INFINITI M 2010 Owners Manual

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.
cIf 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 ªblow-outº 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
ªWHEELS AND TIRESº in the ª8. Maintenance
and do-it-yourselfº section of this manual.
If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or ªblows-outº
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. c
The vehicle generally moves or pulls in the
direction of the flat tire.
c Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
c Do not rapidly release the accelerator pedal.
c 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.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and either contact a roadside emergency ser-
vice to change the tire or see ªCHANGING
A FLAT TIREº in the ª6. In case of emer-
gencyº section of this Owner's Manual.
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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)
Observe the following precautions when you
drive an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle.
WARNING
c This vehicle is not designed for off-road
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy or
muddy roads that tires may get stuck in.
c Do not drive beyond the performance capa-
bility of the tires, even with AWD engaged.
c 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. c
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.
c When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
c Accelerating quickly, sharp steering maneu-
vers or sudden braking may cause loss of
control.
c 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.
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WARNING
Do not operate the push-button ignition switch
while driving the vehicle except in an emer-
gency. (The engine will stop when the ignition
switch is pushed 3 consecutive times or the
ignition switch is pushed and held for more
than 2 seconds.) If the engine stops while the
vehicle is being driven, this could lead to a
crash and serious injury.
Before operating the push-button ignition
switch, be sure to move the selector lever to the
P (Park) position.
OPERATING RANGE FOR ENGINE
START FUNCTION
The operating range for starting the engine
inside the vehicle
s1is shown in the illustra-
tion.
c The trunk area is not included in the operat-
ing range of the engine start function.
c If the Intelligent Key is on the instrument
panel, rear parcel shelf, inside the glove box
or door pocket, it may not be possible to
start the engine.
c If the Intelligent Key is near the door or door
glass outside the vehicle, it may be possible
to start the engine. When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition switch
position will change as follows:
c
Push the center once to change to ACC.
c Push the center two times to change to ON.
c Push the center three times to return to
LOCK.
The ignition switch is equipped with an anti-
theft steering lock device.
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.
SSD0659SSD0684
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
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When the ignition switch cannot be pushed
toward the LOCK position, proceed as follows:
1. Move the selector lever into the P (Park)position.
2. Push the ignition switch. The ignition switch position will change to the ON
position.
3. Push the ignition switch again to the LOCK position.
The selector lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position if the ignition switch is in the ON posi-
tion and the brake pedal is depressed.
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 LOCK position. To unlock the steer-
ing wheel, push the push-button ignition switch
again while lightly turning the steering wheel
right and left.
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 in the tachometer. (See ªDOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYº in the ª2. Instru-
ments and controlsº 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.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the engine is not
running.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system and
electrical accessories.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the push-button
ignition switch in ACC or ON positions when the
engine is not running for an extended period.
This can discharge the battery.
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DISCHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is almost
discharged, the guide light
sBof the Intelligent
Key port
sAblinks and the indicator appears on
the dot matrix liquid crystal display. (See ªDOT
MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYº in the ª2.
Instruments and controlsº section.)
In this case, inserting the Intelligent Key into
the port
s1allows you to start the engine. Make
sure that the key ring side faces backward as
illustrated. Insert the Intelligent Key in the port
until it is latched and secured.
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To remove the Intelligent Key from the port,
push the ignition switch to the LOCK position
and push in the Intelligent Key
s2. Then the
Intelligent Key will be ejected from the port. Pull
the Intelligent Key out.
NOTE:
The Intelligent Key port does not charge the In-
telligent Key battery. If you see the low battery
indicator in the dot matrix liquid crystal display,
replace the battery as soon as possible. (See
ªBATTERY REPLACEMENTº in the ª8. Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourselfº section.)
CAUTION
c Never place anything except the Intelligent
Key in the Intelligent Key port. Doing so may
cause damage to the equipment.
c Make sure the Intelligent Key is in the cor-
rect direction when inserting it to the Intelli-
gent Key port. The engine may not start if it is
in the incorrect direction.
c Remove the Intelligent Key from the Intelli-
gent Key port after the ignition switch is
pushed to the LOCK position.
c Do not pull out the Intelligent Key from the
Intelligent Key port until the Intelligent Key
is ejected to the removal position. c
Make sure the area around the vehicle is
clear.
c Check fluid levels such as engine oil, cool-
ant, brake fluid and window washer fluid as
frequently as possible, or at least whenever
you refuel.
c Check that all windows and lights are clean.
c Visually inspect tires for their appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
c Lock all doors.
c Position seat and adjust head restraints.
c Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
c Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to
do likewise.
c Check the operation of warning lights when
the ignition switch is pushed to the ON
position. (See ªWARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS
AND AUDIBLE REMINDERSº in the ª2. Instru-
ments and controlsº section.)
SSD0513
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
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1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the selector lever to the P (Park) orN (Neutral) position. (P is recommended.)
The starter is designed not to operate unless
the selector lever is in either of the above
positions.
3. Push the ignition switch to the ON posi-tion. Depress the brake pedal and push
the ignition switch to start the engine.
To start the engine immediately, push and
release the ignition switch while depressing
the brake pedal with the ignition switch in
any position.
c If the engine is very hard to start in
extremely cold weather or when restart-
ing, depress the accelerator pedal a little
(approximately 1/3 to the floor) and while
holding, crank the engine. Release the
accelerator pedal when the engine starts.
c If the engine is very hard to start because
it is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Push the ignition switch to the ON posi-
tion for 5 to 6 seconds to start cranking
the engine. After cranking the engine,
release the accelerator pedal. Crank the
engine with your foot off the accelerator
pedal by depressing the brake pedal and pushing the push-button ignition switch
to start the engine. If the engine starts,
but fails to run, repeat the above proce-
dure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than 15
seconds at a time. If the engine does not start,
push the ignition switch to LOCK and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, otherwise the
starter could be damaged.
4.
Warm-up
Allow the engine to idle for at least 30
seconds after starting. Do not race the en-
gine while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather. In cold weather, keep the
engine running for a minimum of2-3
minutes before shutting it off. Starting and
stopping the engine over a short period of
time may make the vehicle more difficult to
start.
5. To stop the engine, shift the selector lever
to the P (Park) position, and push the
ignition switch to the LOCK position.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled to produce maximum
power and smooth operation.
The recommended operating procedures for
this transmission are shown on the following
page. Follow these procedures for maximum
vehicle performance and driving enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
1. After starting the engine, fully depress the
foot brake pedal before moving the selec-
tor lever out of the P (Park) position.
This AT is designed so that the foot brake pedal
must be depressed before shifting from P (Park)
to any driving position while the ignition switch
is in the ON position.
The selector lever cannot be moved out of the P
(Park) position and into any of the other posi-
tions if the ignition switch is pushed to the LOCK
or ACC position.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed, push the selector lever button and move
the selector lever to a driving position.
STARTING THE ENGINE DRIVING THE VEHICLE
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3. Release the parking brake and foot brake,then gradually start the vehicle in motion.
WARNING
cDo not depress the accelerator pedal while
shifting from P (Park) or N (Neutral) to R (Re-
verse), D (Drive), DS (Drive Sport) or manual
shift mode. Always depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and have an
accident.
c Cold engine idle speed is high, so use cau-
tion when shifting into a forward or reverse
gear before the engine has warmed up.
c Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse) while
vehicle is moving forward. Never shift to P
(Park), D (Drive) or DS (Drive Sport) while
vehicle is moving rearward. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and have an
accident.
CAUTION
cWhen stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by depressing
the accelerator pedal. The foot brake should
be used for this purpose.
c Do not downshift abruptly on slippery roads.
This may cause a loss of control.
Shifting
To move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing the
brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the selector lever.
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and shift the selector lever from P
(Park) to any of the desired shift positions.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
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WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector lever is
in any position while the engine is not running.
Failure to do so could cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly or roll away and result in serious
personal injury or property damage.
CAUTION
To prevent automatic transmission damage,
move the selector lever to the P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
P (Park) position :
Use this selector position when the vehicle is
parked or when starting the engine. Make sure
the vehicle is completely stopped. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the selector lever
button pushed in to move the selector lever from
the N (Neutral) position or any drive position to
the P (Park) position. Apply the parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake
first, then move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position. R (Reverse) :
Use this position to back up. Always be sure the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting
the R (Reverse) position.
The brake pedal must
be depressed and the selector lever button
pushed in to move the selector lever from the P
(Park) position, the N (Neutral) position or any
drive position to the R (Reverse) position.
N (Neutral) :
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged.
The engine can be started in this position. You
may shift to the N (Neutral) position and restart
a stalled engine while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive) :
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
DS (Drive Sport) mode
When the selector lever is shifted from the D
(Drive) position to the manual shift gate, the
transmission enters the DS (Drive Sport) mode.
This mode is designed for performance-oriented
driving.
In this mode, the transmission automatically
shifts to allow smooth acceleration and engine
braking on a winding road or on a hilly road. When canceling the DS mode, return the selec-
tor lever to the D (Drive) position. The transmis-
sion returns to the normal driving mode.
Manual shift mode
When the selector lever is shifted from the D
(Drive) position to the manual shift gate with
the vehicle stopped or while driving, the trans-
mission enters the manual shift mode. Shift
ranges can be selected manually by moving the
selector lever up or down.
c
When shifting up, move the selector lever to
the + (up) side. The transmission shifts to
the higher range.
c When shifting down, move the selector lever
to the 2(down) side. The transmission
shifts to the lower range.
c When canceling the manual shift mode, re-
turn the selector lever to the D (Drive) posi-
tion. The transmission returns to the normal
driving mode.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed on the position indicator in the meter.
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5-speed model :
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
M1!
ÃM2!
ÃM3!
ÃM4!
ÃM5
M5 (5th):
Use this position for all normal forward driving
at highway speeds.
M4 (4th):
Use this position when driving up long slopes,
or for engine braking when driving down long
slopes.
M3 (3rd) andM2 (2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
M1 (1st):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow, or
for maximum engine braking on steep downhill
grades. 7-speed model :
Shift ranges up or down one by one as follows:
M1
!
ÃM2!
ÃM3!
ÃM4!
ÃM5!
ÃM6!
ÃM7
M7 (7th):
Use this position for all normal forward driving
at highway speeds.
M6 (6th) andM5 (5th):
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
M4 (4th),M3 (3rd) andM2 (2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
M1 (1st):
Use this position when climbing steep hills
slowly or driving slowly through deep snow, or
for maximum engine braking on steep downhill
grades.
Precaution :
c Remember not to drive at high speeds for
extended periods of time in lower than 5th
gear (5-speed model) or 7th gear (7-speed
model). This reduces fuel economy. c
Moving the selector lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion.
c In the manual shift mode, the transmission
may not shift to the selected gear. This helps
maintain driving performance and reduces
the chance of vehicle damage or loss of con-
trol.
c In the manual shift mode, the transmission
automatically shifts down to 1st gear before
the vehicle comes to a stop. When accelerat-
ing again, it is necessary to shift up to the
desired range.
Accelerator downshift Ð In D (Drive)
position Ð
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear, depend-
ing on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, note that
the transmission will be locked in any of the
forward gears according to the condition.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme conditions,
such as excessive wheel spinning and subse-
quent hard braking, the fail-safe system may be
activated. This will occur even if all electrical
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circuits are functioning properly. In this case,
push the switch to the LOCK position and wait
for 3 seconds. Then push the ignition switch
back to the ON position. The vehicle should re-
turn to its normal operating condition. If it does
not return to its normal operating condition,
have an INFINITI retailer check the transmission
and repair if necessary.
Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged, the
selector lever may not be moved from the P
(Park) position even with the brake pedal de-
pressed and the selector lever button pushed.
To move the selector lever, release the shift
lock. The selector lever can be moved to the N
(Neutral) position. However, the steering wheel
will be locked unless the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position. This allows the
vehicle to be moved if the battery is discharged.To release the shift lock, perform the following
procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the LOCK po-
sition.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock release cover
sA
using a suitable tool.
4. Push down the shift lock release
sBas
illustrated.
5. Push the selector lever button
sCand
move the selector lever to N (Neutral)
position
sDwhile holding down the shift
lock release.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position to
unlock the steering wheel. The vehicle may be
moved to the desired location.
Replace the removed shift lock release cover
after the operation is finished.
If the battery is discharged completely, the
steering wheel cannot be unlocked. Do not
move the vehicle with the steering wheel
locked.
If the selector lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park), have an INFINITI retailer check the AT
system as soon as possible.
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