2017 NISSAN LEAF stop start

6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn thesteering wheel until both tires return to the
road surface. When all tires are on the road
surface, steer the vehicle to stay in the appro-
priate driving lane.
•If you decide that it is not safe to return the
vehicle to the road surface based on vehicle,
road or traffic conditions, gradually slow the
vehicle to a stop in a safe place off the road.
RAPID AIR PRESSURE LOSS
Rapid air pressure loss or a “blow-out” can occur
if the tire is punctured or is damaged due to
hitting a curb or pothole. Rapid air pressure loss
can also be caused by driving on under-inflated
tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the handling
and stability of the vehicle, especially at highway
speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by maintain-
ing the correct air pressure and visually inspect-
ing the tires for wear and damage. For additional
information, refer to “Wheels and tires” in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section of this
manual. If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or “blows-out”
while driving, maintain control of the vehicle by
following the procedure below. Please note that
this procedure is only a general guide. The ve-
hicle must be driven as appropriate based on the
conditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
WARNING
The following actions can increase the
chance of losing control of the vehicle if
there is a sudden loss of tire air pressure.
Losing control of the vehicle may cause a
collision and result in personal injury.
• The vehicle generally moves or pulls in the direction of the flat tire.
• Do not rapidly apply the brakes.
• Do not rapidly release the accelerator pedal.
• Do not rapidly turn the steering wheel.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and try to hold a straight course.
3. When appropriate, slowly release the accel- erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
4. Gradually steer the vehicle to a safe location off the road and away from traffic if possible. 5. Lightly apply the brake pedal to gradually stop
the vehicle.
6. Turn on the hazard warning flashers and con- tact a roadside emergency service to change
the tire. For additional information, refer to
“Flat tire” in the “In case of emergency” sec-
tion of this manual.
DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND
DRIVING
WARNING
Never drive under the influence of alco-
hol or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream
reduces coordination, delays reaction
time and impairs judgement. Driving af-
ter drinking alcohol increases the likeli-
hood of being involved in an accident
injuring yourself and others. Additionally,
if you are injured in an accident, alcohol
can increase the severity of the injury.
NISSAN is committed to safe driving. However,
you must choose not to drive under the influence
of alcohol. Every year thousands of people are
injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents. Al-
though the local laws vary on what is considered
to be legally intoxicated, the fact is that alcohol
5-6Starting and driving

affects all people differently and most people
underestimate the effects of alcohol.
Remember, drinking and driving don’t mix! That is
true for drugs too (over-the-counter, prescrip-
tion, and illegal drugs) . Do not drive if your ability
to operate your vehicle is impaired by alcohol,
drugs, or some other physical condition.
WARNING
Do not operate the power switch while
driving the vehicle except in an emer-
gency. (The EV system shuts down when
the power switch is pushed 3 consecutive
times or the power switch is pushed and
held for more than 2 seconds.) If the EV
system stops while the vehicle is being
driven, this could lead to a crash and
serious injury.
Before operating the power switch, make sure
the vehicle is in the P (Park) position.
NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY®
SYSTEM
The Intelligent Key system allows the driver to
start the EV system without taking the key out of
the pocket or purse. The operating environment
and/or conditions may affect Intelligent Key sys-
tem operation.
Some indicators and warnings for operation are
displayed on the vehicle information display in the
lower display. For additional information, refer to
“Vehicle information display” in the “Instruments
and controls” section of this manual.
CAUTION
• Be sure to carry the Intelligent Key with you when operating the vehicle.
• Never leave the Intelligent Key inside the vehicle when you leave the vehicle.
PUSH-BUTTON POWER SWITCH
Starting and driving5-7

The power switch cannot be placed in the LOCK
position until the vehicle is in the P (Park) posi-
tion.
CAUTION
Do not leave the vehicle with the power
switch in the ACC position for an ex-
tended period of time. This can discharge
the 12-volt battery.
NOTE:
If the power switch is pushed quickly or is
pushed twice quickly, the switch may not
function even if a chime sound is heard.
Push the switch again more slowly.
EMERGENCY EV SHUT OFF
To shut off the EV system in an emergency situ-
ation while driving, perform the following proce-
dure.
• Rapidly push the power switch three consecu- tive times in less than 1.5 seconds, or
• Push and hold the power switch for more than 2 seconds.
NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY®
BATTERY DISCHARGE
If the Intelligent Key battery is discharged, or
environmental conditions interfere with the Intel-
ligent Key operation, start the EV system in the
READY to drive mode according to the following
procedure:
1. Push the P (Park) position switch on the shift lever.
2. Firmly apply the foot brake.
3. Touch the power switch with the Intelligent Key as illustrated. (A chime will sound.) 4. Push the power switch while depressing the
brake pedal within 10 seconds after the
chime sounds. The power switch position
changes to the READY to drive mode.
After step 3 is performed, if the power switch is
pushed without depressing the brake pedal, the
power switch position will change to ACC.
NOTE:
• When the power switch is pushed to the
ACC or ON position or READY to drive
mode by the above procedure, the EV sys-
tem operation for discharged Intelligent
Key system indicator appears on the ve-
hicle information display even if the Intel-
ligent Key is inside the vehicle. This is not
a malfunction. To stop the warning indica-
tor from blinking, touch the power switch
with the Intelligent Key again.
• If the Intelligent Key battery discharge
indicator appears on the vehicle informa-
tion display, replace the battery as soon
as possible. For additional information,
refer to “NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery
replacement” in the “Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
5-10Starting and driving

• Make sure that the area around the vehicle isclear.
• Check fluid levels such as coolant, brake fluid, and windshield-washer fluid as frequently as
possible.
• Check that all windows and lights are clean.
• Visually inspect tires for their appearance and condition. Also check tires for proper inflation.
• Check that all doors are closed.
• Adjust the inside and outside mirrors.
• Fasten seat belts and ask all passengers to do likewise.
• Check the operation of the warning lights when the power switch is pushed to the ON position.
For additional information, refer to “Warning
lights, indicator lights and audible reminders” in
the “Instruments and controls” section of this
manual. 1. Confirm the parking brake is applied.
2. Confirm that the vehicle is in the P (Park)
position.
When the power switch is placed in the ON
position, the EV is designed not to operate
unless the shift lever is in the P (Park) or N
(Neutral) positions.
The Intelligent Key must be carried with
you when operating the power switch.
3. Depress the brake pedal and push the power switch to place the EV system in the READY
to drive position.
To place the vehicle in the READY to drive
position immediately, push and release the
power switch while depressing the brake
pedal with the power switch in any position.
The READY to drive indicator light
in the
meter illuminates.
4. To stop the EV system, push the P (Park) position switch on the shift lever, and push the
power switch to the OFF position.
ELECTRIC SHIFT CONTROL
SYSTEM
This vehicle is electronically controlled to pro-
duce maximum available power and smooth op-
eration.
The recommended operating procedures for this
vehicle are shown on the following pages.
Starting vehicle
1. After placing the vehicle in the READY to driveposition, fully depress the foot brake pedal
before moving the shift lever to the D (Drive)
position.
The shift lever of this vehicle is designed
so that the foot brake pedal must be
depressed before shifting from the P
(Park) position to any driving position
while the power switch is in the ON po-
sition.
The shift lever cannot be moved out of
the P (Park) position and into any of the
other positions if the power switch is
placed in the LOCK, OFF or ACC position
or if the key is removed.
2. Keep the foot brake pedal depressed, and move the shift lever to the D (Drive) position.
BEFORE STARTING THE EV SYSTEM STARTING THE EV SYSTEM DRIVING THE VEHICLE
Starting and driving5-11

3. Release the parking brake and foot brakepedal, and then gradually start the vehicle in
motion.
WARNING
• Do not depress the accelerator pedal while shifting from P (Park) or N (Neu-
tral) to R (Reverse) or D (Drive) posi-
tion. Always depress the brake pedal
until shifting is completed. Failure to
do so could cause you to lose control,
which could result in an accident.
• Never shift to P (Park) or R (Reverse) position while vehicle is moving for-
ward and P (Park) or D (Drive) position
while the vehicle is reversing. This
could cause you to lose control and
have an accident.
• Do not shift to the B position abruptly on slippery roads. This may cause a
loss of control.
CAUTION
• To avoid possible damage to your ve- hicle, when stopping the vehicle on an
uphill grade, do not hold the vehicle by
depressing the accelerator pedal. The
foot brake should be used for this pur-
pose.
• Do not hang items on the shift lever. This may cause an accident due to a
sudden start.
Shifting
To move the shift lever,
: Slide along the gate while the brake pedal
is depressed.
: After sliding, maintain it in the same position
until the vehicle placed to N (Neutral) position.
: When in the D (Drive) position, slide along
the gate.
5-12Starting and driving

NOTE:
•Confirm that the vehicle is in the desired
shift position by checking the shift indica-
tor
1located near the shift lever or the
vehicle information display in the meter.
• To place the vehicle into the D (Drive)
position from the B position, move the
shift lever into the D (Drive) position.
After placing the vehicle in the READY to drive
position, fully depress the brake pedal, and move
the shift lever to any of the preferred shift posi-
tions.
If the power switch is placed in the OFF or ACC
position for any reason while the shift position is
in any position other than the P (Park) position,
the power switch cannot be placed in the LOCK
position.
If the power switch cannot be placed in the
LOCK position, perform the following steps.
1. Apply the parking brake when the vehicle is stopped.
2. Place the power switch in the ON position while depressing the foot brake pedal.
3. Push the P (Park) position switch and confirm the vehicle is in the P (Park) position.
4. Place the power switch in the OFF position.
NOTE:
The vehicle automatically applies the P
(Park) position when the power switch is in
the OFF position.
WARNING
• The shift lever is always in the center position when released. When the
power switch is placed in the READY to
drive position, the driver needs to con-
firm that the vehicle is in the P (Park)
position. The indicator next to the “P”
by the shift lever is illuminated and the
“P” is displayed on the meter. If the
vehicle is in the D (Drive) position or R
(Reverse) position when the power
switch is placed in the READY to drive
position, this may cause a sudden start
which could result in an accident.
• On a hilly road, do not allow the vehicle to roll backwards while in the D (Drive)
position or B position, or allow the
vehicle to roll forward while in the R
(Reverse) position. This may cause an
accident.
CAUTION
• Do not slide the shift lever while push- ing the P (Park) position switch. This
may damage the electric motor.
• When switching to the preferred posi- tion by operating the shift lever, check
that the shift lever returns to the cen-
tral position by releasing your hand
from the lever. Holding the shift lever
in a mid-way position may also dam-
age the shift control system.
• Do not operate the shift lever while the accelerator pedal is depressed, except
when switching to the B position. This
may cause a sudden start which could
result in an accident.
• The following operations are not al- lowed because excessive force would
be applied to the traction motor and
this may result in damage to the ve-
hicle:
– Moving the shift lever to the R (Re-verse) position when driving for-
ward
– Moving the shift lever to the D (Drive) position when reversing
If these operations are attempted, a
chime sounds and the vehicle shifts to
the N (Neutral) position.
Starting and driving5-13

P (Park):
Use this shift position when the vehicle is parked
or when placing the vehicle in the READY to drive
position. Make sure that the vehicle is completely
stopped.In order to switch to the P (Park)
position, push the P (Park) position switch
as shown in the illustration above once the
vehicle has come to a complete stop. If the
P (Park) position switch is pushed while the
vehicle is in motion, a chime sounds and
the current shift position is maintained. Af-
ter switching to the P (Park) position, apply the
parking brake. When parking on a hill, apply the
parking brake first while keeping the foot brake
pedal depressed then push the P (Park) position
switch and place the vehicle in the P (Park) position. For additional information, refer to
“Parking brake” in this section.
NOTE:
•
While the vehicle is stationary, if the shift
position is placed in any position other
than the P (Park) position when the power
switch is set to OFF, it will automatically
switch to the P (Park) position.
• If the P (Park) position switch is pushed
while sliding the shift lever, the shift posi-
tion will not switch to the P (Park) posi-
tion. When pushing the P (Park) position
switch be sure to first allow the shift lever
to return to its center position.
R (Reverse):
Use this position to back up. Make sure that the
vehicle is completely stopped before selecting
the R (Reverse) position. If the vehicle is
placed in the D (Drive) position while re-
versing, the chime will sound and the ve-
hicle will switch into the N (Neutral)
position. N (Neutral):
Neither forward nor reverse gear is engaged. The
vehicle can be placed in the READY to drive
position in this position.
Do not shift to the N (Neutral) position while
driving. The regenerative brake system does not
operate in the N (Neutral) position. However, the
vehicle brakes will still stop the car.
D (Drive):
Use this position for all normal forward driving.
If
the vehicle is placed in the D (Drive) posi-
tion while reversing, the chime will sound
and the vehicle will switch into the N (Neu-
tral) position.
5-14Starting and driving

• Push, then quickly release, the COAST/SETswitch. Each time you do this, the set speed will
decrease by about 1 mph or 1km/h.
To resume the preset speed, push and re-
lease the ACCEL/RES switch. The vehicle will
resume the last set cruising speed when the
vehicle speed is over 25 mph (40 km/h) . Vehicle range depends on a number of factors.
Actual vehicle range will vary depending upon:
• speed
• vehicle load
• electrical load from vehicle accessories
• traffic and road conditions
NISSAN recommends the following driving
habits to help maximize vehicle range:
Before driving:
• Follow recommended periodic maintenance.
• Keep tires inflated to correct pressure.
• Keep wheels in correct alignment.
• Pre-heat or pre-cool the interior cabin while the
vehicle is charging.
• Remove unnecessary cargo from the vehicle.
While driving:
• Drive in ECO mode – The ECO mode helps reduce power con-sumption by reducing acceleration when
compared to the same accelerator pedal
position in the D (Drive) position.
• Drive at a constant speed. Maintain cruising speeds with a constant accelerator position or
by using cruise control when appropriate. • Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Gently press
and release the accelerator pedal for accelera-
tion and deceleration.
• Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
• Avoid frequent stopping and braking. Maintain a safe distance behind other vehicles.
• Turn off the air conditioner/heater when it is not necessary.
• Select a moderate temperature setting for heat- ing or cooling to help reduce power
consumption.
• Use the air conditioner/heater and close win- dows to reduce drag when cruising at highway
speed.
• Release the accelerator pedal to slow down and do not apply the brakes when traffic and
road conditions allow. – This vehicle is equipped with a regenerative brake system. The primary purpose of the
regenerative brake system is to provide
some power to recharge the Li-ion battery
and extend driving range. A secondary ben-
efit is “engine braking” that operates based
on Li-ion battery conditions. In the D (Drive)
INCREASING POWER ECONOMY
5-18Starting and driving