
Safe driving techniques 6-4 Driving safety
6
Move the driver’s seat as far backward as possible, while still
keeping good visibil-
ity, and good control of the steering wheel, brakes, accele
rator, and controls.
Check the instrument panel indicators forany possible problem. Move the front passe
nger seat as far back
as possible. Make sure that infa
nts and small children
are properly restrained in accordance with all laws and regulations.
Check these by selecti
ng the defroster mode,
and set the blower swit
ch on high. You should
be able to feel the air blowing against the windshield. (Refer to “Defrosting or defogging the wind- shield and door windows” on page 7-9.) Check all the tires for heavy tread wear or uneven wear patterns.
Look for stones, nails,
glass, or other objects
stuck in the tread. Look
for any tread cuts or sidewall cracks. Check the wheel nuts for tightness, and the tires for proper pressures. Replace your tires beforethey are heavily worn out.
As your vehicle is equi
pped with a tire pres-
sure monitoring system, there is a risk ofdamage to the tire inflation pressure sensors when the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement should, th
erefore, be performed
only by a certified i-MiEV dealer. Have someone watch while you turn all the exterior lights on and off. Also check the turn signal indicators and
high-beam indicators on
the instrument panel. Check the ground under the vehicle after parking overnight, for wa
ter, oil, or other
leaks. Make sure all the fluid levels are cor- rect.
N00629200124
Even this vehicle’s safety equipment, andyour safest driving, cannot guarantee that youcan avoid an accident or injury. However, if you give extra attention to the following areas, you can better protect yourself andyour passengers:
Drive defensively. Be aware of traffic, road and weather conditions. Leave plentyof stopping distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. Before changing lanes, check your mir- rors and use your turn signal light. While driving, watch the behavior of other drivers, bicyc
lists, and pedestrians.
Always obey applicable
laws and regula-
tions. Be a polite and alert driver. Always leave room for unexpected events, such as sudden braking.
N00629400416
Check the 12V starter battery, including terminals and cables. During extremely cold weather, the 12V starter battery willnot be as strong and
its power level may
drop. Before driving the vehicle, check to see ifthe headlights are as bright as normal. Charge or replace the 12V starter battery if necessary. During extreme coldweather, it is possibl
e that a very low 12V
starter battery could freeze.
Defrosters Tires
Lights Fluid leaks Safe driving techniques
Driving during cold weather
BK0220401US.book 4 ページ 2015年6月3日 水曜日 午前7時42分

Loading information Driving safety 6-7
6
It is important to famil
iarize yourself with the
following terms before loading your vehicle: Vehicle maximum load on the tire: load on an individual tire that is determined bydistributing to each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by two. Vehicle normal load on the tire: load on an individual tire that is determined by dis- tributing to each axle its share of the curbweight, accessory weight, and normal occupant weight and dividing by two. Maximum loaded vehicle weight: the sum of - (a) Curb weight; (b) Accessory weight;(c) Vehicle capacity weight; and (d) Production options weight. Curb weight: the weight of a motor vehi- cle with standard e
quipment including the
maximum capacity of oil, and coolant.
Accessory weight: the combined weight (in excess of those st
andard items which
may be replaced) of automatic transmis- sion, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats,
radio, and heater,
to the extent that these items are available as factory- installe
d equipment (whether
installed or not). Vehicle capacity weight: the rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lbs (68 kg)
*
times the vehicle’s designated seating capacity. Production options weight: the combined weight of those installed regular produc- tion options weighing over 5 lbs (2.3 kg) in excess of those standard items whichthey replace, not prev
iously considered in
curb weight or accessory weight, includ- ing heavy duty brakes,
ride levelers, roof
rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim. Normal occupant weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
*
times the number of specified occupants.(In your vehicle the number is 2) Occupant distributi
on: distribution of
occupants in a vehicle as specified. (Inyour vehicle the distribution is 2 in front seat)
N00630100370
The tire and loading information placard is located on the driver’s door sill. This placard shows the maximum number of occupants permitted to
ride in your vehicle as
well as “the combined
weight of occupants
and cargo” (C), which
is called the vehicle
capacity weight. This
placard also tells you
the size and recomme
nded inflation pressure
for the original equipment tires on your vehi-cle. For more information, refer to “Tires” on page 9-10.
WA R N I N G Never overload your ve
hicle. Overloading
can damage your vehicl
e, adversely affect
vehicle performance, including handlingand braking, cause tire failure, and result in an accident.
* : 150 lbs (68 kg) is the weight of one per- son as defined by U.S.A. and Canadian regulations.
Tire and loading information placard
BK0220401US.book 7 ページ 2015年6月3日 水曜日 午前7時42分

Tire repair kit
For emergencies 8-9
8
12. After injecting the sealant, securely fit the
valve remover (F) into
the end of the filler
hose (K) to prevent sealant from leaking from the empty bottle.
13. Pull out the compressor hose (L) from the
side of the tire compressor, and thensecurely attach the hose to the tire valve (E).
14. Place the compressor (M) with its air
pressure gauge (N) on top.Pull out the compressor’s power cord (O), insert the plug on the cord into the 12 V power outlet (P), and then turn the electricmotor switch to the “ACC” position. (Refer to “12V power outlet” on page 5-76.)Turn ON the compressor switch (Q) and inflate the tire to the specified pressure. (Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 9-13.) If there is a gap between the tire andwheel, push the tread area toward the cen- ter of the wheel to close the gap before running the compressor.
15. Check and adjust the tire pressure with
reference to the air pressure gauge on the compressor. If you overinflate the tire,release air by loosening the hose’s end fit- ting.WA R N I N G Do not place your hand or fingers between the tire and wheel while inflating the tire.Your hand or fingers may become caughtbetween the tire and wheel.CAUTION The supplied compressor is designed only for inflation of
your vehicle tires.
The compressor is designed to run on a vehi- cle’s 12 V power supply.
Do not connect it to
any other power source. The compressor is not waterproof. If you use it in rain, make sure wa
ter does not get on it.
Any sand or dust sucked into the compressor could make the compressor break down. Donot place the compressor directly on any sandy or dusty surface when using it. Do not disassemble or modify the compres- sor. Also, do not subject the air pressure gauge to shock. It
could malfunction.
BK0220401US.book 9 ページ 2015年6月3日 水曜日 午前7時42分

Operation under adverse driving conditions
For emergencies 8-13
8
N00837200747
If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand, or mud, it can often be moved by a rocking motion. Rock your vehicle back and forth tofree it. Do not spin the wheels. Constant efforts to free a stuck vehicle can cause transmissionfailure. If your vehicle is still
stuck after several rock-
ing attempts, call for a commercial tow truckservice.
When driving on a road covered with snow or ice, use snow tires. Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle. Theremay be state or local regulations about using snow tires. Always check the regu- lations in your local area before usingthem. Refer to the section entitled “Snow tires” on page 9-15 and “Tire chains” on page 9-16. Drive slowly. Do not make sudden starts or stops, sharp turns, or slam on the brakes. Allow extra distance between your vehi- cle and the vehicle in front of you, and avoid sudden braking. If a skid occurs when the accelerator pedal is depressed, take your foot off the pedal. Steer gently in the direction of theskid. Your vehicle is equippe
d with an anti-lock
braking system (ABS), hold the brakepedal down firmly and
keep it depressed.
Do not pump the brake pedal which will result in reduced braking performance.
CAUTION If the transmission or the steering system has a problem or damage,
transport the vehicle
on a flatbed truck or to
w the vehicle with the
all wheels off the ground. If the electric motor switch is in the “ON”
lting in an accident.
Make sure the electric motor switch is in the“ACC” position before towing.
Operation under adverse driving conditions If your vehicle becomes stuck in sand, mud or snow
WA R N I N G When trying to rock
your vehicle out of a
stuck position, make sure that there are nopeople nearby. The
rocking motion can
make your vehicle suddenly lurch forward or backward, and inju
re any bystanders.
On wet roads
CAUTIONDo not drive on a flooded road. If you drive on a flooded road, not only the electric motorunit stops but also a fail
ure like electric leak-
age or short circuit may occur. If you inevitably had to run on a floodedroad and the vehicle was exposed to water, be sure to have your vehicle inspected by a certified i-MiEV dealer. When driving in rain, on water-covered roads, or through a car wash, water could getinto the brake discs and make them fail tem- porarily. In such cases, lightly press the brake pedal to see if they are working prop-erly. If they are not, press the pedal lightlyseveral times while driv
ing to dry the brake
pads or linings, then check them again. When driving in rain, a layer of water may form between the tires and the road surface (aquaplaning). This l
oosens your tires’ grip
on the road, making it difficult to steer or brake properly. When driving on a wet road:• Drive your vehicle at a safe speed.
• Do not drive on worn tires.• Always keep the tires at the correct infla- tion pressures.
On snowy or icy roads
CAUTION
BK0220401US.book 13 ページ 2015年6月3日 水曜日 午前7時42分

Operation under adverse driving conditions 8-14 For emergencies
8
After parking on snowy or icy road, it may be difficult to move your vehicle dueto freeze-up of the brake. Depress the accelerator pedal little by little to move the vehicle after confirming safety of thevehicle. Drive as slow as possible when driving on bumpy or rutted roads or over potholes etc.CAUTION Do not depress the acce
lerator pedal rapidly.
The vehicle could start moving when itbreaks free from the ic
e, possibly resulting in
an accident.
On a bumpy or rutted road
CAUTION Driving on bumpy, rutted roads or over pot- holes can damage the tires and wheels. Wheels with low-profiles tires or under-inflated tires are especi
ally at risk for dam-
age. The vehicle’s body, bumper, muffler and other parts may be dama
ged if the vehicle is:
• driven over a step (for example, at the entrance or exit of a parking lot);
• parked too closely against a curb or parkingblock, or by the side of a road with curb-stones;• driven on a steep slope.CAUTION
BK0220401US.book 14 ページ 2015年6月3日 水曜日 午前7時42分

9
Vehicle care and maintenanceService precautions ..........................................................................9-2 Hood .............
............
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
...........
.....9-3
View under the hood and electric motor unit room .........................9-4Coolant/Hot water heater fluid ........................................................9-4 Washer fluid .....................................................................................9-7 Brake fluid .......................................................................................9-712V starter battery ...........................................................................9-7 Tires ...............................................................................................9-10 Brake pedal free play .....................................................................9-16Parking brake lever stroke .............................................................9-16 Wiper blades ..................................................................................9-16 General maintenance .....................................................................9-17For cold and snowy weather ..........................................................9-18 Fusible links ...................................................................................9-18 Fuses ..............................................................................................9-18Replacement of light bulbs ............................................................9-21 Vehicle care precautions ................................................................9-28 Cleaning the inside of your vehicle .......
...........
...........
...........
.......9-28
Cleaning the outside of your vehicle .....
...........
...........
...........
.......9-30
BK0220401US.book 1 ページ 2015年6月3日 水曜日 午前7時42分

Tires 9-10 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
N00939201619
It is important to familiarize yourself with the following terms: Cold tire pressure: • The measured pressure after the vehiclehas been parked for
at least three hours,
or • The measured pressure when the vehicleis driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) after having been parked for three hours.
Maximum inflation pressure: the maxi- mum permissible cold
tire inflation pres-
sure for this tire. Recommended inflation pressure: the inflation pressure for optimum tire perfor- mance.
WA R N I N G Open doors and wind
ows in any closed
space where you may be charging orworking with the 12V starter battery. Always wear protective clothing and gog- gles when working wi
th the 12V starter
battery, or have a sk
illed automobile tech-
nician do it. If you are quick-charging your 12V starter battery, first disconnect the 12V starter battery cables. In order to prevent a short circuit, be sure to disconnect the negative (-) terminalfirst, and reconnect it last. If the electrolyte level
is very low, have the
12V starter battery checked at a certified i-MiEV dealer. 12V starter battery te
rminals and related
accessories contain
lead and lead com-
pounds. Wash hands after handling. CAUTION When replacing the
12V starter battery,
remove the connected
positive (+) and nega-
tive (-) terminals after turning the electric motor switch to the “LOCK” position andwaiting at least 1 minut
e. If the 12V starter
battery terminal is removed just after the electric motor switch is turned to the “LOCK” position, this
may cause damage to
components of the electric motor unit.
NOTE
Before cleaning the 12V starter battery, tighten all the filler port
caps to keep dirt and
moisture out. Check each 12V starter battery terminal for corrosion. If necessary, clean the terminalswith a solution of baking soda and water. Grease the posts and cl
amps after cleaning or
tightening them. Check to see that the 12V starter battery is securely installed and
cannot be moved. Also
check each terminal for tightness. If you will not be driv
ing your vehicle for a
long period of time, re
move the 12V starter
battery and store it in a place where the 12V starter battery fluid wi
ll not freeze. Memory
data for settings made by the user may be erased when the 12V starter battery is removed. If this happens, reset the settingsagain using the releva
nt procedures. The
12V starter battery
only should be stored
with a full charge.
Tires
WA R N I N G Driving with tires that are worn, damaged or improperly inflated is dangerous.These type tire conditions will adversely affect vehicle performance. These type tire conditions can also cause atread separation or blowout which may result in an accide
nt causing serious
injury or death. Tires degrade over ti
me with age even
when they are not being used. It is recom-mended that tires ove
r 6 years generally
be replaced even if
damage is not obvious.
BK0220401US.book 10 ページ 2015年6月3日 水曜日 午前7時42分

Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-11
9
Intended outboard sidewall: • The sidewall that c
ontains a whitewall,
bears white letteri
ng or bears manufac-
turer, brand, and/or model name molding that is higher or deeper than the samemolding on the other sidewall of the tire, or • The outward facing si
dewall of an asym-
metrical tire that has a particular side that must always face outward when mounted on a vehicle.
Passenger car tire: a
tire intended for use
on passenger cars, multipurpose passen-ger vehicles, and trucks, that have a gross vehicle weight rati
ng (GVWR) of 10,000
pounds or less. Light truck (LT) tire: a tire designated by its manufacturer as primarily intended for use on lightweight truc
ks or multipurpose
passenger vehicles. Tread: portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road. Tread rib: a tread se
ction running circum-
ferentially around a tire. Tread separation: pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass. Carcass: the tire structure, except tread and sidewall rubber which, when inflated,bears the load. Sidewall: portion of
a tire between the
tread and bead.
Section width: the line
ar distance between
the exteriors of the sidewalls of aninflated tire, excluding elevations due to labeling, decoration, or protective bands. Bead: the part of the tire that is made of steel wires, wrapped
or reinforced by ply
cords and that is shaped to fit the rim. Ply: a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cord: the strands forming the plies in the tire. Rim: a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tirebeads are seated. Rim diameter: nominal diameter of the bead seat. Groove: the space between two adjacent tread ribs.
EXAMPLE:P215/65R15
Tire Markings
Size Designation P
Passenger car tire size based on U.S.A. design standards
215
Section width in millimeters (mm.)
65
Aspect ratio in percent (%) Ratio of section height to section width of tire.
R
Construction code •“R” means radial construc- tion.
• “D” means diagonal or bias construction.
15 Rim diameter in inches (in)
BK0220401US.book 11 ページ 2015年6月3日 水曜日 午前7時42分