brakes INFINITI FX 2010 Owners Manual

Brake pad wear warning
The disc brake pads have audible wear warn-
ings. When a brake pad requires replacement, it
will make a high pitched scraping sound when
the vehicle is in motion. This scraping sound
will first occur only when the brake pedal is
depressed. After more wear of the brake pad,
the sound will always be heard even if the brake
pedal is not depressed. Have the brakes
checked as soon as possible if the warning
sound is heard.
Lane departure warning chime (if so
equipped)
When the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) or
Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system is on,
the chime sounds if the vehicle is traveling
close to either the left or the right of a traveling
lane with detectable lane markers.
See “LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
SYSTEM/LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION (LDP)
SYSTEM” in the “5. Starting and driving” sec-
tion for more details.The dot matrix liquid crystal display
1is
located between the tachometer and the speed-
ometer, and it displays the automatic transmis-
sion position indicator, the Intelligent Cruise
Control (ICC) system (if so equipped), the Dis-
tance Control Assist (DCA) system (if so
equipped) information, the Intelligent Key op-
eration information and other warnings and
information. For detailed information about each system, see
the following sections:
●
Automatic Transmission (AT)
– “WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND AU- DIBLE REMINDERS” earlier in this section.
– “DRIVING THE VEHICLE” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.
● Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
– “INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL (ICC) SYS- TEM (FULL SPEED RANGE)” in the “5. Start-
ing and driving” section.
● Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
– “DISTANCE CONTROL ASSIST (DCA) SYS- TEM” in the “5. Starting and driving”
section.
● Intelligent Key system
– “INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM” in the “3. Pre-driving checks and adjustments” sec-
tion.
– “PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH” in the “5. Starting and driving” section.
SIC3827
DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY
Instruments and controls2-21
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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 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, gradu-
ally 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
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10/19/09—tbrooks


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
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 con-
dition.
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 de-
signed for leisure use, unlike a conventional
off-road vehicle.
Remember that Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models
are less capable than All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
models for rough road driving and extrication
when stuck in deep snow, mud, or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
●
Drive carefully when off the road and avoid
dangerous areas. Every person who drives or
rides in this vehicle should be seated with
their seat belt fastened. This will keep you
and your passengers in position when driv-
ing over rough terrain. ●
Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead
drive either straight up or straight down the
slopes. Off-road vehicles can tip over side-
ways much more easily than they can for-
ward or backward.
● Many hills are too steep for any vehicle. If
you drive up them, you may stall. If you drive
down them, you may not be able to control
your speed. If you drive across them, you
may roll over.
● Do not shift ranges while driving on downhill
grades as this could cause loss of control of
the vehicle.
● Stay alert when driving to the top of a hill. At
the top there could be a drop-off or other
hazard that could cause an accident.
● If your engine stalls or you cannot make it to
the top of a steep hill, never attempt to turn
around. Your vehicle could tip or roll over.
Always back straight down in R (Reverse)
range. Never back down in N (Neutral), using
only the brake, as this could cause loss of
control.
● Heavy braking going down a hill could cause
your brakes to overheat and fade, resulting
in loss of control and an accident. Apply
brakes lightly and use a low range to control
your speed.
Starting and driving5-7
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08/03/09—pattie


●Unsecured cargo can be thrown around
when driving over rough terrain. Properly se-
cure all cargo so it will not be thrown forward
and cause injury to you or your passengers.
● To avoid raising the center of gravity exces-
sively, do not exceed the rated capacity of
the roof rack (if so equipped) and evenly dis-
tribute the load. Secure heavy loads in the
cargo area as far forward and as low as pos-
sible. Do not equip the vehicle with tires
larger than specified in this manual. This
could cause your vehicle to roll over.
● Do not grip the inside or spokes of the steer-
ing wheel when driving off-road. The steer-
ing wheel could move suddenly and injure
your hands. Instead drive with your fingers
and thumbs on the outside of the rim.
● Before operating the vehicle, ensure that the
driver and all passengers have their seat
belts fastened.
● Always drive with the floor mats in place as
the floor may became hot.
● Lower your speed when encountering strong
crosswinds. With a higher center of gravity,
your INFINITI is more affected by strong side
winds. Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control. ●
Do not drive beyond the performance capa-
bility of the tires, even with AWD engaged.
● For AWD equipped vehicles, do not attempt
to raise two wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any drive or reverse po-
sition with the engine running. Doing so may
result in drivetrain damage or unexpected
vehicle movement which could result in seri-
ous 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. (AWD
models)
● When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
● Accelerating quickly, sharp steering maneu-
vers or sudden braking may cause loss of
control. ●
If at all possible, avoid sharp turning maneu-
vers, particularly at high speeds. Your ve-
hicle has a higher center of gravity than a
conventional passenger car. The vehicle is
not designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional passenger cars. Fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly could
result in loss of control and/or a rollover
accident.
● 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.
● Be sure to check the brakes immediately af-
ter driving in mud or water. See “BRAKE SYS-
TEM” later in this section for wet brakes.
● Avoid parking your vehicle on steep hills. If
you get out of the vehicle and it rolls forward,
backward or sideways, you could be injured.
● Whenever you drive off-road through sand,
mud or water as deep as the wheel hub, more
frequent maintenance may be required. See
the maintenance information in the “INFINITI
Service and Maintenance Guide”.
5-8Starting and driving
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08/03/09—pattie


The Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
system/Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) sys-
tem will operate when the vehicle is driven at
speeds of approximately 45 MPH (72 km/h) and
above, and when it is traveling close to either
the left or the right of a traveling lane.
Each system functions as follows:
●Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system —
warns the driver by a warning light and
chime.
● Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system —
warns the driver by a warning light and
chime, and helps assist the driver to return
the vehicle to the center direction of the
traveling lane by applying brake control to
the left or right wheels individually (for a
short period of time). The LDW and LDP systems monitor the lane
markers on the traveling lane using the camera
unit
1located above the inside mirror. When
the camera unit detects that the vehicle is
traveling close to either the left or the right of
the traveling lane, the lane departure warning
light
2on the instrument panel blinks in
orange and a warning chime sounds. When the
LDP system is on, it will automatically apply the
brakes for a short period of time, using the
function of the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system.
To turn on the LDW system, push the LDW
switch
3. The LDW ON indicator light4on the
switch will illuminate.
When the LDW switch is pushed, the FCW
system will also turn on or off simultaneously.
See “FORWARD COLLISION WARNING (FCW)
SYSTEM” later in this section.
To turn on the LDP system, push the LDP switch
5. The LDP ON indicator light2will illumi-
nate in green.
See “LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION (LDP) SYS-
TEM” later in this section.
SSD0733
SSD0911
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
SYSTEM/LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION
(LDP) SYSTEM (if so equipped)
5-18Starting and driving
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08/03/09—tbrooks


wheel ruts, seams or lines remaining after
road repairs. (The LDP system could detect
these items as lane markers.)
● On roads where the traveling lane merges or
separates.
● When the vehicle’s traveling direction does
not align with the lane marker.
● When traveling close to the vehicle in front
of you, which obstructs the lane camera unit
detection range.
● When rain, snow or dirt adheres to the
windshield in front of the lane camera unit.
● When the headlights are not bright due to
dirt on the lens or if the aiming is not
adjusted properly.
● When strong light enters the lane camera
unit. (For example, the light directly shines
on the front of the vehicle at sunrise or
sunset.)
● When a sudden change in brightness occurs.
(For example, when the vehicle enters or
exits a tunnel or under a bridge.) While the LDP system is operating, you may
hear a sound of brake operation. This is normal
and indicates that the LDP system is operating
properly.
LDP system operation
The LDP system provides a lane departure warning
and brake control assistance when the vehicle is
driven at speeds of approximately 45 MPH (72
km/h) and above. When the vehicle approaches
either the left or the right side of the traveling lane,
a warning chime will sound and the lane departure
warning light (orange) on the instrument panel will
blink to alert the driver. Then, the LDP system will
automatically apply the brakes for a short period of
time to help assist the driver to return the vehicle
to the center of the traveling lane.
The warning and assist functions will stop when
the vehicle returns to a position inside of the lane
marker.
LDP ON indicator light (green)/ Warning light (orange)
SSD0672
5-22Starting and driving
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PRECAUTIONS ON VEHICLE-TO-
VEHICLE DISTANCE CONTROL MODE
The system is intended to enhance the opera-
tion of the vehicle when following a vehicle
traveling in the same lane and direction.
If the distance sensor
Adetects a slower
moving vehicle ahead, the system will reduce
the vehicle speed so that your vehicle follows
the vehicle in front at the selected distance.
The system automatically controls the throttle
and applies the brakes (up to 25% of vehicle
braking power) if necessary.
The detection range of the sensor is approxi-
mately 390 ft (120 m) ahead.
WARNING
● This system is only an aid to assist the driver
and is not a collision warning or avoidance
device. It is the driver’s responsibility to stay
alert, drive safely and be in control of the
vehicle at all times.
● The system is primarily intended for use on
straight, dry, open roads with light traffic. It
is not advisable to use the system in city
traffic or congested areas.
● This system will not adapt automatically to
road conditions. This system should be used
in evenly flowing traffic. Do not use the sys-
tem on roads with sharp curves, or on icy
roads, in heavy rain or in fog.
The distance sensor will not detect the follow-
ing objects:
● Stationary and slow moving vehicles
● Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
● Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
● Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel
lane
WARNING
● As there is a performance limit to the dis-
tance control function, never rely solely on
the Intelligent Cruise Control system. This
system does not correct careless, inatten-
tive or absent-minded driving, or overcome
poor visibility in rain, fog, or other bad
weather. Decelerate the vehicle speed by de-
pressing the brake pedal, depending on the
distance to the vehicle ahead and the sur-
rounding circumstances in order to maintain
a safe distance between vehicles.
● If the vehicle ahead comes to a stop, the
vehicle decelerates to a standstill within the
limitations of the system. The system will
cancel once it judges that the vehicle has
come to a standstill and sound a warning
chime. To prevent the vehicle from moving,
the driver must depress the brake pedal.
● The system may not detect the vehicle in
front of you in certain road or weather condi-
tions. To avoid accidents, never use the In-
telligent Cruise Control system under the
following conditions:
– On roads where the traffic is heavy or there are sharp curves
– On slippery road surfaces such as on ice or snow, etc.
SSD0738
5-30Starting and driving
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– During bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.)When the windshield wiper is operated at
the low speed (LO) or high speed (HI) po-
sition, the Intelligent Cruise Control sys-
tem is automatically canceled.
– When strong light (for example, at sun- rise or sunset) is directly shining on the
front of the vehicle
– When rain, snow or dirt adhere to the sys- tem sensor
– On steep downhill roads (the vehicle may go beyond the set vehicle speed and fre-
quent braking may result in overheating
the brakes)
– On repeated uphill and downhill roads
– When traffic conditions make it difficult to keep a proper distance between vehicles
because of frequent acceleration or
deceleration
● Do not use the Intelligent Cruise Control sys-
tem if you are towing a trailer. The system
may not detect a vehicle ahead. ●
In some road or traffic conditions, a vehicle
or object can unexpectedly come into the
sensor detection zone and cause automatic
braking. You may need to control the dis-
tance from other vehicles using the accelera-
tor pedal. Always stay alert and avoid using
the ICC system when it is not recommended
in this section.
VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE DISTANCE
CONTROL MODE OPERATION
Always pay attention to the operation of the
vehicle and be ready to manually control the
proper following distance. The vehicle-to-
vehicle distance control mode of the Intelligent
Cruise Control (ICC) system may not be able to
maintain the selected distance between ve-
hicles (following distance) or selected vehicle
speed under some circumstances.
The vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
uses a sensor
Alocated on the front of the
vehicle to detect vehicles traveling ahead. The
sensor generally detects the signals returned
from the reflectors on a vehicle ahead. There-
fore, if the sensor cannot detect the reflector on
SSD0738
Starting and driving5-31
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To set cruising speed,accelerate your vehicle to
the desired speed, push the SET/COAST switch
and release it. (Vehicle ahead detection indica-
tor, set distance indicator and set vehicle speed
indicator come on.) Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Your vehicle will maintain the
set speed. When the SET/COAST switch is pushed under
the following conditions, the system cannot be
set and the ICC indicators will blink for approxi-
mately 2 seconds:
●
When traveling below 20 MPH (32 km/h) and
the vehicle ahead is not detected
● When the selector lever is not in the D, DS or
Manual mode
● When the windshield wipers are operating at
low (LO) or high speed (HI). If the vehicle is
equipped with a rain-sensing auto wiper, the
system may cancel when the wipers are
operating at the intermittent (INT) speed.
● When the parking brake is applied ●
When the brakes are operated by the driver
When the SET/COAST switch is pushed under
the following conditions, the system cannot be
set.
A warning chime will sound and the ICC indica-
tors will blink.
● When the SNOW mode switch is ON (To use
the ICC system, turn off the SNOW mode
switch, push the MAIN switch to turn off the
ICC and reset the ICC switch by pressing the
MAIN switch again.)
For details about the SNOW mode switch,
see “SNOW MODE SWITCH” in the “2. Instru-
ments and controls” section.
SSD0916SSD0784SSD0614
Starting and driving5-37
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1. System set display with vehicle ahead
2. System set display without vehicle aheadSystem operation
WARNING
Normally when controlling the distance to a
vehicle ahead, this system automatically accel-
erates or decelerates your vehicle according to
the speed of the vehicle ahead. Depress the
accelerator to properly accelerate your vehicle
when acceleration is required for a lane
change. Depress the brake pedal when decel-
eration is required to maintain a safe distance
to the vehicle ahead due to its sudden braking
or if a vehicle cuts in. Always stay alert when
using the ICC system.The driver sets the desired vehicle speed based
on the road conditions. The ICC system main-
tains the set vehicle speed, similar to standard
cruise control, as long as no vehicle is detected
in the lane ahead.
The ICC system displays the set speed.
Vehicle detected ahead :
When a vehicle is detected in the lane ahead,
the ICC system decelerates the vehicle by con-
trolling the throttle and applying the brakes to
match the speed of a slower vehicle ahead. The
system then controls the vehicle speed based
on the speed of the vehicle ahead to maintain
the driver selected distance.
The stoplights of the vehicle come on and the
brake pedal depresses when braking is per-
formed by the ICC system.
When the brake operates, a noise may be heard.
This is not a malfunction.
When a vehicle ahead is detected, the vehicle
ahead detection indicator comes on. The ICC
system will also display the set speed and
selected distance.
SSD0610
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