2020 INFINITI Q50 ABS

5-78Starting and driving
A warning chime will sound and the “cur-
rently unavailable” warning message ap-
pears in the vehicle information display.
.When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
is turned to the SNOW mode (To use the
ICC system, turn the INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector to a mode other than
the SNOW mode, push the MAIN switch
to turn off the ICC and reset the ICC
switch by pressing the MAIN switch
again.)
For details about the INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector, see “INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector” (P.5-21).
. When the VDC system is off (To use the
ICC system, turn on the VDC system.
Push the MAIN switch to turn off the
ICC system and reset the ICC switch by
pushing the MAIN switch again.)
For details about the VDC system, see
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system”
(P.5-129).
. When ABS or VDC (including the traction
control system) is operating
. When a wheel is slipping (To use the ICC
system, make sure the wheels are no
longer slipping.)
JVS0210X
System set display with vehicle ahead
System set display without vehicle
ahead
The driver sets the desired vehicle speed
based on the road conditions. The ICC
system maintains the set vehicle speed,
similar to standard cruise control, as long
as no vehicle is detected in the lane ahead.
The ICC system displays the set speed.
Vehicle detected ahead:
When a vehicle is detected in the lane ahead,
the ICC system decelerates the vehicle by
controlling the throttle and applying the
brakes to match the speed of a slower
vehicle ahead. The system then controls the vehicle speed based on the speed of the
vehicle ahead to maintain the driver selected
distance.
NOTE:
.
The stoplights of the vehicle come on
when braking is performed by the ICC
system.
. When the brake operates, a noise may be
heard. This is not a malfunction.
When a vehicle ahead is detected, the
vehicle ahead detection indicator comes on.
The ICC system will also display the set
speed and selected distance.

5-82Starting and driving
control the proper distance ahead of your
vehicle.
Also, the sensor sensitivity can be affected
by vehicle operation (steering maneuver or
driving position in the lane) or traffic or
vehicle condition (for example, if a vehicle is
being driven with some damage).
Automatic cancellation
A chime sounds under the following condi-
tions and the control is automatically can-
celed.
.When the vehicle ahead is not detected
and your vehicle is traveling below the
speed of 15 MPH (24 km/h)
. When the system judges the vehicle is at
standstill
. When the shift lever is not in the D
position or Manual mode
. When the parking brake is applied
. When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
is turned to the SNOW mode
. When the VDC system is turned off
. When ABS or VDC (including the traction
control system) operates
. When distance measurement becomes
impaired due to adhesion of dirt or
obstruction to the sensor
. When a wheel slips .
When the radar signal is temporarily
interrupted
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode limitations
WARNING
Listed below are the system limitations
for the ICC system. Failure to operate
the vehicle in accordance with these
system limitations could result in serious
injury or death.
. The system is primarily intended for
use on straight, dry, open roads with
light traffic. It is not advisable to use
the system in city traffic or con-
gested areas.
. This system will not adapt automati-
cally to road conditions. This system
should be used in evenly flowing
traffic. Do not use the system on
roads with sharp curves, or on icy
roads, in heavy rain or in fog.
. As there is a performance limit to the
distance control function, never rely
solely on the ICC system. This system
does not correct careless, inattentive
or absent-minded driving, or over-
come poor visibility in rain, fog, or other bad weather. Decelerate the
vehicle speed by depressing the brake
pedal, depending on the distance to
the vehicle ahead and the surround-
ing circumstances in order to main-
tain a safe distance between vehicles.
. If the vehicle ahead comes to a stop,
the vehicle decelerates to a standstill
within the limitations of the system.
The system will cancel once it judges
that the vehicle has come to a
standstill and sound a warning chime.
To prevent the vehicle from moving,
the driver must depress the brake
pedal.
. Always pay attention to the opera-
tion of the vehicle and be ready to
manually control the proper follow-
ing distance. The vehicle-to-vehicle
distance control mode of the ICC
system may not be able to maintain
the selected distance between vehi-
cles (following distance) or selected
vehicle speed under some circum-
stances.
. The system may not detect the
vehicle in front of you in certain road
or weather conditions. To avoid ac-
cidents, never use the ICC system
under the following conditions:

SSD0253
When driving on some roads, such as wind-
ing, hilly, curved, narrow roads, or roads
which are under construction, the radar
sensor may detect vehicles in a different
lane, or may temporarily not detect a vehicle
traveling ahead. This may cause the ICC
system to decelerate or accelerate the
vehicle.
The detection of vehicles may also be
affected by vehicle operation (steering man-
euver or traveling position in the lane, etc.) or
vehicle condition.If this occurs, the ICC
system may warn you by blinking the
system indicator and sounding the chime
unexpectedly. You will have to manually
control the proper distance away from the vehicle traveling ahead.
JVS0840X
Vehicle information display
MAIN switch
System temporarily unavailable
Condition A:
Under the following conditions, the ICC
system is automatically canceled. The chime
will sound and the “currently unavailable”
warning message will appear in the vehicle
information display.
.
When the VDC is turned off
. When the ABS or VDC (including the
traction control system) operates
. When a tire slips
Starting and driving5-85

5-92Starting and driving
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and
instructions for proper use of the DCA
system could result in serious personal
injury or death.
.Always drive carefully and atten-
tively when using the DCA system.
Read and understand the Owner’s
Manual thoroughly before using the
DCA system. To avoid serious injury
or death, do not rely on the system to
prevent accidents or to control the
vehicle’s speed in emergency situa-
tions. Do not use the DCA system
except in appropriate road and traffic
conditions.
. This system is only an aid to assist the
driver and is not a collision warning or
avoidance device. It is the driver’s
responsibility to stay alert, drive
safely and be in control of the vehicle
at all times.
. As there is a performance limit to the
distance control function, never rely
solely on the DCA system. This sys-
tem does not correct careless, inat-
tentive or absent-minded driving, or
overcome poor visibility in rain, fog,
or other bad weather. Decelerate the vehicle speed by depressing the brake
pedal, depending on the distance to
the vehicle ahead and the surround-
ing circumstances in order to main-
tain a safe distance between vehicles.
. Always pay attention to the opera-
tion of the vehicle and be ready to
manually decelerate to maintain the
proper following distance. The DCA
system may not be able to decelerate
the vehicle under some circum-
stances.
. This system only brakes and moves
the accelerator pedal upward to help
assist the driver to maintain a follow-
ing distance from the vehicle ahead.
Acceleration should be operated by
the driver.
. The DCA system does not control
vehicle speed or warn you when you
approach stationary and slow moving
vehicles. You must pay attention to
vehicle operation to maintain proper
distance from vehicles ahead.
. The DCA system automatically de-
celerates your vehicle to help assist
the driver to maintain a following
distance from the vehicle ahead.
Manually brake when deceleration is
required to maintain a safe distance
upon sudden braking by the vehicle ahead or when a vehicle suddenly
appears in front of you. Always stay
alert when using the DCA system.
. If the vehicle ahead comes to a stop,
the vehicle decelerates to a standstill
within the limitations of the system.
The system will cancel with a warning
chime once it judges that the vehicle
has come to a standstill. To prevent
the vehicle from moving, the driver
must depress the brake pedal.
DISTANCE CONTROL ASSIST
(DCA) (if so equipped)

front of you.
DCA SYSTEM LIMITATIONS
WARNING
Listed below are the system limitations
of the DCA system. Failure to operate
the vehicle in accordance with these
system limitations could result in serious
injury or death.
.This system will not adapt automati-
cally to road conditions. Do not use
the system on roads with sharp
curves, or on icy roads, in heavy rain
or in fog.
. The DCA system will not apply brake
control while the driver’s foot is on
the accelerator pedal.
. As there is a performance limit to the
distance control function, never rely
solely on the DCA system. This sys-
tem does not correct careless, inat-
tentive or absent-minded driving, or
overcome poor visibility in rain, fog,
or other bad weather. Decelerate the
vehicle speed by depressing the brake
pedal, depending on the distance to
the vehicle ahead and the surround-
ing circumstances in order to main-
tain a safe distance between vehicles. .
The system may not detect the
vehicle in front of you in certain road
or weather conditions. To avoid ac-
cidents, never use the DCA system
under the following conditions:
— On roads with sharp curves
— On slippery road surfaces such as on ice or snow, etc.
— During bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.)
— When rain, snow or dirt adhere to the system sensor
— On steep downhill roads (fre- quent braking may result in over-
heating the brakes)
— On repeated uphill and downhill roads
. In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly
come into the sensor detection zone
and cause automatic braking. You
may need to control the distance
from other vehicles using the accel-
erator pedal. Always stay alert and
avoid using the DCA system when it
is not recommended in this section. The radar sensor will not detect the follow-
ing objects:
.
Stationary and slow moving vehicles
. Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
. Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
. Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel
lane
The following are some conditions in which
the sensor cannot detect the signals:
. When the snow or road spray from
traveling vehicles reduces the sensor’s
visibility
. When excessively heavy baggage is
loaded in the rear seat or the trunk room
of your vehicle
Starting and driving5-99

5-102Starting and driving
For details about the VDC system, see
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system”
(P.5-129)
. When the VDC or ABS (including the
traction control system) operates
. When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
is turned to the SNOW mode (To use the
DCA system, turn the INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector to a mode other than the
SNOW mode, then turn on the dynamic
driver assistance switch
.) For details
about the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector,
see “INFINITI Drive Mode Selector” (P.5-
21)
. When the radar signal is temporarily
interrupted
Action to take:
When the conditions listed above are no
longer present, turn the DCA system back on
to use the system.
Condition B
Under the following conditions, making it
impossible to detect a vehicle ahead, the
DCA system is automatically canceled.
The chime will sound, the driver assist
system forward indicator (orange) and the
“front radar obstruction” warning message
will appear in the vehicle information display.
. When the radar sensor area of the front bumper is covered with dirt or is ob-
structed
Action to take:
If the driver assist system forward indicator
(orange) and the warning message appear,
stop the vehicle in a safe place, place the
shift lever in the P (Park) position and turn
the engine off. When the radar signal is
temporarily interrupted, clean the sensor
area of the front bumper and restart the
engine. If the warning message continues to
be displayed, have the DCA system checked.
It is recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service.
. When driving on roads with limited road
structures or buildings (for example, long
bridges, deserts, snow fields, driving next
to long walls)
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist,
the DCA system will resume automatically.SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
When the DCA system is not operating
properly, the chime sounds, the driver assist
system forward indicator (orange) and the
system “malfunction” warning message will
appear in the vehicle information display. Action to take:
If the driver assist system forward indicator
(orange) and the warning message appear,
stop the vehicle in a safe place and place the
shift lever in the P (Park) position. Turn the
engine off, restart the engine, and turn on
the DCA system again.
If it is not possible to set the system or the
indicator stays on, it may indicate that the
system is malfunctioning. Although the
vehicle is still driveable under normal con-
ditions, have the vehicle checked. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer
for this service.
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The sensor for the DCA system is common
with the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
system and is located behind the lower grille
of the front bumper.
For the sensor maintenance, see “Intelligent
Cruise Control (ICC)” (P.5-71).
FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1.
This device may not cause harmful
interference, and

have control of the vehicle, but the
steering will be harder to operate.
. If wheels or tires other than the
INFINITI recommended ones are
used, Direct Adaptive Steering may
not operate properly and the power
steering warning light may illumi-
nate.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs, sta-
bilizer bars, bushings and wheels are
not INFINITI recommended for your
vehicle or are extremely deteriorated,
Direct Adaptive Steering may not
operate properly and the power
steering warning light may illumi-
nate.
. Do not modify the vehicle’s steering.
If steering parts are not INFINITI
recommended for your vehicle or are
extremely deteriorated, Direct Adap-
tive Steering may not operate prop-
erly and the power steering warning
light may illuminate.
. If the VDC warning light illuminates,
the power steering warning light may
also illuminate at the same time. Stop
the vehicle in a safe location, turn the
engine off and restart the engine. If
the power steering warning light continues to illuminate, have the
system checked. It is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service. For VDC system, see “Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) system”
(P.5-129).
CAUTION
.
Do not place the ignition switch is in
the ON position while the steering
wheel or a tire is removed.
. Do not turn the steering wheel as
much as possible while the ignition
switch is in any position other than
the ON position.
. Installing an accessory on the steer-
ing wheel, or changing the steering
wheel, may reduce the steering per-
formance.
Direct Adaptive Steering is designed to
control the steering force and steering angle
according to the vehicle speed and amount
of turning of the steering wheel.
The steering characteristic can be selected
using the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector. See
“INFINITI Drive Mode Selector” (P.5-21).
If the VDC system is turned off, the setting of steering becomes standard mode.
If the power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the engine is running, it may
indicate that Direct Adaptive Steering is not
functioning properly and may need servicing.
It is recommended you have the system
checked by an INFINITI retailer. (See “Power
steering warning light” (P.2-14).)
When the power steering warning light
illuminates with the engine running, the
power assist for the steering will cease
operation. You will still have control of the
vehicle. However, greater steering effort will
be needed, especially in sharp turns and at
low speeds.
If Direct Adaptive Steering is malfunction-
ing, the steering wheel may turn slightly even
when driving on a straight road.
Under the following conditions, the steering
wheel may turn slightly even when driving on
a straight road. This is due to a protection
mechanism for Direct Adaptive Steering. The
steering wheel will return to the normal
position after the protection mechanism is
deactivated.
Condition A
.
When the engine is stalled or likely to be
stalled
. When the steering wheel is held in the full
lock position or when the front tire
touches an obstruction.
Starting and driving5-125

or downshifting. Abrupt braking or
accelerating 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 brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly tapping 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 correctly.
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 drums/rotors are replaced, in
order to assure the best braking perfor-
mance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual. It is recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
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
driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive
safely and be in control of the vehicle at
all times.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
WARNING
.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
is a sophisticated device, but it
cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slip-
pery surfaces. Remember that
stopping distances on slippery sur-
Starting and driving5-127
BRAKE ASSIST