maintenance NISSAN LEAF 2013 1.G Owners Manual

Welcome to the growing family of new NISSAN
owners. This vehicle is delivered to you with
confidence. It was produced using the latest
techniques and strict quality control.
This manual was prepared to help you under-
stand the operation and maintenance of your
vehicle so that you may enjoy many miles of
driving pleasure. Please read through this manual
before operating your vehicle.
A separate Warranty Information Booklet
explains details about the warranties cov-
ering your vehicle. The NISSAN Service and
Maintenance Guide explains details about
maintaining and servicing your vehicle. Ad-
ditionally, a separate Customer Care/
Lemon Law Booklet (U.S. only) will explain
how to resolve any concerns you may have
with your vehicle, as well as clarify your
rights under your state’s lemon law.
In additional factory installed options, your ve-
hicle may also be equipped with additional ac-
cessories installed by NISSAN or by your
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer prior to delivery. It
is important that you familiarize yourself with all
disclosures, warnings, cautions, and instructions
concerning proper use of such accessories prior
to operating the vehicle and/or accessory. See aNISSAN certified LEAF dealer for details con-
cerning the particular accessories with which
your vehicle is equipped.
Your NISSAN certified LEAF dealer knows your
vehicle best. When you require any service or
have any questions, we will be glad to assist you
with the extensive resources available to us.
READ FIRST — THEN DRIVE SAFELY
Before driving your vehicle, read your Owner’s
Manual carefully. This will ensure familiarity with
controls and maintenance requirements, assist-
ing you in the safe operation of your vehicle.
WARNING
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION RE-
MINDERS FOR SAFETY!
Follow these important driving rules to
help ensure a safe and comfortable trip
for you and your passengers!
NEVER drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
ALWAYS observe posted speed limits and never drive too fast for conditions.
ALWAYS give your full attention to driving and avoid using vehicle fea-
tures or taking other actions that could
distract you. ALWAYS use your seat belts and ap-
propriate child restraint systems. Pre-
teen children should be seated in the
rear seat.
ALWAYS provide information about the proper use of vehicle safety fea-
tures to all occupants of the vehicle.
ALWAYS review this Owner’s Manual for important safety information.
MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
This vehicle should not be modified. Modi-
fication could affect its performance,
safety or durability, and may even violate
governmental regulations. In addition,
damage or performance problems result-
ing from modification may not be covered
under NISSAN warranties.
WHEN READING THE MANUAL
This manual includes information for all
options available on this model. Therefore,
you may find some information that does
not apply to your vehicle.
All information, specifications and illustrations in this
manual are those in effect at the time of printing.
NISSAN reserves the right to change specifications
or design at any time without notice.
FOREWORD

Table of
contentsIllustrated table of contents
EV Overview
Charging
Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
Instruments and controls
Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems
Starting and driving
In case of emergency
Appearance and care
Maintenance and do-it yourself
Technical and consumer information
Index
0
EV
CH 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

EV Overview
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system.............EV-2
Li-ion battery ........................ .EV-2
Driving with a discharged Li-ion battery .......EV-3
Charging the 12-volt battery ..............EV-5
Li-ion battery warmer ................. .EV-5
High voltage precautions ................. .EV-7
High-voltage components ...............EV-7
Road accident precautions ................EV-8
Emergency shut-off system ..............EV-9
EV (Electric Vehicle) characteristics ...........EV-9
Noise and vibration ................. .EV-10
Life with an EV (scene guide) ..............EV-10
Charging the Li-ion battery ..............EV-10
Before driving your vehicle (models with navigation
system) ........................ .EV-13
Starting your vehicle ................. .EV-17Driving the vehicle
.................. .EV-18
At home after driving ................ .EV-22
Efficient use of your vehicle ...............EV-23
Range ......................... .EV-23
Improve driving range ................ .EV-23
Li-ion battery life ................... .EV-24
Li-ion battery maintenance ..............EV-24
EV unique information .................. .EV-25
Meters and indicators ................ .EV-25
Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP)
system ......................... .EV-28
Electric shift control system .............EV-29
LED headlight (low beam) (if so equipped) . . . .EV-29
Solar cell module (if so equipped) ..........EV-30
Driving range button (if so equipped) ........EV-30

HIGH-VOLTAGE COMPONENTS
WARNING
The EV (Electric Vehicle) system uses high voltage up to approximately DC
400 volt. The system can be hot during
and after starting and when the vehicle
is shut off. Be careful of both the high
voltage and the high temperature. Fol-
low the warning labels that are at-
tached to the vehicle.
Never disassemble, remove or replace high-voltage parts and cables as well
as their connectors because they can
cause severe burns or electric shock
that may result in serious injury or
death. High-voltage cables are colored
orange. The vehicle high voltage sys-
tem has no user serviceable parts.
Take your vehicle to a NISSAN certi-
fied LEAF dealer for any necessary
maintenance.
1. Traction motor and reduction gear
2. Power delivery module (PDM) (Charger,DC/DC Converter, Junction Box)
3. Traction motor inverter 4. High-voltage wire harnesses (colored
orange)
5. Li-ion battery
6. Service plug
High-voltage components
HIGH VOLTAGE PRECAUTIONS
EV OverviewEV-7

RANGE
The distance you can drive the vehicle (range)
varies considerably depending upon available
charge, weather, temperature, usage, battery
age, topography, and driving style.
Vehicle range depends on a number of factors.
When the Li-ion battery is new, the estimated
vehicle range with a fully charged Li-ion battery is
approximately 100 miles (160 km) based on the
EPA laboratory test commonly called the LA4
mode drive cycle. This test represents city driving
conditions. Your actual range can vary, either
initially or as the battery ages and with use over
time. The majority of drivers will experience ve-
hicle ranges between 62 to 138 miles (99 to 222
km) based on the many factors that affect vehicle
range. SeeImprove driving range later in this
section for information of the factors that affect
vehicle range and how to use the vehicle to
maximize vehicle range.
IMPROVE DRIVING RANGE
Vehicle range depends on a number of factors.
Actual vehicle range will vary depending upon:
speed,
vehicle load, electrical load from vehicle accessories,
traffic and road conditions.
NISSAN recommends the following driving
habits to help maximize vehicle range:
Before driving:
Follow recommended periodic maintenance.
Keep tires inflated to correct pressure.
Keep wheels in correct alignment.
Pre-heat or pre-cool the interior cabin while the
vehicle is charging.
Remove unnecessary cargo from the vehicle.
While driving:
Drive in ECO mode – In the ECO position more regenerativebrake is applied when the accelerator pedal
is released in comparison to the D (Drive)
position and more power is provided to the
Li-ion battery (models with navigation sys-
tem) .
– The ECO position helps reduce power con- sumption by reducing acceleration when
compared to the same accelerator pedal
position in the D (Drive) position.
– The ECO position reduces the power pro- vided to the heater and air conditioner sys-
tem. Drive at a constant speed. Maintain cruising
speeds with a constant accelerator positions or
by using cruise control when appropriate.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Gently press and release the accelerator pedal for accelera-
tion and deceleration.
Drive at moderate speeds on the highway.
Avoid frequent stopping and braking. Maintain a safe distance behind other vehicles.
Turn off the air conditioner/heater when it is not necessary.
Select a moderate temperature setting for heat- ing or cooling to help reduce power consump-
tion.
Use the air conditioner/heater and close win- dows to reduce drag when cruising at highway
speed.
Vehicle range may be substantially reduced in extremely cold conditions (for example -4°F
(-20°C)) .
Using the climate control system to heat the cabin when outside temperature is below 32°F
(0°C) uses more electricity and affects vehicle
range more than when using the heater when
the temperature is above 32°F (0°C) .
EFFICIENT USE OF YOUR VEHICLE
EV OverviewEV-23

Release the accelerator pedal to slow downand do not apply the brakes when traffic and
road conditions allow. – This vehicle is equipped with a regenerative brake system. The primary purpose of re-
generative brake system is to provide some
power to recharge the Li-ion battery and
extend driving range. A secondary benefit is
“engine braking” that operates based on
Li-ion battery conditions. In the D (Drive)
position, when the accelerator is released,
the regenerative brake system provides
some deceleration and some power to the
Li-ion battery.
LI-ION BATTERY LIFE
The Li-ion battery’s ability to hold a charge, like all
batteries, decreases with battery age and usage
which results in decreased vehicle range when
compared to the vehicle range when the vehicle
was new. This is normal and expected, and does
not indicate a malfunction of the vehicle or Li-ion
battery.
The Li-ion battery’s ability to hold a charge can be
affected by how you drive the vehicle, store the
vehicle, how you charge the Li-ion battery and
Li-ion battery temperature during vehicle opera-
tion and charging. To maximize vehicle range, NISSAN recom-
mends using the default setting, long distance
mode (100% charge) . To maximize the battery’s
useful life, use the following driving and charging
habits where possible:
Avoid exposing a vehicle to extreme ambient
temperatures for extended periods.
Avoid storing a vehicle in temperatures below 13°F (25°C) for over 7 days.
Avoid leaving your vehicle for over 14 days where the Li-ion battery available charge gauge
reaches a zero or near zero (state of charge) .
Allow the vehicle and Li-ion battery to cool down after use before charging.
Park/store your vehicle in cool locations out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
Avoid sustained high battery temperatures (caused, for example, by exposure to very high
ambient temperatures or extending highway
driving with multiple quick charges) .
Use the normal charging or trickle charging methods to charge the Li-ion battery and mini-
mize the use of public Fast Charge or Quick
Charger.
Avoid sustained high battery state of charge (caused, for example, by frequently charging to
100% state of charge and/or leaving the battery above 80% state of charge for long periods of
time) .
Allow the battery charge to be below at least 80% before charging.
Moderate driving.
Use of ECO mode.
If the vehicle will not be used for an extended period of time, charge the Li-ion battery using
the long life mode once every 3 months. Do not
operate the charging timer repeatedly while the
charge connector is connected to the vehicle
after the Li-ion battery charging is completed.
Doing so may discharge the 12-volt battery.
The power of the Li-ion battery can be
checked on the Li-ion battery available charge
gauge. See Li-ion battery available charge
gauge in theInstruments and controls for
details.
LI-ION BATTERY MAINTENANCE
In addition to the regular maintenance recom-
mended by NISSAN, the LEAF requires some
special Li-ion battery inspections.
See the NISSAN Warranty Information Booklet for significant limitations, exclusions and pos-
sible voiding of your warranty resulting from
EV-24EV Overview

failure to have these necessary inspections, re-
pairs and/or adjustments performed.
See the NISSAN Service and Maintenance Guide for a detailed explanation of the Li-ion
battery inspection and intervals.METERS AND INDICATORS
The vehicle has two displays to provide informa-
tion regarding vehicle operation:
Upper display
Lower display
Upper display
Master warning lights:
The master warning lights are located in the
upper display.
The master warning lights illuminate when any
warning lights or indicators illuminate in the lower
display or when messages are displayed on the
dot matrix liquid crystal display.
For additional information, see Master warning
light in the Instruments and controls section.
EV UNIQUE INFORMATION
EV OverviewEV-25

SOLAR CELL MODULE (IF SO
EQUIPPED)
This vehicle uses a solar cell module to provide
power to the 12-volt battery. The solar cell mod-
ule only provides power to help maintain the
charge of the 12-volt battery; it will not recharge
a discharged 12-volt battery.
The solar cell module does not provide power to
the Li-ion battery.
For maintenance, seeCleaning exteriorin the
Appearance and care section.
NOTE:
The solar cell may not provide full charging
power in the following situations.
When the intensity of sunlight is weak.
When the solar cell module is in the
shade.
When the solar cell module is covered by
leaves or dirt.DRIVING RANGE BUTTON (IF SO
EQUIPPED)
Push the driving range button on the steering
wheel to check the estimated distance the ve-
hicle may be driven with the available Li-ion bat-
tery charge. See LEAF Navigation System Own-
er’s Manual.
Solar cell module on the rear spoiler
EV-30EV Overview

1 Safety–Seats, seat belts and
supplemental restraint system
Seats............................. .1-2
Front seats ........................ .1-3
Rear seats ........................ .1-4
Head restraints ..................... .1-4
Seat belts .......................... .1-7
Precautions on seat belt usage .............1-7
Pregnant women ................... .1-10
Injured persons .................... .1-10
Three-point type seat belt with retractor .......1-10
Seat belt extenders .................. .1-14
Seat belt maintenance ................ .1-14
Child safety ......................... .1-15
Infants .......................... .1-15
Small children ..................... .1-15
Larger children ..................... .1-16
Child restraints ....................... .1-17
Precautions on child restraints ............1-17
Rear-facing child restraint installation using latch. .1-21
Rear-facing child restraint installation using the seat
belts ........................... .1-23Forward-facing child restraint installation using
latch
........................... .1-25
Forward-facing child restraint installation using
the seat belts ...................... .1-27
Installing top tether strap ................1-30
Booster seats ....................... .1-31
Precautions on booster seats .............1-31
Booster seat installation ................1-32
Supplemental restraint system ...............1-34
Precautions on supplemental restraint system . . .1-34
NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System (front seats) . .1-40
Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air
bag and roof-mounted curtain side-impact
supplemental air bag systems .............1-45
Seat belts with pretensioners (front seats) ......1-47
Supplemental air bag warning labels .........1-48
Supplemental air bag warning light ..........1-48
Repair and replacement procedure ..........1-49

Center of rear seat
Selecting correct set of seat belts:
The center seat belt buckle is identified by the
CENTER mark
A. The center seat belt tongue
can be fastened onlyinto the center seat belt
buckle.
SEAT BELT EXTENDERS
If, because of body size or driving position, it is
not possible to properly fit the lap-shoulder belt
and fasten it, an extender that is compatible with
the installed seat belts is available that can be
purchased. The extender adds approximately 8 in (200 mm) of length and may be used for either
the driver or front passenger seating position.
See a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for assis-
tance with purchasing an extender if an extender
is required.
WARNING
Only NISSAN seat belt extenders, made by the same company which
made the original equipment seat
belts, should be used with NISSAN
seat belts.
Adults and children who can use the standard seat belt should not use an
extender. Such unnecessary use could
result in serious personal injury in the
event of an accident.
Never use seat belt extenders to install child restraints. If the child restraint is
not secured properly, the child could
be seriously injured in a collision or a
sudden stop.
SEAT BELT MAINTENANCE
To clean the seat belt webbing, apply a mild
soap solution or any solution recommended for
cleaning upholstery or carpets. Then wipe with
a cloth and allow the seat belts to dry in the
shade. Do not allow the seat belts to retract until
they are completely dry.
If dirt builds up in the shoulder belt guide
of the seat belt anchors, the seat belts may
retract slowly. Wipe the shoulder belt guide with
a clean, dry cloth.
Periodically check to see that the seat
belt and the metal components, such as
buckles, tongues, retractors, flexible wires and
anchors, work properly. If loose parts, deterio-
ration, cuts or other damage on the webbing is
found, the entire seat belt assembly should be
replaced.
1-14Safety–Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system