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 regenerative 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.
— When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
“Tire and loading information la-
bel” (P.10-10).
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-26).
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.
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
Starting and driving5-121
BRAKE ASSIST
5-122Starting and driving
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
mortor 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 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.2-17).
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.2-17) and “Vehicle Dynamic
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL
(VDC) SYSTEM
Control (VDC) off indicator light” (P.2-20).
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.
ACTIVE TRACE CONTROL (if so
equipped)
This system senses driving based on the
driver’s steering and acceleration/braking
patterns, and individually controls the brak-
ing to each of the four wheels to help
smooth vehicle response.
When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector is
set to the “SPORT” mode, the amount of
brake control provided by active trace con-
trol is reduced.
When the VDC OFF switch is used to turn
off the VDC system, the active trace control
system is also turned off.
If the active trace control is not functioning
properly, the Forward Emergency Braking
(FEB) system warning light illuminates in the
instrument panel.
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 active trace control (if so
equipped), rise-up and build-up and
brake force distribution systems may
not be effective depending on the
driving condition. Always drive care-
fully 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-
ners, the VDC system may not oper-
ate 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 VDC warning light
may
illuminate. This is not a malfunction.
Restart the hybrid system after driv-
Starting and driving5-123
To shut off the INFINITI Direct Response
Hybrid®System in an emergency situation
while driving, perform the following proce-
dure:
. 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.TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). It
monitors tire pressure of all tires except the
spare. When the low tire pressure warning
light is lit and the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
warning appears in the vehicle information
display, one or more of your tires is sig-
nificantly under-inflated. If the vehicle is
being driven with low tire pressure, the
TPMS will activate and warn you of it by
the low tire pressure warning light. This
system will activate only when the vehicle is
driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h).
For more details, see “Warning lights, in-
dicator lights and audible reminders” (P.2-
10) and “Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) ” (P.5-5).
WARNING
. If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates or LOW PRESSURE in-
formation is displayed on the monitor
screen while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt brak-
ing, reduce vehicle speed, pull off the
road to a safe location and stop the
vehicle as soon as possible. Driving
with under-inflated tires may perma- nently damage the tires and increase
the likelihood of tire failure. Serious
vehicle damage could occur and may
lead to an accident and could result in
serious personal injury. Check the tire
pressure for all four tires. Adjust the
tire pressure to the recommended
COLD tire pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label to
turn the low tire pressure warning
light OFF. If the light still illuminates
while driving after adjusting the tire
pressure, a tire may be flat. If you
have a flat tire, replace it with a spare
tire as soon as possible.
. Since the spare tire is not equipped
with the TPMS, when a spare tire is
mounted or a wheel is replaced, the
TPMS will not function and the low
tire pressure warning light will flash
for approximately 1 minute. The light
will remain on after 1 minute. Have
your tires replaced and/or TPMS
system reset as soon as possible. It
is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for these services.
. Replacing tires with those not origin-
ally specified by INFINITI could affect
the proper operation of the TPMS.
. Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
In case of emergency6-3
EMERGENCY INFINITI DIRECT
RESPONSE HYBRID®SYSTEM SHUT OFFFLAT TIRE
JVE0010X
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage to
the charging system and cause personal
injury.
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
, position the two vehicles (and) to bring the 12-volt battery and
fuse box into close proximity to each
other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch. 2. Apply parking brake. Move the shift lever
to the P (Park) position. Switch off all
unnecessary electrical systems (light,
heater, air conditioner, etc.).
3. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
???).
For models with a steering wheel lock
mechanism: If the 12-volt battery is
disconnected or discharged, the steering
wheel will lock and cannot be turned.
Supply power using jumper cables be-
fore pushing the ignition switch and
disengaging the steering lock.
CAUTION
. Always connect positive (+) to posi-
tive (+) and negative (−) to body
ground (as illustrated) − not to the
12-volt battery.
. Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the engine
compartment and that clamps do
not contact any other metal.
4. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
and let it run for a few minutes.
5. Start the hybrid system of the vehicle being jump started
.
CAUTION
If the hybrid system does not start right
away, push the ignition switch to the
OFF position and wait 10 seconds
before trying again.
6. After starting your vehicle, carefully disconnect the negative cable and then
the positive cable (
???).
7. Put the battery cover and fuse cover on.
In case of emergency6-11
to the transmission. If it is necessary
to tow the vehicle with the front
wheels raised, always use towing
dollies under the rear wheels.
. When towing rear wheel drive models
with the front wheels on the ground
or on towing dollies: Push the ignition
switch to the ACC or ON position,
and secure the steering wheel in a
straight-ahead position with a rope
or similar device. For models with a
steering wheel lock mechanism:
Never secure the steering wheel by
selecting the LOCK position. This
may damage the steering lock me-
chanism.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a
stuck vehicle)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious perso-
nal injury or death when recovering a
stuck vehicle:
.Contact a professional towing ser-
vice to recover the vehicle if you have
any questions regarding the recovery
procedure. .
Tow chains or cables must be at-
tached only to main structural mem-
bers of the vehicle.
. Do not use the vehicle tie-downs to
tow or free a stuck vehicle.
. Only use devices specifically designed
for vehicle recovery and follow the
manufacturer’s instructions.
. Always pull the recovery device
straight out from the front of the
vehicle. Never pull at an angle.
. Route recovery devices so they do
not touch any part of the vehicle
except the attachment point.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device
designed specifically for vehicle recovery.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for the recovery device.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use the following procedure:
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear an area around the front tires. 4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and
backward.
.Shift back and forth between R (Re-verse) and D (Drive).
.Apply the accelerator as little aspossible to maintain the rocking mo-
tion.
.Release the accelerator pedal before
shifting between R and D.
.Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH(55 km/h).
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing
service to remove the vehicle.
WARNING
.Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
. Do not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode and
result in serious injury. Parts of your
vehicle could also overheat and be
damaged.
In case of emergency6-15
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ................................................ 8-2
Engine compartment check locations .......................... 8-3VQ35HR engine............................................................ 8-3
Engine cooling system...................................................... 8-5 Checking engine coolant level................................... 8-6
Changing engine coolant............................................ 8-6
Inverter cooling system.................................................... 8-7 Checking inverter coolant level ................................ 8-8
Changing inverter coolant.......................................... 8-8
Engine oil.....................................................................\
......... 8-8
Checking engine oil level ............................................ 8-8
Changing engine oil and filter................................... 8-9
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).......................... 8-11
Power steering fluid........................................................ 8-11
Brake fluid...................................................................\
....... 8-12 Brake fluid .................................................................... 8-12
Window washer fluid...................................................... 8-12
12-volt battery ................................................................. 8-13 Checking battery fluid level..................................... 8-14
Jump starting............................................................... 8-15
Spark plugs ........................................................................\
8-15 Replacing spark plugs................................................ 8-15 Air cleaner........................................................................\
.. 8-16
Windshield wiper blades ............................................... 8-17
Cleaning....................................................................... 8-17
Replacing..................................................................... 8-17
Brakes..................................................................\
............... 8-18 Self-adjusting brakes............................................... 8-18
Brake pad wear warning........................................ 8-18
Fuses...................................................................\
................ 8-19 Engine compartment or trunk room ................... 8-19
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-20
Intelligent Key battery replacement........................... 8-21
Lights........................................................................\
.......... 8-23 Headlights.................................................................. 8-24
Exterior and interior lights.................................... 8-24
Wheels and tires.............................................................. 8-26 Tire pressure .............................................................. 8-26
Tire labeling............................................................... 8-30
Types of tires............................................................. 8-32
Tire chains................................................................... 8-32
Changing wheels and tires..................................... 8-33
other corrosive materials, check lubrication
frequently.
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular
basis. Make sure that the headlights, stop
lights, tail lights, turn signal lights, and other
lights are all operating properly and installed
securely. Also check headlight aim.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*: When checking
the tires, make sure no wheel nuts are
missing, and check for any loose wheel nuts.
Tighten if necessary.
Tire rotation*: Tires should be rotated every
5,000 miles (8,000 km).
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge
often and always prior to long distance trips.
If necessary, adjust the pressure in all tires,
including the spare, to the pressure speci-
fied. Check carefully for damage, cuts or
excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components: Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and
cap when the tires are replaced due to wear
or age.
Wheel alignment and balance: If the vehicle
should pull to either side while driving on a
straight and level road, or if you detect
uneven or abnormal tire wear, there may be
a need for wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at normal highway speeds, wheel balancing
may be needed.
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Windshield:
Clean the windshield on a
regular basis. Check the windshield at least
every six months for cracks or other damage.
Have a damaged windshield repaired by a
qualified repair facility.
Windshield wiper blades*: Check for cracks
or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside the vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when
performing periodic maintenance, cleaning
the vehicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for
smooth operation and make sure the pedal
does not catch or require uneven effort.
Keep the floor mat away from the pedal.
Automatic transmission P (Park) mechan-
ism: On a fairly steep hill, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the shift lever in
the P (Park) position without applying any
brakes.
Brake pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation. If the brake pedal suddenly goes
down further than normal, the pedal feels spongy or the vehicle seems to take longer to
stop, have your vehicle checked immediately.
It is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brakes:
Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake
operation regularly. The vehicle should be
securely held on a fairly steep hill with only
the parking brake applied. If the parking
brake needs adjusted, it is recommended you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Seat belts: Check that all parts of the seat
belt system (for example, buckles, anchors,
adjuster and retractors) operate properly
and smoothly, and are installed securely.
Check the belt webbing for cuts, fraying,
wear or damage.
Seats: Check seat position controls such as
seat adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. to
ensure they operate smoothly and that all
latches lock securely in every position. Check
that the head restraints move up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped)
hold securely in all latched positions.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free
play, hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure that
all warning lights and chimes are operating
Maintenance and schedules9-3