Nissan LEAF - General

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1402 posts

Uber Geek

#2898722 8-Apr-2022 19:26

There are still a lot of 2010-2014 Leafs and e-NV200 with Japanese head units.
I now offer the most budget Japanese to English non-invasive conversion solution for those QY7204, QY7224, QY7214, QY7254 Carwings Head Units.
Also can restore those with lost SD card.

At the end of that 5 min video brief instruction how to set up local time - applicable to original non converted head units.
In brief: disconnect GPS antenna, enter Diagnostic Menu and adjust clock. To enter Diagnostic Menu - Audio OFF, Power OFF! Then Power ON, Map button - 3 times, Power Button - twice, Map button - once. May need to repeat sequence as it is sensitive to the speed of your manipulations.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i-i29QXGto4

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SaltyNZ

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#2898828 8-Apr-2022 21:37

Scott3:

40kWh cars appear to be doing substantially better battery health wise than the smaller battery leaf's. Noticeable concave up in the curve below. and generally higher state of health than similar age 24 kWh & 30 kWh cars. Latter is to be expected bigger battery, means less cycles (and less need to do max range charges to 100%).

I got the call back from GVI today. As far as the 12V battery issue goes, it was the (entirely useless in NZ) TCU that had developed a fault and was causing everything to stay awake. They permanently disconnected it and have turned the car on every day for a week now with no issues, so that's sorted. However the main battery - and bear in mind that mine is a 30kWh - is another story. They said they couldn't believe how many times it had been charged.

Anyway, after looking at it they reckon that the overall low health means full replacement is the only option worth doing, and since I don't need to drive it regularly at the moment, the most economical option is that I'll just pick it up and wait for EV's Enhanced and the 16-blade. Unfortunately although they know it will be this year, they don't know when. Still, once done it will get me a brand new 40kWh battery.

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

RogerMellie

320 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2899736 11-Apr-2022 09:58

I cannot recommend GVI.

bad times? We got ours from there. A few screw ups, but overall not too bad..

The guys I dealt with 'on the ground' I think are good guys, but unfortunately their leadership had to be reminded several times of their obligations under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

We got there in the end but not without a lot of unnecessary frustration. I never give in when I'm in the right, so it is frustrating to deal with companies/govt departments here in NZ (I'm looking at you Toyota NZ/ Lexus NZ / NZTA ) that try to pass the buck & shirk their responsibilities, and force me to have to spell out to them how and why they should be conducting themselves given their legal requirements.

So, I will retract my non-recommendation of GVI, and say that overall I think they offer a good buying experience.

General tip: When buying from any dealer, be observant of any potential issue with the car, TAKE PHOTOS AND VIDEO of the issue on your phone so that the proof is time-stamped, and bring it to their attention ASAP.

Batman

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#2899813 11-Apr-2022 12:49

What's a TCU? Cheers

SaltyNZ

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#2899834 11-Apr-2022 13:29

Batman:

What's a TCU? Cheers

Telecommunications Control Unit - the modem module that handles all the remote car management etc. But only in Japan (or at least, its home country). It's also the one that's fingered in many 12V battery issues in places where it actually works, too - lots of people complained they started to get issues in North America after their 2G modules were replaced with 3G ones ahead of 2G network shutdowns.

Anyway, it does nothing here, so simply unplugging it is the best option.

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

GV27

5897 posts

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#2915425 18-May-2022 09:19

Sadly it looks like my lead on a cheap 40kw Leaf isn't going to pan out anymore :( So back to the import plan!

everettpsycho

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2915693 18-May-2022 16:18

Is anyone running a two leaf household?

Our commuting is about to change so instead of both going 50km round trip together I'm about to move jobs and will instead be doing a 100km round trip with my partner still doing the old 50km one.

I'm planning to take the 30kw leaf on the longer commute to try and save money but aware that's probably not going to do our battery any favours. Seriously considering replacing our old thirsty petrol car with something more frugal for the 50km trip, alternatively charging will be available at my new office so I could top up in the day.

I'm really thinking a reasonable 24kw or slightly worse 30kw leaf would be a good call and if we do thrash only one of the batteries the 16 blade will be a thing by then to switch it out. Downsides weighing in my mind though are this leave us with no long range option for going away on holiday, and also makes us a two hatchback home with a toddler and potentially another one in the future, will a young family of 4 really fit in a leaf?

Alternatively is we try and find more money to get a new MG as that solves the problems, but at a price, or we consider a Prius or outlander phev to bring the cost down and have some electrification but will use some petrol every day.

The other issue regardless is we'll need to charge the things. Obviously 2 8A trickle chargers will trip the garage fuse so I'll have to get something installed. My theory in this is to potentially get 2 new 32A capable circuits run to the front of the garage and have a 7kw on one and for now a 15A caravan plug on the other, probably have to put a load monitor on the 7kw one to make sure it doesn't blow the entire house. We do only charge overnight so shouldn't be overloading anything at that time.

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RUKI

1402 posts

Uber Geek

#2915700 18-May-2022 16:47

FYI: household with 2 Leafs or Leaf & e-NV200. Re: keys. Be advised that it is possible to program master key(s) to start/open both vehicles. I can do that in Auckland.
That is relevant to cars of the same generation, I.e. AZE0 & ZE0 are compatible, AZE0 and ZE1 are not, you can have master key for two AZE0 or for AZE0 and ZE0, for two ZE1, but not for AZE0 and ZE1.
Also that is relevant to same region - I.e. Both Japanese or both European.

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RunningMan

8960 posts

Uber Geek

#2915711 18-May-2022 17:01

@everettpsycho you may find a single 32 amp circuit is sufficient, with a pair of EVSEs that will load share - 32 amp to a single vehicle, or split to 16 amps each if 2 are charging. Depends on your use case though - easy enough to do the maths for 1 or 2 vehicles charging and how many kWh you want for each over night (or whatever period is relevant). Two circuits pulling 32 amps each would exceed the common pole fuse of 63 amps without any other load from the rest of the house.

everettpsycho

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2915719 18-May-2022 17:21

RunningMan:
@everettpsycho you may find a single 32 amp circuit is sufficient, with a pair of EVSEs that will load share - 32 amp to a single vehicle, or split to 16 amps each if 2 are charging. Depends on your use case though - easy enough to do the maths for 1 or 2 vehicles charging and how many kWh you want for each over night (or whatever period is relevant). Two circuits pulling 32 amps each would exceed the common pole fuse of 63 amps without any other load from the rest of the house.

So my only plan for running 2 was to facilitate a 7kw charger inside and caravan plug outside. For now 2 caravan plugs would be fine as a leaf or two won't be able to use the 7kw. The second circuit would be mainly when we get a bigger 50kwh+ vehicle we'd need the faster charge speeds. Obviously if we opted for a car now that can take the extra power as our second car we'd be using the 3.6kw + 7kw but would still be under the magic 63A. Just if we are going to the effort to run the cables in the wall we may as well do 2 to save doing it again later.

HarmLessSolutions

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#2915727 18-May-2022 17:32

RunningMan:

@everettpsycho you may find a single 32 amp circuit is sufficient, with a pair of EVSEs that will load share - 32 amp to a single vehicle, or split to 16 amps each if 2 are charging. Depends on your use case though - easy enough to do the maths for 1 or 2 vehicles charging and how many kWh you want for each over night (or whatever period is relevant). Two circuits pulling 32 amps each would exceed the common pole fuse of 63 amps without any other load from the rest of the house.

For a 3 phase supplied property, as we are, how would that affect the set-up? I realise that 3 phase gives up the potential for faster charging rates than for a single phase situation.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

Batman

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#2915729 18-May-2022 17:34

SaltyNZ:

Batman:

What's a TCU? Cheers

Telecommunications Control Unit - the modem module that handles all the remote car management etc. But only in Japan (or at least, its home country). It's also the one that's fingered in many 12V battery issues in places where it actually works, too - lots of people complained they started to get issues in North America after their 2G modules were replaced with 3G ones ahead of 2G network shutdowns.

Anyway, it does nothing here, so simply unplugging it is the best option.

any pointers to which is the TCU in the dash - i am not sure which thing to disconnect behind the headunit

RUKI

1402 posts

Uber Geek

#2915751 18-May-2022 18:26

@Batman, re: TCU.
No gain in disconnecting TCU from the rear of the head unit. The main point is in disconnecting TCU from 12V, so that it doesn't drain 12v battery. You have to locate TCU unit and unplug it.

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RunningMan

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#2915757 18-May-2022 18:44

@harmlesssolutions for 3 phase it still kind of depends... on what vehicles you need to charge, how much time you have to charge them, how many you need to charge at the same time.

One option is a couple of single phase EVSEs, each on a different phase - this would give you 7kW per vehicle which would be fine for many people. However if you have large capacity vehicles with onboard 3 phase chargers (many vehicles with type 2 connecters do) and you need to charge them quickly, then moving to 3 phase EVSEs is beneficial.

The majority of 3 phase equipped vehicles currently available will charge at ~11kW - 16 amps/phase. So you could set up 2 x 3 phase EVSEs, give them 16 amps each and be able to charge 2 cars at 11 kW. The problem is if you then plug in a single phase car, it will only get 16 amps on 1 phase, so ~3.5kW.

There's plenty of EVSEs that will load share, including 3 phase, so the same principle can apply as for single phase. Tesla wall connector is one of the cheaper ones. Bear in mind though, this is a LEAF thread, all of which are single phase.

gzt

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#2915794 18-May-2022 21:59

everettpsycho: Downsides weighing in my mind though are this leave us with no long range option for going away on holiday, and also makes us a two hatchback home with a toddler and potentially another one in the future, will a young family of 4 really fit in a leaf?

I've used a 2013 now and then with a baby seat in the back. Seems good to me. Larger than average imo. I'd do that. Holidays away is a harder one. Potentially charger planning and a very long day to get where you're going. Not fun with kids. Check the economics of hire cars. Coincidentally I've been looking at close to home stay aways only because we just cant seem to get away lately. It makes a lot of sense.

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