brakes INFINITI G-CONVERTIBLE 2012 Owners Manual

Turn the light switch off when you leave the
vehicle.
Parking brake reminder chimeGUID-EDB23543-6254-4F4C-99B1-CA1825499CF1The parking brake reminder chime will
sound if the vehicle is driven at more than
4 MPH (7 km/h) with the parking brake
applied. Stop the vehicle and release the
parking brake.
Brake pad wear warningGUID-97586C77-B2B4-4D32-AA76-DF460CACF31EThe disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. 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 the wear of the brake pad is
increased, the sound will be heard all the
time even if the brake pedal is not
depressed. Have the brakes checked as
soon as possible if the warning sound is
heard.
Seat belt warning chimeGUID-0160A1CA-0F2F-4D1A-B495-E7DCB264CBAFThe seat belt warning chime will sound for
about 6 seconds unless the driver’s seat
belt is securely fastened.
GUID-CF20BAB9-FD7E-48A6-8C2B-BF546667BDDB
SIC4293
The dot matrix liquid crystal display*1is
located between the tachometer and the
speedometer, and it displays the auto-
matic transmission position indicator (if so
equipped), the Intelligent Cruise Control
(ICC) system (if so equipped) information,
the Intelligent Key operation information,
retractable hard top indicators and other
warnings and information.
. Automatic Transmission (AT)
— “Warning/indicator lights and audi- ble reminders” (P.2-10).
— “Driving the vehicle” (P.5-13)..
Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
— “Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) sys- tem” (P.5-23).
. Intelligent Key system
— “Intelligent Key system” (P.3-7).
— “Push-button ignition switch” (P.5-
9).
. Retractable hard top
— “Retractable hard top” (P.3-19).
Instruments and controls2-17
DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY

AVOIDING COLLISION AND ROLL-
OVER
GUID-86329E57-6065-4662-830B-B76BFB82C712
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 exces-
sive speed, high speed cornering, or
sudden steering maneuvers, 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 sideways. Be attentive at all times,
and avoid driving when tired. Never drive
when under the influence of alcohol or
drugs (including prescription or over-the-
counter drugs which may cause drowsi-
ness). Always wear your seat belt as
outlined in the “Seat belts”(P.1-11) 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 or improperly belted person is
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERYGUID-C9E8A175-F2F9-4C1D-A1F4-A784EAC8016FWhile 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 condi-
tions 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 wheel with both hands and try to hold a
straight course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while the
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 toreturn the vehicle to the road surface
based on vehicle, road or traffic
conditions, gradually slow the vehi-
cle to a stop in a safe place off the
road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSSGUID-629B9264-4E1F-4FCA-B713-FA28BCE24AFDRapid 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 highway speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by
maintaining the correct air pressure and
visually inspect the tires for wear and
damage. See “Wheels and tires” (P.8-29) of
this manual.
Starting and driving5-7

5-8Starting and driving
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 condi-
tions 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
accelerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from
traffic if possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradu- ally stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and either contact a roadside emer-
gency service to change the tire or see
“Changing flat tire (for models with
spare tire)” (P.6-3) of this Owner’s
Manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
GUID-13C3E07E-F52F-4804-BE32-BDBDEB1ED016
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream reduces
coordination, delays reaction time and im-
pairs judgement. Driving after drinking
alcohol increases the likelihood of being
involved in an accident injuring yourself and
others. Additionally, 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 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 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 condition.

SSD0662
Type A
SSD1169
Type B
PRECAUTIONS ON VEHICLE-TO-VE-
HICLE DISTANCE CONTROL MODE
GUID-9966B4DC-07EB-4AC3-A4FD-BEAF6B7FD5F3The system is intended to enhance the
operation 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 neces-
sary.
The detection range of the sensor is
approximately 390 ft (120 m) ahead.
The distance sensor will not detect under
most conditions:
. Stationary and slow moving vehicles
. Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
. Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
. Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel
lane This system will not automatically brake
the vehicle to a stop.
WARNING
.
As there is a performance limit to the
distance control function, never rely
solely on the Intelligent Cruise Control
system. This system does not correct
careless, inattentive or absent-minded
driving, or overcome poor visibility in
rain, fog, or other bad weather. Decele-
rate the vehicle speed by depressing the
brake pedal, depending on the distance
to the vehicle ahead and the surround-
ing circumstances in order to maintain a
safe distance between vehicles.
. Although the brake operation is con-
trolled by the system, the system does
not automatically stop the vehicle. If the
vehicle speed falls below approximately
20 MPH (32 km/h), the Intelligent Cruise
Control system is automatically canceled
and a warning chime sounds. (The brake
control is also canceled.)
. The system may not detect the vehicle in
front of you in certain road or weather
conditions. To avoid accidents, never use
the Intelligent Cruise Control system
Starting and driving5-25

5-26Starting and driving
under the following conditions:
—On roads where the traffic is heavyor there are sharp curves
—On slippery road surfaces such ason ice or snow, etc.
—During bad weather (rain, fog, snow,
etc.)
When the windshield wiper is oper-
ated at the low speed (LO) or high
speed (HI) position, the Intelligent
Cruise Control system is automati-
cally canceled.
—When strong light (for example, atsunrise or sunset) is directly shining
on the front of the vehicle
—When rain, snow or dirt adhere tothe system sensor
—On steep downhill roads (the vehi-
cle may go beyond the set vehicle
speed and frequent braking may
result in overheating the brakes)
—On repeated uphill and downhillroads
—When traffic conditions make itdifficult to keep a proper distance
between vehicles because of fre- quent acceleration or deceleration
. 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 ICC system
when it is not recommended in this
section.
SSD0662
Type A
SSD1169
Type B

5-32Starting and driving
SSD0609
To set cruising speed,accelerate your
vehicle to the desired speed, push the
COAST/SET switch and release it. (Vehicle
ahead detection indicator, set distance
indicator and set vehicle speed indicator
come on.) Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal. Your vehicle will maintain the set
speed.
SSD0784
When the COAST/SET switch is pushed
under the following conditions, the system
cannot be set and the ICC indicators will
blink for approximately 2 seconds.
. When traveling below 25 MPH (40
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 operat-
ing at low (LO) or high speed (HI)
. When the rain sensing auto wiper
system is operated and the wiper
speed is at least the same as the LO
(low ) position speed .
When the brakes are operated by the
driver

5-34Starting and driving
SSD0610
1. System set display with vehicle ahead
2. System set display without vehicleahead
System operationGUID-2AEC33D4-891E-4359-B765-5C15FEE227B3
WARNING
Normally when controlling the distance to a
vehicle ahead, this system automatically
accelerates or decelerates your vehicle
according to the speed of the vehicle ahead.
Depress the accelerator to properly accel-
erate your vehicle when acceleration is
required for a lane change. Depress the brake pedal when deceleration 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 maintains 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:
GUID-D73A39BF-43C8-459F-9C24-47B7F579C407When a vehicle is detected in the lane
ahead, the ICC system decelerates the
vehicle by controlling 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
when braking is performed 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.
Vehicle ahead not detected:
GUID-D73A39BF-43C8-459F-9C24-47B7F579C407When a vehicle is no longer detected
ahead, the ICC system gradually acceler-
ates your vehicle to resume the previously
set vehicle speed. The ICC system then
maintains the set speed.
When a vehicle is no longer detected the
vehicle ahead detection indicator turns off.
If a vehicle ahead appears during accel-
eration to the set vehicle speed or any time

5-50Starting and driving
GUID-B50FAB06-8209-43C1-BD38-DA20F3688BF7
BRAKING PRECAUTIONSGUID-303F7865-3EEE-42BE-875A-2373C76593B9The brake system has two separate hy-
draulic circuits. If one circuit malfunctions,
you will still have braking at two wheels.
Vacuum assisted brakesGUID-FB3BB3B2-604D-4649-8638-2E41A80E1853The brake booster aids braking by using
engine vacuum. If the engine stops, you
can stop the vehicle by depressing the
brake pedal. However, greater foot pres-
sure on the brake pedal will be required to
stop the vehicle and the stopping distance
will be longer.
When the brake pedal is depressed slowly
and firmly, you may hear a clicking noise
and feel a slight pulsation. This is normal
and indicates that the Brake Assist System
is operating.
Wet brakesGUID-435B5EB3-1F68-4B06-9333-CD2462DA6490When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet.
As a result, your braking distance will be
longer and the vehicle may pull to one side
during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly tapping the brake pedal
to heat-up the brakes. Do this until the
brakes return to normal. Avoid driving thevehicle at high speeds until the brakes
function correctly.
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-INGUID-837DE698-6E89-4ED2-965C-C45C0822EC96Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or drums/rotors are replaced,
in order to assure the best braking
performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle
service manual and can be performed by
an INFINITI retailer.
Using the brakesGUID-798BCC8C-1840-436E-B736-D4D16F071B12Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. This will cause overheating
of the brakes, wearing out the brake and
pads faster and reduce gas mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed
and downshift to a lower gear before going
down a slope or long grade. Overheated
brakes may reduce braking performance
and could result in loss of vehicle control.
WARNING
.
While driving on a slippery surface, be
careful when braking, accelerating or
downshifting. Abrupt braking or accel-
erating could cause the wheels to skid
and result in an accident.
. If the engine is not running or is turned
off while driving, the power assist for
the brakes will not work. Braking will be
harder.
BRAKE SYSTEM

How to handle the sensorGUID-987C621F-BCC5-4DA7-BA01-D4D917899DCAThe sensor for the Preview Function is
common with Intelligent Cruise Control and
is located below the front bumper.
To keep the Preview Function operating
properly, be sure to observe the following:
.Always keep the sensor clean. Wipe
with a soft cloth carefully so as not to
damage the sensor.
. Do not strike or damage the areas
around the sensor. Do not touch or
remove the screw located on the
sensor. Doing so could cause failure
or malfunction. If the sensor is da-
maged due to an accident, contact an
INFINITI retailer.
. Do not attach a sticker (including
transparent material) or install an
accessory near the sensor. This could
cause failure or malfunction.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)GUID-CC021868-0ABC-45AA-B3D9-819FB93AA13F
WARNING
. The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a
sophisticated device, but it cannot pre-
vent accidents resulting from careless or
dangerous driving techniques. It can
help maintain vehicle control during
braking on slippery surfaces. Remember
that stopping distances on slippery
surfaces will be longer than on normal
surfaces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if you
are using tire chains. Always maintain a
safe distance from the vehicle in front of
you. Ultimately, the driver is responsible
for safety.
. Tire type and condition may also affect
braking effectiveness.
—When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
—When installing a spare tire, make
sure that it is the proper size and
type as specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See “Tireand loading information label”
(P.9-
13) of this manual.
—For detailed information, see “Wheels and tires” (P.8-29) of this
manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) con-
trols the brakes so the wheels do not lock
during hard braking or when braking on
slippery surfaces. The system detects the
rotation speed at each wheel and varies
the brake fluid pressure to prevent each
wheel from locking and sliding. By pre-
venting each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the systemGUID-A17A02B4-B98C-49CB-8417-28E29F497208Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
ABS will operate to prevent the wheels
from locking up. Steer the vehicle to avoid
obstacles.
Starting and driving5-53

5-54Starting and driving
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Self-test featureGUID-4FC5730B-9006-485D-8F47-48423827A0FDThe ABS includes electronic sensors, elec-
tric pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a
computer. The computer has a built-in
diagnostic feature that tests the system
each time you start the engine and move
the vehicle at a low speed in forward or
reverse. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a“clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsa-
tion in the brake pedal. This is normal and
does not indicate a malfunction. If the
computer senses a malfunction, it switches
the ABS off and illuminates the ABS
warning light on the instrument panel.
The brake system then operates normally,
but without anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during
the self-test or while driving, have the
vehicle checked by an INFINITI retailer.
Normal operationGUID-4A24737D-9B87-4CFC-A807-4E8F57A64E71The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6
MPH (5 to 10 km/h).
When the ABS senses that one or more
wheels are close to locking up, the actuator
rapidly applies and releases hydraulic
pressure. This action is similar to pumping
the brakes very quickly. You may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a
noise from under the hood or feel a
vibration from the actuator when it is
operating. This is normal and indicates
that the ABS is operating properly. How-
ever, the pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care is
required while driving.
GUID-9B2B3B86-188B-477E-85AC-1E8002A9BE3EThe Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system
uses various sensors to monitor driver
inputs and vehicle motion. Under certain
driving conditions, 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 func-
tion).
. Controls brake pressure at individual
wheels and engine output to help the
driver maintain control of the vehicle in
the following conditions:
— understeer (vehicle tends to not
follow the steered path despite
increased steering input)
— oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due
to certain road or driving condi-
tions).
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, the VDC
warning light
in the instrument panel
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) SYSTEM