ABS NISSAN LEAF 2013 1.G Owners Manual

WarninglightName Page
12-volt battery charge
warning light 2-13
Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) warning light2-14
Approaching Vehicle
Sound for Pedestrians
(VSP) system warning
light2-14
BRAKE system warning
light (yellow)
2-14
BRAKE warning light (red) 2-15
Electric shift control sys-
tem warning light2-16
Warning
lightName Page
EV system warning light 2-16
Headlight warning light 2-16
Low battery charge warn-
ing light 2-16
Low tire pressure warning
light2-16
Master warning light (red/
yellow)2-18
Power steering warning
light2-18
Seat belt warning light 2-18
Warning
lightName Page
Supplemental air bag
warning light 2-18
Vehicle Dynamic Control
(VDC) warning light2-19
WARNING AND INDICATOR LIGHTS
Illustrated table of contents0-11

12-volt battery charge warning lightLow tire pressure warning lightHigh beam indicator light
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning lightMaster warning light (red/yellow)Plug in indicator light
Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians
(VSP) system warning lightPower steering warning lightPower limitation indicator light
BRAKE system warning light (yellow)Seat belt warning lightREADY to drive indicator light
BRAKE warning light (red)Supplemental air bag warning lightSecurity indicator light
Electric shift control system warning lightVehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) warning lightTurn signal/hazard indicator lights
EV system warning lightExterior light indicatorVehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) off indicator
light
WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS AND
AUDIBLE REMINDERS
2-12Instruments and controls

If the 12-volt warning light illuminatescontinuously when the power switch is
in the READY to drive position. Do not
charge the 12-volt battery while this
warning light is illuminated. It may
lead to a malfunction of the DC/DC
converter system. Contact a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer.
NOTE:
If the vehicle does not go into the READY
to drive position (when the power switch
is pushed with the brake pedal is de-
pressed) , jump-start the vehicle to place
the power switch in the READY to drive
position. See Jump starting in theIn
case of emergency section.
Do not jump-start the vehicle and contact
a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for in-
spection: – If the 12-volt charge warning light turns off when the vehicle is in the
READY to drive mode, the 12-volt bat-
tery may be discharged or there may
be a malfunction in the 12-volt battery
related system. – If the 12-volt charge warning light con-
tinues to illuminate when the vehicle is
in the READY to drive mode, there may
be a malfunction in the DC/DC con-
verter. Contact a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for inspection.
orAnti-lock Braking
System (ABS)
warning light
When the power switch is in the ON or READY to
drive position, the Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS) warning light illuminates and then turns off.
This indicates the ABS is operational.
If the ABS warning light illuminates while the
power switch is in READY to drive position, or
while driving, it may indicate the ABS is not
functioning properly. Have the system checked
by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
If an ABS malfunction occurs, the anti-lock func-
tion is turned off. The brake system then operates
normally, but without anti-lock assistance. (See
Brake system in theStarting and driving sec-
tion.)
Approaching Vehicle Sound
for Pedestrians (VSP) system
warning light
The Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians
(VSP) system warning light is located on the
instrument panel.
This light comes on if there is a malfunction in the
VSP system.
If the VSP system warning light illuminates while
the power switch is in ON position, or in the
READY to drive position, it may indicate the VSP
system is not functioning properly. Have the sys-
tem checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
See Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestri-
ans (VSP) in theEV overview section.
BRAKE system warning light
(yellow)
This light functions for both the cooperative re-
generative brake and the electronically driven
intelligent brake systems. When the power
switch is placed in the ON position or in the
READY to drive position, the light remains illumi-
nated for about 2 or 3 seconds. If the light illumi-
nates at any other time, it may indicate that the
2-14Instruments and controls

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

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

Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6 MPH
(5 to 10 km/h) . The speed varies according to
road conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels
are close to locking up, the actuator rapidly ap-
plies and releases hydraulic pressure. This action
is similar to pumping the brakes very quickly. You
may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a
noise from under the hood or feel a vibration from
the actuator when it is operating. This is normal
and indicates that the ABS is operating properly.
However, the pulsation may indicate that road
conditions are hazardous and extra care is re-
quired while driving.The Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system uses
various sensors to monitor driver inputs and ve-
hicle motion. Under certain driving conditions,
the VDC system helps to perform the following
functions.
Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel slip on
one slipping drive wheel so power is transferred
to a drive wheel on the same axle that is not
slipping.
Controls brake pressure and traction motor out- put to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function) .
Controls brake pressure at individual wheels and traction motor output to help the driver
maintain control of the vehicle in the following
conditions. – understeer (vehicle tends to not follow the steered path despite increased steering in-
put)
– oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to cer- tain road or driving conditions) .
The VDC system can help the driver to maintain
control of the vehicle, but it cannot prevent loss of
vehicle control in all driving situations.
When the VDC system operates, the
warning in the instrument panel flashes. When
the warning flashes, note the following items. The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help keep
the vehicle on the steered path.
You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or vibration from under the hood.
This is normal and indicates that the VDC sys-
tem is working properly.
Adjust your speed and driving according to the road conditions.
See VDC warning light in theInstruments and
controls section and VDC OFF indicator light
in the Instruments and controls section.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
warning illuminates in the lower display. The VDC
system automatically turns off when this warning
light is lit.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC off indicator
illuminates
to indicate that the VDC system is off. When the
VDC switch is used to turn off the system, the
VDC system still operates to prevent one drive
wheel from slipping by transferring power to a
drive wheel that is not slipping. The
warn-
ing flashes if this occurs. All other VDC functions
are off and the
warning will not flash. The
VDC System is automatically reset to ON when
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
5-22Starting and driving

the power switch is placed in the OFF position
then back to the ON position.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the EV
(Electric Vehicle) and move the vehicle forward or
in reverse at a slow speed. When the self-test
occurs, you may hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal. This is normal and is
not an indication of a malfunction.
WARNING
The VDC system is designed to help the driver maintain stability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or
by careless or dangerous driving tech-
niques. Reduce vehicle speed and be
especially careful when driving and
cornering on slippery surfaces and al-
ways drive carefully. Do not modify the vehicle’s suspen-
sion. If suspension parts such as shock
absorbers, struts, springs, stabilizer
bars, bushings and wheels are not
NISSAN recommended for your ve-
hicle or are extremely deteriorated the
VDC system may not operate properly.
This could adversely affect vehicle
handling performance, and the
warning may flash ormay il-
luminate.
If brake related parts such as brake
pads, rotors and calipers are not
NISSAN recommended or are ex-
tremely deteriorated, the VDC system
may not operate properly and
may
illuminate.
If traction motor control related parts
are not NISSAN recommended or are
extremely deteriorated, the
may
illuminate.
When driving on extremely inclined
surfaces such as higher banked cor-
ners, the VDC system may not operate
properly and the
warning may illu-
minate. Do not drive on these types of
roads. When driving on an unstable surface
such as a turntable, ferry, elevator or
ramp, the
warning may illuminate.
This is not a malfunction. Restart the
EV (Electric Vehicle) system after driv-
ing onto a stable surface.
If wheels or tires other than the
NISSAN recommended ones are used,
the VDC system may not operate prop-
erly and the
warning may illumi-
nate.
The VDC system is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
Starting and driving5-23

10 Index
A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)........5-21
Advanced air bag system ...........1-40
Air bag system .................1-40
Advanced air bag system .........1-40
Front passenger air bag and status
light .................... .1-42
Front-seat mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag system .......1-45
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag system .......1-45
Airbagwarninglabels.............1-48
Airbagwarninglight...........1-48,2-18
Air conditioner..................9-9
Air conditioner specification label .....9-9
Air conditioning system refrigerant
and lubricant recommendations ......9-3
Alarm, How to stop alarm (see vehicle security
system) .....................2-37
Alcohol, drugs and driving............5-6
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ........5-21
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning
light .......................2-14
Appearance care .................7-2
Exterior appearance care ..........7-2
Interior appearance care ..........7-4
Audible reminders...............2-21 Autolight system
................2-42
Automatic.....................3-5
Door locks ................. .3-5
Automatic climate control (models with
Navigation System)...............4-17
Automatic climate control (models without
Navigation System) ...............4-10
Avoiding collision and rollover ..........5-5
B
Battery......................8-11
12-volt battery .............. .8-11
Battery saver system ...........2-44
Intelligent Key battery ...........8-19
Li-ion battery ............... .EV-2
Li-ion battery temperature gauge .....2-7
Before starting system.............5-10
Boosterseats..................1-31
Brake ......................5-14
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) .....5-21
Brake fluid ................ .8-10
Brakes ................... .8-15
Brake system ............... .5-19
BRAKE system warning light (yellow) . .2-14
BRAKE warning light (red) ........2-15
BRAKE system warning light (yellow) .....2-14
BRAKE warning light (red) ...........2-15 Bulbreplacement................8-21
C
Cabin air filter
..................4-16
Capacities and recommended lubricants ....9-2
Cargocover...................2-52
Ceiling light ...................2-57
Charge .....................2-49
Charge timer OFF switch .........2-49
Charge connector lock switch .........2-49
Chargeportlidswitch.............2-49
Charging ....................3-18
Charge port lid .............. .3-18
Charging related indicator light . . . .CH-33
Charging timer ............. .CH-21
Cleaning .................. .7-6
Normal charge .............. .CH-9
Precautions on charging .........CH-2
Quick charge ............. .CH-15
Specifications ............... .9-4
Trickle charge ............. .CH-11
Chargingmethods..............CH-21
Charging related indicator light .......CH-33
Charging related remote function ......CH-31
Charging status indicator light .......CH-33
Chargingtimer................CH-21
Chargingtroubleshootingguide.......CH-38

W
Warning......................6-2
Hazard warning flasher switch.......6-2
Indicators for operation ..........2-23
Tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) ................. .5-2, 6-3
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders ................. .2-12
Warning information displays .......2-32
Warning lights ............... .2-13
Warningandindicatorlights ..........0-11
Warninginformationdisplays..........2-32
Warninglabels,Airbagwarninglabels.....1-48
Warninglight...................1-48
Air bag warning light........1-48, 2-18
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
warning light ................ .2-14
BRAKE system warning light (yellow) . .2-14
BRAKE warning light (red) .........2-15
Low tire pressure warning light ......2-16
Seat belt warning light ...........2-18
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
warning light ................ .2-19
Washer switch..................2-40
Rear window wiper and washer
switch................... .2-40
Windshield wiper and washer switch . .2-38
Washing ......................7-2
Waxing.......................7-2
Weights(Seedimensionsandweights).....9-6 Wheels and tires
.................8-26
Care of wheels............... .7-3
Cleaning aluminum alloy wheels ......7-3
Wheel/tire size...................9-6
When traveling or registering your vehicle
inanothercountry.................9-7
Window(s) .....................7-3
Cleaning................... .7-3
Power windows .............. .2-54
Window washer fluid..............8-10
Windshieldwiperandwasherswitch .....2-38
Wiper.......................8-13
Pulling up the wiper arm ..........8-13
Rear window wiper and washer
switch ................... .2-40
Rear window wiper blade .........8-15
Windshield wiper and washer switch . .2-38
Wiper blades .............8-13, 8-14
Index10-7