INFINITI QX80 2020 Owners Manual

ENGINE PROTECTION MODE
The engine has an engine protection mode to
reduce the chance of damage if the coolant
temperature becomes too high (for example,
when climbing steep grades in high tem-
perature 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 oper-
ate).
Engine power and, under some conditions,
vehicle 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 down-
shift 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. If:
1. The engine coolant temperature is not
reduced.
2. The air conditioning cooling function does not turn back ON.
3. The engine oil pressure warning light
illuminates or engine coolant tempera-
ture gauge does not return to the normal
range from the H position, this may
indicate a malfunction. Move the vehicle
off the road to a safe area and allow the
engine to cool. If after checking the oil
and coolant, the
remains on or
engine coolant temperature does not
return to the normal range, do not
continue to drive. It is recommended
you contact an INFINITI retailer.
The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
may also come ON. You do not need to have
your vehicle towed, unless it remains on, but
have it inspected soon. It is recommended
you visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
See “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P.2-11).
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
collision. Be especially careful when
driving. If the vehicle cannot maintain a
safe driving 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” (P.6-14).
CAUTION
Running the engine with the engine oil
pressure warning light on could cause
serious damage to the engine almost
immediately. Such damage is not cov-
ered by warranty. Turn off the engine as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Starting and driving5-17
DRIVING THE VEHICLE

5-18Starting and driving
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
7 speed 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 engine, 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 model is de-
signed so that the foot brake pedal must be
depressed before shifting from P (Park) to
any drive position while the ignition switch
position is ON.
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.
CAUTION
.To avoid possible damage to your
vehicle; when stopping the vehicle on
an uphill grade, do not hold the
vehicle by depressing the accelerator
pedal. The foot brake should be used
for this purpose.
. Except in an emergency, do not shift
to the N (Neutral) position while
driving. Coasting with the transmis-
sion in the N (Neutral) position may
cause serious damage to the trans-
mission.

WAF0350X
Shift lever
To move the shift lever,
: Push the button while depressing the brake pedal,
: Push the button,
: Just move the shift lever.
Shifting
The shift lever position indicator light (next
to the shift lever) will be illuminated for
approximately 30 minutes after the ignition
switch is turned off. The indicator light may
also illuminate when the vehicle receives
radio waves. This is not a malfunction.
After starting the engine, fully depress the
brake pedal and shift the shift lever from P (Park) to R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive)
or Manual shift mode position.
Push the button to shift into P (Park) or R
(Reverse). All other positions can be selected
without pushing the button.
WARNING
Apply the parking brake if the shift lever
is in any position while the engine is not
running. Failure to do so could cause the
vehicle to move unexpectedly or roll
away and result in serious personal
injury or property damage.
CAUTION
Make sure the vehicle is completely
stopped and the transmission is in the
P (Park) position.
P (Park) position:
Use this position when the vehicle is parked
or when starting the engine. Make sure the
vehicle is completely stopped. The brake
pedal must be depressed and the shift lever
button pushed in to move the shift lever
from the N (Neutral) position or any drive position to the P (Park) position.
Apply the
parking brake. When parking on a hill, apply
the parking brake first, then move the shift
lever to the P (Park) position.
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 engine can be started in this position.
You may shift to the N (Neutral) position and
restart a stalled engine while the vehicle is
moving.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving.
Starting and driving5-19

5-20Starting and 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
between the speedometer and tachometer.
Shift ranges up or down one by one as
follows:
M1?
/M2 ?
/M3?
/M4 ?
/M5?
/M6?
/M7
M7 (7th):
Use this position for all normal forward
driving at highway speeds.
M6 (6th) andM5 (5th):
Use these positions when driving up long
slopes, or for engine braking when driving
down long slopes.
M4 (4th),M3 (3rd) andM2 (2nd):
Use these positions for hill climbing or engine
braking on downhill grades.
M1 (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 —
For passing or hill climbing, fully depress the
accelerator pedal to the floor. This shifts the
transmission down into the lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed.
Fail-safe
When the fail-safe operation occurs, note
that the transmission will be locked in any of
the forward gears according to the condi-
tion.
If the vehicle is driven under extreme
conditions, such as excessive wheel spinning
and subsequent hard braking, the fail-safe
system may be activated. This will occur
even if all electrical circuits are functioning
properly. In this case, push the switch to the
OFF position and wait for 3 seconds. Then
push the ignition switch back to the ON
position. The vehicle should return to its
normal operating condition. If it does not
return to its normal operating condition,
have the transmission checked and re-
paired, if necessary. It is recommended you

visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
WAF0351X
Shift lock release
If the battery charge is low or discharged,
the shift lever may not be moved from the P
(Park) position even with the brake pedal
depressed and the shift lever button pushed.
To move the shift lever, perform the follow-
ing procedure:
1. Push the ignition switch to the OFF orLOCK position.
2. Apply the parking brake.
3. Remove the shift lock cover
using a
suitable tool.
4. Push down the shift lock
as illustrated. 5. Push the shift lever button
and move
the shift lever to N (Neutral) position
while holding down the shift lock.
The vehicle may be moved to the desired
location.
If the lever cannot be moved out of P (Park),
have the automatic transmission system
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended you visit an INFINITI retailer for this
service.
Starting and driving5-21

5-22Starting and driving
WARNING
.Be sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving. Failure to do
so can cause brake failure and lead to
an accident.
. Do not release the parking brake
from outside the vehicle.
. Do not use the gear shift in place of
the parking brake. When parking, be
sure the parking brake is fully en-
gaged.
. To help avoid risk of injury or death
through unintended operation of the
vehicle and/or its systems, do not
leave children, people who require the
assistance of others or pets unat-
tended in your vehicle. Additionally,
the temperature inside a closed ve-
hicle on a warm day can quickly
become high enough to cause a sig-
nificant risk of injury or death to
people and pets.
SPA2331
To apply: Fully depress the parking brake
pedal.
To release:
1. Firmly apply the foot brake
.
2. Depress the parking brake pedal
and
the parking brake will be released.
3. Before driving, be sure the brake warning light goes out.
WARNING
Failure to follow the warnings and
instructions for proper use of the LDW
and LDP (if so equipped) systems could
result in serious personal injury or death.
.The LDW and LDP (if so equipped)
systems will not steer the vehicle or
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
the vehicle at all times.
. The LDP system (if so equipped) may
activate if you change lanes without
first activating your turn signal or,
for example, if a construction zone
directs traffic to cross an existing
lane marker. If this occurs, you may
need to apply corrective steering to
complete your lane change.
. Because the LDP system (if so
equipped) may not activate under
the road, weather, and lane marker
conditions described in this section, it
may not activate every time your
vehicle begins to leave its lane and
you will need to apply corrective
steering.
PARKING BRAKE
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING
(LDW)/LANE DEPARTURE
PREVENTION (LDP) (if so equipped)

.Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system
— warns the driver with a warning light and chime that the vehicle is begin-
ning to leave the driving lane.
. Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system
(if so equipped)
— warns the driver with a warning light and chime, and helps assist the driver
to return the vehicle to the center of
the traveling lane by applying the
brakes to the left or right wheels
individually (for a short period of
time).
JVS1142X
The LDW and LDP (if so equipped) systems
use a camerainstalled behind the wind-
shield to monitor the lane markers of your
traveling lane.
Starting and driving5-23

5-24Starting and driving
WAF0293X
LDW indicator
LDP/BSI/DCA ON indicator (if so
equipped)
Warning systems switch (if so
equipped)
Dynamic driver assistance switch (if so
equipped)
Lower display
LDW SYSTEM OPERATION
The LDW system operates above approxi-
mately 45 MPH (70 km/h) and the lane
markings are clear.
If the vehicle approaches either the left or
right side of the traveling lane, the LDW
indicator on the vehicle information display
will flash and a warning chime will sound.
NOTE:
The LDW system is not designed to warn
when you operate the lane change signal
and change traveling lanes in the direction
of the signal. (The LDW system will become
operable again approximately 2 seconds
after the lane change signal is turned off.)

WAF0294X
Warning systems switch
Warning systems ON indicator light
Lower display
TURNING THE LDW SYSTEM ON/
OFF
The warning systems switchis used to
turn on and off the LDW system when it is
activated using the settings menu on the
lower display
. See “How to enable/disable
the LDW system” (P.5-26). When the warn-
ing systems switch
is turned off, the
warning systems ON indicator lighton
the switch is off.
The warning systems switch
will turn on
and off the LDW and Blind Spot Warning
(BSW) systems at the same time.
Starting and driving5-25

5-26Starting and driving
JVS1214X
HOW TO ENABLE/DISABLE THE
LDW SYSTEM
Perform the following steps to enable or
disable the LDW system.
1. Push the MENU button
and touch
[Driver Assistance] on the lower display.
2. Touch [Lane Assist].
3. Touch [Lane Departure Warning] to enable or disable the system.
The displayed keys on the lower display may
vary depending on models, specifications
and software versions.
LDP SYSTEM OPERATION (if so
equipped)
The LDP system operates above approxi-
mately 45 MPH (70 km/h) and the lane
markings are clear.
If the vehicle approaches either the left or
right side of the traveling lane, the LDW
indicator on the vehicle information display
will flash and a warning chime will sound.
Then, the LDP system will automatically
apply the brakes for a short period of time to
help assist the driver to return the vehicle to
the center of the traveling lane.
NOTE:
. The LDP system is not designed to work
when you operate the lane change signal
and change traveling lanes in the direc-
tion of the signal. (The LDP system will
become operable again approximately 2
seconds after the lane change signal is
turned off.)
. The LDP braking assist will not operate
or will stop operating and only a warn-
ing chime will sound under the following
conditions.
— When the brake pedal is depressed.
— When the steering wheel is turned as
far as necessary for the vehicle to
change lanes. —
When the accelerator pedal is de-
pressed while brake control assist is
provided.
— When the Intelligent Cruise Control
(ICC), Distance Control Assist (DCA),
Blind Spot Intervention
®(BSI), Blind
Spot Warning (BSW), Predictive For-
ward Collision Warning (PFCW) or
Forward Emergency Braking (FEB)
warnings sound.
— When the hazard warning flashers
are operated.
— When driving on a curve at a high
speed.
. While the LDP system is operating, you
may hear a sound of brake operation.
This is normal and indicates that the
LDP system is operating properly.