2011 Leaf Purchase and has six bars inquiry

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Greenjack

New member
Joined
Sep 23, 2020
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1
Good day, I am not sure if anyone can help me and it was most likely I am screwed but I thought I would give it a shot. I recently purchased a used 2011 Leaf, pristine condition, I mean it literally doesn’t have any problems except for the battery seems not right since I charge it and it at full charge says only 30 maybe 35 miles total. I don’t know what I should do since I purchased it already and have no other option for a car but have been struggling with this COVID situation to find work. I just seems wrong that the battery should be so degraded especially since it’s such low mileage, only 67,000 and obviously well cared for. I can’t afford to buy a new car and a new battery is just as expensive basically so feel like ai really have no options. I have read a lot of stuff online, but don’t know which stuff is accurate. I have to constantly stress out hoping I can make it where ever I am headed because the CarWings doesn’t seem to work for anything and so none of the charging stations it lists are actually charging stations, at least the two I have had it direct me to.

I have read that there was a issue with the first gen batteries and that there was even a court case but I am not too clear on what my options are. I am just hoping some of you might have some suggestions or experience that might help me with some options. I am worried I will not be able to work because I am so limited and I live kind to in the boonies so limited public transit. The worse thing is it is really a beautiful car and driving it is a dream but I am really going to have figure out if there are any other options than buying another battery which is just not possible for me at the moment. I mean, if I had that kind of money In the first place I wouldn’t hav needed to purchase uses..

Any help wold really be appriated.

Jason
 
The first generation Leaf battery does indeed degrade rapidly under most conditions. The class action court case resulted in a 5 year / 60,000 mile capacity warranty, but your car is long past that. The only other option I see for you is to find a good 10 or 11 bar used Generation 1.5 battery and adapter kit, and someone who can install it for you. I'm sorry. I suggest that for future reference you read this first:

https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=26662&p=538030
 
Greenjack said:
Good day, I am not sure if anyone can help me and it was most likely I am screwed but I thought I would give it a shot. I recently purchased a used 2011 Leaf, pristine condition, I mean it literally doesn’t have any problems except for the battery seems not right since I charge it and it at full charge says only 30 maybe 35 miles total. I don’t know what I should do since I purchased it already and have no other option for a car but have been struggling with this COVID situation to find work. I just seems wrong that the battery should be so degraded especially since it’s such low mileage, only 67,000 and obviously well cared for.
....

I have read that there was a issue with the first gen batteries and that there was even a court case but I am not too clear on what my options are. I am just hoping some of you might have some suggestions or experience that might help me with some options.
The '11 and '12 Leaf originally had no capacity warranty and it took a Klee class action settlement to produce https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13192. You are WAY outside the capacity warranty now, just like it expired 2 years ago on my used '13 Leaf.

As for Carwings for charging stations, forget it. It's crap and the info is too limited. Instead, use Plugshare and filter by J1772 and if you have CHAdeMO (larger inlet on the left), include that. Uncheck the rest.

The chemistry of batteries on Leafs built before 4/2013 is crap. The mileage is not a big factor unless it's really excessive. It's the chemistry, time (calendar losses), how it was treated and climate/temps the battery was in. If you skip towards the end of https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13192, you'll see I've pointed to some Leafs with only 3 capacity bars left.

My '13 Leaf built 5/2013 still has 11 capacity bars but is at Leaf Spy SOH around 79.xx%. It will be a 10 bar car in the near future. I'm at a bit past 68K miles.

Here are examples of contrasts:
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=511915#p511915 - my 1st bar loss
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=473995#p473995 - same build month as me but in a blazing hot climate
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=551301#p551301 - mild climate, but also endured one less entire hot summer
https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=31297 - bad build month of '13 so bad chemistry but very mild climate but mistreated his battery by always charging to 100%. He may have kept it at high SoC for prolonged periods too.
https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=552809#p552809 pointing to https://www.facebook.com/groups/seattlenissanleaf/permalink/1757297620968334/ - old battery, bad chemistry but mild climate but seemingly mistreated his battery too

edit: fixed typo
 
OP, good advice above I will repackage for you for easier digestion

1. You most probably have a severely degraded battery. Nissan will not help you. There is a small chance that now or in the future you will be able to replace the degraded battery with a less degraded battery. Where do you live ? Replacement options are dependent on finding a cheap used battery in better condition (perhaps auctions ?) and someone local to you who can replace.

2. The car range meter is wildly inaccurate, and frankly is going to leave you stranded. Spend the $20 or so to buy an OBD2 dongle and load up your phone with LeafSpy. Please pay the app author in return for the great help he is giving you and the free assistance you are getting here.

3. PLugshare.com is you friend. You will learn about EVERY place you can charge. Those places will often not be exactly where you want to be so make plans how you want to cover those last mile or 3. I like scooters, but walking, biking and public transit are all options. You can make this work but you will have to change your mindset from the car being the only transport you need and use to the car being a part of your journey. It will still be a big help.

4. Read Leftie's thread for beginners.
 
Sage is spot on. With Leaf Spy, you can still semi-comfortably drive once you've hit the first low battery warning (LBW) and a bit more once you've hit the 2nd (VLBW). They sound at ~49 and ~24 gids, respectively. You need Leaf Spy to see gids.

With the '11 Leaf, you are flying pretty blind since there's no % state of charge display, only the 12 fuel bars and the crap GOM on the right. IIRC, once you hit VLBW, the GOM becomes - - - miles, which is pretty lame. But again, w/Leaf Spy, you'll still have some visibility (e.g. gids, lowest module voltage, max imbalance in mV, etc.)

Turbo3 (author of Leaf Spy) mentioned to me a hint (below) since he has an '11 Leaf.
https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=22272&p=465948&hilit=turbo3+hundreds+dead#p465948
https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=21125&p=447143&hilit=turbo3+hundreds+dead#p447143
 
what area of the country do you live in? How many battery bars do you see left on the right of the dash? (Guessing 5 or 6 from the mileage you report)

You can get an extra mile or two by putting tires at 50psi and learning to hypermile in local traffic. There are still a number of early leaf drivers out there that make their low bar cars work for them.

If you live near one of the battery replacement mechanics, let them know so they can keep their eyes out for a salvage pack, which continue to become less expensive as more larger packs appear. Even getting to a 9 or 10 bar pack (with newer chemistry) makes the car significantly more useful. (Understanding at the same time money is scarce. )
 
DougWantsALeaf said:
Even getting to a 9 or 10 bar pack (with newer chemistry) makes the car significantly more useful. (Understanding at the same time money is scarce. )
The problem with that approach is the fixed costs of any battery replacement:
$500 for the EVSEnhanced.com electronic adapter (though can be used for subsequent swaps)
~ $300 for one time programmer usage
S&H charges
~ $500 installation charge

That is ~ $1500 overhead (or $1000 on subsequent swaps) you do not want to repeat very often, if at all.
 
Yeah one of the ways they took care of the car was leaving it sitting at 100% charge.
 
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