all people differently and
most people underestimate the effects of
alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix!
And that is true for drugs, too (over-the-
counter, prescription, and illegal drugs).
Don’t drive if your ability to operate your
vehicle is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or
some other physical condition.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your INFINITI is designed for both normal
and off-road use. However, avoid driving in
deep water or mud as your INFINITI is
mainly designed for leisure use, unlike a
conventional off-road vehicle.
Remember that Two-Wheel Drive (2WD)
models are less capable than Four-Wheel
Drive (4WD) models for rough road driving
and extrication when stuck in deep snow,
mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
Starting and driving5-9

states for emissions testing), or similar
equipment even if the other two wheels
are raised off the ground. Make sure you
inform test facility personnel that your
vehicle is equipped with 4WD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using the
wrong test equipment may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury (4WD
models).
. When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
. Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may cause
loss of control.
. If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high speeds.
Your vehicle has a higher center of
gravity than a conventional passenger
car. The vehicle is not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as con-
ventional passenger cars. Failure to
operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a rollover
accident.
. Always use tires of the same type, size, brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Install tire chains on the rear
wheels when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully.
. Be sure to check the brakes immediately
after driving in mud or water. See “Brake
system” later in this section for wet
brakes.
. Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or sideways,
you could be injured.
. Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent maintenance
may be required. See the maintenance
information in the “INFINITI Service and
Maintenance Guide”.
. Spinning the rear wheels on slippery
surfaces may cause the 4WD warning
light to flash. The 4WD system may also
automatically switch from the 4WD
mode to the 2WD mode. This could
reduce traction. Be especially careful
when towing a trailer (4WD models).WARNING
Do not operate the push-button ignition
switch while driving the vehicle except in an
emergency. (The engine will stop when the
ignition switch is pushed 3 consecutive
times or the ignition switch is pushed and
held for more than 2 seconds.) If the engine
stops while the vehicle is being driven, this
could lead to a crash and serious injury.
Before operating the push-button ignition
switch, be sure to move the shift lever to
the P (Park) position.
Starting and driving5-11
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH

5-100Starting and driving
.Keep your engine tuned up.
. Follow the recommended scheduled
maintenance.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct
pressure. Low tire pressure increases
tire wear and lowers fuel economy.
. Keep the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
. Use the recommended viscosity engine
oil. (See “Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation” in the“9. Technical
and consumer information” section.)
WARNING
.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 a 4WD equipped
vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer or
similar equipment even if the other two
wheels are raised off the ground. Make
sure you inform test facility personnel
that your vehicle is equipped with 4WD
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 drive the vehicle in the 4HI or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads.
Driving on dry, hard surfaces in 4HI or 4LO may cause unnecessary noise, tire
wear and increased fuel consumption.
If the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) warning
light turns on when driving on dry hard
surface roads:
—in the 4HI position, shift the 4WD
shift switch to AUTO.
—in the 4LO position, stop the vehicleand shift the transmission lever to
the N (Neutral) position with the
brake pedal depressed and shift the
4WD shift switch to AUTO.
If the 4WD warning light is still on
after the above operation, have your
vehicle checked by an INFINITI retai-
ler as soon as possible.
. The transfer case may be damaged if you
continue driving with the 4WD warning
light blinking.
See “On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions” earlier in this section for
other precautions for offroad driving.
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY INFINITI ALL-MODE 4WD®(if so equipped)

SSD0471
Warning light and display
When the Preview Function is not operating
properly, the 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 engine off,
restart the engine 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
an INFINITI retailer.
How to handle the sensor
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)
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
Starting and driving5-113

5-118Starting and driving
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see
“Tire chains”in the“8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
For four-wheel drive
If you install snow tires, they must also be
the same size, brand, construction and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
.A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to
remove ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.
. A sturdy, flat board to be placed under
the jack to give it firm support.
. A shovel to dig the vehicle out of
snowdrifts.
. Extra window washer fluid to refill the
reservoir tank.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
. Wet ice (328F, 0 8C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip”under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until the road is salted or
sanded.
. Whatever the condition, drive with cau-
tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even
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 (if so
equipped)
Engine block heaters are used to assist in
cold temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used
when the outside temperature is 208 F
(−78C) or lower.
To use the engine block heater
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,