2011 NISSAN LEAF maintenance

2 Instruments and controls
Cockpit ....................................................................................... 2-3
Instrument panel ....................................................................... 2-4
Meters and gauges .................................................................. 2-5Speedometer and odometer ........................................... 2-6
Li-ion battery temperature gauge ................................... 2-7
Power meter ........................................................................ 2-7
Driving range ....................................................................... 2-8
Li-ion battery available charge gauge ........................... 2-9
Li-ion battery capacity level gauge ............................. 2-10
Outside air temperature ................................................ 2-10
ECO indicator .................................................................. 2-10
Clock .................................................................................. 2-11
Warning/indicator lights and audible reminders ........... 2-12
Checking bulbs ................................................................ 2-13
Warning lights .................................................................. 2-13
Indicator lights .................................................................. 2-18
Audible reminders ........................................................... 2-20
Dot matrix liquid crystal display ......................................... 2-22 Indicators for operation .................................................. 2-23
Trip computer ................................................................... 2-27
Warning information displays ....................................... 2-31
Indicators for maintenance ........................................... 2-33
Indicator for timer ............................................................ 2-34 Security systems .................................................................. 2-35
Vehicle security system ............................................... 2-35
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System ....................... 2-36
Windshield wiper and washer switch ............................. 2-38 Washer operation ......................................................... 2-39
Rear window wiper and washer switch ........................ 2-39
Rear window and outside mirror defroster switch ...... 2-40
Instrument brightness control ............................................ 2-41
Headlight and turn signal switch ...................................... 2-41 Headlight switch ........................................................... 2-41
Turn signal switch ......................................................... 2-44
Fog light switch (if so equipped) ..................................... 2-44
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................... 2-45
Heated steering wheel (if so equipped) ........................ 2-45
Horn ......................................................................................... 2-46
Heated seats (if so equipped) .......................................... 2-47
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) OFF switch ................ 2-48
Power outlet ........................................................................... 2-49
Storage ................................................................................... 2-49 Cup holders .................................................................... 2-49
Sunglasses holder ........................................................ 2-50
Glove box ........................................................................ 2-51Console box ................................................................... 2-51

Low brake fluid warning light:
When the power switch is in the ON position,
the light warns of a low brake fluid level. If this
warning light illuminates, the Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) warning light and the brake
system warning light (yellow) also illuminate.
If the light illuminates while the power switch is
in the READY to drive position with the parking
brake not applied, stop the vehicle and perform
the following items.
1. Check the brake fluid level. If brake fluid isnecessary, add fluid and have the system
checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
See “Brake fluid” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
2. If the brake fluid level is correct, have the warning system checked by a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer.

WARNING
The tire replacement indicator is not a
substitute for regular tire checks, in-
cluding tire pressure checks. See
“Changing wheels and tires” in the “8.
Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion. Many factors including tire infla-
tion, alignment, driving habits and road
conditions affect tire wear and when
tires should be replaced. Setting the
tire replacement indicator for a certain
driving distance does not mean your
tires will last that long. Use the tire
replacement indicator as a guide only
and always perform regular tire checks.
Failure to perform regular tire checks,
including tire pressure checks could
result in tire failure. Serious vehicle
damage could occur and may lead to a
collision, which could result in serious
personal injury or death.
2. 3. 4. “Other” indicator
These indicators appears when the customer
set distance comes for checking or replacing
maintenance items other than the tires. Other
maintenance items can include such things asthe tire rotation. You can set or reset the
distance for checking or replacing the items.
(See “Trip computer” earlier in this section.) For
scheduled maintenance items and intervals, see
your NISSAN Service and Maintenance Guide.

1 Safety—Seats, seat belts and supple-mental restraint system
Seats ........................................................................................... 1-2
Front seats ........................................................................... 1-3
Rear seats ........................................................................... 1-4
Head restraints ................................................................... 1-4
Adjustable headrests ......................................................... 1-7
Seat belts ................................................................................ 1-10
Precautions on seat belt usage ................................... 1-10
Pregnant women ............................................................. 1-12
Injured persons ................................................................ 1-12
Three-point type seat belt with retractor .................. 1-12
Seat belt extenders ......................................................... 1-16
Seat belt maintenance ................................................... 1-16
Child safety ............................................................................. 1-17
Infants ................................................................................. 1-17
Small children ................................................................... 1-18
Larger children ................................................................. 1-18
Child restraints ....................................................................... 1-19 Precautions on child restraints .................................... 1-19
Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren System
(LATCH) ........................................................................... 1-20
Rear-facing child restraint installation using latch ... 1-23 Rear-facing child restraint installation using the
seat belts ......................................................................... 1-25
Forward-facing child restraint installation
using latch ...................................................................... 1-27
Forward-facing child restraint installation using the
seat belts ......................................................................... 1-29
Installing top tether strap ............................................ 1-32
Booster seats ........................................................................ 1-33 Precautions on booster seats .................................... 1-33
Booster seat installation .............................................. 1-34
Supplemental restraint system .......................................... 1-36 Precautions on supplemental restraint system ...... 1-36
NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System
(front seats) .................................................................... 1-42
Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental
air bag and roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag systems ................................... 1-47
Seat belts with pretensioners (front seats) ............ 1-49
Supplemental air bag warning labels ...................... 1-50
Supplemental air bag warning light ......................... 1-50
Repair and replacement procedure ......................... 1-51

EV Overview
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system ...................................... EV-2
Li-ion battery .......................................................................... EV-2 Driving with a discharged Li-ion battery ................... EV-3
Charging the 12-volt battery ........................................ EV-5
Li-ion battery heater (if so equipped) ........................ EV-5
High voltage precautions .................................................... EV-7
High-voltage components ............................................. EV-7
Road accident precautions ................................................ EV-8 Emergency shut-off system .......................................... EV-9
EV (Electric Vehicle) characteristics ................................ EV-9
Noise and vibration ...................................................... EV-10
Life with an EV (scene guide) ........................................ EV-10 Charging the Li-ion battery ........................................ EV-10
Before driving your vehicle ........................................ EV-13
Starting your vehicle .................................................... EV-16 Driving the vehicle ..................................................... EV-17
At home after driving ................................................. EV-21
Efficient use of your vehicle ............................................ EV-22
Range ............................................................................ EV-22
Improve driving range ............................................... EV-22
Li-ion battery life ......................................................... EV-23
Li-ion battery maintenance ...................................... EV-23
EV unique information ...................................................... EV-24 Meters and indicators ............................................... EV-24
Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians
(VSP) system .............................................................. EV-27
Electric shift control system .................................... EV-29
Electric parking brake ............................................... EV-29
LED headlight (low beam) ....................................... EV-29
Solar cell module (if so equipped) ........................ EV-30
Driving range button ................................................ EV-30

Low brake fluid warning light:
When the power switch is in the ON position,
the light warns of a low brake fluid level. If this
warning light illuminates, the Vehicle Dynamic
Control (VDC) warning light and the brake
system warning light (yellow) also illuminate.
If the light illuminates while the power switch is
in the READY to drive position with the parking
brake not applied, stop the vehicle and perform
the following items.
1. Check the brake fluid level. If brake fluid isnecessary, add fluid and have the system
checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
See “Brake fluid” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.
2. If the brake fluid level is correct, have the warning system checked by a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer.

EV Overview
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system ...................................... EV-2
Li-ion battery .......................................................................... EV-2 Driving with a discharged Li-ion battery ................... EV-3
Charging the 12-volt battery ........................................ EV-5
Li-ion battery heater (if so equipped) ........................ EV-5
High voltage precautions .................................................... EV-7
High-voltage components ............................................. EV-7
Road accident precautions ................................................ EV-8 Emergency shut-off system .......................................... EV-9
EV (Electric Vehicle) characteristics ................................ EV-9
Noise and vibration ...................................................... EV-10
Life with an EV (scene guide) ........................................ EV-10 Charging the Li-ion battery ........................................ EV-10
Before driving your vehicle ........................................ EV-13
Starting your vehicle .................................................... EV-16 Driving the vehicle ..................................................... EV-17
At home after driving ................................................. EV-21
Efficient use of your vehicle ............................................ EV-22
Range ............................................................................ EV-22
Improve driving range ............................................... EV-22
Li-ion battery life ......................................................... EV-23
Li-ion battery maintenance ...................................... EV-23
EV unique information ...................................................... EV-24 Meters and indicators ............................................... EV-24
Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians
(VSP) system .............................................................. EV-27
Electric shift control system .................................... EV-29
Electric parking brake ............................................... EV-29
LED headlight (low beam) ....................................... EV-29
Solar cell module (if so equipped) ........................ EV-30
Driving range button ................................................ EV-30

1 Safety—Seats, seat belts and supple-mental restraint system
Seats ........................................................................................... 1-2
Front seats ........................................................................... 1-3
Rear seats ........................................................................... 1-4
Head restraints ................................................................... 1-4
Adjustable headrests ......................................................... 1-7
Seat belts ................................................................................ 1-10
Precautions on seat belt usage ................................... 1-10
Pregnant women ............................................................. 1-12
Injured persons ................................................................ 1-12
Three-point type seat belt with retractor .................. 1-12
Seat belt extenders ......................................................... 1-16
Seat belt maintenance ................................................... 1-16
Child safety ............................................................................. 1-17
Infants ................................................................................. 1-17
Small children ................................................................... 1-18
Larger children ................................................................. 1-18
Child restraints ....................................................................... 1-19 Precautions on child restraints .................................... 1-19
Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren System
(LATCH) ........................................................................... 1-20
Rear-facing child restraint installation using latch ... 1-23 Rear-facing child restraint installation using the
seat belts ......................................................................... 1-25
Forward-facing child restraint installation
using latch ...................................................................... 1-27
Forward-facing child restraint installation using the
seat belts ......................................................................... 1-29
Installing top tether strap ............................................ 1-32
Booster seats ........................................................................ 1-33 Precautions on booster seats .................................... 1-33
Booster seat installation .............................................. 1-34
Supplemental restraint system .......................................... 1-36 Precautions on supplemental restraint system ...... 1-36
NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System
(front seats) .................................................................... 1-42
Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental
air bag and roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag systems ................................... 1-47
Seat belts with pretensioners (front seats) ............ 1-49
Supplemental air bag warning labels ...................... 1-50
Supplemental air bag warning light ......................... 1-50
Repair and replacement procedure ......................... 1-51