Always back straight down in R (Reverse)
gear and apply brakes to control your
speed.
•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 gear to control
your speed.
•Unsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Properly
secure all cargo so it will not be thrown
forward and cause injury to you or your pas-
sengers.
•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 steer-
ing wheel when driving off-road. The steer-
ing 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 become hot.
•Lower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher center of
gravity, your INFINITI is more affected by
strong side winds. Slower speeds ensure
better vehicle control.
•Do not drive beyond the performance capa-
bility 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 po-
sition with the engine running. Doing so
may result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could re-
sult 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 facil-
ity personnel that your vehicle is equipped
with AWD before it is placed on a dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unexpectedvehicle movement which could result in se-
rious vehicle damage or personal injury.
•When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel ex-
cessively.
•Accelerating quickly, sharp steering ma-
neuvers or sudden braking may cause loss
of control.
•If at all possible, avoid sharp turning ma-
neuvers, particularly at high speeds. Your
INFINITI vehicle has a higher center of grav-
ity than a passenger car. The vehicle is not
designed for cornering at the same speeds
as passenger cars. Failure to operate this
vehicle correctly could result in loss of con-
trol 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 front wheels when
driving on slippery roads and drive care-
fully.
•Be sure to check the brakes immediately
after driving in mud or water.
Starting and driving5-13
•Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If
you get out of the vehicle and it rolls for-
ward, 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 re-
quired. For additional information, refer to
Maintenance schedulesin the
9. Maintenance and Schedules section.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) DRIVING
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (IF SO
EQUIPPED)
WARNING
•Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.
•Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
Install tire chains on the front wheels when
driving on slippery roads and drive care-
fully.
•This vehicle is not designed for offroad
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy or
muddy roads that tires may get stuck in.
•For AWD equipped vehicles, do not attempt
to raise two wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any D (Drive) or R (Re-
verse) position with the engine running. Do-
ing 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 facil-
ity personnel that your vehicle is equipped
with AWD before it is placed on a dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result in se-
rious vehicle damage or personal injury.
•When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively. The INFINITI Vehicle Immobilizer System will not
allow the engine to start without the use of the
registered key.
If the engine fails to start using the registered
key, it may be due to interference caused by
another registered key, an automated toll road
device or automated payment device on the key
ring. Restart the engine using the following
procedures:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON position
for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCK position and wait approximately 5 seconds.
3. Repeat Step 1 and 2 again.
4. Restart the engine while holding the device (which may have caused the interference)
separate from the registered key.
If the no start condition re-occurs, INFINITI
recommends placing the registered key on a
separate key ring to avoid interference from
other devices.
INFINITI VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
5-14Starting and driving
0OFF position
1ACC position
2ON position
3START position
WARNING
Never remove the key or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position while driving. The
steering wheel will lock and could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle. This could
result in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
CAUTION
Use electrical accessories with the engine run-
ning to avoid discharging the vehicle battery.
If you must use accessories while the engine is
not running, do not use them for extended pe-
riods of time and do not use multiple electrical
accessories at the same time.
The switch includes an anti-theft steering lock
device.
STEERING LOCK
To lock the steering wheel
1. Turn the key to the OFF position.
2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Turn the steering wheel 1/6 of a turn clock- wise from the straight up position.
To unlock the steering wheel
1. Insert the key into the ignition switch.
2. Gently turn the key while rotating the steer- ing wheel slightly right and left.
KEY POSITIONS
OFF (Normal parking position)
0
The ignition key can only be removed when in
this position.
The steering lock can only be locked in this
position.
ACC (Accessories)/1
The engine is turned off without locking the
steering wheel. This position activates electrical
accessories, such as the radio, when the engine
is not running.
ON (Normal operating position)2
This position turns on the ignition system and
electrical accessories.
START3
The engine starter activates and the engine will
start. As soon as the engine has started, release
the key immediately. It will return to the ON
position.
NPA1483
IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-15
NOTE
For vehicles fitted with Idle Stop/Start System:
When the engine is automatically stopped by
the Idle Stop/Start System the ignition switch
can still be operated as usual.
At the end of a journey turn the ignition OFF to
avoid a discharged battery. The Idle Stop/Start
System does not automatically turn ignition off.•Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
•Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid, and windshield-washer fluid
as frequently as possible, or at least when-
ever you refuel.
•Check that all windows and lights are clean.
•Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Measure and check the tire
pressure for proper inflation.
•Check that all doors are closed.
•Position seat and adjust head restraints/
headrests.
•Adjust the inside and outside rear view mir-
rors.
•Fasten your seat belt and ask all passengers
to do likewise.
•Check the operation of the warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to the ON
position.
STARTING PROCEDURE WITH THE KEY
0OFF position
1ACC position
2ON position
3START position
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to position P (Park) by pressing the
button.
The transmission position indicator in the
vehicle information display shows
When the transmission is in position N (Neu-
tral), you can also start the engine with the
brake pedal depressed.
The starter is designed not to operate if the shift
lever is in any of the driving positions.
NPA1483
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE STARTING ENGINE
5-16Starting and driving
3. Turn the key to the START position3in the
ignition lock and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
If the engine is very hard to start because it is
flooded, depress the accelerator pedal all the
way to the floor and hold it. Turn the ignition
switch to the START position to start cranking
the engine. After 5 or 6 seconds, stop cranking
by turning 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 turning the ignition 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,
turn the ignition key to the OFF position and
wait 10 seconds before cranking again, other-
wise the starter could be damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the en-
gine 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 of2-3
minutes before shutting it off. Starting and
stopping the engine over a short period of
time may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
5. To stop the engine, Shift the transmission to position P (Park) by pressing the
button.
and turn the ignition switch to the OFF
position. NOTE
Care should be taken to avoid situations that can
lead to potential battery discharge and potential
no-start conditions such as:
•Installation or extended use of electronic
accessories that consume battery power
when the engine is not running (Phone char-
gers, GPS, DVD players, etc.)
•Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or only
driven short distances. In these cases, the
battery may need to be charged to maintain
battery health.
Starting and driving5-17
DRIVING WITH AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
Driving precautions
•Do not depress the accelerator pedal while
shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Re-
verse), D (Drive), or M (Manual shift mode).
Always depress the brake pedal until shifting
is completed. Failure to do so could cause you
to lose control and have an accident.
•Cold engine idle speed is high, so use caution
when shifting into a forward or reverse gear
before the engine has warmed up.
•Never shift to either the P (Park) or R (Reverse)
position while the vehicle is moving forward
and P (Park) or D (Drive) position while the
vehicle is reversing. This could cause an acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
•Except in an emergency, do not shift to the N
(Neutral) position while driving. Coasting
with the transmission in the N (Neutral) posi-
tion may cause serious damage to the trans-
mission.
WARNING
•Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. this may cause a loss of control.
CAUTION
•To avoid possible damage to your vehicle;
when stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by depress-
ing the accelerator pedal. The foot brake
should be used for this purpose.
•Except in an emergency, do not shift to the N
(Neutral) position while driving. Coasting
with the transmission in the N (Neutral) po-
sition may cause serious damage to the
transmission.
Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress thebrake pedal before shifting the shift lever to
R (Reverse), D (Drive) or Manual shift mode.
2. Keep the brake pedal depressed and push the shift lever to shift into a driving gear.
3. Release the parking brake and brake, then gradually put the vehicle in motion by press-
ing the accelerator pedal.
The automatic transmission is designed so that
the brake pedal MUSTbe depressed before
shifting from P (Park) to any drive position while
the ignition switch is ON.
Shifting
P Park position with parking lock
R Reverse
N Neutral
D Drive
NSD585
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-18Starting and driving
Transmission position display:
NOTE
If the transmission position display in the ve-
hicle information display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether the
desired transmission position IS engaged. Ide-
ally, you should select transmission position D
and automatic drive program E or S.
The shift lever indicator
1located in the lower
part of the vehicle information display shows
the current position of the transmission.
It shows the P,R,N,D modes when the transmis-
sion is in auto mode or the shift position when
the transmission is in manual mode.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift lever is in
any position while the engine is not running.
Failure to do so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
CAUTION
Use the P (Park) or R (Reverse) position only
when the vehicle is completely stopped. P (Park)
:
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the P
(Park) position only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
Use this position when the vehicle is parked or
when starting the engine. Always make sure
that the vehicle is completely stopped before
pressing button
1to engage the P (Park)
position. For maximum safety, the brake pedal
must be depressed before engaging the P (Park)
position. Use this position together with the
parking brake. When parking on a hill, first
depress the brake pedal, apply the parking
brake and then engage the P (Park) position.
The parking lock should not be used as a brake
when parking. In order to secure the vehicle,
NSD649NSD586
Starting and driving5-19
always apply the electric parking brake in addi-
tion to the parking lock.
In the event of a malfunction of the vehicle’s
electronics, the transmission may lock in posi-
tion P (Park). Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately. It is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Park position P is automatically engaged if:
•You switch off the engine using the key and
remove the key.
•You open the driver’s door when the vehicle
is stationary or driving at very low speed and
the transmission is in position D (Drive) or R
(Reverse).
R (Reverse)
:
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the R
(Reverse) position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
Use this position to back up the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped
before selecting the R (Reverse) position. The
brake pedal must be depressed and the shift
lever button pushed in to move the shift lever from P (Park), N (Neutral) or any drive position to
R (Reverse).
N (Neutral)
:
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled
engine while driving the vehicle.
D (Drive)
:
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
The automatic transmission changes gear auto-
matically. All forward gears are available.
Changing gear
The automatic transmission shifts to the indi-
vidual gears automatically when it is in trans-
mission position D (Drive). Shifting is deter-
mined by:
•The selected drive program.
•The position of the accelerator pedal.
•The road speed.
Accelerator pedal position
:
Your style of driving influences how the auto-
matic transmission shifts gear:
•little throttle: early upshifts
•more throttle: late upshifts
Holding the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients
WARNING
If the transmission overheats, the electronic
management system is automatically deacti-
vated. This interrupts the power transmission
from the engine to the wheels. The vehicle
may, for example, roll backwards on gradients.
There is a risk of an accident. Never hold the
vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by de-
pressing the accelerator.
The transmission may overheat if you hold the
vehicle stationary on uphill gradients by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal. If the transmis-
sion overheats, a warning tone sounds and the
[Stop Vehicle Shift to P Leave Engine Running]
display message appears in the vehicle infor-
mation display. You will only be able to con-
tinue your journey once the transmission has
cooled down and the display message in the
vehicle information display has disappeared.
5-20Starting and driving