For details about the VDC system, see
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system”
(P.5-130).
. When the VDC or ABS (including the
traction control system) operates
. When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
is turned to the SNOW mode (To use the
DCA system, turn the INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector to a mode other than the
SNOW mode, then turn on the dynamic
driver assistance switch
.) For details
about the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector,
see “INFINITI Drive Mode Selector” (P.5-
21).
. When the radar signal is temporarily
interrupted
Action to take:
When the conditions listed above are no
longer present, turn the DCA system back on
to use the system.
Condition B
Under the following conditions, making it
impossible to detect a vehicle ahead, the
DCA system is automatically canceled.
The chime will sound, the driver assist
system forward indicator (orange) and the
“front radar obstruction” warning message
will appear in the vehicle information display.
. When the radar sensor area of the front bumper is covered with dirt or is ob-
structed
Action to take:
If the driver assist system forward indicator
(orange) and the warning message appear,
stop the vehicle in a safe place, place the
shift lever in the P (Park) position and turn
the hybrid system off. When the radar signal
is temporarily interrupted, clean the sensor
area of the front bumper and restart the
hybrid system. If the warning message
continues to be displayed, have the DCA
system checked. It is recommended you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
. When driving on roads with limited road
structures or buildings (for example, long
bridges, deserts, snow fields, driving next
to long walls)
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist,
the DCA system will resume automatically.SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
When the DCA system is not operating
properly, the chime sounds, the driver assist
system forward indicator (orange) and the
system “malfunction” warning message will
appear in the vehicle information display. Action to take:
If the driver assist system forward indicator
(orange) and the warning message appear,
stop the vehicle in a safe place and place the
shift lever in the P (Park) position. Turn the
hybrid system off, restart the hybrid system,
and turn on the DCA system again.
If it is not possible to set the system or the
indicator stays on, it may indicate that the
system is malfunctioning. Although the
vehicle is still driveable under normal con-
ditions, have the vehicle checked. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.
SENSOR MAINTENANCE
The sensor for the DCA system is common
with the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
system and is located behind the lower grille
of the front bumper.
For the sensor maintenance, see “Intelligent
Cruise Control (ICC)” (P.5-72).
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 harmful
interference, and
Starting and driving5-103
Action to take:
If the FEB system warning light (orange)
comes on, stop the vehicle in a safe place,
place the shift lever in the P (Park) position
and turn the hybrid system off. Clean the
radar cover on lower grille with a soft cloth,
and restart the hybrid system. If the FEB
system warning light continues to illuminate,
have the FEB system checked. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
.When driving on roads with limited road
structures or buildings (for example, long
bridges, deserts, snow fields, driving next
to long walls)
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist,
the FEB system will resume automatically.
Condition C
When the accelerator pedal actuator detects
that the internal motor temperature is high,
the FEB system is automatically turned off.
The FEB system warning light (orange)
and the driver assist system forward indi-
cator (orange)will illuminate and the
“Unavailable High Accelerator Temperature”
warning message will appear in the vehicle
information display. Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist,
the FEB system will resume automatically.
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
If the FEB system malfunctions, it will be
turned off automatically, a chime will sound,
the FEB system warning light (orange)
and the driver assist system forward indi-
cator (orange)will illuminate and the
system “malfunction” warning message will
appear in the vehicle information display.
Action to take:
If the FEB system warning light (orange)
comes on, stop the vehicle in a safe location
and place the shift lever in the P (Park)
position. Turn the hybrid system off and
restart the hybrid system. If the FEB system
warning light continues to illuminate, have
the FEB system checked. It is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
JVS1123X
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The sensoris located behind the lower
grille of the front bumper.
To keep the system operating properly, be
sure to observe the following:
. Always keep the sensor area of the front
bumper clean.
. Do not strike or damage the areas around
the sensor.
. Do not cover or attach stickers or similar
objects on the front bumper near the
sensor area. This could cause failure or
malfunction.
. Do not attach metallic objects near the
sensor area (brush guard, etc.). This
Starting and driving5-111
5-120Starting and driving
Action to take:
If the FEB warning light (orange)
comes
on, stop the vehicle in a safe place, place the
shift lever in the P (Park) position and turn
the hybrid system off. Clean the radar cover
on lower grille with a soft cloth, and restart
the hybrid system. If the FEB warning light
(orange)
continues to illuminate, have the
PFCW system checked. It is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
. When driving on roads with limited road
structures or buildings (for example, long
bridges, deserts, snow fields, driving next
to long walls)
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist,
the PFCW system will resume automatically.
NOTE:
If the FEB system stops working, the PFCW
system will also stop working.
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
If the PFCW malfunctions, it will be turned
off automatically, a chime will sound, the
FEB system warning light (orange)
and
the driver assist system forward indicator
(orange)
will illuminate, and the system
“malfunction” message will appear in the
vehicle information display.
Action to take:
If the FEB warning light (orange)
comes
on, stop the vehicle in a safe location, turn
the hybrid system off and restart the hybrid
system. If the FEB warning light (orange)
continues to illuminate, have the PFCW
system checked. It is recommended you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.JVS1123X
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The sensoris located behind the lower
grille of the front bumper.
To keep the system operating properly, be
sure to observe the following:
. Always keep the sensor area of the front
bumper clean.
. Do not strike or damage the areas around
the sensor.
. Do not cover or attach stickers or similar
objects on the front bumper near the
sensor area. This could cause failure or
malfunction.
. Do not attach metallic objects near the
sensor area (brush guard, etc.). This
If any malfunction occurs in the Intelligent
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system while the
INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
®System is
running, warning messages appear in the
vehicle information display.
JVS0228M
If the “AWD Error” warningappears, there
may be a malfunction in the Intelligent AWD
system. Reduce vehicle speed and have the
system checked as soon as possible. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.
The “AWD High Temp.” (high temperature)
warning
may appear while trying to free a stuck vehicle due to increased oil tempera-
ture. The driving mode may change to Two-
Wheel Drive (2WD). If this warning is
displayed, stop the vehicle with the hybrid
system idling, as soon as it is safe to do so.
Then if the warning turns off, you can
continue driving.
The “Tire Size Incorrect” warning
may
appear if there is a large difference between
the diameters of front and rear wheels. Pull
off the road in a safe area, with the hybrid
system idling. Check that all tire sizes are the
same, that the tire pressure is correct and
that the tires are not excessively worn.
If any warning message continues to be
displayed, have your vehicle checked as soon
as possible. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
WARNING
. 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
hybrid system running. Doing so may
result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
Starting and driving5-123
INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL
DRIVE (AWD) (if so equipped)
5-124Starting and driving
.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 that
you inform the test facility personnel
that your vehicle is equipped with
AWD before it is placed on a dynam-
ometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage
or unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
CAUTION
.Do not operate the hybrid system on
a free roller when any of the wheels
are raised.
. If the “AWD Error” warning appears
while driving there may be a mal-
function in the AWD system. Reduce
the vehicle speed and have your
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
. If the “AWD Error” warning remains
on after the above operation, have your vehicle checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
. The power train may be damaged if
you continue driving with the “AWD
Error” warning on.
5-126Starting and driving
the road so the vehicle will move away
from the center of the road if it
moves.
4. Push the ignition switch to the OFF position.DIRECT ADAPTIVE STEERING
TYPE
WARNING
.When the power steering warning
light illuminates with the INFINITI
Direct Response Hybrid
®System run-
ning, the power assist for the steer-
ing will cease operation. You will still
have control of the vehicle, but the
steering will be harder to operate.
. If wheels or tires other than the
INFINITI recommended ones are
used, Direct Adaptive Steering may
not operate properly and the power
steering warning light may illumi-
nate.
. 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,
Direct Adaptive Steering may not
operate properly and the power
steering warning light may illumi-
nate.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s steering.
If steering parts are not INFINITI recommended for your vehicle or are
extremely deteriorated, Direct Adap-
tive Steering may not operate prop-
erly and the power steering warning
light may illuminate.
. If the VDC warning light illuminates,
the power steering warning light may
also illuminate at the same time. Stop
the vehicle in a safe location, turn the
hybrid system off and restart the
hybrid system. If the power steering
warning light continues to illuminate,
have the system checked. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service. For the VDC system,
see “Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system” (P.5-130).
CAUTION
.Do not place the ignition switch is 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 steer-
ing wheel, or changing the steering
POWER STEERING
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.
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-IN
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced, in
order to assure the best braking perfor-
mance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force
than a conventional brake booster even with
light pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. It is the
driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive
safely and be in control of the vehicle at
all times.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
WARNING
.The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
is a sophisticated device, but it
cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slip-
pery surfaces. Remember that
stopping distances on slippery sur- faces 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
vehicle 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.
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-28) of
this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls
the brakes so the wheels do not lock during
hard braking or when braking on slippery
surfaces. The system detects the rotation
speed at each wheel and varies the brake
fluid pressure to prevent each wheel from
locking and sliding. By preventing each
wheel from locking, the system helps the
driver maintain steering control and helps to
minimize swerving and spinning on slippery
surfaces.
Starting and driving5-129
BRAKE ASSIST
5-130Starting and driving
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels from
locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid
obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping dis-
tances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic
feature that tests the system each time you
start the hybrid system and move the vehicle
at a low speed in forward or reverse. When
the self-test occurs, you may hear a “clunk”
noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and does not indicate a
malfunction. If the computer senses a mal-
function, it switches the ABS off and
illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then
operates normally, but without anti-lock
assistance.If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the
vehicle checked. It is recommended you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6
MPH (5 to 10 km/h).
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic pres-
sure. This action is similar to pumping the
brakes very quickly. You may feel a pulsation
in the brake pedal and hear a noise from
under the hood or feel a vibration from the
actuator when it is operating. This is normal
and indicates that the ABS is operating
properly. However, the pulsation may indi-
cate that road conditions are hazardous and
extra care is required while driving.
The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
uses various sensors to monitor driver inputs
and vehicle motion. Under certain driving
conditions, 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 or
motor output to reduce drive wheel slip
based on vehicle speed (traction control
function).
. Controls brake pressure at individual
wheels and engine or motor output to
help the driver maintain control of the
vehicle in the following conditions:
— 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
warning 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
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL
(VDC) SYSTEM