NISSAN LEAF 2019 Owner´s Manual

VEHICLE RECOVERY (FREEING A
STUCK VEHICLE)
WARNING
To avoid vehicle damage, serious per-
sonal injury or death when recovering
a stuck vehicle:
• Contact a professional towing ser- vice to recover the vehicle if you
have any questions regarding the
recovery procedure.
• Tow chains or cables must be at- tached only to main structural
members of the vehicle.
• Do not use the vehicle tie-downs to tow or free a stuck vehicle.
• Only use devices specifically de- signed for vehicle recovery and fol-
low the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Always pull the recovery device straight out from the front of the ve-
hicle. Never pull at an angle.
• Route recovery devices so they do not touch any part of the vehicle ex-
cept the attachment point. If your vehicle is stuck in sand, snow, mud,
etc., use a tow strap or other device de-
signed specifically for vehicle recovery. Al-
ways follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for the recovery device.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 lef t and right to clear an area around the front tires.
4. Slowly rock the vehicle forward and backward.
• Shif t back and forth between the R (Re- verse) and D (Drive) positions.
• Apply the accelerator as little as pos- sible to maintain the rocking motion.
• Release the accelerator pedal before shif ting between R (Reverse) and D
(Drive).
• Do not spin the tires above 35 mph (55 km/h). 5. If the vehicle cannot be freed af ter a few
tries, contact a professional towing ser-
vice to remove the vehicle.
6-16In case of emergency

7 Appearance and care
Cleaning exterior......................7-2
Washing ..........................7-2
Waxing ...........................7-2
Removing spots .....................7-3
Underbody ........................7-3
Glass ............................7-3
Wheels ...........................7-3
Chromeparts......................7-4
Tire dressing .......................7-4
Cleaning interior ......................7-4 Air fresheners
......................7-5
Floor mats (if so equipped) ..............7-5
Seatbelts.........................7-7
Corrosion protection ....................7-7
Most common factors contributing to vehicle
corrosion .........................7-7
Environmental factors influence the rate of
corrosion .........................7-7
Protect your vehicle from corrosion ........7-7

In order to maintain the appearance of
your vehicle, it is important to take proper
care of it.
To protect the paint surfaces, wash your
vehicle as soon as you can:
• Af ter a rainfall to prevent possible dam-age from acid rain.
• Af ter driving on coastal roads.
• When contaminants such as soot, bird droppings, 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 ve-
hicle 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 sur-
face 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 thor-
oughly using a mild soap, a special vehicle soap or general purpose dishwashing liq-
uid mixed with clean, lukewarm (never hot)
water.
CAUTION
• Do not use car washes that use acid in the detergent. Some car washes,
especially brushless ones, use some
acid for cleaning. The acid may react
with some plastic vehicle compo-
nents, causing them to crack. This
could affect their appearance, and
also could cause them not to func-
tion 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
detergents, gasoline or solvents.
• Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight 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. There-
fore, 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 sur-
face 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 weath-
ered appearance before reapplying wax.
A NISSAN certified LEAF dealer can assist
you in choosing the proper product.
• Wax your vehicle only af ter a thorough
washing. Follow the instructions supplied
with the wax.
CLEANING EXTERIOR
7-2Appearance and care

• Do not use a wax containing any abra-sives, cutting compounds or cleaners that
may damage the vehicle finish.
Machine compound or aggressive polish-
ing on a base coat/clear coat paint finish
may dull the finish or leave swirl marks.
REMOVING SPOTS
Remove tar and oil spots, industrial dust,
insects, and tree sap as quickly as possible
from the paint surface to avoid lasting
damage or staining. Special cleaning prod-
ucts are available at a NISSAN certified
LEAF dealer or any automotive accessory
stores.
UNDERBODY
In areas where road salt is used in winter,
the underbody must be cleaned regularly.
This will prevent dirt and salt from building
up and causing the acceleration of corro-
sion on the underbody and suspension.
Before the winter period and again in the
spring, the underseal must be checked
and, if necessary, re-treated.
GLASS
Use glass cleaner to remove smoke and
dust film from the glass surfaces. It is nor-
mal for glass to become coated with a film
af ter the vehicle is parked in the hot sun.
Glass cleaner and a sof t cloth will easily
remove this film.
CAUTION
When cleaning the inside of the win-
dows, do not use sharp-edged tools,
abrasive cleaners or chlorine-based
disinfectant cleaners. They could dam-
age the electrical conductors, radio
antenna elements or rear window de-
froster elements.
WHEELS
Wash the wheels when washing the vehicle
to maintain their appearance.
• Clean the inner side of the wheels when the wheel is changed or the underside of
the vehicle is washed.
• Inspect wheel rims regularly for dents or corrosion. Such damage may cause loss
of pressure or poor seal at the tire bead. • NISSAN recommends that the road
wheels be waxed to protect against road
salt in areas where it is used during winter.
CAUTION
Do not use abrasive cleaners when
washing the wheels.
Aluminum alloy wheels (if so
equipped)
Wash regularly with a sponge dampened in a
mild soap solution, especially during winter
months in areas where road salt is used. Salt
could discolor the wheels if not removed.
CAUTION
Follow the directions below to avoid
staining or discoloring the wheels:
• Do not use a cleaner that uses strong acid or alkali contents to
clean the wheels.
• Do not apply wheel cleaners to the wheels when they are hot. The wheel
temperature should be the same as
ambient temperature.
• Rinse the wheel to completely re- move the cleaner within 15 minutes
af ter the cleaner is applied.
Appearance and care7-3

CHROME PARTS
Clean chrome parts regularly with a non-
abrasive chrome polish to maintain the fin-
ish.
TIRE DRESSING
NISSAN does not recommend the use of
tire dressings. Tire manufacturers apply a
coating to the tires to help reduce discolor-
ation of the rubber. If a tire dressing is ap-
plied to the tires, it may react with the coat-
ing 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 coat-ing 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 removed from the tire
tread/grooves.
•
Allow the tire dressing to dry as recom-
mended by the tire dressing manufacturer.
Occasionally remove loose dust from the
interior trim, plastic parts and seats using
a vacuum cleaner or sof t bristled brush.
Wipe the vinyl and leather surfaces (if so
equipped) with a clean, sof t cloth damp-
ened in mild soap solution, then wipe clean
with a dry sof t cloth.
Regular care and cleaning is required in
order to maintain the appearance of the
leather (if so equipped).
Before using any fabric protector, read the
manufacturer’s recommendations. Some
fabric protectors 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 classifi-
cation sensor (weight sensor). This can
also affect the operation of the air bag
system and result in serious personal
injury.
CLEANING INTERIOR
7-4Appearance and care

CAUTION
• Never use benzine, thinner, or any similar material.
• Small dirt particles can be abrasive and damaging to the leather sur-
faces (if so equipped) and should be
removed promptly. Do not use
saddle soap, car waxes, polishes,
oils, cleaning fluids, solvents, deter-
gents or ammonia-based cleaners
as they may damage the leather’s
natural finish.
• Never use fabric protectors unless recommended 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 precau-
tions:
• Hanging-type air fresheners can cause
permanent discoloration when they con-
tact 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 im-
mediate damage and discoloration when
spilled on interior surfaces.
Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s
instructions before using air fresheners.
FLOOR MATS (IF SO EQUIPPED)
WARNING
To avoid potential pedal interference
that may result in a collision, injury or
death:
• NEVER place a floor mat on top of another floor mat in the driver front
position or install them upside down
or backwards.
• Use only Genuine NISSAN floor mats, or equivalent floor mats, that are
specifically designed for use in your
vehicle model and model year.
Appearance and care7-5

• Properly position the mats in thefloorwell using the floor mat posi-
tioning hook. For additional infor-
mation, refer to "Floor mat installa-
tion" in this section.
• Make sure the floor mat does not in- terfere with pedal operation.
• Periodically check the floor mats to make sure they are properly in-
stalled.
• Af ter cleaning the vehicle interior, check the floor mats to make sure
they are properly installed.
The use of Genuine NISSAN floor mats can
extend the life of your vehicle carpet and
make it easier to clean the interior. Mats
should be maintained with regular clean-
ing and replaced if they become exces-
sively worn.
Floor mat installation
Your vehicle is equipped with floor mat po-
sitioning hook(s). The number and shape of
the floor mat positioning hooks for each
seating position varies depending on the
vehicle. When installing Genuine NISSAN floor mats,
follow the installation instructions provided
with the mat and the following:
1. Position the floor mat in the floorwell so
that the floor mat grommet holes are
aligned with the hook(s).
2. Secure the grommet holes into the hook(s) and ensure that the floor mat is
properly positioned.
3. Make sure the floor mat does not inter- fere with pedal operation. With the igni-
tion in the OFF position, the selector le-
ver in the P (Park) position fully apply and
release all pedals. The floor mat must
not interfere with pedal operation or
prevent the pedal from returning to its
normal position.
It is recommended that you visit a NISSAN
certified LEAF dealer for details about in-
stalling the floor mats in your vehicle. The illustration shows the location of floor
mat positioning hooks.
Positioning hooks
7-6Appearance and care

SEAT BELTS
The seat belts can be cleaned by wiping
them with a sponge dampened in a mild
soap solution. Allow the belts to dry com-
pletely in the shade before using them.
For additional information, refer to “Seat
belts” in the “Safety—Seats, seat belts and
supplemental restraint system” section of
this manual.
WARNING
Do not allow wet seat belts to roll up in
the retractor. NEVER use bleach, dye, or
chemical solvents to clean the seat
belts, since these materials may se-
verely weaken the seat belt webbing.
MOST COMMON FACTORS
CONTRIBUTING TO VEHICLE
CORROSION
• The accumulation of moisture-retaining dirt and debris in body panel sections,
cavities, and other areas.
• Damage to paint and other protective coatings caused by gravel and stone
chips or minor traffic accidents.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
INFLUENCE THE RATE OF
CORROSION
Moisture
Accumulation of sand, dirt and water on
the vehicle body underside can accelerate
corrosion. Wet floor coverings will not dry
completely inside the vehicle, and should
be removed for drying to avoid floor panel
corrosion.
Relative humidity
Corrosion will be accelerated in areas of
high relative humidity, especially those ar-
eas where the temperatures stay above
freezing, where atmospheric pollution ex-
ists, or where road salt is used.
Temperature
A temperature increase will accelerate the
rate of corrosion to those parts which are
not well ventilated.
Air pollution
Industrial pollution, the presence of salt in
the air in coastal areas, or heavy road salt
use will accelerate the corrosion process.
Road salt will also accelerate the disinte-
gration of paint surfaces.
PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE FROM
CORROSION
• Wash and wax your vehicle of ten to keepthe vehicle clean.
• Always check for minor damage to the paint and repair it as soon as possible.
• Keep drain holes at the bottom of the doors open to avoid water accumulation.
• Check the underbody for accumulation of sand, dirt or salt. If present, wash with wa-
ter as soon as possible.
CORROSION PROTECTION
Appearance and care7-7

CAUTION
• NEVER remove dirt, sand or other debris from the passenger compart-
ment by washing it out with a hose.
Remove dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
• Never allow water or other liquids to come in contact with electronic
components inside the vehicle as
this may damage them.
Chemicals used for road surface deicing
are extremely corrosive. They accelerate
corrosion and deterioration of underbody
components such as the brake lines, brake
cables, floor pan and fenders.
In winter, the underbody must be cleaned
periodically.
For additional protection against rust and
corrosion, which may be required in some
areas, it is recommended that you consult
a NISSAN certified LEAF dealer.
7-8Appearance 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 .................. .8-3
Explanation of maintenance items ........8-3
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 .................... .8-14
Windshield wiper blades ................8-15
Cleaning .........................8-15
Replacing ........................8-15 Rear window wiper blade
..............8-17
Brakes ........................... .8-17
Brake pad wear warning ..............8-17
Fuses ............................ .8-18
Motor compartment ................ .8-18
Passenger compartment ..............8-21
Nissan Intelligent Key® battery replacement . . .8-22
Lights ............................ .8-25
Headlights .......................8-25
Fog lights (if so equipped) .............8-26
Exterior and interior lights .............8-27
Wheels and tires .................... .8-30
Tire pressure ......................8-30
Tire labeling ......................8-34
Types of tires ......................8-36
Tire chains ...................... .8-37
Changing wheels

and tires ............8-38
Emergency tire puncture repair kit .......8-40