2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID service

Foreword

Nissan released the Nissan Altima Hybrid in North America in January of 2007. The Nissan 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 First Responder’s Guide
was published to help educate and assist first responders 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 converter, 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, converter, 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 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, electric motor driven electric air conditioning compressor

High voltage electrical safety is an important factor in the emergency handling 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
• Extrication, fire, recovery, and additional emergency response information
• Roadside assistance information






This First Responders Guide is intended to assist first responders in 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 Locations and Descriptions

Component
Location Description
1. Electric Air
Conditioning
Compressor
Engine compartment, front
passenger side
Electric motor driven 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 -

Battery Information

The Altima Hybrid utilizes two batteries in order to supply both high and low voltage.

Low Voltage Battery


The Altima Hybrid contains a lead-acid 12 volt DC low voltage battery.
The low voltage battery is located in the passenger rear quarter panel
well of the trunk and is concealed by a trim cover. The negative (-) 12
volt battery cable can be accessed through an access panel in the
trim cover.

The 12 volt battery powers the vehicle’s 12 volt electrical system,
similar to a conventional vehicle. As with conventional vehicles, the 12
volt battery is grounded to the metal chassis of the vehicle. However,
the 12 volt battery is charged by the high voltage battery through the
DC/DC converter.

High Voltage Battery


- 9 -
The Altima Hybrid contains a Ni-MH 245 volt DC high voltage battery.
The high voltage battery is enclosed in a metal case, which is isolated
from high voltage, and is securely mounted in the trunk area behind
the rear seat and is concealed by a trim cover. The service disconnect
can be accessed through an access panel in the trim cover.

The 245 volt battery powers the vehicle’s high voltage electrical
system. The high voltage battery consists of 34 low voltage (7.2 volt)
Ni-MH battery modules connected in series to produce approximately
245 volts DC. Each Ni-MH battery module is sealed in a non-spillable
plastic case. The electrolyte used in the Ni-MH battery module is an alkaline mixture of potassium and sodium
hydroxide. The electrolyte is absorbed into the battery ce ll plates and forms a gel that should not normally leak,
even in a collision. In the unlikely event that the high voltage battery is overcharged, the modules vent gases
directly outside the vehicle through a vent hose.


An air vent is located on the rear parcel shelf to cool the high voltage
battery. If the vent is covered, the battery will overheat, resulting in
reduced output performance of the hybrid system.

The high voltage battery supplies power to the following:
• Power cables
• EPS DC/DC converter
• DC/DC converter
• Inverter unit
• Transaxle
• Electric air conditioning compressor

6. Remove the service disconnect by performing the following as shown: a. Open the access panel inside the trunk to access the service disconnect.

b. Pull upward (1) on the service disconnect handle and then rotate the handle downward (2).

c. Pull outward (3) on the service disconnect handle to remove the service disconnect from the
battery.
d. Disconnect the negative (-) and positive (+) 12 volt battery cables from the 12 volt battery\
.
e. Wait 3 minutes before handling SRS system components and 10 minutes before handling high
voltage system components while the system discharges.



DANGER:
•
The high voltage system may remain powered for up to 10 minutes after the vehicle is disabled.
•
To prevent serious injury or death from electrical shock avoid touching, cutting, or breaching any
orange high voltage power cable or high voltage component while the system discharges.
WARNING:
• The SRS may remain powered for up to 3 minutes after the vehicle is disabled.
• To prevent serious injury or death from unintentional SRS deployment, avoid crushing, cutting, or
breaching the SRS components.
• If the disabling procedures cannot be performed completely, proceed with caution as there is no
assurance that the high voltage electrical system, SRS, or fuel pump are disabled.

- 18 -

Alternative High Voltage System Shut Down Procedure
NOTE:
If the service disconnect procedure cannot be performed, the following alternative shut down procedure is
acceptable.

A. Locate the fuse/fusible link box (1) under the hood near the driver
side strut tower (2).
• : Vehicle Front
- 19 -










B. Remove the fuse/fusible link box cover and remove the IGCT 50
amp fusible link (1) from the fuse/fusible link box (2). If the correct fuse
cannot be recognized, pull all the fuses in the fuse/fusible link box.