PROBLEMS WITH PARKING SENSOR SYSTEM
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and solutions
Only the red segments in the
Parking Sensor System displays are
lit. You also hear a warning tone for
approximately two seconds.
The Parking Sensor System is then
deactivated and the indicator light
on the Parking Sensor System
button lights up. The Parking Sensor System has malfunctioned and has been
deactivated.
If problems persist, have the Parking Sensor System checked. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Only the red segments in the
parking sensor displays are lit. The
Parking Sensor System is then
deactivated. The parking sensors are dirty or there is interference.
•Clean the sensors.•Switch the ignition back on.
The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or ultrasound
waves.
See if the Parking Sensor System functions in a different location.
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km), follow
these recommendations to obtain maximum
engine performance and ensure the future reli-
ability and economy of your new vehicle. Failure
to follow these recommendations may result in
shortened engine life and reduced engine per-
formance.
•Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow, and do not run the
engine over 4,000 RPM.
•Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
•Avoid quick starts.
•Avoid hard braking as much as possible.
•Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 mi (805
km). Your engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged.
You should also observe these notes on
break-in if the engine or parts of the drive train
on your vehicle have been replaced.
CAUTION
In certain driving and driving safety systems,
the sensors adjust automatically while a cer-
tain distance is being driven after the vehicle
has been delivered or after repairs. Full system
effectiveness is not reached until the end of
this teach-in process.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE
Starting and driving5-81
slight pulsation. This is normal and indicates
that the Brake Assist System is operating (if
equipped).
Using brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will overheat the brakes, wear out
the brake linings/pads faster, and increase fuel
consumption.
To help reduce brake wear 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.
While driving on a slippery surface, be careful
when braking, accelerating or downshifting.
Abrupt braking or acceleration could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an accident.
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 side during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly depressing the brake pedal
to heat up the brakes. Do this until the brakesreturn to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at
high speeds until the brakes function correctly.
Driving uphill
When starting on a steep gradient, it is some-
times difficult to operate the brake. Use the
parking brake to hold the vehicle. When ready
to start, make sure that the shift lever is in an
appropriate forward or reverse driving position,
release the parking brake while depressing the
accelerator pedal. If your vehicle has an electric
parking brake, this will automatically release
when you depress the accelerator pedal (DCT
models).
Driving downhill
The engine braking action is effective for con-
trolling the vehicle while descending hills.
A low gear position in the manual shift mode,
low enough to obtain sufficient engine braking,
should be selected.
Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weak-
ened 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 ser-
vice manual and can be performed by an
INFINITI retailer.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a so-
phisticated device, but it cannot prevent acci-
dents resulting from careless or dangerous
driving techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slippery sur-
faces. Remember that stopping distances on
slippery surfaces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping distances
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 ve-
hicle 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 replacement tire, make sure
that it is the proper size and type as specified
on the tire and loading information label. (See
5-88Starting and driving
Wheels and Tiresin the9. Maintenance and
Schedules section.)
– For detailed information, see Wheels and
tires in the 8. Do-it-yourself section.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls the
brakes so the wheels do not lock during hard
braking or when braking on slippery surfaces.
The system detects the rotation speed at each
wheel and varies the brake fluid pressure to
prevent each wheel from locking and sliding. By
preventing each wheel from locking, the system
helps the driver maintain steering control and
helps to minimize swerving and spinning on
slippery surfaces.
Using system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady pres-
sure, but do not pump the brakes. The ABS will
operate to prevent the wheels from locking up.
Steer the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle at a low speed in
forward or reverse. When the self-test occurs,
you may hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal and
does not indicate a malfunction. If the computer
senses a malfunction, it switches the ABS off
and illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then oper-
ates normally, but without anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during the
self-test or while driving, have the vehicle
checked. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6 MPH
(5 to 10 km/h). The speed varies according to
road conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels
are close to locking up, the actuator rapidly
applies and releases hydraulic pressure. This
action is similar to pumping the brakes very
quickly. You may feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal and hear a noise from under the hood or
feel a vibration from the actuator when it is
operating. This is normal and indicates that the
ABS is operating properly. However, the pulsa-
tion may indicate that road conditions are haz-
ardous and extra care is required while driving.
Starting and driving5-89
The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system uses
various sensors to monitor driver inputs and
vehicle motion. Under certain driving condi-
tions, the VDC system helps to perform the
following functions.
•Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel slip
on one slipping drive wheel so power is
transferred to a non slipping drive wheel on
the same axle.
•Controls brake pressure and engine output
to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function).
•Controls brake pressure at individual wheels
and engine output to help the driver maintain
control of the vehicle in the following condi-
tions:– understeer (vehicle tends to not follow the steered path despite increased steering
input)
– oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain road or driving conditions).
The VDC system can help the driver to maintain
control of the vehicle, but it cannot prevent loss
of vehicle control in all driving situations. When the VDC system operates, the VDC warn-
ing light in the instrument panel flashes so note
the following:
•The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help
keep the vehicle on the steered path.
•You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under the
hood. This is normal and indicates that the
VDC system is working properly.
•Adjust your speed and driving to the road
conditions.
See Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light in the 2. Instruments and controls sec-
tion.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the VDC
warning light
illuminates in the instrument
panel. The VDC system automatically turns off.
WARNING
•The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain stability but does not pre-
vent accidents due to abrupt steering opera-
tion at high speeds or by careless or danger-
ous driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when driv- ing and cornering on slippery surfaces and
always drive carefully.
•Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If
suspension parts such as shock absorbers,
struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bushings
and wheels are not INFINITI recommended
for your vehicle or are extremely deterio-
rated, 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 recom-
mended 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 de-
teriorated, 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
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
5-90Starting and driving
VDC warning lightmay illuminate. This
is not a malfunction. Restart the engine af-
ter driving onto a stable surface.
•If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI
recommended ones are used, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and the VDC
warning light
may illuminate.
•The VDC system is not a substitute for win-
ter tires or tire chains on a snow covered
road.
•If VDC is malfunctioning, VDC is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. In addition, other driv-
ing safety systems are switched off. This
increases the risk of skidding and an acci-
dent. Drive on carefully. Have VDC checked.
It is recommended you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service.
CAUTION
•When VDC is deactivated, theVDC
OFF warning light lights up continuously.
•If both thewarning light andwarning light are lit continuously, VDC is
not available due to a malfunction.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS) is part of
VDC..
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deactivate
VDC.
CHARACTERISTICS OF VDC
If theVDC warning light goes out before
beginning the journey, VDC is automatically
active.
If VDC intervenes, the
VDC warning lamp
flashes in the combination meter.
If VDC intervenes:
•Do not deactivate VDC under any circum-
stances.
•When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
•Adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
Deactivating/activating VDC
WARNING
If you deactivate VDC, VDC no longer stabilizes
the vehicle. There is an increased risk of skid-
ding and an accident.
Only deactivate VDC in the situations de-
scribed in the following section.
You can select between the following statuses
of VDC:
•VDC is activated.
•VDC is deactivated.
It may be best to deactivate VDC in the follow-
ing situations:
•When using snow chains.
•In deep snow.
•On sand or gravel.
NOTE
Activate VDC as soon as the situations described
above no longer apply. VDC will otherwise not be
Starting and driving5-91
able to stabilize the vehicle if the vehicle starts
to skid or a wheel starts to spin.
You can activate/deactivate VDC using the ve-
hicle information display. To activate/
deactivate VDC:
1. Start the engine
2. Press the
orbutton on the
steering wheel to select the [DriveAssist]
menu in the vehicle information display.
3. Press the
orbutton to select
VDC.
4. Press the
The current selection is displayed.
5. To activate/deactivate: press the
ton again.
VDC is deactivated if the
warning light
in the combination meter lights up continu-
ously when the engine is running.
Characteristics when VDC is deactivated
:
If VDC is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, theVDC warning lamp
flashes in the combination meter. In such situ-
ations, VDC will not stabilize the vehicle. If you deactivate VDC:
•VDC no longer intervenes in understeer or
oversteer situations.
•Engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action, so the tires cut through the
loose surface until the hit solid ground,
giving better traction.
•Traction control is still activated.
•VDC still provides support when you brake.
EBD (ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE
DISTRIBUTION)
EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
on the rear wheels to help improve handling
during braking.
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the EBD [Inoperative
See Operator’s Manual] warning is displayed
in the vehicle information display. The
VDC warning lamp may also light up.
If EBD is malfunctioning as a result of a VDC
malfunction, the rear wheels can lock, e.g. un-
der full braking. This increases the risk of skid-
ding and an accident.You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked. It is recommended
you see an INFINITI retailer.
STEER CONTROL
STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting a
noticeable steering force to the steering wheel
in the direction required for vehicle stabilisa-
tion.
This steering support is provided in particular if:
•Both right wheels or both left wheels are on
a wet or slippery road surface when you
brake.
•The vehicle starts to skid.
WARNING
No steering support is provided from STEER
CONTROL, if:
•VDC is malfunctioning.
•The steering is faulty.
Power steering will, however, continue to
function.
5-92Starting and driving
The hazard warning flasher switch1operates
regardless of the ignition switch position except
when the battery is discharged.
The hazard warning flasher is used to warn
other drivers when you have to stop or park
under emergency conditions.
When the hazard warning flasher switch is
pushed, all turn signal lights will flash. To turn
off the hazard warning flasher, push the hazard
warning switch again.
WARNING
•If stopping for an emergency, be sure to
move the vehicle well off the road.
•Do not use the hazard warning flashers
while moving on the highway unless un-
usual circumstances force you to drive so
slowly that your vehicle might become a
hazard to other traffic.
•Turn signals do not work when the hazard
warning flasher lights are on.
Some jurisdictions may prohibit the use of the
hazard warning flasher switch while driving. If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions in
this section.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS)
WARNING
•If the low tire pressure warning light illumi-
nates or a tire pressure-related warning is
displayed by the vehicle information dis-
play while driving, avoid sudden steering
maneuvers or abrupt braking, reduce ve-
hicle speed, pull off the road to a safe loca-
tion and stop the vehicle as soon as pos-
sible. Driving with under-inflated tires may
permanently damage the tires and increase
the likelihood of tire failure. Serious vehicle
damage could occur and may lead to an ac-
cident and could result in serious personal
injury. Check the tire pressure for all four
tires. Adjust the tire pressure to the recom-
mended COLD tire pressure shown on the
tire and loading information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light OFF. If
you have a flat tire, replace it with a replace-
ment tire as soon as possible.
•When a replacement tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, the TPMS will not func-
tion and the low tire pressure warning light
NIC2621
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER SWITCH
FLAT TIRE
6-2In case of emergency
will flash for approximately 1 minute. The
light will remain on after 1 minute. It is rec-
ommended you Contact an INFINITI retailer
as soon as possible for tire replacement
and/or system resetting.
•Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.
•If you used Emergency Tire Sealant to repair
a minor tire puncture, the TPMS sensor
should be checked when repairing or re-
placing the tire. It is recommended you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
monitors tire pressure of all tires. When the low
tire pressure warning light is lit, and a tire
pressure-related warning (if equipped) appears
in the vehicle information display, one or more
of your tires is significantly under-inflated. If
the vehicle is being driven with low tire pres-
sure, the TPMS will activate and warn you of it
by the low tire pressure warning light (in the
meter panel). This system will activate only
when the vehicle is driven at speeds above 16
MPH (25 km/h). For more details about the TPMS, see
Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in the
5. Starting and driving section.
STOPPING VEHICLE
WARNING
•Be sure to apply the parking brake firmly.
•Be sure that P (Park) is engaged.
•Never change tires when the vehicle is on a
slope, ice or slippery area. This is hazard-
ous.
•Never change tires when the oncoming traf-
fic is close to your vehicle. Call for profes-
sional road assistance.
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard indicator flasher lights.
3. Park on a level surface.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Press the P (Park) button.
6. Turn off the engine. 7. Open the hood and set up the triangle
reflector (if equipped):
•To warn other traffic.
•To signal professional road assistance
personnel that you need assistance.
8. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place, away from other
traffic and clear of the vehicle.
In case of emergency6-3