power steering NISSAN LEAF 2014 1.G User Guide

The heated steering wheel system is designed to
operate only when the surface temperature of the
steering wheel is below approximately 68°F
(20°C) .
Push the heated steering wheel switch to warm
the steering wheel when the power switch is in
the ON position. The indicator light
1on the
switch will illuminate.
If the surface temperature of the steering wheel is
below approximately 68°F (20°C) , the system will
heat the steering wheel and cycle off and on to
maintain a temperature above 68°F (20°C) . Theindicator light will remain on as long as the sys-
tem is on.
Push the switch again to turn the heated steering
wheel system off manually. The indicator light turn
off.
NOTE:
•If the surface temperature of the steering
wheel is above 68°F (20°C) when the
switch is turned on, the system will not
heat the steering wheel. This is not a mal-
function.
•If the outside temperature is low (approxi-
mately 50°F (10°C) or less) and the Climate
Ctrl. Timer or Remote Climate Control are
used, the steering wheel heater will auto-
matically operate in the following condi-
tions.
– When using the Climate Ctrl. Timer:
Operates from approximately 15 min-
utes before the set departure time until
the set departure time.
– When using Remote Climate Control:
Operates 15 minutes after Remote Cli-
mate Control starts.•The heated steering wheel consumes less
power than the heater and can be used to
either help extend vehicle range by reduc-
ing heater use or to maximize comfort by
supplementing the heater.
HEATED STEERING WHEEL SWITCH
2-46Instruments and controls

3 Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Keys...............................3-2
NISSAN Intelligent Keys®...............3-2
Doors..............................3-3
Locking with Mechanical key..............3-4
Locking with inside lock knob..............3-4
Locking with power door lock switch..........3-5
Automatic door locks...................3-5
Child safety rear door lock................3-6
NISSAN Intelligent Key® system..............3-6
NISSAN Intelligent Key® operating range of
the door lock/unlock function..............3-8
Door locks/unlocks precaution.............3-8
NISSAN Intelligent Key® operation..........3-9
12-volt battery saver system..............3-10
Warning signals.....................3-11
Troubleshooting guide.................3-12
How to use remote keyless entry function......3-13Hood.............................3-16
Rear hatch..........................3-17
Secondary rear hatch release.............3-18
Charge port lid........................3-18
Opening charge port lid................3-18
Charge port cap.....................3-19
Tilt steering column.....................3-20
Tilt operation.......................3-20
Sun visors..........................3-20
Vanity mirror.......................3-21
Card holder (driver’s side only)..............3-21
Mirrors............................3-21
Inside rearview mirror..................3-21
Outside mirrors.....................3-23

• When the outside air temperature is low, the air
flow from the foot outlets will be low or may not
operate for up to 150 seconds after turning on
the air conditioner. This is not a malfunction.
• Power consumption of the climate control varies
depending on the outside temperature and the
temperature set for the climate control. Power
consumption increases if the interior tempera-
ture is cooled down too much in summer or if it
is warmed up too much in winter. This reduces
vehicle range.
• When the vehicle is in the ECO position, the
climate control operates in the ECO mode
which reduces the power consumption.• If the charger is connected to the vehicle when
it is in the ready to drive mode and the air
conditioner or heater is on, the power switch
automatically changes to the ON position. The
climate control system automatically turns off
the heater or air conditioner and switches to the
air recirculation mode. Place the power switch
in the off position to begin charging. Turn on the
desired climate control function.
• If the air conditioner or heater is on while charg-
ing, the climate control system automatically
turns off the heater or air conditioning and
switches to the air recirculation mode when
charging is complete.
• The remote climate control or climate control
timer may fog up windows depending on the set
temperature or outside temperature.
• When turning on the seat heater switch prior to
operating the remote climate control or climate
control timer, the seat heater also will turn on.
The steering wheel heater will turn on automati-
cally when the outside temperature is low.
• When the vehicle is in ECO mode, the air con-
ditioner will accordingly stay in ECO mode for
lower power consumption.
In-cabin microfilter:
The climate control system is equipped with an
in-cabin microfilter which collects dirt, pollen,
dust, etc. To make sure the air conditioner, heats,
defogs, and ventilates efficiently, replace the filter
regularly. To replace the filter, contact a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer.
The filter should be replaced if the air flow
decreases significantly or if windows fog
up easily when operating the climate con-
trol system.
Servicing climate control
The climate control system in your NISSAN is
charged with a refrigerant designed with the en-
vironment in mind. This refrigerant will not harm
the earth’s ozone layer. Special charging equip-
ment and lubricant are required when servicing
your NISSAN climate control. Using improper
refrigerants or lubricants will cause severe dam-
age to your climate control system. See “Capaci-
ties and recommended lubricants” in the “Tech-
nical and consumer information” section for
climate control system refrigerant and lubricant
recommendations.
Heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems4-15

the next track or the beginning of the current track
on the iPod® will be played.
REPEAT (RPT):
When the RPT play button is pressed while a
track is being played, the play pattern can be
changed as follows:
Repeat Off→1 Track Repeat→All Repeat→Re-
peat Off
RANDOM (RDM):
When the RDM play button is pressed while a
track is being played, the play pattern can be
changed as follows:
Shuffle Off→Track Shuffle→Album Shuffle-
→Shuffle Off
BACK button:
When the BACK button is pressed, it returns to
the previous display.
CD CARE AND CLEANING
• Handle a CD by its edges. Do not bend the disc.
Never touch the surface of the disc.
• Always place the discs in the storage case
when they are not being used.
• To clean a disc, wipe the surface from the center
to the outer edge using a clean, soft cloth. Do
not wipe the disc using a circular motion.
• Do not use a conventional record cleaner or
alcohol intended for industrial use.
• A new disc may be rough on the inner and outer
edges. Remove the rough edges by rubbing the
inner and outer edges with the side of a pen or
pencil as illustrated.
STEERING WHEEL SWITCH FOR
AUDIO CONTROL
The audio system can be operated using the
controls on the steering wheel.
1. SOURCE button/tuning switch
2. Volume control button
POWER on switch
With the power switch in the ACC or ON posi-
tion, push the SOURCE switch to turn the audio
system on.
4-40Heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems

USING THE SYSTEM
The NISSAN Voice Recognition system allows
hands-free operation of the Bluetooth® Phone
System.
If the vehicle is in motion, some commands may
not be available so full attention may be given to
vehicle operation.
Initialization
When the power switch is placed in the ON
position, NISSAN Voice Recognition is initialized,
which takes a few seconds. If the
button is
pressed before the initialization completes, the
system will announce “Hands-free phone system
not ready” and will not react to voice commands.
Operating tips
To get the best performance out of the NISSAN
Voice Recognition system, observe the following:
• Keep the interior of the vehicle as quiet as
possible. Close the windows to eliminate sur-
rounding noises (traffic noises, vibration
sounds, etc.) , which may prevent the system
from recognizing voice commands correctly.
• Wait until the tone sounds before speaking a
command. Otherwise, the command will not be
received properly.• Start speaking a command within 5 seconds
after the tone sounds.
• Speak in a natural voice without pausing be-
tween words.
Giving voice commands
To operate NISSAN Voice Recognition, press
and release the
button located on the
steering wheel. After the tone sounds, speak a
command.
The command given is picked up by the micro-
phone, and voice feedback is given when the
command is accepted.
• If you need to hear the available commands for
the current menu again, say “Help” and the
system will repeat them.
• If a command is not recognized, the system
announces, “Command not recognized. Please
try again.”Make sure the command is said ex-
actly as prompted by the system and repeat the
command in a clear voice.
• If you want to go back to the previous command,
you can say “Go back” or “Correction” any time
the system is waiting for a response.
• You can cancel a command when the system is
waiting for a response by saying, “Cancel” or“Quit.” The system announces “Cancel” and
ends the VR session. You can also press and
hold the
button on the steering wheel for
5 seconds at any time to end the VR session.
Whenever the VR session is cancelled, a
double beep is played to indicate you have
exited the system.
• If you want to adjust the volume of the voice
feedback, press the volume control switches (+
or -) on the steering wheel while being provided
with feedback. You can also use the radio vol-
ume control knob.
• In most cases you can interrupt the voice feed-
back to speak the next command by pressing
the
button on the steering wheel.
• To use the system faster, you may speak the
second level commands with the main menu
command on the main menu. For example,
press the
button and after the tone say,
“Call Redial.”
How to say numbers
NISSAN Voice Recognition requires a certain
way to speak numbers in voice commands. Refer
to the following rules and examples.
• Either “zero” or “oh” can be used for “0”.
Example: 1-800-662-6200
Heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems4-45

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...........................5-8
Power switch operation.................5-8
Power switch positions..................5-9
Emergency EV (Electric Vehicle) shut off.......5-9
NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery discharge.....5-10
Before starting the EV (Electric Vehicle) system. . . .5-10
Starting the EV (Electric Vehicle) system........5-11
Driving vehicle........................5-11
Electric shift control system..............5-11
Parking brake........................5-15
Cruise control........................5-15Precautions on cruise control.............5-15
Cruise control operation................5-16
Increasing power economy................5-17
Parking/parking on hills...................5-18
Power steering system...................5-19
Brake system.........................5-20
Brake precautions....................5-20
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)...........5-22
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system.........5-23
Hill start assist system...................5-25
Cold weather driving....................5-25
Freeing a frozen door lock...............5-26
Anti-freeze........................5-26
12-volt battery......................5-26
Draining of coolant water................5-26
Tire equipment......................5-26
Special winter equipment...............5-27
Driving on snow or ice.................5-27
Freeing a frozen charge port lid............5-27

tire briefly to release pressure. When the pres-
sure reaches the designated pressure, the horn
beeps once.
• If the hazard indicator does not flash within
approximately 15 seconds after starting to in-
flate the tire, it indicates that the Easy Fill Tire
Alert is not operating.
• The TPMS will not activate the Easy Fill Tire
Alert under the following conditions:
– If there is interference from an external de-
vice or transmitter.
– The air pressure from the inflation device is
not sufficient to inflate the tire such as those
using a power socket.
– If an electrical equipment is being used in or
near the vehicle.
– There is a malfunction in the TPMS system.
– There is a malfunction in the horn or hazard
indicators.
– If the Easy Fill Tire Alert does not operate
due to TPMS interference, move the vehicle
about 3 ft (1 m) backward or forward and try
again.
If the Easy Fill Tire Alert is not working, use a tire
pressure gauge.AVOIDING COLLISION AND
ROLLOVER
WARNING
Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe
and prudent manner may result in loss of
control or an accident.
Be alert and drive defensively at all times. Obey
all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive speed,
high speed cornering, or sudden steering ma-
neuvers, because these driving practices could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle.As with
any vehicle, a loss of control could result in
a collision with other vehicles or objects, or
cause the vehicle to rollover, particularly if
the loss of control causes the vehicle to
slide sideways.Be attentive at all times, and
avoid driving when tired. Never drive when under
the influence of alcohol or drugs (including pre-
scription or over-the-counter drugs which may
cause drowsiness) . Always wear your seat belt
as outlined in the “Seat belts” in the “Safety —
Seats seat belts and supplemental restraint sys-
tem” section of this manual, and also instruct your
passengers to do so.Seat belts help reduce the risk of injury in colli-
sions and rollovers.In a rollover crash, an
unbelted or improperly belted person is
significantly more likely to be injured or
killed than a person properly wearing a
seat belt.
OFF-ROAD RECOVERY
While driving, the right side or left side wheels
may unintentionally leave the road surface. If this
occurs, maintain control of the vehicle by follow-
ing the procedure below. Please note that this
procedure is only a general guide. The vehicle
must be driven as appropriate based on the con-
ditions of the vehicle, road and traffic.
1. Remain calm and do not overreact.
2. Do not apply the brakes.
3. Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel with
both hands and try to hold a straight course.
4. When appropriate, slowly release the accel-
erator pedal to gradually slow the vehicle.
5. If there is nothing in the way, steer the vehicle
to follow the road while the vehicle speed is
reduced. Do not attempt to drive the vehicle
back onto the road surface until vehicle speed
is reduced.
Starting and driving5-5

1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Push the P position switch on the shift lever.
3. To help prevent the vehicle from rolling into
the street when parked on a slope, it is a good
practice to turn the wheels as illustrated.
• HEADED DOWNHILL WITH CURB:
1
• Turn the wheels into the curb and move the
vehicle forward until the curb side wheel
gently touches the curb.
• HEADED UPHILL WITH CURB:
2
• Turn the wheels away from the curb and
move the vehicle back until the curb side
wheel gently touches the curb.• HEADED UPHILL OR DOWNHILL, NO
CURB:
3
• Turn the wheels toward the side of the road
so the vehicle will move away from the center
of the road if it moves.
4. Place the power switch in the OFF position.
WARNING
• If the READY to drive indicator light is
OFF while driving, the power assist for
the steering will not work. Steering will
be harder to operate.
• When the power steering warning light
illuminates while the READY to drive
indicator light ON, the power assist for
the steering will cease operation. You
will still have control of the vehicle but
the steering will be harder to operate.
The power steering system is designed to pro-
vide power assistance while driving to operate
the steering wheel with less effort.
When the steering wheel is operated repeatedly
or continuously while parking or driving at a very
low speed, the power assist for the steering
wheel will be reduced. This is to prevent over-
heating of the power steering system and help
protect it from getting damaged. While the power
assistance is reduced, steering wheel operation
will become harder. When the temperature of the
power steering system goes down, the power
assistance level will return to normal. Avoid re-
peating such steering wheel operations that
could cause the power steering system to over-
heat.
POWER STEERING SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-19

You may hear a noise when the steering wheel is
operated quickly. However, this is not a malfunc-
tion.
If the power steering warning light
illumi-
nates while the READY to drive indicator light is
ON, it may indicate the power steering system is
not functioning properly and may need servicing.
Have the power steering system checked by a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. (See “Power
steering warning light” in the “Instruments and
controls” section.)
The power assist for steering stops operating
when both the power steering warning light and
READY to drive indicator light are illuminated.
You will still have control of the vehicle. However,
greater steering effort is needed, especially in
sharp turns and at low speeds.
BRAKE PRECAUTIONS
This vehicle is equipped with two braking sys-
tems:
1. Hydraulic brake system
2. Regenerative brake system
Hydraulic brake system
The hydraulic brake system is similar to the
brakes used on conventional vehicles.
The brake system has two separate hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit malfunctions, you will still
have braking at two wheels.
Regenerative brake system
The primary purpose of regenerative brake sys-
tem is to provide some power to help recharge
the Li-ion battery and extend driving range. A
secondary benefit is “engine braking” that oper-
ates based on battery conditions.
In the D (Drive) range, when the accelerator is
released, the regenerative brake system provides
some deceleration and generates power for the
Li-ion battery. Power is also generated when the
brake pedal is applied.
When you put the shift lever in the ECO position
and take your foot off the accelerator pedal, moreregenerative brake is applied than in the D (Drive)
position. However, during high-speed driving you
may feel that regenerative brake provides less
deceleration than the engine braking in an ordi-
nary vehicle. This is normal.
Less deceleration is provided by the regenerative
brake system when the Li-ion battery is fully
charged. Regenerative brake is automatically re-
duced when the Li-ion battery is fully charged to
prevent the Li-ion battery from becoming over-
charged. Regenerative brake is also automati-
cally reduced when the battery temperature is
high/low (indicated by the red/blue zones on the
battery temperature gauge) to prevent Li-ion bat-
tery damage.
The brake pedal should be used to slow or stop
the vehicle depending on traffic or road condi-
tions. The vehicle brakes are not affected by
regenerative brake system operation.
NOTE:
•When applying the regenerative brakes,
you may hear a sound coming from the
regenerative brake system. This is a nor-
mal operating characteristic of an EV
(Electric vehicle) .
BRAKE SYSTEM
5-20Starting and driving

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 the
specified size of tires on all four
wheels.
– For detailed information, see
“Wheels and tires” in the “Mainte-
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.
5-22Starting and driving