Li-on battery won't charge after being flat
- Thread starter GeorgeB
- Start date
Help Support My Nissan Leaf Forum:
Assume you are referring to the traction battery: how long has it been "flat"? Did the car "turtle"?
If you can't get any OBD data (LeafSpy?), then the 12v battery is still no good; sometimes a "dead" lead-acid (another assumption) never comes back. You also didn't mention if you tried another EVSE.
Missing lots of details to trouble-shoot the problem.
If you can't get any OBD data (LeafSpy?), then the 12v battery is still no good; sometimes a "dead" lead-acid (another assumption) never comes back. You also didn't mention if you tried another EVSE.
Missing lots of details to trouble-shoot the problem.
If the blue charging lights flash (on the dash) it is likely the12 volt has enough to pull in the contactors, IIRC those don't flash until AFTER the contactor is closed.
What happens after they flash?
I read in the army report using Leafs as a power source that they dis charge the traction battery on one so far that it had to be replaced, as it would not charge.
More info on how your traction battery got into the state it is, would be helpful.
If the charge timer is set, the blue lights will flash for a few minutes, then shut off until the timer turns things back on.
Make sure your timer isn't set or press the timer override button on the left of the dash, look to see the center blue light is steady, then plug in the EVSE. See if that gets it charging.
What happens after they flash?
I read in the army report using Leafs as a power source that they dis charge the traction battery on one so far that it had to be replaced, as it would not charge.
More info on how your traction battery got into the state it is, would be helpful.
If the charge timer is set, the blue lights will flash for a few minutes, then shut off until the timer turns things back on.
Make sure your timer isn't set or press the timer override button on the left of the dash, look to see the center blue light is steady, then plug in the EVSE. See if that gets it charging.
Thanks Cornbinder. I switched my hazard lights on and forgot to turn them off for about three hours. There was about 30-40 miles left in the battery so I was surprised it went flat. I haven't been able to find the charge timer but I'll try the override button. Number 1 blue light flashes for a while then stops.
Thanks Stanton. Yes it's the tractor battery, I switched my hazard lights on and forgot to turn them off for about three hours, then I tried to start the car but nothing happened so I charged the 12v Battery and the car woke up but won't charge. The EVSE power light shines.
I don't think the hazard lights are powered by the HV battery. Even if they were, they would likely run for days and days without discharging that battery (i.e., it takes vastly more power to push a car down the road for even a mile than to blink a couple lights for a few hours). I think you have a bad 12v battery.
![[2024 Upgraded] Retractable Car Charger, SUPERONE 69W Car Phone Charger with Cables Fast Charging, Gifts for Men Women Car Accessories for iPhone 16 15 14 13 12, Samsung, Black](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31-ZCpiDr2L._SL500_.jpg)
That helps.
Replace the 12v battery (don't waste any more time charging), start the car (the traction battery definitely has some capacity left), turn it off...and that should "clear" any charging codes/issues. Plug it back in and the EVSE should work.
Disconnect the 12 volt and charge it, then test it. It had enough "juice" to run the 4 ways for 3 hrs or so, and the fronts at least are incandescent.
That will do 3 things:
1) you'll know the condition of the battery
2) it will force clear any codes stored (since you can't retrieve them, there is nothing lost by erasing them)
3) it will eliminate the 12 volt as a source of the current problem.
EV's in general and the Leaf in particular are NOT OBDII compliant. This means that many scanners designed for ICE vehicles can't read anything from the diagnostic plug.
You need a scanner that is made for EV's or for the Leaf in particular, LeafSpy is what most here use. Some high end commercial scanners can read the Leaf and some lower cost can read some but not as much as Leafspy.
All this cost you under $50 for Leafspy and a dongle if you have a smart phone, less than 1/2 the cost of throwing a new 12 volt which may or may not be needed.
When you plug in you should see the blue lights flash, then when it starts charging, the one on the right will flash then go steady and the next one will flash etc until the two are steady and the last one is flashing.
If just the left one is flashing that is indicating it is charging the 12 volt.
You didn't tell use the year and trim code of the Leaf you have and that makes it hard.
On my 2015 and I think most from at least 2013, have 4 buttons in a row on the dash to the left of the steering wheel.
they are from left to right
1) steering wheel heat
2) timer off/override
3) charge cord lock. a three position switch center off, auto and locked
4) the right most is the charge door open button.
open the charge door and press the timer override, if the timer is set you should get one blue light on the dash for about 5-10 min, during which it will charge if you plug in the cord, if you do not, it will revert back to timer and will not charge.
There are more things that could be a problem, or could need looking into, but this is enough to start.
That will do 3 things:
1) you'll know the condition of the battery
2) it will force clear any codes stored (since you can't retrieve them, there is nothing lost by erasing them)
3) it will eliminate the 12 volt as a source of the current problem.
EV's in general and the Leaf in particular are NOT OBDII compliant. This means that many scanners designed for ICE vehicles can't read anything from the diagnostic plug.
You need a scanner that is made for EV's or for the Leaf in particular, LeafSpy is what most here use. Some high end commercial scanners can read the Leaf and some lower cost can read some but not as much as Leafspy.
All this cost you under $50 for Leafspy and a dongle if you have a smart phone, less than 1/2 the cost of throwing a new 12 volt which may or may not be needed.
When you plug in you should see the blue lights flash, then when it starts charging, the one on the right will flash then go steady and the next one will flash etc until the two are steady and the last one is flashing.
If just the left one is flashing that is indicating it is charging the 12 volt.
You didn't tell use the year and trim code of the Leaf you have and that makes it hard.
On my 2015 and I think most from at least 2013, have 4 buttons in a row on the dash to the left of the steering wheel.
they are from left to right
1) steering wheel heat
2) timer off/override
3) charge cord lock. a three position switch center off, auto and locked
4) the right most is the charge door open button.
open the charge door and press the timer override, if the timer is set you should get one blue light on the dash for about 5-10 min, during which it will charge if you plug in the cord, if you do not, it will revert back to timer and will not charge.
There are more things that could be a problem, or could need looking into, but this is enough to start.
This thread reinforces the reason why everyone who posts on this site should put information about their vehicle in their profile so it appears in their signature line below each post.
