2014 INFINITI Q50 brakes

Security indicator light
The light blinks when the ignition switch is
in the ACC, OFF or 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” (P.2-
30).
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 (VDC) off switch is pushed
to OFF. This indicates that the VDC system
and traction control system are not operat-
ing.
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.
Parking brake reminder chime
The parking brake reminder 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.
Instruments and controls2-19

5-8Starting and driving
—If an electrical equipment is being
used in or near the vehicle
— There is a malfunction in the TPMS
system
— There is a malfunction in the horn or
hazard indicators
. If the Tire Inflation Indicator does not
operate due to TPMS interference,
move the vehicle about 3 ft (1 m)
backward or forward and try again.
If the Tire Inflation Indicator is not working,
use a tire pressure gauge.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND ROLL-
OVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner may result in loss of control
or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid exces-
sive speed, high speed cornering, or
sudden steering maneuvers, because
these driving practices could cause you to
lose control of your vehicle. As with any
vehicle, a loss of control could result in a collision with other vehicles or objects, or
cause the vehicle to rollover, particularly if
the loss of control causes the vehicle to
slide sideways.
Be attentive at all times,
and avoid driving when tired. Never drive
when under the influence of alcohol or
drugs (including prescription or over-the-
counter drugs which may cause drowsi-
ness). Always wear your seat belt as
outlined in the “Seat belts”(P.1-12) of this
manual, and also instruct your passengers
to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in
collisions and rollovers. In a rollover crash,
an unbelted or improperly belted person is
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
If driving the right side or left side wheels
may unintentionally leave the road surface.
Maintain control of the vehicle by following
the procedure below. Please note that this
procedure is only a general guide. The
vehicle must be driven as appropriate
based on the conditions of the vehicle,
road and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact. 2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering
wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while the
vehicle speed is reduced. Do not
attempt to drive the vehicle back onto
the road surface until vehicle speed is
reduced.
6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the steering wheel until both tires
return to the road surface. When all
tires are on the road surface, steer the
vehicle to stay in the appropriate
driving lane..If you decide that it is not safe toreturn the vehicle to the road surface
based on vehicle, road or traffic
conditions, gradually slow the vehi-
cle to a stop in a safe place off the
road.

RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS
Rapid air pressure loss or a“blow-out”can
occur if the tire is punctured or is damaged
due to hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air
pressure loss can also be caused by
driving on under-inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the
handling and stability of the vehicle,
especially at highway speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by
maintaining the correct air pressure and
visually inspect the tires for wear and
damage. See “Wheels and tires” (P.8-29) of
this manual.
If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or
“blows-out” while driving maintain control
of the vehicle by following the procedure
below. Please note that this procedure is
only a general guide. The vehicle must be
driven as appropriate based on the condi-
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” (P.6-4) 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).
Starting and driving5-9

5-60Starting and driving
JVS0235X
PRECAUTIONS ON VEHICLE-TO-VE-
HICLE DISTANCE CONTROL MODE
The system is intended to enhance the
operation of the vehicle when following a
vehicle traveling in the same lane and
direction.
If the radar sensor
*Adetects a slower
moving vehicle ahead, the system will
reduce the vehicle speed so that your
vehicle follows the vehicle in front at the
selected distance.
The system automatically controls the
throttle and applies the brakes (up to
approximately 40% of vehicle braking power) if necessary.
The detection range of the sensor is
approximately 650 ft (200 m) ahead.
WARNING
.
This system is only an aid to assist the
driver 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.
. The system is primarily intended for use
on straight, dry, open roads with light
traffic. It is not advisable to use the
system in city traffic or congested areas.
. This system will not adapt automatically
to road conditions. This system should
be used in evenly flowing traffic. Do not
use the system on roads with sharp
curves, or on icy roads, in heavy rain or
in fog.
The radar sensor will not detect under
most conditions:
.Stationary and slow moving vehicles
. Pedestrians or objects in the roadway .
Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
. Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel
lane
WARNING
. As there is a performance limit to the
distance control function, never rely
solely on the Intelligent Cruise Control
(ICC) system. This system does not
correct careless, inattentive or absent-
minded driving, or overcome poor visi-
bility in rain, fog, or other bad weather.
Decelerate the vehicle speed by depres-
sing the brake pedal, depending on the
distance to the vehicle ahead and the
surrounding circumstances in order to
maintain a safe distance between vehi-
cles.
. If the vehicle ahead comes to a stop, the
vehicle decelerates to a standstill within
the limitations of the system. The
system will cancel once it judges that
the vehicle has come to a standstill and
sound a warning chime. To prevent the
vehicle from moving, the driver must
depress the brake pedal.
. The system may not detect the vehicle in

front of you in certain road or weather
conditions. To avoid accidents, never use
the ICC system under the following
conditions:
—On roads where the traffic is heavyor there are sharp curves
—On slippery road surfaces such ason ice or snow, etc.
—During bad weather (rain, fog, snow,etc.)
—When rain, snow or dirt adhere tothe system sensor
—On steep downhill roads (the vehi-cle may go beyond the set vehicle
speed and frequent braking may
result in overheating the brakes)
—On repeated uphill and downhillroads
—When traffic conditions make itdifficult to keep a proper distance
between vehicles because of fre-
quent acceleration or deceleration
. In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly come
into the sensor detection zone and cause
automatic braking. You may need to control the distance from other vehicles
using the accelerator pedal. Always stay
alert and avoid using the ICC system
when it is not recommended in this
section.
JVS0235X
VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE DISTANCE
CONTROL MODE OPERATION
Always pay attention to the operation of
the vehicle and be ready to manually
control the proper following distance. The
vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode of
the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
may not be able to maintain the selected
distance between vehicles (following dis-
tance) or selected vehicle speed under
some circumstances.
The vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode uses a sensor
*Alocated behind
the lower grille of the front bumper to
Starting and driving5-61

JVS0214X
When the SET/COAST (-) switch is pushed
under the following conditions, the system
cannot be set and the ICC indicators will
blink for approximately 2 seconds:
.When traveling below 20 MPH (32
km/h) and the vehicle ahead is not
detected
. When the shift lever is not in the D
(Drive) or manual shift mode
. When the parking brake is applied
. When the brakes are operated by the
driver
When the SET/COAST (-) switch is pushed
under the following conditions, the system
cannot be set. A warning chime will sound and the
“currently unavailable”
warning message
appears in the vehicle information display.
. When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
is turned to the SNOW mode (To use the
ICC system, turn the INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector to a mode other than
the SNOW mode, push the MAIN switch
to turn off the ICC and reset the ICC
switch by pressing the MAIN switch
again.)
For details about the INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector, see “INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector” (P.5-21).
. When the VDC system is off (To use the
ICC system, turn on the VDC system.
Push the MAIN switch to turn off the ICC
system and reset the ICC switch by
pushing the MAIN switch again.)
For details about the VDC system, see
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) sys-
tem” (P.5-108).
. When ABS or VDC (including the trac-
tion control system) is operating
. When a wheel is slipping (To use the ICC
system, make sure the wheels are no
longer slipping.)
Starting and driving5-67

5-68Starting and driving
JVS0210X
1. System set display with vehicle ahead
2. System set display without vehicleahead
System operation
WARNING
Normally when controlling the distance to a
vehicle ahead, this system automatically
accelerates or decelerates your vehicle
according to the speed of the vehicle ahead.
Depress the accelerator to properly accel-
erate your vehicle when acceleration is
required for a lane change. Depress the brake pedal when deceleration is required to
maintain a safe distance to the vehicle
ahead due to its sudden braking or if a
vehicle cuts in. Always stay alert when
using the ICC system.
The driver sets the desired vehicle speed
based on the road conditions. The ICC
system maintains the set vehicle speed,
similar to standard cruise control, as long
as no vehicle is detected in the lane ahead.
The ICC system displays the set speed.Vehicle detected ahead:
When a vehicle is detected in the lane
ahead, the ICC system decelerates the
vehicle by controlling the throttle and
applying the brakes to match the speed
of a slower vehicle ahead. The system then
controls the vehicle speed based on the
speed of the vehicle ahead to maintain the
driver selected distance.
The stoplights of the vehicle come on
when braking is performed by the ICC
system.
When the brake operates, a noise may be
heard. This is not a malfunction.
When a vehicle ahead is detected, the
vehicle ahead detection indicator comes
on. The ICC system will also display the set
speed and selected distance.
Vehicle ahead not detected:
When a vehicle is no longer detected
ahead, the ICC system gradually acceler-
ates your vehicle to resume the previously
set vehicle speed. The ICC system then
maintains the set speed.
When a vehicle is no longer detected the
vehicle ahead detection indicator turns off.
If a vehicle ahead appears during accel-
eration to the set vehicle speed or any time

The Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
brakes and moves the accelerator pedal
upward according to the distance from and
the relative speed of the vehicle ahead to
help assist the driver to maintain a
following distance.
WARNING
.Always drive carefully and attentively
when using the DCA system. Read and
understand the Owner’s Manual thor-
oughly before using the DCA system. To
avoid serious injury or death, do not rely
on the system to prevent accidents or to
control the vehicle’s speed in emergency
situations. Do not use the DCA system
except in appropriate road and traffic
conditions.
. If the vehicle ahead comes to a stop, the
vehicle decelerates to a standstill within
the limitations of the system. The
system will cancel once it judges that
the vehicle has come to a standstill with
a warning chime. To prevent the vehicle
from moving, the driver must depress
the brake pedal.
. The DCA system will not apply brake
control while the driver’s foot is on the accelerator pedal.
JVS0235X
PRECAUTIONS ON DCA SYSTEM
The system is intended to assist the driver
to keep a following distance from the
vehicle ahead traveling in the same lane
and direction.
If the radar sensor
*Adetects a slower
moving vehicle ahead, the system will
reduce the vehicle speed to help assist
the driver to maintain a following distance.
The system automatically controls the
throttle and applies the brakes (up to
approximately 40% of vehicle braking
power) if necessary.
The detection range of the sensor is
Starting and driving5-79
DISTANCE CONTROL ASSIST (DCA) SYSTEM
(if so equipped)