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".
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
prevent accidents due to abrupt steer-
ing operation at high speeds or by care-
less or dangerous driving techniques.Reduce vehicle speed and be especially
careful when driving and cornering on
slippery surfaces and always drive care-
fully.
•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 illuminate.
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.
Restart 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 illuminate.
•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.
Starting and driving5-93
CAUTION
•When VDC is deactivated, the
VDC OFF warning light lights up con-
tinuously.
•If both thewarning light and
warning 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
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate VDC in the situations
described 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.
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
vehicle from rolling backwards. Failure
to do so may result in a collision or seri-
ous personal injury.
HILL START ASSIST (HSA)
Starting and driving5-95
•After a short time, hill start assist will no
longer brake your vehicle and it could
roll away There is a risk of an accident
and injury. Therefore, quickly move your
foot from the brake pedal to the accel-
erator pedal. Never leave the vehicle
when it is held by hill start assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient. It
holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake
pedal. This gives you enough time to move
your foot from the brake pedal to the accel-
erator pedal and depress it before the vehicle
begins to roll.
Hill start assist is not active if
•You are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
•On vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is in position N.
•The electric parking brake is applied.
•VDC is malfunctioning.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock be-
comes frozen, heat the key before inserting it
into the key hole, or use the INFINITI Intelli-
gent Key.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper winter
protection. For additional information, see
"Engine cooling system".
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For details, see
"Battery" of this manual.
DRAINING OF ENGINE COOLANT
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see "Changing engine
coolant" of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced in
snowy and icy conditions. If you operate
your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
INFINITI recommends the use of MUD &
SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES on all four
wheels. It is recommended that you visit
an INFINITI retailer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, stud-
ded tires may be used. However, some
U.S. states and Canadian provinces pro-
hibit their use. Check local, state and pro-
vincial laws before installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-96Starting and driving
•When a replacement tire is mounted or a
wheel is replaced, the TPMS will not
function and the low tire pressure warn-
ing light will flash for approximately
1 minute. The light will remain on after
1 minute. It is recommended you Con-
tact an INFINITI retailer as soon as pos-
sible for tire replacement and/or system
resetting.
•Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the
proper operation of the TPMS.
•If you used Emergency Tire Sealant to
repair a minor tire puncture, the TPMS
sensor should be checked when repair-
ing or replacing the tire. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
monitors tire pressure of all tires. When the
low tire pressure warning light is lit, and a tire
pressure-related warning (if equipped) ap-
pears in the vehicle information display, one
or more of your tires is significantly under-
inflated. If the vehicle is being driven with low
tire pressure, the TPMS will activate and
warn you of it by the low tire pressure warn-
ing light (in the meter panel). This system willactivate only when the vehicle is driven at
speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h).
For more details about the TPMS, see "Tire
Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)".
STOPPING VEHICLE
WARNING
•Be sure to apply the parking brake
firmly.
•Be sure that P (Park) is engaged.
•Never change tires when the vehicle is
on a slope, ice or slippery area. This is
hazardous.
•Never change tires when the oncoming
traffic is close to your vehicle. Call for
professional road assistance.
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road away
from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard indicator flasher lights.
3. Park on a level surface.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Press the P (Park) button.
6. Turn off the engine.7. Open the hood and set up the triangle
reflector (if equipped):
•To warn other traffic.
•To signal professional road assistance
personnel that you need assistance.
8. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle
and stand in a safe place, away from
other traffic and clear of the vehicle.
In case of emergency6-3
Removing the wheel
WARNING
•The jack must be placed on firm level
ground. Failure to observe this instruc-
tion could result in vehicle damage, or
serious injury or death.
•Make sure to read the caution label at-
tached to the jack body before use.
•DO NOT GET UNDER A VEHICLE THAT
IS SUPPORTED BY A JACK.
•Never use a jack which was not designed
for your vehicle.
•Use the correct jacking points. Never
use any other part of the vehicle for jack
support.
•Never lift the vehicle more than neces-
sary.
•Never use blocks on or under the jack.
•Do not start or run the engine while the
vehicle is on the jack. The vehicle may
move suddenly, and this may cause an
accident.
•Never allow passengers to stay in the
vehicle while the tire is off the ground.
•Remove all loads before lifting the ve-
hicle with the jack.
NOTE
A jack and rod are not provided as standard
equipment with your vehicle. These parts are
dealer options. It is recommended that you
contact an INFINITI retailer for more infor-
mation about obtaining these parts.1.Vehicles without intelligent key:Remove
the key from the ignition lock.
Vehicles with a push button ignition
switch:remove the start/stop button
from the ignition lock (see " Push-button
ignition switch (if equipped)").
2. Place the jack directly under the jack-up
point as illustrated so that the top of the
jack contacts the vehicle at the jack-up
point.
The jack must be placed on firm level
ground.
NCE453NCE447
Jack-up points
6-6In case of emergency
NOTE
•The wheel lock bolt has an individual code.
A wheel lock key with other than the indi-
vidual code cannot remove the wheel lock
bolt. If you lose the wheel lock key, it is
recommended you contact an INFINITI
retailer for a duplicate with the original
wheel lock key code.
•Record the key number and keep it in a
safe place, not in the vehicle.
•When you ask for a service at an INFINITI
retailer, make sure to keep the lock key in
the vehicle. Otherwise, wheels cannot be
removed and the service cannot be per-
formed.For the jump-starting procedure, use only the
jump-starting connection point, consisting of
a positive terminal and an earth point, in the
engine compartment.
WARNING
•If done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a battery explosion, resulting in
severe injury or death. It could also dam-
age your vehicle.
•Explosive hydrogen gas is always pres-
ent in the vicinity of the battery. Keep all
sparks and flames away from the bat-
tery.
•Do not allow battery fluid to come into
contact with eyes, skin, clothes or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a cor-
rosive sulfuric acid which can cause se-
vere burns. If the fluid should come into
contact with anything, immediately
flush the contacted area with water.
•Keep the battery out of the reach of chil-
dren.
•The booster battery must be rated at
12 volts. Use of an improperly rated bat-
tery can damage your vehicle.
•Whenever working on or near a battery,
always wear suitable eye protectors (for
example, goggles or industrial safety
spectacles) and remove rings, metal
bands, or any other jewelry. Do not lean
over the battery when jump starting.
•Do not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause seri-
ous injury.
•Your vehicle has an automatic engine
cooling fan. It could come on at any time.
Keep hands and other objects away
from it.
JUMP STARTING
6-10In case of emergency
WARNING
Always follow the instructions below. Fail-
ure to do so could result in damage to the
charging system and cause personal injury.1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle,
position the two vehicles to bring their
batteries near each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.2. Check if the parking brake is applied.
If not, after connecting the vehicle with
the booster battery (after step 8), apply
the parking brake.
The vehicle has an electric parking brake,
for more information see, "Parking brake"
3. Press the P (Park) button.
4. Switch off all unnecessary electrical sys-
tems (headlights, hazard lights etc,).
5. Ensure that the ignition switch of the ve-
hicle being jump-started is in the OFF po-
sition.
6. Open the hood. For details, see "Hood".
7. Remove the vent caps (if equipped) on the
battery and cover the battery with an old
cloth.
8. Connect the jump leads in the sequence
(
1→2→3→4) as illustrated.
CAUTION
•Always connect positive+to positive
+and negative-to body ground (for
example, strut mounting bolt, engine lift
bracket, etc.) – not to the battery's
negative
-.
NDI1595
In case of emergency6-11