INFINITI Q50 HYBRID 2014 Owner's Manual

5-6Starting and driving
WARNING
.Radio waves could adversely affect
electric medical equipment. Those who
use a pacemaker should contact the
electric medical equipment manufacturer
for the possible influences before use.
. If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates 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 failure. Serious vehicle damage
could occur and may lead to an accident
and could result in serious personal
injury. Check the tire pressure 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.
. Although you can continue driving with a
punctured run-flat tire, remember that vehicle handling stability is reduced,
which could lead to an accident and
personal injury. Also, driving a long
distance at high speeds may damage
the tires.
. Do not drive at speeds above 50 MPH
(80 km/h) and do not drive more than
approximately 93 miles (150 km) with a
punctured run-flat tire. The actual dis-
tance the vehicle can be driven on a flat
tire depends on outside temperature,
vehicle load, road conditions and other
factors.
. If you detect any unusual sounds or
vibrations while driving with a punctured
run-flat tire, pull off the road to a safe
location and stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. The tire may be seriously
damaged and need to be replaced.
. When a wheel is replaced, the TPMS will
not function and the low tire pressure
warning light will flash for approxi-
mately 1 minute. The light will remain
on after 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.
. 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.
Some devices and transmitters may tem-
porarily interfere with the operation of the
TPMS and cause the low tire pressure
warning light to illuminate. Some exam-
ples are:
.Facilities or electric devices using simi-
lar radio frequencies are near the
vehicle.
. If a transmitter set to similar frequen-
cies is being used in or near the

vehicle.
. If a computer (or similar equipment) or
a DC/AC converter is being used in or
near the vehicle.
FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. This device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
NOTE:
Changes or modification not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’ s
authority to operate the equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,
and
2. This device must accept any interfer-
ence, include interference that may cause undesired operation of the de-
vice.
TPMS with Tire Inflation Indicator
When adding air to an under-inflated tire,
the TPMS with Tire Inflation Indicator
provides visual and audible signals out-
side the vehicle to help you inflate the tires
to the recommended COLD tire pressure.
Vehicle set-up:
1. Park the vehicle in a safe and level
place.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever in the P (Park) position.
3. Place the ignition switch in the ON position. Do not start the hybrid
system.
Operation:
1. Add air to the tire.
2. After a few seconds, the hazard indica- tors will start flashing.
3. When the designated pressure is reached, the horn beeps once and the
hazard indicators stop flashing.
4. Perform the above steps for each tire.
. If the tire is over-inflated more than
approximately 4 psi (30 kPa), the horn beeps and the hazard indicators flash 3
times. To correct the pressure, push the
core of the valve stem on the tire briefly
to release pressure. When the pressure
reaches the designated pressure, the
horn beeps once.
. If the hazard indicator does not flash
within approximately 15 seconds after
starting to inflate the tire, it indicates
that the Tire Inflation Indicator is not
operating.
. The TPMS will not activate the Tire
Inflation Indicator under the following
conditions:
— If there is interference from an
external device or transmitter
— The air pressure from the inflation
device such as those using a power
socket is not sufficient to inflate the
tire
— If an electrical equipment is being
used in or near the vehicle
— There is a malfunction in the TPMS
system
— There is a malfunction in the horn or
hazard indicators
. If the Tire Inflation Indicator does not
operate due to TPMS interference,
move the vehicle about 3 ft (1 m)
Starting and driving5-7

5-8Starting and driving
backward or forward and try again.
If the Tire Inflation Indicator is not working,
use a tire pressure gauge.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND ROLL-
OVER
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.1-10) 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 RECOVERY
If driving the right side or left side wheels
may unintentionally leave the road surface.
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.
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 to
return 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 LOSS
Rapid 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.8-30) of
this manual.
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
“Jacking up the vehicle and replacing
tires” (P.8-40) of this Owner’s Manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
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.
Starting and driving5-9

5-10Starting and driving
INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
(AWD) DRIVING SAFETY PRECAU-
TIONS (AWD models)
WARNING
.Do not drive beyond the performance
capability of the tires, even with Intelli-
gent AWD engaged. Accelerating quickly,
sharp steering maneuvers or sudden
braking may cause loss of control.
. Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or
radial), 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 off-road
(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 (Reverse) position with
the hybrid system running. Doing 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
vehicle 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 facility personnel that your
vehicle is equipped with AWD before it is
placed on a dynamometer. Using the
wrong test equipment may result in
drivetrain damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious
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
emergency. (The INFINITI Direct Response
Hybrid
®System 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 hybrid system turns
off 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 shift lever to
the P (Park) position.
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH

SSD0659
OPERATING RANGE FOR HYBRID
SYSTEM START FUNCTION
The Intelligent Key can only be used for
starting the hybrid system when the
Intelligent Key is within the specified
operating range.
When the Intelligent Key battery is almost
discharged or strong radio waves are
present near the operating location, the
Intelligent Key system’s operating range
becomes narrower and may not function
properly.
If the Intelligent Key is within the operating
range, it is possible for anyone, evensomeone who does not carry the Intelligent
Key, to push the ignition switch to start the
hybrid system.
.
The trunk area is not included in the
operating range but the Intelligent Key
may function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed on the
instrument panel, rear parcel shelf,
inside the glove box or door pocket,
the Intelligent Key may not function.
. If the Intelligent Key is placed near the
door or window outside the vehicle, the
Intelligent Key may function.
CAUTION
When pressing the ignition to the OFF
position, make sure the button is not
pressed twice. This may unintentionally
leave the vehicle in ACC or ON mode. This
may discharge the 12-volt battery.
JVS0266X
PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION SWITCH
OPERATION
When the ignition switch is pushed without
depressing the brake pedal, the ignition
switch position will change as follows:
. Push center once to change to ACC.
. Push center two times to change to ON.
. Push center three times to change to
OFF. (No position illuminates.)
. Push center four times to return to ACC.
. Open or close any door to return to
LOCK during the OFF position.
If the ignition switch is pushed quickly or is
rapidly pushed twice, the hybrid system
Starting and driving5-11

5-12Starting and driving
may not start. If this occurs, put the shift
lever in the“P”(Park) position, and leave
the ignition switch in the “OFF”position for
one minute. Then depress the brake pedal
and push the ignition switch to “ON”.
When the READY to drive indicator light
illuminates, the vehicle can be
driven.
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch position cannot be switched
to LOCK until the shift lever is moved to the
P (Park) positon.
When the ignition switch cannot be
switched toward the LOCK position, move
the shift lever into the P (Park) position.
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.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical acces-
sories such as the radio, when the hybrid system is not running.
ON (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the ignition system
and electrical accessories.
OFF
The hybrid system can be turned off in this
position.
The ignition lock is designed so that the
ignition switch cannot be switched to the
LOCK position until the shift lever is moved
to the P (Park) position.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the push-
button ignition switch in ACC or ON posi-
tions when the hybrid system is not running
for an extended period. This can discharge
the 12-volt battery.
EMERGENCY HYBRID SYSTEM SHUT
OFF
To shut off the hybrid system in an
emergency situation while driving, perform
the following procedure:
.
Rapidly push the push-button ignition
switch 3 consecutive times, in less than
1.5 seconds, or
. Push and hold the push-button ignition
switch for more than 2 seconds.

JVS0264X
INTELLIGENT KEY BATTERY DIS-
CHARGE
If the battery of the Intelligent Key is
discharged, or environmental conditions
interfere with the Intelligent Key operation,
start the hybrid system according to the
following procedure:
1. Move the shift lever to the P (Park)position.
2. Firmly apply the foot brake.
3. Touch the ignition switch with the Intelligent Key as illustrated. (A chime
will sound.) 4. Push the ignition switch while depres-
sing the brake pedal within 10 seconds
after the chime sounds. The hybrid
system will start.
After step 3 is performed, when the
ignition switch is pushed without depres-
sing the brake pedal, the ignition switch
position will change to ACC.
NOTE:
. When the ignition switch is pushed to
the ACC or ON position or the hybrid
system is started by the above proce-
dures, the Intelligent Key battery dis-
charge indicator appears in the vehicle
information display even if the Intelli-
gent Key is inside the vehicle. This is
not a malfunction. To turn off the
Intelligent Key battery discharge indi-
cator, touch the ignition switch with
the Intelligent Key again.
. If the Intelligent Key battery discharge
indicator appears, replace the battery
as soon as possible. (See “Intelligent
Key battery replacement” (P.8-25).).
Make sure the area around the vehicle
is clear.
. Check fluid levels such as engine oil,
coolant, brake fluid and window
washer fluid as frequently as possible,
or at least whenever you refuel.
. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
. Visually inspect tires for their appear-
ance and condition. Also check tires for
proper inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head re-
straints.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passen-
gers to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to
the ON position. (See “Warning/indica-
tor lights and audible reminders” (P.2-
12).)
Starting and driving5-13
BEFORE STARTING THE INFINITI DIRECT
RESPONSE HYBRID®SYSTEM

5-14Starting and driving
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to P (Park) posi-tion.
The INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
®
System is designed not to operate if
the shift lever is not in the P (Park)
position.
3. Depress the brake pedal and push the ignition switch to start the hybrid
system. The READY to drive indicator
light will illuminate on the meter.
When starting the hybrid system at
very low outside temperatures, the
READY to drive indicator light will flash
and it may take longer for the READY to
drive indicator light to illuminate.
. The hybrid system may not start even
with the READY to drive indicator light
illuminated. Once the READY to drive
indicator light is illuminated you may
begin driving the vehicle.
. You may hear a sound in the engine
compartment when the brake pedal is
depressed with the hybrid system off.
This does not indicate a problem.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential 12-volt battery discharge and potential no-start condi-
tions such as:
1.
Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume 12-volt
battery power when the hybrid system
is not running (Phone chargers, GPS,
DVD players, etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or
only driven short distances.
In these cases, the 12-volt battery may
need to be charged to maintain 12-volt
battery health.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The automatic transmission in your vehicle
is electronically controlled by a transmis-
sion control module to produce maximum
efficiency and smooth operation.
Shown on the following pages are the
recommended operating procedures for
this transmission. Follow these procedures
for maximum vehicle performance and
driving enjoyment.
Starting the vehicle
After starting the INFINITI Direct Response
Hybrid®System, fully depress the foot
brake pedal and push the shift lever button
before shifting the shift lever to the R
(Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) or Manual
shift mode position. Be sure the vehicle is
fully stopped before attempting to shift the
shift lever.
This Automatic Transmission (AT) model is
designed so that the foot brake pedal
must be depressed before shifting from P
(Park) to any drive position while the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of the
P (Park) position and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition switch is
pushed to the LOCK, OFF or ACC position.
STARTING THE INFINITI DIRECT RESPONSE
HYBRID®SYSTEM DRIVING THE VEHICLE

1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressedand push the shift 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.
Coasting with the transmission in the N
(Neutral) position may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
JVS0186X
Shift lever
To move the shift lever,
: Push the button while depressing the brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the shift lever.
Shifting
After starting the hybrid system, fully
depress the brake pedal and shift the shift
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.
Starting and driving5-15