Hi, everyone.
My first post.
We have a 2016 SV that we purchased fall 2019 in B.C. and had shipped to us in Winnipeg. It was imported by a dealer in B.C. from the U.S. (California).
Last winter was not particularly cold (no real cold snaps) and we only had a 120v slow charger, and never had any trouble with the car not 'starting' in cold weather. This summer, we installed a level 2 charger, which we like because it doesn't take 16 hours to charge anymore.
But we just had a very cold snap here (-35C over several nights). The manual says to always plug in the car when the ambient temp is below -17C, but I forgot to do that the first cold night. In the morning, it wouldn't go. Display indicated a cold battery (no bars on the battery temp gauge), range showed --- instead of numbers, and it would not enter R or D.)
So I plugged in the Level 2 charger that day (even though the battery was still almost fully charged), and after several hours charging, still no go.
My son is a Red Seal (certified) mechanic at one of the local Nissan dealers, though they were not 'certified' to carry the LEAF until last year, and he has only had training on the 2nd generation.
We tested the voltage on the 12v battery, which was low, so we thought that might be preventing the electronics from turning on the battery heater. With a regular battery charger connected to the 12v battery, we eventually could get the car to go.
We charged the 12v battery, and left the Level 2 charger plugged in all night, but the next morning it again was no go.
Again, after running the 12v battery charger on hi for about 1 hour, I managed to get it to 'shift' to D.
My son checked the VIN, and looked up the Nissan service manual, and it appears that the US and Canadian 30kw (SV and SL) models differ in whether they have a battery heater. This is only for 2016, I think. When he used the diagnostic computer to call for codes (DTCs) for the heater relay, the relay appeared not to be present. (Not sure I'm explaining that exactly right.)
So we are wondering if using only the Level 1 (120v) charger last winter meant the battery was almost always being charged (and so warmed), while now using the Level 2 (240v) charger means the battery gets finished charging and then gets cold.
(I should note the car came with a 2017 Owners Manual, which states as others have noted on these forums that the battery heater will turn on when the temp is below -17c, and even use its own power to keep 'warm' when not plugged in and the temp drops below -17c). Not sure what the 2016 Manual states.)
Sorry for the long post, but to summarize, several questions:
- anyone else with experience with a weak 12v battery causing charging/cold Li-ion battery problems?
- anyone else wondering (based on experience) about no battery heater in 2016 30kw models from the US?
- anyone have experience possibly rigging a battery warmer (using pipe tracing heater tape between the battery and the undertray?
Thanks
Ray vdZaag
My first post.
We have a 2016 SV that we purchased fall 2019 in B.C. and had shipped to us in Winnipeg. It was imported by a dealer in B.C. from the U.S. (California).
Last winter was not particularly cold (no real cold snaps) and we only had a 120v slow charger, and never had any trouble with the car not 'starting' in cold weather. This summer, we installed a level 2 charger, which we like because it doesn't take 16 hours to charge anymore.
But we just had a very cold snap here (-35C over several nights). The manual says to always plug in the car when the ambient temp is below -17C, but I forgot to do that the first cold night. In the morning, it wouldn't go. Display indicated a cold battery (no bars on the battery temp gauge), range showed --- instead of numbers, and it would not enter R or D.)
So I plugged in the Level 2 charger that day (even though the battery was still almost fully charged), and after several hours charging, still no go.
My son is a Red Seal (certified) mechanic at one of the local Nissan dealers, though they were not 'certified' to carry the LEAF until last year, and he has only had training on the 2nd generation.
We tested the voltage on the 12v battery, which was low, so we thought that might be preventing the electronics from turning on the battery heater. With a regular battery charger connected to the 12v battery, we eventually could get the car to go.
We charged the 12v battery, and left the Level 2 charger plugged in all night, but the next morning it again was no go.
Again, after running the 12v battery charger on hi for about 1 hour, I managed to get it to 'shift' to D.
My son checked the VIN, and looked up the Nissan service manual, and it appears that the US and Canadian 30kw (SV and SL) models differ in whether they have a battery heater. This is only for 2016, I think. When he used the diagnostic computer to call for codes (DTCs) for the heater relay, the relay appeared not to be present. (Not sure I'm explaining that exactly right.)
So we are wondering if using only the Level 1 (120v) charger last winter meant the battery was almost always being charged (and so warmed), while now using the Level 2 (240v) charger means the battery gets finished charging and then gets cold.
(I should note the car came with a 2017 Owners Manual, which states as others have noted on these forums that the battery heater will turn on when the temp is below -17c, and even use its own power to keep 'warm' when not plugged in and the temp drops below -17c). Not sure what the 2016 Manual states.)
Sorry for the long post, but to summarize, several questions:
- anyone else with experience with a weak 12v battery causing charging/cold Li-ion battery problems?
- anyone else wondering (based on experience) about no battery heater in 2016 30kw models from the US?
- anyone have experience possibly rigging a battery warmer (using pipe tracing heater tape between the battery and the undertray?
Thanks
Ray vdZaag