•Recommendation for air distribution in
winter: select theandsettings.
Recommendation for air distribution in
summer: select the
orandsettings.
•Only use the "Windshield demisting" func-
tion briefly until the windshield is clear
again
•Only use air-recirculation mode briefly, for
example if there are unpleasant outside
odors or when in a tunnel. The windows
could otherwise mist up as no fresh air is
drawn into the vehicle in air-recirculation
mode
•If you change the settings of the climate
control system, the climate status display
appears for approximately three seconds
at the bottom of the screen in the central
display (see separate operating instruc-
tions). You will see the current settings of
the various climate control functions.
Switching air-conditioning system
on/off
Make sure the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
To switch on: turn control
5clockwise to the
desired position (except position 0).To switch off:
turn control
5counter-
clockwise to position 0.
Activating/deactivating the cooling
with air dehumidification function
If you deactivate the "Cooling with air dehu-
midification" function, the air inside the ve-
hicle will not be cooled. The air inside the
vehicle will also not be dehumidified. The
windows can mist up more quickly. There-
fore, only deactivate the "Cooling with air
dehumidification" function briefly.
The "Cooling with air dehumidification" func-
tion is only available when the engine is run-
ning. The air inside the vehicle is cooled and
dehumidified according to the temperature
selected.
Condensation may drip from the underside of
the vehicle when cooling mode is active. This
is normal and not a sign that there is a mal-
function.
To activate:
Press the
button The indicator light in
thebutton lights up.
To deactivate:
Press the
button. The indicator light in
thebutton goes out. The cooling with
air dehumidification function has a delayed
switch-off feature. Problems with the "Cooling with air dehu-
midification" function:
Problem:
The indicator light in the
but-
ton flashes three times or remains off. The
cooling with air dehumidification function
cannot be activated.
Cause and solution: The cooling with air de-
humidification function has been deactivated
due to a malfunction. Have the system
checked. It is recommended you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Setting the temperature
You can set the temperature for the entire
vehicle. The set temperature is automatically
maintained at a constant level.
To increase or reduce the temperature: turn
control
1counterclockwise or clockwise.
Only change the temperature setting in small
increments. Start at 70°F(22°C).
Display screen, heater and air conditioner, and audio system4-45
•Heavy braking going down a hill could
cause your brakes to overheat and fade,
resulting in loss of control and an acci-
dent. Apply brakes lightly and use a low
gear to control your speed.
•Unsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Prop-
erly secure all cargo so it will not be
thrown forward and cause injury to you
or your passengers.
•Secure heavy loads in the cargo area as
far forward and as low as possible. Do
not equip the vehicle with tires larger
than specified in this manual. This could
cause your vehicle to roll over.
•Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel when driving off-road.
The steering wheel could move suddenly
and injure your hands. Instead drive with
your fingers and thumbs on the outside
of the rim.
•Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers have
their seat belts fastened.
•Always drive with the floor mats in place
as the floor may become hot.
•Lower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher center of gravity, your INFINITI is more af-
fected by strong side winds. Slower
speeds ensure better vehicle control.
•Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with AWD
engaged.
•For AWD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to any
drive or reverse position with the engine
running. Doing so may result in drive-
train damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious
vehicle damage or personal injury.
•Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamometers
used by some states for emissions test-
ing), or similar equipment even if the
other two wheels are raised off the
ground. Make sure you inform test facil-
ity personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with AWD before it is placed
on a dynamometer. Using the wrong
test equipment may result in drivetrain
damage or unexpected vehicle move-
ment which could result in serious ve-
hicle damage or personal injury.
•When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
•Accelerating quickly, sharp steering ma-
neuvers or sudden braking may cause
loss of control.
•If at all possible, avoid sharp turning ma-
neuvers, particularly at high speeds.
Your INFINITI vehicle has a higher cen-
ter of gravity than a passenger car. The
vehicle is not designed for cornering at
the same speeds as passenger cars. Fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly
could result in loss of control and/or a
rollover accident.
•Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted,
or radial), and tread pattern on all four
wheels. Install tire chains on the front
wheels when driving on slippery roads
and drive carefully.
•Be sure to check the brakes immediately
after driving in mud or water. .
•Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills.
If you get out of the vehicle and it rolls
forward, backward or sideways, you
could be injured.
Starting and driving5-13
If you lock the vehicle with the key's remote
control or with the Intelligent Key, after a
short time:
•You will not be able to switch on the igni-
tion with the push-button ignition switch.
•You will not be able to start the engine
with the push-button ignition switch until
the vehicle is unlocked again.
If you lock the vehicle centrally using the but-
ton on the front door (see "Locking with in-
side door knob" in the "3. Pre-driving checks
and adjustments" section). you can continue
to start the engine with the push-button ig-
nition switch.
KEY POSITIONS WITH THE
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION
SWITCH
1Start/Stop button
2Ignition lock
When you switch on the ignition, all of the
indicator lights in the combination meter light
up. For further information on situations
where an indicator light either fails to go out
after starting the engine or lights up while
driving see "Warning lights, indicator lights
and audible reminders" in the "2. Instruments
and controls" section.
If the push-button ignition switch
1has not
yet been pressed, this corresponds to the key
being removed from the ignition.
To switch on the power supply (accessory
mode): press the push-button ignition switch
1once without depressing the brake pedal.
The power supply is switched on. You can
now activate the windshield wipers, for ex-
ample.
The power supply is switched off again if the
driver's door is opened and you press the
push-button ignition switch
1twice when in
this position.
To switch on the ignition: press the push-
button ignition switch
1twice without de-
pressing the brake pedal. The ignition is
switched on.
The ignition is switched off if the driver's door
is opened and you press the push-button
ignition switch
1when in this position.
REMOVING THE START/STOP
BUTTON
You can remove the start/stop button from
the ignition lock and start the vehicle as nor-
mal using the key.
You can only switch between push-button
ignition switch mode and key operation when
the vehicle is stationary.
You must also engage park position P (Park).
Remove the start/stop button
1from igni-
tion lock
2.
NPA1484
Starting and driving5-17
You do not have to remove the start/stop
button from the ignition lock when you leave
the vehicle. You should, however, always
take the key with you when leaving the ve-
hicle. As long as the key is in the vehicle:
•The vehicle can be started using the push-
button ignition switch.
•The electrically powered equipment can be
operated.
EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFF
To shut off the engine in an emergency situ-
ation while driving, perform the following
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.
•Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
•Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid, and windshield-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. Measure and check the tire
pressure for proper inflation.
•Check that all doors are closed.
•Position seat and adjust head restraints/
headrests.
•Adjust the inside and outside rear view
mirrors.
•Fasten your seat belt and ask all passen-
gers to do likewise.
•Check the operation of the warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position.
STARTING PROCEDURE WITH
THE KEY
0OFF position
1ACC position
2ON position
3START position
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission to position P (Park) by pressing the
button.
The transmission position indicator in the
vehicle information display shows
When the transmission is in position N
(Neutral), you can also start the engine
with the brake pedal depressed.
The starter is designed not to operate if the
shift lever is in any of the driving positions.
NPA1483
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE STARTING ENGINE
5-18Starting and driving
Before driving, check that the brake warning
lightgoes out. For additional informa-
tion, see "Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders" in the "2. Instruments and
controls" section.
The electric parking brake can only be re-
leased when the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
APPLYING AUTOMATICALLY
(VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION)
The electric parking brake is automatically
applied when:
•Intelligent cruise control (if equipped)
brings the vehicle to a standstill.
or
•Intelligent Parking Assist (if equipped) is
keeping the vehicle stationary.
The red
indicator light lights up in the
combination meter.
The electric parking brake is not automati-
cally applied if the engine is switched off by
the Idle Stop/Start function.
RELEASING AUTOMATICALLY
The electric parking brake can only be re-
leased automatically in vehicles with auto-
matic transmission.
The electric parking brake of your vehicle is
released automatically when all of the fol-
lowing conditions are fulfilled:
•The engine is running.
•The transmission is in position D (Drive) or
R (Reverse).
•The seat belt is fastened.
•You depress the accelerator pedal.
If the transmission is in position R, the lift
gate must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
•The driver's door is closed
•You have shifted out of transmission posi-
tion P (Park) or you have previously driven
faster than 2 MPH (3 km/h).
Ensure that you do not depress the accelera-
tor pedal unintentionally. Otherwise, the
parking brake will be released and the vehicle
will start to move.
EMERGENCY BRAKING
The vehicle can also be braked during an
emergency by using the electric parking
brake.
While driving, push handle
1of the electric
parking brake. The vehicle is braked as long as
you keep handle
1of the electric parking
brake pressed. The longer the electric parking
brake handle
1is depressed, the greater the
braking force.
During braking:
•A warning tone sounds.
•The [Please Release Parking Brake] mes-
sage appears.
•The redindicator light in the combi-
nation meter flashes.
When the vehicle has been braked to a stand-
still, the electric parking brake is applied.
5-28Starting and driving
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic fea-
ture that tests the system each time you start
the engine 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 mal-
function. If the computer senses a malfunc-
tion, it switches the ABS off and illuminates
the ABS warning light on the instrument
panel. The brake system then operates nor-
mally, 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). The speed varies ac-
cording to road conditions.
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 prop-
erly. However, the pulsation may indicate
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 output
to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function).
•Controls brake pressure at individual
wheels and engine 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 main-
tain control of the vehicle, but it cannot pre-
vent loss of vehicle control in all driving situ-
ations.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-93
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) warning
light" in the "2. Instruments and controls" sec-
tion.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
VDC warning light
illuminates in the
instrument panel. The VDC system automati-
cally turns off.
WARNING
•The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain stability but does not pre-
vent accidents due to abrupt steering op-
eration at high speeds or by careless or
dangerous driving techniques. Reduce ve-
hicle speed and be especially careful when driving and cornering on slippery surfaces
and always drive carefully.
•Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension.
If suspension parts such as shock ab-
sorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars,
bushings and wheels are not INFINITI
recommended for your vehicle or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly. This could
adversely affect vehicle handling per-
formance, and the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
•If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
•If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
•When driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners, the
VDC system may not operate properly
and the VDC warning light
may illu-
minate. 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. Re-
start the engine after driving onto a
stable surface.
•If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI
recommended ones are used, the VDC
system may not operate properly and
the VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate.
•The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road.
•If VDC is malfunctioning, VDC is unable
to stabilize the vehicle. In addition,
other driving safety systems are
switched off. This increases the risk of
skidding and an accident. Drive on care-
fully. Have VDC checked. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
CAUTION
•When VDC is deactivated, theVDC OFF warning light lights up con-
tinuously.
5-94Starting and driving
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