2021 INFINITI QX50 check engine

WARNING
• Do not drive beyond the performance ca-
pability of the tires. Accelerating quickly,
sharp steering maneuvers or sudden
braking may cause loss of control, even
with Intelligent AWD engaged.
• For AWD equipped vehicles, do not at-
tempt to raise two wheels off the ground
and shift the transmission to any drive or
reverse position with the engine running.
Doing so may result in drivetrain damage
or unexpected vehicle movement which
could result in serious personal injury or
vehicle damage.
• Do not attempt to test an AWD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dyna-
mometer (such as the dynamometers
used by some states for emissions test-
ing) or similar equipment even if the
other two wheels are raised off the
ground. Make sure that you inform the
test facility personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with AWD before it is placed
on a dynamometer. Using the wrong test
equipment may result in drivetrain dam-
age or unexpected vehicle movement
which could result in serious personal in-
jury or vehicle damage.CAUTION
• Do not operate the engine on a free roller
when any of the wheels are raised.
• If you use the free roller, rotate four
wheels with the same speed without
raising any wheels.
• If an AWD warning message is displayed
while driving there may be a malfunction
in the AWD system. Reduce the vehicle
speed immediately and have your vehicle
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service.
• The powertrain may be damaged if you
continue driving when the AWD tem-
perature or tire size incorrect messages
are displayed.
• If the AWD high temperature message is
displayed while you are driving, pull off
the road in a safe area, and idle the en-
gine. The driving mode will change to
2WD to prevent the AWD system from
malfunctioning. If the warning message
turns off, you can drive again. •
If the tire size incorrect message is dis-
played while you are driving, pull off the
road in a safe area with the engine idling.
Check that all tire sizes are the same,
that the tire pressure is correct and that
the tires are not excessively worn.
• If a warning message continues to be dis-
played after the above operations, have
your vehicle checked as soon as possible.
It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Starting and driving5-147

• HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL,NO CURB
OC:
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away from
the center of the road if it moves.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK position.ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
TYPE
WARNING
• If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for the
steering will not work. Steering will be
harder to operate.
• When the power steering warning light
illuminates with the engine running,
there will be no power assist for the
steering. You will still have control of the
vehicle, but the steering will be harder to
operate. Have the power steering sys-
tem checked. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
The power steering system is designed to
provide power assist while driving to operate
the steering wheel with light force.
When the steering wheel is operated repeat-
edly or continuously while parking or driving
at a very low speed, the power assist for the
steering wheel will be reduced. This is to pre-
vent overheating of the power steering sys-
tem and protect it from getting damaged.
While the power assist is reduced, steering
wheel operation will become heavy. When
the temperature of the power steering sys-
tem goes down, the power assist level will return to normal. Avoid repeating such steer-
ing wheel operations that could cause the
power steering system to overheat.
You may hear a sound when the steering
wheel is operated quickly. However, this is
not a malfunction.
If the power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the engine is running, it may indi-
cate the power steering system is not func-
tioning properly and may need servicing.
Have the power steering system checked. It is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service.
When the power steering warning light illu-
minates with the engine running, there will be
no power assist for the steering, but you will
still have control of the vehicle. At this time,
greater steering effort is required to operate
the steering wheel, especially in sharp turns
and at low speeds.
For additional information, see “Power steer-
ing warning light” (P. 2-16).
POWER STEERING
Starting and driving5-149

DIRECT ADAPTIVE STEERING®
TYPE
WARNING
• 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, 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 illuminate.
• Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension
parts such as shock absorbers, struts,
springs, stabilizer bars, bushings and
wheels are not INFINITI recommended
for your vehicle or are extremely deterio-
rated, Direct Adaptive Steering may not
operate properly and the power steering
warning light may illuminate.
• Do not modify the vehicle’s steering. If
steering parts are not INFINITI recom-
mended for your vehicle or are extremely
deteriorated, Direct Adaptive Steering
may not operate properly and the power
steering warning light may illuminate. •
If the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
OFF indicator light illuminates, the
power steering warning light may also
illuminate at the same time. Stop the ve-
hicle in a safe location, turn the engine
off and restart the engine. If the power
steering warning light continues to illu-
minate, have the system checked. It is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service. For additional in-
formation, see “Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system” (P. 5-154).
CAUTION
• Do not place the ignition switch 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
any position other than the ON position.
• Installing an accessory on the steering
wheel, or changing the steering wheel,
may reduce the steering performance.
Direct Adaptive Steering is designed to con-
trol the steering force and steering angle ac-
cording to the vehicle speed and amount of
turning of the steering wheel. The steering characteristic can be selected
using the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector. For
additional information, see “INFINITI Drive
Mode Selector” (P. 2-22).
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 indi-
cate that Direct Adaptive Steering is not
functioning properly and may need servicing.
Have the system checked. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service. For additional information, see
“Power steering warning light” (P. 2-16)
When the power steering warning light illu-
minates with the engine running, the power
assist for the steering will cease operation.
You will still have control of the vehicle. How-
ever, greater steering effort will be needed,
especially in sharp turns and at low speeds.
If Direct Adaptive Steering is malfunctioning,
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
5-150Starting and driving

–When installing a spare tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and type
as specified on the Tire and Loading
Information label. For additional in-
formation, see “Tire and Loading In-
formation label” (P. 8-28).
– For additional information, see
“Wheels and tires” (P. 8-27).
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
assistance.
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.
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.
Starting and driving5-153

When the Active Trace Control is operated
and the “Chassis Control” mode is selected in
the vehicle information display, the Active
Trace Control graphics are shown in the ve-
hicle information display.
If the chassis control warning message ap-
pears in the vehicle information display, it
may indicate that the Active Trace Control is
not functioning properly. Have the system
checked as soon as possible by an INFINITI
dealer.WARNING
The Active Trace Control may not be effec-
tive depending on the driving condition. Al-
ways drive carefully and attentively.
When the Active Trace Control is operating,
you may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise. This is normal and indicates
that the Active Trace Control is operating
properly.
You may also feel deceleration when the Ac-
tive Trace Control is operating. However, this
is not a malfunction. Even if the Active Trace Control is set to OFF,
some functions will remain on to assist the
driver (for example: avoidance scenes).
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 “Drive Mode Selector” menu option.
LSD2185
Starting and driving5-157

When the Active Engine Brake is operated at
corners and the “Chassis Control” mode is
selected in the vehicle information display,
the Active Engine 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.
You may also feel deceleration when the Ac-
tive Engine Brake is operating. However, this
is not a malfunction.
ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL
This system senses upper body motion
(based on wheel speed information) and con-
trols four wheel brake pressure. This will en-
hance ride comfort in an effort to restrain
uncomfortable upper body movement when
passing over undulated road surfaces.
When the lower display is used to turn off the
VDC system, the Active Ride Control is also
turned off.
When the Active Ride Control is operated
and the “Chassis Control” mode is selected in
the vehicle information display, the Active
Ride Control graphics are shown in the ve-
hicle information display.
LSD2185
5-158Starting and driving

Do not attach stickers (including transparent
material), install accessories or apply addi-
tional paint near the sonar sensors.
Do not strike or damage the area around the
sonar sensors. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer if the area around
the sonar sensors is damaged due to a
collision.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer 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” (P. 8-4).
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 additional
information, see “Battery” (P. 8-12).
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For additional information, see
“Changing engine coolant” (P. 8-5).
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed toprovide 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.
3. Tire chains may be used. For additional information, see “Tire chains”(P. 8-36).
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-165

To shut off the engine in an emergency situ-
ation while driving, perform the following
procedure:
– Rapidly push the push-button ignitionswitch three consecutive times in less than
1.5 seconds, or
– Push and hold the push-button ignition switch for more than 2 seconds.TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS). It monitors tire
pressure of all tires. When the low tire pres-
sure warning light is lit, and the “Tire Pressure
Low - Add Air” warning appears in the vehicle
information display, one or more of your tires
is significantly under-inflated. The system
also displays pressure of all tires (except the
spare tire) on the vehicle information display
screen by sending a signal from a sensor that
is installed in each wheel. If the vehicle is
being driven with low tire pressure, the TPMS
will activate and warn you of it by the low tire
pressure warning light. This system will acti-
vate only when the vehicle is driven at speeds
above 16 mph (25 km/h). For additional in-
formation, see “Warning lights, indicator
lights and audible reminders” (P. 2-9) and
“Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)”
(P. 8-27).
WARNING
• Radio waves could adversely affect elec-
tric medical equipment. Those who use a
pacemaker should contact the electric
medical equipment manufacturer for the
possible influences before use. •
If the low tire pressure warning light illu-
minates while driving, avoid sudden
steering maneuvers or abrupt braking,
reduce vehicle speed, pull off the road to
a safe location and stop the vehicle as
soon as possible. Driving with under-
inflated tires may permanently damage
the tires and increase the likelihood of
tire failure. Serious vehicle damage could
occur and may lead to an accident and
could result in serious personal injury.
Check the tire pressure for all four tires.
Adjust the tire pressure to the recom-
mended COLD tire pressure shown on
the Tire and Loading Information label to
turn the low tire pressure warning light
OFF. If the light still illuminates while
driving after adjusting the tire pressure,
a tire may be flat or the TPMS may be
malfunctioning. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with a replacement tire as soon
as possible. If no tires are flat and all tires
are properly inflated, have the vehicle
checked. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFF FLAT TIRE
In case of emergency6-3