Buying a new (used) Leaf: How do I use Leaf Spy to evaluate a car?

[brycenesbitt]

Given Leaf Spy Pro and a ODB adapter, and a used Leaf sitting in front of me, what should I look for? SOH? Fast charge count? GIDS?
Does Leaf Spy collect average data from cars it has been plugged into?

If not, is there a table somewhere that would let me compare cars of a given age and climate zone, to the used one I'm evaluating?
(e.g. 2012 Leaf in Southern California, 30000-40000 miles, have measured SOH average 80% with standard deviation of 5%)?

[DNAinaGoodWay]

Some of these measurements are best made at 100% SOC, which may be hard to get at a used car lot, nor would a car left at 100% in SOCAL be a good thing, so can you borrow the car, charge it, then test drive?

One thing to check is battery cell balance, a bad cell is easy to spot with LeafSpy.

[LeftieBiker]

You can measure SOH at any state of charge, and it's your best measure anyway. Look at that. It should also be close to the Hx reading.

[dhanson865]

Ahr and SOH are the only two I'd look at.

A new battery is 66 ahr, 1 bar lost around 50 ah, 2 bars lost around 46ah, 3 bars lost around 42 ah.

If the ahr are low and the bars are high they reset it, not a bad thing on its own but if you drop 4 bars in 60,000 miles or 60 months you get a free battery from Nissan, go over the months or miles and you don't.

You just want to know what you are really dealing with.

If the ahr is reasonable vs the bars on the dash then you can use SOH% as the easier to look at number on a 100% style scale but that number resets with the dash bars so use ahr to see if you can trust it then SOH% for a convenient percentage.

[Aussie]

I first used lead spy when I was buying my leaf and it was a bit overwhelming trying to figure it out on the spot. Where are you based? I'm sure plenty of us forumites would be happy to meet up with you and show you the ropes!

[brycenesbitt]

I'd buy from a private party, so could insist on seeing the car at full charge.
What's "good" and "bad" in terms of SOH for given age vehicles?
Location is SF Bay Area.

What does a bad cell look like in LeafSpy (not red, right, that's shunting?)

[LTLFTcomposite]

Can LEAF spy tell how many times the car was turtled? Or for how long it was at low SOC?

[storaasli]

Hello,
I too am looking for a used Leaf and want to know how to evaluate the battery state. In particular I am looking at a used 2012SL in Southern California. The dealer posted a picture of the dash:
1) 41k miles
2) 12 battery capacity bars
3) Battery is about 75% charged (9/12), but 84 miles of range to go
4) Average economy of 2.9 mi/kWh

Does this mean it has a new battery? This new battery will have >100mi range?
Or could the dealer have reset it to give range and battery bars?
Should I expect LeafSpy to see >66Ah to agree with the Battery Capacity Display?

[EDIT] I called 1-877-nogas EV and they said the battery is original.
The capacity warranty expires in 10/2017, 60,000mi.

Perhaps it would be wise to steer clear of this car?

[brycenesbitt]

Hello,
I too am looking for a used Leaf and want to know how to evaluate the battery state. In particular I am looking at a used 2012SL in Southern California. The dealer posted a picture of the dash:
1) 41k miles
2) 12 battery capacity bars
3) Battery is about 75% charged (9/12), but 84 miles of range to go
4) Average economy of 2.9 mi/kWh

Seems insanely good.

[baustin]

Hello,
I too am looking for a used Leaf and want to know how to evaluate the battery state. In particular I am looking at a used 2012SL in Southern California. The dealer posted a picture of the dash:
1) 41k miles
2) 12 battery capacity bars
3) Battery is about 75% charged (9/12), but 84 miles of range to go
4) Average economy of 2.9 mi/kWh

Does this mean it has a new battery? This new battery will have >100mi range?
Or could the dealer have reset it to give range and battery bars?
Should I expect LeafSpy to see >66Ah to agree with the Battery Capacity Display?

[EDIT] I called 1-877-nogas EV and they said the battery is original.
The capacity warranty expires in 10/2017, 60,000mi.

Perhaps it would be wise to steer clear of this car?

The numbers don't add up. I would suspect a BMS reset has been done (either purposely or as the result of a software update).

The miles available is an estimate based on recent driving habits. 84 miles would be expected on a full charge, but 84 showing at 75% charge is very suspicious, especially with only a 2.9 mi/kwh average.