2014 INFINITI Q50 HYBRID suspension

5-104Starting and driving
DIRECT ADAPTIVE STEERING TYPE
WARNING
When the power steering warning light
illuminates with the INFINITI Direct Re-
sponse Hybrid
®System running, the power
assist for the steering will cease operation.
You will still have control of the vehicle, but
the steering will be harder to operate.
CAUTION
. If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI
recommended ones are used, the direct
adaptive steering system may not oper-
ate properly and the power steering
warning light may illuminate.
. 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 direct
adaptive steering system may not oper-
ate properly and the power steering
warning light may illuminate. .
Do not modify the vehicle’s steering. If
steering parts are not INFINITI recom-
mended for your vehicle or are extremely
deteriorated, the direct adaptive steer-
ing system may not operate properly and
the power steering warning light may
illuminate.
. If the VDC warning light illuminates, the
power steering warning light may also
illuminate at the same time. Stop the
vehicle in a safe location, turn the hybrid
system off and restart the hybrid sys-
tem. If the power steering warning light
continues to illuminate, have the system
checked by an INFNITI retailer. For the
VDC system, see “Vehicle Dynamic Con-
trol (VDC) system” (P.5-108).
. Do not place the ignition switch is in the
ON position while the steering wheel or
a tire is removed.
. Do not turn the steering wheel as much
as possible while the ignition switch is
in any position other than the ON
position.
. Installing an accessory on the steering
wheel, or changing the steering wheel,
may reduce the steering performance.
The direct adaptive steering system is
designed to control the steering force and
steering angle according to the vehicle
speed and amount of turning of the
steering wheel.
The steering characteristic can be selected
with the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector. See
“INFINITI Drive Mode Selector” (P.5-21).
When the steering wheel is operated
repeatedly or continuously while parking
or driving at a very low speed, the power
assist for the steering wheel will be
reduced and the steering wheel may be
slightly turned even when driving on a
straight road. This is to prevent overheat-
ing of the direct adaptive steering system
and protect it from getting damaged. When
the temperature of the direct adaptive
steering system cools down, the power
assist level will return to normal. Avoid
repeating steering wheel operations that
could cause the direct adaptive steering
system to overheat.
If the power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the hybrid system is running, it
may indicate that the direct adaptive
steering system is not functioning properly
and may need servicing. Have the system
checked by an INFINITI retailer. (See
POWER STEERING

lightwill 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” (P.2-18) and “Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-20).
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time you
start the INFINITI Direct Response 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 pulsation in the brake pedal. This
is normal and is not an indication of a
malfunction.
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
surfaces and always drive carefully.
. The rise-up and build-up, and brake force
distribution system may not be effective
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-
Starting and driving5-109

6-12In case of emergency
after use.
CAUTION
.Tow chains or cables must be attached
only to the vehicle recovery hooks or
main structural members of the vehicle.
Otherwise, the vehicle body will be
damaged.
. Do not use the vehicle tie downs to free
a vehicle stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.
. Never tow a vehicle using the vehicle tie
downs or recovery hooks.
. Always pull the cable straight out from
the front of the vehicle. Never pull on the
vehicle at an angle.
. Pulling devices should be routed so they
do not touch any part of the suspension,
steering, brake or cooling systems.
. Pulling devices such as ropes or canvas
straps are not recommended for use in
vehicle towing or recovery.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use the following procedure: 1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear an area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and backward.
.Shift back and forth between R
(Reverse) and D (Drive).
.Apply the accelerator as little as
possible to maintain the rocking
motion.
.Release the accelerator pedal beforeshifting between R and D.
.Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH(55 km/h).
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing
service to remove the vehicle.

.Wax your vehicle only after a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions sup-
plied with the wax.
. Do not use a wax containing any
abrasives, cutting compounds or clea-
ners that may damage the vehicle
finish.
Machine compound or aggressive polish-
ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the paint surface to avoid lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning
products are available at an INFINITI
retailer or any automotive accessory
stores.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter,
the underbody must be cleaned regularly.
This will prevent dirt and salt from building
up and causing the acceleration of corro-
sion on the underbody and suspension.
Before the winter period and again in the
spring, the underseal must be checked
and, if necessary, re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is
normal for glass to become coated with a
film after the vehicle is parked in the hot
sun. Glass cleaner and a soft cloth will
easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the windows,
do not use sharp-edged tools, abrasive
cleaners or chlorine-based disinfectant clea-
ners. They could damage the electrical
conductors, radio antenna elements or rear
window defroster elements.
WHEELS
Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle
to maintain their appearance.
. Clean the inner side of the wheels when
the wheel is changed or the underside
of the vehicle is washed.
. Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents
or corrosion. Such damage may cause
loss of pressure or poor seal at the tire
bead. .
INFINITI recommends that the road
wheels be waxed to protect against
road salt in areas where it is used
during winter.
CAUTION
Do not use abrasive cleaners when washing
the wheels.
Aluminum alloy wheels
Wash regularly with a sponge dampened in
a mild soap solution, especially during
winter months in areas where road salt is
used. Salt could discolor the wheels if not
removed.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid stain-
ing or discoloring the wheels:
. Do not use a cleaner that uses strong
acid or alkali contents to clean the
wheels.
. Do not apply wheel cleaners to the
wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as
Appearance and care7-3

WARNING
.Although you can continue driving with a
punctured run-flat tire, remember that
vehicle handling stability is reduced,
which could lead to an accident and
personal injury. Also, driving a long
distance at high speeds may damage
the tire.
. Do not drive at speeds above 50 MPH
(80 km/h) and do not drive more than
approximately 93 miles (150 km) with a
punctured run-flat tire. The actual dis-
tance the vehicle can be driven on a flat
tire depends on outside temperature,
vehicle load, road conditions and other
factors.
. Drive safely at reduced speeds. Avoid
hard cornering or braking, which may
cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
. If you detect any unusual sounds or
vibrations while driving with a punctured
run-flat tire, pull off the road to a safe
location and stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. The tire may be seriously
damaged and need to be replaced.
CAUTION
.Never install tire chains on a punctured
run-flat tire, as this could damage your
vehicle.
. Avoid driving over any projection or
pothole, as the clearance between the
vehicle and the ground is smaller than
normal.
. Do not enter an automated car wash with
a punctured run-flat tire.
. Have the punctured tire inspected by an
INFINITI retailer or other authorized
repair shop. Replace the tire as soon
as possible if the tire is seriously
damaged.
TIRE CHAINS
Use of tire chains may be prohibited
according to location. Check the local laws
before installing tire chains. When instal-
ling tire chains, make sure they are the
proper size for the tires on your vehicle and
are installed according to the chain man-
ufacturer’ s suggestions. Use only SAE
Class S chains. Class“S”chains are used
on vehicles with restricted tire to vehicle clearance. Vehicles that can use Class
“S”
chains are designed to meet the SAE
standard minimum clearances between
the tire and the closest vehicle suspension
or body component required to accommo-
date the use of a winter traction device (tire
chains or cables). The minimum clearances
are determined using the factory equipped
tire size. Other types may damage your
vehicle. Use chain tensioners when recom-
mended by the tire chain manufacturer to
ensure a tight fit. Loose end links of the
tire chain must be secured or removed to
prevent the possibility of whipping action
damage to the fenders or underbody. If
possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle
when using tire chains. In addition, drive at
a reduced speed. Otherwise, your vehicle
may be damaged and/or vehicle handling
and performance may be adversely af-
fected.
Tire chains must be installed only on the
rear wheels and not on the front wheels.
Never install tire chains on a punctured
run-flat tire, as this could damage your
vehicle.
Do not use tire chains on dry roads. Driving
with tire chains in such conditions can
cause damage to the various mechanisms
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-37