2021 NISSAN LEAF headlights

The LEAF is an electric vehicle. Some of the
vehicle’s systems operate differently and
have different operating characteristics
than vehicles equipped with an internal
combustion engine. It is important to care-
fully review the entire Owner's Manual for
this reason. The main difference is the LEAF
is powered by electricity. The LEAF does not
require and it is not capable of using gaso-
line like a vehicle powered by a traditional
internal combustion engine. The LEAF uses
electricity stored in the lithium ion (Li-ion)
battery. The vehicle’s Li-ion battery must
be charged with electricity before the ve-
hicle can be driven. As the vehicle operates,
the Li-ion battery gradually discharges. If
the Li-ion battery becomes completely dis-
charged, the vehicle will not operate until it
is re-charged.
This vehicle uses two types of batteries.
One is the 12-volt battery that is the same
as the battery in vehicles powered by
gasoline engines, the other is the Li-ion
battery (high voltage).
The 12-volt battery provides power to the
vehicle systems and features such as the
audio system, supplemental restraint sys-
tems, headlights and windshield wipers.The Li-ion battery provides power to the
electric motor (traction motor) that moves
the vehicle.
The Li-ion battery also charges the 12-volt
battery.
The vehicle must be plugged in for the Li-
ion battery to be charged. Additionally, the
vehicle system can extend the vehicle
range by converting driving force into elec-
tricity that is stored in the Li-ion battery
while the vehicle is decelerating or being
driven downhill. This is called regenerative
braking. This vehicle is considered to be an
environmentally friendly vehicle because it
does not emit exhaust gases, such as car-
bon dioxide and nitrogen oxide.WARNING
Your vehicle contains a sealed Li-ion
high voltage battery. If the Li-ion bat-
tery is disposed of improperly, there is a
risk of severe burns and electrical
shock that may result in serious injury
or death and there is also a risk of envi-
ronmental damage.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the Li-ion
battery:
• Do not expose the vehicle to extreme
ambient temperatures for extended
periods.
• Do not store the vehicle in tempera-
tures below −13°F (−25°C) for more
than seven days.
• Do not leave the vehicle for more
than 14 days where the Li-ion battery
available charge gauge reaches a
zero or near zero.
• Do not use the Li-ion battery for any
other purpose.
THE EV (Electric Vehicle) SYSTEM LI-ION BATTERY
EV-2EV Overview

The light will turn off af ter approximately 2
seconds if the system is operational. If the
light does not come on, have the system
checked. It is recommended that you visit a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for this
service.
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) OFF indicator light
This light illuminates when the Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) is turned off in the
vehicle information display. This indicates
that the VDC system is not operating. For
additional information, see “Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) system” (P. 5-159).
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS
(other)
For additional information, see “Vehicle in-
formation display” (P. 2-26)
Exterior light
indicator light (green)
This indicator illuminates when the head-
light switch is turned to the AUTO,orposition and the front parking lights,
side marker lights, tail and license plate
lights are on. The indicator turns off when
these lights are turned off.
Front fog light indicator
light (green) (if so
equipped)
The front fog indicator light illuminates
when the front fog lights are on. For addi-
tional information, see “Fog light switch”
(P. 2-54).
High Beam Assist indicator
light (green)
The indicator light illuminates when the
headlights come on while the headlight
switch is in the AUTO position with the high
beam selected. This indicates that the high
beam assist system is operational. For ad-
ditional information, see “Headlight beam
select” (P. 2-50).
High beam indicator light
(blue)
This light illuminates when the headlight
high beam is on and goes out when the low
beam is selected.
Plug-in
indicator light (green)
This light illuminates when the charge con-
nector is connected to the vehicle and
blinks during charging.
NOTE:
If the charge connector is connected to
the vehicle, the power switch cannot be
placed in the READY to drive position.
READY to drive
indicator light (green)
The READY to drive indicator light illumi-
nates when the EV system is powered and
the vehicle may be driven.
The READY to drive indicator light will turn
off in the following conditions.
• Certain EV system malfunctions.
• The READY to drive indicator light turns off immediately before the Li-ion battery
is completely discharged. If the Li-ion bat-
tery becomes completely discharged,
the vehicle must be charged in order to
be driven. For additional information, see
“Low battery charge indicator” (P. 2-36).
2-24Instruments and controls

Vehicle Settings
The vehicle settings menu allows the user to change the settings for the lights, locks, wipers and other vehicle settings.
Menu ItemExplanation
Rear Door Alert Displays the available Rear Door Alert options. For additional information, see “Rear Door Alert”
(P. 2-59).
Horn & Alert When selected, the alert is displayed and horn sounds.
Alert Only When selected, only the alert is displayed.
OFF When selected, no alert or horn will be active.
Lighting Displays the available lighting options.
Auto Room Lamp Allows user to turn the auto room lamp on or off
Light Sensitivity Allows user to change when the lights illuminate based on the brightness outside the vehicle.
Light Off Delay Allows user to change the duration of time t hat the automatic headlights stay on af ter the vehicle
is shut off.
Locking Displays the available locking options.
Ext. Door Switch Allows user to turn the exterior door switch on or off. When turned on, the request switch on the
door is activated.
Selective Unlock Allows user to turn selective unlock on or off. When turned on, only the current door is unlocked
af ter the door unlock operation. When the door handle request switch on the driver’s or front pas-
senger’s side door is pushed to be unlocked, only the corresponding door is unlocked first. All the
doors can be unlocked if the door unlock operation is performed again within 5 seconds. When
this item is turned off, all the doors will be unlocked af ter the door unlock operation is performed
once.
Wipers Displays the available wiper settings. For additional information, see “Wiper and washer switch”
(P. 2-45).
Speed Dependent Allows user to turn the speed dependent feature on or off.
Instruments and controls2-31

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

3. Close all doors. Lock all doors. The doorscan be locked with:
• the LOCK
button on the Intelli-
gent Key
• any request switch
• the power door lock switch
4. Confirm that the security indicator light illuminates. The security indicator light
stays on for about 30 seconds. The ve-
hicle security system is now pre-armed.
Af ter about 30 seconds the vehicle se-
curity system automatically shif ts into
the armed phase. The security light be-
gins to flash once every approximately 3
seconds. If, during this 30-second pre-
arm time period, the door is unlocked, or
the power switch is placed in the ACC or
ON position, the system will not arm.
Even when the driver and/or passengers
are in the vehicle, the system will acti-
vate with all doors locked and the power
switch in the OFF position. When placing
the power switch to the ACC or ON posi-
tion, the system will be released.
Vehicle security system activation
The vehicle security system will give the
following alarm:
• The headlights blink and the horn sounds intermittently.
• The alarm automatically turns off af ter approximately 50 seconds. However, the
alarm reactivates if the vehicle is tam-
pered with again.
The alarm is activated by:
• Unlocking the door without using the In- telligent Key or the request switch. (Even if
the door is opened by releasing the door
inside lock knob, the alarm will activate.)
• Opening the hood.
How to stop an activated alarm
The alarm will stop when a door is un-
locked by pushing the UNLOCKbut-
ton on the Intelligent Key, door handle re-
quest switch, or when the power switch is
pushed in the ACC or ON position.
If the system does not operate as de-
scribed above, have it checked. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN certi-
fied LEAF dealer for this service.
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 step 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.
Instruments and controls2-43

HEADLIGHT SWITCH
Lighting
1Rotate the switch to theposition,
the front parking, tail, license plate, and
instrument panel lights come on.
2Rotate the switch to theposition,
the headlights come on and all the
other lights remain on.
Autolight system
The autolight system allows the headlights
and tail lights to be set so they turn on and
off automatically.
To set the autolight system:
1. Make sure the headlight switch is in the AUTO position
O1.
2. Place the power switch in the ON position.
3. The autolight system automatically turns the headlights and tail lights on
and off. To turn the autolight system off, turn the
switch to the OFF,
orposition.
The autolight system can turn on the
headlights and tail lights automatically
when it is dark and turn off the headlights
when it is light.
For US models: The headlights and tail
lights will also be turned on automatically
at twilight or in rainy weather (when the
windshield wiper is operated continuously).
SIC3668
Type A (if so equipped)
LIC3241
Type B (if so equipped)
SIC3669
HEADLIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL
SWITCH
2-48Instruments and controls

If the power switch is placed in the OFF
position and one of the doors is opened
and this condition continues, the head-
lights remain on for 45 seconds.
Automatic headlights off delay
You can keep the headlights on for up to
180 seconds af ter you push the power
switch to OFF and open any door then
close all the doors.
You can adjust the period of the automatic
headlights off delay from 0 seconds (OFF)
to 180 seconds. The factory default setting
is 45 seconds.
NOTE:
For additional information on adjust-
ing the automatic headlights off de-
lay, see “Vehicle information display ”
(P. 2-26).Be sure not to put anything on top of the
photo sensor
O1located on the top of
the instrument panel. The photo sensor
controls the autolight; if it is covered, the
photo sensor reacts as if it is dark and
the headlights will illuminate.Headlight beam select
1To select the low beam, have the lever
in the neutral position as shown and
rotate the switch to the desired posi-
tion. For additional information, see
“Headlight switch” (P. 2-48).
2To select the high beam, push the lever
forward while the switch is in the
position. The high beams will come on
and the high beam indicator (blue)
will illuminate. Pull it back to return to
the low beam.
SAA1232SIC3670
Instruments and controls2-49

3Pulling the lever toward you will flash
the headlight high beam even when
the headlight switch is in the OFF
position.
High Beam Assist
The High Beam Assist system will operate
when the vehicle is driven at speeds of ap-
proximately 19 mph (30 km/h) and above. If
an oncoming vehicle or leading vehicle ap-
pears in front of your vehicle when the
headlight high beam is on, the headlight
will be switched to the low beam
automatically.
WARNING
• The High Beam Assist system is a
convenience but it is not a substitute
for safe driving operation. The driver
should remain alert at all times, en-
sure safe driving practices and
switch the high beams and low beam
manually when necessary.
• The high beam or low beam may not
switch automatically under the fol-
lowing conditions. Switch the high
beam and low beam manually.
– During bad weather (rain, fog,
snow, wind, etc.). –
When a light source similar to a
headlight or tail light is in the vi-
cinity of the vehicle.
– When the headlights of the on-
coming vehicle or the leading ve-
hicle are turned off, when the color
of the light is affected due to for-
eign materials on the lights, or
when the light beam is out of
position.
– When there is a sudden, continu-
ous change in brightness.
– When driving on a road that
passes over rolling hills, or a road
that has level differences.
– When driving on a road with many
curves.
– When a sign or mirror-like surface
is reflecting intense light towards
the front of the vehicle.
– When the container, etc. being
towed by a leading vehicle is re-
flecting intense light.
– When a headlight on your vehicle
is damaged or dirty.
– When the vehicle is leaning at an
angle due to a punctured tire, be-
ing towed, etc. •
The timing of switching the low
beam and high beam may change
under the following situations.
– The brightness of the headlights
of the oncoming vehicle or lead-
ing vehicle.
– The movement and direction of
the oncoming vehicle and the
leading vehicle.
– When only one light on the on-
coming vehicle or the leading ve-
hicle is illuminated.
– When the oncoming vehicle or the
leading vehicle is a two-wheeled
vehicle.
– Road conditions (incline, curve,
the road surface, etc.).
– The number of passengers and
the amount of luggage.
2-50Instruments and controls