Advice? Seller says "don't worry, you'll get a new battery," should I? (leafspy inside)

[leafnewb]

Unfortunately, DC fast charging is not an option. Even the local Nissan dealer only has j1772.

http://www.plugshare.com/ shows a few CHAdeMO DC FCs in Florida. Not sure how reachable those are for you.

Closest is about 40 miles away.

Availability is much better here in Europe, but I expect to charge at home all the time.

-LeafNewb

 

[baustin]

Not saying it will drop in time, but it is possible. Mine should be dropping the fourth bar anytime. LeafSpy stats are listed below.

The vehicle was manufactured in January 2013, spent it first two years in Georgia, was auctioned after lease return and brought to Las Vegas. I got it in March 2015. It dropped the first bar in October 2015, the second bar in June 2016, and the third bar in November 2016.

Jan 09, 2017 - AHr=42.69, SOH=65%, Hx=58.59%, odo=24,787 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1874
Jun 24, 2016 - AHr=47.74, SOH=73%, Hx=66.57%, odo=23,745 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1569
Apr 24, 2016 - AHr=48.58, SOH=74%, Hx=68.12%, odo=23,323 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1478
Feb 23, 2016 - AHr=50.11, SOH=76%, Hx=70.96%, odo=22,874 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1393
Dec 30, 2015 - AHr=51.40, SOH=78%, Hx=73.35%, odo=22,503 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1302
Oct 11, 2015 - AHr=52.06, SOH=79%, Hx=74.56%, odo=21,536 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1145
Jul 24, 2015 - AHr=55.14, SOH=84%, Hx=80.29%, odo=19,765 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=926
May 16, 2015 - AHr=57.28, SOH=87%, Hx=84.50%, odo=19,338 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=788
Mar 27, 2015 - AHr=58.57, SOH=89%, Hx=87.04%, odo=18,539 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=701

 

[leafnewb]

Not saying it will drop in time, but it is possible. Mine should be dropping the fourth bar anytime. LeafSpy stats are listed below.

The vehicle was manufactured in January 2013, spent it first two years in Georgia, was auctioned after lease return and brought to Las Vegas. I got it in March 2015. It dropped the first bar in October 2015, the second bar in June 2016, and the third bar in November 2016.

Jan 09, 2017 - AHr=42.69, SOH=65%, Hx=58.59%, odo=24,787 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1874
Jun 24, 2016 - AHr=47.74, SOH=73%, Hx=66.57%, odo=23,745 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1569
Apr 24, 2016 - AHr=48.58, SOH=74%, Hx=68.12%, odo=23,323 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1478
Feb 23, 2016 - AHr=50.11, SOH=76%, Hx=70.96%, odo=22,874 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1393
Dec 30, 2015 - AHr=51.40, SOH=78%, Hx=73.35%, odo=22,503 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1302
Oct 11, 2015 - AHr=52.06, SOH=79%, Hx=74.56%, odo=21,536 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=1145
Jul 24, 2015 - AHr=55.14, SOH=84%, Hx=80.29%, odo=19,765 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=926
May 16, 2015 - AHr=57.28, SOH=87%, Hx=84.50%, odo=19,338 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=788
Mar 27, 2015 - AHr=58.57, SOH=89%, Hx=87.04%, odo=18,539 miles, QC=4 L1/L2=701

Yeah, you appear to be right on the threshold according to my research. It looks like you dropped about as far as I would need to go in about 6.5 months. What are your driving habits like? (I realize it's hotter in NV than FL.)

-LeafNewb

 

[Reddy]

I know this won't help you much, but it took me exactly 2 years to lose 5 Ahr (54 - 49). I drive about 7500 mi/yr in Eastern WA State (much hotter and drier than Seattle). I still have 10 bars on my 2011 and don't expect to lose the 4th bar until 2018 or so. Good luck with your decision. I think you have a good shot at losing a 4th bar in Florida with some spirited driving, especially with a QC exactly 40 mi away, that's a perfect distance. See some of my previous posts for more advice.

 

[leafnewb]

I wouldn't buy a Leaf expecting to get a free replacement battery; if it works out for you, great, but you might be better served preparing for the worst case scenario and hoping for the best. At any rate, I would be looking at off-lease 2013/2014 Leafs at this point. There should be plenty and you'll have a little more padding with the battery replacement window. Finally based on your needs, it sounds like you'll get by just fine on a Leaf with lowered capacity. Maybe you could consider a dirt-cheap Leaf with limited range.

I think you're right on the 2013/2014, but I need the 2012 or older since they are much closer to the European version. ( http://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=21649 ) If I bought a newer one I would have to add turn signal repeaters, etc. in order to register it over here.

I found the giant capacity thread ( http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=8802 ) and have been reading through it. From that it seems like the opinion that it's a gamble is quite correct. Right now, I'm leaning towards continuing to look for something that's either already had a battery swap or is much closer. I'm willing to pay more for a car that's already had the swap.

-LeafNewb

 

[LeftieBiker]

Right now, I'm leaning towards continuing to look for something that's either already had a battery swap or is much closer. I'm willing to pay more for a car that's already had the swap.

That sounds like a good plan. If you get more than one choice, pick the one with the newest battery pack.

 

[karamba]

Do you necessarily get a brand new battery when the charge goes below 9 bars ? The language of the warranty terms suggests that Nissan can give you a refurbished battery that has at least 9 bars. I however do not have facts to prove one way or another.

 

[LeftieBiker]

So far, these packs have been new. There may have been one or two packs with defective cells that were rebuilt, but the capacity warranty replacements have been new.

 

[Durandal]

Settlement states replacement packs must be new for 2011 and 2012.

 

[av8or]

I am in Central FL too, and bought an off lease 2012 LEAF SL from North Carolina in May 2015. It barely had 11 bars. It dropped to 10 bars in June 2015, then to 9 in November 2015. It lost the 9th bar (8 remaining) at about 43.3AHr and 66% SOH in June 2016. The battery was replaced with a new one this week, no issues at all with warranty claim.

I drive about 1000 miles per month, and park in a parking garage at work, and a garage at night. In summer it I never see less than 6 bars on battery temp. I rarely see 7 bars, maybe 2 times since I've had the car. In Dec/Jan/Feb it tends to run at 5 bars temp.
The car did sit at a used dealer lot for a few months before I bought it, possibly after being charged to 100%. I do not know for sure. I charged at 80% for first year or so, then to 100% all the time. I didn't notice it making a big difference.
It seemed to have a .5 amp/month loss. I did try to take care of it, even as far as installing an exhaust fan in the garage to try to drop the temp in the evenings. Rarely QC (only 6 so far), mostly L1 and L2 charging.

All cars are probably a bit different, but being this one is in Central FL and started in North Carolina, it may be similar to the one you are looking at.

Good luck with the decision.

 

[leafnewb]

I am in Central FL too, and bought an off lease 2012 LEAF SL from North Carolina in May 2015. It barely had 11 bars. It dropped to 10 bars in June 2015, then to 9 in November 2015. It lost the 9th bar (8 remaining) at about 43.3AHr and 66% SOH in June 2016. The battery was replaced with a new one this week, no issues at all with warranty claim.

I drive about 1000 miles per month, and park in a parking garage at work, and a garage at night. In summer it I never see less than 6 bars on battery temp. I rarely see 7 bars, maybe 2 times since I've had the car. In Dec/Jan/Feb it tends to run at 5 bars temp.
The car did sit at a used dealer lot for a few months before I bought it, possibly after being charged to 100%. I do not know for sure. I charged at 80% for first year or so, then to 100% all the time. I didn't notice it making a big difference.
It seemed to have a .5 amp/month loss. I did try to take care of it, even as far as installing an exhaust fan in the garage to try to drop the temp in the evenings. Rarely QC (only 6 so far), mostly L1 and L2 charging.

All cars are probably a bit different, but being this one is in Central FL and started in North Carolina, it may be similar to the one you are looking at.

Good luck with the decision.

Thanks for the info. Yes it sounds like a similar car, and .5 AHr/month once again jives with the 50/50 shot everyone's giving it. I'm just going to look around for a better candidate as I don't have the availability to really run down the battery.

Just want to add, thanks to everyone who responded! This place is a great resource!

-LeafNewb