INFINITI G-CONVERTIBLE 2010 Owners Manual

The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system uses
various sensors to monitor driver inputs and
vehicle motion. Under certain driving condi-
tions, the VDC system helps to perform the
following functions.
●Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel slip
on one slipping drive wheel so power is
transferred to a non slipping drive wheel on
the same axle.
● Controls brake pressure and engine output
to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function).
● Controls brake pressure at individual wheels
and engine output to help the driver main-
tain control of the vehicle in the following
conditions:
– understeer (vehicle tends to not follow the steered path despite increased steer-
ing input)
– oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain road or driving conditions).
The VDC system can help the driver to maintain
control of the vehicle, but it cannot prevent loss
of vehicle control in all driving situations. When the VDC system operates, theindicator in the instrument panel flashes so
note the following:
●
The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help
keep the vehicle on the steered path.
● You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under the
hood. This is normal and indicates that the
VDC system is working properly.
● Adjust your speed and driving to the road
conditions.
See “Slip indicator light” in the “2. Instruments
and controls” section and “Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) off indicator light” in the “2.
Instruments and controls” section.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
andindicator lights come on in the
instrument panel. The VDC system automati-
cally turns off when these indicator lights are
on. The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC off indicator illuminates to
indicate the VDC system is off. When the VDC
switch is used to turn off the system, the VDC
system still operates to prevent one drive wheel
from slipping by transferring power to a non
slipping drive wheel. The
indicator
flashes if this occurs. All other VDC functions
are off and the
indicator will not flash.
The VDC System is automatically reset to on
when the ignition switch is placed in the off
position then back to the on position.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the
engine and move the vehicle forward or in
reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise and/or
feel a pulsation in the brake pedal. This is
normal and is not an indication of a malfunc-
tion.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
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WARNING
●The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain stability but does not pre-
vent accidents due to abrupt steering opera-
tion at high speeds or by careless or danger-
ous driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when driving
and cornering on slippery surfaces and al-
ways drive carefully.
● Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If
suspension parts such as shock absorbers,
struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bushings
and wheels are not INFINITI recommended
for your vehicle or are extremely deterio-
rated the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly. This could adversely affect vehicle han-
dling performance, and the
indicator
may flash or both
andindicator
lights may illuminate.
● If brake related parts such as brake pads,
rotors and calipers are not INFINITI recom-
mended or are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate properly and
both
andindicator lights may
illuminate. ●
If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely de-
teriorated, both the
andindica-
tor lights may illuminate.
● When driving on extremely inclined surfaces
such as higher banked corners, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and the
indicator may flash or bothand
indicator lights 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
indicator may flash or bothand
indicator lights may illuminate. This
is not a malfunction. Restart the engine after
driving onto a stable surface.
● If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI rec-
ommended ones are used, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the
in-
dicator may flash or both
and
indicator lights may illuminate.
● The VDC system is not a substitute for winter
tires or tire chains on a snow covered road.
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 inserting 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 protec-
tion. For additional information, see “ENGINE
COOLING SYSTEM” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For additional
information, see “BATTERY” in the “8. Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see “ENGINE COOLING SYS-
TEM” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-51
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TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be
substantially reduced in snowy and icy condi-
tions. 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.
Consult an INFINITI retailer 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” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items be
carried in the vehicle during winter:
●A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to remove
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 window washer fluid to refill the reser-
voir tank.
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 accel-
erating 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 slip-
pery 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 steer-
ing maneuvers.
● Do not use the cruise control on slippery
roads.
● Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gases un-
der your vehicle. Keep snow clear of the ex-
haust pipe and from around your vehicle.
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ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
Engine block heaters are used to assist in cold
temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used when
the outside temperature is 20°F (7°C) or
lower.
To use the engine block heater
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engineblock heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
4. Plug the extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-volt AC (VAC) outlet.
5. The engine block heater must be plugged in for at least2-4hours, depending on
outside temperatures, to properly warm
the engine coolant. Use an appropriate
timer to turn the engine block heater on.
6. Before starting the engine, unplug and properly store the cord to keep it away
from moving parts.
WARNING
●Do not use your engine block heater with an
ungrounded electrical system or a
2-pronged adapter. You can be seriously in-
jured by an electrical shock if you use an
ungrounded connection.
● Disconnect and properly store the engine
block heater cord before starting the engine.
Damage to the cord could result in an electri-
cal shock and can cause serious injury.
● Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged exten-
sion cord rated for at least 10A. Plug the
extension cord into a Ground Fault Interrupt
(GFI) protected, grounded 110-VAC outlet.
Failure to use the proper extension cord or a
grounded outlet can result in a fire or electri-
cal shock and cause serious personal injury.
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5-54Starting and driving
MEMO

6 In case of emergency
Roadside assistance program...................... 6-2
Flat tire ........................................... 6-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ......... 6-2
Repairing flat tire (for models with
emergency tire puncture repair kit) .............. 6-3
Changing flat tire
(for models with spare tire) ....................6-12Jump starting
.................................... 6-17
Push starting .................................... 6-19
If your vehicle overheats .......................... 6-19
Towing your vehicle .............................. 6-20
Towing recommended by INFINITI ...............6-21
Vehicle recovery (Freeing a stuck vehicle) .......6-22
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04/28/10—diane


Every new INFINITI comes with a 4 year, unlim-
ited mileage Roadside Assistance plan. In the
event of a roadside emergency, Roadside Assis-
tance Service is available to you. Please refer to
your Warranty Information Booklet (U.S.) or
Warranty & Roadside Assistance Information
Booklet (Canada) for details. Both the Warranty
Information Booklet and Roadside Assistance
Calling Card in your Owner’s Literature Portfolio
provide the Toll-Free Number to call for assis-
tance. Roadside Assistance is provided 24
hours a day, 365 days a year, for 4 years from
the date sold to give emergency roadside help,
in the event of mechanical or nonmechanical
trouble(s) such as flat tires, out-of-gas, dead
battery, lost keys, mechanical breakdown, acci-
dent, etc.
EMERGENCY ENGINE SHUT OFF
To shut off the engine in an emergency situation
while driving perform the following procedure:
- Rapidly push the push-button ignition switch3 consecutive times, or
- Push and hold the push-button ignition for more than 2 seconds.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS). It monitors tire
pressure of all tires except the spare. When the
low tire pressure warning light is lit, one or
more of your tires is significantly under-
inflated. If the vehicle is being driven with low
tire pressure, the TPMS will activate and warn
you of it by the low tire pressure warning light.
This system will activate only when the vehicle
is driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h). For
more details, see “WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS
AND AUDIBLE REMINDERS” in the “2. Instru-
ments and controls” section and “TIRE PRES-
SURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)” in the “5.
Starting and driving” section.
WARNING
● If the low tire pressure warning light illumi-
nates while driving, avoid sudden steering
maneuvers or abrupt braking, reduce vehicle
speed, pull off the road to a safe location and
stop the vehicle as soon as possible. Driving
with under-inflated tires may permanently
damage the tires and increase the likelihood
of tire failure. Serious vehicle damage could
occur and may lead to an accident and could
result in serious personal injury. Check the
tire pressure for all four tires. Adjust the tire
pressure to the recommended COLD tire
pressure shown on the Tire and Loading In-
formation label to turn the low tire pressure
warning light OFF. If the light still illumi-
nates while driving after adjusting the tire
pressure, a tire may be flat. If you have a flat
tire, replace it with a spare tire as soon as
possible.
● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel is
replaced, the TPMS will not function and the
low tire pressure warning light will flash for
approximately 1 minute. The light will re-
main on after 1 minute. Contact your INFINITI
retailer as soon as possible for tire replace-
ment and/or system resetting.
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FLAT TIRE
6-2In case of emergency
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12/21/09—tbrooks


●Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.
● Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol tire
sealant into the tires, as this may cause a
malfunction of the tire pressure sensors (for
models not equipped with the emergency
tire puncture repair kit).
● If you used the Emergency Tire Sealant to
repair a minor tire puncture, your INFINITI
retailer will also need to replace the TPMS
sensor in addition to repairing or replacing
the tire (for models equipped with the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit).
● INFINITI recommends using only INFINITI
Genuine Emergency Tire Sealant provided
with your vehicle. Other tire sealants may
damage the valve stem seal which can cause
the tire to lose air pressure (for models
equipped with the emergency tire puncture
repair kit).REPAIRING FLAT TIRE (for models with
emergency tire puncture repair kit)
WARNING
● After using Emergency Tire Sealant to repair
a minor tire puncture, do not drive the ve-
hicle at speeds faster than 50 MPH (80
km/h).
● Immediately after using the Emergency Tire
Sealant to repair a minor tire puncture, take
your vehicle to an INFINITI retailer to inspect,
and repair or replace the tire. The Emergency
Tire Sealant cannot permanently seal a
punctured tire. Continuing operation of the
vehicle without a permanent tire repair can
lead to a crash.
● If you used the Emergency Tire Sealant to
repair a minor tire puncture, your INFINITI
retailer will also need to replace the TPMS
sensor in addition to repairing or replacing
the tire.
● INFINITI recommends using only INFINITI
Genuine Emergency Tire Sealant provided
with your vehicle. Other tire sealants may
damage the valve stem seal which can cause
the tire to lose air pressure. This vehicle does not have a spare tire. The
emergency tire puncture repair kit (Emergency
Tire Sealant) is supplied with the vehicle in-
stead of a spare tire. It can be used to tempo-
rarily repair minor tire punctures.
If possible, have the vehicle towed to a facility
that can repair or replace the flat tire. Using the
emergency tire puncture repair kit may cause a
malfunction of the tire pressure sensor and
cause the low tire pressure warning light to
illuminate.
If you have a flat tire, follow the instructions
below.
CAUTION
●
To avoid the emergency tire puncture kit be-
ing damaged during storage or use:
– Only use the emergency tire puncture re- pair kit on your vehicle. Do not use it on
other vehicles.
– Only use the kit to inflate the tires of your vehicle and to check the vehicle’s tire
pressure.
– Only plug the compressor into a 12V DC car power point.
– Keep the kit free of water and dirt.
– Do not disassemble or modify the kit.
In case of emergency6-3
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12/21/09—tbrooks


– Do not drop the kit or allow hard impactsto the kit.
● Do not use the emergency tire puncture re-
pair kit under the following conditions. Con-
tact an INFINITI retailer or professional road
assistance.
– when the sealant has passed its expira- tion date (shown on the label attached to
the bottle)
– when the cut or the puncture is approxi- mately 0.16 in (4 mm) (Type A)/0.25 in (6
mm) (Type B) or longer
– when the tire sidewall is damaged
– when the vehicle has been driven with extremely low tire pressure
– when the tire has come off the inside or the outside of the wheel.
– when the tire wheel is damaged
– when two or more tires are flatStopping the vehicle
1. Safely move the vehicle off the road and away from traffic.
2. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
3. Park on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
4. Automatic Transmission models:
Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
Manual Transmission models:
Move the shift lever to the R (Reverse)
position.
5. Turn off the engine.
6. Raise the hood to warn other traffic and to
signal professional road assistance per-
sonnel that you need assistance.
7. Have all passengers get out of the vehicle and stand in a safe place, away from
traffic and clear of the vehicle.
WARNING
Make sure the parking brake is securely ap-
plied and the manual transmission is shifted
into R (Reverse) or the automatic transmission
into P (Park).
●Never repair tires when the vehicle is on a
slope, ice or slippery areas. This is
hazardous.
● Never repair tires if oncoming traffic is close
to your vehicle. Wait for professional road
assistance.
6-4In case of emergency
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Getting emergency tire puncture
repair kit
Take out the emergency tire puncture repair kit
located under the cargo room or in the trunk.
The repair kit consists of the following items:
Type A
1Tire sealant bottle
2Sealant filler tubes (one is for work at an
INFINITI retailer)
3Valve core (for spare)
4Valve core tool
5Air compressor
6“Sealant-applied” sticker
7Speed restriction sticker
Type B
1Tire sealant bottle
2Air compressor
3Speed restriction sticker
NOTE:
For models with the emergency tire puncture
repair kit, a spare tire, jack and rod are not
equipped as standard. These parts are dealer
options. Contact an INFINITI retailer about ob-
taining these parts. See “CHANGING FLAT TIRE
(for models with spare tire)” earlier in this sec-
tion for usage of jacking tools and tire replace-
ment.
Before using emergency tire puncture
repair kit
●If any foreign object (for example, a screw or
nail) is embedded in the tire, do not remove
it.
● Check the expiration date of the sealant
(shown on the label attached to the bottle).
Never use a sealant whose expiration date
has passed.
Type A
SCE0805Type B
SCE0887
In case of emergency6-5
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10/16/09—pattie