2020 INFINITI QX50 ignition

∙ Remember not to drive at high speeds forextended periods of time in lower than
8th gear. This reduces fuel economy.
When shifting up
Use the + (up) side paddle shifter. (Shifts to
higher range.)
When shifting down
Use the (down) side paddle shifter. (Shifts
to lower range.)
∙ The transmission will automatically downshift the gears. (For example, if you
select the 3rd range, the transmission will
shift down between the 3rd and 1st
gears.)
∙ Moving the shift lever rapidly to the same side twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion.
When canceling the manual shift mode
Move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position
to return the transmission to the normal driv-
ing mode. ∙ In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear.
This helps maintain driving performance
and reduces the chance of vehicle dam-
age or loss of control. ∙
When this situation occurs, the Continu-
ously Variable Transmission (CVT) posi-
tion indicator will blink and the chime
will sound.
∙ In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may shift up automatically to a
higher range than selected if the engine
speed is too high. When the vehicle
speed decreases, the transmission auto-
matically shifts down and shifts to 1st
gear before the vehicle comes to a stop.
∙ CVT operation is limited to automatic drive mode when CVT fluid temperature
is extremely low even if manual shift
mode is selected. This is not a malfunc-
tion. When CVT fluid warms up, manual
mode can be selected.
∙ When the CVT fluid temperature is high, the shift range may upshift in lower rpm
than usual. This is not a malfunction.
Accelerator downshift
— in D (Drive) position —
For passing or hill climbing, depress the ac-
celerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into a lower gear, de-
pending on the vehicle speed.
High fluid temperature protection
mode
This transmission has a high fluid tempera-
ture protection mode. If the fluid temperature
becomes too high (for example, when climb-
ing steep grades in high temperatures with
heavy loads, such as when towing a trailer),
engine power and, under some conditions,
vehicle speed will be decreased automatically
to reduce the chance of transmission dam-
age. Vehicle speed can be controlled with the
accelerator pedal, but the engine and vehicle
speed may be limited.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, the
Continuously Variable Transmission will not
be shifted into the selected driving position.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme condi-
tions, such as excessive wheel spinning and
subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe sys-
tem may be activated. The Malfunction Indi-
cator Light (MIL) may come on to indicate
the fail-safe mode is activated. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Malfunction In-
dicator Light (MIL)” in the “Instruments and
controls” section of this manual. This will oc-
cur even if all electrical circuits are function-
ing properly. In this case, place the ignition
Starting and driving5-23

switch in the OFF position and wait for
10 seconds. Then place the ignition switch
back in the ON position. The vehicle should
return to its normal operating condition. If it
does not return to its normal operating con-
dition, have the transmission checked and
repaired, if necessary. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
WARNING
When the high fluid temperature protec-
tion mode or fail-safe operation occurs, ve-
hicle speed may be gradually reduced. The
reduced speed may be lower than other
traffic, which could increase the chance of a
collision. Be especially careful when driving.
If necessary, pull to the side of the road at a
safe place and allow the transmission to re-
turn to normal operation, or have it re-
paired if necessary.
WARNING
∙ Be sure the parking brake is fully releasedbefore driving. Failure to do so can cause
brake failure and lead to an accident.
∙ Do not release the parking brake from outside the vehicle.
∙ Do not use the shift lever in place of the parking brake. When parking, be sure the
parking brake is fully engaged. ∙ To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the ve-
hicle and/or its systems, do not leave
children, people who require the assis-
tance of others or pets unattended in
your vehicle. Additionally, the tempera-
ture inside a closed vehicle on a warm day
can quickly become high enough to cause
a significant risk of injury or death to
people and pets.
The electronic parking brake can be applied
or released automatically or by operating the
parking brake switch.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION
The electronic parking brake will apply auto-
matically if the ignition switch is placed in the
OFF position when the brake force is main-
tained by the automatic brake hold function.
The electronic parking brake is automatically
released as soon as the vehicle starts and the
accelerator pedal is depressed.
The driver’s seat belt needs to be fastened.
LSD2915
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE
5-24Starting and driving

WARNING
∙ The electronic parking brake will not beautomatically applied when the engine is
stopped without using the ignition
switch (for example, by engine stalling).
Without the vehicle stationary, the elec-
tronic parking brake will not be auto-
matically applied even if the engine is
turned off with the ignition switch.
∙ Before leaving the vehicle, press the Park button to place the vehicle in the P (Park)
position and check that the electronic
parking brake indicator light (red) is illu-
minated to confirm that the electronic
parking brake is applied. The electronic
parking brake indicator light (red) will re-
main on for a period of time after the
driver’s door is locked.
CAUTION
When parking in an area where the outside
temperature is below 32°F (0°C), do not ap-
ply the parking brake to prevent it from
freezing.
For safe parking, place the shift lever in the
P (Park) position and securely block the
wheels. NOTE:
∙ If a malfunction occurs in the electronic
parking brake system (for example, due
to battery discharge), it is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer.
∙ If the shift lever is moved to the P (Park)
position when the brake force is main-
tained by the automatic brake hold func-
tion, the electronic parking brake will
apply automatically.
∙ If the driver’s seat belt is unfastened
when the brake force is maintained by
the automatic brake hold function, the
electronic parking brake will apply auto-
matically.
∙ If the ignition switch is placed in the OFF
position when the brake force is main-
tained by the automatic brake hold func-
tion, the electronic parking brake will
apply automatically.
MANUAL OPERATION
The electronic parking brake will not be auto-
matically applied if the engine is stopped
without using the ignition switch (for ex-
ample, by engine stalling). In such a case, you
have to apply the parking brake manually. To apply:
Pull the switch up
1. The indicator
light
Awill illuminate.
To release: With the ignition switch in the ON
position, depress the brake pedal and push
the switch down
2. The indicator lightA
will turn off.
Before driving, check that the electronic
parking brake indicator light (red) (if so
equipped)
orgoes out. For addi-
tional information, refer to “Warning lights,
indicator lights and audible reminders” in the
“Instruments and controls” section of this
manual.
NOTE:
∙ A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven
without releasing the parking brake. For
additional information, refer to “Warn-
ing lights, indicator lights and audible re-
minders” in the “Instruments and con-
trols” section of this manual.
∙ While the electronic parking brake is ap-
plied or released, an operating sound is
heard from the lower side of the rear
seat. This is normal and does not indicate
a malfunction.
Starting and driving5-25

∙When the electronic parking brake is fre-
quently applied and released in a short
period of time, the parking brake may
not operate in order to prevent the park-
ing brake system from overheating. If
this occurs, operate the electronic park-
ing brake switch again after waiting ap-
proximately 1 minute.
∙ If the electronic parking brake must be
applied while driving in an emergency,
pull up and hold the parking brake
switch. When you release the parking
brake switch, the parking brake will be
released.
∙ While pulling up the electronic parking
brake switch during driving, the parking
brake is applied and a chime sounds. The
electronic parking brake indicator light
(red) in the meter and in the parking
brake switch illuminates. This does not
indicate a malfunction. The electronic
parking brake indicator light (red) in the
meter and in the parking brake switch
turns off when the parking brake is re-
leased. ∙
When pulling the electronic parking
brake switch up with the ignition switch
in the OFF or AUTO ACC position, the
parking brake switch indicator light will
continue to illuminate for a short period
of time.
WHEN TOWING A TRAILER
Depending on the weight of the vehicle and
trailer and the steepness of the slope, there
may be a tendency for the vehicle to move
backwards when starting from a standstill.
When this occurs, you can use the parking
brake switch in the same way as a conven-
tional lever type parking brake.
Before starting on sloping roads when tow-
ing a trailer, be sure to read the following to
prevent the vehicle from moving backwards
unintentionally.
∙ Release the parking brake switch as soon as the engine is delivering enough torque
to the wheels. The automatic brake hold function maintains
the braking force without the driver having to
depress the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped at a traffic light or intersection. As
soon as the driver depresses the accelerator
pedal again, the automatic brake hold func-
tion is deactivated and the braking force is
released. The operating status of the auto-
matic brake hold can be displayed on the
vehicle information display.
WARNING
∙ The automatic brake hold function is not
designed to hold the vehicle on a steep hill
or slippery road. Never use the automatic
brake hold when the vehicle is stopped on
a steep hill or slippery road. Failure to do
so may cause the vehicle to move.
∙ When the automatic brake hold function is activated but fails to maintain the ve-
hicle at a standstill, depress the brake
pedal to stop the vehicle. If the vehicle
unexpectedly moves due to outside con-
ditions, the chime may sound and auto-
matic brake hold warning may illuminate
in the vehicle information display.
∙ Be sure to deactivate the automatic brake hold function when using a car
wash or towing your vehicle.
AUTOMATIC BRAKE HOLD
5-26Starting and driving

∙Make sure to place the shift lever in the P
(Park) position and apply the parking
brake when parking your vehicle, riding on
or off the vehicle, or loading luggage. Fail-
ure to do so could cause the vehicle to move
or roll away unexpectedly and result in se-
rious personal injury or property damage.
CAUTION
∙ If any of the following conditions occur,the automatic brake hold function may
not function. Have the system checked
promptly. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
– A warning message appears in the ve- hicle information display.
– The indicator light on the automatic brake hold switch does not illuminate
when the switch is pushed.
∙ The automatic brake hold function will not be activated if the Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) OFF indicator light, elec-
tronic parking brake warning light or
master warning light illuminate and the
chassis control system fault message ap-
pears in the vehicle information display.
∙ To maintain the braking force to keep the vehicle to a standstill, a noise may be
heard. This is not a malfunction.
HOW TO ACTIVATE/
DEACTIVATE THE AUTOMATIC
BRAKE HOLD FUNCTION
For additional information on activating and
deactivating the automatic brake hold func-
tion, refer to the instructions outlined in this
section.
How to activate the automatic
brake hold function
1. With the ignition switch in the ON posi- tion, push the automatic brake hold
switch
1. The indicator light on the au-
tomatic brake hold switch
2illuminates. 2. When the automatic brake hold function
goes into standby, the automatic brake
hold indicator light (white) illuminates.
To use the automatic brake hold function, the
following conditions need to be met: ∙ The driver’s seat belt is fastened.
∙ The electronic parking brake is released.
∙ The shift lever is not in the P (Park) posi- tion.
∙ The vehicle is not parked on a steep hill
NOTE:
The automatic brake hold function resets to
OFF every time the ignition switch is switched
from the ON position to the OFF position.
How to deactivate the automatic
brake hold function
While the automatic brake hold function is
activated, push the automatic brake hold
switch to turn off the automatic brake hold
indicator light and deactivate the automatic
brake hold function. To deactivate the auto-
matic brake hold function while the brake
force has been maintained by the automatic
brake hold function, depress the brake pedal
and push the automatic brake hold switch.
LSD2916
Starting and driving5-27

CAUTION
Make sure to firmly depress and hold the
brake pedal when turning off the automatic
brake hold function while the brake force is
applied. When the automatic brake hold
function is deactivated, the brake force will
be released. This could cause the vehicle to
move or roll away unexpectedly and result
in an accident.
HOW TO USE THE AUTOMATIC
BRAKE HOLD FUNCTION
For additional information on using the auto-
matic brake hold function, refer to the in-
structions outlined in this section.
To maintain braking force
automatically
With the automatic brake hold function acti-
vated and the automatic brake hold indicator
light (white) illuminated on the meter, depress
the braking pedal to stop the vehicle. The
brake force is automatically applied without
your foot depressed on the brake pedal.
While the brake hold is maintained, the auto-
matic brake hold indicator light (green) illumi-
nates on the meter.
To start the vehicle from a standstill
With the shift lever not in the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position, depress the accelerator
pedal while the brake force is maintained. The
brake force will automatically be released to
restart the vehicle.
The automatic brake hold indicator light
(white) on the meter illuminates and the au-
tomatic brake hold returns to standby.
Parking
When the shift lever is in the P (Park) position
with the brake force maintained by the auto-
matic brake hold function, the parking brake
will automatically be applied and the brake
force of the automatic brake hold will be
released. The automatic brake hold indicator
light turns off. When the parking brake is
applied with the brake force maintained by
the automatic brake hold function, the brake
force of the automatic brake hold will be
released. The automatic brake hold indicator
light turns off.NOTE:
∙ Under the following conditions, the
parking brake will automatically be ap-
plied and the brake force of the auto-
matic brake hold will be released:
– The braking force is applied by the
automatic brake hold function for
3 minutes or longer
– The driver’s seat belt is unfastened
– The ignition switch is placed in the
OFF position
– If a malfunction occurs in the auto-
matic brake hold function
∙ When the vehicle stops, but the brake
force is not automatically applied, de-
press the brake pedal firmly until the au-
tomatic brake hold indicator light
(green) illuminates.
Automatic brake hold function
display
The automatic brake hold function status can
be checked in the “Chassis Control” mode in
the vehicle information display. For additional
information, refer to “Vehicle information
display” in the “Instruments and controls” sec-
tion of this manual.
5-28Starting and driving

1. Side Indicator Light
2. BSW Indicator
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
1
illuminates. If the turn signal is then activated,
the system chimes (twice) and the side indi-
cator light flashes. The side indicator light
continues to flash until the detected vehicle
leaves the detection zone.
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 additional information, re-
fer to “BSW driving situations” in this section.
LSD2921
Starting and driving5-47

Operating conventional (fixed
speed) cruise control mode
To turn on the conventional (fixed speed)
cruise control mode, push and hold the ICC
switch
Afor longer than about 1.5 seconds.
When pushing ICC switch on, the conven-
tional (fixed speed) cruise control mode dis-
play and indicators
Bare displayed in the
vehicle information display. After you hold
ICC switch on for longer than about 1.5 sec-
onds, the ICC system display turns off. The
cruise indicator appears. You can now set
your desired cruising speed. Pushing the ICC
switch again will turn the system completely off. When the ignition switch is placed in the
OFF position, the system is also automati-
cally turned off.
To use the ICC system again, quickly push
and release the ICC switch (vehicle-to vehicle
distance control mode) or push and hold it
(conventional cruise control mode) again to
turn it on.
CAUTION
To avoid accidentally engaging cruise con-
trol, make sure to turn the ICC switch off
when not using the ICC system.
To set cruising speed, accelerate your vehicle
to the desired speed, push the SET-
C
switch and release it. (The color of the cruise
indicator changes to green and set vehicle
speed indicator comes on.) Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal. Your vehicle will main-
tain the set speed.∙ To pass another vehicle, depress the ac- celerator pedal. When you release the
pedal, the vehicle will return to the previ-
ously set speed.
∙ The vehicle may not maintain the set speed when going up or down steep hills.
If this happens, manually maintain vehicle
speed.
LSD3058LSD3059
5-98Starting and driving