EDIT 2022/05/15 - After neglecting this issue for a year, i finally replaced the transmission, and the noise did not change. :? The next morning i went and got a new wheel bearing and replaced the driver side wheel bearing. all quiet now. About to write a howto for transmission replacement at least The fact that the wheel bearing failed while i was messing about with the gearbox fluids was a coincidence.
Hey Everyone,
My leaf has started making a noise that is audible on fresher pavement where the tire noise does not overcome it.
The noise is a hum/gear clicking that is speed dependent and doesn't really change with throttle.
https://imgur.com/PR0Pu65
the noise up close with the tires off the ground and me spinning the wheel by hand in neutral
https://imgur.com/q98tfio
and with tires spinning in drive off the ground
https://imgur.com/3EmYjZs
I just changed out the gear oil for a fresh variety (i had tried some slightly lighter weight for the last 1000 miles) but i am willing to bet that something must have been on the way out already, the car was tboned in the front a few years back and that could have exerted some forces on the transmission through the passenger side corner that took most of the damage, and the car now decided that was enough.
searching the forums i can find cases of people with reduction gear failures but they seem exceedingly rare still, so i am going to start keeping my eyes open on a part out leaf in my area to snag the reduction gear out of. I will probably try some thicker fluid in the reduction gear to document how that affects the noise or makes it quieter so i can limp it along farther.
if anyone has thoughts about this noise being something other than the reduction gear, i'd love to hear it. is the 2011-2012 reduction gear the same as 2013? that is the other thing to figure out, there is a 2011 part out near me.
cheers
Marko
Hey Everyone,
My leaf has started making a noise that is audible on fresher pavement where the tire noise does not overcome it.
The noise is a hum/gear clicking that is speed dependent and doesn't really change with throttle.
https://imgur.com/PR0Pu65
the noise up close with the tires off the ground and me spinning the wheel by hand in neutral
https://imgur.com/q98tfio
and with tires spinning in drive off the ground
https://imgur.com/3EmYjZs
I just changed out the gear oil for a fresh variety (i had tried some slightly lighter weight for the last 1000 miles) but i am willing to bet that something must have been on the way out already, the car was tboned in the front a few years back and that could have exerted some forces on the transmission through the passenger side corner that took most of the damage, and the car now decided that was enough.
searching the forums i can find cases of people with reduction gear failures but they seem exceedingly rare still, so i am going to start keeping my eyes open on a part out leaf in my area to snag the reduction gear out of. I will probably try some thicker fluid in the reduction gear to document how that affects the noise or makes it quieter so i can limp it along farther.
if anyone has thoughts about this noise being something other than the reduction gear, i'd love to hear it. is the 2011-2012 reduction gear the same as 2013? that is the other thing to figure out, there is a 2011 part out near me.
cheers
Marko