AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner may result in loss of con-
trol or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times.
Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive
speed, high speed cornering, or sudden steer-
ing maneuvers, because these driving prac-
tices could cause you to lose control of your
vehicle.
As with any vehicle, loss of control could re-
sult in a collision with other vehicles or ob-
jects or cause the vehicle to roll over, par-
ticularly if the loss of control causes the
vehicle to slide sideways.
Be attentive at all times, and avoid driving
when tired. Never drive when under the influ-
ence of alcohol or drugs (including prescrip-
tion or over-the-counter drugs which may
cause drowsiness). Always wear your seat
belt as outlined in the “Safety – Seats, seat
belts and supplemental restraint system” sec-
tion of this manual, and also instruct your
passengers to do so. Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in
collisions and rollovers.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is sig-
nificantly more likely to die than a person
wearing a seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
While driving, the right side or left side wheels
may unintentionally leave the road surface. If
this occurs, maintain control of the vehicle by
following the procedure below. Please note
that this procedure is only a general guide.
The vehicle must be driven as appropriate
based on the conditions of the vehicle, road
and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel
with both hands and try to hold a straight
course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the ac- celerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while vehicle
speed is reduced. Do not attempt to drive
the vehicle back onto the road surface
until vehicle speed is reduced. 6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the
steering wheel until both tires return to
the road surface. When all tires are on the
road surface, steer the vehicle to stay in
the appropriate driving lane.
• If you decide that it is not safe to return the vehicle to the road surface based on
vehicle, road or traffic conditions,
gradually slow the vehicle to a stop in a
safe place off the road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS
Rapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out” can
occur if the tire is punctured or is damaged
due to hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air
pressure loss can also be caused by driving on
under-inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the han-
dling and stability of the vehicle, especially at
highway speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by main-
taining the correct air pressure and visually
inspecting the tires for wear and damage. For
additional information, see “Wheels and tires”
(P. 8-27). If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or
“blows-out” while driving, maintain control of
the vehicle by following the procedure below.
Starting and driving5-9
Please note that this procedure is only a gen-
eral guide. The vehicle must be driven as ap-
propriate based on the conditions of the ve-
hicle, road and traffic.
WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if
there is a sudden loss of tire air pressure.
Losing control of the vehicle may cause a
collision and result in personal injury.
• The vehicle generally moves or pulls in
the direction of the flat tire.
• Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
• Do not rapidly release the accelerator
pedal.
• Do not rapidly turn the steering wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a straight
course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the ac- celerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe loca- tion off the road and away from traffic if
possible. 5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually
stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and contact a roadside emergency service to
change the tire. For additional informa-
tion, see “Flat tire” (P. 6-3).
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS
AND DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream re-
duces coordination, delays reaction time
and impairs judgement. Driving after
drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of
being involved in an accident injuring your-
self and others. Additionally, if you are in-
jured in an accident, alcohol can increase
the severity of the injury.
INFINITI is committed to safe driving. How-
ever, you must choose not to drive under the
influence of alcohol. Every year thousands of
people are injured or killed in alcohol-related
accidents. Although the local laws vary on
what is considered to be legally intoxicated,
the fact is that alcohol affects all people dif-
ferently and most people underestimate the
effects of alcohol. Remember, drinking and driving don't mix!
And that is true for drugs, too (over-the-
counter, prescription, and illegal drugs). Don't
drive if your ability to operate your vehicle is
impaired by alcohol, drugs, or some other
physical condition.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your INFINITI is designed for both normal
and off-road use. However, avoid driving in
deep water or mud as your INFINITI is mainly
designed for leisure use, unlike a conventional
off-road vehicle.
Remember that 2-Wheel Drive (2WD) mod-
els are less capable than All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) models for rough road driving and
extrication when stuck in deep snow or mud,
or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
• Spinning the front wheels on slippery
surfaces may cause the AWD warning
message to display and the AWD system
to automatically switch from the AWD
to the 2WD mode. This could reduce the
traction. Be especially careful when tow-
ing a trailer (AWD models).
5-10Starting and driving
WARNING
Do not operate the push-button ignition
switch while driving the vehicle except in
an emergency. (The engine will stop when
the ignition switch is pushed three con-
secutive times in quick succession or the
ignition switch is pushed and held for more
than 2 seconds.) If the engine stops while
the vehicle is being driven, this could lead
to a crash and serious injury.
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch will change as follows:
Push the ignition switch center:
• Once to change to ON.
• Two times to change to OFF.
The ignition switch will automatically return
to the LOCK position when any door is either
opened or closed with the switch in the OFF
position.
The ignition lock is designed so that the igni-
tion switch cannot be placed in the OFF po-
sition until the shift position is in the P (Park)
position. When the ignition switch cannot be placed in
the OFF position, proceed as follows:
1. Press the Park button to place the vehicle
in the P (Park) position.
2. Push the ignition switch. The ignition switch position will change to the ON
position.
3. Push the ignition switch again to the OFF position.
The shift position can be shifted from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in the
ON position and the brake pedal is
depressed.
If the battery of the vehicle is discharged, the
ignition switch cannot be moved from the
LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for operation
are displayed on the vehicle information dis-
play. For additional information, see “Vehicle
information display” (P. 2-19).
LSD2911
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-13
INFINITI VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
The INFINITI Vehicle Immobilizer System will
not allow the engine to start without the use
of the registered key.
If the engine fails to start using the registered
key, it may be due to interference caused by
another registered key, an automated toll
road device or automated payment device on
the key ring. Restart the engine using the
following procedures:
1. Leave the ignition switch in the ON posi-tion for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Place the ignition switch in the OFF or LOCK position and wait approximately 5
seconds.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Restart the engine while holding the de- vice (which may have caused the interfer-
ence) separate from the registered key.
If the no start condition re-occurs, INFINITI
recommends placing the registered key on a
separate key ring to avoid interference from
other devices. • Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
• Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool- ant, brake fluid, and windshield-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.
• Check that all doors are closed.
• 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 placed in the ON
position. For additional information, see
“Warning lights, indicator lights and audible
reminders” (P. 2-9) 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Press the Park button to place the vehicle
in P (Park) or move the shift lever to N
(Neutral). P (Park) is recommended.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the shift lever is in any of the driving
positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi- tion. 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 depress-
ing the brake pedal with the ignition
switch in any position.
• If the engine is very hard to start in extremely cold weather or when re-
starting, depress the accelerator pedal a
little (approximately 1/3 to the floor)
and while holding, crank the engine. Re-
lease the accelerator pedal when the
engine starts.
• If the engine is very hard to start be- cause it is flooded, depress the accel-
erator pedal all the way to the floor and
hold it. Push the ignition switch to the
ON position to start cranking the en-
gine. After 5 or 6 seconds, stop cranking
by pushing the ignition switch to the
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-16Starting and driving
LOCK position. After cranking the en-
gine, release the accelerator pedal.
Crank the engine with your foot off the
accelerator pedal by depressing the
brake pedal and pushing the ignition
switch to start the engine. If the engine
starts, but fails to run, repeat the above
procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does not
start, push the ignition switch to the OFF
position and wait 10 seconds before crank-
ing again, otherwise the starter could be
damaged.
4. Warm-up:
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the
engine while warming it up. Drive at a
moderate speed for a short distance first,
especially in cold weather. In cold
weather, keep the engine running for a
minimum of2-3minutes before shutting
it off. Starting and stopping the engine
over a short period of time may make the
vehicle more difficult to start. 5. To stop the engine, place the shift position
in the P (Park) position and push the igni-
tion switch to the OFF position.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electronic accessories that consume battery power
when the engine is not running (phone
chargers, GPS, DVD players, etc.).
2. The vehicle is not driven regularly and/or only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to be
charged to maintain battery health.
REMOTE ENGINE START (if so
equipped)
Vehicles started with the Remote Engine
Start require the ignition switch to be placed
in the ON position before the shift position
can be shifted from the P (Park) position. To
place the ignition switch in the ON position,
follow these steps:
1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is on you.
2. Apply the brake.
3. Push the ignition switch once to the ON position.
For additional information, see “INFINITI In-
telligent Key” (P. 3-6).
Starting and driving5-17
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
TRANSMISSION (CVT)
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), or M
(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.
• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
• Never shift to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D (Drive)
position while the vehicle is reversing.
This could cause an accident or damage
the transmission.
• Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
CAUTION
• To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle, 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.
• Do not hang items on the shift lever. This
may cause an accident due to a sudden
start.
The CVT in your vehicle is electronically con-
trolled to produce maximum power and
smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for
this transmission are shown on the following
pages. Follow these procedures for maxi-
mum vehicle performance and driving
enjoyment.
Engine power may be automatically reduced
to protect the CVT if the engine speed in-
creases quickly when driving on slippery
roads or while being tested on some
dynamometers.Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the foot brake pedal before moving the shift
position out of the P (Park) position.
This Continuously Variable Transmission
is designed so that the foot brake pedal
must be depressed before shifting from P
(Park) to any driving position while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
The shift position cannot be shifted out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other positions if the ignition switch is
placed in the OFF position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and move the shift lever to a driving position.
3. Release the parking brake and foot brake pedal and then gradually start the vehicle
in motion.
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), or M
(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.
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-18Starting and driving
•Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
• Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
• Never shift to either the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D (Drive)
position while the vehicle is reversing.
This could cause an accident or damage
the transmission.
CAUTION
• To avoid possible damage to your ve-
hicle, 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 transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
• Do not hang items on the shift lever. This
may cause an accident due to a sudden
start.
Shifting
Press the shift lever button to shift
Shift without pressing the shift lever
button
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal, press the shift lever button and
move the shift position from the P (Park)
position to any of the desired shift positions.
Confirm that the vehicle is in the desired shift position by checking the shift indicator lo-
cated near the shift lever or the vehicle infor-
mation display.
WARNING
Apply the electronic parking brake if the
shift lever is in any position while the en-
gine is not running. Failure to do so could
cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly or
roll away and result in serious personal in-
jury or property damage.
CAUTION
• Use the P (Park), R (Reverse) or D (Drive)
position only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
• After switching to the desired shift posi-
tion, release your hand from the shift le-
ver to let it return to the home position.
Holding the shift lever in a mid-way po-
sition may also damage the shift control
system.
• Do not operate the shift lever while the
accelerator pedal is depressed. This may
cause a sudden start which could result in
an accident.LSD4196
Starting and driving5-19
•The following operations are not allowed
because excessive force would be ap-
plied to the transmission and this may
result in damage to the vehicle:
– Moving the shift lever to the R (Re-
verse) position when driving forward.
– Moving the shift lever to the D (Drive)
position when reversing.
If these operations are attempted, a chime
sounds and the vehicle shifts to the N (Neu-
tral) position.
P (Park)
CAUTION
• To prevent transmission damage, use the
P (Park) position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
• Do not slide the shift lever while pressing
the Park button. This may damage the
shift control system.
Use this position when the vehicle is parked
or starting the engine. Always make sure that
the vehicle is completely stopped before
pressing the Park button
O1to engage the P
(Park) position. For maximum safety, the
brake pedal must be depressed before en-
gaging the P (Park) position. Use this position
together with the parking brake. When park- ing on a hill, first depress the brake pedal,
apply the parking brake and then engage the
P (Park) position. The parking lock should not
be used as a brake when parking. In order to
secure the vehicle, always apply the elec-
tronic parking brake in addition to the parking
lock.
In the event of a malfunction of the vehicle’s
electronics, the transmission may lock in the
P (Park) position. Have the vehicle’s electron-
ics checked immediately. It is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
The P (Park) position is automatically en-
gaged if:
• You switch off the ignition switch.
• You unfasten the driver’s seat belt and
open the driver’s door when the vehicle is
stationary or driving at a very low speed
and the transmission is in the D (Drive) po-
sition or R (Reverse) position.
R (Reverse)
CAUTION
To prevent transmission damage, use the R
(Reverse) position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped. Use the R (Reverse) position to back up. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped before
selecting the R (Reverse) position.
The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pressed to move the shift lever from
the home position to R (Reverse).
If the vehicle is placed in the R (Reverse)
position while forwarding, the chime will
sound and the vehicle will switch into the N
(Neutral) position.
N (Neutral)
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to N (Neutral) and restart a stalled
engine while the vehicle is moving. You can
select this position by holding the shift lever
at this position for 0.5 seconds.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal forward driv-
ing. The CVT changes gears automatically. All
forward gears are available. If the vehicle is
placed in the D (Drive) position while revers-
ing, the chime will sound and the vehicle will
switch into the N (Neutral) position.
5-20Starting and driving