5-12Starting and driving
steering wheel, push the ignition switch. If
the steering lock release malfunction indi-
cator appears on the vehicle information
display, push the push-button ignition
switch again while lightly turning the steer-
ing wheel right and left. (See “Vehicle
information display” (P.2-20).)
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.
ACC has a battery saver feature that will
turn the ignition switch to the OFF position
after a period of time under the following
conditions:
.all doors are closed.
. shift lever is in P (Park).
The battery saver feature will be cancelled if
any of the following occur: .
any door is opened.
. shift lever is moved out of P (Park).
. ignition switch changes position.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
ON has a battery saver feature that will turn
the ignition switch to the OFF position, if the
vehicle is not running, after some time under
the following conditions:
.all doors are closed.
. shift lever is in P (Park).
The battery saver feature will be cancelled if
any of the following occur:
. any door is opened.
. shift lever is moved out of the P (Park)
position.
. ignition switch changes position.
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.
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 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 on 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.8-25).)
. 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).)
Starting and driving5-13
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
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. Firmly 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
5-18Starting 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.
JVS1107X
Side indicator light
BSW system warning light
Warning systems switch
Center multi-function control panel
BSW SYSTEM OPERATION
The BSW system operates above approxi-
mately 20 MPH (32 km/h).
If the radar sensors detect a vehicle in the
detection zone, the side indicator light
illuminates.
If the turn signal is then activated, the
system chimes (twice) and the side indicator
light flashes. The side indicator light con-
tinues to flash until the detected vehicle
leaves the detection zone.
NOTE:
.The side indicator light illuminates for a
few seconds when the ignition switch is
placed in the ON position.
. The brightness of the side indicator light
is adjusted automatically depending on
the brightness of the ambient light.
. If a vehicle comes into the detection zone
after the driver activates the turn
signal, then only the side indicator light
flashes and no chime sounds. For addi-
tional information, refer to “BSW driv-
ing situations” (P.5-36).
Starting and driving5-33
5-72Starting and driving
SSD0978
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode display and indicators
The display is located between the speed-
ometer and tachometer.
1. MAIN switch indicator:Indicates that the MAIN switch is ON.
2. Vehicle ahead detection indicator: Indicates whether it detects a vehicle in
front of you.
3. Set distance indicator: Displays the selected distance between
vehicles set with the DISTANCE switch.
4. Indicates your vehicle 5. Set vehicle speed indicator:
Indicates the set vehicle speed.
For Canadian models, the speed is dis-
played in km/h.
6. ICC system warning light (orange): The light comes on if there is a malfunc-
tion in the ICC system.
SSD0979
When the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position, the indicators come on as
illustrated to check for a burned-out bulb,
and it turns off when the engine is started.
switch again will turn the system completely
off.
When the ignition switch is pushed to the
OFF position, the system is also automati-
cally turned off.
To use the ICC system again, quickly push
and release the MAIN switch (vehicle-to-
vehicle distance control mode) or push and
hold it (conventional cruise control mode)
again to turn it on.
When the Distance Control Assist (DCA)
system is on, the conventional (fixed speed)
cruise control mode cannot be turned on
even though the MAIN switch is pushed and
held.
To turn on the conventional (fixed speed)
cruise control mode, turn off the DCA
system. See “Distance Control Assist
(DCA)” (P.5-88).
CAUTION
To avoid accidentally engaging cruise
control, make sure to turn the MAIN
switch off when not using the ICC
system.
SSD0993
To set cruising speed,accelerate your
vehicle to the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it. (The
SET indicator will come on in the display.)
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Your vehicle will maintain the set speed.
. To pass another vehicle, depress the
accelerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle will return to the
previously set speed.
. The vehicle may not maintain the set
speed when going up or down steep hills.
If this happens, manually maintain vehi-
cle speed. To cancel the preset speed,
use any of the
following methods:
1. Push the CANCEL switch. The SET indicator will turn off.
2. Tap the brake pedal. The SET indicator will turn off.
3. Turn the MAIN switch off. Both the MAIN switch indicator and SET indicator
will turn off.
To reset at a faster cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods:
1. Depress the accelerator pedal. When the vehicle attains the desired speed, push
and release the COAST/SET switch.
2. Push and hold the ACCELERATE/RE- SUME set switch. When the vehicle
attains the desired speed, release the
switch.
3. Push, then quickly release the ACCEL- ERATE/RESUME switch. Each time you
do this, the set speed will increase by
about 1 MPH (1.6 km/h).
To reset at a slower cruising speed, use one
of the following three methods:
1. Lightly tap the brake pedal. When the vehicle attains the desired speed, push
the COAST/SET switch and release it.
2. Push and hold the COAST/SET switch. Release the switch when the vehicle
Starting and driving5-87