Better train your dealership EV techs

[Lothsahn]

The A/C system used by the heatpump-equipped Leafs is actually very different from that used with ICE cars. The version without heatpump may be more similar, but I'm not sure about that.

The 2011 (non heat pump) uses different refrigerant and pressures than a gas car (r134a). Its also driven off the HV (400V) power, not a belt, so yes, while it seems stupid, there are electrocution risks and it requires special training.

I agree that many dealerships in uncommon Leaf areas lack sufficient training and experience. My dealerships both said my Leaf was one of only 4 or 5 they had ever seen.

It doesn't help that the car is reliable. Less tech experience...

[Lothsahn]

The maximum allowable speed setting was lowered by the software update. I think it also lowered the default setting below the maximum allowable. Therefore, there is some benefit to increasing the settings if they are not already set to maximum. I think there are two settings (one while pre cooling and one while in ready mode), but am going from memory. The recall was for 2011, but later cars have the same settings--I paid the dealer to set them to maximum allowable on my 2015. They set the 2011 to maximum allowable after I noticed less effective A/C (after the software update).

A word of caution... My leafs AC system shut down and threw an over temp code when parked in 95F heat for a few hours with the AC on recirc. As the car got hot while sitting, the AC power draw got up to 3kW before shutting off.

Unless you really need it, I would not generally recommend people change this setting. It might damage or wear out the compressor faster.

PS: I have no idea what this setting is set to on my car... but I do see AC power drop lower (~1.5kW) when the car is stopped at a light.

[azdimy]

Glad to hear some dealerships have competent people servicing the Leafs but I cannot relocate to get the right people to service my car . Maybe my problem is very unusual and Nissan should have a task force that could help the dealerships with problems they haven t seen before. In the end it would probably save Nissan money and their image would improve and consummers would be happier. My compressor shuts off when temp are high ~100F for like 3 min and then resume that much time below 1kW and cycle that way. The thermostat settings also seemed to have no impact on the behavior.
They now have replaced the evaporator case and the compressor won t start at all since then. Telling me the car was ready to find out they made it worse was kind of mind boggling

[Lothsahn]

They now have replaced the evaporator case and the compressor won t start at all since then. Telling me the car was ready to find out they made it worse was kind of mind boggling

Agree and it's a problem. My region also doesn't have good techs. They couldn't perform a standard TSB and also told me my car was ready when it was not.

Do you have a Lemon law in your state? In Michigan, where I'm from, we have strong Lemon law protections. Given your car is out of service for 30 days, you would be entitled to a full refund:
https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-1 ... --,00.html

You could pursue this with your dealership--either by invoking the Lemon law or using it to negotiate leverage. There are stories of Dealerships replacing tons of parts just to make sure the car doesn't come back--they really don't want cars back.

[azdimy]

I m sure we have a lemon law in TX but I love the car and don t want to change it but the people that are locally servicing it are just the worse I ve ever had to deal with....

[BuddyRayAtl]

Brought my 2019 Nissan Leaf Plus and we were incredibly happy with it until, at 750 miles, a deer jumped out in front and dented the bumper.
It didn't look like much - just pop out the dent in the plastic bumper right . . . . NOT. $6,000 and 36 days later we got our Leaf back. The LED headlight (which simply had a small break in a plastic bracket) was $2,800. I told the body shop manager I would sell him a tube of super glue for $2,700 - he wasn't amused.

Took 36 days to get parts and get the vehicle repaired. OK, so it's a new model but a manufacturer should make sure parts are availability this far into the model year. But, the body shop people were very nice and the repair job looked good and the deer wasn't their fault so I was happy.

Then I get a few miles from the dealership and the dash says "Front Radar Blocked" and the adaptive cruise control drops out.

That's when I began to discover that this medium sized Georgia town dealership IS NOT ready to service this car. Yes, they have a Leaf specialist, but the vehicle has been in the shop 29 days now without a solution. Carriage Nissan of Gainesville, GA told me they were talking with Nissan Support but when I talked with Stephanie at Nissan EV support she said that no ticket had been opened with them until the 25th day when I asked Stephanie to call the Dealer.

We are on the 5th radar unit and the 2nd software update and still no resolution. Each time they get a radar unit in, they install it, calibrate it and it fails. Then they order another one - wait a few days - rinse repeat. Once Nissan shipped the wrong radar resulting in another 2 day delay.

Nice people but NOT competent to service Nissan's higher technology cars with Pro-Pilot assist or EVs. And why wait so long to get the factory involved? Hopefully, in a day or two additional wait a factory specialist will appear and actually solve this problem.

Meantime I'm researching Georgia's Lemon law to see if it applies to repairs after an accident.

UPDATE - at 30 days they finally repaired my LEAF. Turns out it was a bent bracket (probably a $2 part). So they replaced the radar sensor 5 times before noticing that the bracket was bent? I'm betting event he original radar unit wasn't bad, just needed to bend the bracket. Classic SNAFU.

UPDATE #2 - NOT repaired. Above update was typed on Friday - Monday the car threw front radar errors 5 times. It's going back to the Dealership AGAIN on Tuesday.

[LeftieBiker]

I've merged the above post with an already existing topic.

I agree that the service provided has been horrible. OTOH, you should never take a car to a dealership expecting them to glue broken parts back together. Some rare dealership might agree to do that, but in general they replace parts with new ones to fix things. This is one of the areas in which Nissan dealers are not uniquely bad - it's how the dealership model works. If you want a damaged part glued, look to an independent shop.

[dsh]

The maximum allowable speed setting was lowered by the software update. I think it also lowered the default setting below the maximum allowable. Therefore, there is some benefit to increasing the settings if they are not already set to maximum. I think there are two settings (one while pre cooling and one while in ready mode), but am going from memory. The recall was for 2011, but later cars have the same settings--I paid the dealer to set them to maximum allowable on my 2015. They set the 2011 to maximum allowable after I noticed less effective A/C (after the software update).

A word of caution... My leafs AC system shut down and threw an over temp code when parked in 95F heat for a few hours with the AC on recirc. As the car got hot while sitting, the AC power draw got up to 3kW before shutting off.

Unless you really need it, I would not generally recommend people change this setting. It might damage or wear out the compressor faster.

PS: I have no idea what this setting is set to on my car... but I do see AC power drop lower (~1.5kW) when the car is stopped at a light.

GerryAZ,
Tomorrow, I will be taking my 2011 LEAF to Peoria Nissan for a free A/C check. What dealership do you take your car to when you had them set the maximum allowable Compressor Speed via Consult 3+?

[GerryAZ]

The maximum allowable speed setting was lowered by the software update. I think it also lowered the default setting below the maximum allowable. Therefore, there is some benefit to increasing the settings if they are not already set to maximum. I think there are two settings (one while pre cooling and one while in ready mode), but am going from memory. The recall was for 2011, but later cars have the same settings--I paid the dealer to set them to maximum allowable on my 2015. They set the 2011 to maximum allowable after I noticed less effective A/C (after the software update).

A word of caution... My leafs AC system shut down and threw an over temp code when parked in 95F heat for a few hours with the AC on recirc. As the car got hot while sitting, the AC power draw got up to 3kW before shutting off.

Unless you really need it, I would not generally recommend people change this setting. It might damage or wear out the compressor faster.

PS: I have no idea what this setting is set to on my car... but I do see AC power drop lower (~1.5kW) when the car is stopped at a light.

I have used my cars for portable offices with A/C on while parked for extended time in Phoenix and never had the A/C shutdown or had DTCs related to A/C. I suggest you check the condenser/radiator fans for proper operation and that there is nothing restricting air flow.

Note to dsh: I tried to reply to the private message you sent regarding this issue, but could not because you have PMs blocked.

[Lothsahn]

The maximum allowable speed setting was lowered by the software update. I think it also lowered the default setting below the maximum allowable. Therefore, there is some benefit to increasing the settings if they are not already set to maximum. I think there are two settings (one while pre cooling and one while in ready mode), but am going from memory. The recall was for 2011, but later cars have the same settings--I paid the dealer to set them to maximum allowable on my 2015. They set the 2011 to maximum allowable after I noticed less effective A/C (after the software update).

A word of caution... My leafs AC system shut down and threw an over temp code when parked in 95F heat for a few hours with the AC on recirc. As the car got hot while sitting, the AC power draw got up to 3kW before shutting off.

Unless you really need it, I would not generally recommend people change this setting. It might damage or wear out the compressor faster.

PS: I have no idea what this setting is set to on my car... but I do see AC power drop lower (~1.5kW) when the car is stopped at a light.

I have used my cars for portable offices with A/C on while parked for extended time in Phoenix and never had the A/C shutdown or had DTCs related to A/C. I suggest you check the condenser/radiator fans for proper operation and that there is nothing restricting air flow.

Note to dsh: I tried to reply to the private message you sent regarding this issue, but could not because you have PMs blocked.

Gerry:

I have visually checked and the radiator fan spins as expected, and I don't see anything obvious blocking air flow. I guess I could try to wash out the condensor--maybe it's gotten really dirty...