2014 INFINITI Q50-HYBRID ESP

5-108Starting and driving
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
motor output to reduce drive wheel slip
based on vehicle speed (traction con-
trol 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 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” (P.2-18).
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 light
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
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) SYSTEM

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

5-110Starting and driving
nate.
. The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.This system senses driving based on the
driver’s steering and acceleration/braking
patterns, and controls brake pressure at
individual wheels and hybrid system out-
put to help smooth vehicle response.
When the SPORT mode is selected by the
INFINITI Drive Mode Selector, the amount of
brake control provided by the active trace
control is reduced.
When the PERSONAL mode is selected, the
active trace control can be set to ON
(enabled) or OFF (disabled). See “INFINITI
Drive Mode Selector” (P.5-21).
When the VDC OFF switch is used to turn off
the VDC system, the active trace control is
also turned off.
ACTIVE TRACE CONTROL

5-112Starting and driving
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.The hill start assist system automatically
keeps the brakes applied to help prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards in the
time it takes the driver to release the brake
pedal and apply the accelerator when the
vehicle is stopped on a hill.
The hill start assist system will operate
automatically under the following condi-
tions:
.
The transmission is shifted to a forward
or reverse gear.
. The vehicle is stopped completely on a
hill by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds.
After 2 seconds the vehicle will begin to
roll back and the hill start assist system
will stop operating completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate
when the transmission is shifted to the N
(Neutral) or P (Park) position or on a flat
and level road. The chassis control is electric control
module, including the following function:
.
Log-in function (See “Log-in function”
(P.3-14).)
. INFINITI Drive Mode Selector (See
“ INFINITI Drive Mode Selector” (P.5-
21).)
. Active Lane Control (if so equipped)
(See “Active Lane Control” (P.5-24).)
. Active Trace Control (See “Active trace
control” (P.5-110).)
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM CHASSIS CONTROL

5-114Starting and driving
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 INFINITI Direct Response Hy- brid®System 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,
depending on outside temperatures, to
properly warm the engine coolant. Use
an appropriate timer to turn the engine
block heater on.
6. Before starting the hybrid system, unplug and properly store the cord to
keep it away from moving parts.
WARNING
. Do not use your engine block heater with
an ungrounded electrical system or a 2-
pronged adapter. You can be seriously
injured by an electrical shock if you use
an ungrounded connection.
. Disconnect and properly store the en-
gine block heater cord before starting
the hybrid system. Damage to the cord
could result in an electrical shock and
can cause serious injury.
. Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged
extension cord rated for at least 10A.
Plug the extension cord into a Ground
Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-VAC outlet. Failure to use the proper
extension cord or a grounded outlet can
result in a fire or electrical shock and
cause serious personal injury.

6 In case of emergency
Hazard warning flasher switch............................. 6-2
Roadside assistance program .............................. 6-2
Emergency INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
®
System shut off ................................................... 6-3
Flat tire................................................................ 6-3 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).......... 6-3
Run-flat tires ................................................... 6-4 If the vehicle does not start ................................ 6-5
Confirm battery is discharged ........................ 6-5
Jump starting ...................................................... 6-5
Push starting ...................................................... 6-7
If your vehicle overheats ..................................... 6-7
Towing your vehicle ............................................ 6-8
Towing recommended by INFINITI ................... 6-9
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) ..... 6-11

To shut off the INFINITI Direct Response
Hybrid®System in an emergency situation
while driving, perform the following proce-
dure:
. Rapidly push the push-button ignition
switch 3 consecutive times in less than
1.5 seconds, or
. Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds. Your vehicle is equipped with run-flat tires
and you can continue driving to a safe
location even if they are punctured. (See
“Run-flat tires”
(P.8-36).)
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 “Tire Pressure
Low - Add Air” warning appears in the
vehicle information 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 “Low
tire pressure warning light” (P.2-15) and
“Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)”
(P.5-4).
WARNING
. Radio waves could adversely affect
electric medical equipment. Those who
use a pacemaker should contact the electric medical equipment manufacturer
for the possible influences before use.
. If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt braking,
reduce 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 failure. 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.
. When a wheel is replaced, the TPMS will
not function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash for approxi-
mately 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.
In case of emergency6-3
EMERGENCY INFINITI DIRECT RESPONSE
HYBRID®SYSTEM SHUT OFF FLAT TIRE

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 Hybrid
®System” (P.5-14). 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
®Sys-
tem 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” (P.8-17). The 12-volt battery
is located on the left hand side of the
trunk behind an access panel. If the 12-
volt battery terminals are loose, contact your INFINITI retailer.
2. If the 12-volt battery terminals are tight and clean, try to jump start the vehicle.
See “Jump starting” (P.6-5).
If the hybrid system still does not start,
contact an INFINITI retailer. To start your INFINITI Direct Response
Hybrid
®System with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below
must be followed.
Jump starting provides power to the 12 volt
system to allow the electrical systems to
operate. The electrical systems must be
operating to allow the Lithium ion (Li-ion)
battery to be charged. Jump starting does
not charge the Li-ion battery.
WARNING
. If done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a 12-volt battery explosion,
resulting in severe injury or death. It
could also damage your vehicle.
. Explosive hydrogen gas is always pre-
sent in the vicinity of the 12-volt battery.
Make sure that the vent tube is
mounted.
. Do not allow battery fluid to come into
contact with eyes, skin, clothing or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a
corrosive sulfuric acid solution which
can cause severe burns. If the fluid
should come into contact with anything,
immediately flush the contacted area
with water.
In case of emergency6-5
IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START JUMP STARTING