5-42Starting and driving
WARNING
.In the conventional (fixed speed) cruise
control mode, a warning chime does not
sound to warn you if you are too close to
the vehicle ahead, as neither the pre-
sence of the vehicle ahead nor the
vehicle-to-vehicle distance is detected.
. Pay special attention to the distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle
ahead of you or a collision could occur.
. Always confirm the setting in the In-
telligent Cruise Control system display.
. Do not use the conventional (fixed
speed) cruise control mode when driving
under the following conditions:
—when it is not possible to keep the
vehicle at a set speed
—in heavy traffic or in traffic thatvaries in speed
—on winding or hilly roads
—on slippery roads (rain, snow, ice,etc.)
—in very windy areas
. Doing so could cause a loss of vehicle control and result in an accident.
SSD0617
Conventional (fixed speed) cruise
control switch
1. ACCELERATE/RESUME switch:
Resumes set speed or increases speed
incrementally.
2. COAST/SET switch: Sets the desired cruise speed, reduces
speed incrementally.
3. CANCEL switch: Deactivates the system without erasing
the set speed.
4. MAIN switch:
Master switch to activate the system.
SSD0618
Conventional (fixed speed) cruise
control mode display and indica-
tors
The display is located between the speed-
ometer and tachometer.
1. MAIN switch indicator:Indicates that the MAIN switch is ON.
2. Cruise set switch indicator: Displays while the vehicle speed is
controlled by the conventional (fixed
speed) cruise control mode of the ICC
system. 3. Cruise system warning light:
Comes on if there is a malfunction in
the cruise control system.
SSD0619
Operating conventional (fixed
speed) cruise control mode
To turn on the conventional (fixed speed)
cruise control mode, push and hold the
MAIN switch
*Afor longer than about 1.5
seconds.
When pushing the MAIN switch on, the
Intelligent Cruise Control system display
and the CRUISE indicator are displayed on
the dot matrix crystal display. After you
hold the MAIN switch on for longer than
about 1.5 seconds, the Intelligent Cruise
Control system display goes out. The
CRUISE indicator stays lit. You can now
Starting and driving5-43
2. Push and hold the COAST/SET switch.Release the switch when the vehicle
slows down to the desired speed.
3. Push, then quickly release the COAST/ SET switch. Each time you do this, the
set speed will decrease by about 1 MPH
(1.6 km/h).
To resume the preset speed, push and
release the ACCELERATE/RESUME switch.
The vehicle will resume the last set
cruising speed when the vehicle speed is
over 25 MPH (40 km/h).
Automatic cancellation
A chime sounds under the following con-
ditions and the control is automatically
canceled.
. When the vehicle slows down more
than 8 MPH (13 km/h) below the set
speed
. When the vehicle speed falls below
approximately 20 MPH (32 km/h)
. When the shift lever is not in the D
(Drive), DS (Drive Sport) or manual shift
mode
. When the VDC operates (including the
traction control system)
. When a tire slips
SSD0621
Warning light
When the system is not operating properly,
the chime sounds and the system warning
light (orange) will come on.
Action to take:
If the warning light comes on, park the
vehicle in a safe place. Turn the engine off,
restart the engine, resume driving and then
perform the setting again.
If it is not possible to set or the indicator
stays on, it may indicate that the system is
malfunctioning. Although the vehicle is
still driveable under normal conditions,
have the vehicle checked at an INFINITI retailer.
PREVIEW FUNCTION (for Intelligent
Cruise Control system equipped
models)
The ICC system with the preview function
identifies the need to apply emergency
braking by sensing the vehicle ahead in
the same lane and the distance to the
vehicle ahead and relative speed from it, it
applies the brake pre-pressure before the
driver depresses the brake pedal and helps
improve brake response by reducing pedal
free play.
For more details, see
“Brake assist”(P.5-
53).
Starting and driving5-45
5-48Starting and driving
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) for
Automatic Transmission (AT) model or in
an appropriate gear for Manual Trans-
mission (MT) model. Failure to do so
could cause the vehicle to move un-
expectedly 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.Automatic transmission models:
Move the shift lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual transmission models:
Place the shift lever in the R (Reverse)
gear. When parking on an uphill grade,
place the shift lever in the 1st gear.
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.
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
4. Push the ignition switch to the OFFposition.
SSD0927
WARNING
. The sonar system is a convenience but it
is not a substitute for proper parking.
Always look around and check that it is
safe to do so before parking. Always
move slowly.
. Read and understand the limitations of
the sonar system as contained in this
section. Inclement weather may affect
the function of the sonar system; this
may include reduced performance or a
false activation. .
This system is not designed to prevent
contact with small or moving objects.
. The system is designed as an aid to the
driver in detecting large stationary
objects to help avoid damaging the
vehicle. The system will not detect small
objects below the bumper, and may not
detect objects that are too close to the
bumper or on the ground.
. If your vehicle sustains damage to the
bumper fascia, leaving it misaligned or
bent, the sensing zone may be altered
causing inaccurate measurement of ob-
Starting and driving5-49
SONAR SYSTEM (if so equipped)
to the object with its color and rate of
blinking.
When an object is detected, the indicator
(green) appears and blinks (the tone
sounds intermittently). When the vehicle
moves closer to the object, the color of the
indicator turns yellow and the rate of
blinking increases (the rate of the tone
increases). When the bumper is very close
to the object, less than 11.8 in (30 cm)
away, the indicator stops blinking and
turns red (the tone sounds continuously).
When the rear view monitor is displayed,
the colors of the sonar indicator and the
distance guide lines in the rear view
indicate different distances to the object.
The sonar indicator can be turned off in the
SONAR setting display. (See“How to use
SETTING button” (P.4-13) for the“Sonar”
settings.) When the sonar indicator is off,
only a tone sounds when the sonar detects
obstacles.
SSD0929
SONAR SYSTEM OFF SWITCH
The sonar system OFF switch on the
instrument panel allows the driver to turn
the sonar system on and off. To turn the
sonar system on and off, the ignition
switch must be in the “ON”position. The
indicator light
*1on the switch will
illuminate when the system is turned off.
If the indicator light flashes when the
sonar system is not turned off, it may
indicate a malfunction in the sonar system.
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.
Starting and driving5-51
POWER STEERING
5-52Starting 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.
When the brake pedal is depressed slowly
and firmly, you may hear a clicking noise
and feel a slight pulsation. This is normal
and indicates that the Brake Assist System
is operating.
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 thevehicle 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.
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.
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.
PREVIEW FUNCTION (Intelligent
Cruise Control system equipped
models)
When the Preview Function identifies the
need to apply emergency braking by
sensing a vehicle ahead in the same lane
and the distance and relative speed from
it, it applies the brake pre-pressure before
the driver depresses the brake pedal and
helps improve brake response by reducing
pedal free play..
This system will not operate when the
vehicle is moving at approximately 20
MPH (32 km/h) or less.
. The pre-pressure function ceases when
the following conditions are met:
1) When the driver depresses the
accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal.
2) If the driver does not operate the accelerator or brake pedal within
approximately 1 second.
SSD0338
.The sensor will not detect:
1) Pedestrians or objects in the road- way
2) Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
3) Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel lane as illustrated
WARNING
. This system 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
Starting and driving5-53
BRAKE ASSIST