Hybrid System-12Hybrid System Overview
JVO0006X
CAUTION
Do not load large amounts of water in open
containers (aquariums or buckets) into the
vehicle. If the water spills onto the Li-ion
battery, it may cause a short circuit and
damage the battery.
Noise and vibration
After the hybrid system is activated, the
following noises and vibrations that are
unique to the hybrid system may occur.
This does not indicate a malfunction..
Electric motor noise from the engine
compartment
. Noise from the rear of the vehicle when
the hybrid system activates or deacti-
vates
. Noise and vibration when the gasoline
engine starts running or stops
. Operating noise or electric motor noise
when releasing the accelerator pedal or
depressing the brake pedal
. Engine noise due to rapid acceleration
. Fan noise from the air inlet located
between the rear seat and rear door
. Noise from the climate control system
. Noise from the vehicle in order to alert
pedestrians to the presence of an
approaching vehicle. See “Approaching
Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP)
system” (P.Hybrid System-8).
0 Illustrated table of contents
Seats, seat belts and Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS)....................................................... 0-2
Exterior front ....................................................... 0-3
Exterior rear......................................................... 0-4
Passenger compartment ...................................... 0-5
Cockpit ................................................................ 0-6 Instrument panel................................................. 0-8
Meters and gauges ............................................. 0-9
Engine compartment ......................................... 0-10
VQ35HR engine ........................................... 0-10
Warning and indicator lights ............................. 0-11
0-10Illustrated table of contents
JVM0294X
1. Engine oil filler cap (P.8-12)
2. Brake fluid reservoir (P.8-15)
3. Fuse/fusible link holder (P.8-23)
4. Air cleaner (P.8-20)
5. Inverter coolant reservoir (P.8-11)
6. Radiator filler cap (P.8-9)
7. Engine coolant reservoir (P.8-9)
8. Engine oil dipstick (P.8-12)
9. Window washer fluid reservoir(P.8-16)
VQ35HR ENGINE
The 12-volt battery is located inside the
trunk.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
2-8Instruments and controls
JVI0733X
TACHOMETER
The tachometer indicates engine speed in
revolutions per minute (RPM).Do not rev
the engine into the red zone
*1.
The scale length and the red zone vary with
the engine model.
CAUTION
When engine speed approaches the red
zone, shift to a higher gear or reduce engine
speed. Operating the engine in the red zone
may cause serious engine damage.
JVI0683X
ASSIST CHARGE GAUGE
The gauge indicates the condition of the
electric motor.
When the needle is between the center and
“charge”
*1side, this indicates that
the electric motor is generating power to
recharge the Li-ion battery.
When the needle is between the center and
the PWR
*2side, this indicates that the
electric motor is powering the drive wheels
and the Li-ion battery is discharging.
JVI0640X
FUEL GAUGE
The gauge indicates the approximatefuel
level in the tank.
The gauge may move slightly during
braking, turning, acceleration, or going up
or down hills.
The gauge needle returns to “0”(Empty)
after the ignition switch is pushed to the
OFF position.
Refill the fuel tank before the gauge
registers “0”(Empty).
The low fuel warning light
illuminates
on the meter when the fuel level is getting
low. Refuel as soon as it is convenient,
2-14Instruments and controls
2. If the brake fluid level is correct, havethe warning system checked by an
INFINITI retailer.
Brake system malfunction warning:
If the brake warning light (red) and the
following warning light illuminate at the
same time when the parking brake is
released and the brake fluid level is
sufficient, there may be a malfunction in
the brake system.
. Brake system warning light (yellow)
WARNING
If both the brake system warning light
(yellow) and the brake warning light (red)
illuminate when the parking brake is re-
leased and the hybrid system is on, do not
drive the vehicle. More brake pedal effort
than normal will be required and there will
be a significant reduction in brake perfor-
mance, which could result in an accident.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe
location and contact an INFINITI retailer.
A chime sounds if a malfunction occurs in
the brake system power supply. .
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning
light
— Avoid driving at high speed and
sudden braking, and see an INFINITI
retailer as soon as possible for an
inspection.
WARNING
. Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake warning light (red)
is on. Driving could be dangerous. If you
judge it to be safe, drive carefully to the
nearest service station for repairs.
Otherwise, have your vehicle towed
because driving it could be dangerous.
. Pressing the brake pedal with the hybrid
system stopped and/or low brake fluid
level may increase your stopping dis-
tance and braking will require greater
pedal effort as well as pedal travel.
. If the brake fluid level is below the
minimum or MIN mark on the brake fluid
reservoir, do not drive until the brake
system has been checked at an INFINITI
retailer.
Direct Response Hybrid®Sys-
tem warning light
When the ignition switch is in the ON
position, the Direct Response Hybrid®
System (hybrid system) warning light
illuminates. After starting the hybrid sys-
tem, the hybrid system warning light turns
off.
If the hybrid system warning light illumi-
nates while driving, it may indicate that
there is a malfunction in the electric motor
and/or other hybrid system components.
Stop your vehicle immediately and contact
your INFINITI retailer.
If the hybrid system warning light blinks
while driving, it may indicate that the Li-ion
battery charge is low and you cannot
continue to drive.
Do not allow the vehicle to coast when the
Li-ion battery is low or when the hybrid
system warning light blinks while driving.
The engine will not automatically start to
charge the Li-ion battery while the vehicle
is coasting.
Exterior light indicator
This indicator illuminates when the head-
light switch is turned to the AUTO,orposition and the front parking lights,
instrument panel lights, rear combination
lights, license plate lights or headlights are
on. The indicator turns off when these
lights are turned off.
Front fog light indicator light
The front fog light indicator light illumi-
nates when the front fog lights are on. (See
“Fog light switch” (P.2-47).)
Front passenger air bag status
light
The front passenger air bag status light
() located on the instrument panel will
be lit and the passenger front air bag will
be OFF depending on how the front
passenger seat is being used.
For front passenger air bag status light
operation, see “INFINITI Advanced Air Bag
System (front seats)” (P.1-42).
High beam assist indicator
light (if so equipped)
The indicator light illuminates when the
headlights come on while the headlight switch is in the AUTO position with the
high beam selected. This indicates that the
high beam assist system is operational.
(See
“High beam assist” (P.2-43).)
High beam indicator light
This light comes on when the headlight
high beam is on and goes out when the low
beam is selected.
Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)
If the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
comes on steady or blinks while the engine
is running, it may indicate a potential
emission control malfunction.
The malfunction indicator light may also
come on steady if the fuel-filler cap is loose
or missing, or if the vehicle runs out of fuel.
Check to make sure the fuel-filler cap is
installed and closed tightly, and that the
vehicle has at least 3 US gallons (11.4
liters) of fuel in the fuel tank.
After a few driving trips, the
light
should turn off if no other potential
emission control system malfunction ex-
ists.
If this indicator light remains on for 20
seconds and then blinks for 10 seconds when the engine is not running, it indicates
that the vehicle is not ready for an
emission control system inspection/main-
tenance test. (See
“Readiness for Inspec-
tion/Maintenance (I/M) test (US only)” (P.9-
22).)
Operation:
The malfunction indicator light will come
on in one of two ways:
. Malfunction indicator light on steady —
An emission control system malfunc-
tion has been detected. Check the fuel-
filler cap if the Loose Fuel Cap warning
appears in the vehicle information dis-
play. If the fuel-filler cap is loose or
missing, tighten or install the cap and
continue to drive the vehicle. The
light should turn off after a few driving
trips. If thelight does not turn off
after a few driving trips, have the
vehicle inspected by an INFINITI retai-
ler. You do not need to have your
vehicle towed to the retailer.
. Malfunction indicator light blinking —
An engine misfire has been detected
which may damage the emission con-
trol system.
To reduce or avoid emission control
system damage:
Instruments and controls2-19
2-24Instruments and controls
INDICATORS FOR OPERATION
1. Hybrid system start operation
indicator
This indicator appears when the shift lever
is in the P (Park) position.
This indicator means that the INFINITI
Direct Response Hybrid
®System will start
by pushing the ignition switch with the
brake pedal depressed. You can start the
hybrid system directly in any position of
the ignition switch.
2. NO KEY warning
The warning appears when the door is
closed with the Intelligent Key left outside
the vehicle and the ignition switch in the
ACC or ON position. Make sure that the
Intelligent Key is inside the vehicle.
See “Intelligent Key system” (P.3-6) for
more details.
3. SHIFT “P”warning
This warning will appear in the following
conditions.
.When the shift lever is in any position
except P (Park) and the push button
ignition switch has been placed in the
OFF position from the ON position. .
When the shift lever is operated while
the READY to drive indicator light is
flashing.
. The driver’s door is opened with the
shift lever in “N”,“D”or“R”.
. When the vehicle cannot be driven
because the hybrid system temperature
has become too high.
. When the engine stops due to sudden
deceleration on a cold winter day.
. If a malfunction occurs in a situation
other than those described above and
the engine cannot start automatically.
When this warning appears, place the shift
lever in the P (Park) position.
When the SHIFT “P”warning appears, a
buzzer will sound.
This warning will turn off in the following
conditions.
. When the shift lever has been placed in
the P (Park) position.
. When the ignition switch has been
pushed to ON.
4. Shift to Park - Li-ion battery low
warning
This warning appears when the shift lever
is in the “N”position and level of remain- ing charge in the Li-ion battery is low.
When this warning appears, place the shift
lever in the P (Park) position.
This will turn off in the following condi-
tions.
.
When the shift lever has been placed in
the P (Park) position.
5. Shift to Park - Press brake and
start warning
This warning appears after the hybrid
system was automatically turned off if the
level of remaining charge in the Li-ion
battery is low.
When this warning appears, place the shift
lever in the P (Park) position and restart
the hybrid system.
6. “PUSH” warning
This warning appears when the shift lever
is moved to the P (Park) position with the
ignition switch in the ACC position after the
SHIFT“P”warning appears.
To push the ignition switch to the OFF
position, perform the following procedure:
. SHIFT “P”warning ?(Move the shift
lever to “P”)?PUSH warning ?(Push
the ignition switch ?ignition switch
2-26Instruments and controls
Information label. (See“Low tire pressure
warning light” (P.2-15) and“Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” (P.5-4).)
17. Flat Tire - Visit dealer warning
This warning appears when the low tire
pressure warning light in the meter illumi-
nates and one or more flat tires are
detected while driving. A chime also
sounds for approximately 10 seconds.
(See“Low tire pressure warning light”
(P.2-15) and “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)” (P.5-4).)
18. Low oil pressure warning
This warning appears if low engine oil
pressure is detected. If the warning
appears during normal driving, pull off
the road in a safe area, stop the engine
immediately and call an INFINITI retailer or
other authorized repair shop.
The low oil pressure warning is not
designed to indicate a low oil level. Use
the dipstick to check the oil level. (See
“Engine oil”(P.8-12).)
19. High temperature warning
This warning appears when the engine
coolant temperature is extremely high.
CAUTION
If the high temperature warning appears
when the ignition switch is in the ON
position, stop the vehicle safely as soon
as possible.
If the vehicle is overheated, continuing
vehicle operation may seriously damage
the engine. (See “If your vehicle overheats”
(P.6-7) for the immediate action required.)
20. Hybrid system overheat warn-
ing
This warning appears when the tempera-
ture of the hybrid system is extremely high.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon
as possible. Avoid quick starting or abrupt
acceleration. When the warning turns off,
the vehicle can be driven.
If the warning appears again soon after it
turns off, have the vehicle checked by an
INFINITI retailer.
WARNING
Do not hold the vehicle in a stopped
position on an uphill grade by depressing
the accelerator or by slowly creeping for-
ward. This may cause damage to the
transmission or the vehicle may enter traffic
causing serious injury or death. Always use
the brake pedal when stopping on an uphill
grade.
CAUTION
. If you continue to drive the vehicle while
the warning is displayed, the vehicle
may become undriveable. If this occurs,
place the shift lever in the “P”position
and wait for a short period of time with
the vehicle stopped until the display
goes out. In this case, the warning will
be displayed alternately with the SHIFT
“P” warning. (See “3. SHIFT“P”warn-
ing” (P.2-24).)
. Do not drive the vehicle with the warning
on. Doing so could cause a hybrid
system malfunction.