3-4Pre-driving checks and adjustments
WARNING
.Always have the doors locked while
driving. Along with the use of seat belts,
this provides greater safety in the event
of an accident by helping to prevent
persons from being thrown from the
vehicle. This also helps keep children
and others from unintentionally opening
the doors, and will help keep out
intruders.
. Before opening any door, always look for
and avoid oncoming traffic.
. Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly
activate switches or controls. Unat-
tended children could become involved
in serious accidents.
SPA2457B
LOCKING WITH MECHANICAL KEY
The power door lock system allows you to
lock or unlock all doors simultaneously
using the mechanical key.
.Turning the driver’s door key cylinder to
the front of the vehicle
*1will lock all
doors.
. Turning the driver’s door key cylinder
once to the rear of the vehicle
*2will
unlock the driver’s door. After returning
the key to the neutral position
*3,
turning it to the rear again within 60
seconds will unlock all doors. .
You can switch the lock system to the
mode that allows you to open all the
doors when the key is turned once.
(See “How to use SETTING button” (P.4-
15).)
OPENING AND CLOSING WINDOWS
WITH THE MECHANICAL KEY
The driver’s door key operation also allows
you to open and close the window that is
equipped with the automatic open/close
function. (See “Power windows” (P.2-60)).
To open the window, turn the driver’s door
key cylinder to the rear of the vehicle for
longer than 1 second. The door is unlocked
and the window keeps opening while
turning the key.
This function can also be performed by
pushing and holding the door UNLOCK
button of the Intelligent Key. (See “Remote
keyless entry system” (P.3-14).)
To close the window, turn the driver’s door
key cylinder to the front of the vehicle for
longer than 1 second. The door is locked
and the window keeps closing while turn-
ing the key.
DOORS
WARNING
.Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving. You could lose control of your
vehicle and cause an accident.
. Do not adjust the steering wheel any
closer to you than is necessary for
proper steering operation and comfort.
The driver’s air bag inflates with great
force. If you are unrestrained, leaning
forward, sitting sideways or out of
position in any way, you are at greater
risk of injury or death in a crash. You
may also receive serious or fatal injuries
from the air bag if you are up against it
when it inflates. Always sit back against
the seatback and as far away as practical
from the steering wheel. Always use the
seat belts.
SPA2468
MANUAL OPERATION (if so
equipped)
Tilt or telescopic operation
Pull the lock lever*1down and adjust the
steering wheel up, down, forward or rear-
ward to the desired position.
Push the lock lever up securely to lock the
steering wheel in place.
SPA2456
ELECTRIC OPERATION (if so
equipped)
Tilt or telescopic operation
Move the lever to adjust the steering wheel
up or down, forward or rearward to the
desired position.
Entry/Exit function operation:
The automatic drive positioner system will
make the steering wheel move up auto-
matically when the driver’s door is opened
with the ignition switch in the LOCK
position. This lets the driver get into and
out of the seat more easily.
Pre-driving checks and adjustments3-27
TILT/TELESCOPIC STEERING
3-34Pre-driving checks and adjustments
holding the SET switch for more than 10
seconds while the ignition switch is in the
ACC position.
The indicator lights on the memory
switches (1 and 2) will blink once when
the function is canceled, and the indicator
lights will blink twice when the function is
activated. Note that the indicator lights
may illuminate after 5 seconds while
holding the SET switch. This indicates
readiness for linking the Intelligent Key to
a stored memory position. Keep the SET
switch pushed for more than 10 seconds to
turn on or off the seat synchronization
function.
MEMORY STORAGE
Two positions for the driver’s seat, steering
column and outside mirrors can be stored
in the automatic drive positioner memory.
Follow these procedures to use the mem-
ory system.
1. Move the shift lever to the P (Park)position.
2. Push the ignition switch to the ON position.
3. Adjust the driver’s seat, steering col- umn and outside mirrors to the desired
positions by manually operating each adjusting switch. For additional infor-
mation, see
“Seat belts” (P.1-11) and
“Tilt/telescopic steering” (P.3-27) and
“Outside mirrors” (P.3-30).
4. Push the SET switch and, within 5 seconds, push the memory switch (1
or 2) fully for at least 1 second.
The indicator light for the pushed
memory switch will stay on for approxi-
mately 5 seconds after pushing the
switch.
If memory is stored in the same
memory switch, the previous memory
will be deleted.
Linking Intelligent Key to a stored
memory position
The Intelligent Key can be linked to a
stored memory position with the following
procedure.
1. Follow the steps for storing a memoryposition.
2. While the indicator light for the memory switch being set is illuminated for 5
seconds, push the
button on the
Intelligent Key. If the indicator light
blinks, the Intelligent Key is linked to
that memory setting. Push the ignition switch to the OFF posi-
tion, and then push the
button on the
Intelligent Key. The driver’s seat, steering
wheel and outside mirrors will move to the
memorized position or to the exit position
when the entry/exit function is set to
active.
Confirming memory storage
. Push the ignition switch to the ON
position and push the SET switch. If
the main memory has not been stored,
the indicator light will come on for
approximately 0.5 second. When the
memory has stored in position, the
indicator light will stay on for approxi-
mately 5 seconds.
. If the battery cable is disconnected, or if
the fuse opens, the memory will be
canceled. In this case, reset the desired
position using the previous procedure.
. If optional Intelligent Keys are added to
your vehicle, the memory storage pro-
cedure to switch 1 or 2 and linking
Intelligent Key procedure to a stored
memory position should be performed
again for each Intelligent Key. For
additional Intelligent Key information,
see “Keys” (P.3-2).
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.1-11) 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.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD
DRIVING PRECAUTIONS
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
They have higher ground clearance than
passenger cars to make them capable of
performing in a variety of on-pavement and
off-road applications. This gives them a
higher center of gravity than ordinary cars.
An advantage of higher ground clearance is
a better view of the road, allowing you to
anticipate problems. However, they are not
designed for cornering at the same speeds
as conventional passenger cars any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to
perform satisfactorily under off-road con-
ditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns
or abrupt maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. As with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or vehicle rollover.
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.
Be sure to read
“Driving safety precau-
tions” (P.5-9).
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
If the right side or left side wheels
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 to
return 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.
Starting and driving5-7
Don’t drive if your ability to operate your
vehicle is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or
some other physical condition.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your INFINITI is designed for both normal
and off-road use. However, avoid driving in
deep water or mud as your INFINITI is
mainly designed for leisure use, unlike a
conventional off-road vehicle.
Remember that Two-Wheel Drive (2WD)
models are less capable than All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) models for rough road driving
and extrication when stuck in deep snow,
mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
.Drive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Every person
who drives or rides in this vehicle should
be seated with their seat belt fastened.
This will keep you and your passengers
in position when driving over rough
terrain.
. Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead
drive either straight up or straight down the slopes. Off-road vehicles can tip over
sideways much more easily than they
can forward or backward.
. Many hills are too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you may stall. If
you drive down them, you may not be
able to control your speed. If you drive
across them, you may roll over.
. Do not shift ranges while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause loss
of control of the vehicle.
. Stay alert when driving to the top of a
hill. At the top there could be a drop-off
or other hazard that could cause an
accident.
. If your engine stalls or you cannot make
it to the top of a steep hill, never attempt
to turn around. Your vehicle could tip or
roll over. Always back straight down in R
(Reverse) range. Never back down in N
(Neutral), using only the brake, as this
could cause loss of control.
. Heavy braking going down a hill could
cause your brakes to overheat and fade,
resulting in loss of control and an
accident. Apply brakes lightly and use
a low range to control your speed. .
Unsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Prop-
erly secure all cargo so it will not be
thrown forward and cause injury to you
or your passengers.
. To avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack (if so equipped)
and evenly distribute the load. Secure
heavy loads in the cargo area as far
forward and as low as possible. Do not
equip the vehicle with tires larger than
specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to roll over.
. Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel when driving off-road.
The steering wheel could move suddenly
and injure your hands. Instead drive with
your fingers and thumbs on the outside
of the rim.
. Before operating the vehicle, ensure that
the driver and all passengers have their
seat belts fastened.
. Always drive with the floor mats in place
as the floor may became hot.
. Lower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher center
of gravity, your INFINITI is more affected
Starting and driving5-9
5-10Starting and driving
by strong side winds. Slower speeds
ensure better vehicle control.
. Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with AWD
engaged.
. 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.
. Do not attempt to test an AWD equipped
vehicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer (such
as the dynamometers used by some
states for emissions testing), or similar
equipment even if the other two wheels
are raised off the ground. Make sure you
inform 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 vehicle
movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury. (AWD
models)
. When a wheel is off the ground due to an unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
. Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may cause
loss of control.
. If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high speeds.
Your vehicle has a higher center of
gravity than a conventional passenger
car. The vehicle is not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as con-
ventional passenger cars. Failure to
operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a rollover
accident.
. Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Install tire chains on the rear
wheels when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully.
. Be sure to check the brakes immediately
after driving in mud or water. See “Brake
system” (P.5-80) for wet brakes.
. Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
it rolls forward, backward or sideways,
you could be injured. .
Whenever you drive off-road through
sand, mud or water as deep as the
wheel hub, more frequent maintenance
may be required. See the maintenance
information in the “INFINITI Service and
Maintenance Guide”.
. Spinning the rear wheels on slippery
surfaces may cause the AWD warning
light to flash and the AWD system to
automatically switch from the AWD
mode to the 2WD mode. This could
reduce traction. Be especially careful
when towing a trailer. (AWD models)
5-14Starting and driving
.Make sure the area around the vehicle
is clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid and window
washer fluid as frequently as possible,
or at least whenever you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appear-
ance and condition. Also check tires for
proper inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head re-
straints.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passen-
gers to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to
the ON position. (See “Warning/indica-
tor lights and audible reminders” (P.2-
13).) 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the shift lever is in either of the
above positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal and
push the ignition switch to start the
engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while
depressing the brake pedal with the
ignition switch in any position.
.If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when
restarting, depress the accelerator
pedal a little (approximately 1/3 to
the floor) and while holding, crank
the engine. Release the accelerator
pedal when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to startbecause it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Push the ignition
switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6
seconds, stop cranking by pushing
the ignition switch to OFF. After cranking the engine, release the
accelerator pedal. Crank the engine
with your foot off the accelerator
pedal
by depressing the brake pedal
and pushing the push-button igni-
tion switch to start the engine. If the
engine starts, but fails to run, repeat
the above procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than 15
seconds at a time. If the engine does not
start, push the ignition switch to OFF and
wait 10 seconds before cranking again,
otherwise the starter could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for a
minimum of 2 - 3 minutes before
shutting it off. Starting and stopping
the engine over a short period of time
may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
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.
SIC3848
The Continuous Damping Control optimizes
damping force and helps minimize the
movement of the vehicle body. It helps
stable driving when the vehicle moves up
and down on large rolling roads or when
the vehicle body leans during cornering
with a high centrifugal force.
The damping force will automatically ad-
just according to the road surface and
driving conditions.
The damping force of the shock absorbers
can be adjusted to the level you desire. Set
the switch to the position you desire while
the ignition switch is ON.Set the Continuous Damping Control mode
select switch to the AUTO position
*Afor a
smooth ride.
Set the switch to the SPORT position
*Bwhen you desire a quick response all the
time.
The SPORT mode indicator light will illumi-
nate.
Starting and driving5-79
POWER STEERING CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL (if so
equipped)