SMALL CHILDREN
Children that are over 1 year old and weigh
at least 20 lbs (9 kg) should remain in a rear-
facing child restraint as long as possible up
to the height or weight limit of the child
restraint. Children who outgrow the height
or weight limit of the rear-facing child
restraint and are at least 1 year old should
be secured in a forward-facing child re-
straint with a harness. Refer to the manu-
facturer’s instructions for minimum and
maximum weight and height recommenda-
tions. INFINITI recommends that small chil-
dren be placed in child restraints that comply
with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. You should choose a child re-
straint that fits your vehicle and always
follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation and use.
LARGER CHILDREN
Children should remain in a forward-facing
child restraint with a harness until they reach
the maximum height or weight limit allowed
by the child restraint manufacturer.
Once a child outgrows the height or weight
limit of the harness-equipped forward-fa-
cing child restraint, INFINITI recommends
that the child be placed in a commercially
available booster seat to obtain proper seatbelt fit. For a seat belt to fit properly, the
booster seat should raise the child so that
the shoulder belt is properly positioned
across the chest and the top, middle portion
of the shoulder. The shoulder belt should not
cross the neck or face and should not fall off
the shoulder. The lap belt should lie snugly
across the lower hips or upper thighs, not the
abdomen.
A booster seat can only be used in seating
positions that have a three-point type seat
belt. The booster seat should fit the vehicle
seat and have a label certifying that it
complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards or Canadian Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
A booster seat should be used until the child
can pass the seat belt fit test below:
.
Are the child’s back and hips against the
vehicle seatback?
. Is the child able to sit without slouching?
. Do the child’s knees bend easily over the
front edge of the seat with feet flat on
the floor?
. Can the child safely wear the seat belt
(lap belt low and snug across the hips
and shoulder belt across mid-chest and
shoulder)?
. Is the child able to use the properly
adjusted head restraint/headrest? .
Will the child be able to stay in position
for the entire ride?
Safety — Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-21
System malfunction ................................................ 5-121
System maintenance .............................................. 5-121
Break-in schedule ......................................................... 5-122
Fuel Efficient Driving Tips .......................................... 5-122
Increasing fuel economy ............................................. 5-123
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) (if
so equipped) ................................................................... 5-123
Parking/parking on hills .............................................. 5-125
Power steering .............................................................. 5-126 Electric power steering type ................................ 5-126
Direct Adaptive Steering type ............................. 5-126
Brake system ................................................................. 5-128 Braking precautions ............................................... 5-128
Parking brake break-in .......................................... 5-129
Brake assist .................................................................... 5-129 Brake assist ............................................................... 5-129
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......................... 5-129
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ................. 5-131
Brake force distribution ......................................... 5-131
Active trace control ...................................................... 5-132
Hill Start Assist system .............................................. 5-134 Chassis control ............................................................. 5-134
Front and rear sonar system (if so equipped) ...... 5-135
System operation ................................................. 5-136
Sonar system settings ........................................ 5-136
Sonar indicator ....................................................... 5-137
Sonar limitations ................................................... 5-137
System temporarily unavailable ....................... 5-138
System maintenance ........................................... 5-138
Cold weather driving .................................................. 5-139 Freeing a frozen door lock ................................ 5-139
Antifreeze ............................................................... 5-139
Battery .................................................................... 5-139
Draining of coolant water ................................. 5-139
Tire equipment ...................................................... 5-139
Special winter equipment .................................. 5-140
Driving on snow or ice ........................................ 5-140
Engine block heater (if so equipped) .............. 5-140
Active noise cancellation/Active
sound enhancement .................................................... 5-141 Active noise cancellation .................................... 5-142
Active sound enhancement ............................... 5-142
5-10Starting and driving
damage. See “Wheels and tires” (P.8-26) of
this manual.
If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or “blows-
out” while driving 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.
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
accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from
traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradu- ally stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and either contact a roadside emergency
service to change the tire or see “Jacking
up the vehicle and replacing tires” (P.8-
38) of this Owner’s Manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS
AND DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream
reduces coordination, delays reaction
time and impairs judgement. Driving
after drinking alcohol increases the like-
lihood of being involved in an accident
injuring yourself and others. Addition-
ally, if you are injured 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
differently 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.
INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL
DRIVE (AWD) DRIVING SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS (AWD models)
WARNING
.
Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with
Intelligent AWD engaged. Accelerat-
ing quickly, sharp steering maneuvers
or sudden braking may cause loss of
control.
. Always use tires of the same type,
size, brand, construction (bias, bias-
5-30Starting and driving
Active Lane Control settings
Perform the following steps to set Active
Lane Control.
Type A (if so equipped):
1. Push the MENU button and touch[INFINITI Drive Mode Selector] on the
lower display.
2. Touch [Active Lane Control] and select [Low] or [High] to change the setting of
Active Lane Control.
Type B (if so equipped):
1. Push the MENU button and touch [Driver Assistance] on the lower display.
2. Touch [Lane Assist].
3. Enable [Active Lane Control].
4. Touch [Active Lane Control Setting] and select [Low] or [High] to change the
setting of Active Lane Control.
The displayed keys on the lower display may
vary depending on models, specifications
and software versions.
ACTIVE LANE CONTROL LIM-
ITATIONS
WARNING
Listed below are the limitations for
Active Lane Control. Failure to operate
the vehicle in accordance with these
limitations could result in serious injury
or death.
. Active Lane Control is primarily in-
tended for use on well-developed
freeways or highways. It may not
detect the lane markers for certain
roads, weather or driving conditions.
. Using Active Lane Control under
some conditions of road, lane marker
or weather, or if you attempt to
change lanes without using the lane
change signal could lead to an un-
expected system operation. In such
conditions, you need to correct the
vehicle’s direction with your steering
operation to avoid accidents.
. Active Lane Control will not operate
at speeds below approximately 45
MPH (70 km/h) or if it cannot detect
lane markers.
. Active Lane Control may not operate properly and should not be used
under the following conditions:
— During bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.).
— When driving on slippery roads, such as on ice or snow, etc.
— When driving on winding or un- even roads.
— When there is a lane closure due to road repairs.
— When driving in a makeshift lane.
— When driving on roads where the lane width is too narrow.
— When driving with a tire that is not within normal tire conditions
(for example, tire wear, low tire
pressure, installation of spare tire,
tire chains, non-standard wheels).
— When the vehicle is equipped with non-original steering parts or sus-
pension parts.
. Active Lane Control may or may not
operate properly under the following
conditions:
— On roads where there are multi- ple parallel lane markers; lane
markers that are faded or not
painted clearly; yellow painted
5-130Starting and driving
faces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping
distances may also be longer on
rough, gravel or snow covered roads,
or if you are using tire chains. Always
maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the driver is responsible for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also
affect braking effectiveness.
— When replacing tires, install the specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
— When installing a spare tire, make sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
“Tire and loading information la-
bel” (P.10-13) of this manual.
— For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-26) of
this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (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
ABS will operate to prevent 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 dis-
tances.
Self-test feature
The 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 mal-function, it switches the ABS off and
illuminates the ABS warning light on the
instrument panel. The brake system then
operates 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 you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6
MPH (5 to 10 km/h).
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
properly. However, the pulsation may indi-
cate that road conditions are hazardous and
extra care is required while driving.
5-132Starting and driving
techniques. Reduce vehicle speed and
be especially careful when driving and
cornering on slippery surfaces and
always drive carefully.
. The brake force distribution system
may not be effective depending on
the driving condition. Always drive
carefully and attentively.
. 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,
the VDC system may not operate
properly. This could adversely affect
vehicle handling performance, and
the VDC warning light
may
illuminate.
. If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
INFINITI recommended or are extre-
mely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
VDC warning light
may illumi-
nate.
. If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extre-
mely deteriorated, the VDC warning
light
may illuminate. .
When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate. Do not drive
on these types of roads.
. When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the VDC warning light
may
illuminate. This is not a malfunction.
Restart the engine after driving onto
a stable surface.
. If wheels or tires other than the
INFINITI recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
. The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow covered road. This system senses driving based on the
driver’s steering and acceleration/braking
patterns, and controls brake pressure at
individual wheels to help smooth vehicle
response.
When the SPORT mode is selected by the
INFINITI Drive Mode Selector, the amount
of brake control provided by the active trace
control is reduced.
When the PERSONAL mode is selected, the
active trace control can be set to ON
(enabled) or OFF (disabled). See “INFINITI
Drive Mode Selector” (P.5-21).
When the VDC OFF switch is used to turn
off the VDC system, the active trace control
is also turned off.
ACTIVE TRACE CONTROL
to not damage them.
. The sonar sensors may be blocked by
temporary ambient conditions such as
splashing water, mist or fog. The blocked
condition may also be caused by objects
such as ice, frost or dirt obstructing the
sonar sensors. Check for and remove
objects obstructing the area around the
sonar sensors.
. Do not subject the area around the sonar
sensors to strong impact. Also, do not
remove or disassemble the sonar sen-
sors. If the sonar sensors and peripheral
areas are deformed in an accident, etc.,
have the sonar sensors checked. It is
recommended you visit an INFINITI
retailer for this service.
. Do not attach stickers (including trans-
parent material), install accessories or
apply additional paint on the sonar
sensors and their surrounding areas. This
may cause a malfunction or improper
operation.
. When washing the vehicle using a high-
pressure washer, do not apply direct
washer pressure on the sonar sensors.
This may cause a malfunction of the
sonar sensors.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before insert-
ing it into the key hole or use the Intelligent
Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 32°F
(0°C), check antifreeze to assure proper
winter protection. For additional informa-
tion, see “Engine cooling system” (P.8-3) or
“Intercooler cooling system” (P.8-5).
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the bat-
tery fluid may freeze and damage the
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency,
the battery should be checked regularly. For
additional information, see “Battery” (P.8-
11).
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, includ-
ing the engine block. Refill before operating
the vehicle. For details, see “Engine cooling
system” (P.8-3).
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry pave-
ment. 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 you consult an INFINITI re-
tailer for the tire type, size, speed rating and
availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S.
states and Canadian provinces prohibit their
use. Check local, state and provincial 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.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see
“Tire chains” (P.8-34) of this manual.
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
models
If you install snow tires, they must also be
the same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern on all four wheels.
Starting and driving5-139
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
8 Do-it-yourself
Maintenance precautions ............................................... 8-2
Engine compartment check locations ......................... 8-3VR30DDTT engine ..................................................... 8-3
Engine cooling system ..................................................... 8-3 Checking engine coolant level ................................ 8-4
Changing engine coolant .......................................... 8-5
Intercooler cooling system ............................................. 8-5 Checking intercooler coolant level ......................... 8-6
Changing intercooler coolant .................................. 8-6
Engine oil ........................................................................\
..... 8-7
Checking engine oil level ........................................... 8-7
Changing engine oil and filter .................................. 8-7
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) .......................... 8-9
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
8-10
Window washer fluid ................................................... 8-10
Battery ........................................................................\
....... 8-11
Checking battery fluid level .................................... 8-12
Jump starting ............................................................. 8-13
Variable voltage control system ................................. 8-13
Drive belts ........................................................................\
. 8-13
Spark plugs ....................................................................... 8-14 Replacing spark plugs .............................................. 8-14 Air cleaner ........................................................................\
8-15
Windshield wiper blades .............................................. 8-15
Cleaning ..................................................................... 8-15
Replacing ................................................................... 8-16
Brakes ........................................................................\
........ 8-16 Self-adjusting brakes ............................................. 8-16
Brake pad wear warning ....................................... 8-16
Fuses ........................................................................\
.......... 8-17 Engine compartment .............................................. 8-17
Passenger compartment ....................................... 8-18
Intelligent Key battery replacement ......................... 8-19
Lights ........................................................................\
......... 8-22 Headlights ................................................................. 8-22
Exterior and interior lights .................................... 8-23
Wheels and tires ............................................................. 8-26 Tire pressure ............................................................. 8-26
Tire labeling ............................................................. 8-30
Types of tires ........................................................... 8-32
Tire chains ................................................................ 8-34
Changing wheels and tires ................................... 8-35
Jacking up the vehicle and replacing tires ...... 8-38