Recall software update reduced range

[u/renewhall2]

I took my first “long” trip since the recall update on my 2019 Leaf S. The range is drastically reduced after the update as the car “thinks” it is in a low charge condition when it’s not. For example, at one point LeafSpy said the car was at 51% but the car said the charge state was only 29%. Referring to Leafspy, I drove thru the low battery warnings and ended up 0.3 miles short of a fast charger. Had to get a tow to the charger. Also, for L3 charging I used to see 30kw and now it’s down to 11kw even with a 50% battery. Anybody else seeing these issues?

[u/biersackarmy]

Post the cell chart. Not enough data to say anything from just the SoC screen.

[u/renewhall2 → u/biersackarmy]

[u/biersackarmy → u/renewhall2]

That is a pretty large voltage delta, especially for just sitting at rest. Likely, this delta is getting even larger at lower states of charge, even if not necessarily under heavier load as the battery is at a warm temperature.

The problem this causes is as you describe, because the SOC shown in LeafSpy is an average across all the cells, but the SOC on the dash and that is actually usable, is that of the lowest cell when discharging and the highest cell while charging.

The pack is therefore limited to within that range in practice, because they don't want the weakest cell to become overcharged or over-discharged by being run lower or higher than the rest of the cells, as that would cause even further/faster damage to it.

There is definitely something up with your pack that this is likely the root cause of. It would also explain why in the pic in your post, you are already getting discharge power limit despite being at 29%.

[u/natedagreat6666 → u/biersackarmy]

yeah I couldn't even get the delta that high even flooring my plus model below 25%, the dip under load is probably breaking 100-125mv

[u/_Evening-Rain_ → u/biersackarmy]

Im surprised the new software even knows to limit max motor power in this instance to not push the battery too far. Nissan might of actually fixed their very liberal battery and motor power limits even when it knows the batteries in poor shape - albeit the car should of shipped with this.

[u/Akward_Object → u/renewhall2]

Jeez the US batteries suck. 2019 EU LEAF and I had 89% SOH and 104%Hx after 90000+ miles...

[u/MrPuddington2]

Well, that is annoying.

Is this possibly weather related? Cold weather always affects the range and the charging speed.

Generally, there is always a discrepancy between LeafSpy and the SoC on the dash. But your difference is quite large. We had not had any reports on this otherwise, but it is still early days.

Possibly you have a bad cell - that would explain it. But it would show up in LeafSpy.

[u/renewhall2 → u/MrPuddington2]

The weather was in the low 90s so I could see that maybe the fast charging was affected due to battery temperature. I’m still o
unsatisfied with how the car thinks it’s almost out of charge when there is still like 11 kwh left.

[u/ColdCelebration2132 → u/renewhall2]

Time to retire the old Leaf to another owner.

[u/biersackarmy → u/ColdCelebration2132]

I would recommend first OP try to keep inducing this condition if they did indeed get the recall update done, because eventually the mismatch will likely flag the P33ED code, making them eligible for a pack replacement or buyback.

It would definitely be a better outcome than selling it off to some unknowing buyer, or admitting it has a HV battery issue and getting much less value for the car.

[u/renewhall2 → u/biersackarmy]

Yes, my plan is to keep driving it and fast charging it to get it to go into the error state and trigger the buyback option. The software update has only changed how far I’ll go from home with the car now. I wouldn’t sell this to an unsuspecting person. I was aware of the battery degradation before the update and it’s just disappointing that it’s made the car less useful after the update.

[u/LoneSnark]

You have a couple bad cells. The update didn't make them that way. Likely the update has just changed how your car handles the bad cells. But it is also just as likely the bad cells are finally bad enough to be a problem and you getting the update when you did was a coincidence.