The Leaf is a magnificent car for many reasons. It has one of the best EPA ratings of any car on the market. It is efficient, gets great gas mileage, and has a beautiful interior.
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However, one problem that many owners have had with their Leaf is that the heater isn’t working properly. This can be a problem if you are stuck in the middle of winter and need to warm up your car to drive it home.
So, how do you fix it? Here are some simple steps to take when your heater isn’t working properly on your Nissan Leaf.
Symptoms
You may notice that the temperature gauge doesn’t move much when you turn on your heater. You may also notice that the fan does not work at all or doesn’t move much air.
Cause
There are several reasons your heater may not be working properly. You can check the most common problems below.
Faulty Fan Motor—The fan motor is on the bottom of the heater vent and can become damaged if there is too much weight on it.
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It’s also possible that there may be debris in the fan motor which is preventing it from turning properly or working at all.
To fix this, you will need to take off the entire top part of your car, remove any debris from the inside of your fan motor, and then clean out all the gunk inside of it before putting everything back together again.
Thermostat Problem—The thermostat can be damaged if you leave the heater on for too long. This can cause it to go into the “overheat” mode, which will then cause the heater to not work properly.
To fix this, you will need to replace your thermostat.
Temperature Sensor—If your temperature sensor is damaged, your car cannot turn on the heater properly. You will need to get a new sensor installed if you have damaged your thermostat.
Wiring Problem—If there is a problem with your wiring, then you won’t be able to turn on your heater at all. This is a very common problem with older vehicles and can be caused by many things, such as an electrical short or a faulty fuse.
To fix this, you will need to take apart your entire car and check out all the wirings for any problems or damage that may have occurred.
Failed Heater Blower Motor Resistor—If the motor that blows warm air on your car cannot pass through its resistance, your car won’t heat properly. If this is the case, you will need to replace the blower motor resistor.
You may also want to use a small brush to get any particles out as well. Check for any burnt wires inside of each vent and if there are any, cut them off with a pair of scissors and discard them before putting everything back together again.
You should now be able to turn on your heater and use it as normal. If you are still having problems with your heater, then you may want to consider taking it to a mechanic for further inspection.
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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