2023 NISSAN LEAF battery

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 ................................. 8-29
Types of tires ................................ 8-33
Tire chains .................................. 8-34
Changing wheels and tires ..................8-35
Emergency tire puncture repair kit ..........8-38

When performing any inspection or main-
tenance work on your vehicle, always take
care to prevent serious accidental injury to
yourself or damage to the vehicle. The fol-
lowing are general precautions that should
be closely observed.
WARNING
• The EV system uses high voltage up
to approximately DC 400 volt. The
system can be hot during and af ter
starting and when the vehicle is shut
off. Be careful of both the high volt-
age and the high temperature. Obey
the labels that are attached to the
vehicle.
• Never disassemble, remove or re-
place high-voltage parts and cables
as well as their connectors. High-
voltage cables are colored orange.
• Disassembling, removing or replac-
ing those parts or cables can cause
severe burns or electric shock that
may result in serious injury or death.
The vehicle high-voltage system has
no user serviceable parts. It is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN cer-
tified LEAF dealer for any necessary
maintenance. •
Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
chock the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle 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
repairs.
• 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 nec-
essary 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 bat-
tery or any transistorized compo-
nent 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 nega-
tive 12-volt battery cable before
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 removed
from the vehicle.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
8-2Do-it yourself

–The Climate Ctrl. Timer is not ac-
tive or operating. For additional
information, see “Climate Ctrl.
Timer” (P. 4-38).
– 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, see “Charging the 12-volt
battery ” (P. EV-5) and “Charging
status indicator lights” (P. CH-49).
• 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,
see “Charging the 12-volt battery ”
(P. EV-5).
NOTE:
If the battery is completely drained the
transmission will not manually shif t to
other positions. The “Do-it-yourself ” section gives instruc-
tions regarding only those items that are
relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A Genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also
available. For additional information, see
“Owner’s manual/service manual order in-
formation” (P. 10-22).
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.
Do-it yourself8-3

1. Fuse/Fusible link holder
2. Brake fluid reservoir
3. 12-volt battery4. Fuse holder
5. Windshield-washer fluid reservoir
6. Fuse/Fusible link holder7. Coolant reservoir cap
NOTE:
Your vehicle may not be equipped with a
motor cover.
LCE2489
MOTOR COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
8-4Do-it yourself

Caution symbols for batteryWARNING
O1No smoking, No exposed flames, NoSparks Do not expose the battery to flames or electrical sparks. Hydrogen gas generated by the battery is
explosive. Explosive gases can cause blindness or injury.
O2Shield eyes Handle the battery cautiously. Always wear eye protection glasses to protect against explosion or
battery acid.
O3Keep away from childrenNever allow children to handle the battery. Keep the battery out of the reach of children.
O4Battery acidDo not allow battery fluid to contact your skin, eyes, fabrics, or painted surfaces. Af ter touching a
battery or battery cap, immediately wash your hands thoroughly. If the battery fluid gets into your eyes, or onto your skin or clothing, flush with water immediately for at least 15 minutes and seekmedical attention. Battery fluid is acid. If the battery fluid gets into your eyes or onto your skin, it could cause loss of your eyesight or burns.
O5Note operating instructions Before handling the battery, read this instruction carefully to ensure correct and safe handling.
O6Explosive gas Hydrogen gas generated by battery fluid is explosive. Explosive gases can cause blindness or
injury.
12-VOLT BATTERY
Do-it yourself8-9

• Keep the 12-volt battery surface cleanand dry. Clean the 12-volt battery with a
solution of baking soda and water.
• Make certain the terminal connections are clean and securely tightened.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery dis-
charge and potential no-start conditions
such as:
1. Installation or extended use of elec- tronic accessories that consume bat-
tery power when the EV system 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
WARNING
• Do not expose the 12-volt battery to
flames or electrical sparks. Hydrogen
gas generated by the 12-volt battery
is explosive. Do not allow 12-volt bat-
tery fluid to contact your skin, eyes,
fabrics or painted surfaces. Af ter
touching a 12-volt battery or 12-volt
battery cap, do not touch or rub your
eyes. Thoroughly wash your hands. If
the acid contacts your eyes, skin or
clothing, immediately flush with wa-
ter for at least 15 minutes and seek
medical attention.
• Do not operate the vehicle if the fluid
in the 12-volt battery is low. Low 12-
volt battery fluid can cause a higher
load on the 12-volt battery which can
generate heat, reduce battery life,
and in some cases lead to an
explosion. •
When working on or near a 12-volt
battery, always wear suitable eye
protection and remove all jewelry.
• 12-volt battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds. Wash hands af ter
handling.
• Keep the 12-volt battery out of the
reach of children.
8-10Do-it yourself

1. Remove the vent caps with a screw-driver as shown. Use a cloth to protect
the battery case.
2. Check the fluid level in each cell. If it isnecessary to add fluid, add only distilled
water to bring the level up to the bottom
of the filler opening. Do not overfill.Re-
install the vent caps. Vehicles operated in high temperatures or
under severe conditions require frequent
checks of the 12-volt battery fluid level.
JUMP STARTING
Jump starting provides power to the 12-
volt system to allow the electrical systems
to operate. The electrical systems must be
operating to allow the Li-ion battery to be
charged. Jump starting does not charge
the Li-ion battery. The Li-ion battery must
be charged before the vehicle can be
driven.
For additional information, see “Jump
starting” (P. 6-10). If the power switch does
not switch to the READY to drive position by
jump starting, the 12-volt battery may have
to be replaced. It is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for this
service.
WDI0224
LDI3181
Do-it yourself8-11

Extended storage switch
If any electrical equipment does not oper-
ate, remove the extended storage switch
and check for an open fuse.
NOTE:
The extended storage switch is used for
long term vehicle storage. Even if the ex-
tended storage switch is broken it is not
necessary to replace it. Replace only the
open fuse in the switch with a new one.How to replace the extended storage
switch:
1. To remove the extended storage switch,
be sure the power switch is in the OFF
position.
2. Be sure the headlight switch is in the OFF position.
3. Remove the fuse box cover.
4. Pinch the locking tabs
O1andO2found
on each side of the storage switch.
5. Pull the storage switch straight out from the fuse box
O3.
CAUTION
• Be careful not to allow children to
swallow the battery and removed
parts.
• An improperly disposed battery can
harm the environment. Always con-
firm local regulations for battery
disposal.
• When changing batteries, do not let
dust or oil get on the components.
• There is danger of explosion if the
lithium battery is incorrectly re-
placed. Replace only with the same
or equivalent type.
LDI3205
NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY® BATTERY
REPLACEMENT
Do-it yourself8-19