equipped with 4WD before it is placed on a
dynamometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage or un-
expected vehicle movement which could re-
sult in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
•When a wheel is off the ground due to an
uneven surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
CAUTION
Never tow the vehicle with one axle raised. This
may damage the differential. Damage of this
sort is not covered by the warranty. All wheels
must be fully raised (seeFour-Wheel Drive
(4WD) models in the6. In case of emergency
section)
4WD, together with VDC, improves the traction
of your vehicle whenever a drive wheel spins
due to insufficient grip.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4WD can
neither reduce the risk of an accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4WD cannot take
account of road, weather, and traffic conditions.
4WD is only an aid. You are responsible for the
distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good time, and for staying
in lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip
•When pulling away, only depress the accel-
erator pedal as far as is necessary.
•Accelerate less when driving.
NOTE
In wintry driving conditions, the maximum effec-
tiveness of 4WD can only be achieved if you use
winter tires (M+S tires), with snow chains if nec-
essary.
WARNING
•Do not stop or park the vehicle over flam-
mable materials such as dry grass, waste
paper or rags. They may ignite and cause a
fire.
•Safe parking procedures require that both
the parking brake be applied and the P
(Park) position engaged. Failure to do so
could cause the vehicle to move unexpect-
edly or roll away and result in an accident.
•When parking the vehicle, make sure the P
(Park) position is engaged. The shift lever
cannot be moved out of the P (Park) position
without depressing the brake pedal.
•Never leave the engine running while the
vehicle is unattended.
•To help avoid risk of injury or death through
unintended operation of the vehicle and/or
its systems, do not leave children, people
who require the assistance of others, or
pets unattended in your vehicle. Addition-
ally, the temperature inside a closed vehicle
on a warm day can quickly become high
enough to cause a significant risk of injury
or death to people and pets.
PARKING
5-84Starting and driving
CAUTION
Always secure the vehicle correctly against
rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle or its drive
train could be damaged.
To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
•The electric parking brake must be applied.
•The transmission must be in position P (Park)
and the transmission position display must
show P in the vehicle information display.
•The key must be removed from the ignition
switch.
•On uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb. 1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Press the P (Park) button.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from moving into
traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB
1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb. Then apply the
parking brake.
HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB
2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
allow the vehicle to move back until the curb
side wheel gently touches the curb. Then
apply the parking brake. HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, WITHOUT
CURB
3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the
center of the road if the vehicle moves. Then
apply the parking brake.
4. Put the ignition switch in the OFF position.
SSD0488Z
Starting and driving5-85
SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to posi-
tion N (Neutral) when you switch off the en-
gine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk
of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to position P (Park). Prevent the parked vehicle
from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
Procedure
1. Apply the electric parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to position P (Park).
3.With the key: turn the key to the position OFF
in the ignition switch and remove it The
immobilizer is activated.
If you switch the engine off with the transmis-
sion in position R (Reverse) or D (Drive), the
automatic transmission shifts to N (Neutral)
automatically.
With the key: if you then open the driver’s door
or the front-passenger door or remove the key
from the ignition, the automatic transmission
shifts to P (Park) automatically. If you want the automatic transmission to re-
main in neutral N (Neutral), e.g. when having
the vehicle cleaned in an automatic car wash
with a towing system:
With the key
:
1. Switch the ignition on.
2. Depress the brake pedal and keep it de-
pressed.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Release the brake pedal.
5. Release the electric parking brake.
6. Switch off the ignition and leave the key in the ignition switch.
EXTENDED PARKING
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than six weeks, it may suffer from lack of use.
Visit an INFINITI retailer and seek advice
NOTE
You can obtain information about trickle char-
gers from an INFINITI retailer. The electric power steering system is designed
to reduce the driver effort required to steer the
vehicle.
WARNING
If during operation a fault is detected the fol-
lowing message will be displayed in the ve-
hicle information display along with an audible
warning tone.
[Power Steering Malfunction See Operators
Manual]
In conjunction with this warning, steering as-
sistance will no longer be provided by the sys-
tem.
The effort required to steer the vehicle will
increase. This will be most noticeable at low
speed and when performing a tight turning
maneuver.
Check whether you are able to provide the ex-
tra effort required.
If you are able to steer safely: Carefully drive on
to an INFINITI retailer.
If you are unable to steer safely: Do NOT drive
on. It is recommended you contact the nearest
INFINITI retailer for assistance.
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM
5-86Starting and driving
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
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
WARNING
•Never rely solely on the Hill Start Assist
(HSA) system to prevent the vehicle from
moving backward on a hill. Always drive
carefully and attentively. Depress the brake
pedal when the vehicle is stopped on a
steep hill. Be especially careful when
stopped on a hill on frozen or muddy roads.
Failure to prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards may result in a loss of control of
the vehicle and possible serious injury or
death.
•The Hill Start Assist system is not designed
to hold the vehicle at a standstill on a hill.
Depress the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to roll backwards and may
result in a collision or serious personal in-
jury.
•The Hill Start Assist system may not prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards on a hill
under all load or road conditions. Always be
prepared to depress the brake pedal to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling backwards.
Failure to do so may result in a collision or
serious personal injury.
•After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could rollaway There is a risk of an accident and in-
jury. Therefore, quickly move your foot from
the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal.
Never leave the vehicle when it is held by
hill start assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient. It
holds the vehicle for a short time after you have
removed your foot from the brake pedal. This
gives you enough time to move your foot from
the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and
depress it before the vehicle begins to roll.
Hill start assist is not active if
•You are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
•On vehicles with automatic transmission, the
transmission is in position N.
•The electric parking brake is applied.
•VDC is malfunctioning.
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 INFINITI Intelligent Key.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C), check
the antifreeze to assure proper winter protec-
tion. For additional information, see Engine
cooling system in the8. Do-it-yourself sec-
tion.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For details, see
Battery in the8. Do-it-yourself section of this
manual.
DRAINING OF ENGINE COOLANT
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see Changing engine
HILL START ASSIST (HSA) COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-93
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
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below. Failure
to do so could result in damage to the charging
system and cause personal injury.1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle,
position the two vehicles to bring their bat-
teries near each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch. 2. Check if the parking brake is applied.
If not, after connecting the vehicle with the
booster battery (after step 8), apply the
parking brake.
The vehicle has an electric parking brake, for
more information see, Parking brakein the
3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments sec-
tion
3. Press the P (Park) button.
4. Switch off all unnecessary electrical systems (headlights, hazard lights etc,).
5. Ensure that the ignition switch of the vehicle being jump-started is in the OFF position.
6. Open the hood. For details, see Hoodin the
3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments sec-
tion.
7. Remove the vent caps (if equipped) on the battery and cover the battery with an old
cloth.
8. Connect the jump leads in the sequence (
1→2→3→4) as illustrated.NDI1595
In case of emergency6-11