Page 233 of 458

5-12Starting and driving
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 ENGINE SHUT OFF
To shut off the engine in an emergency
situation while driving, perform the follow-
ing 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.
SSD0860
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 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 on 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).)
Page 234 of 458

.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.2-10).) 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 battery power when the engine 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.
Starting and driving5-13
BEFORE STARTING THE INFINITI
DIRECT RESPONSE HYBRID®SYSTEM
STARTING THE INFINITI DIRECT
RESPONSE HYBRID®SYSTEM
Page 235 of 458

5-14Starting and driving
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 model is de-
signed so that the foot brake pedal must be
depressed before shifting from P (Park) to
any drive position while the ignition switch
position is ON.
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 the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
reversing. This could cause an acci-
dent or damage the transmission.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
CAUTION
.Except in an emergency, do not shift
to the N (Neutral) position while
driving. Coasting with the transmis-
sion in the N (Neutral) position may
cause serious damage to the trans-
mission.
. To avoid possible damage to your
vehicle; when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the
vehicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Page 236 of 458

SSD0973
Shift lever
To move the shift lever,
: Push the button while depressing the brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the shift lever.
Shifting
After starting the hybrid system, fully de-
press the brake pedal and shift the shift lever
from P (Park) to R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D
(Drive) or Manual shift mode position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift lever
is in any position while the hybrid system
is not running. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly
or roll away and result in serious perso-
nal injury or property damage.
CAUTION
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped and the transmission is in the
P (Park) position.
P (Park) position:
Use this position when the vehicle is parked
or when starting the hybrid system. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped. The
brake pedal must be depressed and the shift
lever button pushed in to move the shift
lever from the N (Neutral) position or any
drive position to the P (Park) position.
Apply the parking brake. When parking on
a hill, apply the parking brake first, then
move the shift lever to the P (Park) position.
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure
the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift lever
from the P (Park) position, the N (Neutral)
position or any drive position to the R
(Reverse) position.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The hybrid system can be started in this
position. You may shift to the N (Neutral)
position and restart a stalled hybrid system
while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
Manual shift mode
When the shift lever is in the manual shift
gate, the transmission is ready for the
manual shift mode. Shift ranges can be
selected manually by moving the shift lever
Starting and driving5-15
Page 237 of 458

5-16Starting and driving
up or down.
When shifting up, move the shift lever to the
+ (up) side. The transmission shifts to the
higher range.
When shifting down, move the shift lever to
the − (down) side. The transmission shifts to
the lower range.
When canceling the manual shift mode,
return the shift lever to the D (Drive)
position. The transmission returns to the
normal driving mode.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the
meter.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1?
/M2 ?
/M3?
/M4 ?
/M5?
/M6?
/M7
M7 (7th):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
M6 (6th) andM5 (5th):
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
M4 (4th),M3 (3rd) andM2 (2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
M1 (1st):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow,
or for maximum engine braking on steep
downhill grades.
. Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than
7th gear. This reduces fuel economy.
. Moving the shift lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion.
. In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear
or may automatically shift to the other
gear. This helps maintain driving per-
formance and reduces the chance of
vehicle damage or loss of control.
When the transmission does not shift to
the selected gear, the Automatic Trans-
mission (AT) position indicator light (on
the vehicle information display) will
blink and the chime will sound.
. In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down to 1st
gear before the vehicle comes to a stop.
When accelerating again, it is necessary
to shift up to the desired range.Accelerator downshift — In D (Drive)
position —
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.
Page 238 of 458

SSD0974
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
as illustrated. 5. Push the shift lever button
and move
the shift lever to N (Neutral) position
while holding down the shift lock.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position
to unlock the steering wheel (if so equipped).
Now the vehicle may be moved to the
desired location.
For models with a steering wheel lock
mechanism:
If the 12-volt battery is discharged comple-
tely, the steering wheel cannot be unlocked.
Do not move the vehicle with the steering
wheel locked.
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
appropriate 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.
NOTE:
. Adaptive shift control may not operate
when the transmission oil temperature
is low immediately after the start of
driving or when it is very hot.
. During some driving situations, hard
braking for example, the adaptive shift
control may automatically operate. The
transmission may automatically shift to
a lower gear for engine braking. This
increases engine speed but not vehicle
speed. Vehicle speed is controlled by the
accelerator pedal when the vehicle is in
the Adaptive shift control mode.
. When the adaptive shift control oper-
ates, the transmission sometimes main-
tains a lower gear for a longer period of
time than when adaptive shift control is
not operating. Engine speed will be
Starting and driving5-17
Page 239 of 458

5-18Starting and driving
higher for a specific vehicle speed while
ASC system is operating than when ASC
is not operating.
WARNING
.Be sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do
so can cause brake failure and lead to
an accident.
. Do not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
. Do not use the shift lever in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully en-
gaged.
. To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require the
assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly
become high enough to cause a sig-
nificant risk of injury or death to
people and pets.
SPA2331
To apply: Fully depress the parking brake
pedal.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake
.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal
and
the parking brake will be released.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PARKING BRAKE
Page 240 of 458

SSD1024
INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
Four driving modes can be selected by using
the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector, STAN-
DARD, SPORT, ECO and SNOW. Select the
STANDARD mode for normal driving.
NOTE:
When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
selects a mode, the mode may not switch
quickly. This is not a malfunction.
STANDARD MODE
Recommended for normal driving. Turn the
INFINITI Drive Mode Selector to the
position. “STANDARD” appears on the ve-
hicle information display for 2 seconds.
SPORT MODE
Adjusts the engine and transmission points
to enhance performance. If the vehicle is
equipped with the active trace control
system, the amount of brake control pro-
vided by active trace control is reduced. (See
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system”
(P.5-122).) Turn the INFINITI Drive Mode
Selector to the SPORT position. “SPORT”
appears on the vehicle information display
for 2 seconds.
NOTE:
In the SPORT mode, fuel economy may be
reduced.
SNOW MODE
Used on snowy roads or slippery areas.
When the SNOW mode is activated, engine
output is controlled to avoid wheel spin.
Turn the SNOW mode off for normal driving.
Turn the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector to
the SNOW position. “SNOW” appears on
the vehicle information display for 2 sec-
onds.
ECO MODE
Adjusts engine and transmission points to
enhance fuel economy.
NOTE:
Selecting this drive mode will not necessa-
rily improve fuel economy as many driving
factors influence its effectiveness.
Operation
Turn the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector to
the ECO position. “ECO” appears on the
vehicle information display for 2 seconds
and the ECO drive indicator light illuminates
on the instrument panel.
When the accelerator pedal is depressed
within the range of economy drive, the ECO
drive indicator light illuminates in green.
When the accelerator pedal is depressed
above the range of economy drive, the color
of the ECO drive indicator light changes to
orange. For ECO pedal system equipped
models see “ECO pedal system” (P.5-20).
The ECO drive indicator light will not
illuminate in the following cases:
. When the shift lever is in the R (Reverse)
position.
. When the vehicle speed is below 3 MPH
(4.8 km/h) or over 90 MPH (144 km/h).
. When the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
system is operated.
Starting and driving5-19
INFINITI DRIVE MODE SELECTOR