engine INFINITI Q50 HYBRID 2018 Owner's Guide

System maintenance .............................................. 5-120
Break-in schedule .......................................................... 5-121
Fuel Efficient Driving Tips .......................................... 5-121
Increasing fuel economy .............................................. 5-122
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) (if
so equipped) .................................................................... 5-123
Parking/parking on hills .............................................. 5-125
Power steering ............................................................... 5-126 Direct Adaptive Steering type .............................. 5-126
Brake system ................................................................. 5-128 Braking precautions ............................................... 5-128
Parking brake break-in ........................................... 5-129
Brake assist ..................................................................... 5-129 Brake assist ............................................................... 5-129
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .......................... 5-129
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ................ 5-130 Rise-up and build-up .............................................. 5-131
Brake force distribution ......................................... 5-131 Active trace control ...................................................... 5-132
Hill Start Assist system .............................................. 5-134
Chassis control ............................................................. 5-134
Cold weather driving ................................................... 5-135
Freeing a frozen door lock .................................. 5-135
Antifreeze ................................................................. 5-135
12-volt Battery ....................................................... 5-135
Draining of coolant water ................................... 5-135
Tire equipment ........................................................ 5-135
Special winter equipment .................................... 5-135
Driving on snow or ice .......................................... 5-135
Engine block heater (if so equipped) ............... 5-136
Active noise cancellation/Active
sound enhancement ..................................................... 5-137
Active noise cancellation ..................................... 5-137
Active sound enhancement ................................. 5-137

5-4Starting and driving
WARNING
.Do not leave children or adults who
would normally require the support
of others alone in your vehicle. Pets
should not be left alone either. They
could accidentally injure themselves
or others through inadvertent opera-
tion of the vehicle. Also, on hot,
sunny days, temperatures in a closed
vehicle could quickly become high
enough to cause severe or possibly
fatal injuries to people or animals.
. Closely supervise children when they
are around cars to prevent them from
playing and becoming locked in the
trunk where they could be seriously
injured. Keep the car locked, with the
rear seatback and trunk lid securely
latched when not in use, and prevent
children’s access to car keys.
EXHAUST GAS (carbon monoxide)
WARNING
.Do not breathe exhaust gases; they
contain colorless and odorless carbon
monoxide. Carbon monoxide is dan-
gerous. It can cause unconsciousness
or death.
. If you suspect that exhaust fumes are
entering the vehicle, drive with all
windows fully open, and have the
vehicle inspected immediately.
. Do not run the engine in closed spaces
such as a garage.
. Do not park the vehicle with the
INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
®
System running for any extended
length of time.
. Keep the trunk lid closed while driv-
ing, otherwise exhaust gases could be
drawn into the passenger compart-
ment. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, follow these precau-
tions:
1) Open all the windows.
2) Set the air recirculation mode to off and the fan control to high to
circulate the air. .
If electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass to a trailer
through the seal on the trunk lid or
the body, follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation to prevent carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle.
. The exhaust system and body should
be inspected by a qualified mechanic
whenever:
— The vehicle is raised for service.
— You suspect that exhaust fumes are entering into the passenger
compartment.
— You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust system.
— You have had an accident invol- ving damage to the exhaust sys-
tem, underbody, or rear of the
vehicle.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING
AND DRIVING

THREE-WAY CATALYST
The three-way catalyst is an emission con-
trol device installed in the exhaust system.
Exhaust gases in the three-way catalyst are
burned at high temperatures to help reduce
pollutants.
WARNING
.The exhaust gas and the exhaust
system are very hot. Keep people,
animals or flammable materials away
from the exhaust system compo-
nents.
. Do not stop or park the vehicle over
flammable materials such as dry
grass, waste paper or rags. They
may ignite and cause a fire.
CAUTION
.Do not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline seriously reduce
the three-way catalyst’s ability to
help reduce exhaust pollutants.
. Keep your engine tuned up. Malfunc-
tions in the ignition, fuel injection, or
electrical systems can cause overrich fuel flow into the three-way catalyst,
causing it to overheat. Do not keep
driving if the engine misfires, or if
noticeable loss of performance or
other unusual operating conditions
are detected. Have the vehicle in-
spected. It is recommended you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
. Avoid driving with an extremely low
fuel level. Running out of fuel could
cause the engine to misfire, damaging
the three-way catalyst.
. Do not race the engine while warming
it up.
. Do not push or tow your vehicle to
start the hybrid system.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.) As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a Tire Pressure Mon-
itoring System (TPMS) that illuminates a low
tire pressure telltale when one or more of
your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly under-inflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
If the vehicle is being driven with one or more
flat tires, the low tire pressure warning light
will illuminate continuously and a chime will
sound for 10 seconds. The “Flat Tire - Visit
dealer” warning will also appear in the
vehicle information display. The chime will
only sound at the first indication of a flat tire,
and the warning light will illuminate con-
tinuously. When the flat tire warning is
activated, it is recommended you have the
system reset and the tire checked and
replaced if necessary by an INFINITI retailer.
Even if the tire is inflated to the specified
COLD tire pressure, the warning light will
continue to illuminate until the system is
reset. Your vehicle can be driven for a limited
time on a flat tire. See “Run-flat tires” (P.8-
34).
Starting and driving5-5

5-14Starting and driving
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 depressing 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 indicator, 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.8-21).) .
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 appearance
and condition. Also check tires for proper
inflation.
. Lock all doors.
. Position seat and adjust head restraints.
. Adjust inside and outside mirrors.
. Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers
to do likewise.
. Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is pushed to the
ON position. (See “Warning lights, in-
dicator lights and audible reminders”
(P.2-9).) 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to P (Park) position.
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 sys-
tem. 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 conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electro-
nic accessories that consume 12-volt
BEFORE STARTING THE INFINITI
DIRECT RESPONSE HYBRID®SYSTEMSTARTING THE INFINITI DIRECT
RESPONSE HYBRID®SYSTEM

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.
REMOTE START
Vehicles started with the remote engine
start function require the ignition switch to
be placed in the ON position before the shift
lever can be moved from the P (Park)
position. To place the ignition switch in the
ON position, perform the following steps:
1. Make sure that the Intelligent Key is on you.
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3. Push the ignition switch once to the ON position.
For additional information about the remote
engine start function, see “Remote engine
start” (P.3-19).
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled by a transmission
control module to produce maximum effi-
ciency 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.
1. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed and 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 either P (Park) or R
(Reverse) position while the vehicle is
moving forward and P (Park) or D
(Drive) position while the vehicle is
moving reversing. This could cause an
accident or damage the transmission.
. Do not downshift abruptly on slip-
pery roads. This may cause a loss of
control.
Starting and driving5-15
DRIVING THE VEHICLE

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 shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift 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 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 shift 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 shift lever up or down.
When shifting up, move the shift lever to the
+ (up) side. The transmission shifts to the
higher range.
When shifting down, move the shift lever to
the − (down) side. The transmission shifts to
the lower range.
When canceling the manual shift mode,
return the shift lever to the D (Drive)
position. The transmission returns to the
normal driving mode.
In the manual shift mode, the shift range is
displayed in the vehicle information display.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
1M?
/
2M?
/3M?
/4M?
/ 5M?
/6M?
/ 7M
7M(7th):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
6
M(6th) and 5M(5th):
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
4
M(4th), 3M(3rd) and 2M(2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades. 1
M(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 economy.
. Moving the shift lever rapidly to the same
side twice will shift the ranges in succes-
sion.
. 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 Trans-
mission (AT) position indicator (in the
vehicle information display) will blink
and the buzzer 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 —
Starting and driving5-17

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 re-acceleration. This
increases engine speed but not vehicle
speed. Vehicle speed is controlled by the
accelerator pedal when the vehicle is in
the Adaptive shift control mode.
. When the adaptive shift control oper-
ates, the transmission sometimes main-
tains 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.
NAVI Shift Control
NAVI Shift Control automatically adjusts the
Automatic Transmission (AT) gear position
in certain situations based on road informa-
tion from the navigation system.
When the navigation system detects that
the vehicle is approaching a curved road,
NAVI Shift Control will adjust the gear position if needed to help the driver run
through the curve smoothly.
Precaution on NAVI Shift Control:
.
The NAVI Shift Control does not provide
steering input or automated driving on a
curve. It is not a speed limit support
system and will not modify your speed
according to local speed limits.
. The NAVI Shift Control is a convenient
system intended to help the vehicle move
through a curve smoothly. However, the
driver must always drive safely and use
the brake pedal if needed.
. The NAVI Shift Control may be delayed
or not operate properly in the following
situations, because this function uses the
road information provided by the navi-
gation system.
— When the navigation system cannot accurately detect the location of the
vehicle.
— When the vehicle is driving on a road- way that is not recognized by the
navigation system.
— When the actual roadway differs from the map information on the naviga-
tion system due to road construction,
traffic lane obstructions, etc.
. The NAVI Shift Control may not operate
properly in the following situations: — If the vehicle’s transmission, engine,
hybrid system and/or navigation sys-
tem, and/or GPS is malfunctioning.
— If the vehicle speed is higher than 74 MPH (120 km/h) or lower than 37
MPH (60 km/h) and/or transmission
gear is outside the operating range of
the system.
— When the vehicle is driving on a free- way.
— When the vehicle is driving on a gentle curve
— When the vehicle is driving with the shift lever except in the D (Drive)
position.
Starting and driving5-19

JVS0189X
INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
JVS0191M
Vehicle information displayFive driving modes can be selected by using
the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector (PERSO-
NAL, SPORT, STANDARD, ECO and
SNOW).
NOTE:
When the INFINITI Drive Mode Selector
selects a mode, the mode may not switch
immediately. This is not a malfunction.
The current mode is displayed in the vehicle
information display.
To change the mode, push the INFINITI
Drive Mode Selector up or down. The mode
list will appear on the upper display and you
can select the mode.
PERSONAL
œSPORT œSTANDARD œ
ECO œSNOW
NOTE:
The mode list will be turned off in approxi-
mately 5 seconds after the mode is selected.
STANDARD MODE
Allows for optimum driving according to the
driving conditions.
This mode will be selected first each time the
INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid
®System is
started.
SPORT MODE
. Adjusts the engine and transmission
points for a higher response.
. The setting of the steering system is
adjusted to provide a quick steering
response and a heavy steering effort.
NOTE:
In the SPORT mode, fuel economy may be
reduced.
SNOW MODE
Changes the engine characteristics to aid
driving on slippery roads.
ECO MODE
Assists the driver’s eco-driving. The engine
and transmission points are adjusted for
improved fuel economy, providing such a
driving features as smooth starting or con-
stant cruising.
NOTE:
Selecting the ECO mode will not necessarily
improve fuel economy as many driving
factors influence its effectiveness.
Operation
Select the ECO mode using the INFINITI
Drive Mode Selector. The ECO drive indica-
tor light on the instrument panel illuminates.
Starting and driving5-21
INFINITI DRIVE MODE SELECTOR

JVS0246X
Setting ECO pedal reaction force:
1. Push the MENU button
and touch
[Settings] on the lower display.
2. Touch [Drive Mode Enhancement].
3. Touch [ECO Pedal].
4. To set the reaction force of the ECO pedal system, touch [Standard] or [Soft].
5. To turn off the ECO pedal system, touch [OFF].
When the ECO pedal system is turned off,
the accelerator will operate normally.
PERSONAL MODE
When the PERSONAL mode is selected, the
following functions can be adjusted indivi-
dually.
. Engine/Transmission
. Steering
. Active Trace Control
JVS0246X
How to set the PERSONAL mode
Perform the following steps to set the
PERSONAL mode.
1. Push the MENU button
and touch
[Infiniti Drive Mode Selector] on the
lower display.
2. Touch [Engine/Transmission], [Steering] or [Active Trace Control] and select each
item. (See “Engine/Transmission”,
“Steering” and “Active Trace Control”
about the feature of each item.)
3. Touch [Back] or [Home] to finish the PERSONAL mode setting.
Starting and driving5-23

5-24Starting and driving
Engine/Transmission:
“Engine/Transmission” can be set to [Sport],
[Eco], [Standard] or [Snow].
Steering:
Four combinations of steering effort and
steering response can be set.
ModeResponse
Sport Dynamic+
Dynamic
Default
Standard Default
Active Trace Control:
“Active Trace Control” can be set to ON
(enabled) or OFF (disabled).
For details about the Active Trace Control,
see “Active trace control” (P.5-132).
Reset Settings:
Touch [Reset Settings] and touch [OK] to
restore all the PERSONAL mode settings to
default.
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and
instructions for proper use of Active
Lane Control could result in serious
injury or death.
.Active Lane Control will not always
steer the vehicle to keep it in the lane.
It is not designed to 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 vehicle at all times.
Active Lane Control enables the driver to
make fewer steering corrections on free-
ways.
ACTIVE LANE CONTROL (if so equipped)