I bought a used 2012 Leaf in January with 44,000 miles on it and in May it stopped working. I got the "I-Key System" error and "Parking Brake" error. I disconnected the battery, charged it, re-connected it, etc. The vehicle would go into neutral and park, but not drive or reverse.
The vehicle also would't shut off unless the 12v was disconnected. I read the forums carefully and decided it might be the BCM, but didn't have a diagnostic computer or time to deal with it.
So I towed it to the local dealer - Kona Nissan in Kona HI.
They charged $320 to "diagnose" the problem and decided it was the VCU which they wanted more than $2,000 to replace. I checked with a family member who runs a shop who told me I couldn't replace it myself or get a used one because it has to be programmed with the VIN which much match the batteries or some such anti-"right to repair" proprietary B.S.
So I authorized the repair. Four ( 4 ) weeks later I get a call that the repair didn't fix the problem. The vehicle still won't shut off and they want $1,360 to replace the BCM. I'm already $2,300 into this "repair" and now I'm feeling I'm being taken advantage of.
I am more than capable of tearing this car down to its component parts and have the space, tools and skills necessary to do so - IF - and that is a big - IF - Nissan hasn't taken steps to be sure that only their own technicians can program the various boards.
I really don't want to throw good money after bad, and at this point I wish I'd never seen a Nissan. My Volt runs like a champ. Is there a way to contact Nissan support directly when I'm working on the vehicle? Are there real manuals, diagrams and repair trees available to owners, or is everything "Go to authorized dealer and bend over."
Any insight? Advice? Help?
The vehicle also would't shut off unless the 12v was disconnected. I read the forums carefully and decided it might be the BCM, but didn't have a diagnostic computer or time to deal with it.
So I towed it to the local dealer - Kona Nissan in Kona HI.
They charged $320 to "diagnose" the problem and decided it was the VCU which they wanted more than $2,000 to replace. I checked with a family member who runs a shop who told me I couldn't replace it myself or get a used one because it has to be programmed with the VIN which much match the batteries or some such anti-"right to repair" proprietary B.S.
So I authorized the repair. Four ( 4 ) weeks later I get a call that the repair didn't fix the problem. The vehicle still won't shut off and they want $1,360 to replace the BCM. I'm already $2,300 into this "repair" and now I'm feeling I'm being taken advantage of.
I am more than capable of tearing this car down to its component parts and have the space, tools and skills necessary to do so - IF - and that is a big - IF - Nissan hasn't taken steps to be sure that only their own technicians can program the various boards.
I really don't want to throw good money after bad, and at this point I wish I'd never seen a Nissan. My Volt runs like a champ. Is there a way to contact Nissan support directly when I'm working on the vehicle? Are there real manuals, diagrams and repair trees available to owners, or is everything "Go to authorized dealer and bend over."
Any insight? Advice? Help?