power steering NISSAN LEAF 2016 1.G User Guide

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) . The indi-
cator light will remain on as long as the system is on.
Push the switch again to turn the heated steering
wheel system off manually. The indicator light
turns 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
Control Timer or Remote Climate Control
are used, the steering wheel heater will
automatically operate in the following
conditions. – When using the Climate Control 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.
To sound the horn, push the center pad area of
the steering wheel.
WARNING
Do not disassemble the horn. Doing so
could affect proper operation of the
supplemental front air bag system. Tam-
pering with the supplemental front air
bag system may result in serious per-
sonal injury.
HORN
2-46Instruments and controls

To activate the ECO mode, push the ECO switch
1on the right side of the steering wheel. The
“ECO indicator” on the instrument cluster will
illuminate.
To deactivate the ECO mode, push the ECO
switch
1again. The “ECO indicator” on the
instrument cluster will go out.
For additional information, refer to “Electric Shift
Control System” in the “Starting and Driving”
section of this manual The front seats and the rear outboard seats (if so
equipped) can be warmed by built-in heaters.
The switches, located on the center console and
at the side of the front passenger seatback, can
be operated independently of each other.
1. Place the power switch in the ON position.
2. Push the LO or HI position of the switch, as
desired, depending on the temperature. The
indicator light in the switch will illuminate.
3. To turn off the heater, return the switch to the level position. Make sure the indicator light
goes off.
Rear (if so equipped)
ECO SWITCH HEATED SEAT SWITCH
Instruments and controls2-47

3 Pre-driving checks and adjustments
Keys...............................3-2
NISSAN Intelligent Key® ................3-2
NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System keys .......3-3
Doors ............................. .3-4
Locking with mechanical key (driver’s side only) . . .3-4
Locking with inside lock knob ..............3-5
Locking with power door lock switch ..........3-5
Automatic door locks .................. .3-6
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 .............3-9
NISSAN Intelligent Key® operation ..........3-9
12-volt battery saver system ..............3-11
Warning signals .................... .3-11
Troubleshooting guide ................ .3-12How to use remote keyless entry function
......3-13
Hood ............................ .3-17
Rear hatch ......................... .3-18
Secondary rear hatch release .............3-19
Charge port lid ....................... .3-19
Opening charge port lid ................3-19
Charge port cap .................... .3-20
Steering wheel ....................... .3-21
Tilt operation ...................... .3-21
Sun visors ......................... .3-22
Vanity mirror ...................... .3-22
Card holder (Driver’s side only) ..............3-23
Mirrors ........................... .3-23
Inside rearview mirror ................. .3-23
Automatic anti-glare type (if so equipped) ......3-23
Outside mirrors .................... .3-24

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. Point all vents away from the micro-
phone area and close the windows to eliminate
surrounding 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 Voice Recognition session. You can
also press and hold the
button on the
steering wheel for 5 seconds at any time to end
the Voice Recognition session. Whenever the Voice Recognition 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.
Voice Prompt Interrupt
In most cases you can interrupt the voice feed-
back to speak the next command by pressing the
button on the steering wheel. After inter-
rupting the system, wait for a beep before speak-
ing your command.
One Shot Call
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”.
CONTROL BUTTONS
The control buttons for the Bluetooth® Hands-
Free Phone System are located on the steering
wheel.
4-62Display screen, heater, air conditioner, audio and phone systems

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 .................... .5-6
Rapid air pressure loss ................. .5-6
Drinking alcohol/drugs and driving ...........5-7
Push-button power switch ................. .5-7
NISSAN Intelligent Key® system ............5-7
Operating range for EV start function .........5-8
Power switch operation ................ .5-9
Power switch positions ................ .5-10
Emergency EV shut off ................ .5-10
NISSAN Intelligent Key® battery discharge .....5-10
Before starting the EV system ...............5-11
Starting the EV system .................. .5-11
Driving the vehicle ..................... .5-12
Electric shift control system ..............5-12
Parking brake ....................... .5-15
Cruise control ....................... .5-16Precautions on cruise control
.............5-16
Cruise control operation ................5-17
Increasing power economy ................5-18
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 .................. .5-24
Cold weather driving ................... .5-25
Freeing a frozen door lock ...............5-26
Antifreeze ........................ .5-26
12-volt battery ..................... .5-26
Draining of coolant water ................5-26
Tire

equipment ..................... .5-26
Special winter equipment ...............5-26
Driving on snow or ice ................ .5-26
Freeing a frozen charge port lid ............5-27

Operation:
1. Add air to the tire.
2. After a few seconds, the hazard indicators willstart flashing.
3. When the designated pressure is reached, the horn beeps once and the hazard indica-
tors stop flashing.
4. Perform the above steps for each tire.
• If the tire is over-inflated more than approxi- mately 4 psi (30 kPa) , the horn beeps and the
hazard indicators flash three times. To correct
the pressure, push the core of the valve stem on
the tire briefly to release pressure. When the
pressure 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.
Starting and driving5-5

1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Push the P (Park) position switch on the shiftlever.
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 roadso 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 in-
dicator light is 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. When the
power assistance is reduced, steering wheel op-
eration will become harder. When the tempera-
ture of the power steering system goes down, the
power assistance level will return to normal.
Avoid repeating such steering wheel operations
that could cause the power steering system to
overheat.
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. For additional
information, refer to “Power steering warning
light” in the “Instruments and controls” section of
this manual.
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 the regenerative brake
system is to provide some power to help re-
charge the Li-ion battery and extend driving
range. A secondary benefit is “engine braking”
that operates 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 B position and
take your foot off the accelerator pedal, more regenerative 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 thespecified size of tires on all four
wheels.
– For additional information, refer to “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 brak-
ing or when braking on slippery surfaces. The sys-
tem detects the rotation speed at each wheel and
varies the brake fluid pressure to prevent 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 slippery 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.
Normal operation
The ABS operates at speeds above 3 to 6 mph (5
to 10 km/h) . The speed varies according to road
conditions.
When the ABS senses that one or more wheels are
close to locking up, the actuator rapidly applies and
releases hydraulic pressure. This action is similar to
pumping the brakes very quickly. You may feel a
pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise from
under the hood or feel a vibration from the actuator
when it is operating. This is normal and indicates
that the ABS is operating properly. However, the
pulsation may indicate that road conditions are
hazardous and extra care is required while driving.
5-22Starting and driving

The VDC system uses various sensors to monitor
driver inputs and vehicle motion. Under certain
driving conditions, the VDC system helps to per-
form the following functions.
• Controls brake pressure to reduce wheel slip onone slipping drive wheel so power is transferred
to a drive wheel on the same axle that is not
slipping.
• Controls brake pressure and traction motor out- put to reduce drive wheel slip based on vehicle
speed (traction control function) .
• Controls brake pressure at individual wheels and traction motor output to help the driver
maintain control of the vehicle in the following
conditions. – understeer (vehicle tends to not follow the steered path despite increased steering in-
put) .
– oversteer (vehicle tends to spin due to cer- tain road or driving conditions) .
The VDC system can help the driver maintain
control of the vehicle, but it cannot prevent loss of
vehicle control in all driving situations.
When the VDC system operates, the
warning in the instrument panel flashes. When
the warning flashes, note the following items. • The road may be slippery or the system may
determine some action is required to help keep
the vehicle on the steered path.
• You may feel a pulsation in the brake pedal and hear a noise or vibration from under the hood.
This is normal and indicates that the VDC sys-
tem is working properly.
• Adjust your speed and driving according to the road conditions.
For additional information, refer to “Vehicle Dy-
namic Control (VDC) warning light” and “Vehicle
Dynamic Control (VDC) off indicator light” in the
“Instruments and controls” section of this manual.
If a malfunction occurs in the system, the
warning illuminates in the lower display. The VDC
system automatically turns off when this warning
light is lit.
The VDC OFF switch is used to turn off the VDC
system. The VDC off indicator
illuminates
to indicate that the VDC system is off. When the
VDC switch is used to turn off the system, the
VDC system still operates to prevent one drive
wheel from slipping by transferring power to a
non slipping wheel. The
flashes if this
occurs. All other VDC functions are off and the
warning will not flash. The VDC System is
automatically reset to ON when the power switch is placed in the OFF position then back to the ON
position.
The computer has a built-in diagnostic feature
that tests the system each time you start the EV
and move the vehicle forward or in reverse at a
slow speed. When the self-test occurs, you may
hear a “clunk” noise and/or feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal. This is normal and is not an indica-
tion of a malfunction.
WARNING
• The VDC system is designed to help the driver maintain stability but does
not prevent accidents due to abrupt
steering operation at high speeds or
by careless or dangerous driving tech-
niques. Reduce vehicle speed and be
especially careful when driving and
cornering on slippery surfaces and al-
ways drive carefully.
VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC)
SYSTEM
Starting and driving5-23