CAUTION
•Do not use leaded gasoline. (SeeRecom-
mended fluids/lubricants and capacitiesin
the9. Maintenance and Schedulessec-
tion.) Deposits from leaded gasoline seri-
ously reduce the ability of the three-way
catalyst to help reduce exhaust pollutants
and/or damage the three-way catalyst.
•Keep your engine tuned up. Malfunctions in
the ignition, fuel injection, or electrical sys-
tems may cause overrich fuel to flow into
the three-way catalyst, causing it to over-
heat. Do not keep driving if the engine mis-
fires, or if noticeable loss of performance or
other unusual operating conditions are de-
tected. Have the vehicle inspected
promptly. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
•Avoid driving with an extremely low fuel
level. Running out of fuel could cause the
engine to misfire, damaging the three-way
catalyst.
•Do not race the engine while warming it up.
•Do not push or tow your vehicle to start the
engine.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if present),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pres-
sure telltale when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when
the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pres-
sure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated
tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the sys-
tem is not operating properly. The TPMS malfunc-
tion indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approxi-
mately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-
function exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to detect
or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the installation of replacement or alter-
nate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from working properly. Always check
the TPMS telltale after replacing one or more tires
or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function properly.
The vehicle’s wheels have sensors fitted that
monitor the tire pressures in all four tires The
tire pressure monitor warns you if the pressure
drops in one or more of the tires The tire
pressure monitor only functions if the corre-
sponding sensors are fitted to all wheels.
Information on tire pressures is shown in the
vehicle information display. After a few minutes
of driving, the current tire pressure of each tire
is shown in the [Serv.] menu of the vehicle
information display.
Starting and driving5-5
•Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead
drive either straight up or straight down the
slopes. Off-road vehicles can tip over side-
ways much more easily than they can for-
ward or backward.
•Many hills are too steep for any vehicle. If
you drive up them, you may stall. If you drive
down them, you may not be able to control
your speed. If you drive across them, you
may roll over.
•Do not shift gears while driving on downhill
grades as this could cause loss of control of
the vehicle.
•Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill.
At the top there could be a drop-off or other
hazard that could cause an accident.
•If your engine stalls or you cannot make it to
the top of a steep hill, never attempt to turn
around. Your vehicle could tip or roll over.
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, re-
sulting 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
steering wheel when driving off-road. The
steering 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 position
with the engine running. Doing so may result
in drivetrain damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious ve-
hicle 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 ex-
cessively.
•Accelerating quickly, sharp steering ma-
neuvers or sudden braking may cause loss
of control.
5-12Starting and driving
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.
Never hold the vehicle stationary on uphill
gradients by depressing the accelerator. In-
stead, only ever hold the vehicle stationary on
uphill gradients by:
•Depressing the brake pedal.
•Engaging the electric parking brake.
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
•Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear de-
pending on the engine speed.
•Ease off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
5-20Starting and driving
RADAR MAINTENANCE
The two radar sensor unitsAfor the BSW
system are located near the rear bumper. Al-
ways keep the area near the radar sensors
clean.
The radar sensors may be blocked by temporary
ambient conditions such as splashing water,
mist or fog.
The blocked condition may also be caused by
objects such as ice, frost or dirt obstructing the
radar sensors.
Check for and remove objects obstructing the
area around the radar sensors.
Do not attach stickers (including transparent
material), install accessories or apply addi-
tional paint near the radar sensors.Do not strike or damage the area around the
radar sensors. It is recommended you consult
an INFINITI retailer if the area around the radar
sensors is damaged due to a collision.
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 modification not expressly approved
by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the equip-
ment.
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 harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference re-
ceived, including interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. You must select a
lower gear in good time on long and steep
downhill gradients, especially if the vehicle is
laden or towing a trailer.WARNING
For vehicles with automatic transmission, you
need to have selected manual drive program M
(seeManual drive programearlier in this sec-
tion). By doing so, you will make use of the
braking effect of the engine. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions are appropriate for maintaining a steady
speed for a prolonged period. You can set the
cruise control at any road speed above 20 MPH
(30 km/h).
The speed indicated in the speedometer may
differ slightly from the set speed.
NAA1640
CRUISE CONTROL
5-44Starting 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.
BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-87
When the brake pedal is depressed slowly and
firmly, you may hear a clicking noise and feel a
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 brakes
return 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.
5-88Starting and driving
WARNING
•Do not continue to drive if your vehicle over-
heats. Doing so could cause engine damage
or a vehicle fire.
•To avoid the danger of being scalded, never
remove the radiator or coolant reservoir cap
while the engine is hot. When the radiator or
coolant reservoir cap is removed, pressur-
ized hot water will spurt out, possibly caus-
ing serious injury.
•Do not open the hood if steam is coming
out.
If the engine of your vehicle is overheating
(indicated by the engine coolant temperature
gauge) or if you feel a lack of engine power,
detect unusual noise, etc., proceed as follows:
1. Move and park the vehicle safely off the
road and away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flasher lights.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Press the P (Park) button.
DO NOT STOP THE ENGINE.
5. Open all windows.6. Switch off the air conditioner system (if
equipped).
7. Set the heater or air conditioner tempera-
ture control to maximum “HOT” and fan
speed control to maximum speed.
8. Exit the vehicle.
9. Visually inspect and listen for steam or
coolant escaping from the radiator before
opening the hood.WARNING
If steam or water is coming from the engine,
stand clear to prevent getting burned.
10. Open the hood. For details, seeHoodin
the3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments
section.
11. Visually check if the cooling fan is running.
12. Visually check the radiator and radiator
hoses for leakage.
WARNING
Be careful not to allow your hands, hair, jew-
elry or clothing to come into contact with, or
get caught in, engine belts or the engine cool-
ing fan. The engine cooling fan can start at any
time.
13. After the engine cools down, check the
coolant level in the engine coolant reservoir
with the engine running.Do not open the
radiator cap (if equipped).
14. If the level is low, remove the engine
coolant reservoir cap and add coolant
slowly into the reservoir. After refilling the
reservoir to the MAX level, install the res-
ervoir cap.
15. Close the hood.
Have your vehicle inspected or repaired. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer.
IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
In case of emergency6-13
2.0L GASOLINE ENGINE
1. Engine coolant reservoir (P. 8-3)
2. Engine oil dipstick (P. 8-5)
3. Engine oil filler cap (P. 8-5)
4. Brake fluid reservoir (P. 8-7)
5. Engine air cleaner filter (P. 8-13)6. Battery (P. 8-9)
7. Fuse box (P. 8-17)
8. Window washer fluid reservoir (P. 8-8)
WARNING
The engine cooling system is filled at the fac-
tory with a high-quality, year-round, antifreeze
coolant solution. The antifreeze solution con-
tains rust and corrosion inhibitors, therefore
additional cooling system additives are not
necessary.
•Never remove the radiator or coolant reser-
voir cap when the engine is hot. Wait until
the engine and radiator cool down. Serious
burns could be caused by high-pressure
fluid escaping from the radiator. For addi-
tional information on precautions, refer to
If your vehicle overheatsin the6. In case
of emergencysection
•The engine coolant reservoir tank is
equipped with a pressure type cap. To pre-
vent engine damage, use only a genuine
INFINITI pressure cap.
NIC2833
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONSENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
Do-it-yourself8-3