traction control INFINITI QX50 2021 Owner's Manual

Power steering warning
light
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.
• When the power steering warning light
illuminates with the engine running,
there will be no power assist for the
steering. You will still have control of the
vehicle, but the steering will be harder to
operate. Have the power steering sys-
tem checked. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Models with Direct Adaptive Steering®:
When the ignition switch is in the ON posi-
tion, the power steering warning light illumi-
nates. After starting the engine, the power
steering warning light stays on for a few
seconds and turns off. This indicates that
Direct Adaptive Steering is operational. Drive
the vehicle after the power steering warning
light turns off.
If the power steering warning light illumi-
nates while driving, pull off the road to a safe
location and stop the vehicle. If the power
steering warning light turns off, you can drive again. If the power steering warning light
continues to illuminate, have the Direct
Adaptive Steering checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service. For additional information, see
“Power Steering”. (P. 5-149).
Models with electric power steering:
When the ignition switch is in the ON posi-
tion, the power steering warning light illumi-
nates. After starting the engine, the power
steering warning light turns off. This indicates
the electric power steering is operational.
If the power steering warning light illumi-
nates while the engine is running, it may indi-
cate the electric power steering is not func-
tioning properly and may need servicing. It is
recommended that you have the electric
power steering checked by an INFINITI
retailer.
When the power steering warning light illu-
minates with the engine running, the power
assist to the steering will cease operation but
you will still have control of the vehicle. At this
time, greater steering efforts are required to
operate the steering wheel, especially in
sharp turns and at low speeds. For additional
information, see “Power Steering” (P. 5-149).
Rear Automatic Braking
(RAB) warning light
This light comes on when the ignition switch
is placed in the ON position. It turns off after
the engine is started.
This light illuminates when the RAB system is
turned off in the vehicle information display.
If the light illuminates when the RAB system
is on, it may indicate that the system is un-
available. For additional information, see
“Rear Automatic Braking (RAB)” (P. 5-118).
Slip indicator light
This indicator light will blink when the VDC
system is operating, thus alerting the driver to
the fact that the road surface is slippery and
the vehicle is nearing its traction limits.
You may feel or hear the system working; this
is normal.
The light will blink for a few seconds after the
VDC system stops limiting wheel spin.
2-16Instruments and controls

3. When appropriate, slowly release the ac-celerator pedal to gradually slow the
vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe loca- tion off the road and away from traffic if
possible.
5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually stop the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and contact a roadside emergency service to
change the tire. For additional informa-
tion, see “Flat tire” (P. 6-3).
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS
AND DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream re-
duces coordination, delays reaction time
and impairs judgement. Driving after
drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of
being involved in an accident injuring your-
self and others. Additionally, if you are in-
jured in an accident, alcohol can increase
the severity of the injury. INFINITI is committed to safe driving. How-
ever, 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 dif-
ferently 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.
DRIVING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Your INFINITI is designed for both normal
and off-road use. However, avoid driving in
deep water or mud as your INFINITI is mainly
designed for leisure use, unlike a conventional
off-road vehicle.
Remember that 2-Wheel Drive (2WD) mod-
els are less capable than All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) models for rough road driving and
extrication when stuck in deep snow or mud,
or the like.
Please observe the following precautions:
WARNING
• Spinning the front wheels on slippery
surfaces may cause the AWD warning
message to display and the AWD system
to automatically switch from the AWD
to the 2WD mode. This could reduce the
traction. Be especially careful when tow-
ing a trailer (AWD models).
• Drive carefully when off the road and
avoid dangerous areas. Every person
who drives or rides in this vehicle should
be seated with their seat belt fastened.
This will keep you and your passengers in
position when driving over rough terrain.
• Do not drive across steep slopes. Instead
drive either straight up or straight down
the slopes. Off-road vehicles can tip over
sideways much more easily than they can
forward or backward.
• Many hills are too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you may stall. If you
drive down them, you may not be able to
control your speed. If you drive across
them, you may roll over.
• Do not shift gears while driving on
downhill grades as this could cause loss
of control of the vehicle.
5-10Starting and driving

SYSTEM TEMPORARILY
UNAVAILABLE
Condition A:
The warning and assist functions of the LDP
system are not designed to work under the
following conditions:
• When you operate the lane change signaland change the traveling lanes in the direc-
tion of the signal. (The LDP system will be
deactivated for approximately 2 seconds
after the lane change signal is turned off.)
• When the vehicle speed lowers to less than approximately 37 mph (60 km/h).
After the above conditions have finished and
the necessary operating conditions are satis-
fied, the warning and assist functions will
resume.
Condition B:
The assist function of the LDP system is not
designed to work under the following condi-
tions (warning is still functional):
• When the brake pedal is depressed.
• When the steering wheel is turned as far as necessary for the vehicle to change lanes.
• When the vehicle is accelerated during LDP system operation. • When the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
approach warning occurs.
• When the hazard warning flashers are operated.
• When driving on a curve at high speed.
After the above conditions have finished and
the necessary operating conditions are satis-
fied, the LDP system application of the
brakes will resume.
Condition C:
If the following messages appear in the ve-
hicle information display the LDP system will
be turned off automatically:
• “Not Available Poor Road Conditions”: When the VDC system (except Traction
Control System [TCS] function) or ABS
operates.
• “Currently not available”: When the VDC system is turned off.
Action to take:
When the above conditions no longer exist,
turn off the LDP system. Push the ProPILOT
Assist switch on the steering wheel again to
turn the LDP system back on. Temporary disabled status at high
temperature:
If the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight under
high temperature conditions (over approxi-
mately 104°F [40°C]) and then the LDP sys-
tem is turned on, the LDP system may be
deactivated automatically and the following
message will appear on the vehicle informa-
tion display: “Not available: High Camera
Temp.” When the interior temperature is re-
duced, the system will resume operating
automatically.
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
If the LDP system malfunctions, it will cancel
automatically. The LDP indicator (orange)
will illuminate in the display. If the LDP indi-
cator (orange) illuminates in the display, pull
off the road to a safe location and stop the
vehicle. Turn the engine off and restart the
engine. If the LDP indicator (orange) contin-
ues to illuminate, have the LDP system
checked. It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
5-44Starting and driving

– When the ICC, DCA, PFCW or FEB withPedestrian Detection warnings sound.
– When the hazard warning flashers are operated.
– When driving on a curve at a high speed.
SYSTEM TEMPORARILY
UNAVAILABLE
When any of the following messages appear
on the vehicle information display, a chime
will sound and the BSI system will be turned
off automatically.
• “Not Available Poor Road Conditions”: When the VDC system (except traction
control system function) or ABS operates.
• “Currently Not Available”: When the VDC system is turned off.
• “Not Available: High Camera Temp”: When the camera detects that the interior
temperature is high (over approximately
104°F [40°C]).
• “Unavailable: Side Radar Obstruction”: When side radar blockage is detected.
Turn off the BSI system and turn it on again
when the above conditions no longer exist.
SYSTEM MALFUNCTION
When the BSI system malfunctions, it will be
turned off automatically, a chime will sound
and the warning message will appear in the
vehicle information display.
Action to take:
Stop the vehicle in a safe location, place the
vehicle in the P (Park) position, turn the en-
gine off and restart the engine. If the warning
light (orange) continues to illuminate, have
the system checked. It is recommended that
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
The lane camera unitO1for the BSI system is
located above the inside mirror. The two ra-
dar sensors
O2for the BSI system are located
near the rear bumper. To keep the proper
operation of the BSI system and prevent a
system malfunction, be sure to observe the
following:
• Always keep the windshield and the area near the radar sensors clean.
LSD2924
Starting and driving5-65

When driving on some roads, such as wind-
ing, hilly, curved, narrow roads, or roads
which are under construction, the radar sen-
sor may detect vehicles in a different lane, or
may temporarily not detect a vehicle traveling
ahead. This may cause the radar system to
decelerate or accelerate the vehicle.
The detection of vehicles may also be af-
fected by vehicle operation (steering maneu-
ver or traveling position in the lane, etc.) or
vehicle condition.If this occurs, the ICC system may warn you
by blinking the system indicator and sounding
the chime unexpectedly. You will have to
manually control the proper distance away
from the vehicle traveling ahead.
Automatic cancellation
The following are conditions in which the ICC
system may be temporarily unavailable. In
these instances, the ICC system may not can-
cel and may not be able to maintain the se-
lected following distance from the vehicle
ahead.Condition A
Under the following conditions, the ICC sys-
tem is automatically canceled. A chime will
sound and the system will not be able to be
set:
• Any door is open.
• The driver’s seat belt is not fastened.
• The vehicle ahead is not detected and your
vehicle is traveling below the speed of 15
mph (25 km/h).
• Your vehicle has been stopped by the ICC system for approximately 3 minutes or
longer.
• The shift lever is not in the D (Drive) position or manual shift mode.
• The electronic parking brake is applied.
• The VDC system is turned off.
• The Forward Emergency Braking with Pe- destrian Detection applies harder braking.
• VDC (including the traction control system) operates.
• A wheel slips.
• When distance measurement becomes im- paired due to adhesion of dirt or obstruc-
tion to the sensor.
• When the radar signal is temporarily interrupted.
SSD0253
Starting and driving5-95

WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. It is the driv-
er’s responsibility to stay alert, drive safely
and be in control of the vehicle at all times. The VDC system uses various sensors to
monitor driver inputs and vehicle motion. Un-
der certain driving conditions, the VDC sys-
tem helps to perform the following functions:
• Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel
slip on one slipping drive wheel so power is
transferred to a non-slipping drive wheel
on the same axle.
• Controls brake pressure and engine output to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function).
• Controls brake pressure at individual wheels and engine output to help the driver
maintain control of the vehicle in the fol-
lowing conditions:
Understeer (vehicle tends to not follow the
steered path despite increased steering input)
Oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain
road or driving conditions)
The VDC system can help the driver to main-
tain control of the vehicle, but it cannot pre-
vent loss of vehicle control in all driving
situations.
When the VDC system operates, the
indicator light in the instrument panel flashes
to note the following:
• The road may be slippery or the system may determine some action is required to help
keep the vehicle on the steered path. • You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal
and hear a noise or vibration from under the
hood. This is normal and indicates that the
VDC system is working properly.
• Adjust your speed and driving to the road conditions.
For additional information, see “Slip indicator
light” (P. 2-16) and ”Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) OFF indicator light” (P. 2-17).
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
andindicator lights come on in the
instrument panel. The VDC system automati-
cally turns off when these indicator lights are
on.
The lower display is used to turn off the VDC
system. When the VDC system is turned off,
the
indicator light, the RAB system
warning light, and the FEB with Pedestrian
Detection system warning light illuminate to
indicate the VDC, FEB with Pedestrian De-
tection, and RAB systems are off.
When the lower display is used to turn off the
system, the VDC system still operates to pre-
vent one drive wheel from slipping by trans-
ferring power to a non-slipping drive wheel.
The
indicator light flashes if this occurs.
All other VDC functions are off and the
indicator light will not flash.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
5-154Starting and driving

SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:
• A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re-move ice and snow from the windows and
wiper blades.
• A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack to give it firm support.
• A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snowdrifts.
• Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield- washer fluid reservoir.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
• Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),
very cold snow or ice can be slick and very
hard to drive on. The vehicle will have
much less traction or “grip” under these
conditions. Try to avoid driving on wet
ice until the road is salted or sanded.
• Whatever the condition, drive with cau-
tion. Accelerate and slow down with
care. If accelerating or downshifting too
fast, the drive wheels will lose even more
traction. •
Allow more stopping distance under
these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
• Allow greater following distances on
slippery roads.
• Watch for slippery spots (glare ice).
These may appear on an otherwise clear
road in shaded areas. If a patch of ice is
seen ahead, brake before reaching it. Try
not to brake while on the ice, and avoid
any sudden steering maneuvers.
• Do not use the cruise control on slippery
roads.
• Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gases
under your vehicle. Keep snow clear of
the exhaust pipe and from around your
vehicle.
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER (if so
equipped)
Engine block heaters are used to assist with
cold temperature starting.
The engine block heater should be used when
the outside temperature is 20°F (-7°C) or
lower.
WARNING
• Do not use your engine block heater with
an ungrounded electrical system or a
2-pronged adapter. You can be seriously
injured by an electrical shock if you use
an ungrounded connection.
• Disconnect and properly store the engine
block heater cord before starting the en-
gine. Damage to the cord could result in
an electrical shock and can cause serious
injury.
• Use a heavy-duty 3-wire, 3-pronged ex-
tension cord rated for at least 10 A. Plug
the extension cord into a Ground Fault
Interrupt (GFI) protected, grounded
110-VAC outlet. Failure to use the
proper extension cord or a grounded
outlet can result in a fire or electrical
shock and cause serious personal injury.
To use the engine block heater:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the engine block heater cord.
3. Plug the engine block heater cord into a grounded 3-wire, 3-pronged extension
cord.
5-166Starting and driving

CAUTION
• Failure to follow these guidelines can re-
sult in severe transmission damage.
• Never flat tow your All-wheel drive
(AWD) vehicle.
• DO NOT tow your All-wheel drive
(AWD) vehicle with any wheels on the
ground. Doing so may cause serious and
expensive damage to the powertrain.
• For emergency towing procedures see
“Towing recommended by INFINITI”
(P. 6-8).
FLAT TOWING FOR FRONT
WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE (if so
equipped)
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 re-
sult in severe transmission damage.
• Whenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward. •
Never tow your front wheel drive vehicle
with the front tires on the ground. Doing
so may cause serious and expensive dam-
age to the powertrain.
• DO NOT tow your front wheel drive con-
tinuously variable transmission vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground (flat
towing). Doing so WILL DAMAGE inter-
nal transmission parts due to lack of
transmission lubrication.
• For emergency towing procedures see
“Towing recommended by INFINITI”
(P. 6-8).
Continuously Variable Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with a continu-
ously variable transmission, an appropriate
vehicle dolly MUSTbe placed under the
towed vehicle's drive wheels. Alwaysfollow
the dolly manufacturer's recommendations
when using their product.
NOTE:
It the battery is completely drained the
transmission will not manually shift to other
positions. 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 appli-
cable 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 government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100. The rela-
tive performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service prac-
tices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
Technical and consumer information10-29

Traction AA, A, B and C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of as-
phalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature A, B and C
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to
the generation of heat, and its ability to dis-
sipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive tempera-
ture can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is es-
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-inflation, or excessive loading, ei-
ther separately or in combination, can
cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure. Your INFINITI is covered by the following
emission warranties:
For USA
1. Emission Defects Warranty
2. Emissions Performance Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found
with other vehicle warranties in your War-
ranty Information Booklet which comes with
your INFINITI. If you did not receive a War-
ranty Information Booklet, or it is lost, you
may obtain a replacement by writing to:
• INFINITI Division
Nissan North America, Inc.
Consumer Affairs Department
P.O. Box 685003
Franklin, TN 37068-5003
For Canada
Emission Control System Warranty
Details of these warranties may be found
with other vehicle warranties in your War-
ranty Information Booklet which comes with
your INFINITI. If you did not receive a War-
ranty Information Booklet, or it is lost, you
may obtain a replacement by writing to:
• Nissan Canada Inc. 5290 Orbitor Drive
Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4Z5
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARRANTY
10-30Technical and consumer information