System maintenance .............................................. 5-122
Break-in schedule ......................................................... 5-123
Fuel Efficient Driving Tips .......................................... 5-123
Increasing fuel economy ............................................ 5-124
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) (if
so equipped) ................................................................... 5-125
Parking/parking on hills .............................................. 5-127
Power steering ............................................................. 5-128 Electric power steering type ............................... 5-128
Hydraulic pump electric power
steering type ............................................................ 5-128
Direct Adaptive Steering type ............................. 5-129
Brake system .................................................................. 5-131 Braking precautions ................................................ 5-131
Parking brake break-in .......................................... 5-131
Brake assist .................................................................... 5-132 Brake assist ............................................................... 5-132
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......................... 5-132
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ................. 5-133 Brake force distribution ........................................ 5-134 Active trace control ..................................................... 5-135
Hill Start Assist system .............................................. 5-137
Chassis control .............................................................. 5-137
Idling Stop System (if so equipped) ....................... 5-138
Retrograde movement control function ........ 5-139
Idling Stop System display ................................ 5-139
Idling Stop OFF switch ....................................... 5-141
Cold weather driving .................................................. 5-142
Freeing a frozen door lock ................................ 5-142
Antifreeze ............................................................... 5-142
Battery .................................................................... 5-142
Draining of coolant water ................................. 5-142
Tire equipment ...................................................... 5-142
Special winter equipment .................................. 5-143
Driving on snow or ice ........................................ 5-143
Engine block heater (if so equipped) .............. 5-143
Active noise cancellation/Active
sound enhancement ................................................... 5-144
Active noise cancellation .................................... 5-145
Active sound enhancement ............................... 5-145
5-4Starting and driving
WARNING
.Do not leave children or adults who
would normally require the support
of others alone in your vehicle. Pets
should not be left alone either. They
could accidentally injure themselves
or others through inadvertent opera-
tion of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
. Closely supervise children when they
are around cars to prevent them from
playing and becoming locked in the
trunk where they could be seriously
injured. Keep the car locked, with the
rear seatback and trunk lid securely
latched when not in use, and prevent
children’s access to car keys.
EXHAUST GAS (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
.Do not breathe exhaust gases; they
contain colorless and odorless carbon
monoxide. Carbon monoxide is dan-
gerous. It can cause unconsciousness
or death.
. If you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all
windows fully open, and have the
vehicle inspected immediately.
. Do not run the engine in closed spaces
such as a garage.
. Do not park the vehicle with the
engine running for any extended
length of time.
. Keep the trunk lid closed while driv-
ing, otherwise exhaust gases could be
drawn into the passenger compart-
ment. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, follow these precau-
tions:
1) Open all the windows.
2) Set the air recirculation to off and the fan control to high to circulate
the air. .
If electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass to a trailer
through the seal on the trunk lid or
the body, follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle.
. The exhaust system and body should
be inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever:
— The vehicle is raised for service.
— You suspect that exhaust fumes are entering into the passenger
compartment.
— You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust system.
— You have had an accident invol- ving damage to the exhaust sys-
tem, underbody, or rear of the
vehicle.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING
AND DRIVING
5-12Starting and driving
SSD0659
OPERATING RANGE FOR EN-
GINE START FUNCTION
The Intelligent Key can only be used for
starting the engine when the Intelligent Key
is within the specified operating range.
When the Intelligent Key battery is almost
discharged or strong radio waves are pre-
sent near the operating location, the Intelli-
gent Key system’s operating range becomes
narrower and may not function properly.
If the Intelligent Key is within the operating
range, it is possible for anyone, even some-
one who does not carry the Intelligent Key,
to push the ignition switch to start the
engine..
The trunk area is not included in the
operating range but the Intelligent Key
may function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed on the
instrument panel, rear parcel shelf, inside
the glove box or door pocket, the
Intelligent Key may not function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed near the
door or window outside the vehicle, the
Intelligent Key may function.
JVS0241X
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION
SWITCH OPERATION
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch position will change as follows:
. Push center once to change to ACC.
. Push center two times to change to ON.
. Push center three times to change to
OFF. (No position illuminates.)
. Push center four times to return to ACC.
. Open or close any door to return to
LOCK during the OFF position.
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged,
the push-button ignition switch cannot be
turned from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for operation
are displayed in the vehicle information
display between the speedometer and tach-
ometer. (See “Vehicle information display”
(P.2-19).)
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch position cannot be switched
to LOCK until the shift lever is moved to the
P (Park) position.
When the ignition switch cannot be pushed
toward the LOCK position, proceed as
follows:
1. Move the shift lever into the P (Park)position.
2. Push the ignition switch to the OFF position. The ignition switch position
indicator will not illuminate.
3. Open the door. The ignition switch will change to the LOCK position.
The shift lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in the
ON position and the brake pedal is de-
pressed.PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION
SWITCH POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)
The ignition switch can only be locked in this
position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it
is pushed to the ACC position while carrying
the Intelligent Key.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the engine is not
running.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
OFF
The engine can be turned off in this position.
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch cannot be switched to the
LOCK position until the shift lever is moved
to the P (Park) position.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the push-
button ignition switch in ACC or ON
positions when the engine is not running
for an extended period. This can dis-
charge the 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.
Starting and driving5-13
5-14Starting and driving
JVS0404X
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 engine 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 engine 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 engine is
started by the above procedures, the
Intelligent Key battery discharge indi-
cator appears in the vehicle information
display even if the Intelligent Key is
inside the vehicle. This is not a malfunc-
tion. 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.8-26).) .
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).)
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-16Starting and driving
For additional information about the remote
engine start function, see “Remote engine
start” (P.3-20).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 (AT) model is
designed so that the foot brake pedal must
be depressed before shifting from P (Park)
to any drive position while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
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 placed
in 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
moving reversing. This could cause an
accident or damage the transmission.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
4M(4th), 3M(3rd) and 2M(2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
1
M(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 (in the
vehicle information display) will blink
and the buzzer 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.
JVS0188X
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 or LOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
using a
suitable tool.
4. Push down the shift lock
using
mechanical key as illustrated.
Starting and driving5-19
5-20Starting and driving
5. Push the shift lever buttonand move
the shift lever to N (Neutral) position
while holding down the shift lock.
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 appro-
priate 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.
NAVI Shift Control (if so equipped)
NAVI Shift Control automatically adjusts the
Automatic Transmission (AT) gear position
in certain situations based on road informa-
tion from the navigation system.
When the navigation system detects that
the vehicle is approaching a curved road, NAVI Shift Control will adjust the gear
position if needed to help the driver run
through the curve smoothly.
Precaution on NAVI shift control:
.
The NAVI Shift Control does not provide
steering input or automated driving on a
curve. It is not a speed limit support
system and will not modify your speed
according to local speed limits.
. The NAVI Shift Control is a convenient
system intended to help the vehicle move
through a curve smoothly. However, the
driver must always drive safely and use
the brake pedal if needed.
. The NAVI Shift Control may be delayed
or not operate properly in the following
situations, because this function uses the
road information provided by the navi-
gation system.
— When the navigation system cannot accurately detect the location of the
vehicle.
— When the vehicle is driving on a road- way that is not recognized by the
navigation system.
— When the actual roadway differs from the map information on the naviga-
tion system due to road construction,
traffic lane obstructions, etc.
. The NAVI Shift Control may not operate
properly in the following situations: