2021 NISSAN LEAF brake fluid

1. Fuse/Fusible link holder (P. 8-15)
2. Brake fluid reservoir (P. 8-7)
3. 12-volt battery (P. 8-9)
4. Fuse holder (P. 8-15)5. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir (P. 8-8)
6. Fuse/Fusible link holder (P. 8-15)
7. Coolant reservoir cap (P. 8-5)
LDI3464
MOTOR COMPARTMENT
0-10Illustrated table of contents

Parking brake indicator
When the power switch is placed in the ON
position, the light comes on when the park-
ing brake is applied.
Low brake fluid warning light
When the power switch is in the ON posi-
tion, the light warns of a low brake fluid
level. If this warning light illuminates, the
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning
light and the brake system warning light
(yellow) also illuminate.
If the light illuminates while the power
switch is in the READY to drive position with
the parking brake not applied, stop the ve-
hicle and perform the following items.
1. Check the brake fluid level. If brake fluid isnecessary, add fluid and have the sys-
tem checked. It is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer
for this service. For additional informa-
tion, see “Brake fluid” (P. 8-7).
2. If the brake fluid level is correct, have the warning system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.WARNING
• Your brake system may not be work-
ing properly if the warning light is on.
Driving could be dangerous. If you
judge the brake system to be safe,
drive carefully to the nearest service
station for repairs. Otherwise, have
your vehicle towed because driving it
could be dangerous.
• Pressing the brake pedal when the
power switch position is not in the
ON or READY to drive position and/or
low brake fluid level may increase the
stopping distance and braking will
require greater pedal effort as well as
pedal travel.
• If the brake fluid level is below the
minimum or MIN mark on the brake
fluid reservoir, do not drive until the
brake system has been checked. It is
recommended that you visit a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for this
service.Electric shif t control system
warning light
This light illuminates to warn when a mal-
function occurs in the electric shif t control
system. When the master warning light illu-
minates, the chime sounds and the mes-
sage, “When parked apply parking brake”, is
displayed on the vehicle information
display.
When the power switch is in the OFF posi-
tion, the chime sounds continuously. Make
sure the parking brake is applied.
Have the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.
orElectronic parking
brake indicator
light (if so
equipped)
When the power switch is placed in the ON
position, the light comes on when the park-
ing brake is applied.
Instruments and controls2-17

If the BRAKE warning light (red) also illumi-
nates, stop the vehicle immediately and
have the system checked. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service. For additional
information, see “Brake system” (P. 5-156).
WARNING
• Pressing the brake pedal when the
power switch position is not in the
ON or READY to drive position and/or
low brake fluid level may increase the
stopping distance and braking will
require greater pedal effort as well as
pedal travel.
•
If the brake fluid level is below the
minimum or MIN mark on the brake
fluid reservoir, do not drive until the
brake system has been checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer for this service.
• The cooperative regenerative brake
system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light illu-
minates when the READY to drive in-
dicator light is ON. If you judge it to be
safe, drive carefully to the nearest
service station for repairs. Otherwise,
have your vehicle towed because
driving could be dangerous.
Electric Vehicle (EV) system
warning light
This light illuminates if there is a malfunc-
tion in the following systems. Have the sys-
tem checked. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for this
service.
• Traction motor and inverter system
• Charge port or on-board charger
• Li-ion battery system
• Cooling system
• Shif t control system
• Emergency shut off system is activated. For additional information, see “Emer-
gency shut-off system” (P. EV-10).
orElectronic parking
brake system
warning light (if so
equipped)
The electronic parking brake system warn-
ing light function for the electronic braking
brake system. When the power switch is
placed in the ON position, the light illumi-
nates for a few seconds. If the warning light
illuminates at any other time, it may indi-
cate that the electronic parking brake sys-
tem is not function properly. Have the sys- tem checked immediately. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN cer-
tified LEAF dealer for this service.
Front passenger air bag
status light
The front passenger air bag status light
(located on the center of the instrument
panel) will be lit and the passenger front air
bag and passenger knee airbag will be
turned off depending on how the front pas-
senger seat is being used.
For front passenger air bag status light op-
eration, see “NISSAN Advanced Air Bag Sys-
tem (front seats)” (P. 1-53).
Low tire pressure warning
light
Your vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pres-
sure Monitoring System (TPMS) that moni-
tors the tire pressure of all tires.
The low tire pressure warning light warns
of low tire pressure or indicates that the
TPMS is not functioning properly.
Af ter the power switch is placed in the ON
position, this light illuminates for about 1
second and then turns off.
2-20Instruments and controls

Low Washer Fluid
This warning appears when the washer
tank fluid is at a low level. Add washer fluid
as necessary. For additional information,
see “Windshield-washer fluid” (P. 8-8).
Press Brake Pedal
This message may appear in the following
situations:
• The driver tries to release the electronicparking brake manually without depress-
ing the brake pedal.
• The vehicle is stopped on a steep hill; and there is a possibility of moving back-
wards, even if the electronic parking
brake is applied.
• The vehicle moves while the automatic brake hold is activated.
For additional information, see “Electronic
parking brake” (P. 5-19).
Press brake pedal to
operate e-Pedal switch
This indicator appears when trying to turn
the e-Pedal off without depressing the
brake pedal when the vehicle is stopped.
Depress the brake pedal before pulling the
e-Pedal switch.
Push brake and power
switch to drive
This indicator appears while the vehicle is
in the P (Park) position. This indicator
means that the EV system will start when
the power switch is pressed with the brake
pedal depressed.
Release Parking Brake
This warning appears when the vehicle
speed is above 4 mph (7 km/h) (models not
equipped with electronic parking brake) or
2 mph (4 km/h) (models equipped with
electronic parking brake) and the parking
brake is applied. Stop the vehicle and re-
lease the parking brake.
Reminder Turn OFF
Headlights
This warning appears when the power
switch is turned to the OFF position but the
headlight switch is still on. Turn off the
headlight switch.
Shif t to P range
This warning appears alternately with
door/rear hatch open warning when the
driver's door is opened with the shif t posi-
tion in any position other than the P (Park) position. If this warning appears, push the P
(Park) position switch and place in the P
(Park) position.
For additional information, see “Door open”
(P. 2-35).
Shipping Mode On Push Storage Fuse
This warning may appear if the extended
storage switch is not pushed in. When this
warning appears, push in the extended
storage switch to turn off the warning.
For additional information, see “Extended
storage switch” (P. 8-19).
Tire Pressure Low - Add Air
This warning appears when the low tire
pressure warning light in the meter illumi-
nates and low tire pressure is detected. The
warning appears each time the power
switch is placed in the ON position as long
as the low tire pressure warning light re-
mains illuminated.
If this warning appears, stop the vehicle
and adjust the tire pressure to the recom-
mended COLD tire pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label. For ad-
ditional information, see “Low tire pressure
warning light” (P. 2-20) and “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” (P. 5-4).
Instruments and controls2-37

4. Push the power switch while depressingthe brake pedal within 10 seconds af ter
the chime sounds. The power switch
position changes to the READY to drive
mode.
Af ter 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 placed in the ACC or ON position or READY to drive
mode by the above procedure, the EV
system operation for discharged Intel-
ligent Key system indicator appears on
the vehicle information display even if
the Intelligent Key is inside the vehicle.
This is not a malfunction. To stop the
warning indicator from blinking, touch
the power switch with the Intelligent
Key again.
• If the Intelligent Key battery discharge indicator appears on the vehicle infor-
mation display, replace the battery as
soon as possible. For additional infor-
mation, see “NISSAN Intelligent Key®
battery replacement” (P. 8-19).
NISSAN VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
The NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System
will not allow the power switch to be placed
in the READY to drive position without the
use of the registered key.
If the power switch fails to place the vehicle
into the READY to drive position using the
registered key, it may be due to interfer-
ence caused by another registered key, an
automated toll road device or automated
payment device on the key ring. Restart the
EV system using the following procedure:
1. Leave the power switch in the ON posi- tion for approximately 5 seconds.
2. Place the power switch in the OFF posi- tion and wait approximately 10 seconds.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 again.
4. Place the power switch in the READY to drive position while holding the device
(which may have caused the interfer-
ence) separate from the registered key.
If this procedure allows the power
switch to be placed in the READY to drive
mode, NISSAN recommends placing the
registered key on a separate key ring to
avoid interference from other devices. • Make sure that the area around the ve-
hicle is clear.
• Check fluid levels such as coolant, brake fluid, and windshield-washer fluid as fre-
quently 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.
• Position the seat and adjust the head restraints/headrests.
• 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,
see “Warning lights, indicator lights and
audible reminders” (P. 2-14).
BEFORE STARTING THE EV SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-13

Wet brakes
When the vehicle is washed or driven
through water, the brakes may get wet. As
a result, the braking distance will be longer
and the vehicle may pull to one side during
braking.
To dry brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe
speed while lightly tapping the brake pedal
to heat up the brakes. Do this until the
brakes return to normal. Avoid driving the
vehicle at high speeds until the brakes
have dried.
Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever
the stopping effect of the parking brake is
weakened or whenever the parking brake
shoes and/or rotors are replaced, in order
to assure the best braking performance.
This procedure is described in the Genuine
NISSAN Service Manual, and it can be per-
formed by a certified repair facility. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN certi-
fied LEAF dealer.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
WARNING
• The ABS is a sophisticated device, but
it cannot prevent accidents resulting
from careless or dangerous driving
techniques. It can help maintain ve-
hicle control during braking on slip-
pery surfaces. Remember that stop-
ping distances on slippery surfaces
will be longer than on normal sur-
faces even with ABS. Stopping dis-
tances may also be longer on rough,
gravel or snow covered roads, or if
you are using tire chains. Always
maintain a safe distance from the ve-
hicle in front of you. Ultimately, the
driver is responsible for safety.
• Tire type and condition may also af-
fect braking effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
– For additional information, see
“Wheels and tires” (P. 8-25). The ABS controls the brakes so the wheels
do not lock during hard braking or when
braking on slippery surfaces. The system
detects the rotation speed at each wheel
and varies the brake fluid pressure to pre-
vent each wheel from locking and sliding.
By preventing each wheel from locking, the
system helps the driver maintain steering
control and helps to minimize swerving
and spinning on slippery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
Depress the brake pedal with firm steady
pressure, but do not pump the brakes. The
Anti-lock Braking System will operate to
prevent the wheels from locking up. Steer
the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
WARNING
Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
may result in increased stopping
distances.
5-158Starting and driving

TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to
provide superior performance on dry
pavement. However, the performance of
these tires will be substantially reduced 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 cer-
tified LEAF dealer for the tire type, size,
speed rating and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, stud-
ded tires may be used. However, some U.S.
states and Canadian provinces prohibit
their use. Check local, state and provincial
laws before installing studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may
be poorer than that of non-studded
snow tires.
Tire chains may be used. For additional in-
formation, see “Tire chains” (P. 8-33).
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 shovel to dig the vehicle out of snow-drif ts.
• Extra windshield-washer fluid to refill the reservoir tank.
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
driving on wet ice until the road is
salted or sanded.
• Whatever the conditions, drive with
caution. Accelerate and slow down
with care. If accelerating 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 steer-
ing maneuvers.
• Do not use cruise control on slippery
roads.
FREEING A FROZEN CHARGE PORT
LID
When the charge port is frozen, melt the ice
using a hair dryer.
PARKING BRAKE
CAUTION
• When parking in an area where the
outside temperature is below 32°F
(0°C), the parking brake, if applied,
may freeze in place and may be diffi-
cult to release.
• For safe parking, it is recommended
that you place the shif t lever in the P
(Park) position and securely block
the wheels.
5-170Starting and driving

8 Do-it yourself
Maintenance precautions.......................8-2
Motor compartment check locations ...........8-4
Cooling system .................................8-5
Checking coolant level .......................8-6
Changing coolant ............................8-6
Reduction gear fluid .............................8-7
Brake fluid .......................................8-7
Windshield-washer fluid .........................8-8
12-volt battery ...................................8-9
Jump starting ................................ 8-11
Windshield wiper blades ........................8-12
Cleaning .................................... 8-12
Replacing ................................... 8-12
Rear window wiper blade ...................8-14
Brakes ......................................... 8-14
Brake pad wear warning ....................8-14Fuses
.......................................... 8-15
Motor compartment ........................ 8-15
Passenger compartment ...................8-18
Nissan Intelligent Key® battery replacement ....8-19
Lights .......................................... 8-21
Headlights .................................. 8-22
Fog lights (if so equipped) ...................8-22
Exterior and interior lights ...................8-23
Wheels and tires ............................... 8-25
Tire pressure ................................ 8-25
Tire labeling ................................. 8-30
Types of tires ................................ 8-32
Tire chains .................................. 8-33
Changing wheels and tires ..................8-34
Emergency tire puncture repair kit ..........8-37