LeafSpy & OBD 2 | What are they and how do they work?

[@SunbearMoonpie]

From the Easternmost area in the US huge Thank You for this video. My husband and I bought a used Leaf last year.......and the 12 volt battery went dead.....and we live 3 hours one way from the nearest place that can work on EV's. We charged the battery and nothing, it wouldn't start. Took the battery back out and put a new one in , nothing wouldn't start. So we ordered an OBD11 and downloaded LeafSpyPro and went in cleared the error messages and it started right up without flagging and new warnings. Thinking the dead 12 volt must have somehow jigged the system so it needed a reboot. Saved us a massive logistical headache and a lot of money.

[@kevinnguyen712]

You are awesome! You know way more than the technicians at my local Nissan dealership. My brand new 2021 leaf broke down 4 times in one month & had to tow it to the dealership 3 times. Nissan technicians have never been capable of fixing electrical issues. If your Nissan vehicle is out of warranty, you either have to know how to fix it yourself or get rid of it. Nissan-resale-dealerships cannot help you unless they wipe at least $3k out of your pocket. This video helped me so much. Many, many thank yous!!!

[@stuartduncan2772]

Thanks for this. I got my new Leaf two days ago and the OBD2 yesterday. Some of the features of Leafspy are not that intuitive so really helped.

[@freddiemoretti8456]

All hooked up. SOH 77.54%......176 GIDS 62.6%......2012 w/16,163 miles and 10 bars left for less than $7,000.00 Thanks for the tutorial and now to learn a wee bit more.......fun in my old age.

[@EVOpinion]

Freddie Moretti that really does show how they improved the battery from the gen 1 Leaf. Looks like a good buy for that money 👍

[@freddiemoretti8456]

@@EVOpinion Will drive until battery can no longer take care of our short drives and will then replace the battery. May end up adding to my KZbin pottery videos.

[@xboxice2005]

Good buy, i too bought a 2012 sl 10bars but not sure of the soh,have you lost anymore bars since.

[@AdamDadeby]

Best Leaf Spy explanation I have seen to date. Thanks.

[@robertirish4485]

Very helpful. If you don't have the blue asterisk (mine doesn't, using Bluetooth and Android on a small display) you can touch and hold the menu symbol (three bars) to obtain the same display. Also there is another screen available. On the 3rd screen, called Table on your display, you can swipe up or down to display a custom screen. It is user definable by editing a .csv file and can display from a selection of over 50 variables.

[@EVOpinion]

Robert Irish brilliant. Thank you for that 😁👍

[@stuartmurtland492]

Brilliant video, thank you. Just bought 2015 nissan leaf as second car for me & Mrs. Ordered dongle & downloaded leafspy. Had quick look but hadn't found service menu, until i watched your vid. Cheers

[@BGross-wt7yc]

Outstanding - and even better now that I’ve had my Leaf for a year!

[@stevecrews4638]

I followed this today to connect to a new leaf…. I also had to activate leafspy wifi in the app settings. Worked fine then. Excellent guides to leafspy. Convinced me it was worth getting. New car today. Leafspy already connected and settings adjusted 👍🏻😎

[@moogleslam]

Thanks for this. I'm very close to buying a Leaf, and just purchased LeafSpy & a wireless ODBII. Feel confident I'll know how to use it when going to the dealership now.

[@STRIKERA.I.S]

Hello and thank you for this. Currently I am looking to buy a 2012 Leaf and intend using your guidance. I don't quite understand where the GID's fit could you kindly help: 280 GID's when your/ a Leaf is new. Yours in this video has 17.1% GID's. Am I correct calculating 17.1% of 280 GIDS = 47.88 GID's is all that is left please? 🤔

[@markkunes9711]

Well done a very clear and comprehensive explanation.

[@jamesthompson3099]

Excellent video. I just wish I had seen it 4 years ago!

[@Dollypog]

Excellent explainer. Thanks for saving me time and stress!

[@mil3761]

Another great video and one of the best I've seen on how to use LeafSpy, thank you. It'd be awesome if you could do a follow up video for those on how to use the tyre pressure sensor for those who switch to winter tyres.

[@pdoty13]

Thank you so much for posting this! It’s like a $50 Carfax for the battery health on a used Leaf! I ordered a OBD2 dongle and I’ll get spyleaf!

[@allanau]

AWESOME! Planning to get the leaf next year but this app alone is great! The amount of info you get all also being able to read the dtc and clear is will worth the money!

[@williampankratz600]

ASA and ASE teamed up with a couple automotive unions and started lobbying the federal government for universal automotive diagnostic systems in the early 90's when all automotive shops were spending nearly half of their profits for diagnostic equipment

[@otooleniall]

Used it over the last few days shopping around for a Leaf. Indespensible! SOH state of health is the best indicator to use. 11/12 cars have it under the dash, different to your car.

[@EVOpinion]

Niall O'Toole thank you for the pointer 👍

[@sleepytyn]

Thank you. I was finally able to turn off that stupid beeping noise when I am in reverse!!!! I like my car now!!!

[@bernek9000]

Just one tip when the batteries are discharging nothing is balancing them ... is up to the quality of individual cells. When they are charging is a different story when the BMS kicks in and tried to equalize all baterries. Great video tho !

[@cpcnw]

So SoH in % _and_ GIDS are the two most important aspects of battery information that should be sought prior to buying a used Leaf?

[@trillions5000]

Very well explained, unlike some other vids on here, sadly I bought a Leaf without using a Spy, ignorance on my part, having lots of problems despite it being a 2015 with only 16,000 on the clock, am about to find out just what kind of dog I have lumbered myself with, thanks for the tips.

[@U2JEN2U]

Thank you for making this video. I got the "Turtle" and "EV" warning lights after charging at a Level2 charging station. I did as you said and was able to clear the DTC codes so that I could get my car inspected/registered SIDENOTE: U.S. models do not have the cover, plugs in under the dash. Which I had to kneel down to find. Thanks again for your help CHEERS !!

[@EVOpinion]

U2JEN2U I’m glad it helped you and thanks for the tip 😁👍

[@PWStableford]

Thank you very helpful and clear explanation 👍

[@EVOpinion]

PWStableford you’re welcome and thank you for your comment 😁👍

[@WatchRichRebuildsChannel]

Yes Thank You. Keep it up.

[@bignayst]

I shared your video in our New Zealand Leaf Owners group on Facebook.

[@bignayst]

By the way I recently bought a used 30KWh Tekna here in NZ and I wonder if I can contact you privately to ask some questions.

[@EVOpinion]

bignayst hi, I’m really sorry. I’ve only just seen your comments. Thank you for sharing my video and if you still need any info then you are more than welcome to contact me on [e-mail]

[@LindaMChristie]

Thank you Ryan. I've had my 2019 40 Tekna nearly four years and want it to last (it has to!) so I've bought the OBD2 and LeafSpy. Hopefully I'll understand the readings. I expect I'll be coming back to watch this again. I would like to know what the cable is that I need in order to put the cover back on, or should I just plug the OBD2 in every so often?

[@SiEffen]

A really useful video. I had to work all that out myself when I got LeafSpy as I couldn't find such a clear explanation as this.

[@simonmills2375]

Thank you. Very clear concise and informative. Cheers

[@coniow]

Thank you for a very informative video, (and to those who had useful comments below). We are looking to get a Leaf in 2019 and Leaf Spy looks like a very worth while investment, battery management being fundamental to owning an EV. Understanding GIDs is a really helpful tip!

[@EVOpinion]

Con Cahill glad it helped. If you need to k ow anything when you are buying one just ask or pop onto Twitter @evopinion where you will find loads of very knowledgeable people really happy to help 😁👍

[@manukawickramasinghe8931]

I'm from Sri Lanka. With our economical crysis our fuel prices are so much expensive. So we bought a nissan leaf which is very cheap to maintain and drive. It's a really good car with lots of hate

[@wikstrom72]

Really good walkthrough of OBD2 and Leafspy!

[@EVOpinion]

Fredrik Wikström thank you and I’m glad it was useful to you 😁👍

[@philsmith2912]

I’m thinking of getting a Nissan Leaf this video is super advice just need to get my head round it .

[@Pstaines439]

Not sure about the UK but here in NZ the dongles are for either Android or iOS. Make sure you get the right one. The app you need for iOS is Leafspy Pro.

[@deeperblues4189]

Excellent information, very clearly put across. Many thanks!

[@ianlove3]

Always wanted to know what OBD 2 and leaf spy could tell you thank you.

[@Milhouse77BS]

Ian Love I bought LELink^2 www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0755N61PW?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title It was my second one. Recommended by LeafSpy and used low energy Bluetooth without pairing and auto turns self on and off. So just plug in once and leave it.

[@jimbob6290]

Great video. Just the information I needed before buying a used leaf. :)

[@ronaldgarrison8478]

Amazing collection of info you can get from that one port. But I still have no clue why someone would come up with a gid, a measurement that is 80 watt-hours. Huh??

[@gregonasher]

thanks man i just got the ob2 and leaf spy pro and this was super great!

[@joaoplacidoinnsbruck]

Really great! Keep doing this excellent job!

[@quickquote1568]

Thank you very much! Excellent, very informative video !!!

[@iGuruCrazy]

I have a different EV. Local made. What software can I use to do the same?

[@garyrobinson9527]

Just got a leaf tekna...September 2023. Bit confused which OBD connector to buy on Amazon. And then what app to use. Any help please

[@michaelgoode4104]

Excellent piece Ryan.

[@EVOpinion]

MIchael Goode thank you 😁👍

[@LS-si6wh]

Been looking at used leaf you have been very very helpful Thank You

[@PatItaFoley-bb3zm]

Thank you. Just the right amount of info.

[@imprezapeej]

Brilliant thanks! just one other thing...my car has seemingly got the "low speed" audible warning sounds device deactivated...can I change this?

[@arthurmantzouris4413]

I couldnt find the odc on amazon..i just checked it out n the one i saw wasnt orange but it was black with two lights one was red amd the other was blue...so which one do i get bc i was wanting to get a used nissan leaf but im not ready just yet to get one, but would like to be ready when the times comes...need some help to pick the right one on amazon...please do help...???

[@D1EGO305]

I appreciate you making this easy. Very well done with the video.

[@jimmytai1915]

Thanks for your useful information 🙏🏻👍🏻

[@DavidPlayfair]

Would you use this when looking at a Leaf with a view to buying it, and do sellers normally agree to let you plug this into their car? Very helpful video BTW. :)

[@demballage99]

A better question to ask is. What is the seller hiding by not letting you plug in the device?

[@flolou8496]

Is it still necessary to employ the use of a OBD 2 for state of health on a 2016 Nissan Leaf?

[@russool]

Very clear and valuable info. I have a Nissan Leaf bought in Japan Oct 2017 of 40 Kwh battery. Can you please tell me which OBD to buy and where can I get it? Thanks

[@mostafazaman8464]

Hi Could you please recommend any diagnostic machine which can find DTCs and reset EV service system . Thanks

[@alexpotapov6661]

hello, please write what is the name of your elm and where can I buy it I have already bought two and not one does not work for me nissan leaf 2022 thanks

[@weswheel4834]

Could it look a bit dodgy if you want to plug the dongle into a car that someone is selling? And second question, if someone had a dodgy app, would it be possible to upload dodgy stuff to the car using it? Thanks for the video, very useful :)

[@julianpromoli4215]

Two minor points: 1) on the first screen, doesn’t each line represent a cell pair? 2) the L1/L2 charge count increases by one for each immediate charge, bu t if you use the charge timer to, for example, finish charging just before you leave for work, the count goes up by two (seeming lay once for plugging in and once for the start of actual charging). The counter is therefore quite inaccurate.

[@EVOpinion]

Julian Promoli thank you for that. I have never used the timer but if you do then it’s worth knowing. Cheers 😁👍

[@eastcoastauto3576]

I'm using Ancel obd2 dongle that comes with my ancel tablet. Leaf spy connects to the dongle (as the light on dongle turns from red to blue) but no data is displayed? Any help much appreciated thanks

[@agentanderson3976]

Thanks for the informative detailed video! One question, why are you averaging 1 L1/L2 charge every 20 miles (32km)? I thought it was bad for long term battery health to keep the battery topped off? But yours is (was, 2 years ago this was...) still a healthy 93%

[@jeremyhurley9620]

Hi, is there a link to the obd used please in where to buy.

[@garyfairways]

19/05/23 my version of leaf spy pro doesn't have the system check boxes you have, any ideas as i cannot connect, many thanks

[@ThePlugSeeker]

That’s really handy. I bought one recently, mainly to help at a Rapid to know when charging is slowing down kW to guide when to stop. Will definitely do some playing with it now. FYI you don’t need the cover, I just stuck it in glove box and left OBD2 connected in place.

[@BSAT10]

Thanks for that great explanation of how to use the software Even I can understand how to use leafspy now :) John

[@EVOpinion]

J Tait excellent news. Glad it helped 😁👍

[@supastyles1]

So am I right in calculating your battery is not degraded at all? I calculate to 281.5

[@simocsaban4928]

Hi! We follow you’re guide on buying a second hand leaf and we are going to use the app and the obd reader when we are checking our new car! We almost bought a car with a rear axle problem, which they say its a quite often problem with this car! Would you have an idea how could we check this on the app? Thank you

[@gorumesh]

Great thank you.. please explain about the RED & BLUE colour bars on Nissan Spy

[@aljudy01]

He did mention it. Red is when they are balancing. Blue normal. Neither represent an issue. What I am not sure about is at what voltage the min max differential becomes a problem.

[@michaelrees3216]

Only just noticed that in the 2018 Leaf handbook, about page 2, it states that any such equipment, using the OBD, would invalidate any warranty if it's use leads to damage, which they say it might. Just wondered if you realise that?

[@11wickes]

Michael Rees I’m 99% certain it would not invalidate warranty, no leads are used

[@michaelrees3216]

Andy Woodley I'm just quoting the handbook. Any information gathering equipment using the OBD may invalidate the warranty if it causes damage.

[@EVOpinion]

Thank you for pointing this out. I hadn’t seen it before. Knowing Nissan any sign you have touched anything they will try to wriggle Out of a warranty repair!!

[@dwende25]

So is it the SOH reading that lets me know the charging capability of the batteries?

[@EVOpinion]

dwende25 yep 😁👍

[@lookoutleo]

i'm looking at buying a leaf and its very useful info, i havent got my head round it thou, the battery chech deffo most useful if looking to buy . thanyou for posting

[@geoffreyturner4912]

Good informative video. The Charge graph is a puzzle to me. It seems to show the same file which doesn’t change. Anyone know whether it only records the charge if plugged in during charging? Seems a csv file is stored somewhere in the app, and I never see anything other than the same file. I read that the LeafSpy download already has a sample charge graph installed. Maybe that is all I ever get. Any way to reset it?

[@mattevans8257]

Hi - thanks for the video. I’m in the process of buying a used Nissan Leaf 30kWh. Can you give me an idea what kind of stats I should be looking for as acceptable in a 3-4 year old model? Many thanks

[@Christian-sh9uh]

Hi is signal connected via your home WiFi? If so then it won't be usable when out shopping for a Leaf unless the seller lets you use their WiFi.

[@tasharch]

So when I go onto my phone and connect to the OBD and it says "connect without internet" that is okay is it?

[@selmaz67]

Are the read outs from the OBD 2 purely reading the cars computer or is it actually checking the real state of the battery. Bearing in mind the possibility of a BSM reset ie the memory or history data may have been compromised.

[@raymondctchow]

I am getting a 2017 leaf from a dealership, what soh would be consider reasonable?

[@evdave6693]

Fantastic! Very informative and helpful. 👍🏼

[@gunathilakarmp3434]

thank for this information using OBD2 or any other device any possibility to change mileage counter?

[@chrisbarrow9909]

Nice video,good timing too as i finally decided to buy a wifi obd2 and download LS pro on my Iphone last Thurs,,waiting for dongle to arrive now.

[@allaboutsemis232]

What does the blue lines mean on the battery chart

[@TheGeoffnut]

A very helpful video if you are considering getting Leaf Spy. Tell me i'm silly but where is the wifi coming from if you are not in range of your home wifi? Do you need a data connection on your phone or pad if you don't have a strong signal? Many thanks.

[@thelondonbroiler]

It's a wifi direct, or direct communication between the devices, no router required.

[@matneu27]

You only have to keep in mind, that the wifi connection to the Opd is disconnecting your device from the internet that is provided from your router at home. But most phones will pop-up a message and ask you if you want internet over cell broadcast if not done automatically.

[@keithw32123]

yes, also known as a Wireless ad hoc network according to wikipedia. Great job Ryan walking through all the options.

[@dlittlester]

I've got one of these readers, and, not having a data plan, I can hook it up to the car, but it doesn't give me access to what the trouble code means without a connection to wifi. That's not a problem because I can still connect when the car's on the driveway. The reader was under $4.00 from China. I wasn't expecting much but it seems to work.

[@ThePlugSeeker]

Thanks

[@richardwallinger1683]

my 2011 19,000 miles 24kwh LEAF has overnight lost 2 battery capacity bars .The local In Portugal Nissan dealer has done a diagnostic and all of my battery cells are good just lazy. He suggested a chadamo charge to re energise my lazy? drive battery. this has revived my battery capacity but not recovered the two missing battery capacity bars .. How can I bring the two capacity bars back onto the screen .

[@canadagirleh]

Once again, a very informative video. Just ordered my Vgate OBD2, thanks for the help. Any chance of doing a video on LED replacement bulbs for the exterior incandescent ones for pre-2018 LEAFS ???

[@EVOpinion]

canadagirleh I’m glad it helped. I have never changed my headlights so not in a position to give advice but a couple of people have now asked so I will look into it 👍

[@U2JEN2U]

Question : would you know how to reset the hands free. It will not let me add my phone due to too many other users and not sure how I can remove them exactly 🤔

[@bignayst]

Very good explanation. Many thanks.

[@EVOpinion]

bignayst thank you 😁👍

[@jjharr5168]

Can I use this app to change the system language from Japanese to English?

[@matneu27]

Thanks for the video and also for the hint using wifi devices. The Bluetooth I use is a crap. Works, but with many dropouts and reconnections. It might work better on bt with phone connections to the AV turned off. Anyway wifi will allow me to record charging stats without leaving the phone or an tablet in the car.

[@EVOpinion]

matneu27 your experience matches with everything I was told not others that had used BT. Wi-fi is definitely best👍

[@rogercrier]

Will leafspy work seamlessly on the systems on A Nissan e-NV 200 40kw

[@hermanhosenknopf5331]

Need a little help here (i hope my english is good enough): thinking about buyin used Nissan e-nv, leaf spy should work as i´ve seen on youtube? about GIDs: so obviously i´ll have to calculate (from your example) 49 GIDs / 0,147 = 281 GIDs. That would mean you didn´t loose a GID? cause you mentioned it is delivered with 280? Do you know much GIDs would be good, OK, sign for real degradation, no go? Thanks for replying.

[@poakabisa]

Great tutorial

[@OttKnot2Dew]

The tap to connect gray box should be at the top of the settings screen. Nothing works until the connection is made.

[@peterguilliatt]

Would your bluetooth problems be down to Apple's not really doing bluetooth for anything other than headphones? Would it be better if using Android?

[@roxie2609]

Hi, can I use this leaf spy app & my OBDII with 4/5G not over Wi-Fi??

[@davidbarnes7866]

Hi enjoyed the video and many of your others as well thank you. Would the leaf spy app also be suitable for the env 200? Could you rely on the 12 bars of the battery indicator on the dash of an env 200 for battery health or would this system with OBD 2 be more accurate. Looking to purchase a second hand env 200 and wonder if a one year old vehicle with 300 miles might be worse than the same with 5000 miles as it has been sat around. Would more use be kinder to the battery? Hoping this gizmo will provide some answers. Your opinion would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@EVOpinion]

David Barnes I don’t know for sure but I have asked some people who might do and will let you know 👍

[@EVOpinion]

Apparently it does work the same apart from the odometer reads incorrectly. The plug is behind the card holder.

[@rhinovulcan]

David Barnes 12 battery bars indicates that a Leaf has anywhere between 86 and 100% of it's original/new capacity remaining. Leafspy let's you see where in that range you are. 24kWh battery when new held 284 Gids (22.1 kWh) - 30kWh battery when new held 363 Gids (28.1 kWh) figures are from memory. I would assume it would look similar on a ENV200.

[@davidbarnes7866]

rhino vulcan thanks for that information. Would you say a battery that had seen 300 miles in a year would likely be in better or worse condition than one that had done 10,000 miles?

[@rhinovulcan]

David Barnes. I'd imagine much would depend on the usage/charging pattern and whether either example had been left standing while in a high or low state of charge - neither being good for the lithium ion cells. There are so many variables, the only way to know is to fully charge the battery and do as in this video via the OBDII and Lesfspy. I'm on my second Leaf, both were ex demonstrators at 6 months with 1000 miles. Both batteries reported max gids when checked on Lesfspy, both have/on target to have degraded around 5 to 8% at three years 50,000 miles

[@andreassteffan2005]

Trank you. These informations are very helpful

[@scottm5425]

Actually showing how to get it to pair with your phone would have been extremely helpful as I am having all sorts of problems and I'm not very clued up on phones.

[@scottm5425]

Perfect stopped me buying the wrong plug. Thanks

[@robertnickson8781]

I live in Leigh Nr Warrington, I believe most of the smart Electric are sold in the south east and London. I waited four months to get mine, and have found very little information about them. Maybe Mercedes-Benz who sell the smart will let you test one. I was hoping you could help me . I have found someone who gives information about the Renault Zoe . But nothing about the smart electric

[@EVOpinion]

Robert Nickson I’ll make some enquiries and see what I can do 👍

[@terrytaylor3068]

thank you great 👍explanation

[@maccannaj]

Is there obd and app for testing the batteries of a Tesla?

[@joeyy33]

Is there an app for other electric vehicles? AKA Ionic, Zoe, etc.

[@alexloscutoff8588]

does Leaf Spy work with BAFX Products OBD2 Device