power steering NISSAN LEAF 2013 1.G User Guide

To turn the fog lights on, turn the headlight switch
to the
position, then turn the switch to the
position. To turn them off, turn the switch to
the OFF position.
The headlights must be on for the fog lights to
operate. The heated steering wheel system is designed to
operate only when the surface temperature of the
steering wheel is below approximately 68°F
(20°C) .
Push the heated steering wheel switch to warm
the steering wheel when the power switch is in
the ON position. The indicator light
1on the
switch will illuminate.
If the surface temperature of the steering wheel is
below approximately 68°F (20°C) , the system will
heat the steering wheel and cycle off and on to
maintain a temperature above 68°F (20°C) . The indicator light will remain on as long as the sys-
tem is on.
Push the switch again to turn the heated steering
wheel system off manually. The indicator light turn
off.
NOTE:

If the surface temperature of the steering
wheel is above 68°F (20°C) when the
switch is turned on, the system will not
heat the steering wheel. This is not a mal-
function.
If the outside temperature is low (approxi-
mately 50°F (10°C) or less) and the Climate
Ctrl. Timer or Remote Climate Control are
used, the steering wheel heater will auto-
matically operate in the following condi-
tions. – When using the Climate Ctrl. Timer: Operates from approximately 15 min-
utes before the set departure time until
the set departure time.
– When using Remote Climate Control: Operates 15 minutes after Remote Cli-
mate Control starts.
FOG LIGHT SWITCH (IF SO
EQUIPPED) HEATED STEERING WHEEL SWITCH
Instruments and controls2-45

The heated steering wheel consumes less
power than the heater and can be used to
either help extend vehicle range by reduc-
ing heater use or to maximize comfort by
supplementing the heater.
To sound the horn, push the center pad area of
the steering wheel.
WARNING
Do not disassemble the horn. Doing so
could affect proper operation of the
supplemental front air bag system. Tam-
pering with the supplemental front air
bag system may result in serious per-
sonal injury. To activate the ECO mode, press the ECO
switch
1on the right side of the steering wheel.
The “ECO indicator light” on the instrument clus-
ter will illuminate.
To deactivate the ECO mode, press the ECO
switch
1again. The “ECO indicator light” on the
instrument cluster will go out.
See “Electronic Shift Control System” in the
“Starting and Driving” section.
HORN ECO SWITCH
2-46Instruments and controls

3 Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Keys...............................3-2
NISSAN Intelligent Keys® ...............3-2
Doors ............................. .3-3
Locking with Mechanical key ..............3-4
Locking with inside lock knob ..............3-4
Locking with power door lock switch ..........3-5
Automatic door locks .................. .3-5
Child safety rear door lock ................3-6
NISSAN Intelligent Key® system ..............3-6
NISSAN Intelligent Key® operating range of
the door lock/unlock function ..............3-8
Door locks/unlocks precaution .............3-8
NISSAN Intelligent Key® operation ..........3-9
12-volt battery saver system ..............3-10
Warning signals .................... .3-11
Troubleshooting guide ................ .3-12How to use remote keyless entry function
......3-13
Hood ............................ .3-16
Rear hatch ......................... .3-17
Secondary rear hatch release .............3-18
Charge port lid ....................... .3-18
Opening charge port lid ................3-18
Charge port cap .................... .3-19
Tilt steering column .................... .3-20
Tilt operation ...................... .3-20
Sun visors ......................... .3-21
Card holder (driver’s side only) ..............3-21
Mirrors ........................... .3-22
Inside rearview mirror ................. .3-22
Outside mirrors .................... .3-23
Vanity mirror ...................... .3-24

Operating tips:
The automatic climate control is equipped withsensors as illustrated. The sensors
AandB
help maintain a constant temperature. Do not
put anything on or around these sensors.
Push the AUTO switch to reduce the power consumption of the climate control system.
When the AUTO switch is pushed, both the AUTO and A/C indicator illuminate.
The AUTO indicator will turn off if the MODE button, A/C button, fan speed control buttons,
front defroster button, outside air circulation
button or air circulation button is pushed. When the outside air temperature is low, the air
flow from the foot outlets will be low or may not
operate for up to 150 seconds after turning on
the air conditioner. This is not a malfunction.
Power consumption of the climate control varies depending on the outside temperature and the
temperature set for the climate control. Power
consumption increases if the interior tempera-
ture is cooled down too much in summer or if it
is warmed up too much in winter. This reduces
vehicle range.
When the vehicle is in the ECO position, the climate control operates in the ECO mode
which reduces the power consumption. If the charger is connected to the vehicle when
it is in the ready to drive mode and the air
conditioner or heater is on, the power switch
automatically changes to the ON position. The
climate control system automatically turns off
the heater or air conditioner and switches to the
air recirculation mode. Place the power switch
in the off position to begin charging. Turn on the
desired climate control function.
If the air conditioner or heater is on while charg- ing, the climate control system automatically
turns off the heater or air conditioning and
switches to the air recirculation mode when
charging is complete.
The remote climate control or climate control timer may fog up windows depending on the set
temperature or outside temperature.
When turning on the seat heater switch prior to operating the remote climate control or climate
control timer, the seat heater also will turn on.
The steering wheel heater will turn on automati-
cally when the outside temperature is low.
When the vehicle is in ECO mode, the air con- ditioner will accordingly stay in ECO mode for
lower power consumption.
Heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems4-15

CD CARE AND CLEANING
Handle a CD by its edges. Do not bend the disc.Never touch the surface of the disc.
Always place the discs in the storage case when they are not being used.
To clean a disc, wipe the surface from the center to the outer edge using a clean, soft cloth. Do
not wipe the disc using a circular motion.
Do not use a conventional record cleaner or alcohol intended for industrial use.
A new disc may be rough on the inner and outer edges. Remove the rough edges by rubbing the
inner and outer edges with the side of a pen or
pencil as illustrated.
STEERING WHEEL SWITCH FOR
AUDIO CONTROL (IF SO
EQUIPPED)
The audio system can be operated using the
controls on the steering wheel.
1. SOURCE button/tuning switch
2. Volume control button
POWER on switch
With the power switch in the ACC or ON posi-
tion, push the SOURCE switch to turn the audio
system on.
SOURCE select switch
Push the source select switch to change the
mode in the following sequence:
AM→FM1→FM2→XM1→XM2→XM3→CD*→
USB/iPod®*→AUX*→AM.
* These modes are only available when compat-
ible media storage is inserted into the device or
connected to the system.
Volume control switch
Push the volume control switch to increase or
decrease the volume.
Tuning switch
While the display is showing a map or audio
screen, tilt the Menu Control switch upward or
downward to select a station, track, CD or folder.
For most audio sources, tilting the switch up/
down for more than 1.5 seconds provides a
different function than a tilting up/down for less
than 1.5 seconds.
AM and FM:
Tilt up/down for less than 1.5 seconds to in- crease or decrease the preset station.
Tilt up/down for more than 1.5 seconds to seek up or down to the next station.
Heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems4-43

6. Voice memory A or memory B is selectedautomatically. If both memory locations are
already in use, the system will prompt you to
overwrite one. Follow the instructions pro-
vided by the system.
7. When preparation is complete and you are ready to begin, press the
button.
8. The VA mode will be explained. Follow the instructions provided by the system.
9. When training is finished, the system will tell you an adequate number of phrases have
been recorded.
10. The system will announce that voice adap- tation has been completed and the system is
ready.
The VA mode will stop if:
The
button is pressed for more than 5
seconds in VA mode.
The vehicle begins moving during VA mode.
The power switch is placed in the OFF position.
Training phrases
During the VA mode, the system instructs the
trainer to say the following phrases. (The system
will prompt you for each phrase.)
phonebook transfer entry dial three oh four two nine
delete call back number
incoming
transfer entry
eight pause nine three two pause seven
delete all entries
call seven two four zero nine
phonebook delete entry
next entry
dial star two one seven oh
yes

select
missed
dial eight five six nine two
Bluetooth on
outgoing
call three one nine oh two
nine seven pause pause three oh eight
cancel
call back number
call star two zero nine five
delete phone
dial eight three zero five one record name
four three pause two nine pause zero
delete redial number
phonebook list names
call eight oh five four one
correction
connect phone
dial seven four oh one eight
previous entry
delete
dial nine seven two six six
dial seven six three oh one
go back
call five six two eight zero
call six six four three seven
MANUAL CONTROL
While using the Voice Recognition system, it is
possible to select menu options by using the
steering wheel controls instead of speaking voice
commands. This can be especially helpful if the
noise of driving makes it difficult for the Voice
Recognition system to accurately interpret com-
mands. The manual control mode does not allow
dialing a phone number by digits. The user may
4-56Heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems

5 Starting and driving
Precautions when starting and driving...........5-2
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) .......5-2
Avoiding collision and rollover ..............5-5
Off-road recovery .................... .5-5
Rapid air pressure loss ................. .5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-6
Push-button power switch ................. .5-7
NISSAN Intelligent Key® system ............5-7
Operating range for EV (Electric Vehicle) start
function .......................... .5-7
Power switch operation ................ .5-8
Power switch positions ................. .5-8
Emergency EV (Electric Vehicle) shut off .......5-9
NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery discharge ......5-9
Before starting the EV (Electric Vehicle) system . . . .5-10
Starting the EV (Electric Vehicle) system ........5-10
Driving vehicle ....................... .5-11
Electric shift control system ..............5-11
Parking brake ....................... .5-14
Cruise control ....................... .5-15Precautions on cruise control
.............5-15
Cruise control operation ................5-15
Increasing power economy ................5-17
Parking/parking on hills .................. .5-18
Power steering system .................. .5-19
Brake system ........................ .5-19
Brake precautions ................... .5-19
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ...........5-21
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system .........5-22
Hill start assist system .................. .5-24
Cold weather driving ................... .5-24
Freeing a frozen door lock ...............5-25
Antifreeze ........................ .5-25
12-volt battery ..................... .5-25
Draining of coolant water ................5-25
Tire equipment ..................... .5-25
Special
winter equipment .............. .5-26
Driving on snow or ice ................ .5-26
Freeing a frozen charge port lid ............5-26

tire briefly to release pressure. When the pres-
sure reaches the designated pressure, the horn
beeps once.
If the hazard indicator does not flash within approximately 15 seconds after starting to in-
flate 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 de- vice 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 in or 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
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss of
control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times. Obey all
traffic regulations. Avoid excessive speed, high
speed cornering, or sudden steering maneuvers,
because these driving practices could cause you to
lose control of your vehicle.
As with any vehicle, a
loss of control could result in a collision with
other vehicles or objects, or cause the vehicle to
rollover, particularly if the loss of control causes
the vehicle to slide sideways.
Be attentive at all
times, and avoid driving when tired. Never drive
when under the influence of alcohol or drugs (in-
cluding prescription or over-the-counter drugs
which may cause drowsiness) . Always wear your
seat belt as outlined in the
Seat beltsin the Safety
— Seats seat belts and supplemental restraint sys-
tem
 section of this manual, and also instruct your
passengers to do so.
Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in colli-
sions and rollovers. In a rollover crash, an unbelted or improperly belted person is
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
While driving, the right side or left side wheels
may unintentionally leave the road surface. If this
occurs, maintain control of the vehicle by follow-
ing the procedure below. Please note that this
procedure is only a general guide. The vehicle
must be driven as appropriate based on the con-
ditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with
both hands and try to hold a straight course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the accel- erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle to follow the road while the vehicle speed is
reduced. Do not attempt to drive the vehicle
back onto the road surface until vehicle speed
is reduced.
6. When it is safe to do so, gradually turn the steering wheel until both tires return to the
road surface. When all tires are on the road
Starting and driving5-5

WARNING
If the READY to drive indicator light is OFF while driving, the power assist for
the steering will not work. Steering will
be harder to operate.
When the power steering warning light illuminates while the READY to drive
indicator light ON, the power assist for
the steering will cease operation. You
will still have control of the vehicle but
the steering will be harder to operate.
The power steering system is designed to pro-
vide power assistance while driving to operate
the steering wheel with less effort.
When the steering wheel is operated repeatedly
or continuously while parking or driving at a very
low speed, the power assist for the steering
wheel will be reduced. This is to prevent over-
heating of the power steering system and help
protect it from getting damaged. While the power
assistance is reduced, steering wheel operation
will become harder. When the temperature of the
power steering system goes down, the power
assistance level will return to normal. Avoid re-
peating such steering wheel operations that
could cause the power steering system to over-
heat. You may hear a noise when the steering wheel is
operated quickly. However, this is not a malfunc-
tion.
If the power steering warning light
illumi-
nates while the READY to drive indicator light is
ON, it may indicate the power steering system is
not functioning properly and may need servicing.
Have the power steering system checked by a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. (See Power
steering warning light in theInstruments and
controls section.)
The power assist for steering stops operating
when both the power steering warning light and
READY to drive indicator light are illuminated.
You will still have control of the vehicle. However,
greater steering effort is needed, especially in
sharp turns and at low speeds.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
This vehicle is equipped with two braking sys-
tems:
1. Hydraulic brake system
2. Regenerative brake system
Hydraulic brake system
The hydraulic brake system is similar to the
brakes used on conventional vehicles.
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
Regenerative brake system
The primary purpose of regenerative brake sys-
tem is to provide some power to help recharge
the Li-ion battery and extend driving range. A
secondary benefit is “engine braking” that oper-
ates based on battery conditions.
In the D (Drive) range, when the accelerator is
released, the regenerative brake system provides
some deceleration and generates power for the
Li-ion battery. Power is also generated when the
brake pedal is applied.
When you put the shift lever in the ECO position
and take your foot off the accelerator pedal, more
POWER STEERING SYSTEM BRAKE SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-19

Parking brake break-in
Break in the parking brake shoes whenever the
holding effect of the parking brake is weakened
or whenever the parking brake shoes are re-
placed, in order to maintain optimum braking
performance.
This procedure is described in the vehicle Ser-
vice Manual, and it can be performed by a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
WARNING
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a sophisticated device, but it cannot
prevent accidents resulting from care-
less or dangerous driving techniques.
It can help maintain vehicle control
during braking on slippery surfaces.
Remember that stopping distances on
slippery surfaces will be longer than
on normal surfaces even with ABS.
Stopping distances 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 vehicle in front of you. Ultimately,
the driver is responsible for safety.
Tire type and condition may also affect braking effectiveness.
– When replacing tires, install thespecified size of tires on all four
wheels.
– For detailed information, see
Wheels and tires in theMainte-
nance and do-it-yourself section of
this manual.
The Anti-lock Braking System (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 slip-
pery surfaces.
Using the system
Depress the brake pedal and hold it down. De-
press the brake pedal with firm steady pressure,
but do not pump the brakes. The ABS will oper-
ate 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 dis-
tances.
Self-test feature
The ABS includes electronic sensors, electric
pumps, hydraulic solenoids and a computer. The
computer has a built-in diagnostic feature that
tests the system each time you push the power
switch in the READY to drive position and move
the vehicle at a low speed in forward or reverse.
When the self-test occurs, you may hear a
“clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and does not indicate a
malfunction. If the computer senses a malfunc-
tion, it switches the ABS off and illuminates the
ABS warning light on the instrument panel. The
brake system then operates normally, but without
anti-lock assistance.
If the ABS warning light illuminates during the
self-test or while driving, have the vehicle
checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
Starting and driving5-21