Catastrophic Failure of Heating System

[Brenthasty]

We just fixed our with a bypass, took photos but this forum has no easy way to just attach them.
Basically we picked up 2 20$ PTC heater elements off eBay 200 watts each and pulled power off the driver side panel fuse box which has an open high power lug we tapped with a 30@ fuse and ran 10 gauge zipcord under the dash up through the defroster vents to the PTC heaters placed center over each defroster vent.
The more air we blow the more power they draw.
They are very fast to defrost, and keep the cable air a touch about e freezing in our Finnish winter's.

I would be happy to email the pics to anyone willing g to take the time to post them online and link them to this discussion...

[armmynissanleaf]

Actually this is one of the advantages of Bolt. Nissan says its cars don't need it, the thermal management system, but apparently they do. I wish Nissan would do something about this.

[SageBrush]

Here are Brent Hasty's photos of his DIY solution

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Hw1Ka ... TyfUSFqlI5

[davewill]

Why in the world would you NOT take it in as soon as you noticed it, especially when the warranty was that close? I gotta say that this is on you, not Nissan.

[Marktm]

I noticed in April/May that the heater in my 2012 Leaf SL wasn't working right but because of the known crappiness of Leaf heating, I quickly forgot about it when the summer started. I remembered the issue a couple weeks ago when the temps dropped and it turns out it wasn't heating at all. I brought it to the dealer and lo and behold they want $4,000 for a completely new heating unit since this one has failed.

If you end up with a failed PTC heater core (does not have to work), I'd be interested in buying it - complete with all connectors.

[mark1313]

2009 original owner .....I used the heat once and never used it again ....It helps living in Phx AZ and wearing a coat in the winter while driving @ night ...

[cwerdna]

2009 original owner .....I used the heat once and never used it again ....It helps living in Phx AZ and wearing a coat in the winter while driving @ night ...

Impossible. 1st Nissan Leaf delivery was in Dec 2010:
http://www.plugincars.com/worlds-first- ... vered.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atvB5t3DXxw

[Nubo]

Actually this is one of the advantages of Bolt. Nissan says its cars don't need it, the thermal management system, but apparently they do. I wish Nissan would do something about this.

This thread is about the heating system, not battery thermal management.

[Brenthasty]

I just posted some YouTube video instructions for:

100$ 2012 Nissan leaf extended winter package PTC defrost with heated floorboards and heater fix.

Enjoy

https://youtu.be/2R2knucN5NE
https://youtu.be/cy6k1oNFXxE
https://youtu.be/GoMfFfVwN2c

[ajgagnon]

I have a catastrophic failure of my heater system too. In fact, I have seen two... one is my personal vehicle and one is a company car.

On mine, the heater pump (coolant fluid/heat pump compressor motor) quit, and after paying $1400 to have it replaced, it still doesn't work because apparently it leaked coolant onto the next part, which is a blower fan signal amplifier. Once that gets fixed ($700 or so), I'll find out if the PTC heater is blown (which I know from experience with the one at work is about $6-7 grand to fix, which was graciously handled by Nissan Canada).

I have been a big fan of Nissan and my 2012 Leaf, but this is brutal, even if it is marginally out of warranty. I certainly hope they come to the table to fix this situation if a simple heater fix looks like an $8k problem!