[CaffeineNic]

Hello everyone, forum newbie here!

I have a 2015 Versa Note for about a year now and for the first few months, I had no issues whatsoever. Starting in May of this year, I've started to witness some (what looks like) battery issues. First occurrence happened when I spent one week without starting/using my car. When I tried to start it, the battery was dead and I had to jumpstart it. At first, it didn't bother me much since I've been told that this could happen when you don't use your vehicle often enough. It happened 2-3 more times after that and I decided to head to a dealership to have the battery checked. Once again, they said that it was fine and that this is only happening because I don't use my car enough and I had to pay for the whole checkup. Since then, I've started to use my car more often to go to work and all that and it seemed to have helped a little but now, it's been happening a lot more (especially with the cold weather we have here in Quebec). Just this week, I spent only 2 days without using my car and now I can't start it.

I was just wondering if for you guys, it seems like a real battery issue or if it's really just a case of not driving the car enough? I don't feel like going back to the dealership to shed another 100$ just to be told that my battery is "OK". To give you an idea as to how much I use it, I only have 5000Kms on it since last december. I know it's not a whole lot but I still feel like my car should be able to start nonetheless.

Thanks!

 

[ram1220]

Is the car not under warranty? I know here in the US a battery check would be covered. Anyway auto makers are notorious for using cheap batteries in new cars. I have never had a battery in a new car last more than 2 years. Sometimes they go bad within a year. Your battery can get a low charge if it sits and is not driven for awhile. It might just need a top off charge.

 

[CaffeineNic]

Yes, it is under warranty but from what they told me, since the battery didn't have any issues when I got it checked, I had to pay for the whole thing. If it was defect, then it would've been covered. But like I said, it was months ago and the issue seems to occur more often now, hence why I'm asking for opinions before having it checked again. If people tells me that it's a normal-ish behaviour then instead of paying for the visit to the dealership, I'll shop for a battery charger or something like that so that I don't get stuck in the future.

 

[Cobb]

Err, you get it checked cause you had a problem. All auto stores in AMERICA will check your battery for free. They can measure capacity and state of charge.

I hope you paid with a credit or debit card so you can dispute the charge with your bank.

I notice funny things after 6 weeks of ownership and replaced the oem battery with the recommended one from Walmart. No problems since.

Every car Ive own the oem battery usually craps out in the first 6 months and I get the biggest battery I can get from aftermarket to replace it.

 

[pimperell]

Hello everyone, forum newbie here!

I have a 2015 Versa Note for about a year now and for the first few months, I had no issues whatsoever. Starting in May of this year, I've started to witness some (what looks like) battery issues. First occurrence happened when I spent one week without starting/using my car. When I tried to start it, the battery was dead and I had to jumpstart it. At first, it didn't bother me much since I've been told that this could happen when you don't use your vehicle often enough. It happened 2-3 more times after that and I decided to head to a dealership to have the battery checked. Once again, they said that it was fine and that this is only happening because I don't use my car enough and I had to pay for the whole checkup. Since then, I've started to use my car more often to go to work and all that and it seemed to have helped a little but now, it's been happening a lot more (especially with the cold weather we have here in Quebec). Just this week, I spent only 2 days without using my car and now I can't start it.

I was just wondering if for you guys, it seems like a real battery issue or if it's really just a case of not driving the car enough? I don't feel like going back to the dealership to shed another 100$ just to be told that my battery is "OK". To give you an idea as to how much I use it, I only have 5000Kms on it since last december. I know it's not a whole lot but I still feel like my car should be able to start nonetheless.

Thanks!

The "dealership" is giving you a SNOW JOB!!!

Letting your car sit for a week without using it should not have any effect on your battery to the point that it will not start your car.

As suggested, have your battery tested under LOAD and see if it passes. You should also have the alternator tested to insure that it is putting out the correct voltage.

If both items pass, then you have an electrical drain that needs to be found, and if you are still under warranty, it is up to the DEALERSHIP TO COME UP WITH THE ANSWER. Good luck

 

[Notarized]

The "dealership" is giving you a SNOW JOB!!!

There seems to be a lot of this nonsense with Nissan. My family were loyal Nissan/Datsun fans since the early 70's. Service/dealership scams with their last Pathfinder and Altima finally ran them off.

Now they're driving Subaru and Honda, but I went against the grain and got a Versa Note because I honestly liked the vehicle better than the Honda Fit, and it was less expensive too. I hope that the vehicle outperforms Nissan's service organization. I imagine Nissan hopes so too!

The dealership where I bought my 2015 was recently bought out by a large chain. They still sell Nissan but both the original dealership and the large chain have terrible service reviews... I don't plan on bringing my Note there for service.

The location of the chain dealership is convenient, but there is another dealership 10 miles away that has good reviews. If the big chain offers a discount, I might give them a chance, but with my family's experience, I'll probably just drive the 10 miles to the good dealership... Better safe than sorry.

I just wish a synthetic oil change didn't cost a $110! I could do it myself for less than $30, but since the vehicle is still under warranty, I want all required maintenance to be documented and performed by authorized Nissan techs.

 

[pimperell]

There seems to be a lot of this nonsense with Nissan. My family were loyal Nissan/Datsun fans since the early 70's. Service/dealership scams with their last Pathfinder and Altima finally ran them off.

Now they're driving Subaru and Honda, but I went against the grain and got a Versa Note because I honestly liked the vehicle better than the Honda Fit, and it was less expensive too. I hope that the vehicle outperforms Nissan's service organization. I imagine Nissan hopes so too!

The dealership where I bought my 2015 was recently bought out by a large chain. They still sell Nissan but both the original dealership and the large chain have terrible service reviews... I don't plan on bringing my Note there for service.

The location of the chain dealership is convenient, but there is another dealership 10 miles away that has good reviews. If the big chain offers a discount, I might give them a chance, but with my family's experience, I'll probably just drive the 10 miles to the good dealership... Better safe than sorry.

I just wish a synthetic oil change didn't cost a $110! I could do it myself for less than $30, but since the vehicle is still under warranty, I want all required maintenance to be documented and performed by authorized Nissan techs.

I live in New Jersey, and the Nissan dealer I deal with could not be any better. Fair prices, quality work, great customer relations, and they stand behind the warranty. I too have all my work done at the dealership so there can be no question as to whether or not the proper maintenance was done. It paid off in the long run when my wifes 2009 Versa engine was replaced because of a piston slap. One look at the computer, and the mechanic could see that all the work done on the car was done at his dealership. Best wishes.................

 

[Notarized]

I too have all my work done at the dealership so there can be no question as to whether or not the proper maintenance was done. It paid off in the long run when my wifes 2009 Versa engine was replaced because of a piston slap. One look at the computer, and the mechanic could see that all the work done on the car was done at his dealership. Best wishes.................

You're right, of course... My motor made some strange sounds when it was new, but they've cleared up for now. I have a good dealership fairly close to me, I just need to visit them and let them do their thing. :wink

 

[amc49]

If you let the car sit for a week no issue with battery UNLESS you then drive car only a little bit before letting it sit a week again. That over and over CAN kill a battery in fairly short order, I used to sell them and a lot of collector cars that only come out on Sundays around here, they just cannot wrap their heads around that. Many premium batteries like Optima ( which I think are highly overrated) dead in 2 years. If battery is new then up to 3-4 weeks sitting but then you need to drive 3-4 days to get that back right.

A test? Start disconnecting the cable, it then goes much longer with no issues. Modern cars do use more power than they used to even with the power use cutting tech they all have to have now. You got PCMs and radios and Wifi all pulling power all the time.

Get the battery LOADTESTED like suggested, that tells you it can stand up to sitting better.

I saw nothing in parts to show batteries in new cars were cheaper, the opposite, just like all others, some go quick and others go longer than you would think. I would call 3 years an average and I changed hundreds of them. You really cannot put a death age on ANY battery, I've had a Walmart 2 year battery last 11 years before, it replaced an exact double on warranty that failed at 2 years. Luck of the draw there. Best of the best with 7 yr warranty, many fold at 5 years but some make it. I use 4 yr. as you got your money's worth regardless of the line or grade. There for a while in parts I kept a count just for my own benefit.

Other useful knowledge.................battery is good from 12.3 to 12.8 volts on most brands out there, most begin to show issues when you hit 12.2 and lower. That off hundreds of them.