2014 INFINITI Q50 stop start

CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km),
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and ensure
the future reliability and economy of your
new vehicle.
Failure to follow these recommendations
may result in shortened engine life and
reduced engine performance.
.Avoid driving for long periods at con-
stant speed, either fast or slow. Do not
run the engine over 4,000 rpm.
. Do not accelerate at full throttle in any
gear.
. Avoid quick starts.
. Avoid hard braking as much as possi-
ble. Follow these easy-to-use Fuel Efficient
Driving Tips to help you achieve the most
fuel economy from your vehicle.
1. Use smooth accelerator and brake
pedal application.
.Avoid rapid starts and stops..Use smooth, gentle accelerator andbrake application whenever possi-
ble.
.Maintain constant speed while com-muting and coast whenever possi-
ble.
2. Maintain constant speed.
.Look ahead to try and anticipate and minimize stops.
.Synchronizing your speed with traf-fic lights allows you to reduce your
number of stops.
.Maintaining a steady speed can
minimize red light stops and im-
prove fuel efficiency.
3. Use air conditioning (A/C) at higher vehicle speeds.
.Below 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is moreefficient to open windows to cool the
vehicle due to reduced engine load.
.Above 40 MPH (64 km/h), it is moreefficient to use A/C to cool the
vehicle due to increased aerody- namic drag.
.Recirculating the cool air in the cabin
when the A/C is on reduces cooling
load.
4. Drive at economical speeds and dis- tances.
.Observing the speed limit and not
exceeding 60 MPH (97 km/h) (where
legally allowed) can improve fuel
efficiency due to reduced aerody-
namic drag.
.Maintaining a safe following dis-tance behind other vehicles reduces
unnecessary braking.
.Safely monitoring traffic to antici- pate changes in speed permits
reduced braking and smooth accel-
eration changes.
.Select a gear range suitable to road
conditions.
5. Use cruise control.
.Using cruise control during highway driving helps maintain a steady
speed.
.Cruise control is particularly effec-tive in providing fuel savings when
driving on flat terrains.
Starting and driving5-99
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE FUEL EFFICIENT DRIVING TIPS

5-100Starting and driving
6. Plan for the shortest route..Utilize a map or navigation system todetermine the best route to save
time.
7. Avoid idling.
.Shutting off your engine when safe for stops exceeding 30-60 seconds
saves fuel and reduces emissions.
8. Buy an automated pass for toll roads.
.Automated passes permit drivers to use special lanes to maintain cruis-
ing speed through the toll and avoid
stopping and starting.
9. Winter warm up.
.Limit idling time to minimize impact to fuel economy.
.Vehicles typically need no more than30 seconds of idling at start-up to
effectively circulate the engine oil
before driving.
.Your vehicle will reach its ideal
operating temperature more quickly
while driving versus idling.
10. Keeping your vehicle cool.
.Park your vehicle in a covered
parking area or in the shade when-
ever possible.
.When entering a hot vehicle, open- ing the windows will help to reduce
the inside temperature faster, result-
ing in reduced demand on your A/C
system. .
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” (P.9-6).)
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY

If any malfunction occurs in the Intelligent
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system while the
engine is running, warning messages
appear in the vehicle information display.
JVS0228M
If the“AWD Error” warning*1appears,
there may be a malfunction in the Intelli-
gent AWD system. Reduce vehicle speed
and have your vehicle checked by an
INFINITI retailer as soon as possible.
The “AWD High Temp.” (high temperature)
warning
*2may appear while trying to free a stuck vehicle due to increased oil
temperature. The driving mode may change
to Two-Wheel Drive (2WD). If this warning
is displayed, stop the vehicle with the
engine idling, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Then if the warning turns off, you can
continue driving.
The
“Tire Size Incorrect” warning
*3may
appear if there is a large difference
between the diameters of front and rear
wheels. Pull off the road in a safe area,
with the engine idling. Check that all tire
sizes are the same, that the tire pressure is
correct and that the tires are not exces-
sively worn.
If any warning message continues to be
displayed, have your vehicle checked by an
INFINITI retailer as soon as possible.
WARNING
. For AWD equipped vehicles, 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.
Starting and driving5-101
INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) (if so
equipped)

SD1006MA
WARNING
.Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry grass,
waste paper or rags. They may ignite and
cause a fire.
. Never leave the engine running while the
vehicle is unattended.
. Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly
activate switches or controls. Unat-
tended children could become involved
in serious accidents. .
Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be applied and
the transmission placed into P (Park).
Failure to do so could cause the vehicle
to move unexpectedly or roll away and
result in an accident.
. Make sure the automatic transmission
shift lever has been pushed as far
forward as it can go and cannot be
moved without depressing the foot
brake pedal.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake. 2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park)
position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into the street when parked on a
sloping drive way, it is a good practice
to turn the wheels as illustrated.
.HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:*1
Turn the wheels into the curb and
move the vehicle forward until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb.
.HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:*2
Turn the wheels away from the curb
and move the vehicle back until the
curb side wheel gently touches the
curb.
.HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NOCURB:
*3
Turn the wheels toward the side of
the road so the vehicle will move
away from the center of the road if it
moves.
4. Push the ignition switch to the OFF position.
Starting and driving5-103
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS

5-104Starting and driving
HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING TYPE
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned off
while driving, the power assist for the
steering will not work. Steering will be
harder to operate.
The power assisted steering uses a hy-
draulic pump, driven by the engine, to
assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks,
you will still have control of the vehicle.
However, much greater steering effort is
needed, especially in sharp turns and at
low speeds.
DIRECT ADAPTIVE STEERING TYPE
WARNING
When the power steering warning light
illuminates with the engine 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, Direct
Adaptive Steering may not operate
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, Direct
Adaptive Steering may not operate
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, Direct Adaptive Steering
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
engine off and restart the engine. If the
power steering warning light continues to illuminate, have the system checked
by an INFNITI retailer. For VDC system,
see
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (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.
Direct Adaptive Steering 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
POWER STEERING

straight road. This is to prevent overheat-
ing of Direct Adaptive Steering and protect
it from getting damaged. When the tem-
perature of Direct Adaptive Steering cools
down, the power assist level will return to
normal. Avoid repeating steering wheel
operations that could cause Direct Adap-
tive Steering to overheat.
If the power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the engine is running, it may
indicate that Direct Adaptive Steering is
not functioning properly and may need
servicing. Have the system checked by an
INFINITI retailer. (See“Power steering
warning light” (P.2-16).)
When the power steering warning light
illuminates with the engine running, the
power assist for the steering will cease
operation. You will still have control of the
vehicle. However, greater steering effort
will be needed, especially in sharp turns
and at low speeds.
If Direct Adaptive Steering is malfunction-
ing, the steering wheel may turn slightly
even when driving on a straight road.
Under the following conditions, the steer-
ing wheel may turn slightly even when
driving on a straight road. This is due to a
protection mechanism for Direct Adaptive Steering.
.
When the battery is discharged
. When the engine is stalled
. After the vehicle is tested on the four-
wheel dynamometer
. When the steering wheel is held in the
full lock position or when the front tire
touches an obstruction.
The steering wheel will return to the
normal position after the protection me-
chanism deactivates. To return to the
normal position, turn the engine off, restart
the engine, and then drive the vehicle for a
period of time.
When the vehicle is tested on the 2-wheel
dynamometer, the power steering warning
light may illuminate. To turn off the power
steering warning light, stop the vehicle in a
safe location, turn the engine off, restart
the engine, and then drive the vehicle for a
period of time.
The following conditions do not indicate a
malfunction of Direct Adaptive Steering.
. You may notice wider steering play
when the ignition switch is in the OFF
or ACC position compared to when it is
in the ON position. .
After the engine is started, the steering
wheel may turn slightly even when
driving on a straight road. To return to
the normal position, drive the vehicle
on a straight road for a period of time.
. After the engine is started, the steering
wheel may move if the steering wheel
was turned to the fully locked position
while the ignition switch was in the OFF
position.
You may hear a noise under the following
conditions. However, this is not a malfunc-
tion.
. When the engine is started or stopped.
. When the steering wheel is turned in
the full lock position.
Starting and driving5-105

5-106Starting and driving
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions,
you will still have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using
engine vacuum. If the engine stops, you
can stop the vehicle by depressing the
brake pedal. However, greater foot pres-
sure on the brake pedal will be required to
stop the vehicle and the stopping distance
will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will cause overheating
of the brakes, wearing out the brake and
pads faster and reduce gas mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed
and downshift to a lower gear before going
down a slope or long grade. Overheated
brakes may reduce braking performance
and could result in loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
.While driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
. If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the brakes will not work. Braking will be
harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet.
As a result, your braking distance will be
longer and the vehicle may pull to one side
during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly tapping the brake pedal
to heat-up the brakes. Do this until the
brakes return to normal. Avoid driving the
vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-IN
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced,
in order to assure the best braking
performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual and can be performed by
an INFINITI retailer.
BRAKE SYSTEM

BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force
than a conventional brake booster even
with light pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. It is the
driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive
safely and be in control of the vehicle at all
times.
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
and loading information label” (P.9-
13) of this manual.
—For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-29) of this
manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) con-
trols the brakes so the wheels do not lock
during hard braking or when braking on
slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies
the brake fluid pressure to prevent each wheel from locking and sliding. By pre-
venting each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels
from locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid
obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, elec-
tric pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a
computer. The computer has a built-in
diagnostic feature that tests the system
each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a
“clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsa-
Starting and driving5-107
BRAKE ASSIST