steering INFINITI EX 2011 Workshop Manual

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving.............. 5-2
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) .................. 5-2
Three-way catalyst ............................. 5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ......... 5-3
Avoiding collision and rollover ................... 5-5
On-pavement and off-road driving
precautions .................................... 5-5
Off-road recovery ............................... 5-6
Rapid air pressure loss ......................... 5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving .............. 5-7
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) driving safety
precautions (for AWD models) ................... 5-7
Push-button ignition switch ........................ 5-8
Operating range for engine start function ......... 5-8
Push-button ignition switch operation ............ 5-9
Steering lock (if so equipped) ................... 5-9
Push-button ignition switch positions ............ 5-9
Emergency engine shut off .....................5-10
Intelligent Key battery discharge ................5-10
Before starting the engine .........................5-11
Starting the engine ................................ 5-11
Driving the vehicle ................................ 5-12
Automatic transmission ......................... 5-12
Parking brake .................................... 5-16Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system/Lane
Departure Prevention (LDP) system (if so
equipped)
........................................ 5-17
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system ..........5-18
Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system .........5-20
Lane camera unit maintenance .................5-24
Blind spot warning (BSW) system (if so equipped) . . 5-25 Bsw system operation ......................... 5-26
Bsw driving situations ......................... 5-28
Bsw malfunction ............................... 5-31
System maintenance ........................... 5-31
Cruise control .................................... 5-32
Precautions on cruise control ...................5-32
Cruise control operations ......................5-33
Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system (FULL
SPEED RANGE) (if so equipped) ....................5-34
Selecting the vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode ................................. 5-35
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode ........5-35
Precautions on vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode .................................
5-36
Vehicle-to-vehicle
distance control mode
operation ..................................... 5-37
Conventional (FIXED SPEED) cruise control
mode ........................................ 5-50

Preview function (for Intelligent Cruise
Control system equipped models)..............5-54
Distance Control Assist (DCA) system (if so
equipped) ....................................... 5-54
Precautions on distance control assist
system ....................................... 5-54
Distance control assist operation ...............5-56
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system (if so
equipped) ....................................... 5-66
Precautions on FCW system ....................5-67
Intelligent brake assist (IBA) system (if so
equipped) ....................................... 5-69
Precautions on IBA system .....................5-70
Break-in schedule ................................ 5-73
Increasing fuel economy .......................... 5-73
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) (if so equipped) .............5-74
Parking/parking on hills .......................... 5-76
Power steering ................................... 5-77Brake system
.................................... 5-77
Braking precautions ........................... 5-77
Parking brake break-in ......................... 5-77
Brake assist ..................................... 5-78
Brake assist .................................. 5-78
Preview function (Intelligent Cruise Control
system equipped models) ......................5-78
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .................5-80
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .............5-82
Cold weather driving ............................. 5-83
Freeing a frozen door lock .....................5-83
Antifreeze .................................... 5-83
Battery ....................................... 5-83
Draining of coolant water ......................5-83
Tire equipment ................................ 5-84
Special winter equipment ......................5-84
Driving on snow or ice ......................... 5-84
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ............5-85

and low tire pressure is detected. The CHECK
TIRE PRESSURE warning turns off when the
low tire pressure warning light turns off.
The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning does not
appear if the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates to indicate a TPMS malfunction.
● Tire pressure rises and falls depending on
the heat caused by the vehicle’s operation
and the outside temperature. Low outside
temperature can lower the temperature of
the air inside the tire which can cause a
lower tire inflation pressure. This may cause
the low tire pressure warning light to illumi-
nate. If the warning light illuminates in low
ambient temperature, check the tire pres-
sure for all four tires.
For additional information, see “Low tire pres-
sure warning light” in the “2. Instruments and
controls” section and “TIRE PRESSURE MONI-
TORING SYSTEM (TPMS)” in the “6. In case of
emergency” 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. (See “FLAT TIRE” in the “6. In case
of emergency” section for changing a flat
tire.)
● 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. ●
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.
CAUTION
● The TPMS may not function properly when
the wheels are equipped with tire chains or
the wheels are buried in snow.
● Do not place metalized film or any metal
parts (antenna, etc.) on the windows. This
may cause poor reception of the signals from
the tire pressure sensors, and the TPMS will
not function properly.
Some devices and transmitters may temporarily
interfere with the operation of the TPMS and
cause the low tire pressure warning light to
illuminate. Some examples are:
● Facilities or electric devices using similar
radio frequencies are near the vehicle.
● If a transmitter set to similar frequencies is
being used in or near the vehicle.
5-4Starting and driving

●If a computer (or similar equipment) or a
DC/AC converter is being used in or near the
vehicle.
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 harm-
ful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interfer-
ence that may cause undesired operation.
Note: Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compli-
ance could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.AVOIDING COLLISION AND ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe and
prudent manner may result in loss of control or
an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times. Obey
all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive speed,
high speed cornering, or sudden steering ma-
neuvers, because these driving practices could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle. As
with any vehicle, a loss of control could result in
a collision with other vehicles or objects, or
cause the vehicle to rollover, particularly if the
loss of control causes the vehicle to slide side-
ways. Be attentive at all times, and avoid
driving when tired. Never drive when under the
influence of alcohol or drugs (including pre-
scription or over-the-counter drugs which may
cause drowsiness). Always wear your seat belt
as outlined in the “SEAT BELTS” in the “1. Safety
— Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint
system” section of this manual, and also in-
struct your passengers to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in
collisions and rollovers. In a rollover crash, an
unbelted or improperly belted person is signifi- cantly more likely to be injured or killed than a
person properly wearing a seat belt.ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD
DRIVING PRECAUTIONS
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher roll-
over rate than other types of vehicles.
They have higher ground clearance than pas-
senger cars to make them capable of perform-
ing in a variety of on-pavement and off-road
applications. This gives them a higher center of
gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of
higher ground clearance is a better view of the
road, allowing you to anticipate problems. How-
ever, they are not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as conventional passenger cars
any more than low-slung sports cars are de-
signed to perform satisfactorily under off-road
conditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns
or abrupt maneuvers, particularly at high
speeds. As with other vehicles of this type,
failure to operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or vehicle rollover. Seat
belts help reduce the risk of injury in collisions
and rollovers. In a rollover crash, an unbelted or
improperly belted person is significantly more
likely to be injured or killed than a person
properly wearing a seat belt.
Starting and driving5-5

Be sure to read “ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) DRIV-
ING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (for AWD models)”
later in this section.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
If the right side or left side wheels unintention-
ally leave the road surface, 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.
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 ve-
hicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while the ve-
hicle speed is reduced. Do not attempt to
drive the vehicle back onto the road sur-
face 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 handling
and stability of the vehicle, especially at high-
way speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by main-
taining the correct air pressure and visually
inspect the tires for wear and damage. See
“WHEELS AND TIRES” in the “8. Maintenance
and do-it-yourself” section 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 ac- celerator pedal to gradually slow the ve-
hicle.
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.
5-6Starting and driving

6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers andeither contact a roadside emergency ser-
vice to change the tire or see “CHANGING
A FLAT TIRE” in the “6. In case of emer-
gency” section of this Owner’s Manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream reduces co-
ordination, delays reaction time and impairs
judgement. Driving after drinking alcohol in-
creases the likelihood 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. However,
you must choose not to drive under the influ-
ence of alcohol. Every year thousands of people
are injured or killed in alcohol-related acci-
dents. 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 alco-
hol. 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 con-
dition.
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) DRIVING
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (for AWD
models)
WARNING
●
Do not drive beyond the performance capa-
bility of the tires, even with AWD engaged.
Accelerating quickly, sharp steering maneu-
vers or sudden braking may cause loss of
control.
● Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
Install tire chains on the rear wheels when
driving on slippery roads and drive carefully.
● This vehicle is not designed for offroad
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy or
muddy roads that tires may get stuck in. ●
For AWD equipped vehicles, do not attempt
to raise two wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any D (Drive) or R (Re-
verse) position with the engine running. Do-
ing so may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement which could
result in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
● Do not attempt to test an AWD equipped ve-
hicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer, (such as
the dynamometers used by some states for
emissions testing), or similar equipment
even if the other two wheels are raised off
the ground. Make sure you inform test facil-
ity personnel that your vehicle is equipped
with AWD before it is placed on a dynamom-
eter. Using the wrong test equipment may
result in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result in seri-
ous vehicle damage or personal injury.
● When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
Starting and driving5-7

PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
OPERATION
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition switch
position will change as follows:
●Push center once to change to ACC.
● Push center two times to change to ON.
● Push center three times to change to OFF.
(No position illuminates.)
● Push center four times to return to ACC.
● Open or close any door to return to LOCK
during the OFF position. The ignition lock is designed so that the ignition
switch position cannot be switched to LOCK
until the selector lever is moved to the P (Park)
position.
When the ignition switch cannot be switched
toward the LOCK position, proceed as follows:
1. Move the selector lever into the P (Park)
position.
2. Push the ignition switch to the OFF posi- tion. The ignition switch position indicator
will not illuminate.
3. Open the door. The ignition switch will change to the LOCK position.
The selector lever can be moved 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
push-button ignition switch cannot be turned
from the LOCK position.
Some indicators and warnings for operation are
displayed on the dot matrix liquid crystal dis-
play between the speedometer and tachometer.
(See “DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY” in
the “2. Instruments and controls” section.)
STEERING LOCK (if so equipped)
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/8 of a right or left turn
from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, push the ignition
switch to the OFF position. To unlock the steer-
ing wheel, push the ignition switch.
If the steering lock release malfunction indica-
tor appears on the dot matrix liquid crystal
display, push the push-button ignition switch
again while lightly turning the steering wheel
right and left. (See “DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYS-
TAL DISPLAY” in the “2. Instruments and con-
trols” section.)
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)
The ignition switch can only be locked in this
position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed to the ACC position while carrying the
Intelligent Key or with the Intelligent Key in-
serted in the port.
SSD1021
Starting and driving5-9

4. Push down the shift lockBas illustrated.
5. Push the selector lever button
Cand
move the selector lever to N (Neutral)
position
Dwhile holding down the shift
lock.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position to
unlock the steering wheel (if so equipped). Now
the vehicle may be moved to the desired loca-
tion.
For models with a steering wheel lock mecha-
nism: If the battery is discharged completely,
the steering wheel cannot be unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel
locked.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park),
have an INFINITI retailer check the automatic
transmission system as soon as possible.
WARNING
● Be sure the parking brake is fully released
before driving. Failure to do so can cause
brake failure and lead to an accident.
● Do not release the parking brake from out-
side the vehicle.
● Do not use the gear shift in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure the
parking brake is fully engaged.
● Do not leave children unattended in a ve-
hicle. They could release the parking brake
and cause an accident. To apply:Fully depress the parking brake pedal
1.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake2.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal
1and
the parking brake will be released.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
SPA2331
PARKING BRAKE
5-16Starting and driving

When the interior temperature is reduced, the
LDW system will resume operating automati-
cally and the warning systems ON indicator will
stop flashing.
LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION (LDP)
SYSTEM
Precautions on LDP system
WARNING
●The LDP system will not steer the vehicle or
prevent loss of control. It is the driver’s re-
sponsibility to stay alert, drive safely, keep
the vehicle in the traveling lane, and be in
control of vehicle at all times.
● The LDP system is primarily intended for use
on well-developed freeways or highways. It
may not detect the lane markers in certain
roads, weather or driving conditions.
● Using the LDP system under some condi-
tions of road, lane marker or weather, or
when you change lanes without using the
lane change signal could lead to an unex-
pected system operation. In such condi-
tions, you need to correct the vehicle’s direc-
tion with your steering operation to avoid
accidents. ●
When the LDP system is operating, avoid
excessive or sudden steering maneuvers.
Otherwise, you could lose control of the
vehicle.
● The LDP system will not operate at speeds
below approximately 45 MPH (70 km/h) or if
it cannot detect lane markers.
● The LDP system may not function properly
under the following conditions, and do not
use the LDP system:
– During bad weather (rain, fog, snow, wind, etc.).
– When driving on slippery roads, such as on ice or snow, etc.
– When driving on winding or uneven 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 without normal tire condi- tions (for example, tire wear, low tire
pressure, installation of spare tire, tire
chains, non-standard wheels). – When the vehicle is equipped with non-
original brake parts or suspension parts.
● If the LDP system malfunctions, it will cancel
automatically. The lane departure warning
light (orange) on the instrument panel will
illuminate.
● If the lane departure warning light (orange)
illuminates, pull off the road to a safe loca-
tion and stop the vehicle. Turn the engine off
and restart the engine. If the warning light
(orange) continues to illuminate, have the
LDP system checked by an INFINITI retailer.
● Excessive noise will interfere with the warn-
ing chime sound, and the chime may not be
heard.
The functions of the LDP system (warning and
brake control assist) may or may not operate
properly under the following conditions:
● On roads where there are multiple parallel
lane markers; lane markers that are faded or
not painted clearly; yellow painted lane
markers; non-standard lane markers; or lane
markers covered with water, dirt, snow, etc.
● On roads where discontinued lane markers
are still detectable.
● On roads where there are sharp curves.
5-20Starting and driving

3. To set the LDP system to on or off, high-light the “Lane Departure Prevention”
key, select ON or OFF and push the ENTER
2button.
If you set all of the systems to disable and push
the dynamic driver assistance switch, the indi-
cator of the disabled system will blink for
approximately 4 seconds and turn off. (See
“DISTANCE CONTROL ASSIST (DCA) SYSTEM”
later in this section.)
Automatic deactivation
Condition A :
The warning and assist functions of the LDP
system are not designed to work under the
following conditions: ●
When you operate the lane change signal
and change the traveling lanes in the direc-
tion of the signal. (The LDP system will be
deactivated for approximately 2 seconds af-
ter the lane change signal is turned off.)
● When the vehicle speed lowers to less than
approximately 45 MPH (70 km/h).
After the above conditions have finished and
the necessary operating conditions are satis-
fied, the warning and assist functions will re-
sume.
Condition B :
The assist function of the LDP system is not
designed to work under the following condi-
tions (warning is still functional):
● When the brake pedal is depressed.
● When the steering wheel is turned as far as
necessary for the vehicle to change lanes.
● When the accelerator pedal is depressed
while the brake control assist is provided.
● When the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
approach warning occurs.
● When the hazard warning flashers are oper-
ated.
● When driving on a curve at high speed. After the above conditions have finished and
the necessary operating conditions are satis-
fied, the LDP brake control assist function will
resume.
Condition C :
Under the following conditions, a beep will
sound and the LDP system will be canceled
automatically. The LDP ON indicator light will
blink in green, and the LDP system cannot be
activated:
●
When the VDC system (except TCS function)
or ABS operates.
● When the VDC system is turned off.
● When the SNOW mode switch is turned on.
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist, turn
off the LDP system by pushing the LDP switch.
Push the LDP switch again to turn the LDP
system back on.
Temporary disabled status at high temperature :
If the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight under
high temperature conditions (over approxi-
mately 104°F (40°C)) and then the LDP system is
turned on, the LDP system may be deactivated
automatically. The LDP ON indicator (green) will
blink.
SSD0886
Starting and driving5-23