
     - 2 - 
 
Foreword........................................................................\
............................................................................. - 3 - 
About the Nissan Altima Hybrid........................................................................\
....................................... - 4 - 
Altima Hybrid Identification........................................................................\
.............................................. - 5 - 
VIN Location........................................................................\
......................................................................... - 5 - 
Engine Compartment........................................................................\
....................................................... .... - 6 - 
Exterior........................................................................\
................................................................................. - 7 - 
Interior........................................................................\
.................................................................................. - 7 - 
Hybrid System........................................................................\
.................................................................... - 8 - 
Component Location and Description........................................................................\
.................................. - 8 - 
Battery Information........................................................................\
............................................................ - 9 - 
Low Voltage Battery........................................................................\
............................................................. - 9 - 
High Voltage Battery........................................................................\
............................................................ - 9 - 
Recovery/Recycling of the Ni-MH High Voltage Battery........................................................................\
.... - 10 - 
High Voltage Safety........................................................................\
......................................................... - 11 - 
High Voltage Safety System........................................................................\
.............................................. - 11 - 
Precautions for Dismantling........................................................................\
............................................... - 13 - 
Spills........................................................................\
................................................................................... - 13 - 
First Aid........................................................................\
.............................................................................. - 14 - 
Vehicle Cut Sheet........................................................................\
.............................................................. - 15 - 
Dismantling the High Voltage System........................................................................\
........................... - 16 - 
Service Disconnect........................................................................\
............................................................ - 16 - 
Alternative High Voltage System Shut Down Procedure........................................................................\
... - 19 - 
Removal of HV Battery........................................................................\
....................................................... - 20 - 
Removal of HV Components........................................................................\
.............................................. - 22 - 
  

Foreword 
 
Nissan released the Altima Hybrid in North America in January of 2007. The Altima Hybrid runs on 
conventional gasoline and a traction motor. The basic vehicle systems and features of the Altima Hybrid are 
the same as those of the conventional Altima, except where noted in this guide. This Dismantling Guide was 
published to help educate and assist the technician in the safe handling of the Altima Hybrid and its 
technology. 
 
A high voltage battery is used to power the traction motor, generator, electric air conditioning compressor, 
voltage converters, and inverter unit. A separate 12 volt battery is used to power other electrical devices such 
as the radio, horn, headlamps, and instrument cluster gauges. A number of safeguards have been designed to 
ensure that the high voltage Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery is kept safe and secure in the event of an 
accident.  
 
The Altima Hybrid utilizes both low and high voltage systems: 
 
Low voltage system
• A 12 volt DC negative chassis ground body electrical system  
 
High voltage system 
• A 245 volt DC high voltage battery 
• A harness that carries high voltage between the high voltage battery, converters, inverter unit, transaxle 
and electric air conditioning compressor 
• A converter which converts 245 volts DC to 42 volts DC for the electric power steering (EPS) system 
• A converter which converts 245 volts DC to 12 volts DC for charging the 12 volt battery 
• An inverter unit which delivers up to 650 volts AC to the transaxle 
• A transaxle which houses a traction motor and generator 
• A 245 volt DC, motor driven electric air conditioning compressor 
 
High voltage electrical safety is an important factor in the dismantling of the Altima Hybrid. It is important to 
recognize and understand the disabling procedures and warnings throughout this guide. 
 
Additional topics in this guide include: 
• Nissan Altima Hybrid identification 
• Hybrid system component locations and descriptions 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
This Dismantling Guide is intended to assist the technicianin the safe handling of a Nissan Altima Hybrid. 
The information contained in this guide is somewhat simplified and intended to be used as a technical 
reference. Please refer to the Nissan Service Manual for information related to vehicle repair. 
   - 3 -  

Hybrid System 
 
Component Location and Description 
Component Location Description 
1. Electric Air 
Conditioning 
Compressor 
Engine compartment, front 
passenger side 
Motor driven electric air conditioning compressor supplied 
with 245 volts DC. 
2. Electric Power 
Steering   
Engine compartment, on 
steering rack 
A 42 volt DC assist motor is used for the electric power 
steering (EPS) system.  
3. EPS DC/DC 
Converter 
Trunk area, mounted to top 
of high voltage battery 
Converts 245 volts DC (high voltage) to 42 volts DC (low 
voltage) for the EPS. 
4. High Voltage 
Battery 
Trunk area, mounted to 
cross member and behind 
rear seat  
245 volt DC Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery 
consisting of 34 low voltage (7.2 volt) modules connected 
in series.  
5. DC/DC 
Converter 
 
Trunk area, under front left 
cover of the high voltage 
battery 
Converts 245 volts DC (high voltage) to 12 volts DC (low 
voltage) for charging the 12 volt battery. 
6. Service 
Disconnect 
 
Trunk area, on the 
passenger side of the high 
voltage battery 
Used to disable the high voltage system.  
7. High Voltage 
Harnesses  
•Trunk area, on high 
voltage battery and EPS 
DC/DC converter 
•Under passenger side 
rear seat and floor pan 
•Engine compartment, on 
rear, driver side and front 
Orange colored power cables carry high voltage direct 
current (DC) between the high voltage battery, EPS 
DC/DC converter, inverter unit, and electric air 
conditioning compressor. There are two cables which also 
carry 3-phase alternating current (AC) between the 
inverter unit and transaxle. 
NOTE: 
High voltage cables under the vehicle floor are encased in 
a black plastic protector. 
8. Transaxle  
 
Engine compartment, on 
driver side 
Contains a traction motor and generator used to drive the 
front wheels and recharge the high voltage battery. 
9. Inverter Unit Engine compartment, front 
driver side 
Changes the 245 volts DC from the high voltage battery to 
3-phase 650 volts AC to power the transaxle. The inverter 
unit also changes AC electricity from the transaxle to DC 
that recharges the high voltage battery. 
   - 8 -