NISSAN LEAF 2015 1.G Owners Manual

Your new NISSAN has been designed to have
minimum maintenance requirements with long
service intervals to save you both time and
money. However, some day-to-day and regular
maintenance is essential to maintain your NIS-
SAN’s fine mechanical condition, as well as its
EV (Electric Vehicle) system performance.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure that
the scheduled maintenance, as well as general
maintenance, is performed.
As the vehicle owner, you are the only one who
can ensure that your vehicle receives the proper
maintenance care. You are a vital link in the main-
tenance chain.
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
For your convenience, both required and optional
scheduled maintenance items are described and
listed in your “NISSAN Service and Maintenance
Guide”. You must refer to that guide to ensure
that necessary maintenance is performed on your
NISSAN at regular intervals.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
General maintenance includes those items which
should be checked during normal day-to-day op-
eration. They are essential for proper vehicle op-eration. It is your responsibility to perform these
procedures regularly as prescribed.
Performing general maintenance checks requires
minimal mechanical skill and only a few general
automotive tools.
These checks or inspections can be done by
yourself, a qualified technician or, if you prefer, a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
WHERE TO GO FOR SERVICE
If maintenance service is required or your vehicle
appears to malfunction, have the systems
checked and serviced by a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer.
NISSAN technicians are well-trained specialists
and are kept up-to-date with the latest service
information through technical bulletins, service
tips, and in-dealership information systems. They
are completely qualified to work on NISSAN ve-
hicles
before work begins.
You can be confident that a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer’s service department performs the
best job to meet the maintenance requirements
on your vehicle — in a reliable and economical
way. During the normal day-to-day operation of the
vehicle, general maintenance should be per-
formed regularly as prescribed in this section. If
you detect any unusual sounds, vibrations or
smell, be sure to check for the cause or have a
NISSAN certified LEAF dealer do it promptly. In
addition, you should notify a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer if you think that repairs are required.
When performing any checks or maintenance
work, see “Maintenance precautions” in this sec-
tion.
EXPLANATION OF MAINTENANCE
ITEMS
Additional information on the following
items with “*” is found in this section.
Outside vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
performed from time to time, unless otherwise
specified.
Doors and motor hood:
Check that all doors
and the motor hood operate properly. Also en-
sure that all latches lock securely. Lubricate
hinges, latches, latch pins, rollers and links if
necessary. Make sure that the secondary latch
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT GENERAL MAINTENANCE
8-2Maintenance and do-it yourself

keeps the motor hood from opening when the
primary latch is released.
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 (if so equipped):
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.
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 is the proper dis-
tance 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 mechanism:
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
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-3

head restraints/headrests move up and down
smoothly and that the locks (if so equipped) hold
securely in all latched positions.
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 oper-
ated in high temperatures or under severe condi-
tions require frequent checks of the 12–volt bat-
tery 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 while. Water dripping from the air
conditioner after use is normal. If you should
notice any leaks, check for 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 removedfrom the vehicle.
MAINTENANCE PRECAUTIONS
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-5

– The Climate Ctrl. Timer and remoteclimate control are not active or op-
erating. See “Climate Ctrl. Timer”
and “Remote climate control” in the
“Ventilators and climate control sys-
tems” section.
– The 12-volt battery is not being charged by the Li-ion battery and
that all charging status indicator
lights are off, see “Charging the 12-
volt battery” in the “EV overview”
section and “Charge status indica-
tor lights” in the “Charging” section.
• The power switch is in the OFF posi- tion. Place the power switch in the ON
position and then in the OFF position
to prevent the 12-volt battery auto-
matically being charged by the Li-ion
battery. See “Charging the 12-volt bat-
tery” in the “EV overview” section.
The “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
gives instructions regarding only those items that
are relatively easy for an owner to perform.
A genuine NISSAN Service Manual is also avail-
able. See “Owner’s manual/service manual order
information” in the “Technical and consumer in-
formation” section. You should be aware that incomplete or improper
servicing may result in operating difficulties and
could affect your warranty coverage.
If in doubt
about any servicing, we recommend that it
be done by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
8-6Maintenance and do-it yourself

1. Brake fluid reservoir
2. 12-volt battery
3. Fuse/fusible link holder
4. Fuse/fusible link holder5. Coolant tank cap
6. Window washer fluid reservoir
7. Fuse/fusible link holderThe cooling system is filled at the factory with a
pre-diluted mixture of 50% genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) and 50% wa-
ter to provide year-round anti-freeze and coolant
protection. The antifreeze solution contains rust
and corrosion inhibitors. Additional cooling sys-
tem additives are not necessary.
WARNING
• Never remove the coolant tank cap when the motor compartment is hot.
Wait until the motor compartment cool
down.
• The coolant tank is equipped with a special type coolant tank cap. To pre-
vent damage to the motor compart-
ment, use only a Genuine NISSAN
coolant tank cap.
CAUTION
• Never use any additives in the coolant such as radiator sealer in the cooling
system. This may cause damage to
electrical equipment such as the motor
and inverter.
MOTOR COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS COOLING SYSTEM
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-7

• When adding or replacing coolant, besure to use only a Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent. Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is pre-
diluted to provide antifreeze protec-
tion to −34°F (−37°C) . If additional
freeze protection is needed due to the
weather conditions where you operate
your vehicle, add Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue)
concentrate following the directions
on the container. If and equivalent
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) is
used, follow the coolant manufacture’s
instructions to maintain minimum an-
tifreeze protection to −34°F (−37°C) .
The use of other types of coolant solu-
tions other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) or
equivalent may damage the cooling
system. • The life expectancy of the factory-fill
coolant is 125,000 miles (200,000 km)
or 15 years. Mixing any other type of
coolant other than Genuine NISSAN
Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) ,
including Genuine NISSAN Long Life
Antifreeze/Coolant (green) , or the use
of non-distilled water will reduce the
life expectancy of the factory-filled
coolant. Refer to the NISSAN Service
and Maintenance Guide for more
details.
CHECKING COOLANT LEVEL
Check the coolant level in the reservoir when
the high voltage parts are cold. If the coolant
level is below the MIN level
B, open the reservoir
cap and add coolant up to the MAX level
A.If
the reservoir is empty, check the coolant level in
the coolant tank when the high voltage parts
are cold. If there is insufficient coolant in the
coolant tank, fill the coolant tank with coolant up
to the reservoir cap opening and also add it to the
reservoir up to the MAX level
A.
Tighten the cap securely after adding coolant.
8-8Maintenance and do-it yourself

For additional information on the location of the
engine coolant reservoir, refer to “Motor com-
partment check locations” in this section.
If the cooling system frequently requires
coolant, have it checked by a NISSAN cer-
tified LEAF dealer.
CHANGING COOLANT
Major cooling system repairs should be per-
formed by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. The
service procedures can be found in the appropri-
ate NISSAN Service Manual.
Improper servicing can result in reduced
heater performance.
WARNING
• To avoid the danger of being scalded, never change the coolant when the
motor compartment is hot.
• Never remove the coolant tank cap when the motor compartment is hot.
Serious burns could be caused by
high-pressure fluid escaping from the
radiator. • Avoid direct skin contact with used
coolant. If skin contact is made, wash
thoroughly with soap or hand cleaner
as soon as possible.
• Keep coolant out of reach of children and pets.
Coolant must be disposed of properly. Check
your local regulations. When checking or replacement is required, we
recommend a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for
servicing.
CAUTION
• Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do not mix with other fluids.
• Using reduction gear fluid other than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF will
cause deterioration in driveability and
reduction gear durability, and may
damage the reduction gear, which is
not covered by the NISSAN new ve-
hicle limited warranty.
REDUCTION GEAR FLUID
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-9

For additional brake fluid information, see “Rec-
ommended fluids/lubricants and capacities” in
the “Technical and consumer information” sec-
tion of this manual.
WARNING
• Use only new fluid from a sealed con- tainer. Old, inferior or contaminated
fluid may damage the brake system.
The use of improper fluids can damage
the brake system, and affect the vehi-
cle’s stopping ability.
• Clean the filler cap before removing.
• Brake fluid is poisonous and should be stored carefully in marked containers
out of the reach of children.
CAUTION
Do not spill the fluid on any painted sur-
faces. This will damage the paint. If fluid
is spilled, immediately wash the surface
with water. Check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the fluid is
below the MIN line
1or the brake warning light
illuminates, add Genuine NISSAN Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT 3fluid up to the MAX line
2.If
fluid must be added frequently, the system should
be checked by a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer. Except for Canada
To check the fluid level, use your finger to plug the
center hole1of the cap/tube assembly, then
remove it from the reservoir. If there is no fluid in
the tube, add fluid.
For Canada
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir periodically.
Add window washer fluid when the low washer
fluid warning appears on the vehicle information
display. (See “Low washer fluid warning (if so
equipped)” in the “Instruments and controls” sec-
tion.)
BRAKE FLUID WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID
8-10Maintenance and do-it yourself

To fill the window washer fluid reservoir, lift the
cap and pour the window washer fluid into the
reservoir opening.
Add a washer solvent to the washer for better
cleaning. In the winter season, add a windshield
washer antifreeze. Follow the manufacturer’s in-
structions for the mixture ratio.
Fill the window washer fluid reservoir periodically.
Refill the reservoir more frequently when driving
conditions require an increased amount of win-
dow washer fluid.
Recommended fluid:
Genuine NISSAN Windshield Washer Concen-
trate Cleaner & Antifreeze or equivalent
CAUTION
• Do not substitute anti-freeze coolant for window washer solution. This may
result in damage to the paint.
• Do not fill the window washer reservoir tank with washer fluid concentrates at
full strength. Some methyl alcohol
based washer fluid concentrates may
permanently stain the grille if spilled
while filling the window washer reser-
voir tank. • Pre-mix washer fluid concentrates
with water to the manufacturer’s rec-
ommended levels before pouring the
fluid into the window washer reservoir
tank. Do not use the window washer
reservoir tank to mix the washer fluid
concentrate and water. • Keep the 12-volt battery surface clean and dry.
Clean the 12-volt battery with a solution of
baking soda and water.
• Make certain the terminal connections are clean and securely tightened.
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.
WARNING
• Do not expose the 12-volt battery to flames or electrical sparks. Hydrogen
gas generated by the 12-volt battery is
explosive. Do not allow 12-volt battery
fluid to contact your skin, eyes, fabrics
or painted surfaces. After touching a
12-volt battery or 12-volt battery cap,
12-VOLT BATTERY
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-11