2013 S (10 days old) won't charge

[francistaft]

During the 10 days I have had the Leaf, I have charged it most days on 110v at home. Last weekend, and again this weekend, I charged on a Blink Level 2 EVSE while on errands. Today, after 20 minutes charging, I got an e-mail that the charge was completed. Since I started at 50%, I know that couldn't be right. So I went outside and tried again. It would start charging, but then cut off after 5 seconds or so. There were two other empty Blink EVSEs, so I tried both of them several times, too, with the same result. I then drove home and noticed the yellow triangle and the EV! light were lit. I tried charging on 110v at home, but got the same result. So I called the dealer. The dealer who sold me the car said the service department was open, but they wouldn't take it until Monday because there was no Leaf technician working today (Saturday). They also could not assure me they would give me a loaner even on Monday. (Said they would have to "see what the problem is" first.) So I called another local dealer, who also had no Leaf specialist in on the weekend, but immediately offered to have me bring it in today and take out a loaner. So now I have a Nissan Rogue in the driveway and a Leaf in the shop until someone certified can take a look at it. This is not comforting. It's like having a gas tank I can't put gas in. I have read the threads from last year regarding the GE Wattmeters, but has anyone had this problem on a 2013? Thanks. For what it's worth, I did not have a charge timer set and it was set to charge to 100%.

 

[scottf200]

See this thread:
2013 S Not Charging at Some Stations
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=12099" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wanted to see if anyone else out there with a 2013 S is experiencing a similar problem. I've gone to about 5 charging stations around town and my S charged ok on 3 of them but did not charge at all on 2. The stations were all made by a local company named Volta and uses the same Eaton charger on all of them. The stations that did not charge were not broken. There was a 2011-12 leaf charging at one of them and I unplugged that to test on my car. It still did not work. I called my dealership and they said that they've had a few complaints about that with the 2013s and are trying to figure out what's going on. I'm a little concerned because some of the key charging stations for me don't work. Anyone else experienced this?

My 2013 leaf did the same thing except I was not able to find a station that would let it charge. I tried a level 2 and 1 charger and when I plugged in the leaf the lights on the dash would light up and beep and the indicator on the level one charger would glow orange indicating that charge is starting and then it would suddenly quit. The car is currently at the dealer being diagnosed.

 

[francistaft]

After two days on the phone with Nissan Tech, the service department says they are ordering a new power distribution module, which they will install. Is this the same thing as the Power Delivery Module shown in the owner's manual or is it something different, if anybody knows? Thanks.

 

[planet4ever]

I don't think so. The Power Delivery Module is the big unit under the hood in the 2013 models that integrates the charger and inverter. I believe Power Distribution Module refers to the IPDM E/R which controls a lot of different kinds of electrical switching. In the 2011-2012 models it lives on the right side of the 12v battery. I'm not sure where it is in the 2013.

Ray

 

[francistaft]

Apparently it is the Power Delivery Module, in other words, the big silver component right in the middle of the "engine compartment" (what is this space called on an EV?). I am told replacing it is an involved process and it will take another day to complete.

 

[LEAFer]

... right in the middle of the "engine compartment" (what is this space called on an EV?).

My own personal "guess": the motor compartment ?

 

[francistaft]

LEAFer, yes that would be the obvious choice.

Anyway, as to the car, the replacement job is no stretching to a third day. Supposedly, it will be ready for pickup tomorrow, assuming all systems are working correctly when they get it fully replaced. I asked what they determined was specifically wrong with the PDM. The mechanic said he didn't know. After performing whatever tests they perfomed, Nissan tech told the mechanic to replace the PDM and send the original back to Nissan.

 

[LookoutLeaf]

I also have a problem with the charger.
I have the Blink charger at home to charge L2 my 2011 Leaf.
Last Sunday the charger looked very normal:" Ready to charge - Plug your vehicle in" I pluged in and the charger flash out :" It's charging" for just 1 second then returned to the stand-by screen. The car sounded 1 beep, no blue light on. But I could trickle charge the car.
Blink came and replaced the old one with a brand new charger. It did the same thing above.
Not only at my house, the car did not get charged at 3 Brink public chargers in town. But it is charged at all chargers at 2 dealership.
The Blink's technician suspected the car's diode is bad.
Any one has an idea ?

 

[gbarry42]

The Blink's technician suspected the car's diode is bad.
Any one has an idea ?

Sure...it looks like the diode is bad. There are chargers that don't check for it (the 120V charger), and others (the Blink) that do. And it's just like you are seeing. Unfortunately, the dealer has to fix it. If you are lucky, you may be able to (1) convince them this is the problem, and (2) have them order the parts before you give them your car.

Search on "diode" for more information than you probably want to know about.

 

[LookoutLeaf]

The Blink's technician suspected the car's diode is bad.
Any one has an idea ?

Sure...it looks like the diode is bad. There are chargers that don't check for it (the 120V charger), and others (the Blink) that do. And it's just like you are seeing. Unfortunately, the dealer has to fix it. If you are lucky, you may be able to (1) convince them this is the problem, and (2) have them order the parts before you give them your car.

Search on "diode" for more information than you probably want to know about.

Thank you for your advise.
Lookoutleaf

 

[braineo]

I've heard that Nissan did a change in the protocol that is not standard and affects two types of charging stations. Both manufacturers are aware of the problem and one of them made changes in their product going forward to handle Nissan's change and the other one is so p'od because Nissan went off the standard.

But I'm just a bystander on this one. I have no further information.

It might or might not appy to you since you charged for 9 days before your problem started.

 

[francistaft]

Final update (hopefully):

I picked up the car this morning. I was told the PDM was bad and they replaced it with a new PDM and that all now is working correctly again. The service advisor showed me the new PDM unit, which is the big silver box right in the middle of the motor compartment. I asked how much it would have cost but for the warranty. He said the part alone would cost over $3,000.

 

[jbrad4]

After two days on the phone with Nissan Tech, the service department says they are ordering a new power distribution module, which they will install. Is this the same thing as the Power Delivery Module shown in the owner's manual or is it something different, if anybody knows? Thanks.

I had (what I thought was) a problem with my new 2013 Leaf not charging. Then I realized I had not pressed the Timer Override button on the dash (lower left of the steering wheel).
The car has to be OFF, for the Timer Override to work.

 

[CAC]

I have the 2013 SL. 2 weeks old and the ESVE light came on and it wont charge. Dropped it off at the dealer yesterday. Not a good start to a new car!

 

[CAC]

The dealer said it is the PDM.

 

[michaelcalcagno]

Got my '13 leaf s on 4/20 in Portland, Ore.

Been changing on 120v at home every night.

Just tried two different Blink DCQC stations.

The first one had two stalls, but I got "Could not establish connection" message on both cords.

The second Blink DCQC station I went to established a connection, charged for about 10 minutes, then shut off and said "There was an unexpected interruption....disconnecting"

Does anyone have advice for me?

 

[rawhog]

The service manual calls it "The Engine Room".

Apparently it is the Power Delivery Module, in other words, the big silver component right in the middle of the "engine compartment" (what is this space called on an EV?). I am told replacing it is an involved process and it will take another day to complete.

 

[gbrummett]

I am also having a simliar problem on my new 2013 Leaf S but with the following differences.

At first mine would charge all the way to 100% on the home charger without fail.

Now it will not charge on 110 volt for more than an hour and a half, but, after it stops charging if I unplug and replug it will start charging again, this gets old pretty fast as you would have to unplug and plug 14 or more times to get a full charge.

On 220 mine will typically go for an hour and a half both on my home charger and on all blink chargers. Though sometimes it will vary and charge one time for an hour and a half and then the next time for only 15 minutes.

You almost have to babysit the car to get a charge.

Am taking it in to the dealer today and see what happens.

 

[gbrummett]

Forgot to mention that my Nissan case number for car not charging is 11304669 and talked to Nissan Tech named Wesley at ext 457250

 

[cwerdna]

I also have a problem with the charger.
I have the Blink charger at home to charge L2 my 2011 Leaf.
Last Sunday the charger looked very normal:" Ready to charge - Plug your vehicle in" I pluged in and the charger flash out :" It's charging" for just 1 second then returned to the stand-by screen. The car sounded 1 beep, no blue light on. But I could trickle charge the car.
Blink came and replaced the old one with a brand new charger. It did the same thing above.
Not only at my house, the car did not get charged at 3 Brink public chargers in town. But it is charged at all chargers at 2 dealership.
The Blink's technician suspected the car's diode is bad.
Any one has an idea ?

In the future, you should probably start a separate thread or post in one devoted to '11 and '12 Leafs.

You're also using some of the wrong terminology. For L1 and L2 charging, you're plugging into EVSEs, NOT chargers. The (on-board) charger (aka OBC) on the '11 and '12 Leaf is in the back, under the hump. See http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=69224" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

On the '13 Leaf, OBC has been moved to the under the hood, is now further integrated and likely very different. Nichicon also no longer has the contract for the OBC w/the '13 Leaf. See 2nd to last slide of http://sfbayleafs.org/news/2013/01/2013-nissan-leaf-product-highlights/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/11993/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

The diode you refer to is inside the car's OBC.