WARNING
• The VDC system is designed to help the driver maintain stability but
does not prevent accidents due to
abrupt steering operation at high
speeds or by careless or dangerous
driving techniques. Reduce vehicle
speed and be especially careful
when driving and cornering on slip-
pery surfaces and always drive care-
fully.
• Do not modif y the vehicle’s suspen- sion. If suspension parts such as
shock absorbers, struts, springs,
stabilizer bars, bushings and wheels
are not NISSAN recommended for
your vehicle or are extremely dete-
riorated the VDC system may not op-
erate properly. This could adversely
affect vehicle handling perfor-
mance, and the
indicator light
may flash or theindicator
light may illuminate. • If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC sys-
tem may not operate properly and
the
indicator light may illumi-
nate.
• If traction motor control related parts are not NISSAN recommended
or are extremely deteriorated, the
indicator light may illuminate.
• When driving on extremely inclined surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly and the
indicator
light may illuminate. Do not drive on
these types of roads.
• When driving on an unstable surface such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
indicator light may il-
luminate. This is not a malfunction.
Restart the EV system af ter driving
onto a stable surface.
• If wheels or tires other than the NISSAN recommended ones are
used, the VDC system may not oper-
ate properly and the
indicator
light may illuminate. • The VDC system is not a substitute
for winter tires or tire chains on a
snow covered road.
Starting and driving5-151
1. If the booster battery is in another ve-hicle
B, position the two vehicles (A
andB) to bring their 12-volt batteries
into close proximity to each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to
touch.
2. Apply the parking brake.
If the 12-volt battery is discharged,
the power switch cannot be moved
from the OFF position. Connect the
jumper cables to the booster vehicle
Bbefore pushing the power switch. 3. Push the P (Park) position switch to
place the vehicle in the P (Park) position.
4. Switch off all unnecessary electrical sys- tems (headlights, heater, air conditioner,
etc.).
5. Place the power switch in the OFF position.
6. Ensure vent caps are level and tight.
7. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as illustrated (
1→2→3→4).
CAUTION
• Always connect positive (+) to positive
(+) and negative (−) to body ground
(for example, as illustrated), not to the
12-volt battery.
• Make sure the jumper cables do not touch moving parts in the motor
compartment and that the cable
clamps do not contact any other
metal.
8. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
B.
9. While the booster vehicle
Bengine is
running, 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 po-
sition and wait 10 seconds before try-
ing again.
6-12In case of emergency
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 .................. .8-3
Explanation of maintenance items ........8-3
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 .................... .8-14
Windshield wiper blades ................8-15
Cleaning .........................8-15
Replacing ........................8-15 Rear window wiper blade
..............8-17
Brakes ........................... .8-17
Brake pad wear warning ..............8-17
Fuses ............................ .8-18
Motor compartment ................ .8-18
Passenger compartment ..............8-21
Nissan Intelligent Key® battery replacement . . .8-22
Lights ............................ .8-25
Headlights .......................8-25
Fog lights (if so equipped) .............8-26
Exterior and interior lights .............8-27
Wheels and tires .................... .8-30
Tire pressure ......................8-30
Tire labeling ......................8-34
Types of tires ......................8-36
Tire chains ...................... .8-37
Changing wheels
and tires ............8-38
Emergency tire puncture repair kit .......8-40
Inside vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked on a regular basis, such as
when performing scheduled maintenance,
cleaning the vehicle, 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
operation. 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 recommended 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 shif t P (Park) position mecha-
nism: On a steep hill, check that the vehicle
is held securely while the vehicle is in the P
(Park) position without applying the brakes. Parking brake:
Check the parking brake
operation 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 position, it is recom-
mended 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 posi-
tion. Check that the head restraints/
headrests move up and down 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 webbing 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 op-
erating properly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air
emits from the defroster outlets properly
and in sufficient quantity when operating
the heater or air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check
that the wipers and washers operate prop-
erly and that the wipers do not streak.
Under hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should
be checked periodically.
12-volt battery (except for maintenance
free batteries)*: Check the fluid level in
each cell. The fluid should be at the bottom
of the filler opening. Vehicles operated in
high temperatures or under severe condi-
tions require frequent checks of the 12–volt
battery fluid level.
8-4Maintenance and do-it yourself
• Park the vehicle on a level surface,apply the parking brake securely
and chock the wheels to prevent the
vehicle from moving. Push the P
(Park) position switch on the shif t
lever or place the vehicle into the N
(Neutral) position.
• If you must work with the EV (Electric Vehicle) system is turned on, keep
hands, clothing, hair and tools away
from moving fans and any other
moving parts.
• Make sure that the power switch is in the OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any part replacement or re-
pairs.
• It is advisable to secure or remove any loose clothing and remove any
jewelry, such as rings, watches, etc.
before working on your vehicle.
• Always wear eye protection when- ever you work on your vehicle.
• Never get under the vehicle while it is supported only by a jack. If it is
necessary to work under the vehicle,
support it with safety stands.
•
Keep smoking materials, flames and
sparks away from the 12-volt battery.
CAUTION
• Do not work under the hood while the motor compartment is hot. Push
the power switch in the OFF position
and wait until it cools down.
• Avoid direct contact with used cool- ant. Improperly disposed coolant
and/or other vehicle fluids can dam-
age the environment. Always con-
form to local regulations for the dis-
posal of vehicle fluids.
• Never connect or disconnect the battery or any transistorized com-
ponent while the power switch is in
the ON position.
• Your vehicle is equipped with an au- tomatic cooling fan. It may come on
at any time without warning, even if
the power switch is not in the ACC,
ON or READY to drive position. To
avoid injury, always disconnect the
negative 12-volt battery cable be-
fore working near the fan.
• Before performing any electrical maintenance work on the vehicle
such as the battery, fuses or bulb re-
placement, confirm the following:
– The charge connector is removedfrom the vehicle. – The Climate Ctrl. Timer is not ac-
tive or operating. For additional
information, refer to “Climate Ctrl.
Timer” in the “Monitor, climate, au-
dio, phone and voice recognition
systems” 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 indi-
cator lights” in the “Charging” sec-
tion 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 po-
sition to prevent the 12-volt battery
automatically being charged by the
Li-ion battery. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Charging the 12-
volt battery ” in the “EV overview”
section of this manual.
The “Maintenance and do-it-yourself ” sec-
tion gives instructions regarding only
those items that are relatively easy for an
owner to perform.
8-6Maintenance and do-it yourself
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 driveabil-
ity and reduction gear durability,
and may damage the reduction
gear, which is not covered by the
NISSAN New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty. For additional brake fluid information, refer
to “Recommended fluids/lubricants and
capacities” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section of this manual.
WARNING
• Use only new fluid from a sealed container. Old, inferior or contami-
nated fluid may damage the brake
system. The use of improper fluids
can damage the brake system, and
affect the vehicle’s stopping ability.
• Clean the filler cap before removing.
• Brake fluid is poisonous and should be stored carefully in marked con-
tainers out of the reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted
surfaces. 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 frequently, the
system should be checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.
REDUCTION GEAR FLUID BRAKE FLUID
8-10Maintenance and do-it yourself
REAR WINDOW WIPER BLADE
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer if checking or replace-
ment is required.If the brakes do not operate properly, have
the brakes checked. It is recommended
that you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer
for this service.
WARNING
Do not adjust the height of the brake
pedal. Doing so could alter the effec-
tiveness of the brakes, which could re-
sult in a serious accident and personal
injury. If adjustment is required, it is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer for this service.
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
The disc brake pads have audible wear
warnings. When a brake pad requires re-
placement, it will make a high pitched
scraping sound when the vehicle is in mo-
tion. This scraping sound will first occur
only when the brake pedal is depressed.
Af ter more wear of the brake pad, the
sound will always be heard even if the
brake pedal is not depressed. Have the
brakes checked as soon as possible if the
wear warning sound is heard. Under some driving or climate conditions,
occasional brake squeak, squeal or other
noise may be heard. Occasional brake
noise during light to moderate stops is nor-
mal and does not affect the function or
performance of the brake system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed.
For additional information, re-
fer to the maintenance log section of your
NISSAN Service and Maintenance Guide.
BRAKES
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-17
•The original tires have built-in
tread wear indicators. When
wear indicators are visible, the
tire(s) should be replaced.
•Tires degrade with age and
use. Have tires, over 6 years old
checked by a qualified techni-
cian, because some tire dam-
age may not be obvious. Re-
place the tires as necessary to
prevent tire failure and pos-
sible personal injury.
•For additional information re-
garding tires, refer to “Impor-
tant Tire Safety Information”
(US) or “Tire Safety Informa-
tion” (Canada) in the Warranty
Information Booklet.
Replacing wheels and tires
When replacing a tire, use the same size,
tread design, speed rating and load carry-
ing capacity as originally equipped. For ad-
ditional information, refer to “Specifica-
tions” in the “Technical and consumerinformation” section of this manual for rec-
ommended types and sizes of tires and
wheels.
WARNING
• The use of tires other than those rec- ommended or the mixed use of tires
of different brands, construction
(bias, bias-belted or radial), or tread
patterns can adversely affect the
ride, braking, handling, Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) system, ground
clearance, body-to-tire clearance,
tire chain clearance, speedometer
calibration, headlight aim and bum-
per height. Some of these effects
may lead to accidents and could re-
sult in serious personal injury.
• If your vehicle was originally equipped with four tires that were
the same size and you are only re-
placing two of the four tires, install
the new tires on the rear axle. Plac-
ing new tires on the front axle may
cause loss of vehicle control in some
driving conditions and cause an ac-
cident and personal injury. • If the wheels are changed for any
reason, always replace with wheels
which have the same off-set dimen-
sion. Wheels of a different off-set
could cause premature tire wear, de-
grade vehicle handling characteris-
tics, affect the VDC system and/or
interference with the brake discs.
Such interference can lead to de-
creased braking efficiency and/or
early brake pad/shoe wear. For ad-
ditional information on wheel-off
set dimensions, refer to “Wheels and
tires” in the “Technical and con-
sumer information” section of this
manual.
• When replacing a wheel without the TPMS such as the spare tire, the
TPMS will not function when a wheel
is replaced, the TPMS will not func-
tion and the low tire pressure warn-
ing light will flash for approximately
1 minute. The light will remain on af-
ter 1 minute. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer for this service.
• Replacing tires with those not origi- nally specified by NISSAN could af-
fect the proper operation of the
TPMS.
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-39