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
•The system will not operate at speeds below
approximately 40 MPH (60 km/h) or if it
cannot detect lane markers.
•The LDW system is primarily intended for
use on well-developed freeways or high-
ways. It may not detect the lane markers in
certain roads, weather or driving condi-
tions.
•Do not use the LDW system under the fol-
lowing conditions as it may not function
properly:– During bad weather (rain, fog, snow,
etc.).
– When driving on slippery roads, such as
on ice or snow, etc.
– When driving on winding or uneven
roads.
– When there is a lane closure due to road
repairs.
– When driving in a makeshift or tempo-
rary lane.
– When driving on roads where the lane
width is too narrow.
– When driving without normal tire condi-
tions (for example, tire wear, low tire
pressure, installation of spare tire, tire
chains, non-standard wheels).
– When the vehicle is equipped with non-
original brake parts or suspension parts.
•The camera may not detect lane markers in
the following situations and the LDW sys-
tem may not operate properly.
– On roads where there are multiple paral-
lel lane markers; lane markers that are
faded or not painted clearly; yellow
painted lane markers; non-standard lane
markers; or lane markers covered with
water, dirt, snow, etc.
– On roads where the discontinued lane
markers are still detectable.
– On roads where there are sharp curves.
– On roads where there are sharply con-
trasting objects, such as shadows,
snow, water, wheel ruts, seams or lines
remaining after road repairs. (The LDW
system could detect these items as lane
markers.)
– On roads where the traveling lane
merges or separates.
– When the vehicle’s traveling direction
does not align with the lane marker.
– When traveling close to the vehicle in
front of you, which obstructs the lane
camera unit detection range.
– When rain, snow or dirt adheres to the
windshield in front of the lane camera
unit. –
When the headlights are not bright due
to dirt on the lens or if the aiming is not
adjusted properly.
– When strong light enters the lane cam-
era unit. (For example, the light directly
shines on the front of the vehicle at sun-
rise or sunset.)
– When a sudden change in brightness oc-
curs. (For example, when the vehicle en-
ters or exits a tunnel or under a bridge.)
– When there is poor visibility. (For ex-
ample, due to insufficient illumination of
the road, or due to snow, rain, fog or
spray.
– When there is glare. (For example, from
oncoming traffic, the sun or reflection
when the road is wet).
5-32Starting and driving
•In front of driveways or entrances and exits.
•Unsuitable surfaces.
Parking tips:
•On narrow roads, drive as closely as possible
past the parking space.
•Parking spaces that are littered or overgrown
might be identified or measured incorrectly.
•Parking spaces that are partly occupied by
trailer towing bars might not be identified as
such or be measured incorrectly.
•Snowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
•Pay attention to the parking sensor system
warning messages during the parking proce-
dure.
•You can intervene in the steering procedure
to correct it at any time. IPA will then be
canceled.
•When transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you should not use IPA.
•Never use IPA when snow chains are fitted.
•Make sure that the tire pressures are always
correct. This has a direct influence on the
parking characteristics of the vehicle. Use IPA for parking spaces that are:
•Parallel or at right angles to the direction of
travel.
•On straight roads, not bends.
•On the same level as the road, e. g. not on
the sidewalk.
For vehicles with the towbar folded out, the
minimum length for parking spaces is slightly
longer.
If you have attached a trailer to your vehicle,
you may not use IPA. Once the electrical con-
nection is established between your vehicle and
the trailer, IPA is no longer available. The
parking sensor system is deactivated for the
rear area
DETECTING PARKING SPACES
The IPA system can only be used to park in
spaces that have vehicles directly on either side
of the parking space.
Objects located above the height range of IPA
will not be detected when the parking space is
measured. These are not taken into account
when the parking procedure is calculated, e. g.
overhanging loads, tail sections or loading
ramps of goods vehicles.
WARNING
If there are objects above the detection range,
IPA may steer too early. This could cause a
collision. There is a risk of an accident.
If objects are located above the detection
range, stop and switch off the IPA.
For further information on the detection range
see Range of the sensors later in this section.
IPA does not assist you parking in spaces at
right angles to the direction of travel if:
•Two parking spaces are located directly next
to one another.
•The parking space is directly next to a low
obstacle such as a low curb.
•You forward park.
IPA does not assist you parking in spaces that
are parallel or at right angles to the direction of
travel if:
•The parking space is on a curb.
•The system reads the parking space as being
blocked, for example, by foliage or grass
paving blocks.
•The area is too small for the vehicle to
maneuver into.
Starting and driving5-69
6.Avoid Idling
•Shutting off your engine when safe for
stops exceeding 30 seconds saves fuel
and reduces emissions.
7. Buy an Automated Pass for Toll Roads
•Automated passes permit drivers to use
special lanes to maintain cruising speed
through the toll and avoid stopping and
starting.
8. Winter Warm Up
•Limit idling time to minimize impact to
fuel economy.
•Vehicles typically need no more than 30
seconds of idling at start-up to effectively
circulate the engine oil before driving.
•Your vehicle will reach its ideal operating
temperature more quickly while driving
versus idling.
9. Keeping your Vehicle Cool
•Park your vehicle in a covered parking
area or in the shade whenever possible.
•When entering a hot vehicle, opening the
windows will help to reduce the inside
temperature faster, resulting in reduced
demand on your A/C system.
•Keep your engine tuned up.
•Follow the recommended scheduled mainte-
nance.
•Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
•Keep all the wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
•Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
For additional information, see Recom-
mended fluids/lubricants and capacities in
the 10. Technical information section
WARNING
•Do not drive beyond the performance capa-
bility of the tires, even with 4WD engaged.
Accelerating quickly, sharp steering ma-
neuvers or sudden braking may cause loss
of control.
•Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
•This vehicle is not designed for off-road
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy or
muddy roads that tires may get stuck in.
•For 4WD 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 a 4WD equipped ve-
hicle 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 that you inform the
test facility personnel that your vehicle is
INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (IF EQUIPPED)
Starting and driving5-83
CAUTION
•If wheels or tires other than INFINITI recom-
mended ones are used, the power steering
system may not operate properly and the
[Power Steering Malfunction See Operators
Manual] warning may appear in the vehicle
information display.
•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 power steering system may not
operate properly and the [Power Steering
Malfunction See Operators Manual] warn-
ing may appear in the vehicle information
display.
•Do not modify the vehicle’s steering. If
steering parts are not INFINITI recom-
mended for your vehicle or are extremely
deteriorated, the power steering system
may not operate properly and the [Power
Steering Malfunction See Operators
Manual] warning may appear in the vehicle
information display.
•Do not place the ignition switch in the on
position while the steering wheel or a tire is
removed.
•Do not turn the steering wheel as much as
possible while the ignition switch is in any
position other than the ON position.
•Installing an accessory on the steering
wheel, or changing the steering wheel, may
reduce the steering performance.
NOTE
When the steering wheel is operated repeatedly
or continuously while parking or driving at a very
low speed, the power assistance for the steering
wheel will be reduced. This is to prevent over-
heating of the electric power steering system
and protect it from becoming damaged. While
the power assistance is reduced, steering wheel
operation will become heavy. When the tem-
perature of the electric power steering system
decreases, the power assistance level will return
to normal. Avoid repeating such steering wheel
operations that could cause the electric power
steering system to overheat. The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking ability at two wheels.BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
WARNING
While driving on a slippery surface, be careful
when braking, accelerating or downshifting.
Abrupt braking or accelerating could cause the
wheels to skid and result in an accident.
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. How-
ever, greater foot pressure on the brake pedal
will be required to stop the vehicle. The stop-
ping distance will be longer.
WARNING
•If the engine is not running or is turned off
while driving, the power assist for the
brakes will not work. Braking will be harder.
•Do not coast with the engine stopped.
When the brake pedal is depressed slowly and
firmly, you may hear a clicking noise and feel a
BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-87
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
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
6 In case of emergency
Hazard warning flasher switch...............6-2
Flat tire ............................ .6-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) .......6-2
Stopping vehicle .................... .6-3
Warning triangle (if equipped) .............6-4
Run-flat tires ....................... .6-4Removing and fitting wheels
..............6-5
Jump starting .........................6-10
Push starting .........................6-12
If your vehicle overheats ..................6-13
Towing your vehicle .................... .6-14
Towing recommended by INFINITI ...........6-14