Pulling a Nissan Leaf's Motor & Battery for the World's Cheapest EV Conversion!

How to remove the Nissan Leaf's battery pack, motor, charger, charging ports, inverter, and everything else that would need for a budget EV conversion project. This is a 2014 model-year Nissan Leaf. I bought it for $3000. Finally, an EV I can afford!
0:00 Intro
0:59 Jacking up the car
3:45 Parking actuator
5:25 HV Service Disconnect
7:03 Battery removal
10:57 Motor removal
16:33 Removing more parts
17:42 Hauling the car shell away

[@ashton7981]

This is peak youtube. Entertaining and informative video with multiple chances for a fatal preventable accident.

[@jamieforrester7108]

Metal tools to pry out plastic high voltage disconnects definitely had me worried. I had to remind myself that you had to survive in order to post the video...

[@ThisOldJalopy]

LMAO

[@pdjames1729]

@@ThisOldJalopy 06:20 ish.. yup, the whole thing is fkin terrifying.. secondary stands at the back. (also reminding myself that ya definitely haven't died yet) can we change the title to 'how not to...'?

[@roodick85]

Dude. The same. It’s been uploaded 😂 he made it somehow lol even with the battery removal man that was wild!!

[@jinny7]

Using a conductive crowbar to remove a HV disconnect??

[@mb-3faze]

The Leaf battery outputs are only live when the contactor within the battery is active. Two things stop that happening. 1) simply removing the 12V supply on the control lines will immediately click off the contactor/relay and 2) the central 'safety' disconnect in the car (5:49) physically cuts the HV circuit so it wouldn't matter if the control lines were connected or not.

[@dkaz974]

Never get rid of a car till you’re done. You never know what small fuse, switch or relay you might need

[@fredfred2363]

Was thinking the exact same... 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@mb-3faze]

I'm having a bit of a guess here, but I suspect you are having quite a lot of bother getting the system to work in a new car. Those pesky VCUs look for everything before the car will drive including the airbag sensors, key proximity detectors, high voltage continuity connections and may more bits and bobs.

[@christianpaulroldan4010]

Also seats

[@rdirico]

If this was a demonstration of what NOT to do when working on a vehicle, you nailed it. The Final Destination horror film franchise directors may be watching this and surely get awesome ideas for a possible future movie.

[@jaypee42]

Omg watching those metal tools used to pry off the bright orange high voltage connectors made my sphincter pucker 😮

[@real_synthax]

I'm not too bothered by that part, they're all designed such that with the contactors open, none of them have voltage. As long as you're doing all this with the car off, that's "fine". The horribly janky way of keeping the car in the air is what's likely to kill him.

[@joshclark121987]

This video is the definition of why "Getting the right tools for the job" is necessary

[@egn83b]

This project went from do-able to forget about it real fast. Cutting the interior wire harnesses and just taking the basics will render this a failure. Every subsystem ties to another to make that car run and drive. The canbus errors are impossible to fix or charge without the oem ecu modules. Going with a thunderstruck ecu can make it work but your still without a bms and smart charging system. Once those batteries over charge or under discharge they are toast. I have swapped a few gas cars it was an expensive learning curve.

[@ThisOldJalopy]

That would be true if I intended on using the Nissan VCU, however I'm wiring in an aftermarket VSU.

[@guygordon2780]

Glad you found someone to recover the refrigerant. But it's really a simple DIY job. TLDR: Use dry ice to suck the gas into an empty refrigerant bottle. 1. Determine what refrigerant you have. Look it up, but it's almost certainly R134a. 2. Buy a cheap manifold gauge that will attach to to port. (try Harbor Freight). 3. Get an empty bottle to store the refrigerant. Check your scrap yard. In a pinch you can use an empty propane bottle with the proper adapter. The systems Total Charge of refrigerant will tell you how many bottles you need. 4. Buy dry ice at a grocery store. This is usually located in a big box at the front of the store. Get a pound or two. 5. Buy some alcohol. Any kind will do. Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol is cheap). 6. Make a slurry of alcohol mixed with crushed dry ice. Don't worry about crushing all of it. Just break it up into pieces

[@junktoys]

This guy is the reason my local pick and pull salvage yard won't let you bring in a sawsall anymore lol

[@grumpyoldman1]

100% Safe! I don’t even feel safe watching this!!!!!

[@PapiDoesIt]

I'm amazed you didn't fry yourself removing the HV battery with metal tools and no gloves.

[@roodick85]

Jesus Christ. Ok kids and everybody else please don’t do anything that’s been done here 😅😅 omg man you had me sweating the whole time!

[@lancpudn]

Hey great job getting everything out of the leaf you need on a budget with minimal tools, My kind of working too. This is great information as to how to go about this. I'd love to do this over here in the UK. Thanks for the video Sir.

[@Lilithe]

I mean obviously you survived because this video got posted but I kept half expecting this to be a snuff film. Nice stuff. I applaud your chaotic energy if not your safety acumen.

[@bobwilliamson5574]

Man I'll give you 10/10 for determination and perseverance.👍.

[@TheRealRaZtar]

I am so inredibly eager to see the next video, please dont hold :D

[@lancenutter1067]

My kind of project. Can’t wait to see more

[@automotive474]

Nice bro. I was trying to find reasons to hate on your project, but cheap EV conversions? Heck ya. Keep on going, mate.

[@claytonmunsey9740]

You are an inspiration with many gifts. Thank you for sharing.

[@overcaffeinatedengineering]

This whole video makes me so anxious

[@ianlighting100]

so much comedy, but i really appreciate you sharing this so i dont have to make the same mistakes as you, which im sure i would :) My Leaf is also ready for the operating table as soon as the engine hoist arrives. Good work. And hi from the UK,

[@sabahameer2620]

I can't wait for part 2 😢 .

[@amphidory7600]

wonderful video and humor. kudos for not spewing freon into the atmosphere too

[@zyzzyva303]

"There! Now it is safe!" Comedy gold. 😅

[@David.42]

I was told to never use cinder blocks in this way, as they can suddenly and completely fail and crush you. Build some out of 2x4's.

[@ThisOldJalopy]

The concrete blocks where just there temporarily while I was jacking up the back of the car. I never was under the car while the cinder blocks where holding it up.

[@jaypee42]

Pro Tip. Hard surfaces like a concrete pad are better than gravel for disassembling heavy things you need to roll away on a trolley ?

[@markh4211]

Ya for sure throw down some scrap plywood or at least planks.

[@brieftodo]

I think a good percentage of DIY people have had a please don't die moment when working with electricity. Not sure of the space in your yard but you could have recovered a fair bit of money selling the doors, seats, etc on ebay.

[@natehill8069]

...window glass, brakes, CV joints, dashboard, glove box, gas cap. oh, wait - skip that last one. But definitely the doors!

[@capincrnchy]

Kudos, I appreicate the swearing..... I know when I do stuff like this I swear a lot.... I find it cathartic!

[@gamingSlasher]

Well done, pain to be working on gravel.

[@courier11sec]

I'm very thankful that you didn't arrive at your expiration date during this... Job.. Edit: The wedding ring!😮

[@natehill8069]

And, just for icing on the cake, wearing a gold ring.

[@danny60473]

GREAT VIDEO!!!

[@Lupelu831]

You just gave me a wonderful idea.

[@rosesbite]

the gravel driveway and the sawzaw in the car 👌

[@Teslacustoms]

Love me a good safety 3rd video! I just went through this on model s battery repair on harbor freight jack stands…

[@tau9632]

Hahahah you're hilarious. The dumb ways to die got me every time :D Edit: 'this one is a byaaatch to get to' - lost it again Definitely you should put it in to the Comet. An old-school but electric car - how dope would that be!

[@toesandfingers]

this is brilliant. please make the mercedes ev - I have a 1983 w123 like this and would love to convert it, so I can just follow along! 😂

[@Aero1492]

Nissan leafs are the baddests!!!! its soul will carry on😢❤

[@DreamWrench]

Holy smokes, they could have made the high voltage disconnect easier to detach! Glad you are okay! Nice work letting people know the proper way to dispose of freon. I'm excited to follow this build. MBZ conversion possibly?

[@Ulbre]

Nice to know that "Thingy mac jigga" (4m 44s) is a universal word in the English speaking world! Cheers from an Aussie in Asia!

[@tomkacandes8286]

Kudos for correctly explaining the issue with refrigerants venting being a major source of super pollutant greenhouse gas emissions. A residential HVAC tech could have recovered it for you I’d expect.

[@guygordon2780]

My hat's off to you. You've taken on a HUGE job. Frankly, it's probably doomed to failure. But if you've got the interest, skills, and time, go for it. But if your goal is an inexpensive EV, you're already half-way to a far better alternative. Just swap that battery you pulled in this video into a Leaf with no damage but a dead battery. Done! OK, you do need a little bit of software to tell the car's computer to accept the new battery, but you can find all that on the internet.

[@suncitybooksgeraldton335]

I would have paid 3 k for the battery the a/c system was still intact just remove the dash unit by cutting out the firewall and install it in the new car the same way

[@whitneydesignlabs8738]

I feel your pain working under cars on gravel. (A couple sheets of plywood may be in your future) :) Fun following your build. My parents owned a Leaf about 10 years ago, and sold it when the battery was starting to lose capacity. I never did drive it though. I am looking into ideas for an EV conversion. Pretty intrigued with axial flux motors, and also hub motor designs. Design criteria for my EV is AWD, as I live in high elevation snow country.

[@firethorn9799]

Oh! Good idea! I have the same issue, but maybe worse - it's not pure gravel, it used to be a paver surface that got broken up a bit and gravel and such everywhere. I tried cardboard, not quite good enough.

[@kimkimkim2634]

Love your videos ! You should electify the Mercedes !

[@TradieTrev]

You're a mad dog doing that on gravel, rough as guts I love it

[@dfairfull2542]

Go classic with the 62 Comet. Have a soft spot as it was my first car. Good luck and please take care!

[@4Fixerdave]

Go back to that salvage yard and start asking about 1/4" plate. Buy some, at least enough to put under your floor jacks because they have to roll as they lift, or the car will. Me, I've got 4 sheets of 4'x10' plate... not quite as good as concrete but if you're renting it at least works.

[@sbauman67]

Interesting project Where's the link to the new video? What vehicle did you decide to put it in?

[@josephgiri2398]

Thanks for the education, Since you asked, it's got to be the Comet to recieve the conversion. IMHO.

[@sirhcmi3]

Great stuff, but a floor jack in gravel is ultimate sketch!

[@elmultimediaschoolofartscu3924]

Thank you. Best ever😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤

[@johnathanstevens8436]

I've never said, "please don't die" more than during watching your video. At least you got the parts you needed I suppose

[@ale6242]

Oooh, this is exciting! Kinda concerned you got rid of the shell tho and cut so many wires. Hopefully the ECU/BMS systems dont pitch too much of a fit without all that other crap plugged into them

[@briangoldberg4439]

I'd say the benz is the better choice. At least it's somewhat modern; I think the Mercury's suspension and steering components would have a really hard time handling the low end torque of an electric motor

[@zahor0269]

While I have a few thoughts about getting rid of the leaf body before you were done with the swap/conversion, I say put it in the 62 Comet!

[@chris01479]

What a good job. How many mpge you get??

[@centralcoastcamper9631]

When jacking up cars on gravel or dirt driveways plywood under all jack stands and jacks is the safe way to go, been there done that.

[@amuxdao1]

What happened after you pulled out all the parts? I subscribed but was unable to see any follow-up clips. I enjoy watching your work, please continue to share your EV conversion project.

[@user-qs4ps9ug6r]

Ive got an 81 MB 300td (the wagon) Ive been thinking about doing a leaf electric conversion on it..... I hope you do a conversion on your 300D there are a lot of them out there..... would be great to see someone do a 300D conversion.... would encourage alot of people to do it!

[@Alrukitaf]

A 4ton hydraulic car hoist is around the $3000 mark. Less probably in the US. Worth your life, I’d say. 500 kg scissor lift under a grand in Australia, definitely less in US. But still worth your life.

[@xthegrim]

You got a like and a comment when you put the high voltage sticker on the electrical tape! If you've got any questions for a Tesla mechanic let me know.

[@filtrator76]

Oh boy, oh boy. Besides the obvious electrical hazards you put yourself into you could have made things a lot easier for yourself by just putting the car on four proper axle stands (even cheapo ones are way safer than those bricks). And putting a layer of e.g. >25 mm OSB under your engine lift and the battery carriage might also have saved you lots of pain in the back. But respect for your confidence and I'm looking forward to the next videos.

[@alejanzar]

Hi great video and funny, how much do you pay for the Nissan leaf? Did you get it in an specific website? I swapped my engine if my 09 Altima now I have a 50k miles engine for $650, It would be interesting to get a electric ⚡ engine in the future. Try to get a badass donor car for your project, like an Audi, thx for the video👊 use the manifold gauge set is perfect for AC Freon charging put the lines in a gallon of water and release the Freon is safe it than release it in the air.

[@kendexter]

kudos for jacking on that gravel.. dangerous- many ended it all jacking on soft ground

[@kirkhilles523]

A warning to anyone considering getting an older Leaf. Do NOT get one without a confirmed replacement "lizard" battery. Nissan does NOT use thermal management and so early batteries die a quick death in the heat. I had a 2012 (gen 1) Leaf that had dropped down to 8 "bars" (12 is max capacity) and that resulted in basically a realistic 30 mile range. Yes, I'm not exaggerating. 30 miles. Keep in mind, these only charged up (at 100% which you shouldn't charge to anyway) to around 100 miles or so.

[@bernardcharlesworth9860]

Amazing so many people have died using bricks.I pleased he made it

[@elmultimediaschoolofartscu3924]

Please 🙏🥺 do a video on how to salvage motors for EV conversion. To save on costs, n which motors to salvage, besides Forklift motor and Nissan Leaf, which others

[@harrislawrence5250]

I'm glad you weren't electrocuted.

[@ThisOldJalopy]

me too!

[@ebb2421]

Water vapour is far stronger GHG. CO2 is not an issue, 400PPM is like 400cm (4m) of CO2 to 1million cm (10KM) for the rest of the atmosphere. Humans release 2% of the 400ppm and plants recycle 4%, we feed plants. Freon was about ozone, solar protons wipe out more ozone than humans. Good luck with the build.

[@AshleyMckendree]

Old plywood sheets for the engine hoist to roll on over the gravel make life easier

[@marcosramos4596]

We need this done to more Suburbans from the 50's and 60's

[@pl9372]

What in the sweet Home Alabama mechanicing am watching here..... Well invested for the danger factor now though

[@theevworkshop7382]

If do it again, try saw through the axels, can leave front wheels on and save lots of time. Plus keep wreck mobile And try keeping wing mirrors and light, they small and easy to store while selling them to get more cash back from car Hope you remembered to keep the battery fuse and was not sill on back seat with axels Good work though, Good luck

[@ThisOldJalopy]

I wanted to keep the CV shafts and the hubs so I can use them in the converted car. The Leaf's lug pattern is the same as the Ford's, and I'm going to be able to use the hubs in a custom "de dion" rear suspension, rear engine configuration.

[@shafismaili1347]

This is the most unsafe, get yourself crushed shit I've ever seen. But judging from your e motorcycle conversion I bet you can make something wicked here too!

[@eg39701]

You know, I've never thought about doing something like this. I wouldn't necessarily do it but It's interesting food for thought. Also you probably could have gotten a couple bucks for a lot of those interior trim panels and such, though I don't know the demand.

[@deanlarkins5858]

You needed to put your floor jack on a piece of plywood or something so it could roll and take up the difference instead of tipping over the blocks.

[@elmultimediaschoolofartscu3924]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheJuggernoob1]

How much did you get for the Leaf "husk"?

[@yeldarBkereD]

Brother, you need to dry pour you some reinforced slabs lol

[@Jcewazhere]

I've wanted to convert a Subaru Brat to electric since before Tesla was a glint in Eberhard's eye. Not sure I'd go with a leaf though. Air cooled batteries, and Chademo ew. Probably a Bolt. Still cheap, but way more fun and capable.

[@natehill8069]

Of course the thermal mgt system that made it "cooler" (PI) also gonna make it harder to swap.

[@greenhometony]

So you may not have the time or energy but you left a bunch of cash on that car, doors, side mirror, headlamp, tail lights, rear hatch etc. Even the smaller stuff adds up. Just my 2 cents from doing similar projects.

[@neilfromclearwaterfl81]

The set of tail lights alone cost around $1,500 new from the dealership. Parting out the interior and doing a less destructive dismantle could have left enough good parts to sell and pay for much of the build. That said a 2014 most likely is going to be on the fringe of battery life and will likely need to have the pack opened up so the failed cells can be replaced. For a few hundred dollars or so worth of cell packs you could bring it back up to 95% or better however you need to be a stickler for following the safety protocols for working on a 400 volt battery packing 24 kWh. Hope he saved the dash cluster, charger module behind the rear seat, shifter, bcu, heater control, etc as they are all needed to make it work well. It's usually in your best interest to pull the wiring harness out intact too and chase down all the related computer modules. Best!

[@RJARRRPCGP]

Also, electrical tape, TMK, is only safe for up to 600V, IIRC.

[@guygordon2780]

Leaf battery is 400VDC fully charged. Still wouldn't trust it.

[@trevorwilliams736]

Look at all that plastic and composite materials in there! Wonder how much oil and derivatives was used in manufacturing???

[@oddhap]

Will the parts work without the instrument cluster? 🤔

[@tonymarkey6525]

Yep, I’m thinking nope!

[@macbook802]

Fill up a bunch of balloons with the freon and take them to your local ac shop. They have to take them

[@tvdinner325]

2014 batteries are still good?

[@asanaya94]

Why not keep the AC system? Seems like a nice item to keep.

[@NickTandyWebDeveloper]

I'm going to subscribe just to see if my bet to myself on how many episodes before this guy kills himself turns out to be true...

[@EnglishLaw]

At 0:20 I think you should dub over the Safely bit with something else unless that was for comedy effect. Good project though despite the seemingly haphazard approach. Hey it's no different to mine :D

[@spambedam]

How not to work under a car 101. The only thing I learned.

[@rexmundi8154]

Good stuff. Safety Nazis gonna hate, but ya gotta do what you gotta do. Looking to do a leaf to VW mod myself.

[@jaredgore9147]

I don' think they use freon in car a/c anymore. R134a or something. Anyway, dig your honda. Got a Vino i'm doing the same 4k motor, kelley controller to.

[@TzOk]

This car was undoubtedly a repairable car. In my country, in the '90s and early 2000s, cars in much worse condition were rebuilt.

[@kellyeye7224]

Apparently the insurance companies don't agree and won't actually pay for repairs - they consider it too dangerous and/or no profit in it. Same for most EV's.

[@fredfred2363]

Western world cost of labour vs cost of material goods. Swapping is cheaper than fixing.

[@pojdiavaj1422]

👍

[@erikrummel6277]

How much did the wrecked Leaf cost you? If you mentioned it, I missed it

[@EnglishLaw]

Check Copart if relevant to your region. They are SUPER cheap.

[@peterduxbury927]

$3000 . Not bad - if you have the skills to transfer the goodies to another wreck. The Benz and the other old wagon are way too heavy, by comparison to the Nissan Leaf.

[@UmairAhmadh]

when is the next part?

[@peteroffpist1621]

Great job with limited resources.

[@dbc105]

How about an update.

[@paulgraumann2774]

You have to pull UP on that main power disconnect to get it unplugged not pry up from other side! Also would it not be way easier to swap those into a FWD car as that was the basic form factor that the Leaf motor, axles etc. support! The Mercedes and Ford are RWD and therefore motor would have to go thru their transmission and expensive adaptor plates and custom hardware is needed PLUS having a electric motor going thru transmission ,rear end really is inefficient plus those both are heavy cars! A simple lighter weight FWD car that already has an engine bay set up for those dimensions and close to same length axles like a Honda ,VW Golf etc. would make much more sense especially with Leafs small battery. Also as another poster pointed out the Leaf battery without the stock BMS and charging infrastructure makes no sense as overcharge battery can catch fire easily and the charging is electronically controlled!

[@williamtam6267]

Is it worth your life . Maybe invest in a couple of more jacks for the lift.