2021 INFINITI QX80 parking brake

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ...................... 5-4Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) .............................. 5-4
Three-way catalyst ..................................................... 5-4
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ........... 5-5
Avoiding collision and rollover ................................. 5-8
On-pavement and off-road
driving precautions ..................................................... 5-8
Off-road recovery ....................................................... 5-9
Rapid air pressure loss ............................................... 5-9
About lowering of the rear of the vehicle ......... 5-10
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ..................... 5-10
Driving safety precautions ..................................... 5-10
Push-button ignition switch ........................................ 5-12
Operating range for engine start function ........ 5-12
Push-button ignition switch positions ................ 5-13
Emergency engine shut off .................................... 5-14
Intelligent Key battery discharge .......................... 5-14
Before starting the engine ........................................... 5-15
Starting the engine ......................................................... 5-15 Remote start (if so equipped) ................................ 5-16
Driving the vehicle .......................................................... 5-17 Engine protection mode .......................................... 5-17
Automatic transmission ........................................... 5-18
Parking brake ................................................................... 5-22 Lane Departure Warning (LDW)/Lane Departure
Prevention (LDP) (if so equipped) ............................. 5-22
LDW system operation ......................................... 5-24
Turning the LDW system ON/OFF ................... 5-25
How to enable/disable the LDW system ........ 5-26
LDP system operation (if so equipped) ............ 5-26
Turning the LDP system ON/OFF (if
so equipped) ............................................................. 5-27
How to enable/disable the LDP system (if
so equipped) ............................................................. 5-28
LDW/LDP (if so equipped)
system limitations ................................................... 5-28
System temporarily unavailable .......................... 5-29
System malfunction ............................................... 5-30
System maintenance ............................................. 5-30
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) ......................................... 5-31
BSW system operation .......................................... 5-33
Turning the BSW system ON/OFF ................... 5-34
How to enable/disable the BSW system ......... 5-34
BSW system limitations ........................................ 5-35
BSW driving situations .......................................... 5-36
System temporarily unavailable .......................... 5-39
System malfunction ............................................... 5-40
System maintenance ............................................. 5-40

4WD shift switch .................................................... 5-117
4WD shift indicator ................................................ 5-118
4WD warning light ................................................. 5-118
Hill Start Assist system .............................................. 5-120
Parking/parking on hills .............................................. 5-121
TOW mode ..................................................................... 5-122
SNOW mode .................................................................. 5-122
Power steering .............................................................. 5-123
Brake system .................................................................. 5-123 Braking precautions ................................................ 5-123
Parking brake break-in .......................................... 5-123
Brake assist ................................................................... 5-124 Brake assist .............................................................. 5-124
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........................ 5-124 Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ................ 5-125
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
OFF switch ............................................................. 5-127
Cold weather driving .................................................. 5-128
Freeing a frozen door lock ................................ 5-128
Antifreeze ............................................................... 5-128
Battery .................................................................... 5-128
Draining of coolant water ................................. 5-128
Tire equipment ...................................................... 5-128
Special winter equipment .................................. 5-128
Driving on snow or ice ........................................ 5-128
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ............... 5-129

cause a malfunction of the tire pres-
sure sensors.
CAUTION
.The TPMS may not function properly
when the wheels are equipped with
tire chains or the wheels are buried in
snow.
. Do not place metalized film or any
metal parts (antenna, etc.) on the
windows. This may cause poor recep-
tion of the signals from the tire
pressure sensors, and the TPMS will
not function properly.
Some devices and transmitters may tem-
porarily interfere with the operation of the
TPMS and cause the low tire pressure
warning light to illuminate. Some examples
are:
. Facilities or electric devices using similar
radio frequencies are near the vehicle.
. If a transmitter set to similar frequencies
is being used in or near the vehicle.
. If a computer (or similar equipment) or a
DC/AC converter is being used in or near
the vehicle.
Low tire pressure warning light may illumi- nate in the following cases.
.
If the vehicle is equipped with a wheel
and tire without TPMS.
. If the TPMS has been replaced and the ID
has not been registered.
. If the wheel is not originally specified by
INFINITI.
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 (2)
this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Note: Changes or modifications not ex-
pressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s author-
ity to operate the equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with Industry Canada
licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation
is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference,
and (2) this device must accept any inter-
ference, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
TPMS with Tire Inflation Indicator
When adding air to an under-inflated tire,
the TPMS with Tire Inflation Indicator
provides visual and audible signals outside
the vehicle to help you inflate the tires to the
recommended COLD tire pressure.
Vehicle set-up:
1. Park the vehicle in a safe and level place.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever in the P (Park) position.
3. Place the ignition switch in the ON position. Do not start the engine.
Operation:
1. Add air to the tire.
2. After a few seconds, the hazard indica- tors will start flashing.
3. When the designated pressure is reached, the horn beeps once and the
hazard indicators stop flashing.
4. Perform the above steps for each tire.
. If the tire is over-inflated more than
approximately 4 psi (30 kPa), the horn
beeps and the hazard indicators flash 3
times. To correct the pressure, push the
core of the valve stem on the tire briefly
to release pressure. When the pressure
reaches the designated pressure, the
horn beeps once.
Starting and driving5-7

and fade, resulting in loss of control
and an accident. Apply brakes lightly
and use a low range to control your
speed.
. Unsecured cargo can be thrown
around when driving over rough
terrain. Properly secure all cargo so
it will not be thrown forward and
cause injury to you or your passen-
gers.
. To avoid raising the center of gravity
excessively, do not exceed the rated
capacity of the roof rack (if so
equipped) and evenly distribute the
load. Secure heavy loads in the cargo
area as far forward and as low as
possible. Do not equip the vehicle
with tires larger than specified in this
manual. This could cause your vehicle
to roll over.
. Do not grip the inside or spokes of the
steering wheel when driving off-
road. The steering wheel could move
suddenly and injure your hands. In-
stead drive with your fingers and
thumbs on the outside of the rim.
. Before operating the vehicle, ensure
that the driver and all passengers
have their seat belts fastened.
. Always drive with the floor mats in
place as the floor may became hot. .
Lower your speed when encountering
strong crosswinds. With a higher
center of gravity, your INFINITI is
more affected by strong side winds.
Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
. Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with
4WD engaged.
. For 4WD equipped vehicles, do not
attempt 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 vehicle damage or personal
injury.
. Do not attempt to test a 4WD
equipped vehicle on a 2-wheel dy-
namometer (such as the dynam-
ometers used by some states for
emissions testing), or similar equip-
ment even if the other two wheels are
raised off the ground. Make sure you
inform test facility personnel that
your vehicle is equipped with 4WD
before it is placed on a dynamometer.
Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unex-
pected vehicle movement which could result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury (4WD models).
. When a wheel is off the ground due
to an unlevel surface, do not spin the
wheel excessively.
. Accelerating quickly, sharp steering
maneuvers or sudden braking may
cause loss of control.
. If at all possible, avoid sharp turning
maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. Your vehicle has a higher
center of gravity than a conventional
passenger car. The vehicle is not
designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional passenger
cars. Failure to operate this vehicle
correctly could result in loss of con-
trol and/or a rollover accident.
. Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
belted or radial), and tread pattern
on all four wheels. Install tire chains
on the rear wheels when driving on
slippery roads and drive carefully.
. Be sure to check the brakes immedi-
ately after driving in mud or water.
See “Brake system” (P.5-123) for
wet brakes.
. Avoid parking your vehicle on steep
hills. If you get out of the vehicle and
Starting and driving5-11

SSD1021
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch position will change as follows:
.Push center once to change to ACC.
. Push center two times to change to ON.
. Push center three times to change to
OFF. (No position illuminates.)
. Push center four times to return to ACC.
. Open or close any door to return to
LOCK during the OFF position.
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch position cannot be switched
to LOCK until the shift lever is moved to the
P (Park) position.
When the ignition switch cannot be pushed
toward the LOCK position, proceed as follows:
1. Move the shift lever into the P (Park)
position.
2. Push the ignition switch to the OFF position. The ignition switch position
indicator will not illuminate.
3. Open the door. The ignition switch will change to the LOCK position.
The shift lever can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in the
ON position and the brake pedal is de-
pressed.
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged,
the push-button ignition switch cannot be
turned from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for operation
are displayed on the vehicle information
display between the speedometer and tach-
ometer. (See “Vehicle information display”
(P.2-20).)
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION
SWITCH POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)
The ignition switch can only be locked in this
position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it
is pushed to the ACC position while carrying
the Intelligent Key.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the engine is not
running.
ACC has a battery saver feature that will
turn the ignition switch to the OFF position
after a period of time under the following
conditions:
. all doors are closed.
. shift lever is in P (Park).
. turn signal/hazard indicator lights are
not flashing.
The battery saver feature will be cancelled if
any of the following occur:
. any door is opened.
. shift lever is moved out of P (Park).
. ignition switch changes position.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
ON has a battery saver feature that will turn
the ignition switch to the OFF position, if the
vehicle is not running, after some time under
the following conditions:
.all doors are closed.
. shift lever is in P (Park).
. turn signal/hazard indicator lights are
not flashing.
Starting and driving5-13

the brake pedal within 10 seconds after
the chime sounds. The engine will start.
After step 3 is performed, when the ignition
switch is pushed without depressing the
brake pedal, the ignition switch position will
change to ACC.
NOTE:
. When the ignition switch is pushed to
the ACC or ON position or the engine is
started by the above procedures, the
“Key Battery Low” message appears on
the vehicle information display even if
the Intelligent Key is inside the vehicle.
This is not a malfunction. To turn off the
Intelligent Key battery discharge indi-
cator, touch the ignition switch with the
Intelligent Key again.
. If the “Key Battery Low” message
appears, replace the battery as soon as
possible. (See “Battery” (P.8-11).) .
Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid and window washer
fluid as frequently as possible, or at least
whenever you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head restraints/
headrests.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers
to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position. (See “Warning lights, in-
dicator lights and audible reminders”
(P.2-11).) 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate
unless the shift lever is in either of the
above positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON position. Firmly depress the brake pedal
and push the ignition switch to start the
engine.
To start the engine immediately, push
and release the ignition switch while
depressing the brake pedal with the
ignition switch in any position.
.If the engine is very hard to start inextremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator ped-
al a little (approximately 1/3 to the
floor) and while holding, crank the
engine. Release the accelerator pedal
when the engine starts.
.If the engine is very hard to start
because it is flooded, depress the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it. Push the ignition
switch to the ON position to start
cranking the engine. After 5 or 6
seconds, stop cranking by pushing
the ignition switch to OFF. After
cranking the engine, release the accel-
erator pedal. Crank the engine with
Starting and driving5-15
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE

5-18Starting and driving
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7 speed automatic transmission
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission
control module to produce maximum effi-
ciency and smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the
recommended operating procedures for this
transmission. Follow these procedures for
maximum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal and push the shift lever
button before shifting the shift lever to the R
(Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual
shift mode position. Be sure the vehicle is
fully stopped before attempting to shift the
shift lever.
This automatic transmission model is de-
signed so that the foot brake pedal must be
depressed before shifting from P (Park) to
any drive position while the ignition switch
position is ON.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of the P
(Park) position and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition switch is
pushed to the LOCK, OFF or ACC position.1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and
push the shift lever button to shift into a
driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
WARNING
.Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) or
manual shift mode. Always depress
the brake pedal until shifting is
completed. Failure to do so could
cause you to lose control and have
an accident.
. Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward
or reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
. Never shift to either P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
moving reversing. This could cause an
accident or damage the transmission.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
CAUTION
.To avoid possible damage to your
vehicle; when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the
vehicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
. Except in an emergency, do not shift
to the N (Neutral) position while
driving. Coasting with the transmis-
sion in the N (Neutral) position may
cause serious damage to the trans-
mission.

WAF0350X
Shift lever
To move the shift lever,
: Push the button while depressing the brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the shift lever.
Shifting
The shift lever position indicator light (next
to the shift lever) will be illuminated for
approximately 30 minutes after the ignition
switch is turned off. The indicator light may
also illuminate when the vehicle receives
radio waves. This is not a malfunction.
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and shift the shift lever from P (Park) to R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive)
or Manual shift mode position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift lever
is in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal
injury or property damage.
CAUTION
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped and the transmission is in the
P (Park) position.
P (Park) position:
Use this position when the vehicle is parked
or when starting the engine. Make sure the
vehicle is completely stopped. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift lever
from the N (Neutral) position or any drive position to the P (Park) position.
Apply the
parking brake. When parking on a hill, apply
the parking brake first, then move the shift
lever to the P (Park) position.
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Always be sure
the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift lever
from the P (Park) position, the N (Neutral)
position or any drive position to the R
(Reverse) position.
N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position.
You may shift to the N (Neutral) position and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is
moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
Starting and driving5-19