2019 INFINITI QX50 warning light

ating the steering wheel, until the tempera-
ture of Direct Adaptive Steering cools down.
Avoid repeated steering wheel operations
that could cause Direct Adaptive Steering to
overheat.
When the vehicle is tested on the 2–wheel
dynamometer, the power steering warning
light may illuminate. To turn off the power
steering warning light, stop the vehicle in a
safe location, turn the engine off, restart the
engine, and then drive the vehicle for a period
of time.
The following conditions do not indicate a
malfunction of Direct Adaptive Steering:∙ You may notice wider steering play when the ignition switch is in the OFF or AUTO
ACC position compared to when it is in
the ON position.
∙ After the engine is started, the steering wheel may turn slightly even when driving
a straight road. To return to the normal
position, drive the vehicle on a straight
road for a period of time.
∙ After the engine is started, the steering wheel may move if the steering wheel
was turned to the fully locked position
while the ignition switch was in the OFF
position. ∙ After the vehicle is tested on the 4–wheel
dynamometer, the steering wheel may
turn slightly even when driving on a
straight road. To return the steering
wheel to the normal position, drive the
vehicle on a straight road for a period of
time.
You may hear a noise under the following
conditions. However, this is not a malfunc-
tion. ∙ When the engine is started or stopped.
∙ When the steering wheel is turned in the full lock position.
PARK WITH EASY STEERING (if so
equipped)
The Park with Easy Steering system provides
lighter steering effort at speeds of approxi-
mately 10 mph (15 km/h) and under.
The Park with Easy Steering system can be
set to on or off through the INFINITI
InTouch™ display. When enabling/disabling
the Park with Easy Steering system, the sys-
tem setting will be retained even if the engine
is restarted. NOTE:
The Park with Easy Steering system will not
activate under the following conditions:
∙ When the Direct Adaptive Steering®
system malfunctions or does not operate
normally (including activating protec-
tion mechanism).
∙ When the ProPILOT Assist system
Steering Assist activates.
When the ProPILOT Assist system malfunc-
tions or does not operate normally, the Park
with Easy Steering system may not be acti-
vated.
When the Park with Easy Steering system is
enabled/disabled, the system may not
activate/deactivate immediately. This is not
a malfunction.
The Park with Easy Steering system cannot
be set to on or off under the following condi-
tions: ∙ Before the engine is started.
∙ When the Direct Adaptive Steering sys-
tem malfunctions or does not operate
normally (including activating the pro-
tection mechanism).
5-178Starting and driving

∙When the INFINITI InTouch™ system
malfunctions or does not operate nor-
mally.
∙ While driving (the vehicle is not
stopped). The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will
still have braking at two wheels.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using en-
gine vacuum. If the engine stops, you can
stop the vehicle by depressing the brake
pedal. However, greater foot pressure on the
brake pedal will be required to stop the ve-
hicle and stopping distance will be longer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will overheat the brakes,
wear out the brake pads faster, and reduce
gas mileage.
To help reduce brake wear and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down
a slope or long grade. Overheated brakes
may reduce braking performance and could
result in loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
∙ While driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or acceler-
ating could cause the wheels to skid and
result in an accident.
∙ If the engine is not running or is turned off while driving, the power assist for the
brakes will not work. Braking will be
harder.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result,
your braking distance will be longer and the
vehicle may pull to one side during braking.
To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal
to heat up the brakes. Do this until the brakes
return to normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at
high speeds until the brakes function cor-
rectly.
Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or rotors are replaced, in order to
assure the best brake performance.
BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-179

This procedure is described in the INFINITI
Service Manual. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
WARNING
∙ The ABS is a sophisticated device, but itcannot prevent accidents resulting from
careless or dangerous driving techniques.
It can help maintain vehicle control dur-
ing braking on slippery surfaces. Remem-
ber that stopping distances on slippery
surfaces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if you
are using tire chains. Always maintain a
safe distance from the vehicle in front of
you. Ultimately, the driver is responsible
for safety.
∙ Tire type and condition may also affect braking effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install the speci- fied size of tires on all four wheels. – When installing a spare tire, make sure
that it is the proper size and type as
specified on the Tire and Loading In-
formation label. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Tire and Loading In-
formation label” in the “Technical and
consumer information” section of this
manual.
– For additional information, refer to “Wheels and tires” in the “Do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
The ABS controls the brakes so the wheels do
not lock during hard braking or when braking
on slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies the
brake fluid pressure to prevent each wheel
from locking and sliding. By preventing each
wheel from locking, the system helps the
driver maintain steering control and helps to
minimize swerving and spinning on slippery
surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
Anti-lock Braking System will operate to pre-
vent the wheels from locking up. Steer the
vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) includes
electronic sensors, electric pumps, hydraulic
solenoids and a computer. The computer has
a built-in diagnostic feature 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 malfunction. If the computer
senses a malfunction, it switches the ABS off
and illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then op-
erates normally but without anti-lock assis-
tance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the vehicle
checked. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Normal operation
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) operates
at speeds above3-6mph(5-10km/h). The
speed varies according to road conditions.
5-180Starting and driving

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.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force
than a conventional brake booster even with
light pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. It is the driv-
er’s responsibility to stay alert, drive safely
and be in control of the vehicle at all times.The VDC system uses various sensors to
monitor driver inputs and vehicle motion. Un-
der certain driving conditions, the VDC sys-
tem 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 out- put 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 fol- low the steered path despite in-
creased 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. When the VDC system operates, the
indicator in the instrument panel flashes to
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 indi-
cates that the VDC system is working
properly.
∙ Adjust your speed and driving to the road conditions.
For additional information, refer to “Slip indi-
cator light” and ”Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) OFF indicator light” in the ”Instruments
and controls” section of this manual.
If a malfunction occurs in the system,
the
andindicator lights come on
in the instrument panel. The VDC system au-
tomatically turns off when these indicator
lights are on.
The lower display is used to turn off the VDC
system. The
indicator illuminates to in-
dicate the VDC system is off.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-181

When the lower display is used to turn off the
system, the VDC system still operates to pre-
vent one drive wheel from slipping by trans-
ferring power to a non-slipping drive wheel.
The
indicator flashes if this occurs. All
other VDC functions are off and the
indicator will not flash.
The VDC system is automatically reset to on
when the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position then back to the ON position.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic fea-
ture that tests the system each time you start
the engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a clunk noise and/or
feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and is not an indication of a malfunc-
tion.
WARNING
∙ The VDC system is designed to help the driver maintain controllability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or by
careless or dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle 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 absorb-
ers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bush-
ings and wheels are not INFINITI recom-
mended for your vehicle or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling performance, and
the
indicator may flash or both
the
andindicator lights may
illuminate.
∙ If brake related parts such as brake pads, rotors and calipers are not INFINITI rec-
ommended or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate
properly and both the
and
the
indicator lights may illuminate.
∙ If engine control related parts are not INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, both the
andindicator lights may illuminate. ∙ When driving on extremely inclined sur-
faces such as higher banked corners, the
VDC system may not operate properly
and the
indicator may flash or both
the
andindicator lights 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
indicator may flash or both
the
andindicator lights 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
indicator may flash or both
the
andindicator lights may
illuminate.
∙ The VDC system is not a substitute for winter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road.
5-182Starting and driving

BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns,
the system optimizes the distribution of force
to each of the four wheels depending on the
radius of the turn.
WARNING
∙ The VDC system is designed to help thedriver maintain controllability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or by
careless or dangerous driving techniques.
Reduce vehicle 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 absorb-
ers, struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bush-
ings and wheels are not INFINITI recom-
mended for your vehicle or are extremely
deteriorated, the VDC system may not
operate properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling performance, and
the
indicator may flash or both
the
andindicator lights may
illuminate. ∙ If brake related parts such as brake pads,
rotors and calipers are not INFINITI rec-
ommended or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate
properly and both the
and
the
indicator lights may illuminate.
∙ If engine control related parts are not INFINITI recommended or are extremely
deteriorated, both the
andindicator lights may illuminate.
∙ When driving on extremely inclined sur- faces such as higher banked corners, the
VDC system may not operate properly
and the
indicator may flash or both
the
andindicator lights 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
indicator may flash or both
the
andindicator lights 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
indicator may flash or both
the
andindicator lights may
illuminate.
∙ The VDC system is not a substitute for winter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road.
Starting and driving5-183

The chassis control is an electric control mod-
ule that includes the following functions:∙ Active Trace Control
∙ Active Engine Brake
∙ Active Ride Control
ACTIVE TRACE CONTROL
This system senses driving based on the driv-
er’s steering and acceleration/braking pat-
terns, and controls brake pressure at indi-
vidual wheels to help smooth vehicle
response.
When the lower display is used to turn off the
VDC system, the Active Trace Control sys-
tem is also turned off.
If the Active Trace Control is not functioning
properly, the FEB with Pedestrian Detection
system warning indicator light illuminates in
the instrument panel.
The Active Trace Control can be set to on
(enabled) or off (disabled) through the lower
display “Infiniti Drive Mode Selector” menu
option.
ACTIVE ENGINE BRAKE
The Active Engine Brake function adds subtle
deceleration by controlling Continuously
Variable Transmission (CVT) gear ratio, de-
pending on the cornering condition calcu-
lated from the driver’s steering input and plu-
ral sensors. This benefit is for easier
traceability and less workload of adjusting
speed with braking at corners.
The Active Engine Brake also enhances brak-
ing feel by adding subtle deceleration with
CVT gear ratio control according to the driv-
er’s brake pedal operation
The Active Engine Brake can be set to on
(enabled) or off (disabled) through the lower
display “Infiniti Drive Mode Selector” menu
option.
CHASSIS CONTROL
5-184Starting and driving

When the Active Engine Brake is operated at
corners and the “Chassis Control” mode is
selected in the lower display, the Active En-
gine Brake graphics are shown in the vehicle
information display.
If the chassis control warning message ap-
pears in the vehicle information display, it
may indicate that the Active Engine Brake is
not functioning properly. Have the system
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.WARNING
The Active Engine Brake may not be effec-
tive depending on the driving condition. Al-
ways drive carefully and attentively.
When the Active Engine Brake is operating,
the needle of the tachometer will rise up and
you may hear an engine noise. This is normal
and indicates that the Active Engine Brake is
operating properly.
ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL
This system senses upper body motion
(based on wheel speed information) and con-
trols engine torque and four wheel brake
pressure. This will enhance ride comfort in an
effort to restrain uncomfortable upper body
movement when passing over undulated
road surfaces. This system comes into effect
above 25 mph (40 km/h).
When the lower display is used to turn off the
VDC system, the Active Ride Control is also
turned off.
If the Integrated Dynamics-control Module
warning message appears in the vehicle in-
formation display, it may indicate that the
Active Ride Control is not functioning prop-
erly. Have the system checked as soon as
possible. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
When the Active Ride Control is operating,
you may hear noise and sense slight decel-
eration. This is normal and indicates that the
Active Ride Control is operating properly.
LSD2185
Starting and driving5-185