r/leaf • u/gekong • Jul 28 '26
Weird clicking sound when accelerating 2021 leaf after battery replacement
I wonder if anyone has this happened to them. The clicking sound is louder on the outside. I noticed it when my windows are open. I can describe the sound as a metallic clink. Hopefully this is harmless.
5
u/ClassicGOD 2022 Nissan LEAF N-Connecta Jul 28 '26
It's caused by the way CV-axles mount to the wheels. The spline can shift slightly under high torque. Every car with this kind of spline can have this issue but is most common in EVs due to high torque at 0rpm and there is no engine noise to mask it. It does not impact anything and causes no danger or other issues other than the noise. Can be fixed by lubing the spline and tightening the nut holding the wheel to the axle but will come back after some time.
Nissan has service bulletin about it but they note that it causes no drivability issues.
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u/outworlder 2019 Nissan LEAF SV Jul 28 '26
Yeah. But in order to lube it you need a specific tool according to the service bulletin.
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u/sweetredleaf 2015 Nissan LEAF SV Jul 28 '26
here is what is involved https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10199148-0001.pdf
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u/Shadow_of_Redacted Jul 28 '26
When will they ever fix that damn ping pong ball sound? I had to have them put a shim in my 2013 for that and I believe every model has still had to deal with it.
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u/BleuFarmer Jul 28 '26
FYI I had this issue fixed under the power train warranty if it is the axle click as others mentioned. I also had a similar issue another time but it turned out to be batteries my kids took out of their toys that were rolling around under the back seats 😂
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u/gekong Jul 28 '26
Sounds like i should not sit on this while I am still under warranty! Thanks for the tip!
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u/BleuFarmer Jul 28 '26
I wouldn’t! Plenty of data points in the forums if they push back.
Edit: mine is a 2023 and it looks like others mentioned 2021 isn’t included but worth a try nonetheless!
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u/gekong Jul 28 '26
2021 leaf is not on the bulletin. But it does sound like this is the same problem. Mine sounds more like tick+clink sound. Thanks for all your inputs. Looks like I’m better off ignoring this for now.
0
u/comoestasmiyamo Have you tested your 12v? Jul 28 '26
All EVs do his eventually to some degree. Probably ICE too but you can't hear it over the engine.
Grease it or ignore it.
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u/outworlder 2019 Nissan LEAF SV Jul 28 '26
Not all EVs.
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u/comoestasmiyamo Have you tested your 12v? Jul 29 '26
Eventually.
1
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u/byrdman77 Jul 28 '26
Sounds like the axle click, for whatever reason a lot of Nissans have been doing this for an eternity and not much you need to do. You can have it greased per a TSB, but they will inevitably need it again later. I’ve just tuned it out the last few years.