INFINITI M-HEV 2013 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: INFINITI, Model Year: 2013, Model line: M-HEV, Model: INFINITI M-HEV 2013Pages: 530, PDF Size: 3.71 MB
Page 341 of 530

5-14Starting and driving
position.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressedand push the selector lever button to
shift into a driving gear.
2. Release the parking brake and foot brake, then gradually start the vehicle
in motion.
WARNING
. Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N
(Neutral) to R (Reverse), D (Drive) 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.
. Cold engine idle speed is high, so use
caution when shifting into a forward or
reverse gear before the engine has
warmed up.
. Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse)
while vehicle is moving forward. Never
shift to P (Park) or D (Drive) while vehicle
is moving rearward. Failure to do so
could cause you to lose control and have
an accident.
CAUTION
.When 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.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slippery
roads. This may cause a loss of control.
. Except in an emergency, do not shift to
the N (Neutral) position while driving.
Doing so can cause a loss of engine
braking which may result in a collision,
serious personal injury or death. In
addition, coasting with the transmission
in the N (Neutral) position may cause
serious damage to the transmission.
SSD0973
Selector lever
To move the selector lever,
: Push the button while depressing the brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the selector lever.
Shifting
After starting the hybrid system, fully
depress the brake pedal and shift the
selector lever from P (Park) to R (Reverse),
N (Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual shift mode
position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be
selected without pushing the button.
Page 342 of 530

WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the selector lever
is in any position while the hybrid system 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
Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped
and the transmission is in the P (Park)
position.
P (Park) position:
Use this selector position when the vehicle
is parked or when starting the hybrid
system. Make sure the vehicle is comple-
tely 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.
CAUTION
Use this position only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.
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 en-
gaged. The hybrid system can be started in
this position. You may shift to the N
(Neutral) position and restart a stalled
hybrid system while the vehicle is moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
Manual shift mode
When the selector lever is in the manual
shift gate, the transmission is ready for the
manual shift mode. Shift ranges can be
selected manually by moving the selector
lever up or down.
When shifting up, move the selector lever
to the + (up) side. The transmission shifts
to the higher range.
When shifting down, move the selector
lever to the
−(down) side. The transmis-
sion shifts to the lower range.
When canceling the manual shift mode,
return the selector lever to the D (Drive)
position. 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.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1 ?
/M2?
/M3?
/M4?
/M5?
/M6?
/M7
M7 (7th):
Use these positions for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
Starting and driving5-15
Page 343 of 530

5-16Starting and driving
M6 (6th) andM5 (5th):
Use this position 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.
. Remember not to drive at high speeds
for extended periods of time in lower
than 7th gear. This reduces fuel econ-
omy.
. Moving the selector lever rapidly to the
same side twice will shift the ranges in
succession.
. In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion may not shift to the selected gear
or may automatically shift to the other
gear. This helps maintain driving per-
formance and reduces the chance of
vehicle damage or loss of control.
When the transmission does not shift
to the selected gear, the Automatic
Transmission (AT) position indicator light (on the dot matrix liquid crystal
display) will blink and the chime will
sound.
. In the manual shift mode, the transmis-
sion automatically shifts down to 1st
gear before the vehicle comes to a
stop. When accelerating again, it is
necessary to shift up to the desired
range.
Accelerator downshift —In D (Drive)
position —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress
the accelerator pedal to the floor. This
shifts the transmission down into the lower
gear, depending 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 spin-
ning and subsequent hard braking, the
fail-safe system may be activated. This will
occur even if all electrical circuits are
functioning properly. In this case, push
the ignition switch to the OFF position and wait for 3 seconds. Then push the ignition
switch back to the ON position. The vehicle
should return 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.
Page 344 of 530

SSD0974
Shift lock release
If the 12-volt battery charge is low or
discharged, the selector lever may not be
moved from the P (Park) position even with
the brake pedal depressed and the selector
lever button pushed.
To move the selector lever, perform the
following procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF orLOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
*Ausing a
suitable tool. 4. Push down the shift lock
*Bas
illustrated.
5. Push the selector lever button
*Cand
move the selector lever to N (Neutral)
position
*Dwhile holding down the
shift lock.
Push the ignition switch to the ON position
to unlock the steering wheel (if so
equipped). Now the vehicle may be moved
to the desired location.
For models with a steering wheel lock
mechanism:
If the 12-volt battery is discharged com-
pletely, the steering wheel cannot be
unlocked. Do not move the vehicle with
the steering wheel locked.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P
(Park), have an INFINITI retailer check the
automatic transmission system as soon as
possible.
Adaptive shift control (ASC)
The adaptive shift control system automa-
tically operates when the transmission is
in the "D" (drive) position and selects an
appropriate gear depending on the road
conditions such as uphill, downhill or
curving roads. Control on uphill and curving roads:
A low gear is maintained that suits the
degree of the slope or curve to allow
smooth driving with a small number of
shifts.
Control on downhill roads:
The adaptive shift control system shifts to
a low gear that suits the degree of the
slope to reduce the number of times that
the brake must be used.
Control on winding roads:
A low gear is maintained on continuous
curves that involve repeated acceleration
and deceleration, so that smooth accelera-
tion is available instantly when the accel-
erator pedal is depressed.
NOTE:
. Adaptive shift control may not operate
when the transmission oil temperature
is low immediately after the start of
driving or when it is very hot.
. During some driving situations, hard
braking for example, the adaptive shift
control may automatically operate. The
transmission may automatically shift
to a lower gear for engine braking. This
increases engine speed but not vehicle
speed. Vehicle speed is controlled by
Starting and driving5-17
Page 345 of 530

5-18Starting and driving
the accelerator pedal when the vehicle
is in the Adaptive shift control mode.
. When the adaptive shift control oper-
ates, the transmission sometimes
maintains a lower gear for a longer
period of time than when adaptive shift
control is not operating. Engine speed
will be higher for a specific vehicle
speed while ASC system is operating
than when ASC is not operating.WARNING
. Be sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do so
can cause brake failure and lead to an
accident.
. Do not release the parking brake from
outside the vehicle.
. Do not use the gear shift in place of the
parking brake. When parking, be sure
the parking brake is fully engaged.
. Do not leave children unattended in a
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake and cause an accident.
SPA2331
To apply: Fully depress the parking brake
pedal
*1.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake
*2.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal
*1
and the parking brake will be released.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
PARKING BRAKE
Page 346 of 530

SSD1024
Drive mode select switch
Four driving modes can be selected by
using the drive mode selector switch,
STANDARD, SPORT, ECO and SNOW. Select
the STANDARD mode for normal driving.
NOTE:
When the drive mode select switch selects
a mode, the mode may not switch quickly.
This is not a malfunction.
STANDARD MODE
Recommended for normal driving. Turn the
drive mode select switch to the
position. “STANDARD” appears in the
vehicle information display for 2 seconds.
SPORT MODE
Adjusts the engine and transmission
points to enhance performance. If the
vehicle is equipped with the active trace
control system, the amount of brake
control provided by active trace control is
reduced. (See “Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) system” later in this section.) Turn
the drive mode select switch to the SPORT
position. “SPORT”appears in the vehicle
information display for 2 seconds.
NOTE:
In the SPORT mode, fuel economy may be
reduced.
SNOW MODE
Used on snowy roads or slippery areas.
When the SNOW mode is activated, engine
output is controlled to avoid wheel spin.
Turn the SNOW mode off for normal
driving. Turn the drive mode select switch
to the SNOW position. “SNOW”appears in
the vehicle information display for 2 seconds.
ECO MODE
Adjusts engine and transmission points to
enhance fuel economy.
NOTE:
Selecting this drive mode will not neces-
sarily improve fuel economy as many
driving factors influence its effectiveness.
Operation
Turn the drive mode select switch to the
ECO position.
“ECO”appears in the vehicle
information display for 2 seconds and the
ECO drive indicator light illuminates on the
instrument panel.
When the accelerator pedal is depressed
within the range of economy drive, the ECO
drive indicator light illuminates in green.
When the accelerator pedal is depressed
above the range of economy drive, the
color of the ECO drive indicator light
changes to orange. For ECO pedal system
equipped models see “ECO pedal system”
later in this section.
The ECO drive indicator light will not
illuminate in the following cases:
. When the selector lever is in the R
(Reverse) position.
Starting and driving5-19
INFINITI DRIVE MODE SELECTOR
Page 347 of 530

5-20Starting and driving
.When the vehicle speed is below 3 MPH
(4.8 km/h) or over 90 MPH (144 km/h).
. When the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
system is operated.
ECO pedal system (if so equipped)
Helps assist the driver to improve fuel
economy by increasing the reaction force
of the accelerator pedal. When the ECO
drive indicator light is blinking or turns
orange, the ECO pedal system increases
the reaction force of the accelerator pedal.
SSD1041
When the ECO drive indicator illuminates in
green, the accelerator reaction force is
normal. When the ECO drive indicator light
is blinking or turns orange, the ECO pedal
system increases the reaction force of the
accelerator pedal.
The ECO pedal system may not vary
accelerator reaction force under the follow-
ing conditions:
. When the selector lever is in the N
(Neutral) or R (Reverse) position.
. When Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) is
being operated.
If the ECO pedal system malfunctions, it
will cancel automatically. The ECO pedal system will not vary the reaction force of
the accelerator pedal.
When the drive mode select switch is
rotated from the ECO mode to another
mode (STANDARD, SPORT or SNOW) while
the ECO pedal system is operating, the ECO
pedal system continues to operate until
the pedal is released.
If the accelerator pedal is depressed
quickly, the ECO pedal system will not
increase the reaction force of the accelera-
tion pedal. The ECO pedal system is not
designed to prevent the vehicle from
accelerating.
Adjusting the ECO pedal system reaction
force:
The ECO pedal system reaction force can
be adjusted. The reaction force setting will
be maintained until the setting is changed
even if the INFINITI Direct Response Hy-
brid
TMSystem is turned off.
Page 348 of 530

SSD0939
SSD1001
Setting ECO pedal reaction force:
1. Push the SETTING
*1button and high-
light the ECO DRIVE key on the display
using the INFINITI controller. Then push
the ENTER
*2button.
2. Highlight the ECO pedal key and push the ENTER
*2button.
SSD1025
3. To set the reaction force of the ECOpedal system, highlight “Standard”or
“Soft”.
4. To turn off the ECO pedal system, highlight the OFF key, select ON and
push the ENTER
*2button. When the
ECO pedal system is tuned off, the
accelerator will operate normally.
Starting and driving5-21
Page 349 of 530

5-22Starting and driving
The Lane Departure Warning (LDW) sys-
tem/Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) sys-
tem will operate when the vehicle is driven
at speeds of approximately 45 MPH (70
km/h) and above, and when it is traveling
close to either the left or the right of a
traveling lane.
Each system functions as follows:
.Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system
— warns the driver by a warning light
and chime.
. Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system
— warns the driver by a warning light
and chime, and helps assist the driver
to return the vehicle to the center
direction of the traveling lane by
applying brake control to the left or
right wheels individually (for a short
period of time).
JVS0068X
SSD0672
Lane departure warning light (orange) The LDW and LDP systems monitor the lane
markers on the traveling lane using the
camera unit
*1located above the inside
mirror. When the camera unit detects that
the vehicle is traveling close to either the
left or the right of the traveling lane, the
lane departure warning light on the instru-
ment panel blinks in orange and a warning
chime sounds. When the LDP system is on,
it will automatically apply the brakes for a
short period of time, using the function of
the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system.
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
SYSTEM
Precautions on LDW system
WARNING
. This system is only a warning device to
inform the driver of a potential unin-
tended lane departure. It will not steer
the vehicle or prevent loss of control. It
is the driver’ s responsibility to stay
alert, drive safely, keep the vehicle in
the traveling lane, and be in control of
the vehicle at all times.
. The system will not operate at speeds
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
SYSTEM/LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION
(LDP) SYSTEM (if so equipped)
Page 350 of 530

below approximately 45 MPH or if it
cannot detect lane markers.
. If the LDW system malfunctions, it will
cancel automatically, and the lane de-
parture warning light (orange) will illu-
minate.
. If the lane departure warning light
(orange) illuminates, pull off the road
to a safe location and stop the vehicle.
Turn the hybrid system off and restart
the hybrid system. If the lane departure
warning light (orange) continues to
illuminate, have the system checked by
an INFINITI retailer.
. Excessive noise will interfere with the
warning chime sound, and the chime
may not be heard.
The system may not function properly
under the following conditions:
.On roads where there are multiple
parallel lane markers; lane markers
that are faded or not painted clearly;
yellow painted lane markers; non-stan-
dard lane markers; or lane markers
covered with water, dirt, snow, etc.
. On roads where the discontinued lane
markers are still detectable. .
On roads where there are sharp curves.
. On roads where there are sharply
contrasting objects, such as shadows,
snow, water, wheel ruts, seams or lines
remaining after road repairs. (The LDW
system could detect these items as
lane markers.)
. On roads where the traveling lane
merges or separates.
. When the vehicle’s traveling direction
does not align with the lane marker.
. When traveling close to the vehicle in
front of you, which obstructs the lane
camera unit detection range.
. When rain, snow or dirt adheres to the
windshield in front of the lane camera
unit.
. When the headlights are not bright due
to dirt on the lens or if the aiming is not
adjusted properly.
. When strong light enters the lane
camera unit. (For example, the light
directly shines on the front of the
vehicle at sunrise or sunset.)
. When a sudden change in brightness
occurs. (For example, when the vehicle
enters or exits a tunnel or under a
bridge.)
SSD0672
Lane departure warning light (orange)
LDW system operation
The LDW system provides a lane departure
warning function when the vehicle is driven
at speeds of approximately 45 MPH (70
km/h) and above. When the vehicle
approaches either the left or the right side
of the traveling lane, a warning chime will
sound and the lane departure warning light
(orange) on the instrument panel will blink
to alert the driver.
The warning function will stop when the
vehicle returns inside of the lane markers.
The LDW system is not designed to warn
under the following conditions.
Starting and driving5-23