On-going problem with car powering down

[Epi117]

Hi, need advice with an on-going issue with my 2013 Leaf , (three months old)

The main problem is that during the last three months it powers down like if was out of power and give the message "motor power is limited" , it has happened at least 15 times, many times in the most in in-opportune moments (rush hour traffic). (Three times Thursday and twice Friday)

As i try to pull over sometimes it will cycle back to full power again but with out the regen function and with the brakes acting funny, like i have to press harder, when i press the brakes the green lights don't light up, like they would normally do.

I have never had less than 41 mile range and always drive in eco mode.

Screen shot right after i pull over and before i power down

http://imgur.com/BjfGhbE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Most often I have to pull over , power down the car, and than start the car again. When i do that, none of the regen works and car dosnt drive like a Leaf (hard to explain)

I have taken it in to the dealer for 3 times.

Had problems with "not taking a charge" they kept car for 7 days, could not figure out what was wrong.

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=12428" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I dropped off the car this saturday, for the ongoing lost of power issue, they were suppose to take it on extended test drive but so far on the three visits they havnt been able to replicate the problem.

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=12122" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pretty much frustrated, to the point where i make a effort to stay in right lane all the time in case it happens and have trained my self to hit the hazard lights.

Any advice?

 

[cwerdna]

Hi, need advice with an on-going issue with my 2013 Leaf , (three months old)

The main problem is that during the last three months it powers down like if was out of power and give the message "motor power is limited" , it has happened at least 15 times, many times in the most in in-opportune moments (rush hour traffic). (Three times Thursday and twice Friday)

As i try to pull over sometimes it will cycle back to full power again but with out the regen function and with the brakes acting funny, like i have to press harder, when i press the brakes the green lights don't light up, like they would normally do.

I have never had less than 41 mile range and always drive in eco mode.

Screen shot right after i pull over and before i power down

http://imgur.com/BjfGhbE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Most often I have to pull over , power down the car, and than start the car again. When i do that, none of the regen works and car dosnt drive like a Leaf (hard to explain)

In the above case, you have no fuel bars left, you've hit turtle and obviously the GOM is showing --- . How many fuel bars did you have right before it happened? Or, better yet, what was the % SoC screen showing?

I'm confused by what you mean by "I have never had less than 41 mile range".

How many miles did you drive on that charge? Did you charge to 100% or 80% or something else? What was your efficiency in miles/kwh?

 

[EdmondLeaf]

"they haven't been able to replicate the problem"
what about running video so you will have proof that this happend, did you talk to Nissan Leaf CS?
edit I see you did that already what about talking to CS and other people from Nissan. Looks like $250 gift card did not solve your problem

 

[Epi117]

Yes i have always had power, after reboot it always shows the real power, i have never had less than 30 sometimes 90 mile range.

They havnt been able to replicate but they pulled up some error codes in last visit, but as far as i can tell they didnt resolve the codes ie replace anything, i will post copy of the codes soon as i get car back.

Nissan has been good about calling me. I will run a camera when we get the car back. Pretty much you are driving along great contemplating the meaning of life, when, wham the lost power voice comes on asking you to "press buton" and pull over.

 

[cwerdna]

Yes i have always had power, after reboot it always shows the real power, i have never had less than 30 sometimes 90 mile range.

Forgot what the GOM says. You should go by the fuel bars or better yet, the % SoC display (or even better, # of gids, if you have a means of retrieving that).

The question is, are you suddenly dropping from several "fuel bars" to 0, or are you running around w/your car in a very low SoC to begin with? If you're running around real low, of course you're going to hit LBW, VLBW and then turtle.

If you're curious, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCx5T4Sb-q4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; might be of interest to you. The '11 and '12 LEAF had no display for % SoC. They refer to the GOM as the "range meter".

 

[Epi117]

It has happened five mins after leaving home while taking kid to school, with a 100% charge.

 

[cwerdna]

It has happened five mins after leaving home while taking kid to school, with a 100% charge.

So, 11 or 12 fuel bars visible and % SoC showing 90+% and then suddenly, boom, turtle, 0 fuel bars and GOM turns to ---?

 

[Epi117]

It has happened five mins after leaving home while taking kid to school, with a 100% charge.

So, 11 or 12 fuel bars visible and % SoC showing 90+% and then suddenly, boom, turtle, 0 fuel bars and GOM turns to ---?

Yes exactly.

 

[cwerdna]

^^^
Once they get to the bottom of this and have actually fixed it, I'd file a safety complaint at http://www.safercar.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. This doesn't sound like a case of user error.

 

[Epi117]

screen shot right after i got message of low power and vid, this happned last friday

http://i.imgur.com/BjfGhbE.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

pulled over and panel looked like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmmoZFZgMx4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


than rebooted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcX5Y1jmZ3k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and excuse curse word at start of 1st video, i was slightly mad.

 

[DaveinOlyWA]

sounds like you have a cooling problem and the system is shutting down the traction battery.

u take off in the morning, everything is fine, you heat up and boom, shutdown.

what I would do is take off in the morning, drive for 5minutes try to average 40+ mph. then pull over, pop the hood and see if you can detect water moving in the radiator. this wont be easy because it usually does not make a lot of noise but this should not be long enough to turn on the fans or nothing like that and you should be able to hear the water. make sure you pull over on a quiet street.

the randomness sounds like you have some sort of a stuck valve or switch maybe? if so, would be very difficult for diagnostics but surprised you are not throwing codes

 

[MrIanB]

I would open a lemon law case, take it to the dealer to have them figure it out and if not, proceed with the lemon law case. You may want to also have Nissan set up a case if you have not already done so.

This should not be happening at all on this 3 month old Leaf.

Good luck and let us know the outcome,

Ian B

 

[adric22]

I'm thinking there is a loose connection to an ECU or sensor. Probably something in the battery compartment. Maybe even a faulty battery ECU.

 

[davewill]

I seem to recall someone with similar complaints on the forum where the problem turned out to be a bad 12v battery.