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
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
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
In order to maintain the appearance of your
vehicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
To protect the paint surfaces, please wash your
vehicle as soon as you can:
•After a rainfall, to prevent possible damage
from acid rain.
•After driving on coastal roads.
•When contaminants such as soot, bird drop-
pings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs get
on the paint surface.
•When dust or mud builds up on the surface.
Whenever possible, park your vehicle inside a
garage or in a covered area to minimize the
chances of damaging the paint surface of your
vehicle.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover. Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body cover.
WASHING
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of
water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly using a mild
soap, a special vehicle soap or general purpose
dishwashing liquid mixed with clean, lukewarm
(never hot) water.
CAUTION
•Do not use car washes that use acid in the
detergent. Some car washes, especially
brushless ones, use some acid for cleaning.
The acid may react with some plastic vehicle
components, causing them to crack. This
could affect their appearance, and also
could cause them not to function properly.
Always check with your car wash to confirm
that acid is not used.
•Do not wash the vehicle with strong house-
hold soap, strong chemical detergents,
gasoline or solvents.
•Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight or
while the vehicle body is hot, as the paint
surface may become water-spotted.
•Avoid using tight-napped or rough cloths,
such as washing mitts. Care must be taken
when removing caked-on dirt or other for-
eign substances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of
clean water.
Inside edges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable to
the effects of road salt. Therefore, these areas must be cleaned regularly. Take care that the
drain holes in the lower edge of the door are
open. Spray water under the body and in the
wheel wells to loosen the dirt and wash away
road salt.
A damp chamois can be used to dry the vehicle
to avoid water spots.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface and
helps maintain a new vehicle appearance.
After waxing, polishing is recommended to re-
move built-up residue and to avoid a weathered
appearance.
An INFINITI retailer can assist you in choosing
the appropriate waxing products.
•Wax your vehicle only after a thorough wash-
ing. Follow the instructions supplied with the
wax.
•Do not use a wax containing any abrasives,
cutting compounds or cleaners that may
damage the vehicle finish.
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing
on a base coat/clear coat paint finish may dull
the finish or leave swirl marks.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, in-
sects, and tree sap as quickly as possible from
the paint surface to avoid lasting damage or
staining. Special cleaning products are avail-
able at an INFINITI retailer or any automotive
accessory store.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in the winter, it
is necessary to clean the vehicle’s underbody
regularly in order to prevent dirt and salt from
building up and causing the acceleration of
corrosion on the underbody and suspension.
Before the winter and again in the spring, the
underseal must be checked and, if necessary,
re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust
film from the glass surfaces. It is normal for
glass to become coated with a film after the
vehicle is parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner
and a soft cloth will easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the windows, do
not use sharp-edged tools, abrasive cleaners
or chlorine-based disinfectant cleaners. They
could damage the electrical conductors, radio
antenna elements or rear window defroster
elements.
WHEELS
•Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle
to maintain their appearance.
•Clean the inner side of the wheels when the
wheel is changed or the underside of the
vehicle is washed.
•Do not use abrasive cleaners when washing
the wheels.
•Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or
corrosion. This may cause loss of pressure or
damage the tire bead.
•INFINITI recommends that the road wheels be
waxed to protect against road salt in areas
where it is used during winter.
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEELS
Wash the wheels regularly with a sponge damp-
ened in a mild soap solution, especially during
winter in areas where road salt is used. The salt
residue from road salt could discolor the wheels
if it is not washed off regularly.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid staining
or discoloring the wheels:
•Do not use a cleaner that uses strong acid or
alkali contents to clean the wheels.
•Do not apply wheel cleaners to the wheels
when they are hot. The wheel temperature
should be the same as ambient tempera-
ture.
•Rinse the wheel to completely remove the
cleaner within 15 minutes after the cleaner
is applied.
CHROME PARTS
Clean all chrome parts regularly with a nonabra-
sive chrome polish to maintain the finish.
Appearance and care7-3
GENUINE LEATHER SEAT COVERS
Automotive leather is typically finished with
coatings which protect the surface from the
sun’s damaging rays as well as making it
resistant to soiling. The finishes used in auto-
motive upholstery are unique; very different to
furniture, garment or shoe leathers. Leather is
extremely resilient and easy to clean and main-
tain.
•Before cleaning leather upholstery, vacuum
it to remove dust.
•To clean leather, simply use a soft and
lint-free cloth dampened with lukewarm wa-
ter and mild soap. Do not soak the leather.
•Use a gentle, circular motion. Do not run the
leather or apply extreme pressure when
cleaning.
•Wipe the leather again with another clean,
slightly damp cloth to remove soap residue.
Dry with a soft cloth.
Leather should be cleaned whenever it becomes
soiled. Dust and dirt may harm leather if al-
lowed to work into the finish.
Never use alcohol, cleaning solvents, oils, var-
nishes or polishes on your leather, and avoid
using unknown products as they damage the finish. Only use leather care agents approved
by INFINITI.
Steaming or ironing is not recommended as it
may damage the leather.
Leather is a natural product and has natural
surface properties such as unevenness in struc-
ture, marks caused by injury, and subtle color
differences. These are characteristics of leather
and not material faults.
Leather cleaning kit (if equipped)
Spray onto the leather cleaning cloth, then
gently wipe the surface of leather. Use a dry
towel to absorb any excess moisture.
Please refer to the instruction manual provided
with the leather cleaner kit.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently be-
cause soiling on such surfaces is much more
visible.
You can obtain the leather cleaner kit from an
INFINITI retailer.
MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION
Most vehicle corrosion is caused by:
•The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt
and debris in body panel sections, cavities,
and other areas.
•Damage to the paint surface and other pro-
tective coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor traffic accidents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCE
THE RATE OF CORROSION
Moisture
The accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the
inside floor of the vehicle can accelerate corro-
sion. Wet floor carpet/floor mats will not dry
completely inside the vehicle. They should be
removed and completely dried to avoid floor
panel corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of high
relative humidity, especially those areas where
the temperatures stay above freezing and
where atmospheric pollution exists and road
salt is used.
CORROSION PROTECTION
7-6Appearance and care
4. Repeatedly tap the key against your palmuntil battery
1falls out. 5. Insert the new battery with the positive
terminal facing upwards. Use a lint-free cloth
to do so.
6. Make sure that the surface of the battery is free of lint, grease and other contamination.
7. Insert the front tabs of battery cover
1and
then press to close it.
8. Insert emergency key element into the key (see Mechanical key in the3. Pre-driving
checks and adjustments section).
9. Check the function of all key buttons on the vehicle.
If you need assistance with replacement, it is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service. FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause harm-
ful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired operation.
NOTE
Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with Industry Canada
license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: (1) this
device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference, including
interference that may cause undesired opera-
tion of the device.
NPA1473SPA0784Z
Do-it-yourself8-21
Low/High beam Headlight bulb replacement:
1. Open the hood. For details, seeHoodin the
3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments sec-
tion.
2. Disconnect the negative (—) battery cable.
3. Remove the corresponding access cover from the wheel arch.
4. Turn housing cover
1counterclockwise and
remove it.
5. Turn bulb holder
2counterclockwise and
pull out
6. Take the headlight bulb out of bulb holder
2.
7. Insert the new bulb into bulb holder
2.
8. Insert bulb holder
2and turn it clockwise. 9. Press on housing cover
1and turn it to the
right.
10. Replace the cover in the front wheel arch
11. Reconnect the negative (—) battery cable and close the hood.
NOTE
Fog may temporarily form inside the lens of the
exterior lights in the rain or in a car wash. The
fog is caused by a temperature difference be-
tween the inside and the outside of the lens. This
is not a malfunction. If large droplets can be
seen, it is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer.
Front turn signal light bulb
replacement (non-LED system only)
1. Open the hood. For details, see Hoodin the
3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments sec-
tion.
2. Disconnect the negative (—) battery cable.
3. Turn housing cover
1counterclockwise and
remove it.
4. Turn bulb holder
2counterclockwise and
pull out
5. Take the headlight bulb out of bulb holder
2.
6. Insert the new bulb into bulb holder
2.
7. Insert bulb holder
2and turn it clockwise.
NDI1611NDI1612
Do-it-yourself8-25