2018 NISSAN LEAF traction control

– if possible, reduce the amount ofcargo being hauled or towed.
The MIL may stop blinking and come on
steady. Have the vehicle inspected. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer
for this service. You do not need to have
your vehicle towed to the dealer.
CAUTION
Continued vehicle operation without
having the emission control system
checked and repaired as necessary
could lead to poor driveability, reduced
fuel economy, and possible damage to
the emission control system.
Overdrive OFF indicator light (if so equipped)
The overdrive OFF indicator light illumi-
nates when the overdrive OFF mode is se-
lected.
For additional information, refer to “Driving
the vehicle” in the “Starting and driving” sec-
tion of this manual.
Security indicator light (ifso equipped)
This light blinks when the ignition switch is
placed in the OFF or LOCK position. The blinking security indicator light indi-
cates that the security systems equipped
on the vehicle are operational.
For additional information, refer to “Security
systems” in this section.
SET indicator light (if so
equipped)
This light comes on while the vehicle speed
is controlled by the cruise control system. If
the light blinks while the engine is running,
it may indicate the cruise control system is
not functioning properly. Have the system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN dealer for this service.
For additional information, refer to “Cruise
control” in the “Starting and driving” section
of this manual.
Side light and headlightindicator light (green)
The side light and headlight indicator light
illuminates when the side light or head-
lights are on. If the headlight switch is in the
AUTO position, the side light and headlight
indicator light will illuminate when the
headlights turn on. For additional informa-
tion, refer to “Headlight and turn signal
switch” in this section.
Slip indicator light
This indicator will blink when the VDC sys-
tem is operating, thus alerting the driver to
the fact that the road surface is slippery
and the vehicle is nearing its traction limits.
You may feel or hear the system working;
this is normal.
The light will blink for a few seconds af ter
the VDC system stops limiting wheel spin.
The
indicator light also comes on
when you place the ignition switch in the
ON position. The light will turn off af ter ap-
proximately 2 seconds if the system is op-
erational. If the light does not come on
have the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for
this service.
SPORT mode indicator
light (if so equipped)
This light illuminates and then turns off
when the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, and when the SPORT mode is se-
lected.
Instruments and controls2-19

∙ WMA — Windows Media Audio (WMA)* isa compressed audio format created by
Microsof t as an alternative to MP3. The
WMA codec offers greater file compres-
sion than the MP3 codec, enabling stor-
age of more digital audio tracks in the
same amount of space when com-
pared to MP3s at the same level of qual-
ity.
∙ Bit rate — Bit rate denotes the number of bits per second used by a digital mu-
sic file. The size and quality of a com-
pressed digital audio file is determined
by the bit rate used when encoding the
file.
∙ Sampling frequency — Sampling fre- quency is the rate at which the samples
of a signal are converted from analog to
digital (A/D conversion) per second.
∙ Multisession — Multisession is one of the methods for writing data to media.
Writing data once to the media is called
a single session, and writing more than
once is called a multisession. ∙ ID3/WMA Tag — The ID3/WMA tag is the
part of the encoded MP3 or WMA file
that contains information about the
digital music file such as song title, art-
ist, encoding bit rate, track time dura-
tion, etc. ID3 tag information is displayed
on the Artist/song title line on the dis-
play.
* Windows® and Windows Media® are reg-
istered trademarks and trademarks in the
United States of America and other coun-
tries of Microsof t Corporation of the USA.
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
Connection Port
WARNING
Do not connect, disconnect or operate
the USB device while driving. Doing so
can be a distraction. If distracted you
could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident or serious injury.
CAUTION
∙ Do not force the USB device into the USB port. Inserting the USB device
tilted or up-side-down into the port
may damage the port. Make sure that
the USB device is connected correctly
into the USB port.
∙ Do not grab the USB port cover (if so equipped) when pulling the USB de-
vice out of the port. This could dam-
age the port and the cover.
∙ Do not leave the USB cable in a place where it can be pulled unintentionally.
Pulling the cable may damage the
port.
The vehicle is not equipped with a USB de-
vice. USB devices should be purchased
separately as necessary.
This system cannot be used to format USB
devices. To format a USB device, use a per-
sonal computer.
In some jurisdictions, the USB device for the
front seats plays only sound without im-
ages for regulatory reasons, even when the
vehicle is parked.
4-44Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems

USB (Universal Serial Bus)
CONNECTION PORT
Connecting a device to the USB
Connection Port
WARNING
Do not connect, disconnect, or operate
the USB device while driving. Doing so
can be a distraction. If distracted you
could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident or serious injury.
CAUTION
∙ To avoid damage and loss of functionwhen using a USB device, note the fol-
lowing precautions.
∙ Do not force the USB device into the USB port. Inserting the USB device
tilted or up-side-down into the port
may damage the port. Make sure that
the USB device is connected correctly
into the USB port.
∙ Do not grab the USB port cover (if so equipped) when pulling the USB de-
vice out of the port. This could dam-
age the port and the cover.
∙ Do not leave the USB cable in a place where it can be pulled unintentionally.
Pulling the cable may damage the
port.
For additional information, refer to your de-
vice manufacturer’s owner information re-
garding the proper use and care of the
device.
The USB port is located on the center con-
sole beneath the heater and air condi-
tioner controls. Insert the USB device into
the connection port. When a compatible storage device is
plugged into the connection port, compat-
ible audio files on the storage device can be
played through the vehicle’s audio system.
The port is illuminated for better visibility
when the headlight switch is in the ON po-
sition.
LHA4701
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-53

iPod®* PLAYER OPERATION
Connecting iPod®
WARNING
Do not connect, disconnect, or operate
the USB device while driving. Doing so
can be a distraction. If distracted you
could lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident or serious injury.
CAUTION
∙ Do not force the USB device into theUSB port. Inserting the USB device
tilted or up-side-down into the port
may damage the port. Make sure that
the USB device is connected correctly
into the USB port.
∙ Do not grab the USB port cover (if so equipped) when pulling the USB de-
vice out of the port. This could dam-
age the port and the cover.
∙ Do not leave the USB cable in a place where it can be pulled unintentionally.
Pulling the cable may damage the
port.
For additional information, refer to your de-
vice manufacturer’s owner information re-
garding the proper use and care of the
device.
To connect an iPod® to the vehicle so that
the iPod® can be controlled with the audio
system controls and display screen, use
the USB connection port located on the
center console below the heater and air
conditioner controls. Connect the iPod®-
specific end of the cable to the iPod® and
the USB end of the cable to the USB con-
nection port on the vehicle. If your iPod® supports charging via a USB connection, its
battery will be charged while connected to
the vehicle with the ignition switch in the
ON position. The port is illuminated for bet-
ter visibility when the headlight switch is in
the ON position.
While connected to the vehicle, the iPod®
can only be operated by the vehicle audio
controls.
To disconnect the iPod® from the vehicle,
remove the USB end of the cable from the
USB connection port on the vehicle, then
remove the cable from the iPod®.
* iPod® is a trademark of Apple Inc., regis-
tered in the U.S. and other countries.
Compatibility
The following models are compatible:
∙ iPod® Classic 5th generation (firmware version 1.3.0 or later)
∙ iPod® Classic 6th generation (firmware version 2.0.1 or later)
∙ iPod® Classic 7th generation (firmware version 2.0.4 or later)
∙ iPod® Touch 2nd generation (firmware version 4.2.1 or later)*
LHA4701
4-56Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems

Apple Siri® Eyes Free personal assistant
can be accessed from the vehicle. Siri Eyes
Free can be accessed in Siri Eyes Free
mode to reduce user distraction. In this
mode, Siri Eyes Free is available for interac-
tion by voice control. Af ter connecting a
compatible Apple device by using
Bluetooth®, Siri Eyes Free can be activated
from the
button on the steering
wheel.
Siri® is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered
in the U.S. and other countries.
∙ Some Siri Eyes Free functions, such as displaying pictures or opening apps,
may not be available while driving.
∙ For getting best results, always update your device to the latest sof tware ver-
sion.
∙ Keep the interior of the vehicle as quiet as possible. Close the windows to elimi-
nate the surrounding noises (traffic
noises, vibration sounds, etc.), which
may prevent the system from recogniz-
ing the voice commands correctly.
∙ For functions that can be used in Siri Eyes Free, please refer to the Apple
website.
REQUIREMENTS
Siri is only available on the iPhone® 4S or
later. Devices released before iPhone® 4S
are not supported by the Siri Eyes Free sys-
tem. Visit www.apple.com/ios/siri for de-
tails about device compatibility.
Siri must be enabled on the phone. Please
check phone settings.
If the device has a lock screen, Siri must be
accessible from the lock screen. Please
check phone settings.
For best results, always update your device
to the latest sof tware version.
OPERATING SIRI® EYES FREE
1. Pushbutton for less than 1.5 sec-
onds.
2. Speak your command and then listen to the Siri® Eyes Free reply.
Af ter starting Siri Eyes Free, push the
button again within 5 seconds of the end of
the Siri Eyes Free announcement to extend
the session.
LHA4733
SIRI® EYES FREE (if so equipped)
Monitor, climate, audio, phone and voice recognition systems4-65

WARNING
The Brake Assist is only an aid to assist
braking operation and is not a collision
warning or avoidance device. It is the
driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive
safely and be in control of the vehicle at
all times.The VDC system uses various sensors to
monitor driver inputs and vehicle motion.
Under certain driving conditions, the VDC
system helps to perform the following
functions:
∙ Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel slip on one slipping drive wheel
so power is transferred to a non-
slipping drive wheel on the same axle.
∙ Controls brake pressure and engine output to reduce drive wheel slip based
on vehicle speed (traction control func-
tion).
∙ Controls brake pressure at individual wheels and engine output to help the
driver maintain control of the vehicle in
the following conditions:
– Understeer (vehicle tends to not fol- low the steered path despite in-
creased steering input)
– Oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to certain road or driving conditions)
The VDC system can help the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle, but it can-
not prevent loss of vehicle control in all driv-
ing situations. When the VDC system operates, theindicator in the instrument panel flashes
so note the following:
∙ The road may be slippery or the system may determine some action is required
to help keep the vehicle on the steered
path.
∙ You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or vibration from
under the hood. This is normal and indi-
cates that the VDC system is working
properly.
∙ Adjust your speed and driving to the road conditions.
For additional information, refer to “Slip in-
dicator light” and ”Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) OFF indicator light” in the ”Instru-
ments and controls” section of this manual.
If a malfunction occurs in the system,
the
indicator light comes on in the
instrument panel. The VDC system auto-
matically turns off when these indicator
lights are on.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the
VDC system. The
indicator and the
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) sys-
tem warning light illuminate to indicate the
VDC system is off.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
5-56Starting and driving

The hill start assist system automatically
keeps the brakes applied to help prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards in the
time it takes the driver to release the brake
pedal and apply the accelerator when the
vehicle is stopped on a hill.
The hill start assist system will operate au-
tomatically under the following conditions:∙ The transmission is shif ted to a forward or reverse gear.
∙ The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill by applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds.
Af ter 2 seconds the vehicle will begin to roll
back and the hill start assist system will
stop operating completely.
The hill start assist system will not operate
when the transmission is shif ted to the N
(Neutral) or P (Park) position or on a flat and
level road.
When the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
indicator light illuminates in the meter, the
hill start assist system will not operate. For
additional information, refer to “Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) indicator light” in the
“Instruments and controls” section of this
manual.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply
de-icer through the key hole. If the lock
becomes frozen, heat the key before in-
serting it into the key hole or use the re-
mote keyless entry function on the Intelli-
gent Key.
ANTIFREEZE
In the winter when it is anticipated that the
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C),
check the antifreeze to assure proper win-
ter protection. For additional information,
refer to “Engine cooling system” in the “Do-
it-yourself ” section of this manual.
BATTERY
If the battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the
battery fluid may freeze and damage the
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency,
the battery should be checked regularly.
For additional information, refer to “Battery”
in the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this
manual.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be lef t outside without
anti-freeze, drain the cooling system, in-
cluding the engine block. Refill before oper-
ating the vehicle. For additional informa-
tion, refer to “Changing engine coolant” in
the “Do-it-yourself ” section of this manual.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
1. SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance
of these tires will be substantially re-
duced in snowy and icy conditions. If
you operate your vehicle on snowy or
icy roads, NISSAN recommends the use
of MUD & SNOW or ALL SEASON TIRES
on all four wheels. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN dealer for the tire
type, size, speed rating and availability
information.
2. For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires may be used. However,
some states, provinces and territories
prohibit their use. Check local laws be-
fore installing studded tires.
COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-61

Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow
tires.
SPECIAL WINTER EQUIPMENT
It is recommended that the following items
be carried in the vehicle during winter:∙ A scraper and stiff-bristled brush to re- move ice and snow from the windows
and wiper blades.
∙ A sturdy, flat board to be placed under the jack to give it firm support.
∙ A shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow- drif ts.
∙ Extra washer fluid to refill the windshield-washer fluid reservoir.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
WARNING
∙ Wet ice (32°F, 0°C and freezing rain),very cold snow or ice can be slick and
very hard to drive on. The vehicle will
have much less traction or “grip” un-
der these conditions. Try to avoid driv-
ing on wet ice until the road is salted
or sanded. ∙ Whatever the condition, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating or down-
shif ting too fast, the drive wheels will
lose even more traction.
∙ Allow more stopping distance under these conditions. Braking should be
started sooner than on dry pavement.
∙ Allow greater following distances on slippery roads.
∙ Watch for slippery spots (glare ice). These may appear on an otherwise
clear road in shaded areas. If a patch
of ice is seen ahead, brake before
reaching it. Try not to brake while on
the ice, and avoid any sudden steering
maneuvers.
∙ Do not use the cruise control on slip- pery roads.
∙ Snow can trap dangerous exhaust gases under your vehicle. Keep snow
clear of the exhaust pipe and from
around your vehicle.
PARKING BRAKE
When parking in an area where the outside
temperature is below 32°F (0°C), do not ap-
ply the parking brake to prevent it from
freezing. For safe parking:
∙ Place the shif t lever in the P (Park) posi- tion.
∙ Securely block the wheels.
5-62Starting and driving