2017 NISSAN LEAF Owners Manual

9. While the booster vehicleBengine is run-
ning, place the EV system in the READY to
drive position.
CAUTION
If the system does not start right away,
push the power switch to the OFF posi-
tion and wait 10 seconds before trying
again.
10. After starting your EV system, carefully dis- connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable (
4→3→2→1) and
keep the READY to drive position over
20 minutes to charge the 12-volt battery.
11. If necessary, connect the vehicle to a charg- ing station or EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply
Equipment) to charge the Li-ion battery. For
additional information, refer to “Charging”
section. The vehicle cannot be driven until
the Li-ion battery is charged.
NOTE:
If it is not possible to turn the system ON by
following this procedure, it is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer immediately. If the power limitation indicator light
illumi-
nates, the traction motor output is limited result-
ing in reduced vehicle speed. Stop the vehicle in
a safe location before the Li-ion battery becomes
completely discharged and no power is available
to drive the vehicle. Contact Roadside assis-
tance; refer to a NISSAN Warranty Information
Booklet.
If possible, place the power switch in the OFF
position while waiting for assistance to prevent
discharging the 12-volt battery.
NOTE:
If the Li-ion battery becomes completely
discharged:
• The vehicle is automatically placed in the
ON position and it will not be possible to
switch to the READY to drive position.
• The vehicle is automatically switched to
the N (Neutral) position and it will not be
possible to drive the vehicle.
WARNING
If the vehicle is in the N (Neutral) position
and the Li-ion battery and the 12-volt
battery become completely discharged,
the vehicle cannot be placed in the P
(Park) position. If this occurs, place suit-
able blocks at both the front and back of
a wheel to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing. Failure to block a wheel may allow
the vehicle to move unexpectedly which
may result in serious personal injury or
death.
To place the vehicle in the READY to drive posi-
tion so the vehicle can be driven, charge the
Li-ion battery until the driving range on the instru-
ment panel changes from “---” to a numeric dis-
tance.
IF THE LI-ION BATTERY BECOMES
COMPLETELY DISCHARGED
6-12In case of emergency

Do not attempt to start the system by pushing the
vehicle.
CAUTION
An EV cannot be push-started or tow-
started. Attempting to do so may cause
traction motor damage. When towing your vehicle, all State (Provincial in
Canada) and local regulations for towing must be
followed. Incorrect towing equipment could dam-
age your vehicle. Towing instructions are avail-
able from a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. Local
service operators are familiar with the applicable
laws and procedures for towing. To assure
proper towing and to prevent accidental damage
to your vehicle, NISSAN recommends that you
have a service operator tow your vehicle. It is
advisable to have the service operator carefully
read the following precautions.
WARNING
• Never ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
• Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by a tow truck.
CAUTION
• When towing, make sure that the ax- les, steering system and power train
are in working condition. If any unit is
damaged, dollies must be used.
• Always attach safety chains before towing.
For additional information about towing your ve-
hicle behind a Recreational Vehicle (RV) , refer to
“Flat towing” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
PUSH STARTING TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
In case of emergency6-13

TOWING RECOMMENDED BY
NISSAN
NISSAN recommends that your vehicle be towed
with the driving (front) wheels off the ground or
that the vehicle be placed on a flatbed truck as
illustrated.
CAUTION
• Never tow with the front wheels on the ground or four wheels on the ground
(forward or backward) , as this may
cause serious and expensive damage
to the motor. • When towing this vehicle with the rear
wheels on the ground (if you do not
use towing dollies): Always release
the parking brake.
NOTE:
If your vehicle cannot be moved because
the vehicle cannot to be shifted to the N
(Neutral) position, please refer to the LEAF
Roadside Assistance Guide which is lo-
cated at www.NISSANUSA.com. If your ve-
hicle cannot be moved because the parking
brake cannot be released, refer to “Parking
brake” in the “Starting and driving” section
of this manual.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (FREEING A
STUCK VEHICLE)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious per-
sonal injury or death when recovering a
stuck vehicle:
• Contact a professional towing service to recover the vehicle if you have any
questions regarding the recovery pro-
cedure.
• Tow chains or cables must be attached only to main structural members of the
vehicle.
• Do not use the vehicle tie-downs to tow or free a stuck vehicle.
• Only use devices specifically designed for vehicle recovery and follow the
manufacturer’s instructions.
• Always pull the recovery device straight out from the front of the ve-
hicle. Never pull at an angle.
• Route recovery devices so they do not touch any part of the vehicle except the
attachment point.
6-14In case of emergency

If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc.,
use a tow strap or other device designed specifi-
cally for vehicle recovery. Always follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for the recovery de-
vice.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If the vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc., try
to free it by following the procedure below.
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear an area around the front tires. 4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and
backward.
•Shift back and forth between the R (Re-
verse) and D (Drive) positions.
•Apply the accelerator as little as possible to
maintain the rocking motion.
•Release the accelerator pedal before shift-
ing between R (Reverse) and D (Drive) .
•Do not spin the tires above 35 mph
(55 km/h) .
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing service to re-
move the vehicle.
In case of emergency6-15

NOTES
6-16In case of emergency

7 Appearance and care
Cleaning exterior...................... .7-2
Washing ......................... .7-2
Waxing .......................... .7-2
Removing spots ..................... .7-3
Underbody ........................ .7-3
Glass ........................... .7-3
Solar cell module (if so equipped) ...........7-3
Wheels .......................... .7-3
Chrome parts ...................... .7-4
Tire dressing ....................... .7-4Cleaning interior
....................... .7-4
Air fresheners ...................... .7-5
Floor mats ........................ .7-5
Seat belts ........................ .7-6
Corrosion protection .................... .7-7
Most common factors contributing to vehicle
corrosion ......................... .7-7
Environmental factors influence the rate of
corrosion ......................... .7-7
Protect your vehicle from corrosion ...........7-7

In order to maintain the appearance of your ve-
hicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
To protect the paint surfaces, wash your vehicle
as soon as you can:
• After a rainfall to prevent possible damage fromacid rain.
• After driving on coastal roads.
• When contaminants such as soot, bird drop- pings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs get on
the paint surface.
• When dust or mud builds up on the surface.
Whenever possible, store or park your vehicle
inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body
cover.
WASHING
Wash dirt off the vehicle with a wet sponge and
plenty of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly
using a mild soap, a special vehicle soap or
general purpose dishwashing liquid mixed with
clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
• Do not use car washes that use acid in the detergent. Some car washes, espe-
cially brushless ones, use some acid
for cleaning. The acid may react with
some plastic vehicle components,
causing them to crack. This could af-
fect their appearance, and also could
cause them not to function properly.
Always check with your car wash to
confirm that acid is not used.
• Do not wash the vehicle with strong household soap, strong chemical de-
tergents, gasoline or solvents.
• Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun- light or while the vehicle body is hot, as
the surface may become water-
spotted.
• Avoid using tight-napped or rough cloths, such as washing mitts. Care
must be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of clean
water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable to the effects of road salt. Therefore, these areas
must be regularly cleaned. Make sure that the
drain holes in the lower edge of the door are
open. Spray water under the body and in the
wheel wells to loosen the dirt and wash away
road salt.
Avoid leaving water spots on the paint surface by
using a damp chamois to dry the vehicle.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface and
helps retain new vehicle appearance. Polishing is
recommended to remove built-up wax residue
and to avoid a weathered appearance before
reapplying wax.
A NISSAN certified LEAF dealer can assist you in
choosing the proper product.
• Wax your vehicle only after a thorough washing.
Follow the instructions supplied with the wax.
• Do not use a wax containing any abrasives, cutting compounds or cleaners that may dam-
age the vehicle finish.
Machine compound or aggressive polishing on a
base coat/clear coat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care

REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust, insects,
and tree sap as quickly as possible from the paint
surface to avoid lasting damage or staining. Spe-
cial cleaning products are available at a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer or any automotive acces-
sory stores.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter, the
underbody must be cleaned regularly. This will
prevent dirt and salt from building up and causing
the acceleration of corrosion on the underbody
and suspension. Before the winter period and
again in the spring, the underseal must be
checked and, if necessary, re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and dust film
from the glass surfaces. It is normal for glass to
become coated with a film after the vehicle is
parked in the hot sun. Glass cleaner and a soft
cloth will easily remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the windows,
do not use sharp-edged tools, abrasive cleaners or chlorine-based disinfectant
cleaners. They could damage the electri-
cal conductors, radio antenna elements
or rear window defroster elements.
SOLAR CELL MODULE (IF SO
EQUIPPED)
The solar cell uses a plastic cover. When clean-
ing the cell:
• Do not polish the solar cell using a dry cloth or a
wax that contains a compound. Doing so may
strip off the hard coating.
• In order to maintain the solar cell’s effective- ness, be sure to remove any leaves or dirt from
the surface of the cell.
WHEELS
Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle to
maintain their appearance.
• Clean the inner side of the wheels when thewheel is changed or the underside of the vehicle
is washed.
• Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or corro- sion. Such damage may cause loss of pressure
or poor seal at the tire bead. • NISSAN recommends that the road wheels be
waxed to protect against road salt in areas
where it is used during winter.
CAUTION
Do not use abrasive cleaners when wash-
ing the wheels.
Aluminum alloy wheels (if so
equipped)
Wash regularly with a sponge dampened in a
mild soap solution, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheels if not removed.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:
• Do not use a cleaner that uses strong acid or alkali contents to clean the
wheels.
• Do not apply wheel cleaners to the wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as
ambient temperature.
• Rinse the wheel to completely remove the cleaner within 15 minutes after the
cleaner is applied.
Appearance and care7-3