5-14Starting and driving
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the shift lever is in either of the
above positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Depress the brake pedal and
push the ignition switch to start the
engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while
depressing the brake pedal with the
ignition switch in any position.
.If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator ped-
al a little (approximately 1/3 to the
floor) and while holding, crank the
engine. Release the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to start
because it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Push the ignition
switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6
seconds, stop cranking by pushing
the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the engine withyour foot off the accelerator pedal
by
depressing the brake pedal and push-
ing the push-button ignition switch to
start the engine. If the engine starts,
but fails to run, repeat the above
procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, push the ignition switch to
OFF and wait 10 seconds before crank-
ing again, otherwise the starter could be
damaged.
4. Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at
moderate speed for a short distance
first, especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for a
minimum of 2 - 3 minutes before shut-
ting it off. Starting and stopping the
engine over a short period of time may
make the vehicle more difficult to start.
When racing the engine up to 4,000 rpm
(VK56VD engine) or 4,500 rpm
(VQ37VHR engine) or more under no
load condition, the engine will enter the fuel cut mode.
5. To stop the engine, shift the shift lever to the P (Park) position and push the
ignition switch to the OFF position.
In preparation for the next engine start,
the engine may have a slightly delayed
shutoff after pushing the ignition switch
to the OFF position, depending on the
driving conditions (VK56VD engine mod-
els).
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery discharge
and potential no-start conditions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume 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 battery may need to be
charged to maintain battery health.
STARTING THE ENGINE
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 engine, 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 andpush 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
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.
Starting and driving5-15
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-16Starting and driving
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 engine, fully depress 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 engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal
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 engine. 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 engine can be started in this position.
You may shift to the N (Neutral) position and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is
moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
5-18Starting and driving
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 a an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
SSD0974
Shift lock release
If the 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 battery is discharged
completely, 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,
and uses the engine braking 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
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.
Starting and driving5-19
PARKING BRAKE
5-20Starting and driving
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.
SSD1024
INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
Four driving modes can be selected by using
the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector, STAN-
DARD, SPORT, ECO and SNOW.
NOTE:
. When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
selects a mode, the mode may not
switch quickly. This is not a malfunction.
. Select the STANDARD mode for normal
driving.
STANDARD MODE
Recommended for normal driving. Turn the
INFINITI Drive Mode Selector to the
position. “STANDARD” appears in the vehi-
cle 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.5-123).) Turn the INFINITI Drive Mode
Selector to the SPORT position. “SPORT”
appears in 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 in the
vehicle information display for 2 seconds.
INFINITI DRIVE MODE SELECTOR
5-54Starting and driving
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmfulinterference.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Frequency of operation: 24.05GHz —
24.25GHz
Field Strength: Not greater than 2.5V/m
peak (0.25V/m average) at a distance of 3 m
The manufacturer is not responsible for any
radio or TV interference caused by un-
authorized modifications to this equipment.
Such modifications could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and
instructions for proper use of the BCI
system could result in serious injury or
death.
. The BCI system is not a replacement
for proper driving procedure, is not
designed to prevent contact with
vehicles or objects and does not
provide full brake power. When back-
ing out of parking spaces, always use
the inside and rear mirrors and turn
and look in the direction you will
move. Never rely solely on the BCI
system.
. There is a limitation to the detection
capability of the radar or the sonar.
Using the BCI system under some
road, ground, traffic or weather con-
ditions could lead to improper system
operation. Always rely on your own
operation to avoid accidents.
The BCI system can help alert the driver of
an approaching vehicle or objects behind the
vehicle when the driver is backing out of a
parking space.
JVS0735X
The BCI system uses radar sensorsinstalled on both sides near the rear bumper
to detect an approaching vehicle and sonar
sensors
to detect objects in the rear.
BACK-UP COLLISION
INTERVENTION (BCI) (if so equipped)
5-74Starting and driving
SSD0982
When the COAST/SET switch is pushed
under the following conditions, the system
cannot be set and the ICC indicators will
blink for approximately 2 seconds:
.When traveling below 20 MPH (32
km/h) and the vehicle ahead is not
detected
. When the shift lever is not in the D (Drive)
or manual shift mode
. When the parking brake is applied
. When the brakes are operated by the
driver
SSD0983
When the COAST/SET switch is pushed
under the following conditions, the system
cannot be set.
A warning chime will sound and the ICC
indicators will blink.
. When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
is turned to the SNOW mode (To use the
ICC system, turn the INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector to a mode other than
the SNOW mode, push the MAIN switch
to turn off the ICC and reset the ICC
switch by pressing the MAIN switch
again.)
For details about the INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector, see “INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector” (P.5-20). .
When the VDC system is off (To use the
ICC system, turn on the VDC system.
Push the MAIN switch to turn off the
ICC system and reset the ICC switch by
pushing the MAIN switch again.)
For details about the VDC system, see
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system”
(P.5-123).
. When ABS or VDC (including the traction
control system) is operating
. When a wheel is slipping (To use the ICC
system, make sure the wheels are no
longer slipping. Push the MAIN switch to
turn off the ICC system, and reset the
ICC system by pushing the MAIN switch
again.)