•If both thewarning light andwarning light are lit continuously, VDC
is not available due to a malfunction.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
(TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS) is part of
VDC.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deacti-
vate VDC.
CHARACTERISTICS OF VDC
If theVDC warning light goes out before
beginning the journey, VDC is automatically
active.
If VDC intervenes, the
VDC warning
light flashes in the combination meter.
If VDC intervenes:
•Do not deactivate VDC under any circum-
stances.
•When pulling away, only depress the ac-
celerator pedal as far as is necessary.
•Adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Deactivating/activating VDC
WARNING
If you deactivate VDC, VDC no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate VDC in the situations de-
scribed in the following section.
You can select between the following sta-
tuses of VDC:
•VDC is activated.
•VDC is deactivated.
It may be best to deactivate VDC in the fol-
lowing situations:
•When using snow chains.
•In deep snow.
•On sand or gravel. NOTE
Activate VDC as soon as the situations de-
scribed above no longer apply. VDC will oth-
erwise not be able to stabilize the vehicle if
the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts to
spin.
You can activate/deactivate VDC using the
vehicle information display. To activate/
deactivate VDC:
1. Start the engine
2. Press the
orbutton on the
steering wheel to select the [DriveAssist]
menu in the vehicle information display.
3. Press the
orbutton to select
VDC.
4. Press the
wheel. The current selection is displayed.
5. To activate/deactivate: press the
button again.
VDC is deactivated if the
warning
light in the combination meter lights up
continuously when the engine is running.
Characteristics when VDC is deactivated:
If VDC is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the
VDC warning light
flashes in the combination meter. In such
situations, VDC will not stabilize the vehicle.
Starting and driving5-95
If you deactivate VDC:
•VDC no longer intervenes in understeer or
oversteer situations.
•Engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin.
The spinning of the wheels results in a
cutting action, so the tires cut through the
loose surface until the hit solid ground,
giving better traction.
•Traction control is still activated.
•VDC still provides support when you
brake.
EBD (ELECTRONIC BRAKE
FORCE DISTRIBUTION)
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to help improve han-
dling during braking.
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the EBD [Inop-
erative See Operator's Manual] warning is
displayed in the vehicle information dis-
play. The
VDC warning light may also
light up.
If EBD is malfunctioning as a result of a
VDC malfunction, the rear wheels can lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the
risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving
style to the different handling characteris-
tics. Have the brake system checked. It is
recommended you see an INFINITI retailer.
STEER CONTROL
STEER CONTROL helps you by transmitting
a noticeable steering force to the steering
wheel in the direction required for vehicle
stabilisation.
This steering support is provided in particular
if:
•Both right wheels or both left wheels are
on a wet or slippery road surface when
you brake.
•The vehicle starts to skid.
WARNING
No steering support is provided from
STEER CONTROL, if:
•VDC is malfunctioning.
•The steering is faulty.
Power steering will, however, continue to
function.
WARNING
•Never rely solely on the Hill Start Assist
(HSA) system to prevent the vehicle
from moving backward on a hill. Always
drive carefully and attentively. Depress
the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Be especially
careful when stopped on a hill on frozen
or muddy roads. Failure to prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards may re-
sult in a loss of control of the vehicle and
possible serious injury or death.
•The Hill Start Assist system is not de-
signed to hold the vehicle at a standstill
on a hill. Depress the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped on a steep hill.
Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to
roll backwards and may result in a colli-
sion or serious personal injury.
•The Hill Start Assist system may not
prevent the vehicle from rolling back-
wards on a hill under all load or road
conditions. Always be prepared to de-
press the brake pedal to prevent the ve-
hicle from rolling backwards. Failure to
do so may result in a collision or serious
personal injury.
•After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could
HILL START ASSIST (HSA)
5-96Starting and driving
drive at a reduced speed, otherwise, your
vehicle may be damaged and/or vehicle
handling and performance may be ad-
versely affected.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during the winter:
•A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-
move ice and snow from the windows.
•A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the
jack to give it firm support.
•A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-
drifts.
•Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
•Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” under
these conditions. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until the road is salted or sanded.
•Whatever the condition, drive with cau-
tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even more
traction.
•Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
•Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
•Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise clear
road in shaded areas. If a patch of ice is
seen ahead, brake before reaching it. Try
not to brake while on the ice, and avoid
any sudden steering maneuvers.
•Do not use cruise control on slippery
roads.
•Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gas
under your vehicle. Keep snow clear of
the exhaust pipe and from around your
vehicle.
5-98Starting and driving
The hazard warning flasher switch1oper-
ates regardless of the ignition switch position
except when the battery is discharged.
The hazard warning flasher is used to warn
other drivers when you have to stop or park
under emergency conditions.
When the hazard warning flasher switch is
pushed, all turn signal lights will flash. To turn
off the hazard warning flasher, push the haz-
ard warning switch again.
WARNING
•If stopping for an emergency, be sure to
move the vehicle well off the road.
•Do not use the hazard warning flashers
while moving on the highway unless un-
usual circumstances force you to drive so slowly that your vehicle might be-
come a hazard to other traffic.
•Turn signals do not work when the haz-
ard warning flasher lights are on.
Some jurisdictions may prohibit the use of
the hazard warning flasher switch while
driving. If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
in this section.TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
WARNING
•If the low tire pressure warning light il-
luminates or a tire pressure-related
warning is displayed by the vehicle in-
formation display while driving, avoid
sudden steering maneuvers or abrupt
braking, 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 permanently
damage the tires and increase the likeli-
hood of tire failure. Serious vehicle dam-
age could occur and may lead to an acci-
dent 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 informa-
tion label to turn the low tire pressure
warning light OFF. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with a replacement tire as
soon as possible.
•When a replacement tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, the TPMS will not
NIC2621
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
SWITCH FLAT TIRE
6-2In case of emergency
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving
distance possible depends upon:
•Vehicle speed.
•Road condition.
•Outside temperature.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving
conditions/maneuvers, or it can be increased
through a moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
is counted from the moment the tire pressure
loss warning appears in the vehicle informa-
tion display.
You must not exceed a maximum speed of 50
MPH (80 km/h).
When replacing one or all tires, observe the
following specifications for your vehicle's
tires:
•Size
•Type
•Run-flat mark
If a tire has gone flat and cannot be replaced
with a run flat tire, a standard tire may be
used as a temporary measure. Make sure that
you use the proper size and type (summer or
winter tire).
WARNING
Do not exceed the stated maximum speed.
Avoid abrupt steering and driving maneu-
vers, and driving over obstacles (curbs, pot
holes, off road). This applies in particular to
a laden vehicle.
Stop driving in emergency mode if:
•You hear banging noises.
•The vehicle starts to shake.
•You see smoke and smell rubber.
•VDC is intervening constantly.
•There are tears in the sidewalls of the
tire.
After driving in emergency mode, have the
wheel rims checked with regard to their
further use. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service. The faulty
tire must be replaced.
REMOVING AND FITTING
WHEELS
NOTE
A spare wheel is not provided with your ve-
hicle.
Blocking the wheels
WARNING
Make sure to block the appropriate wheel
to prevent the vehicle from moving, which
may cause personal injury.
Place suitable blocks
1in front of and be-
hind the wheel diagonally opposite the flat
tire
Ato prevent the vehicle from moving
when it is on the jack.
MCE0001DZ
In case of emergency6-5
When towing your vehicle, all jurisdictions
and local regulations for towing must be fol-
lowed. Incorrect towing equipment could
damage your vehicle. Towing instructions are
available from an INFINITI retailer. Local ser-
vice operators are generally familiar with the
applicable laws and procedures for towing.
To assure proper towing and to prevent ac-
cidental damage to your vehicle, INFINITI
recommends having a service operator tow
your vehicle. It is advisable to have the service
operator carefully read the following precau-
tions.
WARNING
•Never ride in a vehicle that is being
towed.
•Never get under your vehicle after it has
been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
•When towing, make sure that the trans-
mission, axles, steering system and
powertrain are in working condition. If
any of these conditions apply, dollies or
a flatbed tow truck must be used.
•Always attach safety chains before
towing.
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
INFINITI
INFINITI recommends towing your vehicle
based upon the type of drivetrain. Please re-
fer to the diagrams in this section to ensure
that your vehicle is properly towed.
NCE451
FWD (2WD) models
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
6-14In case of emergency
button and use the key (see " Push-
button ignition switch (if equipped)" in
the "5. Starting and driving" section).
Otherwise the automatic transmission
may shift to position P (Park) when the
driver's or front passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to
the transmission.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device designed
specifically for vehicle recovery. Always fol-
low the manufacturer’s instructions for the
recovery device.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
WARNING
•To avoid potential injury, 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. 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 back- ward.
•Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and D (Drive).
•Apply the accelerator as little as possible
to maintain the rocking motion.
•Release the accelerator pedal before shift-
ing between R (Reverse) and D (Drive).
•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 ser-
vice to remove the vehicle.
6-16In case of emergency
Halogen headlight bulb
Fitting/removing the access cover on the
front wheel arch:
You must remove the cover of the front
wheel arch before you can change the halo-
gen headlight bulb.
To remove: switch off the lights, turn the
steering so that the wheel behind the light in
question is pointing inwards . Slide cover
1up and remove it.To fit: inset cover
1again and slide it down
until it engages.
The headlight is a semi-sealed beam type
which uses a replaceable headlight (halogen)
bulb. A bulb can be replaced from inside the
engine compartment without removing the
headlight assembly.
If you need assistance for bulb replacement,
it is recommended that you visit an INFINITI
retailer.
Low/High beam Headlight bulb replace-
ment:
1. Open the hood. For details, see "Hood" inthe "3. Pre-driving checks and adjust-
ments" section.
2. Disconnect the negative (—) battery cable.
3. Remove the corresponding access cover from the wheel arch.
4. Turn housing cover
1counterclockwise
and remove it.
5. Turn bulb holder
2counterclockwise and
pull out
6. Take the headlight bulb out of bulb holder
2.
7. Insert the new bulb into bulb holder
2.
8. Insert bulb holder
2and turn it clockwise.
NDI1626NDI1611
Do-it-yourself8-25