•When the rear window defroster switch is
on.
• When the temperature inside the vehicle is
lower than approximately 20°C (68°F),
unless the Air Conditioning ECO custom-
ize option is selected, and the ECO driving
mode is on.
• When the temperature inside the vehicle is
higher than approximately 30°C (86°F),
unless the Air Conditioning ECO custom-
ize option is selected, and the ECO driving
mode is on. (When the air conditioner is
off, the Idling Stop System will operate.)
• When the fan speed of the air conditioner
is set to the maximum speed, unless the Air
Conditioning ECO customize option is se-
lected, and the ECO driving mode is on.
• When the Idling Stop OFF switch is turned
on.
• When the power consumption is large.
• When the altitude is high.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed.
• When the shift lever is any range other
than D (Drive).
• When the brake pedal is not firmly
depressed.
• When stopping the vehicle on steep slop-
ing roads.NOTE:
The Idling Stop System may not activate
when the Intelligent Key is not in the vehicle
and you open/close any door.
NOTE:
The engine will not restart even if the brake
pedal is released while the Idling Stop Sys-
tem is activated under the following condi-
tions: (The engine may restart under other
conditions.)
• When the automatic brake hold system is
activated.
• When the engine hood is opened.
NOTE:
It may take some time until the Idling Stop
System activates under the following
conditions:
•When the battery is discharged.
• When the outside temperature is low or
high.
• When the battery is replaced or the bat-
tery terminal is disconnected for extended
periods and then reconnected.
NOTE:
When the Idling Stop System indicator light
illuminates, the engine starts running auto-
matically under at least one of the following
conditions:
• The vacuum pressure for brake system is
not enough as the brake pedal is repeat-
edly depressed.
• The driver’s seat belt is unfastened, or the
driver’s door is open.
• The battery voltage becomes low (due to
electrical load from other vehicle systems
like headlights, heaters, etc., or auxiliary
devices connected to the 12 volt socket
inside the vehicle).
• The vehicle speed is above about 1 mph
(2 km/h).
• When the rear window defroster is
operated.
• When the temperature inside the vehicle is
lower than approximately 68°F (20°C),
unless the Air Conditioning ECO custom-
ize option is selected, and the ECO driving
mode is on.
Starting and driving5-179
•When the temperature inside the vehicle is
higher than approximately 86°F (30°C),
unless the Air Conditioning ECO custom-
ize option is selected, and the ECO driving
mode is on. (When the air conditioner is
off, the Idling Stop System will operate.)
• When the front defroster is turned on.
• When more than 3 minutes have elapsed
since the Idling Stop System was active.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed.
• When the steering wheel is operated. (The
steering wheel operation may become
heavy, but this is not a malfunction.)
• When the battery capacity is low.
• When the power consumption is high.
• When the shift lever is any range other
than D (Drive).
• When the Idling Stop OFF switch is
pushed.
• When the negative pressure of the brake
system is not sufficiently applied by de-
pressing the brake pedal several times.
NOTE:
The Idling Stop System may not active when
the Intelligent Key is not in the vehicle and
you open/close any door.
NOTE:
The following condition will prevent the
Idling Stop System from automatically re-
starting the engine. Starting the engine with
the ignition switch operation is then
necessary:
• The hood is open.
Use this system while waiting at a stop light,
etc. When the vehicle is stopped for long
periods of time, turn off the engine.
When the engine is stopped by the Idling Stop
System, heating, cooling and dehumidifying
functions will be deactivated. To avoid the air
conditioning functions from being deacti-
vated, turn off the Idling Stop System by
pushing the Idling Stop OFF switch.
RETROGRADE MOVEMENT
CONTROL FUNCTION
This system is designed to reduce the retro-
grade movement that occurs while the driv-
er’s foot changes from depressing the brake
pedal to the accelerator pedal when moving
the vehicle while the Idling Stop System is
active on a hilly road.
IDLING STOP SYSTEM DISPLAY
The status of the Idling Stop System can be
checked in the vehicle information display.
5-180Starting and driving
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. 8-38).
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) model
If you install snow tires, they must also be the
same size, brand, construction and tread pat-
ter on all four wheels.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
• A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-move ice and snow from the windows and
wiper blades.
• A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack to give it firm support.
• A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
• Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield- washer fluid reservoir.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
• Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and very
hard to drive on. The vehicle will have
much less traction or “grip” under these
conditions. Try to avoid driving on wet
ice until the road is salted or sanded.
• Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even more
traction. •
Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
• Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
• Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise clear
road in shaded areas. If a patch of ice is
seen ahead, brake before reaching it. Try
not to brake while on the ice, and avoid
any sudden steering maneuvers.
• Do not use the cruise control on slippery
roads.
• Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gases
under your vehicle. Keep snow clear of
the exhaust pipe and from around your
vehicle.
Starting and driving5-185
5. Start the engine of the booster vehicle andlet it run for a few minutes.
6. Keep the engine speed of the booster ve- hicle at about 2,000 rpm and start the
engine of the vehicle being jump started.
CAUTION
Do not keep the starter motor engaged for
more than 10 seconds. If the engine does
not start right away, place the ignition
switch in the OFF position and wait 3 to 4
seconds before trying again.
7. After starting the engine, carefully discon- nect the negative cable and then the posi-
tive cable.
CAUTION
Automatic transmission models cannot be
push-started. Attempting to do so may
cause transmission damage.WARNING
• Do not continue to drive if your vehicle
overheats. Doing so could cause engine
damage or a vehicle fire.
• To avoid the danger of being scalded,
never remove the radiator or coolant
reservoir cap while the engine is still hot.
When the radiator or coolant reservoir
cap is removed, pressurized hot water
will spurt out, possibly causing serious
injury.
• Do not open the hood if steam is coming
out.
If your vehicle is overheating (indicated by an
extremely high temperature gauge reading
and the Low Oil Pressure: See Owner’s
Manual warning message appears in the ve-
hicle information display), or if you feel a lack
of engine power, detect abnormal noise, etc.
take the following steps:
1. Move the vehicle safely off the road, apply the parking brake.
2. Push the park button to shift to the P (Park) position.
Do not stop the engine.
PUSH STARTING IF YOUR VEHICLE OVERHEATS
6-14In case of emergency
For additional information about towing your
vehicle behind a Recreational Vehicle, see
“Flat towing for all-wheel drive vehicle”
(P. 10-30) or “Flat towing for front wheel
drive vehicle” (P. 10-31).
TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
INFINITI
INFINITI recommends towing your vehicle
based upon the type of drivetrain. For addi-
tional information, refer to the diagrams in
this section to ensure that your vehicle is
properly towed.
All Wheel Drive (AWD) models with
automatic transmission
INFINITI recommends that towing dollies be
used when towing your vehicle or place the
vehicle on a flatbed truck as illustrated.
CAUTION
Never tow AWD models equipped with an
automatic transmission with any of the
wheels on the ground as this may cause
serious and expensive damage to the
powertrain.
LIC4863
6-16In case of emergency
NOTE:
If the battery is completely drained the
transmission will not manually shift to other
positions.
Two-Wheel Drive models with
automatic transmission
INFINITI recommends that your vehicle be
towed with the driving (front) wheels off the
ground or place the vehicle on a flatbed truck
as illustrated.
CAUTION
• Never tow automatic transmission mod-
els with the front wheels on the ground
or four wheels on the ground (forward or
backward), as this may cause serious and
expensive damage to the transmission. If
it is necessary to tow the vehicle with the
rear wheels raised always use towing
dollies under the front wheels.
LIC4864
In case of emergency6-17
•When towing automatic transmission
models with the rear wheels on the
ground or on towing dollies:
– Place the ignition switch in the OFF
position, and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position
with a rope or similar device. Never
secure the steering wheel by placing
the ignition switch in the LOCK posi-
tion. This may damage the steering
lock mechanism (for models with a
steering lock mechanism).
NOTE:
If the battery is completely drained the
transmission will not manually shift to other
positions.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a
stuck vehicle)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious personal
injury or death when recovering a stuck
vehicle:
• Contact a professional towing service to
recover the vehicle if you have any ques-
tions regarding the recovery procedure. •
Tow chains or cables must be attached
only to main structural members of the
vehicle.
• Do not use the vehicle tie-downs to tow
or free a stuck vehicle.
• Only use devices specifically designed for
vehicle recovery and follow the manu-
facturer's instructions.
• Always pull the recovery device straight
out from the front of the vehicle. Never
pull at an angle.
• Route recovery devices so they do not
touch any part of the vehicle except the
attachment point.
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device designed
specifically for vehicle recovery. Always fol-
low the manufacturer's instructions for the
recovery device.Rocking a stuck vehicle
WARNING
• Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
• Do not spin your tires at high speed. This
could cause them to explode and result in
serious injury. Parts of your vehicle could
also overheat and be damaged. If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use the following procedure:
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel right and left to clear an area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and backward.
• Shift back and forth between R (Re- verse) and D (Drive).
• Apply the accelerator as little as pos- sible to maintain the rocking motion.
• Release the accelerator pedal before shifting between R (Reverse) and D
(Drive).
• Do not spin the tires above 35 mph (55 km/h).
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing ser-
vice to remove the vehicle.
6-18In case of emergency
When performing any inspection or maintenance
work on your vehicle, always take care to pre-
vent serious accidental injury to yourself or dam-
age to the vehicle. The following are general
precautions which should be closely observed.
WARNING
• Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply
the parking brake securely and block the
wheels to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing. Push the park button to engage the
P (Park) position.
• Be sure the ignition switch is in the OFF
or LOCK position when performing any
parts replacement or repairs.
• If you must work with the engine run-
ning, keep your hands, clothing, hair and
tools away from moving fans, belts and
any other moving parts.
• It is advisable to secure or remove any
loose clothing and remove any jewelry,
such as rings, watches, etc. before work-
ing on your vehicle.
• Always wear eye protection whenever
you work on your vehicle.
• Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic engine cooling fan. It may come on
at any time without warning, even if the
ignition switch is in the OFF position and the engine is not running. To avoid injury,
always disconnect the negative battery
cable before working near the fan.
• If you must run the engine in an enclosed
space such as a garage, be sure there is
proper ventilation for exhaust gases to
escape.
• Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is necessary
to work under the vehicle, support it
with safety stands.
•
Keep smoking materials, flame and sparks
away from the fuel tank and battery.
• Because the fuel lines on gasoline engine
models are under high pressure even
when the engine is off, it is recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for ser-
vice of the fuel filter or fuel lines.
CAUTION
• Do not work under the hood while the
engine is hot. Turn the engine off and
wait until it cools down.
• Avoid contact with used engine oil and
coolant. Improperly disposed engine oil,
engine coolant and/or other vehicle flu-
ids can damage the environment. Always
conform to local regulations for disposal
of vehicle fluid. •
Never leave the engine or automatic
transmission related component har-
nesses disconnected while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
• Never connect or disconnect the battery
or any transistorized component while
the ignition switch is in the ON position.
NOTE:
If the battery is completely drained the
transmission will not manually shift to other
positions.
This “Do-it-yourself” section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items which are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A Genuine INFINITI service manual is also
available. For additional information, see
“Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order in-
formation” (P. 10-36).
You should be aware that incomplete or im-
proper servicing may result in operating diffi-
culties or excessive emissions, and could af-
fect warranty coverage. If in doubt about any
servicing, it is recommended that you have it
done by an INFINITI retailer.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it-yourself