5-40Starting and driving
Action to take:
When the conditions listed above are no
longer present, turn the system off using
the Intelligent Cruise Control MAIN Switch.
Turn the ICC system back on to use the
system.
SSD0615
Condition B:
When the sensor window is dirty, making it
impossible to detect a vehicle ahead, the
ICC system is automatically canceled.
The chime sounds and the ICC system
warning light (orange) will come on and the
“CLEAN SENSOR”indicator will appear.
Action to take:
If the warning light comes on, park the
vehicle in a safe place, turn the engine off.
Clean the sensor window with a soft cloth
and then perform the settings again.
SSD0616
Condition C:
When the ICC system is not operating
properly, the chime sounds and the ICC
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 set
the ICC system again.
If it is not possible to set the system or the
indicator stays on, it may indicate that the
ICC system is malfunctioning. Although
the vehicle is still driveable under normal
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
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
5-54Starting and driving
all times.
. As there is a performance limit to the
Preview Function, never rely solely on
this system. This system does not
correct careless inattentive or absent-
minded driving, or overcome poor visi-
bility in rain, fog, or other bad weather.
Reduce vehicle speed by depressing the
brake pedal, in order to maintain a safe
distance between vehicles.
. The system may not detect the vehicle in
front of you in certain road or weather
conditions. The Preview Function may
not operate properly under the following
conditions. The vehicle is still driveable
under normal conditions and the Brake
Assist will operate.
—When rain, snow or dirt adhere to
the system sensor
—When strong light (for example, atsunrise or sunset) is directly shining
on the front of the vehicle
—Winding or hilly roads may causethe sensor to temporarily not detect
a vehicle in the same lane or may
detect objects or vehicles in other
lanes.
—Vehicle position in the lane maycause the sensor to temporarily not
detect a vehicle in the same lane or
may detect objects or vehicles in
other lanes.
SSD0471
Warning light and display
When the Preview Function is not operating
properly, a 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 and resume driving.
If the indicator stays on, it may indicate
that the Preview Function is malfunction-
ing (the brake is operative). Although the
Vehicle is still driveable under normal
conditions, have the vehicle checked at
an INFINITI retailer.
5-56Starting and driving
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-
tion in the brake pedal. This is normal and
does not indicate a malfunction. If the
computer senses a malfunction, it switches
the ABS off and illuminates the ABS
warning light on the instrument panel.
The brake system then operates normally,
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
output to reduce drive wheel slip based
on vehicle speed (traction control func-
tion).
. Controls brake pressure at individual
wheels and engine 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
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) SYSTEM