2018 INFINITI Q50 HYBRID brake pads

2) Avoid hard acceleration or decelera-tion.
3) Avoid steep uphill grades.
4) If possible, reduce the amount of cargo being hauled or towed.
The malfunction indicator light may stop
blinking and remain on.
Have the vehicle inspected. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service. You do not need to have
your vehicle towed to the retailer.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation without
having the emission control system
checked and repaired as necessary could
lead to poor driveability, reduced fuel
economy, and possible damage to the
emission control system.
READY to drive indicator light
The READY to drive indicator light illumi-
nates when the hybrid system is powered
and the vehicle may be driven.
Security indicator light
The light blinks when the ignition switch is in
the ACC, OFF or LOCK position. This
function indicates the security system
equipped on the vehicle is operational.
If the security system is malfunctioning, this
light will remain on while the ignition switch
is in the ON position. For additional informa-
tion, see “Security systems” (P.2-31).
Turn signal/hazard indicator
lights
The light flashes when the turn signal switch
lever or hazard switch is turned on.
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light
When the ignition switch is in the ON
position, the Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) off indicator light illuminates and then
turns off.
The light comes on when the VDC off switch
is pushed to OFF. This indicates that the
VDC system and traction control system are
not operating.
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
Key reminder chime
A chime will sound if the driver side door is
opened while the ignition switch is pushed to
the ACC position. Make sure the ignition
switch is pushed to the OFF position, and
take the Intelligent Key with you when
leaving the vehicle.
Light reminder chime
A chime will sound when the driver side door
is opened with the light switch in theorposition and the ignition switch in the
ACC, OFF or LOCK position.
Turn the light switch off when you leave the
vehicle.
Parking brake reminder chime
The parking brake reminder chime will sound
if the vehicle is driven at more than 4 MPH (7
km/h) with the parking brake applied. Stop
the vehicle and release the parking brake.
Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires repla-
cement, it will make a high pitched scraping
sound when the vehicle is in motion. This
scraping sound will first occur only when the
brake pedal is depressed. After more wear of
Instruments and controls2-17

5-128Starting and driving
You may hear a noise under the following
conditions. However, this is not a malfunc-
tion.
.When the hybrid system is started or
stopped.
. When the steering wheel is turned in the
full lock position.BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
This vehicle is equipped with two braking
systems.
. Hydraulic brake system
. Regenerative brake system
Hydraulic brake system
The brake system has two separate hydrau-
lic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you
will still have braking at two wheels.
Regenerative brake system
See “Regenerative brake” (P.Hybrid System-
8).
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will cause overheating of
the brakes, wearing out the brake and pads
faster and reduce gas mileage.
To help save the brakes 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.
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.
. If the INFINITI Direct Response Hy-
brid
®System is not running or is
turned off while driving, the power
assist for the brakes will be limited.
Braking will be harder.
CAUTION
You may hear a operational noise when
the brake pedal is depressed. This is not a
malfunction.
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 brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly tapping the brake pedal
BRAKE SYSTEM

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) warn-
ing light” (P.2-15).
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
VDC warning light
illuminates in the
instrument panel. The VDC system automa-
tically turns off.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the
VDC system. The VDC off indicator light
illuminates to indicate the VDC system is off.
When the VDC switch is used to turn off the
system, the VDC system still operates to
prevent one drive wheel from slipping by
transferring power to a non slipping drive
wheel. The VDC warning light
flashes if
this occurs. All other VDC functions are off,
except for rise-up and build-up, and brake
force distribution, and the VDC warning
light
will not flash. The VDC system is
automatically reset to on when the ignition
switch is placed in the off position then back
to the on position.
See “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warn-
ing light” (P.2-15) and “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-17).
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time you
start the INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
®
System and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise and/or
feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and is not an indication of a mal-
function.
RISE-UP AND BUILD-UP
The system gradually adjusts braking power
during normal braking to help provide an
enhanced brake feel.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns,
the system optimizes the distribution of
force to each of the four wheels depending
on the radius of the turn.
WARNING
.
The VDC system is designed to help
the driver maintain stability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or
by careless or dangerous driving
techniques. Reduce vehicle speed
and be especially careful when driving and cornering on slippery surfaces
and always drive carefully.
. The rise-up and build-up, and brake
force distribution system may not be
effective depending on the driving
condition. Always drive carefully and
attentively.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs, sta-
bilizer bars, bushings and wheels are
not INFINITI recommended for your
vehicle or are extremely deteriorated,
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 recommended or are extre-
mely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate.
. If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extre-
mely deteriorated, the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
. When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked cor-
Starting and driving5-131

8-18Do-it-yourself
SDI2048
REPLACING
Replace the wiper blades if they are worn.
Before replacing the wiper blades, the wiper
should be in the fully up position to avoid
scratching the engine hood or damaging the
wiper arm. To pull up the wiper arm, see
“Wiper and washer switch” (P.2-34).
1. Pull the wiper arm.
2. Push the release tab
, and then move
the wiper blade down the wiper arm
while pushing the release tab to remove.
3. Insert the new wiper blade onto the wiper arm until a click sounds.
4. Rotate the wiper blade so the dimple is in the groove.
CAUTION
.
After wiper blade replacement, re-
turn the wiper arm to its original
position;
otherwise it may be damaged when
the hood is opened.
. Make sure the wiper blades contact
the glass; otherwise the arm may be
damaged from wind pressure. If the brakes do not operate properly, have
the brakes checked. It is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES
Your vehicle is equipped with self-adjusting
brakes.
The disc-type brakes self-adjust every time
the brake pedal is applied.
WARNING
Have your brake system checked if the
brake pedal height does not return to
normal. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires repla-
cement, it will make a high pitched scraping
sound when the vehicle is in motion. This
scraping sound will first occur only when the
brake pedal is depressed. After more wear of
the brake pad, the sound will always be
heard even if the brake pedal is not
depressed. Have the brakes checked as soon
as possible if the wear warning sound is
heard.
BRAKES

9-6Maintenance and schedules
CHASSIS AND BODY MAINTE-
NANCE
Brake lines and cables:
Visually inspect for proper installation.
Check for chafing, cracks, deterioration,
and signs of leaking. Replace any deterio-
rated or damaged parts immediately.
Brake pads, rotors, drums and linings:
Check for wear, deterioration and fluid
leaks. Replace any deteriorated or damaged
parts immediately.
Exhaust system:
Visually inspect the exhaust pipes, muffler
and hangers for leaks, cracks, deterioration,
and damage. Tighten connections or replace
parts as necessary.
In-cabin microfilter:
Replace at specified intervals. When driving
for prolonged periods in dusty conditions,
replace the filter more frequently.
Propeller shaft(s):
Check for damage, looseness, and grease
leakage. (4WD/AWD/RWD)
Steering gear and linkage, axle and suspen-
sion parts, drive shaft boots:
Check for damage, looseness, and leakage
of oil or grease. Under severe driving condi-
tions, inspect more frequently.Tire rotation:
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles
(8,000 km) according to the instructions
under “Explanation of general maintenance
items” (P.9-2). When rotating tires, check for
damage and uneven wear. Replace if neces-
sary.
Transmission fluid/oil, differential oil and
transfer case oil:
Visually inspect for signs of leakage at
specified intervals.
To help ensure smooth, safe and economical
driving, INFINITI provides two maintenance
schedules that may be used, depending upon
the conditions in which you usually drive.
These schedules contain both distance and
time intervals, up to 120,000 miles
(192,000 km)/144 months. For most peo-
ple, the odometer reading will indicate when
service is needed. However, if you drive very
little, your vehicle should be serviced at the
regular time intervals shown in the schedule.
After 120,000 miles (192,000 km)/144
months, continue maintenance at the same
mileage/time intervals.
ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE
ITEMS FOR SEVERE OPERATING
CONDITIONS
Additional maintenance items for severe
operating conditions
should be performed
on vehicles that are driven under especially
demanding conditions. Additional mainte-
nance items should be performed if you
primarily operate your vehicle under the
following conditions:
. Repeated short trips of less than 5 miles
(8 km).
. Repeated short trips of less than 10 miles
(16 km) with outside temperatures re-
maining below freezing.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES

CHASSIS AND BODY MAINTENANCE
Abbreviations: I = Inspect and correct or replace as necessary, R = Replace
MAINTENANCE OP-
ERATION
Perform at of miles,
kilometers or months,
whichever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000) Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
5
(8) 6 10
(16) 12 15
(24) 18 20
(32) 24 25
(40) 30 30
(48) 36 35
(56) 42 40
(64) 48 45
(72) 54 50
(80) 60 55
(88) 66 60
(96) 72
Brake lines and cables II I I I I
Brake pads and rotors$ II I I I I
Brake fluid$ RR R
Automatic transmission
fluid See NOTE (1)
Transfer fluid and dif-
ferential gear oil See NOTE (2)
II I I I I
Steering gear and link-
age, axle and suspension
parts$ II I
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Propeller shaft and drive
shaft boots (AWD mod-
els)$ II I I I I
Exhaust system$ II I
In-cabin microfilter RR R R
Intelligent Key battery RR R R
Maintenance and schedules9-11

9-12Maintenance and schedules
MAINTENANCE OP-
ERATION
Perform at of miles, kilo-
meters or months,
whichever comes first.Miles × 1,000
(km × 1,000) Months MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
65
(104) 78 70
(112) 84 75
(120) 90 80
(128) 96 85
(136) 102 90
(144) 108 95
(152) 114 100
(160) 120 105
(168) 126 110
(176) 132 115
(184) 138 120
(192) 144
Brake lines & cables IIII I I
Brake pads & rotors$ IIII I I
Brake fluid$ RR R
Automatic transmission
fluid See NOTE (1)
Transfer fluid & differen-
tial gear oil See NOTE (2)
IIII I I
Steering gear & linkage,
axle & suspension parts$ II I
Tire rotation See NOTE (3)
Propeller shaft & drive
shaft boots (AWD mod-
els)$ IIII I I
Exhaust system$ II I
In-cabin microfilter RRR R
Intelligent Key battery RRR R
NOTE:
Maintenance items with “$ ” should be
performed more frequently according to
“Maintenance under severe driving condi-
tions” (P.9-13).
(1) Periodic maintenance is not required.
(2) If using a car-top carrier, or driving on
rough or muddy roads, change (not just inspect) oil at every 20,000 miles (32,000
km) or 24 months.
(3) Refer to “Tire rotation” under “General
maintenance” (P.9-2).

The maintenance intervals shown on the
preceding pages are for normal operating
conditions. If the vehicle is mainly operated
under severe driving conditions as shown
below, more frequent maintenance must be
performed on the following items as shown
in the table.
Severe driving conditions
.Repeated short trips of less than 5 miles
(8 km).
. Repeated short trips of less than 10 miles
(16 km) with outside temperatures re-
maining below freezing.
. Operating in hot weather in stop-and-go
“rush hour” traffic.
. Extensive idling and/or low speed driving
for long distances, such as police, taxi or
door-to-door delivery use.
. Driving in dusty conditions.
. Driving on rough, muddy, or salt spread
roads.
. Using a car-top carrier.
Maintenance operation: Inspect = Inspect
and correct or replace as necessary.Maintenance item Maintenance operation Maintenance interval
Brake fluid ReplaceEvery 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or 12
months
Brake pads & rotors InspectEvery 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6
months
Steering gear & linkage, axle &
suspension parts Inspect
Every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6
months
Propeller shaft & drive shaft
boots (AWD models) Inspect
Every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6
months
Exhaust system InspectEvery 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6
months
Maintenance and schedules9-13
MAINTENANCE UNDER SEVERE
DRIVING CONDITIONS