2-22Instruments and controls
are not operating.
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
Key reminder chime
A chime will sound if the driver side door is
opened while the ignition switch is pushed
to the ACC position or pushed to the OFF or
LOCK position with the Intelligent Key left
in the Intelligent Key port. Make sure the
ignition switch is pushed to the OFF
position, and take the Intelligent Key with
you when leaving the vehicle.
Light reminder chime
A chime will sound when the driver side
door is opened with the light switch in the
orposition and the ignition switch
in the ACC, OFF or LOCK position.
Turn the light switch off when you leave the
vehicle.
Parking brake reminder chime
The chime will sound if the vehicle is driven
at more than 4 MPH (7 km/h) with the
parking brake applied. Stop the vehicle
and release the parking brake.
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires
replacement, it will make a high pitched
scraping sound when the vehicle is in
motion. This scraping sound will first occur
only when the brake pedal is depressed.
After more wear of the brake pad, the
sound will always be heard even if the
brake pedal is not depressed. Have the
brakes checked as soon as possible if the
warning sound is heard.
Lane departure warning chime (if
so equipped)
When the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) or
Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system is
on, the chime sounds if the vehicle is
traveling close to either the left or the right
of a traveling lane with detectable lane
markers.
See “Lane Departure Warning (LDW) sys-
tem/Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) sys-
tem” (P.5-21) for more details.
SIC3827
The dot matrix liquid crystal display*1is
located between the tachometer and the
speedometer, and it displays the auto-
matic transmission position indicator, the
Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system (if so
equipped), the Distance Control Assist
(DCA) system (if so equipped) information,
the Intelligent Key operation information
and other warnings and information.
For detailed information about each sys-
tem, see the following sections:
. Automatic Transmission (AT)
—“ Warning/indicator lights and audi-
ble reminders” (P.2-13).
DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY
Distance Control Assist (DCA) system (if
so equipped) ..................................................... 5-54Precautions on Distance Control
Assist system ................................................ 5-55
Distance Control Assist operation .................. 5-56
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system (if
so equipped) ..................................................... 5-67 Precautions on FCW system ........................... 5-68
Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) system (if
so equipped) ..................................................... 5-70 Precautions on IBA system ............................ 5-71
Break-in schedule .............................................. 5-74
Fuel Efficient Driving Tips................................... 5-74
Increasing fuel economy .................................... 5-76
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) (if so equipped) .............. 5-76
Parking/parking on hills .................................... 5-78
Power steering................................................... 5-79
Continuous damping control (if so equipped)..... 5-79
Brake system..................................................... 5-80 Braking precautions ...................................... 5-80 European design brake pads (if
so equipped) ............................................... 5-80
Parking brake break-in................................. 5-80
Brake assist ...................................................... 5-81
Brake assist................................................. 5-81
Preview function (Intelligent Cruise Control
system equipped models) ............................ 5-81
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .................... 5-83
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .............. 5-85
Rear active steer system (if so equipped) .......... 5-86
Cold weather driving ......................................... 5-87
Freeing a frozen door lock ........................... 5-87
Antifreeze .................................................... 5-87
Battery......................................................... 5-87
Draining of coolant water............................. 5-87
Tire equipment ............................................ 5-87
Special winter equipment ............................ 5-88
Driving on snow or ice ................................. 5-88
Engine block heater (if so equipped)............ 5-88
5-80Starting 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.
You may feel a small click and hear a sound
when the brake pedal is fully depressed
slowly. This is not a malfunction and
indicates that the brake assist mechanism
is operating properly.
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 sideduring 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 the
vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
EUROPEAN DESIGN BRAKE PADS (if
so equipped)
The FX50 Sport (only) is equipped with
more aggressive European style brake
pads which provide increased fade resis-
tance when repeatedly braking from very
high speeds. These pads are likely to
experience increased brake dust and noise
as well as increased pad and rotor wear,
with replacement intervals of less than
20,000 miles (32,000 km) for some custo-
mers depending upon their driving pat-
terns.
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-
BRAKE SYSTEM
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)
8-24Maintenance and do-it-yourself
Contact an INFINITI retailer if checking or
replacement is required.If the brakes do not operate properly, have
the brakes checked by an INFINITI retailer.
SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjust-
ing brakes.
The disc-type brakes self-adjust every time
the brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
See an INFINITI retailer for a brake system
check if the brake pedal height does not
return to normal.
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires
replacement, it will make a high pitched
scraping sound when the vehicle is in
motion. This scraping sound will first occur
only when the brake pedal is depressed.
After more wear of the brake pad, the
sound will always be heard even if the
brake pedal is not depressed. Have the
brakes checked as soon as possible if the
wear warning sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions,occasional brake squeak, squeal or other
noise may be heard. Occasional brake
noise during light to moderate stops is
normal and does not affect the function or
performance of the brake system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.
For additional information,
see the maintenance log section of your
“INFINITI Service and Maintenance Guide”
for maintenance intervals.
REAR WINDOW WIPER BLADES BRAKES