2017 NISSAN LEAF service

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 ....................... .8-8
Checking coolant level ................. .8-9
Changing coolant .................... .8-9
Reduction gear fluid .................... .8-10
Brake fluid ......................... .8-10
Windshield-washer fluid ................. .8-11
12-volt battery ....................... .8-12
Jump starting ...................... .8-13
Windshield wiper blades ................. .8-13
Cleaning ........................ .8-13
Replacing ........................ .8-14Rear window wiper blade
...............8-16
Brakes ........................... .8-16
Brake pad wear warning ................8-16
Fuses ............................ .8-17
Motor compartment .................. .8-17
Passenger compartment ................8-19
Nissan Intelligent Key® battery replacement ......8-20
Lights ............................ .8-22
Headlights ....................... .8-22
Exterior and interior lights ...............8-24
Wheels and tires ..................... .8-26
Tire pressure ...................... .8-26
Tire labeling ...................... .8-30
Types of tires ...................... .8-32
Tire chains .......................
.8-33
Changing

wheels and tires .............. .8-33
Emergency tire puncture repair kit ..........8-36

Your new NISSAN has been designed to have
minimum maintenance requirements with long
service intervals to save you both time and
money. However, some day-to-day and regular
maintenance is essential to maintain your NISSA-
N’s fine mechanical condition, and its Electric
Vehicle (EV) system performance.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure that
the scheduled maintenance, and general mainte-
nance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one who
can ensure that your vehicle receives the proper
maintenance care. You are a vital link in the main-
tenance chain.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
For your convenience, both required and optional
scheduled maintenance items are described and
listed in your “NISSAN Service and Maintenance
Guide”. You must refer to that guide to ensure
that necessary maintenance is performed on your
NISSAN at regular intervals.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
General maintenance includes those items which
should be checked during normal day-to-day op-
eration. They are essential for proper vehicle op-eration. It is your responsibility to perform these
procedures regularly as prescribed.
Performing general maintenance checks requires
minimal mechanical skill and only a few general
automotive tools.
These checks or inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician or, if you prefer, a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICE
If maintenance service is required or your vehicle
appears to malfunction, have the systems
checked and serviced. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for this
service.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained specialists
and are kept up-to-date with the latest service
information through technical bulletins, service
tips, and in-dealership information systems. They
are completely qualified to work on NISSAN ve-
hicles
before work begins.
You can be confident that a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer’s service department performs the
best job to meet the maintenance requirements
on your vehicle — in a reliable and economical
way. During the normal day-to-day operation of the
vehicle, general maintenance should be per-
formed regularly as prescribed in this section. If
you detect any unusual sounds, vibrations or
smell, be sure to check for the cause or have a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer do it promptly. In
addition, you should notify a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer if you think that repairs are required.
When performing any checks or maintenance
work, refer to “Maintenance precautions” in this
section.
EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found in this section.
Outside vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Doors and motor hood:
Check that all doors
and the motor hood operate properly. Also en-
sure that all latches lock securely. Lubricate
hinges, latches, latch pins, rollers and links if
necessary. Make sure that the secondary latch
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT GENERAL MAINTENANCE
8-2Maintenance and do-it yourself

keeps the motor hood from opening when the
primary latch is released.
When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication frequently.
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular basis.
Make sure that the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights and other lights are all
operating properly and installed securely. Also
check the aim of the headlights.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*: When checking
the tires, make sure that no wheel nuts are miss-
ing, and check for any loose wheel nuts. Tighten
if necessary.
Tire rotation*: Tires should be rotated every
5,000 miles (8,000 km) .
Tires*: Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If neces-
sary, adjust the pressure in all tires to the pres-
sure specified. Check carefully for damage, cuts
or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components: Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and cap
when the tires are replaced due to wear or age. Wheel alignment and balance:
If the vehicle
pulls to either side while driving on a straight and
level road, or if you detect uneven or abnormal tire
wear, there may be a need for wheel alignment.
If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at normal
highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires, refer to
“Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire
Safety Information” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
Windshield: Clean the windshield on a regular
basis. Check the windshield at least every six
months for cracks or other damage. Have a dam-
aged windshield repaired by a qualified repair
facility.
Wiper blades*: Check for cracks or wear if they
do not wipe properly.
Inside vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when per-
forming scheduled maintenance, cleaning the ve-
hicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal: Check the pedal for smooth
operation and make sure that the pedal does not catch or require uneven effort. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brake pedal:
Check the pedal for smooth op-
eration. If the brake pedal suddenly goes down
further than normal, the pedal feels spongy or the
vehicle seems to take longer to stop, it is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer immediately. Keep the floor mat away from
the pedal.
Brakes: Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Electric shift P (Park) position mechanism:
On a steep hill, check that the vehicle is held
securely while the vehicle is in the P (Park) posi-
tion without applying the brakes.
Parking brake: Check the parking brake opera-
tion regularly. The vehicle should be securely held
on a steep hill with only the parking brake applied.
If the parking brake cannot keep a vehicle posi-
tion, it is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer for this service.
Seat: Check seat position controls such as the
seat adjusters, seatback recliners, etc. to ensure
that they operate smoothly and that all latches
lock securely in every position. Check that the
head restraints/headrests move up and down
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-3

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 elec-
tronic accessories 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, refer to
“Cleaning exterior” in the “Appearance and care”
section of this manual.
Windshield-washer fluid*: Check that there is
an adequate amount of fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it yourself

– The Climate Ctrl. Timer is not activeor operating. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Climate Ctrl.
Timer” in the “Display screen,
heater, air conditioner, audio and
phone system” section of this
manual.
– The 12-volt battery is not being charged by the Li-ion battery and
that all charging status indicator
lights are off. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Charging the 12-
volt battery” in the “EV overview”
section and “Charging status indica-
tor lights” in the “Charging” section
of this manual.
• The power switch is in the OFF posi- tion. Place the power switch in the ON
position and then in the OFF position
to prevent the 12-volt battery auto-
matically being charged by the Li-ion
battery. For additional information, re-
fer to “Charging the 12-volt battery” in
the “EV overview” section of this
manual.
The “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items that
are relatively easy for an owner to perform. A Genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also avail-
able. For additional information, refer to “Owner’s
manual/service manual order information” in the
“Technical and consumer information” section of
this manual.
You should be aware that incomplete or improper
servicing may result in operating difficulties and
could affect your warranty coverage.
If in doubt
about any servicing, it is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
8-6Maintenance and do-it yourself

The 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 antifreeze 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. • When adding or replacing coolant, be
sure to use only a Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-
diluted to provide antifreeze protec-
tion to −34°F (−37°C) . If additional
freeze protection is needed due to the
weather conditions where you operate
your vehicle, add Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)
concentrate following the directions
on the container. If and equivalent
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is
used, follow the coolant manufacture’s
instructions to maintain minimum an-
tifreeze protection to −34°F (−37°C) .
The use of other types of coolant solu-
tions other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent may damage the cooling
system. • The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 125,000 miles (200,000 km)
or 15 years. Mixing any other type of
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) ,
including Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (green) , or the use
of non-distilled water will reduce the
life expectancy of the factory-filled
coolant. For additional information, re-
fer to the NISSAN Service and Mainte-
nance Guide.
COOLING SYSTEM
8-8Maintenance and do-it yourself

CHECKING COOLANT LEVEL
Check the coolant levelin the reservoir when
the high-voltage parts are cold. If the coolant
level is below the MIN level
B, open the reservoir
cap and add coolant up to the MAX level
A.If
the reservoir is empty, check the coolant level in
the coolant reservoir when the high-voltage
parts are cold. If there is insufficient coolant in
the coolant reservoir, fill the coolant reservoir with
coolant up to the reservoir cap opening and also
add it to the reservoir up to the MAX level
A.
Tighten the cap securely after adding coolant. For additional information on the location of the
coolant reservoir, refer to “Motor compartment
check locations” in this section.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, it is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
CHANGING COOLANT
It is recommended that major cooling system
repairs should be performed by a NISSAN certi-
fied LEAF dealer. The service procedures can be
found in the appropriate 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 reservoir 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.
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-9

When checking or replacement is required, it is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.
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. For additional brake fluid information, refer to
“Recommended 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
Bor the brake warning light
illuminates, add Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy
Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3fluid up to
the MAX line
A. If fluid must be added fre-
quently, the system should be checked. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.
REDUCTION GEAR FLUID BRAKE FLUID
8-10Maintenance and do-it yourself