What's this charge port protector?

I was looking through the Leaf accessories and came across this "clear charging port protector." I can't tell what it is from the picture, as it looks like there is nothing there.



Any relation to this Japanese accessory?

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=5620" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It looks like there's nothing there because it's just a clear plastic sheet that covers the charge port and a little more around it. It's been an option available for the model year 2011 purchase. Most people who bought that option seem to have regretted paying for it because they were expected a bigger coverage area, but its coverage area is too small and falls short of people's expectation.

It's a partial "clearbra".

You can see one here and get an idea of what it covers

Ok, so it's just a sheet to protect from road rash. Thanks guys.

I just noticed last night that the charge port protector on my Leaf (which I purchased in October 2011) is disintegrating in two different places.

It doesn't appear as though anything has hit the car, because the paint underneath is still smooth, but there are two good size areas where the adhesive and/or plastic have failed and the paint is now exposed with very brittle looking material surrounding the areas.

It looks like the plastic protector sheet has just become brittle in two areas (which are close together) and is peeling off of the car.

Has anyone else seen this?

Correct. I have it. Wish I had something like that on my 04 Prius, protects from unavoidable debris/gravel/etc damaging paint job in front

JustinC said:

Ok, so it's just a sheet to protect from road rash. Thanks guys.

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Ran my Leaf by the dealer last night and let the Service Manager look at it.

I don't think he was even aware that there was such a thing as a "clear charge port protector".

I looked at the other Leafs on the lot and none of them had it.

I guess whoever ordered the orphan that I got went all out.

Anyway, he agreed that it looks like it was disintegrating in two places. It doesn't appear as though anything has hit the protector, but there are two areas where the paint is now exposed and the clear plastic is flaking and peeling away from the car.

He's going to call and see what our path forward is.

I assume this will be a warranty repair since it appears to be becoming brittle and peeling off all on its own.

Hmm, hasn't happened on mine. Please let everyone know how your Service Manager handles this. Thanks.

kennyboy said:

I assume this will be a warranty repair since it appears to be becoming brittle and peeling off all on its own.

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coqui said:

Please let everyone know how your Service Manager handles this.

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Well, the dealership called me yesterday and said that they had ordered a new charge port protector and would call me when it came in so I could schedule a time to come in and get it swapped out.

They didn't ask me if I wanted to do that, or mention a cost or anything. The Service Manager just looked at the areas that were brittle and flaking away and agreed that it was coming off all by itself, then ordered the replacement, so it looks like this is a warranty repair. (I would think it would be)

Now, I'm just wondering what the end result will be.

I assume the guys in the local shop will have to use a heat gun, or something similar, to remove the old protector, then they've got to put a new one on there. I guess there are guys that do this all the time and know all the tricks. I just can't imagine how you can put a sticker that large onto a car and get it on there aligned properly, with no air bubbles, etc.

I'll update in a few days with the end result.

Kenny,
A person I know had to have his protector replaced due to a bumper replacement and the dealer tech was not able to replicate the quality of the factory/port installation. The new one ended up with many many visible scratches on it from the installation.

You may want to ask how many they've installed before, etc...

Ack!

They've probably installed none because they didn't even know what a charge port protector was when I said mine was detaching.


Thanks for the heads up.