battery NISSAN LEAF 2014 1.G Owners Manual

WARNING
• Never rely solely on the hill start assist
system to prevent the vehicle from
moving backward on a hill. Always
drive carefully and attentively. Depress
the brake pedal when the vehicle is
stopped on a steep hill. Be especially
careful when stopped on a hill on fro-
zen or muddy roads. Failure to prevent
the vehicle from rolling backwards
may result in a loss of control of the
vehicle and possible serious injury or
death.
• The hill start assist system is not de-
signed to hold the vehicle at a stand-
still on a hill. Depress the brake pedal
when the vehicle is stopped on a steep
hill. Failure to do so may cause the
vehicle to roll backwards and may re-
sult in a collision or serious personal
injury.
• The hill start assist may not prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards on a
hill under all load or road conditions.
Always be prepared to depress the
brake pedal to prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards. Failure to do
so may result in a collision or serious
personal injury.The hill start assist system automatically keeps
the brakes applied to help prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards in the time it takes the
driver to release the brake pedal and apply the
accelerator when the vehicle is stopped on a hill.
Hill start assist will operate automatically under
the following conditions:
• The shift lever is shifted into D (Drive) , ECO, or
R (Reverse) position.
• The vehicle is stopped completely on a hill by
applying the brake.
The maximum holding time is 2 seconds. After 2
seconds the vehicle will begin to roll back and hill
start assist will stop operating completely.
Hill start assist will not operate when the shift
lever is shifted into D (Drive) , ECO, or R (Re-
verse) position or on a flat and level road.CAUTION
To prevent damage to the Li-ion battery:
Do not store a vehicle in temperatures
below -13°F (-25°C) for over seven days. 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.
NOTE:
•Connect the charger to the vehicle and
place the power switch in the OFF posi-
tion when parking the vehicle if tempera-
tures may go below -4°F (-20°C) . This pro-
vides external power to the Li-ion battery
warmer when it operates and does not
discharge the Li-ion battery. Vehicle driv-
ing range is reduced if the Li-ion battery
warmer operates (Li-ion battery tempera-
ture approximately -4°F (-20°C) or colder)
while driving the vehicle. You may need to
charge the Li-ion battery sooner than in
warmer temperatures.
•The Li-ion battery requires more time to
charge when the Li-ion battery warmer
operates.
HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM COLD WEATHER DRIVING
Starting and driving5-25

•The predicted charging time displayed on
the meter and navigation system in-
creases when the Li-ion battery warmer
operates.
•Vehicle range may be substantially re-
duced in extremely cold conditions (for
example under -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 us-
ing the heater when the temperature is
above 32°F (0°C) .
•Climate control performance is reduced
when using the Climate Ctrl. Timer or Re-
mote Climate Control while the Li-ion bat-
tery warmer operates. Set only the charg-
ing timer [End Time] when charging in cold
weather. The vehicle automatically deter-
mines when to start charging to fully
charge the Li-ion battery, even if the Li-ion
battery warmer operates. Charging ends
before the set end time if the Li-ion bat-
tery is fully charged.FREEING A FROZEN DOOR LOCK
To prevent a door lock from freezing, apply deicer
through the key hole. If the lock becomes frozen,
heat the key before inserting it into the key hole or
use the remote keyless entry keyfob.
ANTI-FREEZE
In the winter when it is possible that the outside
temperature will drop below 32°F (0°C) , check
the antifreeze to ensure proper winter protection.
For additional information, see “Cooling system”
in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
12-VOLT BATTERY
If the 12-volt battery is not fully charged during
extremely cold weather conditions, the 12-volt
battery fluid may freeze and damage the 12-volt
battery. To maintain maximum efficiency, the 12-
volt battery should be checked regularly. For ad-
ditional information, see “12-volt battery” in the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.
DRAINING OF COOLANT WATER
If the vehicle is to be left outside without anti-
freeze, drain the cooling system. Refill before
operating the vehicle. For details, see “Cooling
system” in the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself”
section.
TIRE EQUIPMENT
SUMMER tires have a tread designed to provide
superior performance on dry pavement. How-
ever, the performance of these tires will be sub-
stantially reduced in snowy and icy conditions. If
you operate your vehicle on snowy or icy roads,
NISSAN recommends the use of MUD & SNOW
or ALL SEASON tires on all four wheels. Consult
a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for the tire type,
size, speed rating and availability information.
For additional traction on icy roads, studded tires
may be used. However, some U.S. states and
Canadian provinces prohibit their use. Check
local, state and provincial laws before installing
studded tires.
Skid and traction capabilities of studded
snow tires, on wet or dry surfaces, may be
poorer than that of non-studded snow tires.
5-26Starting and driving

6 In case of emergency
Roadside assistance program................6-2
Emergency EV (Electric Vehicle) shut off.........6-2
Hazard warning flasher switch...............6-2
Flat tire.............................6-3
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).......6-3
Repairing flat tire.....................6-4
Jump starting.........................6-9If the Li-ion battery becomes completely discharged. .6-11
Push starting.........................6-12
Tools..............................6-12
Towing your vehicle.....................6-13
Towing recommended by NISSAN..........6-13
Vehicle recovery (freeing stuck vehicle).......6-14

the tire pressure with the pressure gauge.
Temporary repair is completed if the tire pres-
sure does not drop.
Make sure the pressure is adjusted to the
pressure that is specified on the Tire and
Loading Information label before driving.
10. If the tire pressure drops, repeat the steps
from 5 to 9. If the pressure drops again or
under 19 psi (130 kPa) ,the tire cannot be
repaired with this tire repair kit. Contact
a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
The sealant bottle and hose can not be reused
to repair another punctured tire. Contact a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer to purchase
replacements.
After repairing tire:
See a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for tire
repair/replacement as soon as possible.
WARNING
•
After using Emergency Tire Sealant to
repair a minor tire puncture, do not
drive the vehicle at speeds faster than
50 MPH (80 km/h) .•
Immediately after using Emergency
Tire Sealant to repair a minor tire
puncture, take your vehicle to a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer to in-
spect, and repair or replace the tire.
The Emergency Tire Sealant cannot
permanently seal a punctured tire.
Continuing operation of the vehicle
without a permanent tire repair can
lead to a crash.
• Do not inject any tire liquid or aerosol
tire sealant into the tires, as this may
cause a malfunction of the tire pres-
sure sensors.
• If you used the Emergency Tire Sealant
to repair a minor tire puncture, your
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer will also
need to replace the TPMS sensor in
addition to repairing or replacing the
tire .
• NISSAN recommends using only
NISSAN Genuine Emergency Tire Seal-
ant provided with your vehicle. Other
tire sealants may damage the valve
stem seal which can cause the tire to
lose air pressure.To start your EV system with a booster battery,
the instructions and precautions below must be
followed.
Jump starting provides power to the 12-volt sys-
tem to allow the electrical systems to operate.
The electrical systems must be operating to allow
the Li-ion battery to be charged. Jump starting
does not charge the Li-ion battery. The Li-ion
battery must be charged before the vehicle can
be driven.
WARNING
• If done incorrectly, jump starting can
lead to a 12-volt battery explosion, re-
sulting in severe injury or death. It
could also damage your vehicle.
• Explosive hydrogen gas is always
present in the vicinity of the 12-volt
battery. Keep all sparks and flames
away from the 12-volt battery.
• Do not allow battery fluid to come into
contact with eyes, skin, clothing or
painted surfaces. Battery fluid is a cor-
rosive sulfuric acid solution that can
cause severe burns. If the fluid comes
into contact with anything, immedi-
ately flush the contacted area with wa-
ter.
JUMP STARTING
In case of emergency6-9

• Keep the 12-volt battery out of the
reach of children.
• The booster battery must be rated at
12 volt. Use of an improperly rated
battery can damage your vehicle.
• Whenever working on or near a 12-volt
battery, always wear suitable eye pro-
tectors (for example, goggles or indus-
trial safety spectacles) and remove
rings, metal bands, or any other jew-
elry. Do not lean over the 12-volt bat-
tery when jump starting.
• Do not attempt to jump start a frozen
battery. It could explode and cause se-
rious injury.
• Your vehicle has an automatic cooling
fan. It could come on at any time. Keep
hands and other objects away from it.
WARNING
• Always follow the instructions below.
Failure to do so could result in damage
to the DC/DC converter and cause per-
sonal injury.
CAUTION
• Do not attempt to perform a jump start
on the 12-volt battery at the same time
that the Li-ion battery is being
charged. Doing so may damage the
vehicle or charging equipment and
could cause an injury.
• LEAF cannot be used as a booster ve-
hicle because it cannot supply enough
power to start a gasoline engine. How-
ever, a gasoline engine vehicle can be
used to jump start LEAF’s 12-volt bat-
tery.
1. If the booster battery is in another vehicle
B,
position the two vehicles (
AandB) to bring
their 12-volt batteries into close proximity to
each other.
Do not allow the two vehicles to touch.
2. Apply the parking brake.
6-10In case of emergency

If the 12-volt battery is discharged, the
power switch cannot be moved from the
OFF position. Connect the jumper cables
to the booster vehicle
Bbefore pushing
the power switch.
3. Push the P (Park)position switch to place the
vehicle in the P (Park) position.
4. Switch off all unnecessary electrical systems
(headlights, heater, air conditioner, etc.) .
5. Place the power switch in the OFF position.
6. Remove the vent caps on the 12-volt battery
(if so equipped) . Cover the battery with a
firmly wrung out moist cloth to reduce the
hazard of an explosion.
7. Connect jumper cables in the sequence as
illustrated (
1→2→3→4).
CAUTION
•Always connect positive (+) to positive
(+) and negative (−) to body ground (for
example, as illustrated) , not to the 12-
volt battery.
•Make sure the jumper cables do not
touch moving parts in the motor com-
partment and that the cable clamps do
not contact any other metal.
8. Start the engine of the booster vehicle
B.9. While the booster vehicle
Bengine is run-
ning, place the EV system in the READY to
drive position.
CAUTION
If the system does not start right away,
push the power switch to the OFF posi-
tion and wait 10 seconds before trying
again.
10. After starting your EV system, carefully dis-
connect the negative cable and then the
positive cable (
4→3→2→1) and
keep the READY to drive position over 20
minutes to charge the 12-volt battery.
11. Replace the vent caps (if so equipped) . Be
sure to dispose of the cloth used to cover
the vent holes because it may be contami-
nated with corrosive acid.
12. If necessary, connect the vehicle to a charg-
ing station or EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply
Equipment) to charge the Li-ion battery.
(See “Charge” section.) The vehicle can not
be driven until the Li-ion battery is charged.
NOTE:
If it is not possible to turn the system ON by
following this procedure, contact a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer immediately.If the power limitation indicator light
illumi-
nates, the traction motor output is limited result-
ing in reduced vehicle speed. Stop the vehicle in
a safe location before the Li-ion battery becomes
completely discharged and no power is available
to drive the vehicle. Contact Roadside assis-
tance; see your NISSAN Warranty Information
Booklet.
If possible, place the power switch in the OFF
position while waiting for assistance to prevent
discharging the 12-volt battery.
NOTE:
If the Li-ion battery becomes completely
discharged:
•The vehicle is automatically placed in the
ON position and it will not be possible to
switch to the READY position.
•The vehicle is automatically switched to
the N (Neutral) position and it will not be
possible to drive the vehicle.
WARNING
If the vehicle is in the N (Neutral) position
and the Li-ion battery and the 12-volt
battery become completely discharged,
the vehicle can not be placed in the P
IF THE LI-ION BATTERY BECOMES
COMPLETELY DISCHARGED
In case of emergency6-11

(Park) position. If this occurs, place suit-
able blocks at both the front and back of
a wheel to prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing. Failure to block a wheel may allow
the vehicle to move unexpectedly which
may result in serious personal injury or
death.
To place the vehicle in the READY position so the
vehicle can be driven, charge the Li-ion battery
until the driving range on the instrument panel
changes from “---” to a numeric distance.Do not attempt to start the system by pushing the
vehicle.
CAUTION
An EV (Electric Vehicle) cannot be push-
started or tow-started. Attempting to do
so may cause traction motor damage.
Tools are located in the side of the cargo area.
PUSH STARTING TOOLS
6-12In 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........................8-8
Checking coolant level..................8-9
Changing coolant.....................8-9
Reduction gear fluid.....................8-10
Brake fluid..........................8-10
Window washer fluid....................8-11
12-volt battery........................8-12
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................8-16
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

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 undersevere 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 the “Appearance and care” section.
Windshield washer fluid*:Check that there is
an adequate amount of fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it yourself

When performing any inspection or maintenance
work on your vehicle, always take care to prevent
serious accidental injury to yourself or damage to
the vehicle. The following are general precau-
tions that should be closely observed.
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.
Obey the labels that are attached to
the vehicle.
• Never disassemble, remove or replace
high-voltage parts and cables as well
as their connectors. High-voltage
cables are colored orange.
• Disassembling, removing or replacing
those parts or cables can cause severe
burns or electric shock that may result
in serious injury or death. The vehicle
high voltage system has no user ser-
viceable parts. Take your vehicle to the
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for any
necessary maintenance.• Park the vehicle on a level surface,
apply the parking brake securely and
chock the wheels to prevent the ve-
hicle from moving. Push the P (Park)
position switch on the shift lever or
place the vehicle into the N (Neutral)
position.
• If you must work with the EV (Electric
vehicle) system is turned on, keep
hands, clothing, hair and tools away
from moving fans and any other mov-
ing parts.
• Make sure that the power switch is in
the OFF or LOCK position when per-
forming any part replacement or re-
pairs.
• It is advisable to secure or remove any
loose clothing and remove any jewelry,
such as rings, watches, etc. before
working on your vehicle.
• Always wear eye protection whenever
you work on your vehicle.
• Never get under the vehicle while it is
supported only by a jack. If it is neces-
sary to work under the vehicle, support
it with safety stands.
• Keep smoking materials, flames and
sparks away from the 12-volt battery.
CAUTION
• Do not work under the hood while the
motor compartment is hot. Push the
power switch in the OFF position and
wait until it cools down.
• Avoid direct contact with used coolant.
Improperly disposed coolant and/or
other vehicle fluids can damage the
environment. Always conform to local
regulations for the disposal of vehicle
fluids.
• Never connect or disconnect the bat-
tery or any transistorized component
while the power switch is in the ON
position.
• Your vehicle is equipped with an auto-
matic cooling fan. It may come on at
any time without warning, even if the
power switch is not in the ACC, ON or
READY to drive position. To avoid in-
jury, always disconnect the negative
12-volt battery cable before working
near the fan.
• Before performing any electrical main-
tenance work on the vehicle such as
the battery, fuses or bulb replacement,
confirm the following:
– The charge connector is removed
from the vehicle.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-5