NISSAN LEAF 2012 Owners Manual

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving ............................... 5-2Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ................... 5-2
Avoiding collision and rollover ........................................ 5-5
Off-road recovery ............................................................... 5-5
Rapid air pressure loss ..................................................... 5-5
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ................................ 5-6
Push-button power switch .................................................... 5-7 Intelligent Key system ....................................................... 5-7
Operating range for EV (Electric Vehicle)
start function ........................................................................ 5-8
Power switch operation .................................................... 5-8
Power switch positions ..................................................... 5-9
Emergency EV (Electric Vehicle) shut off .................... 5-9
Intelligent Key battery discharge ................................. 5-10
Before starting the EV (Electric Vehicle) system .......... 5-10
Starting the EV (Electric Vehicle) system ....................... 5-11
Driving vehicle ........................................................................ 5-11 Electric shift control system ......................................... 5-11
Electric parking brake .......................................................... 5-15 Cruise control ........................................................................ 5-17
Precautions on cruise control .................................... 5-17Cruise control operation ............................................. 5-17
Increasing power economy ................................................ 5-19 Parking/parking on hills ....................................................... 5-20
Electric power steering system ........................................ 5-21
Brake system ......................................................................... 5-21 Braking precautions ..................................................... 5-21
Electric parking brake break-in .................................. 5-23
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .............................. 5-23
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system ........................ 5-24
Cold weather driving ........................................................... 5-26 Freeing a frozen door lock .......................................... 5-26
Antifreeze ........................................................................ 5-26
12-volt battery ................................................................ 5-26
Draining of coolant water ............................................ 5-26
Tire equipment ............................................................... 5-27
Special winter equipment ........................................... 5-27
Driving on snow or ice ................................................ 5-27
Freeing a frozen charge port lid ................................ 5-27

pressure warning light. Use a tire pressure
gauge to check the tire pressure.
. The Check tire Pressure warning appears on
the dot matrix liquid crystal display when the
low tire pressure warning light is illuminated
and low tire pressure is detected. The
Check tire Pressure warning turns off when
the low tire pressure warning light turns off.
The Check tire Pressure warning does not
appear if the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates to indicate a TPMS malfunction.
. Tire pressure rises and falls depending on
the heat caused by operation of the vehicle
and the outside temperature. A low outside
temperature can decrease the temperature
of the air inside the tire, which can cause a
lower tire inflation pressure. This may cause
the low tire pressure warning light to
illuminate. If the warning light illuminates in
low ambient temperature, check the tire
pressure for all four tires.
For additional information, see “Low tire pres-
sure warning light” in the “2. Instruments and
controls” section and “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)” in the “6. In case of emer-
gency” section.

.Do not place metalized film or any
metal parts (antenna, etc.) on the
windows. This may cause poor re-
ception of the signals from the tire
pressure sensors, and the TPMS will
not function properly.
Some devices and transmitters may temporarily
interfere with the operation of the TPMS and
cause the low tire pressure warning light to
illuminate. Some examples are:
. Facilities or electric devices using similar
radio frequencies that are near the vehicle.
. If a transmitter set to similar frequencies is
being used in or near the vehicle.
. If a computer (or similar equipment) or a DC/
AC converter is being used in or near the
vehicle.
FCC Notice:
For USA:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation. NOTE:
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
For Canada:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) this
device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interfer-
ence, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
TPMS with Easy Fill Tire Alert
When tire pressure is low, the low tire pressure
warning light illuminates.
This vehicle provides visual and audible signals
to help you inflate the tires to the recommended
COLD tire pressure.
Vehicle set-up:
1. Park the vehicle in a safe and level place.
2. Apply the parking brake and push the P
position switch on the selector lever.
3. Place the power switch in the ON position. Do not place in the READY to drive mode. Operation:
1. Add air to the tire.
2. After a few seconds, the hazard indicators
will start flashing.
3. When the designated pressure is reached, the horn beeps once and the hazard
indicators stop flashing.
4. Perform the above steps for each tire.
. If the tire is over-inflated more than approxi-
mately 4 psi (30 kPa), the horn beeps and
the hazard indicators flash 3 times. To
correct the pressure, push the core of the
valve stem on the tire briefly to release
pressure. When the pressure reaches the
designated pressure, the horn beeps once.
. If the hazard indicator does not flash within
approximately 15 seconds after starting to
inflate the tire, it indicates that the Easy Fill
Tire Alert is not operating.
. The TPMS will not activate the Easy Fill Tire
Alert under the following conditions:
— If there is interference from an external
device or transmitter.
— The air pressure from the inflation device is not sufficient to inflate the tire such as
those using a power socket.

— If an electrical equipment is being used inor near the vehicle.
— There is a malfunction in the TPMS system.
— There is a malfunction in the horn or hazard indicators.
— If the Easy Fill Tire Alert does not operate due to TPMS interference, move the
vehicle about 3 ft (1 m) backward or
forward and try again.
If the Easy Fill Tire Alert is not working, use a tire
pressure gauge.
AVOIDING COLLISION AND ROLL-
OVER

inflated tires.
Rapid air pressure loss can affect the handling
and stability of the vehicle, especially at highway
speeds.
Help prevent rapid air pressure loss by main-
taining the correct air pressure and visually
inspect the tires for wear and damage. See
“Wheels and tires” in the “8. Maintenance and
do-it-yourself” section of this manual.
If a tire rapidly loses air pressure or “blows-out”
while driving maintain control of the vehicle by
following the procedure below. Please note that
this procedure is only a general guide. The
vehicle must be driven as appropriate based on
the conditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.

drugs, or some other physical condition.

or ON position.
The power lock is designed so that the power
switch position cannot be switched to LOCK
until the vehicle is into the P (Park) position.
When the power switch cannot be switched to
the LOCK position, proceed as follows.
1. Push the P position switch on the selectorlever to place the vehicle in the P (Park)
position.
2. Push the power switch to the OFF position. The power switch position indicator
*Awill
not illuminate.
3. Open the door. The power switch will change to the LOCK position.
POWER SWITCH POSITIONS
LOCK (Normal parking position)
The power switch can only be locked in this
position.
The power switch will be unlocked when it is
pushed to the ACC position while the driver is
carrying the Intelligent Key.
ACC (Accessories)
This position activates electrical accessories,
such as the radio, when EV system is OFF.
ON
This position turns on the EV (Electric Vehicle)
system and electrical accessories.
READY (Normal operating position)
This position turns on the EV (Electric Vehicle)
system, electrical accessories and the vehicle
can be driven.
OFF
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system can be turned
off.
The power switch cannot be placed in the
LOCK position until the vehicle is in the P (Park)
position.