2018 INFINITI Q50 HYBRID ignition

.For AWD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to
any D (Drive) or R (Reverse) position
with the hybrid system running.
Doing so may result in drivetrain
damage or unexpected vehicle move-
ment which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury.
. Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dy-
namometer (such as the dynam-
ometers used by some states for
emissions testing), or similar equip-
ment even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure you
inform test facility personnel that
your vehicle is equipped with AWD
before it is placed on a dynamometer.
Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
. When a wheel is off the ground due
to an unlevel surface, do not spin the
wheel excessively.WARNING
Do not operate the push-button ignition
switch while driving the vehicle except in
an emergency. (The INFINITI Direct
Response Hybrid
®System will stop
when the ignition switch is pushed 3
consecutive times or the ignition switch
is pushed and held for more than 2
seconds.) If the hybrid system turns off
while the vehicle is being driven, this
could lead to a crash and serious injury.
Before operating the push-button ignition
switch, be sure to move the shift lever to the
P (Park) position.
SSD0659
OPERATING RANGE FOR HYBRID
SYSTEM START FUNCTION
The Intelligent Key can only be used for
starting the hybrid system when the Intelli-
gent Key is within the specified operating
range.
When the Intelligent Key battery is almost
discharged or strong radio waves are pre-
sent near the operating location, the Intelli-
gent Key system’s operating range becomes
narrower and may not function properly.
If the Intelligent Key is within the operating
range, it is possible for anyone, even some-
one who does not carry the Intelligent Key,
to push the ignition switch to start the
Starting and driving5-11
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH

5-12Starting and driving
hybrid system.
.The trunk area is not included in the
operating range but the Intelligent Key
may function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed on the
instrument panel, rear parcel shelf, inside
the glove box or door pocket, the
Intelligent Key may not function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed near the
door or window outside the vehicle, the
Intelligent Key may function.
CAUTION
When pressing the ignition to the OFF
position, make sure the button is not
pressed twice. This may unintentionally
leave the vehicle in ACC or ON mode.
This may discharge the 12-volt battery.
JVS0266X
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION
SWITCH OPERATION
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch position will change as follows:
. Push center once to change to ACC.
. Push center two times to change to ON.
. Push center three times to change to
OFF. (No position illuminates.)
. Push center four times to return to ACC.
. Open or close any door to return to
LOCK during the OFF position.
If the ignition switch is pushed quickly or is
rapidly pushed twice, the hybrid system may
not start. If this occurs, put the shift lever in the “P” (Park) position, and leave the ignition
switch in the “OFF” position for one minute.
Then depress the brake pedal and push the
ignition switch to “ON”. When the READY to
drive indicator light
illuminates, the
vehicle can be driven.
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch position cannot be switched
to LOCK until the shift lever is moved to the
P (Park) positon.
When the ignition switch cannot be
switched toward the LOCK position, move
the shift lever into the P (Park) position.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION
SWITCH POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)
The ignition switch can only be locked in this
position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it
is pushed to the ACC position while carrying
the Intelligent Key.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the hybrid system is
not running.

ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
OFF
The hybrid system can be turned off in this
position.
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch cannot be switched to the
LOCK position until the shift lever is moved
to the P (Park) position.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the push-
button ignition switch in ACC or ON
positions when the hybrid system is not
running for an extended period. This can
discharge the 12-volt battery.
EMERGENCY HYBRID SYSTEM
SHUT OFF
To shut off the hybrid system in an emer-
gency situation while driving, perform the
following procedure:
.Rapidly push the push-button ignition
switch 3 consecutive times, in less than
1.5 seconds, or .
Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds.
JVS0404X
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DIS-
CHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is
discharged, or environmental conditions in-
terfere with the Intelligent Key operation,
start the hybrid system according to the
following procedure:
1. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
2. Firmly apply the foot brake.
3. Touch the ignition switch with the Intelligent Key as illustrated. (A chime
will sound.)
4. Push the ignition switch while depressing
Starting and driving5-13

5-14Starting and driving
the brake pedal within 10 seconds after
the chime sounds. The hybrid system will
start.
After step 3 is performed, when the ignition
switch is pushed without depressing the
brake pedal, the ignition switch position will
change to ACC.
NOTE:
. When the ignition switch is pushed to
the ACC or ON position or the hybrid
system is started by the above proce-
dures, the Intelligent Key battery dis-
charge indicator appears in the vehicle
information display even if the Intelli-
gent Key is inside the vehicle. This is not
a malfunction. To turn off the Intelligent
Key battery discharge indicator, touch
the ignition switch with the Intelligent
Key again.
. If the Intelligent Key battery discharge
indicator appears, replace the battery as
soon as possible. (See “Intelligent Key
battery replacement” (P.8-21).) .
Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid and window washer
fluid as frequently as possible, or at least
whenever you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head restraints.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers
to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position. (See “Warning lights, in-
dicator lights and audible reminders”
(P.2-9).) 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to P (Park) position.
The INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
®
System is designed not to operate if the
shift lever is not in the P (Park) position.
3. Depress the brake pedal and push the ignition switch to start the hybrid sys-
tem. The READY to drive indicator light
will illuminate on the meter.
When starting the hybrid system at very
low outside temperatures, the READY
to drive indicator light will flash and it
may take longer for the READY to drive
indicator light to illuminate.
. The hybrid system may not start even
with the READY to drive indicator light
illuminated. Once the READY to drive
indicator light is illuminated you may
begin driving the vehicle.
. You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment when the brake pedal is
depressed with the hybrid system off.
This does not indicate a problem.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential 12-volt battery
discharge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume 12-volt
BEFORE STARTING THE INFINITI
DIRECT RESPONSE HYBRID®SYSTEMSTARTING THE INFINITI DIRECT
RESPONSE HYBRID®SYSTEM

battery power when the hybrid system
is not running (Phone chargers, GPS,
DVD players, etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances.
In these cases, the 12-volt battery may
need to be charged to maintain 12-volt
battery health.
REMOTE START
Vehicles started with the remote engine
start function require the ignition switch to
be placed in the ON position before the shift
lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position. To place the ignition switch in the
ON position, perform the following steps:
1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is on you.
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3. Push the ignition switch once to the ON position.
For additional information about the remote
engine start function, see “Remote engine
start” (P.3-19).
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission
control module to produce maximum effi-
ciency and smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the
recommended operating procedures for this
transmission. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
After starting the INFINITI Direct Response
Hybrid®System, fully depress the foot brake
pedal and push the shift lever button before
shifting the shift lever to the R (Reverse), N
(Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual shift mode
position. Be sure the vehicle is fully stopped
before attempting to shift the shift lever.
This Automatic Transmission (AT) model is
designed so that the foot brake pedal must
be depressed before shifting from P (Park)
to any drive position while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of the P
(Park) position and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition switch is
pushed to the LOCK, OFF or ACC position.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and push the shift lever button to shift into a driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
WARNING
.Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or
manual shift mode. Always depress
the brake pedal until shifting is
completed. Failure to do so could
cause you to lose control and have
an accident.
. Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
. Never shift to either P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
moving reversing. This could cause an
accident or damage the transmission.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
Starting and driving5-15
DRIVING THE VEHICLE

5-18Starting and driving
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, note
that the transmission will be locked in any of
the forward gears according to the condi-
tion.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, push the ignition
switch to the OFF position and wait for 3
seconds. Then push the ignition switch back
to the ON position. The vehicle should
return to its normal operating condition. If
it does not return to its normal operating
condition, have the transmission checked
and repaired, if necessary. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
JVS0188X
Shift lock release
If the 12-volt battery charge is low or
discharged, the shift lever may not be moved
from the P (Park) position even with the
brake pedal depressed and the shift lever
button pushed.
To move the shift lever, perform the follow-
ing procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF orLOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
using a
suitable tool.
4. Push down the shift lock
using
mechanical key as illustrated. 5. Push the shift lever button
and move
the shift lever to N (Neutral) position
while holding down the shift lock.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park),
have the automatic transmission system
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
Adaptive Shift Control (ASC)
The adaptive shift control system automati-
cally operates when the transmission is in
the D (Drive) position and selects an appro-
priate gear depending on the road conditions
such as uphill, downhill or curving roads.
Control on uphill and curving roads:
A low gear is maintained that suits the
degree of the slope or curve to allow smooth
driving with a small number of shifts.
Control on downhill roads:
The adaptive shift control system shifts to a
low gear that suits the degree of the slope to
reduce the number of times that the brake
must be used.
Control on winding roads:
A low gear is maintained on continuous
curves that involve repeated acceleration
and deceleration, so that smooth accelera-
tion is available instantly when the accel-
erator pedal is depressed.

BSW SYSTEM OPERATION
The BSW system operates above approxi-
mately 20 MPH (32 km/h).
If the radar sensors detect a vehicle in the
detection zone, the side indicator light
illuminates.
If the turn signal is then activated, the
system chimes (twice) and the side indicator
light flashes. The side indicator light con-
tinues to flash until the detected vehicle
leaves the detection zone.
NOTE:
.The side indicator lights illuminate for a
few seconds when the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position.
. The brightness of the side indicator
lights is adjusted automatically depend-
ing on the brightness of the ambient
light.
. If a vehicle comes into the detection zone
after the driver activates the turn
signal, then only the side indicator light
flashes and no chime sounds. (See “BSW
driving situations” (P.5-42).)
JVS0246X
HOW TO ENABLE/DISABLE THE
BSW SYSTEM
Perform the following steps to enable or
disable the BSW system.
1. Push the MENU button
and touch
[Driver Assistance] on the lower display.
2. Touch [Blind Spot Assist].
3. Touch [Blind Spot Warning] to enable or disable the system.
Setting the side indicator light
brightness
The brightness of the side indicator lights
can be changed using the following steps: 1. Push the MENU button
and touch
[Driver Assistance] on the lower display.
2. Touch [Blind Spot Assist].
3. Touch [+] or [-] in [Side Indicator Bright- ness] to select [Bright], [Standard] or
[Dark].
When the brightness setting is changed, the
side indicator lights illuminate for a few
seconds.
BSW SYSTEM LIMITATIONS
WARNING
Listed below are the system limitations
for the BSW system. Failure to operate
the vehicle in accordance with these
system limitations could result in serious
injury or death.
. The BSW system cannot detect all
vehicles under all conditions.
. The radar sensors may not be able to
detect and activate BSW when cer-
tain objects are present such as:
— Pedestrians, bicycles, animals.
— Vehicles such as motorcycles, low height vehicles, or high ground
clearance vehicles.
Starting and driving5-41

system completely off.
When the ignition switch is placed in the
OFF position, the system is also automati-
cally turned off.
To use the ICC system again, quickly push
and release the MAIN switch (vehicle-to-
vehicle distance control mode) or push and
hold it (conventional cruise control mode)
again to turn it on.
When the Distance Control Assist (DCA)
system is on, the conventional (fixed speed)
cruise control mode cannot be turned on
even though the MAIN switch is pushed and
held.
To turn on the conventional (fixed speed)
cruise control mode, turn off the DCA
system. See “Distance Control Assist
(DCA)” (P.5-93).
CAUTION
To avoid accidentally engaging cruise
control, make sure to turn the MAIN
switch off when not using the ICC
system.
JVS0843X
To set cruising speed,accelerate your
vehicle to the desired speed, push the SET/
COAST (-) switch and release it. (The color
of the cruise indicator changes to green and
set vehicle speed indicator comes on.) Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal. Your
vehicle will maintain the set speed.
. To pass another vehicle, depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle will return to the
previously set speed.
. The vehicle may not maintain the set
speed when going up or down steep hills.
If this happens, manually maintain vehi-
cle speed. To cancel the preset speed,
use any of the
following methods:
1. Push the CANCEL switch. The vehicle speed indicator will turn off.
2. Tap the brake pedal. The vehicle speed indicator will turn off.
3. Turn the MAIN switch off. Both the cruise indicator and vehicle speed indi-
cator will turn off.
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods:
1. Depress the accelerator pedal. When the vehicle attains the desired speed, push
and release the SET/COAST (-) switch.
2. Push and hold the RESUME/ACCELER- ATE (+) switch. When the vehicle attains
the desired speed, release the switch.
3. Push, then quickly release the RESUME/ ACCELERATE (+) switch. Each time you
do this, the set speed will increase by
about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods:
1. Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the
vehicle attains the desired speed, push
the SET/COAST (-) switch and release it.
2. Push and hold the SET/COAST (-) switch. Release the switch when the
vehicle slows down to the desired speed.
Starting and driving5-91