warning light INFINITI QX 2011 Owners Manual

How to enable/disable the FCW system using
the settings menu :
Perform the following steps to enable or disable
the FCW system.
1. Push the SETTING1button and highlight
the “Driver Assistance” key on the display
using the INFINITI controller. Then push
the ENTER
2button.
2. Highlight the “Driver Assistance Warn- ings” key, and push the ENTER
2button.
3. Highlight the “Forward Collision Warning”key, select ON (enabled) or OFF (disabled)
and push the ENTER
2button.
With navigation system
SSD0959
SSD1102
JVS0080X
Starting and driving5-79

The Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) system warns
the driver by a warning light and chime when
there is a risk of a collision with the vehicle
ahead in the traveling lane and the driver must
take avoidance action immediately. The system
helps reduce the rear-end collision speed by
applying the brakes when the system judges
that the collision cannot be prevented.
The IBA system will function when your vehicle
is driven at speeds of approximately 10 MPH (15
km/h) and above, and when your vehicle is
driven at speeds approximately 10 MPH (15
km/h) faster than the vehicle ahead.The IBA system uses a distance sensorA
located below the front bumper to measure the
distance to the vehicle ahead. When the system
judges that your vehicle is getting close to the
vehicle ahead in the traveling lane, the vehicle
ahead detection indicator on the instrument
panel blinks and a warning chime sounds.
The IBA system will be turned on/off by pushing
the IBA OFF switch. The IBA OFF indicator light
will illuminate when the system is turned off.
PRECAUTIONS ON IBA SYSTEM
WARNING
●
The IBA system is not a collision avoidance
system. It is the driver’s responsibility to
stay alert, drive safely and be in control of
the vehicle at all times.
● As there is a performance limit, the system
may not provide a warning or braking in cer-
tain conditions.
● The system will not detect the following
objects:
– Pedestrians, animals or obstacles in the roadway
SSD1047
Vehicle ahead detection indicator
SSD0749
INTELLIGENT BRAKE ASSIST (IBA) SYSTEM
(if so equipped)
5-80Starting and driving

WARNING
●The system may detect highly reflective ob-
jects such as reflectors, signs, white mark-
ers and other stationary objects on the road
or near the traveling lane.
In extreme conditions, detection of these ob-
jects may cause the system to function.
● The system is designed to automatically
check the sensor’s functionality. If the sen-
sor is covered with ice, a transparent or
translucent plastic bag, etc., the system may not detect them. In these instances the sys-
tem may not be able to warn the driver prop-
erly. Be sure to check and clean the sensor
regularly.
● Excessive noise will interfere with the warn-
ing chime sound, and the chime may not be
heard.
● A sudden appearance of a vehicle in front
(i.e., it abruptly cuts in) may not be detected
and the system may not warn the driver soon
enough.
● The system will be cancelled automatically
with a beep sound and the IBA warning light
will illuminate under the following
conditions:
– When the sensor window is dirty
– When the system malfunctions
If the IBA OFF indicator light illuminates with a
beep sound, pull off the road to a safe location,
stop the vehicle and turn the engine off. Check
to see if the sensor window is dirty. If the
sensor window is dirty, clean it with a soft cloth
and restart the engine. If the sensor window is
not dirty, restart the engine. If the IBA OFF
indicator light continues to illuminate even if
the IBA system is turned on, have the system
checked by an INFINITI retailer.
IBA system operation
The IBA system will function when your vehicle
is driven at speeds of approximately 10 MPH (15
km/h) or above, and when the vehicle’s speed
is approximately 10 MPH (15 km/h) faster than
that of the vehicle ahead.
To turn the system off or on, push and hold the
IBA OFF switch
B(located on the lower side of
the instrument panel) for more than 1 second
after starting the engine. When the IBA OFF
indicator light
Aon the instrument panel turns
off and the IBA OFF switch is pushed, the
system will turn off and the IBA OFF indicator
light will illuminate. When the IBA OFF switch is
pushed again, the system will turn on and the
IBA OFF indicator light will turn off.
Reflectors on the road
SSD0782SSD1050
5-82Starting and driving

WARNING
●Do not attempt to raise two wheels off the
ground and shift the transmission to any
drive or reverse position with the engine run-
ning. Doing so may result in drivetrain dam-
age or unexpected vehicle movement which
could result in serious vehicle damage or
personal injury.
● Do not attempt to test a 4WD equipped ve-
hicle on a 2-wheel dynamometer 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 4WD before it is placed on a
dynamometer. Using the wrong test equip-
ment may result in drivetrain damage or un-
expected vehicle movement which could re-
sult in serious vehicle damage or personal
injury.
CAUTION
● Do not drive the vehicle in the 4HI or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driving
on dry, hard surfaces in 4HI or 4LO may
cause unnecessary noise, tire wear and in-
creased fuel consumption.
If the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) warning light
turns on when driving on dry hard surface
roads:
– in the 4HI position, shift the 4WD shift switch to AUTO.
– in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle and shift the transmission lever to the N (Neu-
tral) position with the brake pedal de-
pressed and shift the 4WD shift switch to
AUTO.
If the 4WD warning light is still on after
the above operation, have your vehicle
checked by an INFINITI retailer as soon as
possible.
● The transfer case may be damaged if you
continue driving with the 4WD warning light
blinking.
See “ON-PAVEMENT AND OFF-ROAD DRIVING
PRECAUTIONS” earlier in this section for other
precautions for offroad driving.
INFINITI ALL-MODE 4WD SYSTEM
The all mode 4WD system provides 3 positions
(AUTO, 4HI and 4LO), so you can select the
desired drive mode according to the driving
conditions.
INFINITI ALL-MODE 4WD(if so equipped)
5-84Starting and driving

The 4WD shift switch is used to select the 4WD
mode depending on the driving conditions.
There are 3 types of drive modes available,
AUTO, 4HI and 4LO.
The 4WD shift switch electronically controls the
transfer case operation. Rotate the switch to
move between each mode, AUTO, 4H and 4L.
You must depress the 4WD shift switch to select
4L, and the vehicle MUST be stationary and the
selector lever in the N (Neutral) position when
changing into or out of 4L.
WARNING
●When parking, apply the parking brake be-
fore stopping the engine and make sure that
the 4WD shift indicator is on and the ATP
warning light turns off. Otherwise, the ve-
hicle could unexpectedly move even if the
automatic transmission is in the P (Park)
position.
● The 4LO and 4HI indicators must stop blink-
ing and the 4LO or 4HI indicator must remain
illuminated or turn off before shifting the
transmission into gear. If the selector lever
is shifted from the N (Neutral) position to any
other gear while the 4LO and 4HI indicators
are blinking alternately, the vehicle may
move unexpectedly.
CAUTION
● Never shift the 4WD shift switch between 4L
and 4H while driving.
● The 4HI position provides greater traction.
Avoid excessive speed, as it will cause in-
creased fuel consumption and higher oil
temperatures, and could damage drivetrain
component. Speeds over 62 MPH (100 km/h)
in 4HI is not recommended.
● The 4LO position provides maximum trac-
tion. Avoid raising vehicle speed exces-
sively, as the maximum speed is approxi-
mately 31 MPH (50 km/h).
● When driving straight, shift the 4WD shift
switch to the AUTO or 4H position. Do not
move the 4WD shift switch when making a
turn or reversing.
● Do not shift the 4WD shift switch (between
AUTO and 4H) while driving on steep down-
hill grades. Use the engine brake and low
automatic transmission gears for engine
braking.
● Do not operate the 4WD shift switch (be-
tween AUTO and 4H) with the rear wheels
spinning. ●
Do not drive on dry hard surface roads in the
4HI or 4LO position. Driving on dry hard sur-
faces in 4HI or 4LO may cause unnecessary
noise and tire wear. INFINITI recommends
driving in the AUTO position under these
conditions.
● The 4WD transfer case may not be shifted
between 4HI and 4LO at low ambient tem-
peratures and the 4LO and 4HI indicators
may blink even when the 4WD shift switch is
shifted. After driving for a while you can
change the 4WD shift switch between 4H
and 4L.
When driving on rough roads,
● Drive carefully according to the road surface
conditions.
When the vehicle is stuck,
● Place stones or wooden blocks under the
tires to free the vehicle.
● Set the 4WD shift switch to 4H or 4L.
● If it is difficult to free the vehicle, repeat
forward and backward movement to increase
the movement.
● If the vehicle is stuck deep in mud, tire
chains may be effective.
Starting and driving5-87

●Never shift the 4WD shift switch between 4L
and 4H while driving.
● Engine idling speed is high while warming
up the engine. Be especially careful when
starting or driving on slippery surfaces with
the 4WD shift switch in AUTO.
4WD SHIFT INDICATOR
The 4WD shift indicator is displayed in the
vehicle information display.
The indicator should turn off within 1 second
after placing the ignition switch in the ON
position.
While the engine is running, the 4WD shift
indicator will illuminate the position selected by
the 4WD shift switch. (See the 4WD shift proce-
dure list shown in the “INFINITI ALL-MODE
4WD SYSTEM” earlier in this section.) ●
The 4WD shift indicator may blink while shift-
ing from one drive mode to the other. When
the shifting is completed, the 4WD shift indi-
cator will come on. If the indicator does not
come on immediately, make sure the area
around the vehicle is safe, and drive the ve-
hicle straight, accelerate or decelerate or
move the vehicle in reverse, then shift the
4WD shift switch.
● If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
shift indicator turns off.
4WD WARNING LIGHT
Warning light Comes on or
blinks when:
Illuminates There is a mal-
function in the 4WD system
Blinks
rapidly The transfer
case oil tem-
perature is ab- normally high
Blinks
slowly The difference in
wheel rotation is large
The 4WD warning light is located in the meter.
4WD shift indicator
SSD1058
Starting and driving5-89

The 4WD warning light comes on when the
ignition switch is placed in the ON position. It
turns off soon after the engine is started.
If any malfunction occurs in the 4WD system
when the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the 4WD warning light will either
remain illuminated or blink.
If the 4WD warning light comes on, the 4WD
shift indicator turns off.
High-temperature transfer case oil makes the
4WD warning light blink rapidly (about twice per
second). If the warning light blinks rapidly
during operation, stop the vehicle in a safe
place immediately. Then if the light turns off
after a while, you can continue driving.
A large difference between the diameters of
front and rear wheels will make the 4WD warn-
ing light blink slowly (about once per two
seconds). Change the 4WD shift switch to AUTO
and do not drive fast.CAUTION
●If the 4WD warning light comes on or blinks
slowly during operation or rapidly after stop-
ping the vehicle for a while, have your ve-
hicle checked by an INFINITI retailer as soon
as possible.
● Shifting between 4HI and 4LO is not recom-
mended when the 4WD warning light turns
on.
● When the 4WD warning light comes on, the
2WD mode may be engaged even if the 4WD
shift switch is in AUTO or 4H. Be especially
careful when driving. If corresponding parts
are malfunctioning, the 4WD mode will not
be engaged even if the 4WD shift switch is
shifted.
● Do not drive the vehicle in the 4HI or 4LO
position on dry hard surface roads. Driving
on dry, hard surfaces in 4HI or 4LO may
cause unnecessary noise, tire wear and in-
creased fuel consumption.
If the 4WD warning light turns on when driv-
ing on dry hard surface roads:
– in the AUTO or 4HI position, shift the 4WD shift switch to AUTO. – in the 4LO position, stop the vehicle and
shift the transmission selector lever to
the N (Neutral) position and shift the 4WD
shift switch to AUTO.
● If the 4WD warning light is still on after the
above operation, have your vehicle checked
by an INFINITI retailer as soon as possible.
● The transfer case may be damaged if you
continue driving with the warning light
blinking.
5-90Starting and driving

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.
When the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warn-
ing light illuminates in the meter, the hill start
assist system will not operate. (See
“WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND AUDIBLE RE-
MINDERS” in the “2. Instruments and controls”
section.)
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-91

WARNING
If the engine is not running or is turned off while
driving, the power assist for the steering will
not work. Steering will be harder to operate.
The power assisted steering uses a hydraulic
pump, driven by the engine, to assist steering.
If the engine stops or the drive belt breaks, you
will still have control of the vehicle. However,
much greater steering effort is needed, espe-
cially in sharp turns and at low speeds.
BRAKING PRECAUTIONS
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking ability at two wheels.
You may feel a small click and hear a sound
when the brake pedal is fully depressed slowly.
This is not a malfunction and indicates that the
brake assist mechanism is operating properly.
Hydraulically-assisted brakes
The hydraulically-assisted brake system is de-
signed to use a hydraulic pump driven electri-
cally, to assist braking. If the engine stops, you
can stop the vehicle by depressing the foot
brake pedal. However, greater foot pressure on
the foot brake pedal will be required to stop the
vehicle. The stopping distance will be longer.
Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven through
water, the brakes may get wet. As a result, your
braking distance will be longer and the vehicle
may pull to one side during braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed
while lightly tapping the brake pedal to heat-up
the brakes. Do this until the brakes return to
normal. Avoid driving the vehicle at high speeds
until the brakes function correctly.
PARKING BRAKE BREAK-IN
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
stopping effect of the parking brake is weak-
ened or whenever the parking brake shoes
and/or drums/rotors are replaced, in order to
assure the best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle ser-
vice manual and can be performed by an
INFINITI retailer.
Using the brakes
Avoid resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. This will cause overheating of the
brakes, wearing out the brake and pads faster
and reduce gas mileage.
To help save the brakes and to prevent the
brakes from overheating, reduce speed and
downshift to a lower gear before going down a
slope or long grade. Overheated brakes may
reduce braking performance and could result in
loss of vehicle control.
POWER STEERING BRAKE SYSTEM
5-94Starting and driving

WARNING
●While driving on a slippery surface, be care-
ful when braking, accelerating or downshift-
ing. Abrupt braking or accelerating could
cause the wheels to skid and result in an
accident.
● If the engine is not running or is turned off
while driving, the power assist for the
brakes will not work. Braking will be harder.
BRAKE ASSIST
When the force applied to the brake pedal
exceeds a certain level, the Brake Assist is
activated generating greater braking force than
a conventional brake booster even with light
pedal force.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist braking
operation and is not a collision warning or
avoidance device. It is the driver’s responsibil-
ity to stay alert, drive safely and be in control of
the vehicle at all times.
PREVIEW FUNCTION (Intelligent Cruise
Control system equipped models)
When the Preview Function identifies the need
to apply emergency braking by sensing a ve-
hicle ahead in the same lane and the distance
and relative speed from it, it applies the brake
pre-pressure before the driver depresses the
brake pedal and helps improve brake response
by reducing pedal free play.
● This system will not operate when the ve-
hicle is moving at approximately 20 MPH (32
km/h) or less. ●
The pre-pressure function ceases when the
following conditions are met:
a) When the driver depresses the accelera- tor pedal or the brake pedal.
b) If the driver does not operate the accel- erator or brake pedal within approxi-
mately 1 second.
c) When the 4WD shift switch is in the 4H or 4L position (for 4WD models).
BRAKE ASSIST
Starting and driving5-95