tow INFINITI QX 2010 Owner's Guide

Adjust air flow direction for the driver’s and pas-
senger’s side vents
1, center vents2, and rear
passengers’ vents
3and4by moving the vent
slide and/or vent assemblies.
For the driver’s and passenger’s side vents
1,
open or close by using the dial. Move the dial
toward the
position to open the vents or
toward the
position to close them.
LHA1030
VENTS
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-21
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CAUTION
●Do not use leaded gasoline. Deposits
from leaded gasoline will seriously re-
duce 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 driv-
ing if the engine misfires, or if notice-
able loss of performance or other un-
usual operating conditions are
detected. Have the vehicle inspected
promptly by an INFINITI dealer.
● 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 engine.
ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD
DRIVING PRECAUTIONS
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
They have higher ground clearance than passen-
ger cars to make them capable of performing in a
variety of on-pavement and off-road applications.
This gives them a higher center of gravity than
ordinary cars. An advantage of higher ground
clearance is a better view of the road, allowing
you to anticipate problems. However, they are not
designed for cornering at the same speeds as
conventional two-wheel drive vehicles any more
than low-slung sports cars are designed to per-
form satisfactorily under off-road conditions. If at
all possible, avoid sharp turns at high speeds. As
with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate
this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control
or vehicle rollover. In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
Be sure to read the driving safety precautions
later in this section.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided) ,
should be checked monthly when cold and in-
flated to the inflation pressure recommended 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 monitoring 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 signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat 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.
Starting and driving5-3
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INFINITI INTELLIGENT KEY™
SYSTEM
The ignition lock is designed so that the ignition
switch cannot be placed in the LOCK position
until the shift selector is moved to the P (Park)
position.
When turning the ignition switch, make sure the
shift selector is in the P (Park) position.
If the shift selector is not returned to the P (Park)
position, the ignition switch cannot be moved
toward LOCK.When the ignition switch cannot be turned to-
ward the LOCK position when the Intelligent Key
is in range, proceed as follows:
1. Move the shift selector into the P (Park) position.
2. Turn the ignition switch slightly in the ON direction.
3. Turn the ignition switch toward the LOCK position.
The shift selector can be moved from the P
(Park) position if the ignition switch is in
the ON position and the foot brake pedal is
depressed.
There is an OFF position in between LOCK and
ACC, although it does not show on the lock
cylinder. When the ignition switch is in the OFF
position, the steering wheel is not locked.
In order for the steering wheel to be locked, it
must be turned about 1/6 of a turn counterclock-
wise from the straight up position.
To lock the steering wheel, turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. To unlock the
steering wheel, push the ignition switch in
and turn it gently while rotating the steer-
ing wheel slightly right and left.
If the battery of the vehicle equipped with
the Intelligent Key system is discharged, the ignition switch cannot be turned from
the LOCK position, even using the me-
chanical key.
IGNITION SWITCH POSITIONS
Push in the ignition switch to theBposition
when you turn it.
LOCK (Normal parking position)
A:
The ignition switch can only be locked in the
LOCK position.
The ignition switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed in, and turned to the ACC position
C
while carrying the Intelligent Key.
ACC (Accessories)
C:
This position activates electrical accessories
such as the radio, when the engine is not running.
ON (Normal operating position)
D:
This position turns on the ignition system and the
electrical accessories.
START
E:
This position starts the engine. As soon as the
engine has started, release the ignition switch
immediately. It will automatically return to the ON
position.
The ignition switch cannot be turned back to the
LOCK position unless the shift selector is in the P
(Park) position. (It can be turned only to the
B
position.)
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1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift selector to P (Park) or N(Neutral) . P (Park) is recommended.
The shift selector cannot be moved out
of P (Park) and into any of the other
gear positions if the ignition key is
turned to the OFF position or if the key
is removed from the ignition switch.
The starter is designed not to operate if
the shift selector is in any of the driving
positions.
3. Crank the engine with your foot off the
accelerator pedal by turning the ignition
key to START. Release the key when the
engine starts. If the engine starts, but fails to
run, repeat the above procedure.
● If the engine is very hard to start in ex-
tremely cold weather or when restarting,
depress the accelerator pedal a little (ap-
proximately 1/3 to the floor) and hold it
and then crank the engine. Release the
key and the accelerator pedal when the
engine starts.
● If the engine is very hard to start because
it is flooded, depress the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor and hold it.
Crank the engine for 5 to 6 seconds. After
cranking the engine, release the accel- erator pedal. Crank the engine
with your
foot off the accelerator pedal by turn-
ing the ignition key to START. Release the
key when the engine starts. If the engine
starts, but fails to run, repeat the above
procedure.
CAUTION
Do not operate the starter for more than
15 seconds at a time. If the engine does
not start, turn the key off and wait 10
seconds before cranking again, otherwise
the starter could be damaged.
4. Allow the engine to idle for at least 30 sec- onds after starting. Do not race the engine
while warming it up. Drive at moderate
speed for a short distance first, especially in
cold weather.
In cold weather, keep the engine running for
a minimum of 2–3 minutes before shutting it
off. Starting and stopping the engine over a
short period of time may make the vehicle
more difficult to start.
ENGINE PROTECTION MODE
The engine has an engine protection mode to
reduce the chance of damage if the coolant tem-
perature becomes too high (for example, when
climbing steep grades in high temperature with
heavy loads, such as when towing a trailer) .
When the engine temperature reaches a certain
level: ● The engine coolant temperature gauge will
move toward the H position.
● Engine power may be reduced.
● The air conditioning cooling function may be
automatically turned OFF for a short time
(the blower will continue to operate) .
Engine power and, under some conditions, ve-
hicle speed will decrease. Vehicle speed can be
controlled with the accelerator pedal, but the
vehicle may not accelerate at the desired speed.
The transmission will downshift or upshift as it
reaches prescribed shift points. You can also
shift manually.
As driving conditions change and engine coolant
temperature is reduced, vehicle speed can be
increased using the accelerator pedal, and air
conditioning cooling function will automatically
be turned back ON.
STARTING THE ENGINE DRIVING THE VEHICLE
5-12Starting and driving
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If:1. The engine coolant temperature is not re- duced.
2. The air conditioning cooling function does not turn back ON.
3. The engine oil pressure warning/engine coolant temperature high indicator
il-
luminates, this may indicate a malfunction.
Move the vehicle off the road in a safe area
and allow the engine to cool. If after check-
ing the oil and coolant, the
remains
on, do not continue to drive and call an
INFINITI dealer.
The malfunction indicator lamp may also come
ON. You do not need to have your vehicle towed,
unless it remains on, but have it inspected soon
by an INFINITI dealer. See “Warning/Indicator
Lights and Audible reminders” in the “Instruments
and Controls” section of this manual.
WARNING
Overheating can result in reduced engine
power and vehicle speed. The reduced
speed may be lower than other traffic,
which could increase the chance of a col-
lision. Be especially careful when driving.
If the vehicle cannot maintain a safe driv-
ing speed, pull to the side of the road in a
safe area. Allow the engine to cool and
return to normal operation. See “If your
vehicle overheats” in the “In case of emer-
gency” section of this manual.
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil
pressure warning light on could cause se-
rious damage to the engine almost imme-
diately. Such damage is not covered by
warranty. Turn off the engine as soon as it
is safe to do so.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WARNING
● Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) , or L (Low) . 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 the vehicle is moving. This could
cause an accident.
CAUTION
● When stopping the vehicle on an uphill
grade, do not hold the vehicle by de-
pressing 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.
The automatic transmission in your vehicle is
electronically controlled to produce maximum
power and smooth operation.
Starting and driving5-13
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●The system may not detect the vehicle
in front of you in certain road or weather
conditions. To avoid accidents, never
use the Intelligent Cruise Control sys-
tem 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) position, the Intelli-
gent Cruise Control system is auto-
matically canceled.)
– When strong light (for example, at sunrise or sunset) is directly shining
on the front of the vehicle.
– When rain, snow or dirt adhere to the system sensor.
– On steep downhill roads (the vehicle may go beyond the set vehicle speed
and frequent barking may result in
overheating the brakes) .
– On repeated uphill and downhill roads. – When traffic conditions make it diffi-
cult to keep a proper distance be-
tween vehicles because of frequent
acceleration or deceleration.
● Do not use the Intelligent Cruise Con-
trol system if you are towing a trailer.
The system may not detect a vehicle
ahead.
● In some road or traffic conditions, a
vehicle or object can unexpectedly
come into the sensor detection zone
and cause automatic braking. You may
need to control the distance from other
vehicles using the accelerator pedal. Al-
ways stay alert and avoid using the ICC
system when it is not recommended in
this section.
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance mode
operation
Always pay attention to the operation of the ve-
hicle and be ready to manually control the proper
following distance. The Intelligent Cruise Control
(ICC) system may not be able to maintain the
selected distance between vehicles (following
distance) or selected vehicle speed under some
circumstances.
The vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
uses a sensor
1located on the front of the
vehicle to detect vehicles ahead. The sensor
generally detects the signals returned from the
reflectors on a vehicle ahead. Therefore, if the
LSD0105
5-22Starting and driving
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sensor cannot detect the reflector of the vehicle
ahead, the ICC system may not maintain the
selected distance.
The following are some conditions in which the
sensor cannot detect the signals:● When the reflector is positioned high on the
vehicle (trailer, etc.) .
● When the reflector on the vehicle ahead is
missing, damaged or covered.
● When the reflector is covered with dirt, snow
and road spray.
● When the snow or road spray from other
vehicles reduces the sensor’s visibility.
● When dense exhaust or other smoke (black
smoke) from vehicles reduces the sensor’s
visibility.
● When excessively heavy baggage is loaded
in the rear seat or the cargo area of your
vehicle.
● When your vehicle is towing a trailer, etc.
The ICC system is designed to automatically
check the sensor’s operation. When the sensor is
covered with dirt or obstructions, the system will
automatically be canceled while allowing con-
ventional cruise control to remain operational. If
the sensor is covered with ice, a transparent or translucent vinyl bag, etc., the ICC system may
not detect them. In these instances, the vehicle-
to-vehicle distance control mode may not cancel
and may not be able to maintain the selected
following distance from the vehicle ahead. Be
sure to clean the sensor regularly.
The vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode is
designed to maintain a selected distance and
reduce the speed to match the speed of a slower
vehicle ahead; the system decelerates the ve-
hicle as necessary. However, the ICC system can
only apply up to 25% of the vehicle’s total braking
power. This system should only be used when
traffic conditions allow vehicle speeds to remain
fairly constant or vehicle speeds change gradu-
ally. If a vehicle moves into the traveling lane
ahead or if a vehicle traveling ahead rapidly de-
celerates, the distance between vehicles may
become closer because the ICC system cannot
decelerate the vehicle quickly enough. If this oc-
curs, the ICC system will sound a warning chime
and blink the system display to notify the driver to
take necessary action.
The system will cancel and a warning chime will
sound if the speed falls below approximately 20
MPH (32km/h) . The system will also disengage
below the 20 MPH (32km/h) cut-off speed or
over the maximum set speed.
Refer to “Approach warning” later in this section.The following items are controlled when the se-
lector lever is in any D (Drive) position.
● When there are no vehicles traveling ahead,
the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control
mode maintains the speed set by the driver.
The set speed range is between approxi-
mately 25 and 89 MPH (40 and 144 km/h) .
● When there is a vehicle traveling ahead, the
vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
adjusts the speed to maintain the distance
selected by the driver from the vehicle
ahead. The adjusting speed range is be-
tween approximately 20 MPH (32 km/h) and
the set speed.
● When the vehicle traveling ahead has moved
out from its lane of travel, the vehicle-to-
vehicle distance control mode accelerates
and maintains speed up to the set speed.
The ICC system does not control vehicle speed
or warn you when you approach stationary and
slow moving vehicles. You must pay attention to
vehicle operation to maintain proper distance
from vehicles ahead when approaching toll gates
or traffic congestion.
Starting and driving5-23
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If the indicator stays on, it may indicate that
the Preview Function is malfunctioning
(the brake is operative) . Although the Ve-
hicle is still driveable under normal condi-
tions, have the vehicle checked at an
INFINITI dealer.
Sensor maintenance
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 properly,
be sure to observe the following:● Always keep the sensor clean. Wipe with a
soft cloth carefully so as not to damage
them.
● Do not impact the areas around the sensor.
Do not touch or disassemble the screw lo-
cated on the sensor. Doing so could cause
failure or malfunction. If the sensor installa-
tion part is deformed due to an accident,
contact an INFINITI dealer.
● Do not attach a sticker (including transpar-
ent material) or install an accessory near the
sensor. This could cause failure or malfunc-
tion.
CAUTION
During the first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) ,
follow these recommendations to obtain
maximum engine performance and en-
sure the future reliability and economy of
your new vehicle. Failure to follow these
recommendations may result in short-
ened engine life and reduced engine
performance.
● Avoid driving for long periods at constant
speed, either fast or slow, and do not run the
engine over 4,000 rpm.
● Do not accelerate at full throttle in any gear.
● Avoid quick starts.
● Avoid hard braking as much as possible.
● Do not tow a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) . Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged. ●
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Maintain
cruising speeds with a constant accelerator
position.
● Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Driving at high speed lowers fuel economy.
● Avoid unnecessary stopping and braking.
Maintain a safe distance behind other ve-
hicles.
● Use a proper gear range which suits road
conditions. On level roads, shift into high
gear as soon as possible.
● Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
● Keep your engine tuned up.
● Follow the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule.
● Keep the tires inflated to the correct pres-
sure. Low tire pressure increases tire wear
and lowers fuel economy.
● Keep the front wheels in correct alignment.
Improper alignment increases tire wear and
lowers fuel economy.
● Air conditioner operation lowers fuel
economy. Use the air conditioner only when
necessary.
BREAK-IN SCHEDULE INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY
5-40Starting and driving
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WARNING
●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.
●
Safe parking procedures require that
both the parking brake be set and the
transmission placed into P (Park) . Fail-
ure to do so could cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly or roll away and re-
sult in an accident. Make sure the shift
selector has been pushed as far forward
as it can go and cannot be moved with-
out depressing the foot brake pedal
● Never leave the engine running while
the vehicle is unattended.
● Do not leave children unattended inside
the vehicle. They could unknowingly ac-
tivate switches or controls. Unattended
children could become involved in seri-
ous accidents.
1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift selector to the P (Park) position.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into traffic when parked on an incline, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated. ●
HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
A
Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
● HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
B
Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.
● HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
C
Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the cen-
ter of the road if it moves.
4. Place the ignition switch in the LOCK posi- tion.
WSD0050
PARKING/PARKING ON HILLS
5-48Starting and driving
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6 In case of emergency
Flat tire...........................................6-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ..........6-2
Changing a flat tire .............................6-2
Jump starting . . . ..................................6-8
Push starting ..................................... 6-10If your vehicle overheats
........................... 6-10
Towing your vehicle ............................... 6-11
Towing recommended by INFINITI ...............6-11
Vehicle recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) .........6-13
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