●In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving perfor-
mance and reduces the chance of ve-
hicle damage or loss of control.
●When this situation occurs, the Con-
tinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
position indicator light will blink and
the chime will sound.
●In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may shift up automatically to a
higher range than selected if the en-
gine speed is too high. When the ve-
hicle speed decreases, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down and
shifts to 1st gear before the vehicle
comes to a stop.
●CVT operation is limited to automatic drive
mode when CVT fluid temperature is ex-
tremely low even if manual shift mode is
selected. This is not a malfunction. When
CVT fluid warms up, manual mode can be
selected.
●When the CVT fluid temperature is high, the
shift range may upshift in lower rpm than
usual. This is not a malfunction.
Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged, the
shift lever may not be moved from the P (Park)
position even with the brake pedal depressed
and the shift lever button pushed. To move the
shift lever, perform the following procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCK
position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover
Aus-
ing a suitable tool.
4. Push down the shift lock release
Busing a
suitable tool.5. Press the shift lever button
Cand move the
shift lever to the N (Neutral) position
D
while holding down the shift lock release.
The vehicle may be moved to the desired
location. Replace the removed shift lock re-
lease cover after the operation. If the shift
lever cannot be moved out of the P (Park)
position, have an INFINITI retailer check the
CVT system as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the shift lever cannot be moved from the
P (Park) position while the engine is run-
ning and the brake pedal is depressed, the
stop lights may not work. Malfunctioning
stop lights could cause an accident injur-
ing yourself and others.
Accelerator downshift
— in D position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the accel-
erator pedal to the floor. This shifts the transmis-
sion down into a lower gear, depending on the
vehicle speed.
LSD2022
5-20Starting and driving
High fluid temperature protection mode
This transmission has a high fluid temperature pro-
tection mode. If the fluid temperature becomes too
high (for example, when climbing steep grades in
high temperature with heavy loads, such as when
towing a trailer) , engine power and, under some
conditions, vehicle speed will be decreased auto-
matically to reduce the chance of transmission
damage. Vehicle speed can be controlled with the
accelerator pedal, but the engine and vehicle
speed may be limited.
Fail-safe
If the vehicle is driven under extreme con-
ditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. The MIL may illu-
minate to indicate the fail-safe mode is
activated, see “Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL)” in the “Instrument and controls” sec-
tion. This will occur even if all electrical
circuits are functioning properly. In this
case, place the ignition switch in the OFF
position and wait for 10 seconds. Then turn
the switch back to the ON position. The
vehicle should return to its normal operat-
ing condition. If it does not return to its
normal operating condition, have an
INFINITI retailer check the transmission
and repair if necessary.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs,
vehicle speed may be gradually reduced.
The reduced speed may be lower than
other traffic, which could increase the
chance of a collision. Be especially careful
when driving. If necessary, pull to the side
of the road at a safe place and allow the
transmission to return to normal opera-
tion, or have it repaired if necessary.
WARNING
●Be sure the parking brake is fully re-
leased before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
●Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
●Do not use the shift lever in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
●Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident.
PARKING BRAKE
Starting and driving5-21
To engage:Firmly depress the parking brake.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
3. Firmly depress the parking brake pedal and it
will release.
4. Before driving, be sure the brake warning
light goes out.Four driving modes can be selected by using the
drive mode selector switch, STANDARD,
SPORT, ECO and SNOW.
NOTE:
●When the drive mode select switch selects a
mode, the mode may not switch quickly. This
is not a malfunction.
●Select the STANDARD mode center for nor-
mal driving.
STANDARD MODE
Recommended for normal driving. Turn the drive
mode select switch to the center position.
“STANDARD” appears in the vehicle information
display for 2 seconds.
SPORT MODE
Adjusts the engine and transmission to enhance
performance. Turn the drive mode select switch
to theSPORTposition. “SPORT” appears in the
vehicle information display for 2 seconds.
NOTE:
In the SPORT mode, fuel economy may be
reduced.
SNOW MODE
Used on snowy roads or slippery areas. When
the SNOW mode is activated, engine output is
controlled to avoid wheel spin. Turn the SNOW
mode off for normal driving. Turn the drive mode
select switch to the SNOW position. “SNOW”
appears in the vehicle information display for
2 seconds.
LSD0158
Drive mode select switch
SSD1024
INFINITI DRIVE MODE SELECTOR
5-22Starting and driving
ECO MODE
Adjusts the engine and transmission to enhance
fuel economy.
NOTE:
Selecting this drive mode will not necessar-
ily improve fuel economy as many driving
factors influence its effectiveness.
Operation
Turn the drive mode select switch to the ECO
position. “ECO” appears in the vehicle informa-
tion display for 2 seconds and the ECO drive
indicator light illuminates on the instrument panel.
When the accelerator pedal is depressed within
the range of economy drive, the ECO drive indi-
cator light illuminates in green. When the accel-
erator pedal is depressed above the range of
economy drive, the color of the ECO drive indi-
cator light changes to orange. For ECO pedal
system equipped models see “ECO pedal sys-
tem” in this section.
The ECO drive indicator light will not illuminate in
the following cases:
●When the shift lever is in the R (Reverse)
position.●When the vehicle speed is below 3 MPH
(4.8 km/h) or over 90 MPH (144 km/h).
●When the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
system (if so equipped) is operated.
ECO pedal system
Helps assist the driver to improve fuel economy
by increasing the reaction force of the accelera-
tor pedal. When the ECO drive indicator light is
blinking or turns orange, the ECO pedal system
increases the reaction force of the accelerator
pedal.
ECO drive indicatorIlluminate or blink
when
Illuminate
(green)When the pedal is
depressed within
range of economy
drive
Blinks
(green)When the pedal is
depressed likely
over the range of
economy drive
Illuminate
(orange)When the pedal is
depressed over
the range of
economy drive
When the ECO drive indicator illuminates in
green, the accelerator reaction force is normal.
When the ECO drive indicator light is blinking or
turns orange, the ECO pedal system increases
the reaction force of the accelerator pedal.
The ECO pedal system may not vary accelerator
reaction force under the following conditions:
●When the shift lever is in the N (Neutral) or
R (Reverse) position.
●When Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) (if so
equipped) is being operated.
If the ECO pedal system malfunctions, it will
cancel automatically. The ECO pedal system will
not vary the reaction force of the accelerator
pedal.
When the drive mode select switch is rotated
from the ECO mode to another mode (STAN-
DARD, SPORT or SNOW) while the ECO pedal
system is operating, the ECO pedal system con-
tinues to operate until the pedal is released.
If the accelerator pedal is depressed quickly, the
ECO pedal system will not increase the reaction
force of the acceleration pedal. The ECO pedal
system is not designed to prevent the vehicle
from accelerating.
Starting and driving5-23
WARNING
●Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires. Accelerating
quickly, sharp steering maneuvers or
sudden braking may cause loss of con-
trol, even with Intelligent AWD
engaged.
●For AWD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt 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 ve-
hicle movement which could result in
serious personal injury or vehicle
damage.●Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamometers
used by some states for emissions test-
ing) or similar equipment even if the
other two wheels are raised off the
ground. Make sure that you inform the
test facility personnel that your vehicle
is equipped with AWD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using the
wrong test equipment may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected ve-
hicle movement which could result in
serious personal injury or vehicle
damage.
CAUTION
●Do not operate the engine on a free
roller when any of the wheels are
raised.
●If you use the free roller, rotate 4 wheels
with the same speed without raising
any wheels.
●If an AWD warning message is dis-
played while driving there may be a
malfunction in the AWD system. Reduce
the vehicle speed immediately and have
your vehicle checked by an INFINITI re-
tailer as soon as possible.●The powertrain may be damaged if you
continue driving when the AWD tem-
perature or tire size incorrect messages
are displayed
●If the AWD high temperature message
is displayed while you are driving, pull
off the road in a safe area, and idle the
engine. The driving mode will change to
2WD to prevent the AWD system from
malfunctioning. If the warning message
turns off, you can drive again.
●If the tire size incorrect message is dis-
played while you are driving, 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 excessively
worn.
●If a warning message continues to be
displayed after the above operations,
have your vehicle checked by an
INFINITI retailer as soon as possible.
5-92Starting and driving
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.
●Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) . Fail-
ure to do so could cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly or roll away and re-
sult in an accident. Make sure the shift
lever has been pushed as far forward as
it can go and cannot be moved without
depressing the foot brake pedal.●Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
●Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
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
traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.●HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
A
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
●HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
B
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, NO
CURB:
C
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK posi-
tion.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
Starting and driving5-93
●If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, 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 sur-
faces such as higher banked corners, the
VDC system may not operate properly 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 illumi-
nate. This is not a malfunction. Restart
the engine 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 illuminate.
●The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
WARNING
●Never rely solely on the hill start assist
system to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing 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 ve-
hicle 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 de-
signed 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 pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling backwards
on a hill under all load or road condi-
tions. Always be prepared to depress
the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards. Failure to do so
may result in a collision or serious per-
sonal 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 automati-
cally under the following conditions:
●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 ve-
hicle 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 shift lever is placed in the N (Neutral) or P
(Park) position or on a flat and level road.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-99
CAUTION
●CVT models cannot be push-started or
tow-started. Attempting to do so may
cause transmission damage.
●Do not push start this vehicle. The
three-way catalyst may be damaged.
WARNING
●Do not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
●To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap while the engine is still
hot. When the radiator or coolant reser-
voir cap is removed, pressurized hot
water will spurt out, possibly causing
serious injury.
●Do not open the hood if steam is com-
ing out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading and
the illumination of the engine oil pressure/engine
coolant temperature high indicator light) , or if you
feel a lack of engine power, detect abnormal
noise, etc. take the following steps.
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply
the parking brake and move the shift lever to
P (Park) .
Do not stop the engine.
2. Turn off the air conditioner. Open all the
windows, move the heater or air conditioner
temperature control to maximum hot and fan
control to high speed.3. Get out of the vehicle. Look and listen for
steam or coolant escaping from the radiator
before opening the hood. (If steam or cool-
ant is escaping, turn off the engine.) Do not
open the hood further until no steam or
coolant can be seen.
4. Open the engine hood.
WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the en-
gine, stand clear to prevent getting
burned.
5. Visually check drive belts for damage or
looseness. Also check if the cooling fan is
running. The radiator hoses and radiator
should not leak water. If coolant is leaking,
the water pump belt is missing or loose, or
the cooling fan does not run, stop the en-
gine.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair,
jewelry or clothing to come into contact
with, or get caught in, engine belts or the
engine cooling fan. The engine cooling fan
can start at any time.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
6-12In case of emergency