In the market for a used Leaf.

[cwerdna]

For me, the '13 halogen low beams sucked and were a big step down from the '13 factory LED low beams. I don't think anything was changed or improved on this front for '13 to '17 model years.

I wonder if this is the general consensus, with me being an exception, or if you got bad headlights...

I dunno. Some quick digging seems to have others agreeing the halogen headlights are crap.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=23178
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=539658#p539658
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=540278#p540278
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=13759

I wouldn't say that the halogen high beams are lousy as it's an improvement over the halogen low beams.

 

[LeftieBiker]

I wouldn't say that the halogen high beams are lousy as it's an improvement over the halogen low beams.

Heh. Either you had a bad set - SO BAD that the high beams seemed ok, or you had unusually good high beams. You are literally the first person I've seen say anything good about those high beams.

 

[WetEV]

I wouldn't say that the halogen high beams are lousy as it's an improvement over the halogen low beams.

Heh. Either you had a bad set - SO BAD that the high beams seemed ok, or you had unusually good high beams. You are literally the first person I've seen say anything good about those high beams.

I almost never use the high beams. Much of my driving is daylight, or with streetlights and traffic. So I think they are just fine :lol: :roll:

 

[krush40]

Regarding LeafSpy, I have an iPhone 7+ running 12.1.4.

Is the LELink OBDII the recommended choice?

If so, which version? And do I need an extension cable or anything?

https://www.amazon.com/LELink-Bluet...id=1550935958&s=gateway&sprefix=lelink&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/LELink-Confi...id=1550936389&s=gateway&sprefix=lelink&sr=8-4

I’m looking exclusively at 2015-2016 SV/SL.

Thanks!

 

[LeftieBiker]

I’m looking exclusively at 2015-2016 SV/SL.

Unless you are ok with Nissan maybe replacing the pack in your car at some point because of cell failure, you may want to exclude early build 2016 30kwh cars. Maybe look at cars built after March of 2016...

 

[krush40]

I think you may have called this one.

I’m sure dealer will prolong its life a bit, but at only 41k miles and quite a ways from 96 months, I’m down to 8 bars (noticed today) and Leaf Spy says SOH is under 66%.

Whether now or in the near future, I imagine (hope) I qualify under battery warranty.

Anything I should know about going into this?

Coming back to this forum has been my first stop.

 

[LeftieBiker]

The car needs to get the free BMS update before Nissan will replace the pack. It will revert to 12 bars after that, then over a few months will go back to a more accurate (according to Nissan) bar reading. They often gain one bar net that way, but it doesn't always stay very long.

 

[krush40]

Y’all know when that update was released?

I’m pretty sure I had it done within first year of me getting the car. It had some sort of software update thing. I have the paperwork somewhere.

 

[LeftieBiker]

Good. I think it was released two or three years ago. Maybe a little longer.

 

[goldbrick]

I got my update in July 2018. I remember it pretty well since my SOH had dropped to 92% in 6 months.

 

[krush40]

Thanks to some help in another thread, I’m pretty sure I can confidently say the firmware update was done a few years back.

I assume contacting Nissan is my next step, whether directly through dealer or via a hotline of some sort.

Anyone with experience care to share any recommendations?

 

[LeftieBiker]

Not experience, but observation of the forum: it was mentioned that you should look for a Nissan dealer with a lot of experience with Leafs - and good ratings for their work. That should be your number one consideration if you want low stress and the job properly done.

 

[krush40]

Will do.

Anything I can expect that they’ll throw at me to somehow says it’s my fault?

 

[LeftieBiker]

If they are going to invent abuse, it could be pretty much anything. Too little air in the tires?

 

[Jim74656]

For me, the '13 halogen low beams sucked and were a big step down from the '13 factory LED low beams. I don't think anything was changed or improved on this front for '13 to '17 model years.

I wonder if this is the general consensus, with me being an exception, or if you got bad headlights...

I dunno. Some quick digging seems to have others agreeing the halogen headlights are crap.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=23178
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=539658#p539658
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=540278#p540278
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=13759

I wouldn't say that the halogen high beams are lousy as it's an improvement over the halogen low beams.

With out going throught the entire thread, I am just going to throw out that having properly aimed head lamps, halogin or other wise makes a huge difference, crap design or not, I would at least consider checking the aim of the beams to make sure they are adjusted properly

 

[LeftieBiker]

The Gen I Leaf has halogens that are adequate for some (like me) on Low, but not for others, and are absolutely horrible on High. I tried replacing the bulbs with Philip's X-Treme bulbs and the difference on High was barely perceptible. I think that the design of the lights themselves is bad.

 

[cwerdna]

Y’all know when that update was released?

I’m pretty sure I had it done within first year of me getting the car. It had some sort of software update thing. I have the paperwork somewhere.

If you're talking about the 30 kWh update for incorrect capacity reporting aka PC630 / NTB18-039, see below.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10143139-9999.pdf
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10143483-9999.pdf

 

[krush40]

Turns out I got upgraded to a 40 kWh.

 

[cwerdna]

Turns out I got upgraded to a 40 kWh.

If you had a 30 kWh pack before, then this would be inline with NTB20-001: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10171230-0001.pdf.

 

[krush40]

If you had a 30 kWh pack before, then this would be inline with NTB20-001: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10171230-0001.pdf.

This is it.

I asked about capacity of new battery prior to install and the service guy said it was a 30. But after install he let me know it was in fact a 40 and mentioned “rumors of the 30 being discontinued.”

The PDF linked above seems like that’s accurate and not just a rumor, unless that was published as a “how to” because it was compatible but now it’s becoming the better solution.