stop start INFINITI M 2010 Owner's Guide
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cThis 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 under most
conditions:
c Stationary and slow moving vehicles
c Pedestrians or objects in the roadway
c Oncoming vehicles in the same lane
c Motorcycles traveling offset in the travel
lane
This system will not automatically brake the ve-
hicle to a stop.WARNING
c 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.
c Although the brake operation is controlled
by the system, the system does not auto-
matically 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.)
c 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.
± 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
c Do not use the Intelligent Cruise Control sys-
tem if you are towing a trailer. The system
may not detect a vehicle ahead.
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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 stop lights of the vehicle come on stop lights
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 :
When a vehicle is no longer detected ahead, the
ICC system gradually accelerates 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 acceleration
to the set vehicle speed or any time the ICC
system is in operation, the system controls the
distance to that vehicle.
When passing another vehicle,the set speed
indicator will flash when the vehicle speed
exceeds the set speed. The vehicle detect indi-
cator will turn off when the area ahead of the
vehicle is open. When the pedal is released, the
vehicle will return to the previously set speed.
Even though your vehicle speed is set in the ICC
system, you can depress the accelerator pedal
when it is necessary to accelerate your vehicle
rapidly.
SSD0462
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cThe distance to the vehicle ahead will
change according to the vehicle speed. The
higher the vehicle speed, the longer the
distance. c
If the engine is stopped, the set distance
becomes ªlongº. (Each time the engine is
started, the initial setting becomes ªlongº.)
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 ICC system dis-
play. Decelerate by depressing the brake pedal
to maintain a safe vehicle distance if:
cThe chime sounds.
c The vehicle ahead detection and set dis-
tance indicator blink.
The warning chime may not sound in some
cases when there is a short distance between
vehicles. Some examples are:
c When the vehicles are traveling at the same
speed and the distance between vehicles is
not changing
c When the vehicle ahead is traveling faster
and the distance between vehicles is in-
creasing
c When a vehicle cuts in near your vehicle
The warning chime will not sound in the follow-
ing cases:
c When your vehicle approaches vehicles that
are parked or moving slowly.
c When the accelerator pedal is depressed,
overriding the system.
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CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km), follow
these recommendations to obtain maximum
engine performance and ensure the future reli-
ability and economy of your new vehicle. Fail-
ure to follow these recommendations may re-
sult in shortened engine life and reduced
engine performance.
c Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow. Do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
c Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
c Avoid quick starts.
c Avoid hard braking as much as possible. c
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
c Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
c Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles.
c Select a gear range suitable to road condi-
tions.
c Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
c Keep your engine tuned up.
c Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
c Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
c Keep the wheels in correct alignment. Im-
proper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
c Climate control operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
c When cruising at highway speeds, it is more
economical to use the air conditioner and
leave the windows closed to reduce drag. c
Use the recommended viscosity engine oil.
(See ªENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER RECOM-
MENDATIONº in the ª9. Technical and con-
sumer informationº section.)
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
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WARNING
cFor 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 that you inform the
test facility personnel that your vehicle is
equipped with AWD before it is placed on a
dynamometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage or un-
expected vehicle movement which could re-
sult in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
Your vehicle is equipped with full-time All-
Wheel Drive (AWD).
Switching the driving mode is not necessary. The AWD warning light is located in the meter.
The AWD warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is pushed to the ON position. It
turns off soon after the engine is started.If any malfunction occurs in the AWD system
while the engine is running, the warning light
will come on.
The warning light may blink rapidly (about twice
per second) while trying to free a stuck vehicle
due to high powertrain oil temperature. The
driving mode may change to two-wheel drive. If
the warning light blinks rapidly during opera-
tion, stop the vehicle with the engine idling in a
safe place immediately. Then if the light turns
off after a while, you can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters of
front and rear wheels will make the warning
light blink slowly (about once per two seconds).
Pull off the road in a safe area, and idle the
engine. Check that all tire sizes are the same,
tire pressure is correct and tires are not worn.
CAUTION
c
If the warning light remains on after the
above operation, have your vehicle checked
by an INFINITI retailer as soon as possible.
c If the warning light comes on while driving
there may be a malfunction in the AWD sys-
tem. Reduce the vehicle speed and have your
vehicle checked by an INFINITI retailer as
soon as possible.
SSD0336B
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) (if so equipped)
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cThe powertrain may be damaged if you con-
tinue driving with the warning light blinking
rapidly.
WARNING
cDo not stop or park the vehicle over flam-
mable materials such as dry grass, waste
paper or rags. They may ignite and cause a
fire.
c Never leave the engine running while the
vehicle is unattended.
c Do not leave children unattended inside the
vehicle. They could unknowingly activate
switches or controls. Unattended children
could become involved in serious accidents. c
Safe parking procedures require that both
the parking brake be applied and the trans-
mission placed into P (Park). Failure to do so
could cause the vehicle to move unexpect-
edly or roll away and result in an accident.
c Make sure the automatic transmission se-
lector lever has been pushed as far forward
as it can go and cannot be moved without
depressing the foot brake pedal.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the selector lever to the P (Park)
position.
SD1006MA
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
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3. To help prevent the vehicle from rollinginto the street when parked on a sloping
drive way, it is a good practice to turn the
wheels as illustrated.
cHEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:s1
Turn the wheels into the curb and move
the vehicle forward until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
c HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
s2
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
c HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO CURB:
s3
Turn the wheels toward the side of the
road so the vehicle will move away from
the center of the road if it moves.
4. Push the ignition switch to the LOCK
position.
WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned off while
driving, the power assist for the steering will
not work. Steering will be harder to operate.
The power assisted steering uses a hydraulic
pump, driven by the engine, to assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, espe-
cially in sharp turns and at low speeds.
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
You may feel a small click and hear a sound
when the brake pedal is fully depressed slowly.
This is not a malfunction and indicates that the
brake assist mechanism is operating properly.
Vacuum assisted brakes
The brake booster aids braking by using engine
vacuum. If the engine stops, you can stop the
vehicle by depressing the brake pedal. How-
ever, greater foot pressure on the brake pedal
will be required to stop the vehicle and the
stopping distance will be longer.
Wet brakes
When 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 the vehicle at high speeds
until the brakes function correctly.
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
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Using the brakes
Avoid 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 reduce brake wear 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
cWhile driving on a slippery surface, be care-
ful when braking, accelerating or downshift-
ing. Abrupt braking or accelerating could
cause the wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
c 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.
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-IN
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weak-
ened 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 ser-
vice manual and can be performed by an
INFINITI retailer.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force than
a conventional brake booster even with light
pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist braking
operation and is not a collision warning or
avoidance device. It is the driver's responsibil-
ity to stay alert, drive safely and be in control of
the vehicle at all times.
PREVIEW FUNCTION (for Intelligent
Cruise Control (ICC) system equipped
models)
When the Preview Function identifies the need
to apply emergency braking by sensing a ve-
hicle ahead in the same lane and the distance
and relative speed from it, it applies the brake
pre-pressure before the driver depresses the
brake pedal and helps improve brake response
by reducing pedal free play.
c This system will not operate when the ve-
hicle is moving at approximately 20 MPH
(32 km/h) or less.
BRAKE ASSIST
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ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
cThe Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a so-
phisticated device, but it cannot prevent ac-
cidents resulting from careless or dangerous
driving techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slippery sur-
faces. Remember that stopping distances on
slippery surfaces will be longer than on nor-
mal 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.
c Tire type and condition may also affect brak-
ing 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 speci-
fied on the Tire and Loading Information
label. See ªTIRE AND LOADING INFORMA-
TION LABELº in the ª9. Technical and con-
sumer informationº section of this
manual. ± For detailed information, see ªWHEELS
AND TIRESº in the ª8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourselfº section of this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) controls 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
preventing each wheel from locking, the system
helps the driver maintain steering control and
helps to minimize swerving and spinning on
slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady pres-
sure, but do not pump the brakes. The ABS will
operate to prevent the wheels from locking up.
Steer the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so may
result in increased stopping distances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
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 ªclunkº noise and/or feel a
pulsation 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 oper-
ates 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.
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WARNING
cThe VDC system is designed to help improve
driving stability but does not prevent acci-
dents due to abrupt steering operation at
high speeds or due to careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle speed
and be especially careful when driving and
cornering on slippery surfaces and always
drive carefully.
c Do not modify the vehicle's suspension. If
suspension parts such as shock absorbers,
struts, springs, stabilizer bars and bushings
and wheels are not INFINITI approved or are
extremely deteriorated the VDC system may
not operate properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling performance, and the
ªVDC OFFº indicator or ªSLIPº indicator or
both indicator lights may illuminate.
c If brake related parts such as brake pads,
rotors and calipers are not standard equip-
ment or are extremely deteriorated, the
ªVDC OFFº indicator or ªSLIPº indicator or
both indicator lights may illuminate.
c If engine related parts such as muffler are
not standard equipment or are extremely de-
teriorated, the ªVDC OFFº indicator or ªSLIPº
indicator or both indicator lights may
illuminate. c
When driving on extremely inclined surfaces
such as higher banked corners, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and the ªVDC
OFFº indicator or ªSLIPº indicator or both
indicator lights may illuminate. Do not drive
on these types of roads.
c When driving on unstable surfaces such as a
turntable, ferry, elevator or ramp, the ªVDC
OFFº indicator or ªSLIPº indicator or both
indicator lights may illuminate. This is not a
malfunction. Restart the engine after driving
onto a stable surface.
c If wheels or tires other than those recom-
mended are used, the VDC system may not
operate properly and ªVDC OFFº indicator or
ªSLIPº indicator or both indicator lights may
illuminate.
c The VDC system is not a substitute for winter
tires or tire chains on a snow covered road. The Rear Active Steer system is an electronically
controlled four-wheel steering system.
The angle of the rear wheels are adjusted by the
Rear Active Steer system, depending on the
vehicle speed and steering angle. The rear
wheels are designed to turn momentarily in the
opposite direction and then change to the same
direction as the front wheels.
At low speeds, the rear wheels will not turn and
the system functions as a two-wheel steering
system.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the Rear
Active Steer function will stop but the ordinary
two-wheel steering system will operate nor-
mally. The ªRASº warning light will illuminate. If
the light illuminates while driving, contact an
INFINITI retailer for repair.
WARNING
The Rear Active Steer system, although a so-
phisticated device, cannot prevent accidents
resulting from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. Ultimately the responsibility for
safety of self and others rests in the hands of
the driver. Therefore only through attentive
and careful driving methods can the Rear Active
Steer system be fully appreciated and safety
assured.
REAR ACTIVE STEER SYSTEM (if so
equipped)
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