Leaf "grabby brakes" - any resolution?

Orebro

Calling Leaf 1& 1.5 owners - has there ever been a resolution from Nissan for the grabby brake issue at slow speeds - owners will know exactly what I'm talking about :-)

It's been driving me nuts lately and makes me feel like a first time driver with the way the car comes to a stop - am hoping there has been a software update or the like to sort it? I've tried the jamming on the brakes method (at a slow speed on an empty road obviously) but it doesn't seem to do anything for it.

KCross

What year car have you got?

Orebro

KCross wrote: »

What year car have you got?

2014

Gumbo

It’s a long term issue. I find the way to cure it is when your stoooed in traffic, put your foot into the brake pedal and press firmly down as far as possible.

Usually works for me then afterwards.

Soarer

Make sure there's nobody behind you, and stand on the pedal when you're going relatively fast.

unkel

What's causing it, rusty discs?

Gumbo

unkel wrote: »

What's causing it, rusty discs?

No it seems to be an issue with how the system works. I had it on mine within a day of fitting 4 new discs and pads.

KCross

Apparently a calibration issue on early Leafs resolved by a software update.

Have you asked your local dealer orebro?

There is a dealer bulletin about it so they should know.

Orebro

KCross wrote: »

Apparently a calibration issue on early Leafs resolved by a software update.

Have you asked your local dealer orebro?

There is a dealer bulletin about it so they should know.

That’s interesting - it’s due a service anyway so I’ll be sure to ask them about that, hopefully they’ll know about it. Would be brilliant to get it sorted.

Zenith74

You see this posted a bit to apparently re-calibrate the brakes, no idea if it is correct or will help with your issue, but worth a try -
"Come to a complete stop, turn the traction control off, press hard on the brake pedal for 30 seconds and turn traction control back on. That will recalibrate the brake pedal force for your strength."

KCross

Orebro wrote: »

That’s interesting - it’s due a service anyway so I’ll be sure to ask them about that, hopefully they’ll know about it. Would be brilliant to get it sorted.

I havent experienced it myself so only going on what I had read on the UK forum. Seems to affect early Sunderland Leafs I think, so 2013 and some 2014's.

It seems that as the pads wear down the transition from regen to friction brakes at low speeds doesnt work smoothly due to the system not being calibrated right to account for the pad wear. Happens more so in B mode they say.

A few posts from the UK say the software update resolves it perfectly.
A few others also suggest the "stomping on the brakes" thing but I suspect thats a short lived solution. The software update is the way to go.


The bulletin I referred to...

SB 2013 LEAF; Brake Pedal Sensitive at Speeds Below 15 MPH
Summary of NTB14017:
If YOU CONFIRM Customer may experience some brake sensitivity at speeds below 15 mph. The customer may experience this issue while in stop-and-go traffic conditions. And No DTCs are present in the Electrically-driven Intelligent Brake Control Unit.* If DTCs are present, refer to the specific section of the applicable Electronic Service Manual (ESM) and diagnose first. ACTION 1. Refer to step 14 in the SERVICE PROCEDURE to confirm this bulletin applies to the vehicle you are working on. 2. If this bulletin applies, reprogram the Electrically-driven Intelligent Brake Control Unit with CONSULT III plus (CIII plus). Please see this bulletin for further details.

An example...
https://www.speakev.com/threads/leaf-grabby-brakes-corrected.71073/


Do you have LeafSpy? Can you post a screenshot of the ECU versions screen?

Orebro

That’s fantastic KCross, very much appreciated. Those symptoms are exactly what I’m experiencing. I’ll try to dig out the dongle too, haven’t used leafspy in a long while, found myself becoming obsessed with battery health :-)

Gumbo

Nissan Airside told me I'd have to book it in for a service or for a check up for them to check to see if there's an update to the issue.

homer911

I'm getting a sticky parking brake when reversing, usually out of my drive way. Its fine once I switch into D.

Any suggestions?

zilog_jones

Check the caliper slide pins and lubricate if they're not moving freely.

KCross

homer911 wrote: »

I'm getting a sticky parking brake when reversing, usually out of my drive way. Its fine once I switch into D.

Any suggestions?

Quite common on the Leaf. They need lubrication. If you cant do it yourself any mechanic should be able to do it for you. No need for main dealer.

Orebro

Mines going in for a service tomorrow. I’ve given them the service bulletin number that KCross has kindly quoted so fingers crossed they find it and apply the update. If they can’t find it I intend to stay on the case since it’s such a ubiquitous issue with the early Leafs like mine. I’ll report back tomorrow evening hopefully.

Gumbo

Orebro wrote: »

Mines going in for a service tomorrow. I’ve given them the service bulletin number that KCross has kindly quoted so fingers crossed they find it and apply the update. If they can’t find it I intend to stay on the case since it’s such a ubiquitous issue with the early Leafs like mine. I’ll report back tomorrow evening hopefully.

Let us know how you get on

Ush1

How do you check with version of software the car has and if you need this update? Also, are dealers obliged to do the software update for you for free?

Gumbo

Ush1 wrote: »

How do you check with version of software the car has and if you need this update? Also, are dealers obliged to do the software update for you for free?

If its recommended by Nissan as a fix for something then yes as part of the service work.

KCross

Ush1 wrote: »

How do you check with version of software the car has

LeafSpy on your smartphone and an OBDII dongle which plugs into the car. It will then read the ECU version data for you.

Orebro

So just collected my car from Kearys in Cork (Carrigrohane). Disappointingly but I guess not surprisingly they said the update doesn't apply to my car, but seemed very unsure of what I was on about. He said they are waiting to hear back from Nissan on it. Not holding out much hope so I intend to chase this up with Nissan Ireland to see if I can get anywhere with it.

What is it with these service bulletins that they can't simply put the ref number into the computer and realize its an issue that needs looking at.

Orebro

So the guys in Nissan Ireland came back really quickly after emailing them.

They can't find any reference to that bulletin number at all - they seem to think it may even be an American number. So I'm at a loss with this...any more suggestions KCross?

KCross

Orebro wrote: »

So the guys in Nissan Ireland came back really quickly after emailing them.

They can't find any reference to that bulletin number at all - they seem to think it may even be an American number. So I'm at a loss with this...any more suggestions KCross?

As I said, I was only relaying what I read on the UK forum so I dont have first hand experience of it myself.

Others did say that when you are stationary and you push the pedal slowly as far as it can go, that that helps as it causes a recalibration of some kind. Worth a try.

Other than that all I can suggest is that you get your Nissan dealer to sit in with you and show it to them first hand. They should make a better effort to find a solution if you can show it happening as Im sure it is pretty annoying.

Orebro

@kceire - let me know if you manage to do any better if you go to dealers. Looks like I've hit a dead end.