light NISSAN LEAF 2017 1.G Owners Manual

In order to maintain the appearance of your ve-
hicle, it is important to take proper care of it.
To protect the paint surfaces, wash your vehicle
as soon as you can:
• After a rainfall to prevent possible damage fromacid rain.
• After driving on coastal roads.
• When contaminants such as soot, bird drop- pings, tree sap, metal particles or bugs get on
the paint surface.
• When dust or mud builds up on the surface.
Whenever possible, store or park your vehicle
inside a garage or in a covered area.
When it is necessary to park outside, park in a
shady area or protect the vehicle with a body
cover.
Be careful not to scratch the paint surface
when putting on or removing the body
cover.
WASHING
Wash dirt off the vehicle with a wet sponge and
plenty of water. Clean the vehicle thoroughly
using a mild soap, a special vehicle soap or
general purpose dishwashing liquid mixed with
clean, lukewarm (never hot) water.
CAUTION
• Do not use car washes that use acid in the detergent. Some car washes, espe-
cially brushless ones, use some acid
for cleaning. The acid may react with
some plastic vehicle components,
causing them to crack. This could af-
fect their appearance, and also could
cause them not to function properly.
Always check with your car wash to
confirm that acid is not used.
• Do not wash the vehicle with strong household soap, strong chemical de-
tergents, gasoline or solvents.
• Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun- light or while the vehicle body is hot, as
the surface may become water-
spotted.
• Avoid using tight-napped or rough cloths, such as washing mitts. Care
must be taken when removing
caked-on dirt or other foreign sub-
stances so the paint surface is not
scratched or damaged.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of clean
water.
Inside flanges, seams and folds on the doors,
hatches and hood are particularly vulnerable to the effects of road salt. Therefore, these areas
must be regularly cleaned. Make sure that the
drain holes in the lower edge of the door are
open. Spray water under the body and in the
wheel wells to loosen the dirt and wash away
road salt.
Avoid leaving water spots on the paint surface by
using a damp chamois to dry the vehicle.
WAXING
Regular waxing protects the paint surface and
helps retain new vehicle appearance. Polishing is
recommended to remove built-up wax residue
and to avoid a weathered appearance before
reapplying wax.
A NISSAN certified LEAF dealer can assist you in
choosing the proper product.
• Wax your vehicle only after a thorough washing.
Follow the instructions supplied with the wax.
• Do not use a wax containing any abrasives, cutting compounds or cleaners that may dam-
age the vehicle finish.
Machine compound or aggressive polishing on a
base coat/clear coat paint finish may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care

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 onthe 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 (weight sensor) . This can also
affect the operation 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.
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
Windshield-washer fluid ................. .8-11
12-volt battery ....................... .8-12
Jump starting ...................... .8-13
Windshield wiper blades ................. .8-13
Cleaning ........................ .8-13
Replacing ........................ .8-14Rear window wiper blade
...............8-16
Brakes ........................... .8-16
Brake pad wear warning ................8-16
Fuses ............................ .8-17
Motor compartment .................. .8-17
Passenger compartment ................8-19
Nissan Intelligent Key® battery replacement ......8-20
Lights ............................ .8-22
Headlights ....................... .8-22
Exterior and interior lights ...............8-24
Wheels and tires ..................... .8-26
Tire pressure ...................... .8-26
Tire labeling ...................... .8-30
Types of tires ...................... .8-32
Tire chains .......................
.8-33
Changing

wheels and tires .............. .8-33
Emergency tire puncture repair kit ..........8-36

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
5,000 miles (8,000 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.
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. If the brake pedal suddenly goes down
further than normal, the pedal feels spongy or the
vehicle seems to take longer to stop, it is recom-
mended that you visit 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, it is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer for this service.
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
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-3

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 elec-
tronic accessories 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, refer to
“Cleaning exterior” in the “Appearance and care”
section of this manual.
Windshield-washer fluid*: Check that there is
an adequate amount of fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it yourself

– The Climate Ctrl. Timer is not activeor operating. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Climate Ctrl.
Timer” in the “Display screen,
heater, air conditioner, audio and
phone system” section of this
manual.
– The 12-volt battery is not being charged by the Li-ion battery and
that all charging status indicator
lights are off. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Charging the 12-
volt battery” in the “EV overview”
section and “Charging status indica-
tor lights” in the “Charging” section
of this manual.
• 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. For additional information, re-
fer to “Charging the 12-volt battery” in
the “EV overview” section of this
manual.
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. For additional information, refer to “Owner’s
manual/service manual order information” in the
“Technical and consumer information” section of
this manual.
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, it is recommended that
you visit a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
8-6Maintenance and do-it yourself

When checking or replacement is required, it is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.
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. For additional brake fluid information, refer to
“Recommended 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
Bor the brake warning light
illuminates, add Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy
Duty Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3fluid up to
the MAX line
A. If fluid must be added fre-
quently, the system should be checked. It is rec-
ommended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.
REDUCTION GEAR FLUID BRAKE FLUID
8-10Maintenance and do-it yourself

REAR WINDOW WIPER BLADE
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN certi-
fied LEAF dealer if checking or replacement is
required.If the brakes do not operate properly, have the
brakes checked. It is recommended that you visit
a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer for this service.
WARNING
Do not adjust the height of the brake
pedal. Doing so could alter the effective-
ness of the brakes, which could result in a
serious accident and personal injury. If
adjustment is required, it is recom-
mended that you visit a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer for this service.
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
The disc brake pads have audible wear warnings.
When a brake pad requires replacement, it will
make a high pitched scraping sound when the
vehicle is in motion. This scraping sound will first
occur only when the brake pedal is depressed.
After more wear of the brake pad, the sound will
always be heard even if the brake pedal is not
depressed. Have the brakes checked as soon as
possible if the wear warning sound is heard.
Under some driving or climate conditions, occa-
sional brake squeak, squeal or other noise may
be heard. Occasional brake noise during light to
moderate stops is normal and does not affect the
function or performance of the brake system.
Proper brake inspection intervals should
be followed. For additional information, refer to
the maintenance log section of your NISSAN
Service and Maintenance Guide.
BRAKES
8-16Maintenance and do-it yourself

MOTOR COMPARTMENT
WARNING
• Never touch, disassemble, remove or replace the high-voltage parts and
cables, as well as their connectors.
High-voltage cables are colored or-
ange. Touching, disassembling, re-
moving or replacing those parts and
cables can cause severe burns or elec-
tric shock that may result in serious
injury or death. • Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than that specified on
the fuse box cover. This could damage
the electrical system or electronic con-
trol units or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Confirm that the power switch and the head- light switch are turned off.
2. Open the hood. 3. Remove the fuse/fusible link holder cover by
pushing the tab and lifting the cover from the
right side, and then the left side.
4. Locate the fuse that needs to be replaced.
5. Remove the fuse using the fuse puller located in the passenger compartment fuse box.
FUSES
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-17

PASSENGER COMPARTMENT
WARNING
Never use a fuse of a higher or lower
amperage rating than that specified on
the fuse box cover. This could damage
the electrical system or electronic control
units or cause a fire.
If any electrical equipment does not operate,
check for an open fuse.
1. Make sure that the power switch and the headlight switch are turned off. 2. Insert a screwdriver wrapped with the cloth
Cinto the slit1.
Use a cloth
Cto protect the fuse box cover.
3. Then pull to remove the fuse box cover
2.
4. Remove the fuse with the fuse puller
3. 5. If the fuse is open
A, replace it with a new
fuse
B.
6. If a new fuse also opens, have the electrical system checked, and if necessary repaired. It
is recommended that you visit a by a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer for this service.
Maintenance and do-it yourself8-19