four wheel drive INFINITI M 2011 Owners Manual

●If the light illuminates while driving, avoid
sudden steering maneuvers or abrupt brak-
ing, reduce vehicle speed, pull off the road to
a safe location and stop the vehicle as soon
as possible. Driving with under-inflated tires
may permanently damage the tires and in-
crease the likelihood of tire failure. Serious
vehicle damage could occur and may lead to
an accident and could result in serious per-
sonal injury. Check the tire pressure for all
four tires. Adjust the tire pressure to the rec-
ommended COLD tire pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label to turn
the low tire pressure warning light OFF. If the
light still illuminates while driving after ad-
justing the tire pressure, a tire may be flat. If
you have a flat tire, replace it with a spare
tire as soon as possible.
● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel is
replaced, the TPMS will not function and the
low tire pressure warning light will flash for
approximately 1 minute. The light will re-
main on after the 1 minute. Contact your
INFINITI retailer as soon as possible for tire
replacement and/or system resetting.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.CAUTION
● The TPMS is not a substitute for the regular
tire pressure check. Be sure to check the tire
pressure regularly.
● If the vehicle is being driven at speeds of less
than 16 MPH (25 km/h), the TPMS may not
operate correctly.
● Be sure to install the specified size of tires to
the four wheels correctly.
Master warning light
When the ignition switch is in the ON position,
the master warning light illuminates if any of
the following are displayed on the dot matrix
liquid crystal display:
● No key warning
● Low fuel warning
● Low washer fluid warning
● Parking brake release warning
● Door/trunk open warning
● Loose fuel cap warning (if so equipped)
● Check tire pressure warning (if so equipped)
● Intelligent key system warning
See “DOT MATRIX LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY”
later in this section.
Preview Function warning
light (orange; if so equipped)
The light comes on if there is a malfunction in the
Brake Assist (with Preview Function) system.
If the warning light comes on, park the vehicle
in a safe place. Turn the engine off, restart the
engine, then resume driving.
If the indicator stays on, it may indicate that the
system is malfunctioning. Although the vehicle
is still driveable under normal conditions, have
the vehicle checked at an INFINITI retailer.
Seat belt warning light and
chime
The light and chime remind you to fasten seat
belts. The light illuminates whenever the igni-
tion switch is pushed to the ON position, and
will remain illuminated until the driver’s seat
belt is fastened. At the same time, the chime
will sound for about 6 seconds unless the
driver’s seat belt is securely fastened.
The seat belt warning light for the front passen-
ger will illuminate if the seat belt is not fastened
when the front passenger’s seat is occupied.
For 7 seconds after the ignition switch is in the
ON position, the system does not activate the
warning light for the front passenger.
2-14Instruments and controls
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07/15/10—tbrooks


VANITY MIRROR
To use the front vanity mirror, pull down the sun
visor and pull up the cover.The automatic drive positioner system has four
features:
●
Entry/exit function
● Seat synchronization function
● Memory storage
● Setting memory function
ENTRY/EXIT FUNCTION
This system is designed so that the driver’s seat
and steering column will automatically move
when the selector lever is in the P (Park)
position. This allows the driver to get into and
out of the driver’s seat more easily.
The driver’s seat will slide backward and the
steering wheel will move up when the driver’s
door is opened with the ignition switch in the
LOCK position.
The driver’s seat and steering wheel will return
to the previous positions when the ignition
switch is pushed to the ACC position.
The driver’s seat will not return to the previous
positions if the seat or steering adjusting
switch is operated when the seat is at the exit
position.
Cancel or activate entry/exit function
The selector lever must be in the P (Park)
position with the ignition switch in the OFF
position.
The entry/exit function can be activated or
canceled by pressing and holding the SET
switch for more than 10 seconds.
The indicator lights on the memory switches (1
and 2) will blink once when the function is
canceled, and the indicator lights will blink
twice when the function is activated. Note that
the indicator lights may illuminate after 5 sec-
onds while holding the SET switch. This indi-
cates readiness for linking the Intelligent Key to
a stored memory position. Keep the SET switch
pressed for more than 10 seconds to turn on or
off the entry/exit function.
The entry/exit function can also be activated or
canceled if the “Lift Steering Wheel on Exit” key
or “Slide Driver Seat Back on Exit” key is turned
to ON or OFF in the “Comfort & Conv.” settings.
(See “VEHICLE INFORMATION AND SETTINGS” in
the “4. Monitor, climate, audio, phone and
voice recognition systems” section.)
AUTOMATIC DRIVE POSITIONER
3-26Pre-driving checks and adjustments
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07/14/10—dstomski


●The low tire pressure warning light does not
automatically turn off when the tire pressure
is adjusted. After the tire is inflated to the
recommended pressure, the vehicle must be
driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h) to
activate the TPMS and turn off the low tire
pressure warning light. Use a tire pressure
gauge to check the tire pressure.
●
The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning (if so
equipped) appears in the dot matrix liquid
crystal display when the low tire pressure
warning light is illuminated and low tire pres-
sure is detected. The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
warning (if so equipped) turns off when the
low tire pressure warning light turns off.
● The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning does not
appear if the tire pressure warning light
illuminates to indicate a TPMS malfunction.
● Tire pressure rises and falls depending on
the heat caused by the vehicle’s operation
and the outside temperature. Low outside
temperature can lower the temperature of
the air inside the tire which can cause a
lower tire inflation pressure. This may cause
the low tire pressure warning light to illumi-
nate. If the warning light illuminates in low
ambient temperature, check the tire pres-
sure for all four tires. ●
You can also check the pressure of all tires
(except the spare tire) on the display screen.
The order of the tire pressure figures dis-
played on the screen does not correspond
with the actual order of the tire position. See
“TIRE PRESSURE information” in the “4.
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice
recognition systems” section.
For additional information, see “Low tire pres-
sure warning light” in the “2. Instruments and
controls” section and “TIRE PRESSURE MONI-
TORING SYSTEM (TPMS)” in the “6. In case of
emergency” section.
WARNING
● If the low tire pressure warning light illumi-
nates or LOW PRESSURE information is dis-
played on the monitor screen while driving,
avoid sudden steering maneuvers or abrupt
braking, reduce vehicle speed, pull off the
road to a safe location and stop the vehicle
as soon as possible. Driving with under-
inflated tires may permanently damage the
tires and increase the likelihood of tire fail-
ure. Serious vehicle damage could occur and
may lead to an accident and could result in
serious personal injury. Check the tire pres-
sure for all four tires. Adjust the tire pressure
to the recommended COLD tire pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading Information label to turn the low tire pressure warning
light OFF. If the light still illuminates while
driving after adjusting the tire pressure, a
tire may be flat. If you have a flat tire, replace
it with a spare tire as soon as possible. (See
“FLAT TIRE” in the “6. In case of emergency”
section for changing a flat tire.)
● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel is
replaced, the TPMS will not function and the
low tire pressure warning light will flash for
approximately 1 minute. The light will re-
main on after 1 minute. Contact your INFINITI
retailer as soon as possible for tire replace-
ment and/or system resetting.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.
● Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol tire
sealant into the tires, as this may cause a
malfunction of the tire pressure sensors.
CAUTION
● The TPMS may not function properly when
the wheels are equipped with tire chains or
the wheels are buried in snow.
● Do not place metalized film or any metal
parts (antenna, etc.) on the windows. This
may cause poor reception of the signals from
the tire pressure sensors, and the TPMS will
not function properly.
5-4Starting and driving
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07/15/10—tbrooks


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.
INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
WARNING
●Do not drive beyond the performance capa-
bility of the tires, even with Intelligent AWD
engaged. Accelerating quickly, sharp steer-
ing maneuvers or sudden braking may cause
loss of control.
● 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.
● This vehicle is not designed for offroad
(rough road) use. Do not drive on sandy or
muddy roads that tires may get stuck in. ●
For AWD equipped vehicles, do not attempt
to raise two wheels off the ground and shift
the transmission to any D (Drive) or R (Re-
verse) position with the engine running. Do-
ing so may result in drivetrain damage or
unexpected vehicle movement which could
result in serious 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.
● When a wheel is off the ground due to an
unlevel surface, do not spin the wheel
excessively.
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.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
Starting and driving5-7
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Warning light and display
When the Preview Function is not operating
properly, a chime sounds and the system warn-
ing light (orange) will come on.
Action to take :
If the warning light comes on, park the vehicle
in a safe place. Turn the engine off, restart the
engine and resume driving.
If the indicator stays on, it may indicate that the
Preview Function is malfunctioning (the brake is
operative). Although the Vehicle is still drive-
able under normal conditions, have the vehicle
checked at an INFINITI retailer.
How to handle the sensor
The sensor for the Preview Function is common
with Intelligent Cruise Control and is located
below the front bumper.
To keep the Preview Function operating prop-
erly, 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
damaged due to an accident, contact an
INFINITI retailer.
● Do not attach a sticker (including transpar-
ent material) or install an accessory near the
sensor. This could cause failure or malfunc-
tion.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
● The 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.
● 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 “TIRE AND LOADING INFORMA-
TION LABEL” in the “9. Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this
manual.
SSD0471
Starting and driving5-87
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When the VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the
VDC system, the active trace control system is
also turned off.
If the active trace control is not functioning
properly, the IBA OFF indicator light illuminates
in the instrument panel.
RISE-UP AND BUILD-UP
The system gradually adjusts braking power
during normal braking to help provide an en-
hanced brake feel.
BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION
During braking while driving through turns, the
system optimizes the distribution of force to
each of the four wheels depending on the
radius of the turn.
WARNING
●The VDC system is designed to help the
driver maintain stability but does not pre-
vent accidents due to abrupt steering opera-
tion at high speeds or by careless or danger-
ous driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful when driving
and cornering on slippery surfaces and al-
ways drive carefully. ●
The active trace control (if so equipped),
rise-up and build-up and brake force distri-
bution systems may not be effective depend-
ing on the driving condition. Always drive
carefully and attentively.
● Do not modify the vehicle’s suspension. If
suspension parts such as shock absorbers,
struts, springs, stabilizer bars, bushings
and wheels are not INFINITI recommended
for your vehicle or are extremely deterio-
rated, the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly. This could adversely affect vehicle han-
dling performance, and the VDC warning
light
may illuminate.
● If brake related parts such as brake pads,
rotors and calipers are not INFINITI recom-
mended or are extremely deteriorated, the
VDC system may not operate properly and
the VDC warning light
may illuminate.
● If engine control related parts are not
INFINITI recommended or are extremely de-
teriorated, the VDC warning light
may
illuminate. ●
When driving on extremely inclined surfaces
such as higher banked corners, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and the VDC
warning light
may illuminate. Do not
drive on these types of roads.
● When driving on an unstable surface such as
a turntable, ferry, elevator or ramp, the VDC
warning light
may illuminate. This is
not a malfunction. Restart the engine after
driving onto a stable surface.
● If wheels or tires other than the INFINITI rec-
ommended ones are used, the VDC system
may not operate properly and the VDC warn-
ing light
may illuminate.
● The VDC system is not a substitute for winter
tires or tire chains on a snow covered road.
5-90Starting and driving
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01/12/10—pattie


WARNING
●Never rely solely on the hill start assist sys-
tem to prevent the vehicle from moving back-
ward on a hill. Always drive carefully and
attentively. Depress the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped on a steep hill. Be
especially careful when stopped on a hill on
frozen or muddy roads. Failure to prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards may result in
a loss of control of the vehicle and possible
serious injury or death.
● The hill start assist system is not designed
to hold the vehicle at a standstill on a hill.
Depress the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to roll backwards and may
result in a collision or serious personal
injury.
● The hill start assist system may not prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards on a hill
under all load or road conditions. Always be
prepared to depress the brake pedal to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling backwards. Fail-
ure to do so may result in a collision or seri-
ous personal injury.
The hill start assist system automatically keeps
the brakes applied to help prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards in the time it takes the driver to release the brake pedal and apply the
accelerator when the vehicle is stopped on a
hill.
The hill start assist system will operate auto-
matically under the following conditions:
●
The transmission is shifted to a forward or
reverse gear.
● The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill
by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds. After 2
seconds the vehicle will begin to roll back and
the hill start assist system will stop operating
completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate
when the transmission is shifted to the N
(Neutral) or P (Park) position or on a flat and
level road. The 4 Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) system is an
electronically controlled four-wheel steering
system.
Depending on the vehicle speed and steering
angle, the angles of the front and rear wheels
are adjusted by the 4WAS system to help
improve driving performance.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the 4WAS
function will stop but the ordinary two-wheel
steering system will operate normally. The
“4WAS” warning light will illuminate. If the light
illuminates while you are driving, contact an
INFINITI retailer for repair.
The steering wheel may be slightly turned even
when driving on a straight road due to a
protection mechanism for the 4WAS system.
This is not a malfunction. The steering wheel
will return to the normal position after the
protection mechanism deactivates.
The protection mechanism activates under the
following conditions:
●
The steering wheel is operated forcibly when
it is hard to operate or the tires are blocked
by obstacles.
● The steering wheel is continuously operated
when the vehicle is parked or being driven at
extremely low speed.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM 4 WHEEL ACTIVE STEER (4WAS) SYSTEM (if
so equipped)
Starting and driving5-91
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●The steering wheel is forcibly turned beyond
its operation limits.
● The battery voltage is reduced.
Repeated steering maneuvers that may activate
the protection mechanism will damage the
4WAS system.
WARNING
The 4WAS system, although a sophisticated
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 4WAS system be fully
appreciated and safety optimized.
FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
deicer through the key hole. If the lock becomes
frozen, heat the key before inserting it into the
key hole or use the Intelligent Key system.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
outside temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check antifreeze to assure proper winter protec-
tion. For additional information, see “ENGINE
COOLING SYSTEM” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during ex-
tremely cold weather conditions, the battery
fluid may freeze and damage the battery. To
maintain maximum efficiency, the battery
should be checked regularly. For additional
information, see “BATTERY” in the “8. Mainte-
nance and do-it-yourself” section.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without
antifreeze, drain the cooling system, including
the engine block. Refill before operating the
vehicle. For details, see “ENGINE COOLING SYS-
TEM” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be
substantially reduced in snowy and icy condi-
tions. If you operate your vehicle on snowy or
icy roads, INFINITI recommends the use of MUD
& SNOW or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels.
Consult an INFINITI retailer for the tire type,
size, speed rating and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded
tires may be used. However, some U.S. states
and Canadian provinces prohibit their use.
Check local, state and provincial laws before
installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded snow
tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be poorer than
that of non-studded snow tires.
Tire chains may be used. For details, see “TIRE
CHAINS” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-
yourself” section of this manual.
For all-wheel drive
If you install snow tires, they must also be the
same size, brand, construction and tread pat-
tern on all four wheels.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
5-92Starting and driving
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TOWING RECOMMENDED BY INFINITI
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models
INFINITI recommends that your vehicle be towed
with the driving (rear) wheels off the ground or
place the vehicle on a flat bed truck as illus-
trated.
CAUTION
●Never tow automatic transmission models
with the rear wheels on the ground or four
wheels on the ground (forward or backward),
as this may cause serious and expensive
damage to the transmission. If it is neces-
sary to tow the vehicle with the front wheels
raised, always use towing dollies under the
rear wheels. ●
When towing rear wheel drive models with
the front wheels on the ground or on towing
dollies: Push the ignition switch to the ACC
or ON position, and secure the steering
wheel in a straight-ahead position with a
rope or similar device. Never secure the
steering wheel by selecting the LOCK posi-
tion. This may damage the steering lock
mechanism.
Two-wheel drive models
SCE0788
In case of emergency6-13
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01/13/10—pattie


Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread
design, speed rating and load carrying capacity
as originally equipped. (See “SPECIFICATIONS”
in the “9. Technical and consumer information”
section for recommended types and sizes of
tires and wheels.)
WARNING
●The use of tires other than those recom-
mended or the mixed use of tires of different
brands, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), or tread patterns can adversely affect
the ride, braking, handling, ground clear-
ance, body-to-tire clearance, tire chain
clearance, speedometer calibration, head-
light aim and bumper height. Some of these
effects may lead to accidents and could re-
sult in serious personal injury. ●
If the wheels are changed for any reason,
always replace with wheels which have the
same off-set dimension. Wheels of a differ-
ent off-set could cause premature tire wear,
degrade vehicle handling characteristics
and/or interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference can lead to
decreased braking efficiency and/or early
brake pad/shoe wear. See “WHEELS AND
TIRES” in the “9. Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual for
wheel off-set dimensions.
● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel is
replaced, the TPMS will not function and the
low tire pressure warning light will flash for
approximately 1 minute. The light will re-
main on after 1 minute. Contact your INFINITI
retailer as soon as possible for tire replace-
ment and/or system resetting.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.
● Do not install a damaged or deformed wheel
or tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural damage
and could fail without warning.
● The use of retread tire is not recommended. ●
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
models
CAUTION
● Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
Failure to do so may result in a circumference
difference between tires on the front and
rear axles which will cause excessive tire
wear and may damage the transmission,
transfer case and differential gears.
● ONLY use spare tires specified for the Intel-
ligent AWD model.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with tires
of the same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern. The tire pressure and wheel alignment
should also be checked and corrected as nec-
essary. Contact an INFINITI retailer.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-39
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07/26/10—dmoore