WARNING
Do not allow wet seat belts to roll up in
the retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye, or
chemical solvents to clean the seat belts,
since these materials may severely
weaken the seat belt webbing.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY
EQUIPMENT (EVSE)
The Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)
can be cleaned by wiping gently with a soft cloth
dampened in a 3% mild soap solution. Wipe and
rinse the soap solution off with a cloth dampened
with water and allow the EVSE to dry in a shady
and well-ventilated place.
MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION
• The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt and debris in body panel sections, cavities, and
other areas.
• Damage to paint and other protective coatings caused by gravel and stone chips or minor
traffic accidents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on the ve-
hicle body underside can accelerate corrosion.
Wet floor coverings will not dry completely inside
the vehicle, and should be removed for drying to
avoid floor panel corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of high
relative humidity, especially those areas where
the temperatures stay above freezing, where at-
mospheric pollution exists, or where road salt is
used.
Temperature
A temperature increase will accelerate the rate of
corrosion to those parts which are not well ven-
tilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in the air
in coastal areas, or heavy road salt use will accel-
erate the corrosion process. Road salt will also
accelerate the disintegration of paint surfaces.
TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM
CORROSION
• Wash and wax your vehicle often to keep thevehicle clean.
• Always check for minor damage to the paint and repair it as soon as possible.
• Keep drain holes at the bottom of the doors open to avoid water accumulation.
• Check the underbody for accumulation of sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with water as soon
as possible.
CORROSION PROTECTION
7-6Appearance and care
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
Windshield 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 ...................... .8-29
Types of tires ...................... .8-31
Tire chains .......................
.8-32
Changing wheels
and tires ...............8-32
Emergency tire puncture repair kit ..........8-35
head restraints/headrests move up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped) hold
securely in all latched positions.
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 oper-
ated in high temperatures or under severe condi-
tions require frequent checks of the 12–volt bat-
tery 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 while. Water dripping from the air
conditioner after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks, check for 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 the “Appearance 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 shift 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% wa-
ter to provide year-round anti-freeze and coolant
protection. The antifreeze solution contains rust
and corrosion inhibitors. Additional cooling sys-
tem 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 motor
and inverter.
MOTOR COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS COOLING SYSTEM
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-7
For additional information on the location of the
engine coolant reservoir, refer to “Motor com-
partment check locations” in this section.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by a NISSAN cer-
tified LEAF dealer.
CHANGING COOLANT
Major cooling system repairs should be per-
formed by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. The
service procedures can be found in the appropri-
ate NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance.
WARNING
• To avoid the danger of being scalded, never change the coolant when the
motor compartment is hot.
• Never remove the coolant tank cap when the motor compartment is hot.
Serious burns could be caused by
high-pressure fluid escaping from the
radiator. • Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
• Keep coolant out of reach of children and pets.
Coolant must be disposed of properly. Check
your local regulations. When checking or replacement is required, we
recommend a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for
servicing.
CAUTION
• Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do not mix with other fluids.
• Using reduction gear fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF will
cause deterioration in driveability and
reduction gear durability, and may
damage the reduction gear, which is
not covered by the NISSAN new ve-
hicle limited warranty.
REDUCTION GEAR FLUID
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-9
For additional brake fluid information, see “Rec-
ommended fluids/lubricants and capacities” in
the “Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion 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 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT 3fluid up to the MAX line
2.If
fluid must be added frequently, 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 hole1of 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 vehicle information
display. (See “Low washer fluid warning (if so
equipped)” in the “Instruments and controls” sec-
tion.)
BRAKE FLUID WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID
8-10Maintenance and do-it yourself
To fill the window washer fluid reservoir, lift the
cap and pour the window washer fluid into the
reservoir opening.
Add a washer solvent to the washer for better
cleaning. In the winter season, add a windshield
washer antifreeze. Follow the manufacturer’s in-
structions for the mixture ratio.
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir periodically.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when driving
conditions require an increased amount of win-
dow washer fluid.
Recommended fluid:
Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concen-
trate Cleaner & Antifreeze or equivalent
CAUTION
• Do not substitute anti-freeze coolant for window washer solution. This may
result in damage to the paint.
• Do not fill the window washer reservoir tank with washer fluid concentrates at
full strength. Some methyl alcohol
based washer fluid concentrates may
permanently stain the grille if spilled
while filling the window washer reser-
voir tank. • Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates
with water to the manufacturer’s rec-
ommended levels before pouring the
fluid into the window washer reservoir
tank. Do not use the window washer
reservoir tank to mix the washer fluid
concentrate and water. • Keep the 12-volt battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the 12-volt battery with a solution of
baking soda and water.
• Make certain the terminal connections are clean and securely tightened.
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.
WARNING
• Do not expose the 12-volt battery to flames or electrical sparks. Hydrogen
gas generated by the 12-volt battery is
explosive. Do not allow 12-volt battery
fluid to contact your skin, eyes, fabrics
or painted surfaces. After touching a
12-volt battery or 12-volt battery cap,
12-VOLT BATTERY
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-11