2013 NISSAN LEAF brake fluid

8 Maintenance and do-it yourself
Maintenance requirement................. .8-2
Scheduled maintenance ................ .8-2
General maintenance .................. .8-2
Where to go for service ................ .8-2
General maintenance .................... .8-2
Explanation of maintenance items ...........8-2
Maintenance precautions ................. .8-5
Motor compartment check locations ............8-7
Cooling system ....................... .8-7
Checking coolant level ................. .8-8
Changing coolant .................... .8-9
Reduction gear fluid .................... .8-9
Brake fluid ......................... .8-10
Window washer fluid ................... .8-10
12-volt battery ....................... .8-11
Jump starting ...................... .8-13
Windshield wiper blades ................. .8-13
Cleaning ........................ .8-13
Replacing ........................ .8-13Rear window wiper blade
.................8-15
Brakes ........................... .8-15
Brake pad wear warning ................8-15
Fuses ............................ .8-16
Motor compartment .................. .8-16
Passenger compartment ................8-18
Nissan Intelligent Key® battery replacement ......8-19
Lights ............................ .8-21
Headlights ....................... .8-22
Exterior and interior lights ...............8-23
Wheels and tires ..................... .8-26
Tire pressure ...................... .8-26
Tire labeling ...................... .8-28
Types of tires ...................... .8-30
Tire chains .......................
.8-31
Changing

wheels and tires .............. .8-32
Emergency tire puncture repair kit ..........8-34

Seat belts:Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjusters
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt web-
bing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free play,
hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure that all
warning lights and chimes are operating properly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air emits
from the defroster outlets properly and in suffi-
cient quantity when operating the heater or air
conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check that
the wipers and washers operate properly and
that the wipers do not streak.
Under hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically.
12-volt battery (for serviceable battery)*:
Check the fluid level in each cell.
It should be between the MAX and MIN lines.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or under severe conditions require frequent checks of the
12-volt battery fluid level.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery discharge
and potential no-start conditions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electronic ac-
cessories that consume battery power when
the engine is not running (Phone chargers,
GPS, DVD players, etc.)
2. Vehicle is not driven regularly and/or only driven short distances.
In these cases, the battery may need to be
charged to maintain battery health.
Brake fluid level*: Make sure that the brake
fluid level is between the MAX and MIN lines on
the reservoir.
Coolant level*: Check the coolant level when
the motor compartment is cold.
Fluid leaks: Check under the vehicle for water
or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has been
parked for a short period of time. Water dripping
from the air conditioner after use is normal. If you
notice any leaks, check for the cause and have it
corrected immediately. Radiator and hoses:
Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure that
the hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or
loose connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances, other-
wise rust will form on the floor pan and frame. At
the end of winter, the underbody should be thor-
oughly flushed with plain water, being careful to
clean those areas where mud and dirt may accu-
mulate. For additional information, see Cleaning
exterior in theAppearance and care section.
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there is
an adequate amount of fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it yourself

When performing any inspection or maintenance
work on your vehicle, always take care to prevent
serious accidental injury to yourself or damage to
the vehicle. The following are general precau-
tions that should be closely observed.
WARNING
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system uses high voltage up to approximately DC
400 volt. The system can be hot during
and after starting and when the vehicle
is shut off. Be careful of both the high
voltage and the high temperature.
Obey the labels that are attached to
the vehicle.
Never disassemble, remove or replace high-voltage parts and cables as well
as their connectors. High-voltage
cables are colored orange.
Disassembling, removing or replacing those parts or cables can cause severe
burns or electric shock that may result
in serious injury or death. The vehicle
high voltage system has no user ser-
viceable parts. Take your vehicle to the
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for any
necessary maintenance. Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
chock the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Push the P (Park)
position switch on the selector lever or
place the vehicle into the N (Neutral)
position.
If you must work with the EV (Electric vehicle) system is turned on, keep
hands, clothing, hair and tools away
from moving fans and any other mov-
ing parts.
Make sure that the power switch is in the OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any part replacement or re-
pairs.
It is advisable to secure or remove any loose clothing and remove any jewelry,
such as rings, watches, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
Always wear eye protection whenever you work on your vehicle.
Never get under the vehicle while it is supported only by a jack. If it is neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, support
it with safety stands.
Keep smoking materials, flames and sparks away from the 12-volt battery.
CAUTION
Do not work under the hood while the motor compartment is hot. Push the
power switch in the OFF position and
wait until it cools down.
Avoid direct contact with used coolant. Improperly disposed coolant and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to local
regulations for the disposal of vehicle
fluids.
Never connect or disconnect the bat- tery or any transistorized component
while the power switch is in the ON
position.
Your vehicle is equipped with an auto- matic cooling fan. It may come on at
any time without warning, even if the
power switch is not in the ACC, ON or
READY to drive position. To avoid in-
jury, always disconnect the negative
12-volt battery cable before working
near the fan.
Before performing any electrical main- tenance work on the vehicle such as
the battery, fuses or bulb replacement,
confirm the following:
– The charge connector is removedfrom the vehicle.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-5

1. Brake fluid reservoir
2. 12-volt battery
3. Fuse/fusible link holder
4. Fuse/fusible link holder5. Coolant tank cap
6. Window washer fluid reservoir
7. Fuse/fusible link holderThe cooling system is filled at the factory with a
pre-diluted mixture of 50% genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) and 50%
water to provide year-round anti-freeze and cool-
ant protection. The antifreeze solution contains
rust and corrosion inhibitors. Additional cooling
system additives are not necessary.
WARNING
Never remove the coolant tank cap when the motor compartment is hot.
Wait until the motor compartment cool
down.
The coolant tank is equipped with a special type coolant tank cap. To pre-
vent damage to the motor compart-
ment, use only a Genuine NISSAN
coolant tank cap.
CAUTION
Never use any additives in the coolant such as radiator sealer in the cooling
system. This may cause damage to
electrical equipment such as the mo-
tor and inverter.
MOTOR COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS COOLING SYSTEM
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-7

For additional brake fluid information, seeCa-
pacities and recommended lubricants in the
Technical and consumer information section of
this manual.
WARNING
Use only new fluid from a sealed con- tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the brake system.
The use of improper fluids can damage
the brake system, and affect the vehi-
cle’s stopping ability.
Clean the filler cap before removing.
Brake fluid is poisonous and should be stored carefully in marked containers
out of the reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid
is spilled, immediately wash the surface
with water. Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid is
below the MIN line
1or the brake warning light
illuminates, add Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy
Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3fluid up to
the MAX line
2. If fluid must be added fre-
quently, the system should be checked by a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. Except for Canada
To check the fluid level, use your finger to plug the
center hole
1of the cap/tube assembly, then
remove it from the reservoir. If there is no fluid in
the tube, add fluid.
For Canada
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir periodically.
Add window washer fluid when the low washer
fluid warning appears on the dot matrix liquid
crystal display. (See 9. Low washer warning (if
so equipped) in theInstruments and controls
section.)
BRAKE FLUID WINDOW WASHER FLUID
8-10Maintenance and do-it yourself

The following are approximate capacities. The actual refill capacities may be slightly different. When refilling, follow the procedure that
is described in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section to determine the proper refill capacity.
Capacity (approximate)Recommended specifications
US measure Imp measure Liter
Cooling system With reservoir 5-5/8 qt 4-5/8 qt 5.3
Pre-diluted Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant
(blue) or equivalent
Reservoir 1/2 qt 1/2 qt 0.5
Reduction gear fluid 1-1/2 qt 1-1/4 qt 1.4 Genuine NISSAN Matic Fluid S*1
Brake fluid Refill to the proper oil level according to
the instructions in the “Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section.Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*2 or
equivalent DOT 3
Multi-purpose grease —— — NLGI No. 2 (Lithium soap base)
Air conditioning system refrigerant —— — HFC-134a (R-134a)*3
Air conditioning system lubricants —— — NISSAN A/C System Oil ND-OIL11 or equivalent
*1: Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic Fluid S. Using reduction gear fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic Fluid S will damage the re-
duction gear, which is not covered by the NISSAN new vehicle limited warranty.
*2: Available in mainland US through a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
*3: For additional information, see Vehicle identificationfor air conditioner specification label.
CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED
LUBRICANTS
9-2Technical and consumer information

10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)........5-21
Advanced air bag system ...........1-40
Air bag system .................1-40
Advanced air bag system .........1-40
Front passenger air bag and status
light .................... .1-42
Front-seat mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag system .......1-45
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag system .......1-45
Airbagwarninglabels.............1-48
Airbagwarninglight...........1-48,2-18
Air conditioner..................9-9
Air conditioner specification label .....9-9
Air conditioning system refrigerant
and lubricant recommendations ......9-3
Alarm, How to stop alarm (see vehicle security
system) .....................2-37
Alcohol, drugs and driving............5-6
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........5-21
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning
light .......................2-14
Appearance care .................7-2
Exterior appearance care ..........7-2
Interior appearance care ..........7-4
Audible reminders...............2-21 Autolight system
................2-42
Automatic.....................3-5
Door locks ................. .3-5
Automatic climate control (models with
Navigation System)...............4-17
Automatic climate control (models without
Navigation System) ...............4-10
Avoiding collision and rollover ..........5-5
B
Battery......................8-11
12-volt battery .............. .8-11
Battery saver system ...........2-44
Intelligent Key battery ...........8-19
Li-ion battery ............... .EV-2
Li-ion battery temperature gauge .....2-7
Before starting system.............5-10
Boosterseats..................1-31
Brake ......................5-14
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .....5-21
Brake fluid ................ .8-10
Brakes ................... .8-15
Brake system ............... .5-19
BRAKE system warning light (yellow) . .2-14
BRAKE warning light (red) ........2-15
BRAKE system warning light (yellow) .....2-14
BRAKE warning light (red) ...........2-15 Bulbreplacement................8-21
C
Cabin air filter
..................4-16
Capacities and recommended lubricants ....9-2
Cargocover...................2-52
Ceiling light ...................2-57
Charge .....................2-49
Charge timer OFF switch .........2-49
Charge connector lock switch .........2-49
Chargeportlidswitch.............2-49
Charging ....................3-18
Charge port lid .............. .3-18
Charging related indicator light . . . .CH-33
Charging timer ............. .CH-21
Cleaning .................. .7-6
Normal charge .............. .CH-9
Precautions on charging .........CH-2
Quick charge ............. .CH-15
Specifications ............... .9-4
Trickle charge ............. .CH-11
Chargingmethods..............CH-21
Charging related indicator light .......CH-33
Charging related remote function ......CH-31
Charging status indicator light .......CH-33
Chargingtimer................CH-21
Chargingtroubleshootingguide.......CH-38

Checking.....................2-13
Checking bulbs .............. .2-13
Checking coolant level ............8-8
Child restraints..................1-17
Booster seats............... .1-31
Precautions on child restraints ......1-17
Top tether strap .............. .1-20
Child safety....................1-15
Child safety rear door lock ............3-6
Circuitbreaker,Fusiblelink...........8-17
Cleaning exterior and interior ........7-2,7-4
Climatecontrol..................4-16
Climate control service ...........4-16
Climate control system refrigerant
and lubricant recommendations .....4-16
In-cabin microfilter .............4-16
Climate control system ..............4-7
Climate control operation ..........4-7
Climate Ctrl. Timer............4-12,4-19
Clock.......................2-11
Cockpit .......................2-3
Cold weather driving ..............5-24
Console box ...................2-52
Coolant.......................9-2
Capacities and recommended
lubricants .................. .9-2
Changing coolant .............. .8-9
Checking coolant level ............8-8
Cooling system..................8-7
Corrosionprotection ...............7-6
Cruise control ..................5-15 Cupholders...................2-50
D
Defroster switch, Rear window and outside
mirror defroster switch
..............2-41
Dimensionsandweights.............9-6
Dot matrix liquid crystal display .........2-22
Driving ......................5-24
Cold weather driving ............5-24
Driving vehicle ............... .5-11
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Driving range ....................2-8
Driving vehicle ..................5-11
E
ECO .......................2-46
ECO switch................ .2-46
ECOindicator..................2-10
Efficient use of your vehicle ..........EV-23
Emergency charge ..............CH-11
Emergency EV (Electric Vehicle) shut off. .5-9, 6-2
Emergency shutoff system ...........EV-9
Emission control information label ........9-8
EV Characteristics ...............EV-9
Event Data Recorder (EDR) ...........9-18
EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply
Equipment) ...................CH-11 EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)
cleaning
......................7-6
EV system ....................EV-2
EV unique information .............EV-25
F
Flashers (See hazard warning flasher switch) . .6-2
Flat tire.......................6-3
Flattowing....................9-14
Floormatcleaning.................7-5
Fluid ........................8-10
Brake fluid ................. .8-10
Capacities and recommended
lubricants .................. .9-2
coolant .................... .8-7
Reduction gear fluid .............8-9
Window washer fluid ............8-10
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label .....9-8
Foglightswitch .................2-45
Frontmanualseatadjustment ..........1-3
Front passenger air bag and status light ....1-42
Front seat, Front seat adjustment ........1-3
Fuses.......................8-16
Fusiblelinks ...................8-17
G
Garage door open, HomeLink® Universal . . .2-58
Transceiver ................. .2-58
10-2Index