2023 S Lost Power While Driving

[Bob23]

I have a 2023 S with about 4,000 miles on it. I have had it for about 10 months. Low use (just for a modest commute to work and a few other short distance trips). Level 1 charging. Everything has been great. However, yesterday, my wife took the car for a brief 4 mile trip. When she left it was 100% charged. Her trip involves a mile up a hill to a major street. There is a stop sign at that corner and you often have to wait for traffic to make the needed left turn. When she pulled out, she reported back to me that the car had no power and other cars almost collided with her. She assures me that she did not touch any controls (putting it in B mode, for instance). There were no errors on the dash that she saw. And she says it regained power without her doing anything after about 10-12 seconds. I have never seen anything like this. Any suggestions on what to check? I have purchased the Leaf Spy Pro but never used it. Is there anything that it will tell me?

 

[danelo]

Check the car with Leaf Spy. There could be one or more DTCs, diagnostic trouble codes, that are saved in the computer. Look at the Mv, millivolt, difference between the cells. One cell being off can cause issues. Going up that hill with LeafSpy connected could probably show something being wrong. Issues with the main traction battery tend to show up when it is being worked harder then on just flat roads. Check the 12V battery too. A low or bad 12V battery can cause issues.

 

[MikeinPA]

Bob, I don't recall anyone reporting these symptoms before on this message board. Certainly create a detailed written record and take the car and the record to a Nissan dealer.

LS pro can look at the DTCs. You will need to get the app connected to a good OBD adapter. I have only had good luck with the LE Link adapter. Then read up on how to find the DTC screen in LS and read them. DO NOT CLEAR THEM. There are many potential reasons for the Leaf deciding not to send power to the motor--none of which I am qualified to describe well. But if there was an intermittent fault somewhere in this complex system, and the Leaf saw it (so to speak) and decided not to send power to the motor--it should also have logged a DTC.

DTCs are very specific, but also somewhat hard to interpret. Nissan has further tools that they can connect to the vehicle to collect information.

I mean absolutely no disrespect when I say this could be operator error. I have many many times been absolutely certain I did a procedure correctly, only to find something I was doing wrong had snuck past my awareness. We are human! The reason I bring this up is that it needs to included in the diagnosis you need to go through, because this is a very serious issue if it happens again. Was there anything in the vicinity of the shift button that may have interfered with it? Is it possible that the brake pedal was being depressed simultaneously with the throttle?

Yes, make sure the 12 volt is healthy as well. Let us know what happens, even if it nothing.

 

[cornbinder89]

Given where and when, Uphill, making a turn, I wonder if traction control kick in because of wheel spin?
If she was making a quick entry into the road, it may be that simple. Esp since it 1) corrected and 2) didn't seam to set a code.

 

[BillAinCT]

I lost power when the Leaf detected a pedestrian in my path (on a sidewalk on a curve) and regained power as I continued and the person left the sensor area. Losing power for 10-12 seconds sounds like a really long time to me to lose power for a similar reason.

 

[cornbinder89]

I lost power when the Leaf detected a pedestrian in my path (on a sidewalk on a curve) and regained power as I continued and the person left the sensor area. Losing power for 10-12 seconds sounds like a really long time to me to lose power for a similar reason.

Your explanation sound more probable then mine, I keep forgetting about all the new "features" on the newer cars.

 

[Bob23]

Thanks for all the responses. Leaf Spy reports absolutely no problems. no codes and the cells are great. I have had no problems driving it EXCEPT I too, had a problem making the same turn. I lost power for maybe 1 or 2 seconds, but it was definitely slow acceleration for those 1 or 2 seconds making the same turn from the same hill. The thought of the traction control is interesting. As to the thought of a pedestrian. there were no alarm noises and I did not see anyone. And my wife is super careful. But the traction control might just be something. I was thinking also that the issue of the holding itself from sliding back down the hill may have something to do with it I have thought about contacting the dealer and I may. But I wanted to get some feedback from here first, just to make sure that wasn't some kind of known problem.

 

[nlspace]

Maybe some kind of delay due to a control mode shift between "hill hold" and "forward acceleration" torque command?

On a steep hill it might be difficult to determine if throttle is being added just to hold, or if forward motion is desired.

Monitoring the torque command PID on the CAN Buss might help show the reason.

Be sure to apologize to your wife for doubting her

 

[Bob23]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try to monitor the torque command PID and see if I see anything. As to the more important task, apologizing to my wife, already done! LOL. But that does bring up a concerning side issue. My wife and I are getting up in years and so on occasion I will discuss with her about what to do if I am not around. While I hope that is far in the future, we have had discussions about what to do. Cars are a part of that. She has a 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid with about 28K miles on it. She just uses it for errands around town. But it is a hybrid and as thus, requires oil and fluid changes and other routine maintenance. The leaf, on the other hand, requires nothing besides tire rotation and a cabin filter change for many miles before something real needs to be done. Let's face it. If the cabin filter didn't get changed, she could still get to the store. So I have been encouraging her to keep the Leaf. But since her power loss episode, she is afraid of the car. So, somehow I need to find a solution to this, if one exists.

 

[MikeinPA]

You've managed to duplicate the issue, I think? "I too, had a problem making the same turn. I lost power for maybe 1 or 2 seconds, but it was definitely slow acceleration for those 1 or 2 seconds"

Keep duplicating it to characterize it. I like the vehicle safety system theory--it is seeing something at that curve that it interprets as a hazard and cuts power. There may even have been a pedestrian in the right place. One you have nailed it down, explain it. Less worrisome then.