The purpose of the regulation is to help re-
duce the risk of injury or death from an inflat-
ing air bag to certain front passenger seat
occupants, such as children, by requiring the
air bag to be automatically turned OFF. Cer-
tain sensors are used to meet the require-
ments.
The occupant classification sensor in this ve-
hicle is a weight sensor. It is designed to
detect an occupant and objects on the seat
by weight. For example, if a child is in the
front passenger seat, the INFINITI Advanced
Air Bag System is designed to turn the front
passenger air bag OFF in accordance with
the regulations. Also, if a child restraint of the
type specified in the regulations is on the
seat, its weight and the child’s weight can be
detected and cause the air bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who
are properly seated and using the seat belt as
outlined in this manual should not cause the
front passenger air bag to be automatically
turned OFF. For small adults it may be turned
OFF, however, if the occupant takes his/her
weight off the seat cushion (for example, by
not sitting upright, by sitting on an edge of
the seat, or by otherwise being out of posi-
tion), this could cause the sensor to turn the
air bag OFF. Always be sure to be seated andwearing the seat belt properly for the most
effective protection by the seat belt and
supplemental air bag.
INFINITI recommends that pre-teens and
children be properly restrained in a rear seat.
INFINITI also recommends that appropriate
child restraints and booster seats be properly
installed in a rear seat. If this is not possible,
the occupant classification sensor is designed
to operate as described above to turn the
front passenger air bag OFF for specified
child restraints as required by the regulations.
Failing to properly secure child restraints and
to use the ALR mode may allow the restraint
to tip or move in a collision or sudden stop.
This can also result in the passenger air bag
inflating in a crash instead of being OFF. For
additional information, refer to “Child re-
straints” in this section.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied,
the front passenger air bag is designed not to
inflate in a crash. However, heavy objects
placed on the seat could result in air bag
inflation, because of the object’s weight de-
tected by the occupant classification sensor.
Other conditions could also result in air bag
inflation, such as if a child is standing on the
seat, or if two children are on the seat, con-
trary to the instructions in this manual. Al-ways be sure that you and all vehicle occu-
pants are seated and restrained properly.
Using the front passenger air bag status light,
you can monitor when the front passenger air
bag is automatically turned OFF.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
front passenger air bag status light is illumi-
nated (indicating that the air bag is OFF), it
could be that the person is a small adult, or is
not sitting on the seat properly or not using
the seat belt properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front
seat, the front passenger air bag status light
may or may not be illuminated, depending on
the size of the child and the type of child
restraint being used. If the air bag status light
is not illuminated (indicating that the air bag
might inflate in a crash), it could be that the
child restraint or seat belt is not being used
properly. Make sure that the child restraint is
installed properly, the seat belt is used prop-
erly and the occupant is positioned properly.
If the air bag status light is still not illumi-
nated, reposition the occupant or child re-
straint in a rear seat.
If the front passenger air bag status light will
not illuminate even though you believe that
the child restraint, the seat belts and the oc-
cupant are properly positioned, it is recom-
1-54Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
1Compression ratio status display
Displays the status of compression ratio
controlled by Variable Compression
Turbo. The lowest compression ratio
(8:1) and the highest (14:1) are displayed
as “Power” and ”Eco” respectively.
2Turbo charger boost pressure gauge
Displays the turbo charger boost pres-
sure.
NOTE:
Under some conditions, the compression ra-
tio may not change. This is not a malfunction
of the system.
CAUTION
If the Variable Compression Turbo becomes
faulty, the Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL) may come on. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL)” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section of this manual.
2-8Instruments and controls
∙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
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
To start your engine with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below must
be followed.
WARNING
∙ If done incorrectly, jump starting can leadto a battery explosion, resulting in severe
injury or death. It could also damage your
vehicle.
∙ Explosive hydrogen gas is always present in the vicinity of the battery. Keep all
sparks and flames away from the
battery.
∙ Do not allow battery fluid to come into contact with eyes, skin, clothing or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a corro-
sive sulfuric acid solution which can cause
severe burns. If the fluid should come into
contact with anything, immediately flush
the contacted area with water.
∙ Keep battery out of the reach of children.
∙ 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.
∙ The automatic engine cooling fan (if so equipped) may come on at any time with-
out warning, even if the ignition switch is
in the OFF position and the engine is not
running. To avoid injury, keep hands and
other objects away from it.
JUMP STARTING
In case of emergency6-5
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 ve- hicle, position the 2 vehicles to bring their
batteries near each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake. Engage the P (Park) position. Switch off all unneces-
sary electrical systems (lights, heater, air
conditioner, etc.). 3. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF po-
sition.
4. Ensure the vent caps are level and tight.
5. Connect the jumper cables in the se- quence illustrated (
A,B,C,D).
CAUTION
∙ Always connect positive () to positive() and negative () to body ground (for
example, strut mounting bolt, engine lift
bracket, etc.) — not to the battery. ∙ Make sure the jumper cables do not touch
moving parts in the engine compartment
and that the cable clamps do not contact
any other metal.
6. Start the engine of the booster vehicle and let it run for a few minutes.
7. Keep the engine speed of the booster vehicle at about 2,000 rpm and start the
engine of the vehicle being jump started.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine does
not start right away, place the ignition
switch in the OFF position and wait 3 to
4 seconds before trying again.
8. After starting the engine, carefully dis- connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable.
LCE2223
6-6In case of emergency
∙ Do not use fuel that contains the octanebooster methylcyclopentadienyl manga-
nese tricarbonyl (MMT). Using fuel con-
taining MMT may adversely affect ve-
hicle performance and vehicle emissions.
Not all fuel dispensers are labeled to indi-
cate MMT content, so you may have to
consult your gasoline retailer for more
details. Note that Federal and California
laws prohibit the use of MMT in reformu-
lated gasoline.
∙ U.S. government regulations require ethanol dispensing pumps to be identi-
fied by a small, square, orange and black
label with the common abbreviation or
the appropriate percentage for that
region.
Gasoline specifications
INFINITI recommends using gasoline that
meets the World-Wide Fuel Charter
(WWFC) specifications where it is available.
Many of the automobile manufacturers de-
veloped this specification to improve emis-
sion control system and vehicle performance.
Ask your service station manager if the gaso-
line meets the WWFC specifications.
Reformulated gasoline
Some fuel suppliers are now producing refor-
mulated gasolines. These gasolines are spe-
cially designed to reduce vehicle emissions.
INFINITI supports efforts towards cleaner air
and suggests that you use reformulated
gasoline when available.
Gasoline containing oxygenates
Some fuel suppliers sell gasoline containing
oxygenates such as ethanol, MTBE and
methanol with or without advertising their
presence. INFINITI does not recommend the
use of fuels of which the oxygenate content
and the fuel compatibility for your INFINITI
cannot be readily determined. If in doubt, ask
your service station manager.
If you use oxygenate-blend gasoline, please
take the following precautions as the usage
of such fuels may cause vehicle performance
problems and/or fuel system damage.
∙ The fuel should be unleaded and have an
octane rating no lower than that recom-
mended for unleaded gasoline.
∙ If an oxygenate-blend other than
methanol blend is used, it should contain
no more than 15% oxygenate. ∙
If a methanol blend is used, it should con-
tain no more than 5% methanol (methyl
alcohol, wood alcohol). It should also
contain a suitable amount of appropri-
ate cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors.
If not properly formulated with appro-
priate cosolvents and corrosion inhibi-
tors, such methanol blends may cause
fuel system damage and/or vehicle per-
formance problems. At this time, suffi-
cient data is not available to ensure that
all methanol blends are suitable for use in
INFINITI vehicles.
If any driveability problems such as engine
stalling and difficult hot-starting are experi-
enced after using oxygenate-blend fuels, im-
mediately change to a non-oxygenate fuel or
a fuel with a low blend of MTBE.
Take care not to spill gasoline during refuel-
ing. Gasoline containing oxygenates can
cause paint damage.
E–15 fuel
E-15 fuel is a mixture of approximately 15%
fuel ethanol and 85% unleaded gasoline.
E-15 can only be used in vehicles designed to
run on E-15 fuel. U.S. government regula-
tions require fuel ethanol dispensing pumps
to be identified with small, square, orange
10-4Technical and consumer information
and black label with the common abbrevia-
tion or the appropriate percentage for that
region.
E–85 fuel
E-85 fuel is a mixture of approximately 85%
fuel ethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline.
E-85 can only be used in a Flexible Fuel Ve-
hicle (FFV). Do not use E-85 in your vehicle.
U.S. government regulations require fuel
ethanol dispensing pumps to be identified by
a small, square, orange and black label with
the common abbreviation or the appropriate
percentage for that region.
Fuel containing MMT
MMT, or methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl, is an octane boosting additive.
INFINITI does not recommend the use of fuel
containing MMT. Such fuel may adversely
affect vehicle performance, including the
emissions control system. Note that while
some fuel pumps label MMT content, not all
do, so you may have to consult your gasoline
retailer for more details.
Aftermarket fuel additives
INFINITI does not recommend the use of any
aftermarket fuel additives (for example, fuel
injector cleaner, octane booster, intake valve
deposit removers, etc.) which are sold com-
mercially. Many of these additives intended
for gum, varnish or deposit removal may con-
tain active solvents or similar ingredients that
can be harmful to the fuel system and engine.
Octane rating tips
Using unleaded gasoline with an octane rat-
ing lower than recommended can cause per-
sistent, heavy “spark knock.” (“Spark knock”
is a metallic rapping noise.) If severe, this can
lead to engine damage. If you detect a per-
sistent heavy spark knock even when using
gasoline of the stated octane rating, or if you
hear steady spark knock while holding a
steady speed on level roads, it is recom-
mended that you have an INFINITI retailer
correct the condition. Failure to correct the
condition is misuse of the vehicle, for which
INFINITI is not responsible.Incorrect ignition timing may result in spark
knock, after-run and/or overheating, which
may cause excessive fuel consumption or en-
gine damage. If any of the above symptoms
are encountered, have your vehicle checked.
It is recommended that you visit an INFINITI
retailer.
However, now and then you may notice light
spark knock for a short time while accelerat-
ing or driving up hills. This is not a cause for
concern, because you get the greatest fuel
benefit when there is light spark knock for a
short time under heavy engine load.
Technical and consumer information10-5