service NISSAN LEAF 2013 1.G Owner's Manual

Never tow a vehicle using the vehicletie down hook or recovery hook.
Always pull the cable straight out from the front of the vehicle. Never pull on
the vehicle at an angle.
Pulling devices should be routed so they do not touch any part of the sus-
pension, steering, brake or cooling
systems.
Pulling devices such as ropes or can- vas straps are not recommended for
use in vehicle towing or recovery.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If the vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc., try
to free it by following the procedure below.
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear an area around the front tires. 4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and
backward.
Shift back and forth between the R (Reverse) and D (Drive) positions.
Apply the accelerator as little as possible to maintain the rocking motion.
Release the accelerator pedal before shifting between R (Reverse) and D (Drive) .
Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH (55 km/h) .
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries, contact a professional towing service to re-
move the vehicle.
6-16In case of emergency

8 Maintenance and do-it yourself
Maintenance requirement................. .8-2
Scheduled maintenance ................ .8-2
General maintenance .................. .8-2
Where to go for service ................ .8-2
General maintenance .................... .8-2
Explanation of maintenance items ...........8-2
Maintenance precautions ................. .8-5
Motor compartment check locations ............8-7
Cooling system ....................... .8-7
Checking coolant level ................. .8-8
Changing coolant .................... .8-9
Reduction gear fluid .................... .8-9
Brake fluid ......................... .8-10
Window washer fluid ................... .8-10
12-volt battery ....................... .8-11
Jump starting ...................... .8-13
Windshield wiper blades ................. .8-13
Cleaning ........................ .8-13
Replacing ........................ .8-13Rear window wiper blade
.................8-15
Brakes ........................... .8-15
Brake pad wear warning ................8-15
Fuses ............................ .8-16
Motor compartment .................. .8-16
Passenger compartment ................8-18
Nissan Intelligent Key® battery replacement ......8-19
Lights ............................ .8-21
Headlights ....................... .8-22
Exterior and interior lights ...............8-23
Wheels and tires ..................... .8-26
Tire pressure ...................... .8-26
Tire labeling ...................... .8-28
Types of tires ...................... .8-30
Tire chains .......................
.8-31
Changing

wheels and tires .............. .8-32
Emergency tire puncture repair kit ..........8-34

Your new NISSAN has been designed to have
minimum maintenance requirements with long
service intervals to save you both time and
money. However, some day-to-day and regular
maintenance is essential to maintain your NIS-
SAN’s fine mechanical condition, as well as its
EV (Electric Vehicle) system performance.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure that
the scheduled maintenance, as well as general
maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one who
can ensure that your vehicle receives the proper
maintenance care. You are a vital link in the main-
tenance chain.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
For your convenience, both required and optional
scheduled maintenance items are described and
listed in your “NISSAN Service and Maintenance
Guide”. You must refer to that guide to ensure
that necessary maintenance is performed on your
NISSAN at regular intervals.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
General maintenance includes those items which
should be checked during normal day-to-day op-
eration. They are essential for proper vehicle op-eration. It is your responsibility to perform these
procedures regularly as prescribed.
Performing general maintenance checks requires
minimal mechanical skill and only a few general
automotive tools.
These checks or inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician or, if you prefer, a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICE
If maintenance service is required or your vehicle
appears to malfunction, have the systems
checked and serviced by a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained specialists
and are kept up-to-date with the latest service
information through technical bulletins, service
tips, and in-dealership information systems. They
are completely qualified to work on NISSAN ve-
hicles
before work begins.
You can be confident that a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer’s service department performs the
best job to meet the maintenance requirements
on your vehicle — in a reliable and economical
way. During the normal day-to-day operation of the
vehicle, general maintenance should be per-
formed regularly as prescribed in this section. If
you detect any unusual sounds, vibrations or
smell, be sure to check for the cause or have a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer do it promptly. In
addition, you should notify a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer if you think that repairs are required.
When performing any checks or maintenance
work, see
Maintenance precautions.EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found later in this section.
Outside vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Doors and motor hood: Check that all doors
and the motor hood operate properly. Also en-
sure that all latches lock securely. Lubricate
hinges, latches, latch pins, rollers and links if
necessary. Make sure that the secondary latch
keeps the motor hood from opening when the
primary latch is released.
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT GENERAL MAINTENANCE
8-2Maintenance and do-it yourself

Seat belts:Check that all parts of the seat belt
system (for example, buckles, anchors, adjusters
and retractors) operate properly and smoothly,
and are installed securely. Check the belt web-
bing for cuts, fraying, wear or damage.
Steering wheel: Check for changes in the
steering conditions, such as excessive free play,
hard steering or strange noises.
Warning lights and chimes: Make sure that all
warning lights and chimes are operating properly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air emits
from the defroster outlets properly and in suffi-
cient quantity when operating the heater or air
conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check that
the wipers and washers operate properly and
that the wipers do not streak.
Under hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically.
12-volt battery (for serviceable battery)*:
Check the fluid level in each cell.
It should be between the MAX and MIN lines.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or under severe conditions require frequent checks of the
12-volt battery fluid level.
NOTE:
Care should be taken to avoid situations
that can lead to potential battery discharge
and potential no-start conditions such as:
1. Installation or extended use of electronic ac-
cessories that consume battery power when
the engine 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.
Brake fluid level*: Make sure that the brake
fluid level is between the MAX and MIN lines on
the reservoir.
Coolant level*: Check the coolant level when
the motor compartment is cold.
Fluid leaks: Check under the vehicle for water
or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has been
parked for a short period of time. Water dripping
from the air conditioner after use is normal. If you
notice any leaks, check for the cause and have it
corrected immediately. Radiator and hoses:
Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure that
the hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or
loose connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances, other-
wise rust will form on the floor pan and frame. At
the end of winter, the underbody should be thor-
oughly flushed with plain water, being careful to
clean those areas where mud and dirt may accu-
mulate. For additional information, see Cleaning
exterior in theAppearance and care section.
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there is
an adequate amount of fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it yourself

– The Climate Ctrl. Timer and remoteclimate control are not active or op-
erating. See A/C-Heater Timer (Cli-
mete Ctrl. Timer) andRemote cli-
mate control in theVentilators and
climate control systems
section.
– The 12-volt battery is not being charged by the Li-ion battery and
that all charging status indicator
lights are off, see Charging the 12-
volt battery in theEV overview
section and Charge status indicator
light in the Charging
section.
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. See Charging the 12-volt bat-
tery in the EV overview
section.
The “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items that
are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also avail-
able. See Owner’s manual/service manual order
information in theTechnical and consumer in-
formation section. 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, we recommend that it
be done by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
8-6Maintenance and do-it yourself

When adding or replacing coolant, besure to use only a Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-
diluted to provide antifreeze protec-
tion to 34°F (37°C) . If additional
freeze protection is needed due to the
weather conditions where you operate
your vehicle, add Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)
concentrate following the directions
on the container. If and equivalent
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is
used, follow the coolant manufac-
ture’s instructions to maintain mini-
mum antifreeze protection to 34°F
(37°C) . The use of other types of
coolant solutions other than Genuine
NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant
(blue) or equivalent may damage the
cooling system. The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 125,000 miles (200,000 km)
or 15 years. Mixing any other type of
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) ,
including Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (green) , or the use
of non-distilled water will reduce the
life expectancy of the factory-filled
coolant. Refer to the NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide for more de-
tails.
CHECKING COOLANT LEVEL
Check the coolant level in the reservoir when
the high voltage parts are cold. If the coolant
level is below the MIN level
2, open the reservoir
cap and add coolant up to the MAX level
1.If
the reservoir is empty, check the coolant level in
the coolant tank when the high voltage parts
are cold. If there is insufficient coolant in the
coolant tank, fill the coolant tank with coolant up
to the reservoir cap opening and also add it to the
reservoir up to the MAX level
1.
Tighten the cap securely after adding coolant.
8-8Maintenance and do-it yourself

If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by a NISSAN cer-
tified LEAF dealer.
CHANGING COOLANT
Major cooling system repairs should be per-
formed by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. The
service procedures can be found in the appropri-
ate NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance.
WARNING
To avoid the danger of being scalded, never change the coolant when the
motor compartment is hot.
Never remove the coolant tank cap when the motor compartment is hot.
Serious burns could be caused by
high-pressure fluid escaping from the
radiator.
Avoid direct skin contact with used coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
Keep coolant out of reach of children and pets. Coolant must be disposed of properly. Check
your local regulations.
When checking or replacement is required, we
recommend a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for
servicing.
CAUTION
Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic Fluid S. Do not mix with other fluids.
Using reduction gear fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic Fluid S will
damage the reduction gear, which is
not covered by the NISSAN new ve-
hicle limited warranty.
REDUCTION GEAR FLUID
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-9

Contact a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer if
checking or replacement is required.If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer.
WARNING
Do not adjust the height of the brake
pedal. Doing so could alter the effective-
ness of the brakes, which could result in
a serious accident and personal injury. If
adjustment is required, contact a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
The disc brake pads have audible wear warnings.
When a brake pad requires replacement, it will
make a high pitched scraping sound when the
vehicle is in motion. This scraping sound will first
occur only when the brake pedal is depressed.
After more wear of the brake pad, the sound will
always be heard even if the brake pedal is not
depressed. Have the brakes checked as soon as
possible if the wear warning sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions, occa-
sional brake squeak, squeal or other noise may
be heard. Occasional brake noise during light to
moderate stops is normal and does not affect the
function or performance of the brake system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed. For additional information, see the
maintenance log section of your NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide.
REAR WINDOW WIPER BLADE BRAKES
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-15

The use of retread tire is not recom-mended.
For additional information regarding tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
Wheel balance
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle handling
and tire life. Even with regular use, wheels can get
out of balance. Therefore, they should be bal-
anced as required.
Wheel balance service should be per-
formed with the wheels off the vehicle.
Spin balancing the wheels on the vehicle
could lead to mechanical damage.
For additional information regarding tires, refer to
“Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire
Safety Information” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
Care of wheels
See Cleaning exterior in theAppearance and
care section for details about care of the wheels.
EMERGENCY TIRE PUNCTURE
REPAIR KIT
The emergency tire puncture repair kit (Emer-
gency Tire Sealant) is supplied with the vehicle
instead of a spare tire. It can be used to tempo-
rarily repair minor tire punctures.
If possible, have the vehicle towed to a facility that
can repair or replace the flat tire. Using the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit may cause a mal-
function of the tire pressure sensor and cause the
low tire pressure warning light to illuminate.
SeeFlat tire for more details.
8-34Maintenance and do-it yourself

9 Technical and consumer information
Capacities and recommended lubricants.........9-2
Air conditioning system refrigerant and lubricant
recommendations .................... .9-3
Specifications ........................ .9-4
Charging system .................... .9-4
Motor ........................... .9-6
Wheels and tires .................... .9-6
Dimensions and weights ................ .9-6
When traveling or registering your vehicle in another
country ............................ .9-7
Vehicle identification .................... .9-7
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate .......9-7
Vehicle identification number (chassis number). . . .9-7
Traction motor serial number ..............9-8
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S certification label ........9-8
Emission control information label ...........9-8
Tire and Loading Information label ...........9-9
Air conditioner specification label ............9-9
Installing front license plate .................9-9Vehicle loading information
.................9-10
Terms .......................... .9-10
Vehicle load capacity ................. .9-11
Securing the load ................... .9-12
Loading tips ...................... .9-12
Measurement of weights ................9-13
Towing a trailer ....................... .9-13
Flat towing ......................... .9-14
Uniform tire quality grading .................9-14
Treadwear ....................... .9-14
Traction AA, A, B and C ................9-14
Temperature A, B and C ................9-15
Reporting safety defects ................. .9-15
Telematics overview .................... .9-16
Event Data Recorder (EDR) ................9-18
Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order information. . .9-18
Charging information ................... .9-20
Cold tire pressures .................... .9-22