1-18Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
until they are completely dry.
. If dirt builds up in the shoulder belt
guide of the seat belt anchors, the seat
belts may retract slowly. Wipe the
shoulder belt guide with a clean, dry
cloth.
. Periodically check to see that the seat
belt and the metal components such as
buckles, tongues, retractors, flexible
wires and anchors work properly. If
loose parts, deterioration, cuts or other
damage on the webbing is found, the
entire seat belt assembly should be
replaced.WARNING
Do not allow children to play with the seat
belts. Most seating positions are equipped
with Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
mode seat belts. If the seat belt becomes
wrapped around a child’s neck with the ALR
mode activated, the child can be seriously
injured or killed if the seat belt retracts and
becomes tight. This can occur even if the
vehicle is parked. Unbuckle the seat belt to
release the child. If the seat belt can not be
unbuckled or is already unbuckled, release
the child by cutting the seat belt with a
suitable tool (such as a knife or scissors) to
release the seat belt.
Children need adults to help protect them.
They need to be properly restrained.
In addition to the general information in
this manual, child safety information is
available from many other sources, includ-
ing doctors, teachers, government traffic
safety offices, and community organiza-
tions. Every child is different, so be sure to
learn the best way to transport your child.
There are three basic types of child
restraint systems: .
Rear-facing child restraint
. Forward-facing child restraint
. Booster seat
The proper restraint depends on the child’s
size. Generally, infants up to about 1 year
and less than 20 lbs (9 kg) should be
placed in rear-facing child restraints. For-
ward-facing child restraints are available
for children who outgrow rear-facing child
restraints and are at least 1 year old.
Booster seats are used to help position a
vehicle lap/shoulder belt on a child who
can no longer use a forward-facing child
restraint.
WARNING
Infants and children need special protection.
The vehicle’s seat belts may not fit them
properly. The shoulder belt may come too
close to the face or neck. The lap belt may
not fit over their small hip bones. In an
accident, an improperly fitting seat belt
could cause serious or fatal injury. Always
use appropriate child restraints.
All U.S. states and Canadian provinces or
territories require the use of approved
child restraints for infants and small
CHILD SAFETY
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
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)
SSD0471
Warning light and display
When the Preview Function 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 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.
How to handle the sensor
The sensor for the Preview Function is
common with Intelligent Cruise Control and
is located below the front bumper.
To keep the Preview Function operating
properly, be sure to observe the following:
.Always keep the sensor clean. Wipe
with a soft cloth carefully so as not to
damage the sensor.
. Do not strike or damage the areas
around the sensor. Do not touch or
remove the screw located on the
sensor. Doing so could cause failure
or malfunction. If the sensor is da-
maged due to an accident, contact an
INFINITI retailer.
. Do not attach a sticker (including
transparent material) or install an
accessory near the sensor. This could
cause failure or malfunction.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
. The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a
sophisticated device, but it cannot pre-
vent accidents resulting from careless or
dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces. Remember
that stopping distances on slippery
surfaces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if you
are using tire chains. Always maintain a
safe distance from the vehicle in front of
you. Ultimately, the driver is responsible
for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also affect
braking effectiveness.
—When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
—When installing a spare tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See “Tire
Starting and driving5-83
5-86Starting and driving
bars, bushings and wheels are not
INFINITI recommended for your vehicle
or are extremely deteriorated, the VDC
system may not operate properly. This
could adversely affect vehicle handling
performance, and the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
. If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not INFINITI
recommended or are extremely deterio-
rated, 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
surfaces such as higher banked corners,
the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly 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
illuminate. 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 illumi-
nate.
. The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
The Rear Active Steer system is an electro-
nically controlled four-wheel steering sys-
tem.
The angle of the rear wheels are adjusted
by the Rear Active Steer system, depending
on the vehicle speed and steering angle.
The rear wheels are designed to turn
momentarily in the opposite direction and
then change to the same direction as the
front wheels.
At low speeds, the rear wheels will not turn
and the system functions as a two-wheel
steering system.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
Rear Active Steer function will stop but the
ordinary two-wheel steering system will
operate normally. The “RAS”warning light
will illuminate. If the light illuminates while
driving, contact an INFINITI retailer for
repair.
WARNING
The Rear Active Steer system, although a
sophisticated device, cannot prevent acci-
dents resulting from careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Ultimately the responsi-
bility for safety of self and others rests in
the hands of the driver. Therefore only
REAR ACTIVE STEER SYSTEM (if so
equipped)
through attentive and careful driving meth-
ods can the Rear Active Steer system be
fully appreciated and safety assured.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before
inserting it into the key hole or use the
Intelligent Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 328F
(08C), check antifreeze to assure proper
winter protection. For additional informa-
tion, see “Engine cooling system” (P.8-9).
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the
battery fluid may freeze and damage the
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency,
the battery should be checked regularly.
For additional information, see “Battery”
(P.8-17).
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, in-
cluding the engine block. Refill before
operating the vehicle. For details, see
“Engine cooling system” (P.8-9).
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. However, the performance of these
tires will be substantially reduced in snowy
and icy conditions. If you operate your
vehicle on snowy or icy roads, INFINITI
recommends the use of MUD & SNOW or
ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Consult an INFINITI retailer for the tire
type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
For additional traction on icy roads,
studded tires may be used. However, some
U.S. states and Canadian provinces prohi-
bit their use. Check local, state and
provincial laws before installing studded
tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see
“Tire chains”(P.8-39) of this manual.
For all-wheel drive
If you install snow tires, they must also be
the same size, brand, construction and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
Starting and driving5-87
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
SCE0504
2. Loosen each wheel nut one or two turnsby turning counterclockwise with the
wheel nut wrench. Do not remove the
wheel nuts until the tire is off the
ground.
3. Carefully raise the vehicle until the tire clears the ground. To lift the vehicle,
securely hold the jack lever and rod
with both hands as shown above.
Remove the wheel nuts, and then
remove the tire.
SCE0661
Installing the spare tire
The T-type spare tire is designed for
emergency use. (See specific instructions
under the heading “Wheels and tires” (P.8-
32).)
1. Clean any mud or dirt from the surface between the wheel and hub.
2. Carefully put the spare tire on and tighten the wheel nuts finger tight.
3. With the wheel nut wrench, tighten wheel nuts alternately and evenly in the
sequence as illustrated (
*1,*2,*3,
*4,*5) until they are tight.
In case of emergency6-7
6-8In case of emergency
4. Lower the vehicle slowly until the tiretouches the ground. Then, with the
wheel nut wrench, tighten the wheel
nuts securely in the sequence as
illustrated. Lower the vehicle comple-
tely.
WARNING
. Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tigh-
tened wheel nuts can cause the wheel to
become loose or come off. This could
cause an accident.
. Do not use oil or grease on the wheel
studs or nuts. This could cause the nuts
to become loose.
. Retighten the wheel nuts when the
vehicle has been driven for 600 miles
(1,000 km) (also in cases of a flat tire,
etc.).
.As soon as possible, tighten the
wheel nuts to the specified torque
with a torque wrench.
Wheel nut tightening torque: 80 ft-lb (108 N·m)
The wheel nuts must be kept tigh-
tened to specification at all times. It is recommended that wheel nuts be
tightened to specifications at each
lubrication interval.
.Adjust tire pressure to the COLD
pressure.
COLD pressure:
After the vehicle has been parked
for three hours or more or driven
less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
COLD tire pressures are shown on
the Tire and Loading Information
label affixed to the driver side center
pillar.
After adjusting tire pressure to the COLD
tire pressure, the display of the tire
pressure information may show higher
pressure than the COLD tire pressure after
the vehicle has been driven more than 1
mile (1.6 km). This is because the tire
pressurizes as the tire temperature rises.
This does not indicate a system malfunc-
tion.
Stowing the damaged tire and tools
1. Securely store the damaged tire, jack and tools in the storage area.
2. Close the luggage floor cover.
3. Close the lift gate.
WARNING
. Always make sure that the spare tire and
jacking equipment are properly secured
after use. Such items can become
dangerous projectiles in an accident or
sudden stop.
. The T-type spare tire and small size
spare tire are designed for emergency
use. See specific instructions under the
heading “Wheels and tires” (P.8-32).