INFINITI FX 2012 Owners Manual

5-56Starting and driving
—When rain, snow or dirt adhere tothe system sensor
—On steep downhill roads (frequentbraking may result in overheating
the brakes)
—On repeated uphill and downhill
roads
. Do not use the Distance Control Assist
system 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 distance from other vehicles
using the accelerator pedal. Always stay
alert and avoid using the DCA system
when it is not recommended in this
section.
SSD0738
DISTANCE CONTROL ASSIST OP-
ERATION
Always pay attention to the operation of
the vehicle and be ready to manually
decelerate to maintain the proper following
distance. The Distance Control Assist (DCA)
system may not be able to decelerate the
vehicle under some circumstances.
The DCA system uses a sensor
*Alocated
on the front of the vehicle to detect
vehicles traveling ahead. The sensor gen-
erally detects the signals returned from the
reflectors on a vehicle ahead. Therefore, if
the sensor cannot detect the reflector on the vehicle ahead, the DCA system may not
operate.
The following are some conditions in which
the sensor cannot detect the signals:
.
When the reflector of the vehicle ahead
is positioned high on the vehicle
(trailer, etc.)
. When the reflector on the vehicle ahead
is missing, damaged or covered
. When the reflector of the vehicle ahead
is covered with dirt, snow and road
spray
. When the snow or road spray from
traveling vehicles reduces the sensor’s
visibility
. When dense exhaust or other smoke
(black smoke) from vehicles reduces
the sensor’s visibility
. When excessively heavy baggage is
loaded in the rear seat or the luggage
room of your vehicle
The DCA system is designed to automati-
cally check the sensor’s operation. When
the sensor is covered with dirt or is
obstructed, the system will automatically
be canceled. If the sensor is covered with
ice, a transparent or translucent vinyl bag,
etc., the DCA system may not detect them.

In these instances, the Distance Control
Assist (DCA) system may not be able to
decelerate the vehicle properly. Be sure to
check and clean the sensor regularly.
The DCA system is designed to help assist
the driver to maintain a following distance
from the vehicle ahead. The system will
decelerate as necessary and if the vehicle
ahead comes to a stop, the vehicle
decelerates to a standstill. However, the
DCA system can only apply up to 25% of
the vehicles total braking power. If a
vehicle moves into the traveling lane ahead
or if a vehicle traveling ahead rapidly
decelerates, the distance between vehicles
may become closer because the DCA
system cannot decelerate the vehicle
quickly enough. If this occurs, the DCA
system will sound a warning chime and
blink the system display to notify the driver
to take necessary action.
See“Approach warning” (P.5-46).
This system only brakes and moves the
accelerator pedal upward to help assist the
driver to maintain a following distance
from the vehicle ahead. Acceleration
should be operated by the driver.
The DCA system does not control vehicle
speed or warn you when you approach stationary and slow moving vehicles. You
must pay attention to vehicle operation to
maintain proper distance from vehicles
ahead.
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5-58Starting and driving
SSD0252
The detection zone of the sensor is limited.
A vehicle ahead must be in the detection
zone for the system to operate.
A vehicle ahead may move outside of the
detection zone due to its position within
the same lane of travel. Motorcycles may
not be detected in the same lane ahead if
they are traveling offset from the centerline
of the lane. A vehicle that is entering the
lane ahead may not be detected until the
vehicle has completely moved into the
lane.If this occurs, the system may warn
you by blinking the system indicator and
sounding the chime. The driver may have
to manually control the proper distance away from vehicle traveling ahead.

SSD0253
When driving on some roads, such as
winding, hilly, curved, narrow roads, or
roads which are under construction, the
sensor may detect vehicles in a different
lane, or may temporarily not detect a
vehicle traveling ahead. This may cause
the system to work inappropriately.
The detection of vehicles may also be
affected by vehicle operation (steering
maneuver or traveling position in the lane,
etc.) or vehicle condition.If this occurs, the
system may warn you by blinking the
system indicator and sounding the chime
unexpectedly. You will have to manually
control the proper distance away from the vehicle traveling ahead.
SSD0770
Distance Control Assist system
display and indicators
The display is located between the speed-
ometer and tachometer.
1. Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
switch indicator:
Indicates that the dynamic driver assis-
tance switch is ON.
2. Vehicle ahead detection indicator: Indicates whether it detects a vehicle in
front of you.
3. Distance Control Assist system warning light (orange):
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5-60Starting and driving
The light comes on if there is a
malfunction in the DCA system.
SSD1183
Operating Distance Control Assist
(DCA) system
To turn on the DCA system, push the
dynamic driver assistance switch on the
steering wheel after starting the engine.
The Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
switch indicator light in the dot matrix
liquid crystal display will illuminate. Push
the dynamic driver assistance switch again
to turn off the DCA system. The Distance
Control Assist (DCA) system switch indica-
tor light will turn off.
The system will start to operate after the
vehicle speed becomes above approxi-mately 3 MPH (5 km/h).
WARNING
When the DCA system is not necessary, be
sure to turn off the dynamic driver assis-
tance switch. Using the system when it is
not necessary may result in an accident.
The dynamic driver assistance switch is
used for both the LDP and DCA system.
When the dynamic driver assistance switch
is pushed, the LDP system will also turn on
or off simultaneously. The DCA system can
be individually set to on or off on the
display. If the system is set to off, the
system will not turn on even if the dynamic
driver assistance switch is pushed to on. To
set the system to on or off on the display,
see
“Setting DCA system to ON/OFF” (P.5-
61).

SSD0884
SSD0885
Setting DCA system to ON/OFF:
1. Push the SETTING
*1button and high-
light the “Driver Assistance” key on the
display using the INFINITI controller.
Then push the ENTER
*2button.
2. Highlight the “Dynamic Assistance set-
tings” key, and push the ENTER
*2button.
SSD0886
3. To set the DCA system to on or off,
highlight the “Distance Control Assist”
key, select ON or OFF and push the
ENTER
*2button.
If both the LDP and DCA systems are set to
OFF on the display, when the dynamic
driver assistance switch is pushed, the LDP
ON indicator light and the Distance Control
Assist (DCA) system switch indicator light
will blink for approximately 2 seconds. See
“Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system/
Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system”
(P.5-21).
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5-62Starting and driving
SSD0771
Under the following conditions, the Dis-
tance Control Assist system will not oper-
ate and the Distance Control Assist (DCA)
system switch indicator light will blink:
.When the SNOW mode switch is ON (To
use the DCA system, turn off the SNOW
mode switch, then turn on the dynamic
driver assistance switch.)
For details about the SNOW mode
switch, see “Snow mode switch” (P.2-
46).
. When the VDC system is off (To use the
DCA system, turn on the VDC, then
push the dynamic driver assistance
switch.) For details about the VDC system, see
“Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) sys-
tem”
(P.5-83).
. When ABS or VDC (including the trac-
tion control system) is operating
. When driving into a strong light (for
example, sunlight)
When the Conventional (fixed speed) cruise
control mode is operating, the DCA system
will not operate. (To use the DCA system,
turn the Conventional (fixed speed) cruise
control mode off, then push the dynamic
driver assistance switch.)
For details about the Conventional (fixed
speed) cruise control mode, see “Intelli-
gent Cruise Control (ICC) system (FULL
SPEED RANGE)” (P.5-31).
When the engine is turned off, the system
is automatically turned off.

SSD0746
1. System set display with vehicle ahead
2. System set display without vehicleahead
System operation
WARNING
The Distance Control Assist system auto-
matically decelerates your vehicle to help
assist the driver to maintain a following
distance from the vehicle ahead. Manually
brake when deceleration is required to
maintain a safe distance upon sudden
braking by the vehicle ahead or when a vehicle suddenly appears in front of you.
Always stay alert when using the DCA
system.
The Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
helps assist the driver to keep a following
distance to the vehicle ahead by braking
and moving the accelerator pedal upward
in the normal driving condition.
When a vehicle is detected ahead:
The vehicle ahead detection indicator
comes on.When vehicle approaches a vehicle ahead:
. If the driver’ s foot is not on the
accelerator pedal, the system activates
the brakes to decelerate smoothly as
necessary. If the vehicle ahead comes
to a stop, the vehicle decelerates to a
standstill within the limitations of the
system.
. If the driver’s foot is on the accelerator
pedal, the system moves the accelera-
tor pedal upward to assist the driver to
release the accelerator pedal.
When brake operation by driver is re-
quired:
The system alerts the driver by a warning
chime and blinking the vehicle ahead
detection indicator. If the driver’s foot is
on the accelerator pedal after the warning,
the system moves the accelerator pedal
upward to assist the driver to switch to the
brake pedal.
The stoplights of the vehicle come on and
the brake pedal depresses when braking is
performed by the DCA system.
When the brake operates, a noise may be
heard. This is not a malfunction.
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5-64Starting and driving
WARNING
.When the vehicle ahead detection in-
dicator light is not illuminated, system
will not control or warn the driver.
. Never place your foot under the brake
pedal. Your foot may be caught when the
system controls the brake.
. Depending on the position of the accel-
erator pedal, the system may not be able
to assist the driver to release the
accelerator pedal appropriately.
. If the vehicle ahead comes to a stand-
still, the vehicle decelerates to a stand-
still within the limitations of the system.
The system will release brake control
with a warning chime once it judges the
vehicle is at a standstill. To prevent the
vehicle from moving, the driver must
depress the brake pedal. (The system
will resume control automatically once
the system reaches 3 MPH (5 km/h)).
Overriding the system:
The following driver’s operation overrides
the system operation. .
When the driver depresses the accel-
erator pedal even further while the
system is moving the accelerator pedal
upward, the DCA system control of the
accelerator pedal is canceled.
. When the driver’s foot is on the accel-
erator pedal, the brake control by the
system is not operated.
. When the driver’s foot is on the brake
pedal, neither the brake control nor the
alert by the system operates.
. When the Intelligent Cruise Control
system is set, the DCA system will be
cancelled.
Approach warning
If your vehicle comes closer to the vehicle
ahead due to rapid deceleration of that
vehicle or if another vehicle cuts in, the
system warns the driver with the chime
and DCA system display. Decelerate by
depressing the brake pedal to maintain a
safe vehicle distance if:
. The chime sounds.
. The vehicle ahead detection indicator
blinks.
The warning chime may not sound in some
cases when there is a short distance
between vehicles. Some examples are: .
When the vehicles are traveling at the
same speed and the distance between
vehicles is not changing
. When the vehicle ahead is traveling
faster and the distance between vehi-
cles is increasing
. When a vehicle cuts in near your vehicle
The warning chime will not sound when
your vehicle approaches vehicles that are
parked or moving slowly.

SSD0284A
NOTE:
The approach warning chime may sound
and the system display may blink when
the sensor detects some reflectors
*Awhich are fitted on vehicles in other lanes
or on the side of the road. This may cause
the DCA system to operate inappropriately.
The sensor may detect these reflectors
when the vehicle is driven on winding
roads, hilly roads or when entering or
exiting a curve. The sensor may also detect
reflectors on narrow roads or in road
construction zones. In these cases you
will have to manually control the proper
distance ahead of your vehicle.Also, the sensor sensitivity can be affected
by vehicle operation (steering maneuver or
driving position in the lane) or traffic or
vehicle condition (for example, if a vehicle
is being driven with some damage).
SSD0771
Automatic cancellation
Condition A:
Under the following conditions, the Dis-
tance Control Assist system is automati-
cally canceled. The chime will sound and
the Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
switch indicator light will blink. The system
will not be able to be set.
.
When the VDC system is turned off
. When the VDC or ABS (including the
traction control system) operates
. When the SNOW mode switch is turned
ON
Starting and driving5-65