warning 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

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THIS MANUAL
You will see various symbols in this manual. They
are used in the following ways:
WARNING
This is used to indicate the presence of a
hazard that could cause death or serious
personal injury. To avoid or reduce the
risk, the procedures must be followed
precisely.
CAUTION
This is used to indicate the presence of a
hazard that could cause minor or moder-
ate personal injury or damage to your
vehicle. To avoid or reduce the risk, the
procedures must be followed carefully. If you see the symbol above, it means
“Do not do
this” or“Do not let this happen”.
If you see a symbol similar to those above in an
illustration, it means the arrow points to the front
of the vehicle.
Arrows in an illustration that are similar to those
above indicate movement or action.
Arrows in an illustration that are similar to those
above call attention to an item in the illustration.
[]:
Indicates a key/item displayed on the screen.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING
WARNING
Certain vehicle components contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth de-
fects or other reproductive harm. In addi-
tion, certain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component wear
contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.

0 Illustrated table of contents
Seats, seat belts and Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS)............................. .0-2
Exterior front ......................... .0-3
Exterior rear ......................... .0-4
Passenger compartment .................. .0-5Cockpit
............................ .0-6
Instrument panel ....................... .0-8
Meters and gauges ..................... .0-9
Motor compartment .................... .0-10
Warning and indicator lights ................0-11

1. Side vents (P 4-6)
2. Meters and gauges (P 2-5)
3. Center multi-function control panel (SeeLEAF Navigation System Owner’s Manual.)
— Navigation system
— Vehicle information and setting buttons
— Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System — Audio system
4. Hazard warning flasher switch (P 6-2)
5. Center vents (P 4-6)
6. Rear window defroster switch (P 2-41)
7. Front passenger supplemental air bag (P 1-34)
8. Hood release handle (P 3-16) 9. Power switch (P 5-7)
10. iPod® connector/USB connector (See
LEAF Navigation System Owner’s Manual.)
11. Power outlet (P 2-50)
12. Auxiliary input jack (See LEAF Navigation System Owner’s Manual.)
13. Front passenger air bag status light/ (P 2-19)/Approaching Vehicle Sound for
Pedestrians (VSP) system warning light
(P 2-14)
14. Heater and air conditioner control (P 4-7)
15. Glove box (P 2-52)
INSTRUMENT PANEL
0-8Illustrated table of contents

This vehicle is equipped with an upper display
and a lower display.
1. Master warning light (P 2-18)
2. ECO indicator (P 2-10)
3. Speedometer (P 2-6)
4. Clock (P 2-11)
5. Outside air temperature (P 2-10)
6. Turn signal/Hazard indicator light (P 2-21)
7. Li-ion battery temperature gauge (P 2-7)
8. Warning/indicator lights (P 2-12)
9. Power meter (P 2-7)
10. ECO indicator (P 2-10)
11. READY to drive indicator light (P 2-20)
12. Dot matrix liquid crystal display (P 2-22)— Odometer/twin trip odometer (P 2-6)
— Trip computer (P 2-27)
— Shift “P” warning (if so equipped) (P 2-26)
— Indicator for timer (P 2-35)
13. Driving range (P 2-8)
14. Li-ion battery available charge gauge (P 2-9)
15. Li-ion battery capacity level gauge (P 2-10)
Upper display and lower display
METERS AND GAUGES
Illustrated table of contents0-9

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

The LEAF is an electric vehicle. Some of the
vehicle’s systems operate differently and have
different operating characteristics than vehicles
equipped with an internal combustion engine. It is
important to carefully review the entire Owner’s
Manual for this reason. The main difference is the
LEAF is powered by electricity. The LEAF does
not require and it is not capable of using gasoline
like a vehicle powered by a traditional internal
combustion engine. The LEAF uses electricity
stored in the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery. The ve-
hicle Li-ion battery must be charged with electric-
ity before the vehicle can be driven. As the vehicle
operates, the Li-ion battery gradually discharges.
If the Li-ion battery becomes completely dis-
charged, the vehicle will not operate until it is
re-charged. The charging process usually takes
from approximately 30 minutes to 21 hours as
described more fully in this manual.
This vehicle uses two types of batteries. One is
the 12-volt battery that is the same as the battery
in vehicles powered by gasoline engines, the
other is the Li-ion battery (high voltage) .
The 12-volt battery provides power to the vehicle
systems and features such as the audio system,
supplemental restraint systems, headlights and
windshield wipers.The Li-ion battery provides power to the electric
motor (traction motor) that moves the vehicle.
The Li-ion battery also charges the 12-volt bat-
tery.
The vehicle must be plugged in for the Li-ion
battery to be charged. Additionally, the vehicle
system can extend the vehicle range by convert-
ing driving force into electricity that is stored in
the Li-ion battery while the vehicle is decelerating
or being driven downhill. This is called regenera-
tive brake. This vehicle is considered to be an
environmentally friendly vehicle because it does
not emit exhaust gases, such as carbon dioxide
and nitrogen oxide.
WARNING
Your vehicle contains a sealed Li-ion
high voltage battery. If the Li-ion battery
is disposed of improperly, there is a risk
of severe burns and electrical shock that
may result in serious injury or death and
there is also a risk of environmental dam-
age.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the Li-ion battery:
Do not expose a vehicle to extreme ambient temperatures for extended
periods.
Do not store a vehicle in temperatures below 13°F (25°C) for over seven
days.
Do not leave your vehicle for over 14 days where the Li-ion battery available
charge gauge reaches a zero or near
zero (state of charge) .
Do not use the Li-ion battery for any other purpose.
THE EV (ELECTRIC VEHICLE)
SYSTEM LI-ION BATTERY
EV-2EV Overview

NOTE:
If the outside temperature is 13°F
(25°C) or less, the Li-ion battery may
freeze and it cannot be charged or provide
power to run the vehicle. Move the vehicle
to a warm location.
The capacity of the Li-ion battery in your
vehicle to hold a charge will, like all such
batteries, decrease with time and usage.
As the battery ages and capacity de-
creases, this will result in a decrease from
the vehicle’s initial mileage range. This is
normal, expected, and not indicative of
any defect in your Li-ion battery. NISSAN
estimates that battery capacity will be ap-
proximately 80% of original capacity after
five years, although this is only an esti-
mate, and this percentage may vary (and
could be significantly lower) depending
on individual vehicle and Li-ion battery
usage.
The Li-ion battery has limited service life,
and when its charging capacity falls be-
low a specific level, the EV system warn-
ing light will illuminate. Owners should
bring their vehicle in for inspection and
possible battery replacement.
The Li-ion battery has a limited service
life. Contact a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer for information about recycling or
disposal of the Li-ion battery. Do not at-
tempt to recycle or dispose of the Li-ion
battery yourself.
DRIVING WITH A DISCHARGED
LI-ION BATTERY
When a destination is set in the navigation sys-
tem that exceeds the available vehicle range, the
navigation system automatically searches the lo-
cation of nearby charging stations. When the
nearby charging station locations are displayed,
charge the Li-ion battery as soon as possible
(models with navigation system) .
Warning lights illuminate on the instrument panel
and messages are displayed on the dot matrix
liquid crystal display to inform you that the Li-ion
battery charge is low. Instructions are also dis-
played on the navigation system screen to direct
you to nearby charging stations (models with
navigation system) .
The vehicle’s range is very limited when these
warning lights illuminate and messages are dis-
played. Follow the instructions on the navigation
screen (models with navigation system) and im- mediately charge the vehicle at the nearest
charging station.
EV OverviewEV-3

There are three levels of information that will be
displayed as the Li-ion battery becomes dis-
charged:
1. The following warning lights illuminate on theinstrument panel and messages are displayed
on the dot matrix liquid crystal system screen
display at the same time to indicate low Li-ion
battery charge:
The low battery charge warning light
The master warning light
“Li-ion battery level is Low” warning message is displayed on the dot matrix liquid crystal
display
See 16. Li-ion battery low charge warning 
in the Instruments and controls section.
Messages are displayed on navigation sys- tem screen (if so equipped)
See Low battery warning in theInstru-
ments and controls section. The driving range flashes
1.
NOTE:
Due to traffic conditions, it may be diffi-
cult to get to the charging station sug-
gested by the navigation system. If the
Li-ion battery is almost completely dis-
charged, drive directly to the nearest
charging station (models with naviga-
tion system) . 2. If the vehicle is driven and the Li-ion battery
continues to discharge, the driving range on
the instrument panel changes to “---”2.
Messages are displayed on the Navigation
System screen (if so equipped) . For more
information, see “Low battery warning” in the
“Instruments and controls” section.
3. When the power limitation indicator light
illuminates, traction motor output is lim-
ited resulting in reduced vehicle speed. Stop
the vehicle in a safe location before the Li-ion
battery becomes completely discharged and
EV-4EV Overview

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