tires NISSAN LEAF 2014 1.G Owner's Manual

NOTE:
If your vehicle cannot be moved because
the vehicle can not to be shifted to the N
(Neutral) position, please refer to the LEAF
Roadside Assistance Guide which is lo-
cated at www.NISSANUSA.com. If your ve-
hicle cannot be moved because the parking
brake cannot be released, see “Parking
brake mechanical release”.
VEHICLE RECOVERY (FREEING
STUCK VEHICLE)
WARNING
• Stand clear of a stuck vehicle.
• Do not spin your tires at high speed.
This could cause them to explode,
which could result in serious injury.
Parts of the vehicle could also over-
heat and be damaged.
Front
6-14In case of emergency

Pulling a stuck vehicle
Do not use the tie down hook for towing or
vehicle recovery.
Rear:
Do not use the tie down hook to pull the vehicle.
CAUTION
• Tow chains or cables must be attached
only to the vehicle recovery hook or
main structural members of the ve-
hicle. Otherwise, the vehicle body will
be damaged.• Do not use the vehicle tie down hook
to free a vehicle stuck in sand, snow,
mud, etc.
• Never tow a vehicle using the vehicle
tie down hook or recovery hook.
• Always pull the cable straight out from
the front of the vehicle. Never pull on
the vehicle at an angle.
• Pulling devices should be routed so
they do not touch any part of the sus-
pension, steering, brake or cooling
systems.
• Pulling devices such as ropes or can-
vas straps are not recommended for
use in vehicle towing or recovery.
Rocking a stuck vehicle
If the vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud, etc., try
to free it by following the procedure below.
1. Turn off the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
system.
2. Make sure the area in front and behind the
vehicle is clear of obstructions.
3. Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear
an area around the front tires.4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and
backward.
• Shift back and forth between the R (Reverse)
and D (Drive) positions.
• Apply the accelerator as little as possible to
maintain the rocking motion.
• Release the accelerator pedal before shifting
between R (Reverse) and D (Drive) .
• Do not spin the tires above 35 MPH
(55 km/h) .
5. If the vehicle cannot be freed after a few tries,
contact a professional towing service to re-
move the vehicle.
Rear
In case of emergency6-15

CHROME PARTS
Clean chrome parts regularly with a non- abrasive
chrome polish to maintain the finish.
TIRE DRESSING
NISSAN does not recommend the use of tire
dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a coating to
the tires to help reduce discoloration of the rub-
ber. If a tire dressing is applied to the tires, it may
react with the coating and form a compound. This
compound may come off the tire while driving and
stain the vehicle paint.
If you choose to use a tire dressing, take the
following precautions:
• Use a water-based tire dressing. The coating on
the tire dissolves more easily with an oil-based
tire dressing.
• Apply a light coat of tire dressing to help prevent
it from entering the tire tread/grooves (where it
would be difficult to remove) .
• Wipe off excess tire dressing using a dry towel.
Make sure the tire dressing is completely re-
moved from the tire tread/grooves.
• Allow the tire dressing to dry as recommended
by the tire dressing manufacturer.Occasionally remove loose dust from the interior
trim, plastic parts and seats using a vacuum
cleaner or soft bristled brush. Wipe the vinyl and
leather surfaces with a clean, soft cloth damp-
ened in mild soap solution, then wipe clean with a
dry soft cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in order to
maintain the appearance of the leather.
Before using any fabric protector, read the manu-
facturer’s recommendations. Some fabric pro-
tectors contain chemicals that may stain or
bleach the seat material.
Use a cloth dampened only with water to clean
the meter and gauge lens.
WARNING
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot
steam cleaners) on the seat. This can
damage the seat or occupant classifica-
tion sensor. This can also affect the op-
eration of the air bag system and result in
serious personal injury.
CAUTION
• Never use benzine, thinner, or any
similar material.• Small dirt particles can be abrasive
and damaging to the leather surfaces
and should be removed promptly. Do
not use saddle soap, car waxes, pol-
ishes, oils, cleaning fluids, solvents,
detergents or ammonia-based clean-
ers as they may damage the leather’s
natural finish.
• Never use fabric protectors unless rec-
ommended by the manufacturer.
• Do not use glass or plastic cleaner on
meter or gauge lens covers. It may
damage the lens cover.
AIR FRESHENERS
Most air fresheners use a solvent that could affect
the vehicle interior. If you use an air freshener,
take the following precautions:
• Hanging-type air fresheners can cause perma-
nent discoloration when they contact vehicle
interior surfaces. Place the air freshener in a
location that allows it to hang free and not
contact an interior surface.
• Liquid-type air fresheners typically clip on the
vents. These products can cause immediate
damage and discoloration when spilled on inte-
rior surfaces.
CLEANING INTERIOR
7-4Appearance and care

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

When driving in areas using road salt or other
corrosive materials, check lubrication frequently.
Lights*:Clean the headlights on a regular basis.
Make sure that the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights and other lights are all
operating properly and installed securely. Also
check the aim of the headlights.
Road wheel nuts (lug nuts)*:When checking
the tires, make sure that no wheel nuts are miss-
ing, and check for any loose wheel nuts. Tighten
if necessary.
Tire rotation*:Tires should be rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km) .
Tires*:Check the pressure with a gauge often
and always prior to long distance trips. If neces-
sary, adjust the pressure in all tires to the pres-
sure specified. Check carefully for damage, cuts
or excessive wear.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
transmitter components:Replace the TPMS
transmitter grommet seal, valve core and cap
when the tires are replaced due to wear or age.
Wheel alignment and balance:If the vehicle
pulls to either side while driving on a straight and
level road, or if you detect uneven or abnormal tire
wear, there may be a need for wheel alignment.If the steering wheel or seat vibrates at normal
highway speeds, wheel balancing may be
needed.
For additional information regarding tires, refer to
“Important Tire Safety Information” (US) or “Tire
Safety Information” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
Windshield:Clean the windshield on a regular
basis. Check the windshield at least every six
months for cracks or other damage. Have a dam-
aged windshield repaired by a qualified repair
facility.
Windshield wiper blades*:Check for cracks
or wear if they do not wipe properly.
Inside vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked on a regular basis, such as when per-
forming scheduled maintenance, cleaning the ve-
hicle, etc.
Accelerator pedal:Check the pedal for smooth
operation and make sure that the pedal does not
catch or require uneven effort. Keep the floor mat
away from the pedal.
Brake pedal:Check the pedal for smooth op-
eration and make sure that it has the properdistance under it when depressed fully. Check
the brake booster function. If the brake pedal
suddenly goes down further than normal, the
pedal feels spongy or the vehicle seems to take
longer to stop, contact a NISSAN certified LEAF
dealer immediately. Keep the floor mat away from
the pedal.
Brakes:Check that the brakes do not pull the
vehicle to one side when applied.
Electric shift P (Park) position mechanis-
m:On a steep hill, check that the vehicle is held
securely while the vehicle is in the P (Park) posi-
tion without applying the brakes.
Parking brake:Check the parking brake opera-
tion regularly. The vehicle should be securely held
on a steep hill with only the parking brake applied.
If the parking brake cannot keep a vehicle posi-
tion contact a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
Seat:Check seat position controls such as the
seat adjusters, seatback recliners, etc. to ensure
that they operate smoothly and that all latches
lock securely in every position. Check that the
head restraints/headrests move up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped) hold
securely in all latched positions.
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-3

If you have a flat tire, see “Flat tire” in the
“In case of emergency” section.
TIRE PRESSURE
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
This vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) . It monitors tire pres-
sure of all tires. When the low tire pressure warn-
ing light is lit, and the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
warning appears on the vehicle information dis-
play, one or more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated.
The TPMS will activate only when the vehicle is
driven at speeds above 16 MPH (25 km/h) . Also,
this system may not detect a sudden drop in tire
pressure (for example a flat tire while driving) .
For more details, see “Low tire pressure warning
light” in the “Instruments and controls” section,
“Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)” in the
“Starting and driving” section and “Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS)” in the “In case of
emergency” section.
Tire inflation pressure
Check the pressure of the tires often and always
prior to long distance trips. The recommendedtire pressure specifications are shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label under the “Cold
Tire Pressure” heading. The Tire and Loading
Information label is affixed to the driver side cen-
ter pillar. Tire pressures should be checked regu-
larly because:
• Most tires naturally lose air over time.
• Tires can lose air suddenly when driven over
potholes or other objects or if the vehicle strikes
a curb while parking.
The tire pressures should be checked when the
tires are cold. The tires are considered COLD
after the vehicle has been parked for 3 or more
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at
moderate speeds.
The TPMS with Easy Fill Tire Alert also provides
visual and audible signals outside the vehicle for
inflating the tires to the recommended COLD tire
pressure. (See “TPMS with Easy Fill Tire Alert” in
the “Starting and driving” section.)
Incorrect tire pressure, including under in-
flation, may adversely affect tire life and
vehicle handling.
WARNING
• Improperly inflated tires can fail sud-
denly and cause an accident.
• The Gross Vehicle Weight rating
(GVWR) is located on the F.M.V.S.S.
certification label. The vehicle weight
capacity is indicated on the Tire and
Loading Information label. Do not load
your vehicle beyond this capacity.
Overloading your vehicle may result in
reduced tire life, unsafe operating con-
ditions due to premature tire failure, or
unfavorable handling characteristics
and could also lead to a serious acci-
dent. Loading beyond the specified ca-
pacity may also result in failure of
other vehicle components.
• Before taking a long trip, or whenever
you heavily load your vehicle, use a tire
pressure gauge to ensure that the tire
pressures are at the specified level.
• For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
WHEELS AND TIRES
8-26Maintenance and do-it yourself

Tire and Loading Information label
1Seating capacity: The maximum number of
occupants that can be seated in the ve-
hicle.
2Vehicle load limit: See “Vehicle loading in-
formation” in the “Technical and consumer
information” section.
3Original size: The size of the tires originally
installed on the vehicle at the factory.
4Cold tire pressure: Inflate the tires to this
pressure when the tires are cold. Tires are
considered COLD after the vehicle has
been parked for 3 or more hours, or driven
less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at moderate
speeds. The recommended cold tire infla-
tion is set by the manufacturer to provide
the best balance of tire wear, vehicle han-
dling, driveability, tire noise, etc., up to the
vehicle’s GVWR.
5Tire size — see “Tire labeling”.
6Spare tire size or compact spare tire size (if
so equipped)
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-27

Checking tire pressure
1. Remove the valve stem cap from the tire.
2. Press the pressure gauge securely onto the
valve stem. Do not press too hard or force the
valve stem sideways, otherwise air will es-
cape. If the hissing sound of air escaping from
the tire is heard while checking the pressure,
reposition the gauge to eliminate this leakage.
3. Remove the gauge.
4. Read the tire pressure on the gauge stem and
compare it to the specification shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label.5. Add air to the tire as necessary. If too much air
is added, press the core of the valve stem
briefly with the tip of the gauge stem to re-
lease pressure. Recheck the pressure and
add or release air as necessary.
6. Install the valve stem cap.
7. Check the pressure of all of the tires.
SIZECOLD TIRE
INFLATION
PRESSURE
FRONT
ORIGINAL
TIREP205/55R16
89H250 kPa,
36 PSI
FRONT
ORIGINAL
TIREP215/50R17
90V250 kPa,
36 PSI
REAR
ORIGINAL
TIREP205/55R16
89H250 kPa,
36 PSI
REAR
ORIGINAL
TIREP215/50R17
90V250 kPa,
36 PSI
TIRE LABELING
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place
standardized information on the sidewall of all
tires. This information identifies and describes
the fundamental characteristics of the tire and
also provides the tire identification number (TIN)
for safety standard certification. The TIN can be
used to identify the tire in case of a recall.
Example
8-28Maintenance and do-it yourself

1Tire size (example: P215/60R16 94H)
1. P: The “P” indicates the tire is designed for
passenger vehicles. (Not all tires have this
information.)
2. Three-digit number (215): This number gives
the width in millimeters of the tire from side-
wall edge to sidewall edge.
3. Two-digit number (60): This number, known
as the aspect ratio, gives the tire’s ratio of
height to width.
4. R: The “R” stands for radial.5. Two-digit number (16): This number is the
wheel or rim diameter in inches.
6. Two- or three-digit number (94): This number
is the tire’s load index. It is a measurement of
how much weight each tire can support. You
may not find this information on all tires be-
cause it is not required by law.
7. H: Tire speed rating. You should not drive the
vehicle faster than the tire speed rating.2TIN (Tire Identification Number) for a new
tire (example: DOT XX XX XXX XXXX)
1. DOT: Abbreviation for the “Department of
Transportation”. The symbol can be placed
above, below or to the left or right of the Tire
Identification Number.
2. Two-digit code: Manufacturer’s identification
mark
3. Two-digit code: Tire size
4. Three-digit code: Tire type code (Optional)
5. Three-digit code: Date of Manufacture
ExampleExample
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-29

6. Four numbers represent the week and year
the tire was built. For example, the numbers
3103 means the 31st week of 2003. If these
numbers are missing, then look on the other
sidewall of the tire.
3Tire ply composition and material
The number of layers or plies of rubber-coated
fabric in the tire.
Tire manufacturers also must indicate the ma-
terials in the tire, which include steel, nylon,
polyester, and others.
4Maximum permissible inflation pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should be put in the tire. Do not
exceed the maximum permissible inflation
pressure.
5Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum load in
kilograms and pounds that can be carried by
the tire. When replacing the tires on the ve-
hicle, always use a tire that has the same load
rating as the factory installed tire.
6Term of “tubeless” or “tube type”
Indicates whether the tire requires an inner
tube (“tube type”) or not (“tubeless”) .
7The word “radial”
The word “radial” is shown, if the tire has radial
structure.
8Manufacturer or brand name
Manufacturer or brand name is shown.
Other tire-related terminology:
In addition to the many terms that are defined
throughout this section, Intended Outboard
Sidewall is (1) the sidewall that contains a white-
wall, bears white lettering or bears manufacturer,
brand and/or model name molding that is higher
or deeper than the same molding on the other
sidewall of the tire, or (2) the outward facing
sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that has a par-
ticular side that must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
TYPES OF TIRES
WARNING
• When changing or replacing tires, be
sure all four tires are of the same type
(Example: Summer, All Season or
Snow) and construction. A NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer may be able to
help you with information about tire
type, size, speed rating and availabil-
ity.
• Replacement tires may have a lower
speed rating than the factory equipped
tires, and may not match the potential
maximum vehicle speed. Never exceed
the maximum speed rating of the tire.
• Replacing tires with those not origi-
nally specified by NISSAN could affect
the proper operation of the TPMS.
• For additional information regarding
tires, refer to “Important Tire Safety
Information” (US) or “Tire Safety Infor-
mation” (Canada) in the Warranty In-
formation Booklet.
All season tires
NISSAN specifies all season tires on some mod-
els to provide good performance all year, includ-
ing snowy and icy road conditions. All Season
8-30Maintenance and do-it yourself