4WD INFINITI QX 2011 Owner's Guide

CAUTION
Never tow 4WD models with any of the wheels
on the ground as this may cause serious and
expensive damage to the powertrain.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (freeing a stuck
vehicle)
WARNING
●Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
● Do not spin your tires at high speed. This
could cause them to explode and result in
serious injury. Parts of your vehicle could
also overheat and be damaged.
Pulling a stuck vehicle
If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use a tow strap or other device designed spe-
cifically for vehicle recovery. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the recovery de-
vice.
Attach the tow strap to the recovery hook.
CAUTION
● Tow chains or cables must be attached only
to the main structural members of the ve-
hicle or the towing hooks. Otherwise, the
vehicle body will be damaged.
Front
SCE0921
Rear
SCE0922
In case of emergency6-17

●If the wheels are changed for any reason,
always replace with wheels which have the
same off-set dimension. Wheels of a differ-
ent off-set could cause premature tire wear,
degrade vehicle handling characteristics
and/or interference with the brake
discs/drums. Such interference can lead to
decreased braking efficiency and/or early
brake pad/shoe wear. See “WHEELS AND
TIRES” in the “9. Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual for
wheel off-set dimensions.
● When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel is
replaced, the TPMS will not function and the
low tire pressure warning light will flash for
approximately 1 minute. The light will re-
main on after 1 minute. Contact your INFINITI
retailer as soon as possible for tire replace-
ment and/or system resetting.
● Replacing tires with those not originally
specified by INFINITI could affect the proper
operation of the TPMS.
● Do not install a damaged or deformed wheel
or tire even if it has been repaired. Such
wheels or tires could have structural damage
and could fail without warning.
● The use of retread tire is not recommended. ●
For additional information regarding tires,
refer to “Important Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in
the Warranty Information Booklet.
Four-wheel Drive (4WD) models
CAUTION
● Always use tires of the same type, size,
brand, construction (bias, bias-belted or ra-
dial), and tread pattern on all four wheels.
Failure to do so may result in a circumference
difference between tires on the front and
rear axles which will cause excessive tire
wear and may damage the transmission,
transfer case and differential gears.
● ONLY use spare tires specified for the 4WD
model.
If excessive tire wear is found, it is recom-
mended that all four tires be replaced with tires
of the same size, brand, construction and tread
pattern. The tire pressure and wheel alignment
should also be checked and corrected as nec-
essary. Contact an INFINITI retailer.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle handling
and tire life. Even with regular use, wheels can
get out of balance. Therefore, they should be
balanced as required.
Wheel balance service should be performed with
the wheels off the vehicle. Spin balancing the
wheels on the vehicle could lead to mechanical
damage.
For additional information regarding tires, refer
to “Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or
“Tire Safety Information” (Canada) in the
INFINITI Warranty Information Booklet.
Care of wheels
See “CLEANING EXTERIOR” in the “7. Appear-
ance and care” section for details about care of
the wheels.
Spare tire
When a spare tire is mounted (TEMPORARY USE
ONLY or conventional), the TPMS will not func-
tion.
8-38Maintenance and do-it-yourself

TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION
TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION CHARTUnit: lb (kg)
US Canada
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) model Four-Wheel Drive
(4WD) model Four-Wheel Drive
(4WD) model
MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY*1, *2 8,500 (3,856)8,500 (3,856)
MAXIMUM TONGUE LOAD 850 (385)850 (385)
GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT RATING 14,300 (6,486) 14,480 (6,568) 14,480 (6,568)
1: The towing capacity values are calculated assuming a base vehicle with driver and any options required to achieve the rating. Additional passengers, cargo and/or optional equipment will add
weight to the vehicle and reduce your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity.
2: Use of a weight-distributing hitch system is recommended when towing over 5,000 lb (2,267 kg).
TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitch
Your vehicle is equipped with a trailer tow
package. The trailer tow package includes a
receiver-type frame mounted hitch. This hitch is
rated for the maximum towing capacity of this
vehicle when the proper towing equipment is
used. Choose a proper ball mount and hitch ball
that is rated for the trailer to be towed. Genuine
INFINITI ball mounts and hitch balls are avail-
able from an INFINITI retailer.
Technical and consumer information9-21

Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the wheels and
applying the parking brake, transmission dam-
age could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the down-hill side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly release the brake pedal until the blocks
absorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park).
6. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models:
Make sure that the 4WD shift switch is
engaged in the AUTO, 4HI or 4LO position
and the Automatic Transmission (AT) park
warning light is turned off.
7. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer
are clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
● While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descending
a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness and
could cause overheating. Shifting to a lower
gear instead provides “engine braking” and
reduces the need to brake as frequently.
● If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, see “IF YOUR VEHICLE
OVERHEATS” in the “6. In case of emer-
gency” section.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than nor-
mal circumstances. ●
Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (800 km).
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule in the INFINITI Service
and Maintenance Guide.
● When making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly
causing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions
allow. This combination will help stabilize
the vehicle.
– Do not correct trailer sway by steering orapplying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the brakes and pull to the side of the road
in a safe area.
9-26Technical and consumer information

FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a
vehicle behind a recreational vehicle, such as a
motor home.
CAUTION
●Failure to follow these guidelines can result
in severe transmission damage.
● Whenever flat towing your vehicle, always
tow forward, never backward.
● DO NOT tow any automatic transmission ve-
hicle with all four wheels on the ground (flat
towing). Doing so WILL DAMAGE internal
transmission parts due to lack of transmis-
sion lubrication.
● DO NOT tow an Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) ve-
hicle with any of the wheels on the ground.
Doing so may cause serious and expensive
damage to the powertrain.
● For emergency towing procedures refer to
“TOWING RECOMMENDED BY INFINITI” in the
“6. In case of emergency” section of this
manual.
Automatic Transmission
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) models :
Do not tow a 4WD vehicle with any of the wheels
on the ground.
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models :
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dolly
MUST be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels. Alwaysfollow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product. DOT (Department Of Transportation) Quality
Grades: All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TREADWEAR
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
9-28Technical and consumer information

Additional information concerning motor
vehicle safety may be obtained from
Transport Canada’s Road Safety Informa-
tion Centre at 1-800-333-0371 or online at
www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety (English speak-
ers) or www.tc.gc.ca/securiteroutiere
(French speakers).
To notify INFINITI of any safety concerns
please contact our Consumer Informa-
tion Centre toll free at 1-800-361-4792.
A vehicle equipped with Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
should never be tested using a two wheel
dynamometer (such as the dynamometers used
by some states for emissions testing), or similar
equipment. 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 equipment may result in
transmission damage or unexpected vehicle
movement which could result in serious vehicle
damage or personal injury.
Due to legal requirements in some states and
Canadian Provinces, your vehicle may be re-
quired to be in what is called the “ready
condition” for an Inspection/Maintenance (I/M)
test of the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the “ready condition” when
it is driven through certain driving patterns.
Usually, the “ready condition” can be obtained
by ordinary usage of the vehicle.If a powertrain system component is repaired or
the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be
reset to a “not ready condition”. Before taking
the I/M test, check the vehicle’s
inspection/maintenance test readiness condi-
tion. Place the ignition switch in the ON position
without starting the engine. If the Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL) comes on steady for 20
seconds and then blinks for 10 seconds, the I/M
test condition is “not ready”. If the MIL does not
blink after 20 seconds, the I/M test condition is
“ready”.
Contact an INFINITI retailer to set “ready condi-
tion” or to prepare the vehicle for testing.
READINESS FOR INSPECTION/
MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST
Technical and consumer information9-31

Trailer towing.................. 9-17
Transceiver, HomeLink Universal
Transceiver ................... 2-68
Transmission Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) ....8-11
Driving with automatic transmission . . . 5-15
Transmission selector lever lock
release .................... 5-18
Transmitter
(See remote keyless entry system) ......3-15
Traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country .................9-9
Trip computer .................. 2-27
Trip odometer .................. 2-27
Turn signal switch ............... 2-42
U
Underbody cleaning ...............7-3
Uniform tire quality grading ..........9-28
USB memory operation ............4-61
V
Vanity mirror .................. 3-30
Vanity mirror lights .............. 2-68
Variable voltage control system ........8-16
Vehicle Dimensions ..................9-9
Identification number (VIN) ........9-10
Loading information ............9-12
Recovery (freeing a stuck vehicle) .....6-17
Security system ............... 2-29Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch
.................... 2-51
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system . . 5-98
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) warning
light ..................... 2-17
Vehicle information and settings
(display) ....................4-7
Ventilators ................... 4-30
Voice command (INFINITI voice recognition
system) ................. 4-112, 4-122
Voice recognition system ...........4-106
Voice recognition, Alternate command
mode ...................... 4-119
Voltmeter .....................2-9
W
Warning Check tire pressure warning .......2-24
Dot matrix display ............. 2-21
Hazard warning flasher switch ......2-43
Lane departure warning (LDW) system . . 5-20
Lights ..................... 2-11
Loose fuel cap warning ..........2-24
Tire
pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) .................. 5-3, 6-2
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders .................. 2-10
Warning labels, Air bag warning labels . . . 1-63
Warning light 4WD warning light ............. 5-89
Air bag warning light .........1-63, 2-16
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning
light ...................... 2-11
Brake warning light ............. 2-12Intelligent Key warning light
........2-14
Lane departure warning light . . . . . . . 2-14
Low tire pressure warning light . .....2-14
Seat belt warning light and chime ....2-16
Warranty, Emission control system
warranty ..................... 9-29
Washer switch Rear window wiper and washer
switch .................... 2-34
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . . 2-32
Washing ......................7-2
Waxing ......................7-3
Welcome light .................. 2-65
Wheel/tire size ..................9-9
Wheels and tires ................ 8-29
Care of wheels ................7-3
Cleaning aluminum alloy wheels . . . . . . 7-4
Window washer fluid .............. 8-14
Window(s) Cleaning ....................7-3
Power windows ............... 2-61
Windshield wiper and washer switch .....2-32
Wiper Rain-sensing auto wiper system .....2-33
Rear window wiper and washer
switch .................... 2-34
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . . 2-32
Wiper blades ................ 8-19
X
Xenon headlights ................ 2-36
10-7