Coolant Level for Charging

[95eagle]

Have been unable to find an answer to this question. Thought I would post it here for an answer.

Will the On Board Charger come on if coolant level is very low or no coolant at all when car is connected to an EVSE?

[LeftieBiker]

Good question. My guess is that it's coolant temperature that might trigger a charging shutdown, not coolant level. I do not know if I am correct.

[cwerdna]

Why does it matter? I wouldn't want to run low on coolant as other stuff like the motor is cooled by that loop, besides the OBC. If there's not enough, add some but also one should look into the source of the leak and fix that.

[Nubo]

What year is your LEAF? prior to 2013 they had 2 cooling loops, as the OBC was located behind the rear seats.

[Nubo]

Good question. My guess is that it's coolant temperature that might trigger a charging shutdown, not coolant level. I do not know if I am correct.

Seems right, the service manual suggest the PDM will throw a fault if over temperature but doesn't mention coolant level except as a cause of the over-temperature. I have no idea how long it would take to go over-temp with a bone-dry system. I'd imagine it wouldn't present as a total failure to initiate charge, but that's a guess.

[95eagle]

Why does it matter? I wouldn't want to run low on coolant as other stuff like the motor is cooled by that loop, besides the OBC. If there's not enough, add some but also one should look into the source of the leak and fix that.

Matters because the On Board Charger shuts off after plugging in EVSE. Coolant has leaked out the bottom of the car. A 2012. In process of repairing leak.

[powersurge]

Well I would not drive the car if the coolant level is low.... Fix it first before you drive. Also, a bit of a leak does not mean that the coolant is low..

[95eagle]

Well I would not drive the car if the coolant level is low.... Fix it first before you drive. Also, a bit of a leak does not mean that the coolant is low..

I would not and do not drive it until repaired. For one thing, I cannot charge it up. In the process of repairing it. The coolant is definitely low. It runs onto the ground as fast as one can pour it in the coolant tank.

Still begs the question, is this the cause of the On Board Charger shutdown? If Charger starts working after coolant leak repair, we will have the answer.

[95eagle]

Progress. Found source of leak. A quarter inch hole in the so called degas tank. Anyone know what the term degas refers to?

[LeftieBiker]

Progress. Found source of leak. A quarter inch hole in the so called degas tank. Anyone know what the term degas refers to?

Just a guess, but it may refer to the air that gets mixed into the coolant by the pumps.