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 wheelwith 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. 8-28). 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 gen-
eral guide. The vehicle must be driven as ap-
propriate based on the conditions of the ve-
hicle, road and traffic.
Starting and driving5-9
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 “Changing a flat tire” (P. 6-4).
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.
Before operating the push-button ignition
switch, be sure to press the park button to
shift to the P (Park) position.
OPERATING RANGE FOR
ENGINE START FUNCTION
The Intelligent Key functions can only be used
when the Intelligent Key is within the speci-
fied operating range
O1.
When the Intelligent Key battery is almost
discharged or strong radio waves are present
near the operating location, the Intelligent
Key system’s operating range becomes nar-
rower and may not function properly.
If the Intelligent Key is within the operating
range, it is possible for anyone, even some-
one who does not carry the Intelligent Key, to
push the ignition switch to start the engine. • The cargo room area is not included in the
operating range, but the Intelligent Key
may function.
• If the Intelligent Key is placed on the instru- ment panel or inside the glove box, storage
bin or door pocket, the Intelligent Key may
not function.
• If the Intelligent Key is placed near the door or window outside the vehicle, the Intelli-
gent Key may function.
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is dis-
charged, see “Intelligent Key battery dis-
charge” (P. 5-15).
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION
SWITCH OPERATION
CAUTION
• Do not leave the vehicle for extended pe-
riods of time when the ignition switch is
in the ON position and the engine is not
running. This can discharge the battery.
• Use electrical accessories with the en-
gine running to avoid discharging the ve-
hicle battery. If you must use accessories
while the engine is not running, do not
use them for extended periods of time
and do not use multiple electrical acces-
sories at the same time.
LSD2020
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-13
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 de-
vice must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause unde-
sired operation.
NOTE:
Changes or modifications not expressly ap-
proved by the party responsible for compli-
ance could void the user’s authority to oper-
ate the equipment.
For Canada:
This device contains licence-exempt
transmitter(s)/receiver(s) that comply with
Innovation, Science and Economic Develop-
ment Canada’s licence-exempt RSS(s). Op-
eration is subject to the following two con-
ditions: (1) This device may not cause
interference. (2) This device must accept any
interference, including interference that
may cause undesired operation of the
device.• 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. 2-12). 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Confirm that the vehicle is in the P (Park)
position.
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
LOCK position. After cranking the en-
gine, release the accelerator pedal.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE STARTING THE ENGINE
5-16Starting and driving
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 moved 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. 3-2).
Starting and driving5-17
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
(A/T)
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive), or M
(Manual). 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.
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.
The A/T 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 A/T 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 Automatic Transmission is designed
so that the foot brake pedal must be de-
pressed before shifting from P (Park) to
any driving position while the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
The shift position cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other positions if the ignition switch is
placed in the LOCK, OFF or AUTO ACC
position while the ready light illuminates.
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). 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.
• WARM UP THE ENGINE — Due to the
higher idle speeds the engine is cold, ex-
tra caution must be exercised when
shifting the shift lever into driving posi-
tion immediately after starting the
engine.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.
Shifting
OAHome position (central position)
Press the buttonO1to shift
Shift without pressing the buttonO1
Press the park buttonO2to shift to the P
(Park) position.
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal, press the shift lever button
O1and
move the shift position from the P (Park) posi-
tion
O2to any of the desired shift positions.
LSD4395
Starting and driving5-19
Confirm that the vehicle is in the desired shift
position by checking the shift indicator lo-
cated on the shift lever or in 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.
• When switching to the desired shift po-
sition by operating the shift lever, check
that the shift lever returns to the home
position by releasing your hand from the
lever. Holding the shift lever in a mid-
way position 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.
• 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 the vehicle is moving over 8 km/h (5mph)
when shifting to D (Drive) from R (Re-
verse), the N (Neutral) position will auto-
matically be selected. A buzzer will sound,
noting that D (Drive) was not selected.
When selecting D (Drive) while reversing
below 8 km/h (5 mph) the range will
change normally.
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 the P (Park) position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make
sure the vehicle is completely stopped before
pressing the park button to 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 electronic parking brake.
When parking on a hill, first depress the brake
pedal, apply the electronic parking brake and
then engage the P (Park) position. The park-
ing lock should not be used as a brake when
parking. In order to secure the vehicle, always
apply the electronic parking brake in addition
to the parking lock.
5-20Starting and driving