I stumbled across this advice, and so looked at the situation in my 2018 40 kWh Leaf. The nearside suspension strut end was pristine, but the offside one was already showing signs of rust and corrosion. I've cleared up the rubbish in the RH strut end and greased it and bought and installed the VW covers. Literally a five minte job! Many thanks for the heads-up on this!
My Nissan Leaf is only 1 week old and the offside strut had already collected some water. Thanks so much for this useful advice. Parts have been ordered.
I didn't know that the tops of the struts were under those mesh caps. Mine were filled with water, but fortunately only a bit rusty. I ordered covers from eBay. Thanks for the very useful video!
This was really helpful. I'm actually talking with strangers who drives a Nissan Leaf and telling them about this problem, and wish them a merry Christmas. They really appreciate it ❤️🙂
I would never had noticed this without your video. Passenger side was fine but driver side full of water and grime. Bought the caps you suggested and the fit like a dream. Thanks for posting this.
Just checked my strut tops on my leaf, drivers side full of water and sludge and the strut thread all rusty will clean it out, WD40 it, grease it and fit some form of cover cap to both sides. Many thanks for the tip.
Neither is my 2014 Leaf, with no good options for replacing a battery with very limited range. It's been a while since I've heard anyone use the term "planned obsolescence", but Nissan seems to have incorporated it nicely into a car that, otherwise, seems like it would last decades.
Brilliant mod. Ordered same parts for my mk 1 leaf, fitted perfectly, job took 10 minutes, and yes signs of rusting beginning on rhs strut top. Thank you very much.
Thanks for the demonstration, Rob. That's a typical cheapskate trick by a manufacturer, which will guarantee their dealers some after-market repair profit. Call it built-in obsolescence, if you like. It will be worthwhile to check that the caps are still in place after each service! The cynic in me says that they could be 'accidentally' forgotten by an unscrupulous repairer.
It's actually a known issue. I've seen others having the issue needing the struts replaced, and Nissan service have been compensating for half the cost. Having said that, being so many generations in on the leaf and still an issue doesn't leave much to be desired...
A year ago, I did exactly what you did and recently checked under the caps. Passenger side was dry, but the driver side had a gooey mixture of grease and water. Not much, but a whole lot better than a year ago when both sides were filled with water. The grease did its job and bolt looked good after a cleaning. Redid everything with one exception, used RTV silicone sealant to form a gasket. Will check again in a year.
@@davidbutler99 It's been about a year and I just checked under the caps. Bone dry! RTV silicone sealant did the job. This is with the car parked outdoors 99+% of the time, where the average rainfall is 22 inches per year and use of windshield washer is about every other day.
@@dl-ce3somind me asking exactly what you did? I’m about to do this modification to my Leaf here soon within the week, and I would appreciate any help please. Thank you :)
There is a Nissan Part# 54330-ED000, but we tried it and found it still lets water in. Maybe because it has a small vent hole at the top. After a few months I removed them to check, and was shocked how bad it was again. Thank you for the VW Part#, I will share on our Australian Leaf Forum .🙂
@@damonhill33 Those caps need to be really tight fit and the hole on top sealed- also I found that if you put a water proof tape on the plastic mesh type cover that fits on top it will help stop the water from entering that area as it can fill up very quickly when it rains- this has worked for me after discovering that water was still getting into the strut top.
My Leaf came pre-fitted with inverted Muller yoghurt pots that seem to fit nicely, but they don't last long in weather. I'm going to get some caps, but slightly worried about allowing some air into the covered area. Not something that I'm going to fit and forget; will need to be checked every few months to be sure.
Thanks, did not realise that the struts are behind those covers, such a terrible design from Nissan and worse that knowing that water is always there they did not bother with any caps...😬. Will be ordering for mine as well...Cheers 👍
It wouldn't surprise me if car manufacturers do stuff like this to make you go into a Nissan dealer and pay up some ££ down the line ( or hope you go to a Nissan dealer )
Thank you so much for this video. Just had my 2017 Leaf and this was the first thing I did when I got home. Great tip and very much appreciated. Cheers :)
Great video, its the same for the 2023 Leaf. Caps for earlier leaf models fit perfect. i bought some that are a bit more domed in shape off amazon, but they snapped right in One Very Important thing though is you want to use a silicon Oring grease on the strut cups there rather than a lithium grease. Lithium grease is a petroleum based product and will degrade rubber and plastic. Its meant for metal on metal. So in this application silicone grease is what should be used
My new leaf 2022 has been modified on the production line and the have applied under seal around the nut and the end of the strut… but I still installed the cover as water was still being collected…
Thank you! I couldn't find the specific covers you mentioned. I have a 3D printer and searching Thingiverse for 'Nissan Leaf strut cap Domlager Kappe' provided me with a design that I can print my own with, so I'm going to try that! If that doesn't work out for me, I may well design my own.
I printed covers from the Thingiverse file (Domlager Kappe) as described by robynrox. They fit quite well on our 2013 LEAF. Suggest if your 3D printer is down or you don't have one, check with your local public library. These folks usually have their printers dialed in and do a great job. The bonus is that you can send the .STL file electronically and pick the parts up when they are done. At our libraries, the cost of the PLA filament is very inexpensive and there is no sales tax.
I bought another cap design that has a tiny hole in the middle of the cap for ventilation. Unfortunatley water is still getting in, presumably through the hole! Only a problem on the driver's side of the car. Other side stays dry.
I just checked my 2019. Fortunately, Albuquerque has a drier climate than England. No standing water or rust. I ordered parts from Amazon with reviews stating they fit well on Leaf. $8.86 for the pair with free Prime delivery.
Cheers for that, I will order those caps straight away. You would think Nissan were aware by now of this design flaw and fit the caps, anyway cheers for the tip 👍🏻
As an alternative, I use a rubber part of the smallest and cheapest plumber plunger I could find in the DIY shop. It fits perfectly as if it was invented for Leaf )))) If the thing is 8 sm in inner diameter it will sit tight around the metal edge.
I'm in the US so our wipers go the other way and that side, which is our driver side, looks worse than the passenger side as well. Not too bad but gonna grab the covers just in case!
After watching this video I did some investigation work and watched what was happening. It seems that rain/water is entering the bulkhead through the hole for the drivers side wind screen wiper, it then drips exactly on to the centre of the of the suspension strut and fills the depression with rain/water very quickly, they couldn't have made it more exact if they tried. The passenger side does not have this problem, but you are likely to get some residual moisture at some time. so I have put a plastic cover over the top as a temporary fix, after spraying with lithium grease and submitted a complaint to Nissan, that I consider they should come up with and fit a proper solution at their cost, as my vehicle is under warranty and I consider its a design error on their part, now waiting for a reply.
@@RSThinks It seems I have to go back to the dealer and if they consider it is not a fault, I will be charged £140!, so it will be easier to fit my own caps
@@RSThinks Nissan dealer has to inspect it first, to see if they agree, its a fault/issue, if they feel its not an issue, they charge this figure which I assume is a labour cost, even though you may still disagree, so its a lot cheaper to buy one on the net than take a gamble, then again if you were cynical it could be just a ploy to scare you off and not make it an issue?
I heard from Nissan and it appears each dealer makes up his own rules over issues like this and they have no control over them, but they have follow the fault reporting system system, that will eventually bring Nissan into the whole thing, but it has all been logged now at Nissan UK, so when it hits the fan sometime in the future, they cant say they didn't know now, I discovered in an article I came across, that some models come with the caps already, but I suspect its the American versions, as they will litigate over the smallest thing, so there you go, its been noted at Nissan Uk, not more I can do.
Great video and you are dead right the strut mount on our two year old leaf was a dirty mess. Also those mount covers fit beautifully. Just one question I have been reading that lithium grease speeds up the degrading process on rubber........ is the lithium grease a good idea? Thanks again. Rob
I used lithium grease as it was recommended in another guide that I found online. Reading about the grease at the time made me find a plastic cap rather than a rubber one. If you use a rubber cap then silicone grease would be a good substitute. Thanks for watching.
TBH I don't recall any rubber mounts in the top of the strut. I made the video a while ago. The guide I originally followed didn't mention it either. Could it have changed on more recent models?
Wow randomly fall on this video , yess u are absolutely right . My struts was a bit rusty . I find out that the big nutella pot’s cap mounts perfectly on the struts :)) I didn’t find some grease . I pour some wd-40 for the time being . Can I use cooking oil to repel the water ?
Not sure on cooking oil, might have salt in that won't react good with the metal. Glad you found a cheaper solution with the Nutella lids. Thanks for watching.
Ok, I’ve watched the video, ordered the parts from Ebay, cleaned lubricated and fitted these donut covers, and like the video water was only present on the drivers side only. But unless I’m wrong here, water will still get into the top of the struts…!! I fitted these in fine rain, so I could see how effective these covers are. Well the Centre of the donut ring acts like a mini reservoir and fills up. Once the water hits the top, it runs over the cover and back into the strut recess. The reason the water can’t escape is the actual strut has a 5cm protruding metal ring, which the donut cover fits inside this, blocking any water from escaping. Surely if this cover is to act like a gutter, the cover needs to finish on the other side of the strut ring. Comments Welcome.
Thanks for the comments. I checked mine after a few weeks by removing the covers. While there was a tiny amount of water in the driver side recess, the grease had made a barrier and the nut was protected. The snug fit of the cover created a seal which kept the water away from the vulnerable parts, the nut and bolt of the strut.
I used silicone spray lubricant that is designed for cars. It didn't show the white foam when I sprayed it in the strut top. Do you think it's fine to leave a little of that spray"pooling" in the strut top around that bolt in the centre if I have the caps over the top?
Good point buddy, thanks for sharing. I pick my new Nissan Leaf around the 15th of Augs/2021. And can’t wait. And now I know what to do for a repair I don’t need in the future. Thank you 👍👍👍👍👍THUMBS UP👍👍👍👍👍 Anthony, derby. Uk
I'm dealing with the actual problem of leaving this unchecked. I started hearing a knocking noise on small bumps and changed a few other parts now to be advised to swap the entire suspension. But I know wonder if I can just swap the struts to fix the problem.
Oh no, sorry to hear that. Hope its not too expensive to fix. Maybe worth trying to claim via Nissan as its a design flaw. Very early cars actually came with covers. For some reason the later ones didn't. Good luck!
@@RSThinks Finally found the comment telling me to check my 2011 Leaf before buying caps! I got hit with the faulty airbag passenger presence sensor: requiring one to replace the entire seat cushion assembly ($3000 when they were still selling it).
Recycle Utilise plastic lids from powdered milk, Cadbury chocolate powder, Twinning chocolate powder containers, enjoy the contents Mine have been in situ for the past 3yrs works perfectly. You could also uses a plastic bag with elastic bands to hold it down.
@@bobtahoma yes you are correct, however the question was cheap alternatives and you can’t get cheaper that plastic bag and elastic bands, change them every 6 months just before going into winter. As I also said the plastic lids from powdered chocolate/milk containers are perfect size, my two have been in situ now for nearly 4 years and had no leakage of water.
This metal cup is a replaceable part it's not an expensive the worst rusted example where on car fitted with caps packed with white grease because moisture can still get in but with the cap and grease it cannot evaporated away look up some of the worst examples they had caps fitted regular cleaning will reduce this it is sacrificial part the caps are cheap to replace and dinit failed that quickly. Paint with waxoyl will do just a good job if not better as it does not trap moisture
@@RSThinks Do you have a recommendation for a particular brand of LED high beam bulbs? My Leaf has halogen high beams. Not good for lighting up the road at night.
No, that is something that I didn't change on my car. I did upgrade to these (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XRS9LBR/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=rs0a6-21&linkCode=w00&linkId=9beeb85c43e1354995cafc1d2bed39d7&creativeASIN=B06XRS9LBR) and found them brighter. Just check the fitting, these are H11, but they are available in other fittings.
It is usually the left one only standing in front of the Leaf (you can see the above one is the same) - if you check above the struts you will find a little tray below the wiper stem that is where the water is coming from. Most leafs I have seen with covers have been fitted too late as the rust already took hold (its surface only) - the struts should be replaced before the top rust even becomes an issue as its lifespan is limited (unlike the video implies) - save yourself the lids and grease folks and replace the struts when needed instead - you are lucky to get ten years out of a set of struts and there is no way these will rust enough in that time.
Spoken like a true capitalist. you must work for Nissan or its competitors and can’t wait to charge people $500-$1000 bucks to replace their struts. I’m on to you.
@@swilbeth 😂neither - even if you leave the little covers off the struts will have reached their end of life span before the rust becomes a safety issue. Struts are good for five to ten years depending on your driving and the strictness of your countries vehicle testing stations.
Hi, I don't know, you'd have to look under the hood. The parts I used are not obtained from Nissan and are actually for an older model VW Golf. They just happen to fit. Thanks for watching though!
Glad you found it useful. Try searching for the part number (in the comments) , you should turn up some results. The ebay link is currently out of stock, but it usually gets replenished so it is worth saving it.
Yes, probably. This was a link from a couple of years ago now. A quick Google search should find an alternative that should fit. Thank you for watching!
Is this something that affects the v older leafs? (2011 - 2017)? If it does will this rubber cap fit or is there another type designed for the older models?
Some first generation Japanese manufacturered Leafs already came with caps fitted, it's as if they already knew it would be an issue! 😉 Later generations didn't. The fitting is the same on all models so you'll have no issues. Thanks for watching!
While you are greasing all over the car you can also go under it and give all bolts a little squirt ... it will take longer than car life to get those nuts rusted beyond repair .. think about motorcycles in the dirt/wet ... if it was a real problem nissan would have put 2 lousy caps there ... you are wasting WD on that thing believe me ! I will put some caps on there also when I get a leaf for sure but still :D
I'll be honest and say that I don't know. I only had my Leaf for 2 years and had dealer servicing. I'd recommend looking on the Leaf Facebook groups for an answer.
Yes, check the description of this video or a quick search on eBay should find some. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133786418647?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=moi3lbm8tqa&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=XGBAi8wqQee&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Thats what I did with mine too. 2 litre bottle bottoms, all good ever since, they cover even the outer ring i think, bit more than those shown here. Quite bad, that even 2017 models still have the same design fault not adressed from factory..
Check under the bonnet/hood when you pick it up. I don't know. Very early cars from Japan used to get covers from factory but at some point they stopped it when production started in the UK.
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I stumbled across this advice, and so looked at the situation in my 2018 40 kWh Leaf. The nearside suspension strut end was pristine, but the offside one was already showing signs of rust and corrosion. I've cleared up the rubbish in the RH strut end and greased it and bought and installed the VW covers. Literally a five minte job! Many thanks for the heads-up on this!
Thank you you for watching!
After watching the video I almost ordered a pair and thought I'd just check. I already have them, the previous owners installed them!
Smart people! They've done you a favour! Might be worth checking what it's like under the caps.
@@RSThinks yeah good idea, I'll have a look
My Nissan Leaf is only 1 week old and the offside strut had already collected some water. Thanks so much for this useful advice. Parts have been ordered.
Glad you caught it early! Enjoy your new car!
I didn't know that the tops of the struts were under those mesh caps. Mine were filled with water, but fortunately only a bit rusty. I ordered covers from eBay. Thanks for the very useful video!
Thanks for watching.
This was really helpful. I'm actually talking with strangers who drives a Nissan Leaf and telling them about this problem, and wish them a merry Christmas. They really appreciate it ❤️🙂
That's great! Spread the word!
I would never had noticed this without your video. Passenger side was fine but driver side full of water and grime. Bought the caps you suggested and the fit like a dream. Thanks for posting this.
Glad you got it sorted before it caused problems.
Thanks for watching!
Just checked my strut tops on my leaf, drivers side full of water and sludge and the strut thread all rusty will clean it out, WD40 it, grease it and fit some form of cover cap to both sides. Many thanks for the tip.
No worries. Thanks for watching!
Thank you I had no idea. Not a good advertisement for Nissan professionalism. 👍
Neither is my 2014 Leaf, with no good options for replacing a battery with very limited range. It's been a while since I've heard anyone use the term "planned obsolescence", but Nissan seems to have incorporated it nicely into a car that, otherwise, seems like it would last decades.
Brilliant mod. Ordered same parts for my mk 1 leaf, fitted perfectly, job took 10 minutes, and yes signs of rusting beginning on rhs strut top. Thank you very much.
Thank you for watching.
Glad you found it useful!
Thank you. My leaf is 2013. Gonna get these caps to help increase life span. You're the man.
Hope there's not too much of a swimming pool in the when you investigate. Post back!
Thanks for watching.
@@RSThinks it was a little.......crusty 🤣 a brass brush may have been needed!
@@NeillWylie Was there much water? Good you got it sorted now!
Thanks for watching!
@@RSThinks It's been hot for a while here so it was dry at the time.
@NeillWylie Perfect!
Just fitted mine. Driver side has pool of water, passenger was ok. Great vid.
Thanks for the demonstration, Rob. That's a typical cheapskate trick by a manufacturer, which will guarantee their dealers some after-market repair profit. Call it built-in obsolescence, if you like. It will be worthwhile to check that the caps are still in place after each service! The cynic in me says that they could be 'accidentally' forgotten by an unscrupulous repairer.
It's actually a known issue. I've seen others having the issue needing the struts replaced, and Nissan service have been compensating for half the cost.
Having said that, being so many generations in on the leaf and still an issue doesn't leave much to be desired...
Yes, it should have been fixed. If Nissan added the caps in the factory, it would cost pennies instead of footing half the cost of replacement!
Great tutorial! I would also recommend drying the screw place with a hair dryer or heat gun, for sure :-)
I used double sided tape and Tyvek breathable membrane. Keeps the water out while letting the moisture escape.
That's the best DIY tip in these comments. Waiting for someone to say they've repurposed a Goretex jacket next! Lol
Great tip! Thank you!! 🙏🙏
A year ago, I did exactly what you did and recently checked under the caps. Passenger side was dry, but the driver side had a gooey mixture of grease and water. Not much, but a whole lot better than a year ago when both sides were filled with water. The grease did its job and bolt looked good after a cleaning. Redid everything with one exception, used RTV silicone sealant to form a gasket. Will check again in a year.
Don’t use grease grease traps water and becomes an acidic mess use deez nuts
Yes that's what I was thinking. A gasket would prevent water under the cap.
@@davidbutler99 It's been about a year and I just checked under the caps. Bone dry! RTV silicone sealant did the job. This is with the car parked outdoors 99+% of the time, where the average rainfall is 22 inches per year and use of windshield washer is about every other day.
Great stuff, thanks for the update!
@@dl-ce3somind me asking exactly what you did? I’m about to do this modification to my Leaf here soon within the week, and I would appreciate any help please. Thank you :)
Thank you for alerting me. It seems the VW caps are now £11.84 each! Nissan says they are not required but I’d rather not risk it.
Mmm Nissan would say that. More owners going to dealer/buying parts to fix the problem when it's rusty.
Thanks for watching!
Good job.
Don't waste your time telling Nissan about this, they will completely ignore you! Ask "fancy a bev mate".
There is a Nissan Part# 54330-ED000, but we tried it and found it still lets water in. Maybe because it has a small vent hole at the top. After a few months I removed them to check, and was shocked how bad it was again.
Thank you for the VW Part#, I will share on our Australian Leaf Forum .🙂
Glad to help. Thanks for sharing!
A bit of silicone aquarium sealant to seal that hole will fix it.
@@apoch003 Thanks. If the VW Part doesn't work, I'll find those Nissan Caps again and try sealing the hole and around the cap.
@@damonhill33 Those caps need to be really tight fit and the hole on top sealed- also I found that if you put a water proof tape on the plastic mesh type cover that fits on top it will help stop the water from entering that area as it can fill up very quickly when it rains- this has worked for me after discovering that water was still getting into the strut top.
My Leaf came pre-fitted with inverted Muller yoghurt pots that seem to fit nicely, but they don't last long in weather. I'm going to get some caps, but slightly worried about allowing some air into the covered area. Not something that I'm going to fit and forget; will need to be checked every few months to be sure.
Good plan about checking periodically. I no longer have my Leaf but I checked once after fitting and all was ok.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
Turns out - glad I checked as water is still getting in on the driver's side!@@RSThinks
I was aware of the issue but hadn't found any decent caps. Have now ordered these from eBay. Thanks!
No worries, glad to help.
Thank you, ordered mine from Amazon after seeing your video.
Thanks for watching.
Thanks, did not realise that the struts are behind those covers, such a terrible design from Nissan and worse that knowing that water is always there they did not bother with any caps...😬. Will be ordering for mine as well...Cheers 👍
Nissan penny pinching. Its a cheap mod so can't see why they couldn't make it.
Thanks for the comment!
It wouldn't surprise me if car manufacturers do stuff like this to make you go into a Nissan dealer and pay up some ££ down the line ( or hope you go to a Nissan dealer )
@@Chappers.Gaming I'm thankful there isn't a clutch or exhaust to change. So many moving parts in an ICE that need to maintained.
@@RSThinks indeed, I'm still looking for an EV I just not sure what to get :(
Thank you so much for this video. Just had my 2017 Leaf and this was the first thing I did when I got home. Great tip and very much appreciated. Cheers :)
Glad you found it useful!
Thanks for commenting.
Hello, I also have a 2017 leaf. Dud you order from ebay as well? If so, do you mind sharing the link? Thank you
Hi, there is a link in the video description. If that is no longer working, search for the part number. Thanks for watching!
All car manufacturers are penny pinchers .. we need good guys like you- sharing tips.
Couldn't agree more. The community coming together for the community!
Great video, its the same for the 2023 Leaf. Caps for earlier leaf models fit perfect. i bought some that are a bit more domed in shape off amazon, but they snapped right in
One Very Important thing though is you want to use a silicon Oring grease on the strut cups there rather than a lithium grease.
Lithium grease is a petroleum based product and will degrade rubber and plastic. Its meant for metal on metal. So in this application silicone grease is what should be used
Thank for watching.
Hello there. Mind sending me the link to which caps you bought from Amazon please? :)
My new leaf 2022 has been modified on the production line and the have applied under seal around the nut and the end of the strut… but I still installed the cover as water was still being collected…
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
I couldn't find the specific covers you mentioned. I have a 3D printer and searching Thingiverse for 'Nissan Leaf strut cap Domlager Kappe' provided me with a design that I can print my own with, so I'm going to try that!
If that doesn't work out for me, I may well design my own.
Thanks for watching. Good luck!
Hi, did that work for you? The design you found I mean
@@fsayyed I had trouble with my printer (not connected with the model) so I haven't done this yet.
I printed covers from the Thingiverse file (Domlager Kappe) as described by robynrox. They fit quite well on our 2013 LEAF. Suggest if your 3D printer is down or you don't have one, check with your local public library. These folks usually have their printers dialed in and do a great job. The bonus is that you can send the .STL file electronically and pick the parts up when they are done. At our libraries, the cost of the PLA filament is very inexpensive and there is no sales tax.
This is good to know! When I buy one I will have to look to see how rusted this is.
You might get lucky and the previous owner saw the video too. 👍🏻
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the advice. Mine arrived today from eBay, will fit them tomorrow.
I bought another cap design that has a tiny hole in the middle of the cap for ventilation. Unfortunatley water is still getting in, presumably through the hole! Only a problem on the driver's side of the car. Other side stays dry.
Try plugging the hole with superglue maybe?
Thanks for watching!
@@RSThinks will try that, 👍
I can smell that WD-40 all the way here in Florida . Thank you .
Used a skimmed milk cap. Still dry after 12 months !
I just checked my 2019. Fortunately, Albuquerque has a drier climate than England. No standing water or rust. I ordered parts from Amazon with reviews stating they fit well on Leaf. $8.86 for the pair with free Prime delivery.
Thanks for the comments. No such luck in the UK. It's either wet, damp or sopping wet most of the year lol. 👍🏻
Cheers for that, I will order those caps straight away. You would think Nissan were aware by now of this design flaw and fit the caps, anyway cheers for the tip 👍🏻
The issue was present on the first gen car too. Its not exactly expensive to prevent it...
More like planned maintenance. The wiper arms drips right into these. If they haven't fixed it in 10 years I would say they prefer it this way.
Because Nissan knows that the struts need replacing before they are rusted out as they are not designed to last for the life of the car.
@@badchefi are they as easy to replace as like a sentra?....I'm asking bc I just got a 2013 leaf w/65k on it....
@@matthewzizzo4586 yes they are.
This helped me all done was water dirt in there all cleared up grease many thanks for your help.
Glad you found it useful. Thanks for the comments!
The top of of dried milk cartons also fit and work well
Yes, lots of comments saying the same. Did you use them in yours?
@@RSThinks no mine came with them already fitted by the last owner
As an alternative, I use a rubber part of the smallest and cheapest plumber plunger I could find in the DIY shop. It fits perfectly as if it was invented for Leaf ))))
If the thing is 8 sm in inner diameter it will sit tight around the metal edge.
Good diy hack!
Thanks very much for this video. I will check my leaf in the morning for water collection.
Was there much water?
I'm in the US so our wipers go the other way and that side, which is our driver side, looks worse than the passenger side as well. Not too bad but gonna grab the covers just in case!
Definitely worth it as a prevention measure. Thanks for watching!
Glad I found this. Great demo. Thanks a lot.
Thanks for watching! Glad you found it useful!
Thank You for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.... Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ ☮ ❤
Thank you, great to know about this cheap little preventative.
Thanks for watching.
After watching this video I did some investigation work and watched what was happening. It seems that rain/water is entering the bulkhead through the hole for the drivers side wind screen wiper, it then drips exactly on to the centre of the of the suspension strut and fills the depression with rain/water very quickly, they couldn't have made it more exact if they tried. The passenger side does not have this problem, but you are likely to get some residual moisture at some time. so I have put a plastic cover over the top as a temporary fix, after spraying with lithium grease and submitted a complaint to Nissan, that I consider they should come up with and fit a proper solution at their cost, as my vehicle is under warranty and I consider its a design error on their part, now waiting for a reply.
Please post if you get a response.
Thanks for watching!
@@RSThinks It seems I have to go back to the dealer and if they consider it is not a fault, I will be charged £140!, so it will be easier to fit my own caps
Wow, £140 to do what?
@@RSThinks Nissan dealer has to inspect it first, to see if they agree, its a fault/issue, if they feel its not an issue, they charge this figure which I assume is a labour cost, even though you may still disagree, so its a lot cheaper to buy one on the net than take a gamble, then again if you were cynical it could be just a ploy to scare you off and not make it an issue?
I heard from Nissan and it appears each dealer makes up his own rules over issues like this and they have no control over them, but they have follow the fault reporting system system, that will eventually bring Nissan into the whole thing, but it has all been logged now at Nissan UK, so when it hits the fan sometime in the future, they cant say they didn't know now, I discovered in an article I came across, that some models come with the caps already, but I suspect its the American versions, as they will litigate over the smallest thing, so there you go, its been noted at Nissan Uk, not more I can do.
Great video and you are dead right the strut mount on our two year old leaf was a dirty mess. Also those mount covers fit beautifully. Just one question I have been reading that lithium grease speeds up the degrading process on rubber........ is the lithium grease a good idea? Thanks again. Rob
I used lithium grease as it was recommended in another guide that I found online. Reading about the grease at the time made me find a plastic cap rather than a rubber one. If you use a rubber cap then silicone grease would be a good substitute. Thanks for watching.
@@RSThinks Hi RS thanks for your reply I was more concerned about the rubber mounts rather than the strut cover.
TBH I don't recall any rubber mounts in the top of the strut. I made the video a while ago. The guide I originally followed didn't mention it either. Could it have changed on more recent models?
Wow randomly fall on this video , yess u are absolutely right . My struts was a bit rusty . I find out that the big nutella pot’s cap mounts perfectly on the struts :))
I didn’t find some grease . I pour some wd-40 for the time being . Can I use cooking oil to repel the water ?
Not sure on cooking oil, might have salt in that won't react good with the metal.
Glad you found a cheaper solution with the Nutella lids. Thanks for watching.
WD-40 was designed to repel water. That is what "WD" stands for: "water dispersent". It is NOT actually a lubricant!
Great!
I will do this on my Leaf as well!
Thanks for the tip.
My car had a makeshift cover placed over both struts but these will be better.
Glad you found it useful. Thanks for the comments!
Thanks for this great tip! Just ordered them too.
Added to my leaf. Thanks for recording this.
Glad you found it useful!
Thanks heaps, I did this with both my Leafs...
Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Found it 👍😎 Thanks for the video.
Ok, I’ve watched the video, ordered the parts from Ebay, cleaned lubricated and fitted these donut covers, and like the video water was only present on the drivers side only.
But unless I’m wrong here, water will still get into the top of the struts…!!
I fitted these in fine rain, so I could see how effective these covers are.
Well the Centre of the donut ring acts like a mini reservoir and fills up. Once the water hits the top, it runs over the cover and back into the strut recess.
The reason the water can’t escape is the actual strut has a 5cm protruding metal ring, which the donut cover fits inside this, blocking any water from escaping.
Surely if this cover is to act like a gutter, the cover needs to finish on the other side of the strut ring. Comments Welcome.
Thanks for the comments.
I checked mine after a few weeks by removing the covers. While there was a tiny amount of water in the driver side recess, the grease had made a barrier and the nut was protected.
The snug fit of the cover created a seal which kept the water away from the vulnerable parts, the nut and bolt of the strut.
I used silicone spray lubricant that is designed for cars. It didn't show the white foam when I sprayed it in the strut top. Do you think it's fine to leave a little of that spray"pooling" in the strut top around that bolt in the centre if I have the caps over the top?
I think it would be OK as it is creating a barrier.
Thanks for watching.
Good point buddy, thanks for sharing. I pick my new Nissan Leaf around the 15th of Augs/2021. And can’t wait. And now I know what to do for a repair I don’t need in the future. Thank you
👍👍👍👍👍THUMBS UP👍👍👍👍👍
Anthony, derby. Uk
Thanks for the comments. Enjoy!
Cheers for that,were could I get those caps
Hi, check the description of this video for a link.
Cheers
Worked perfectly
Very helpful, thank you for the video, will definitely be doing this
Thanks for your comments.
I'll design and 3d print some caps.
Good idea.
Don't forget to put them on thingiverse to share :)
Use a plastic that can deal with moisture, and prints watertight.
Use abs and seal with acetone, it will be watertight at that point.
Thanks for posting this
Thank you for watching! 👍🏻
Thanks for this!
Thanks for the comment. Hope this tip saves you from problems in the future.
I'm dealing with the actual problem of leaving this unchecked.
I started hearing a knocking noise on small bumps and changed a few other parts now to be advised to swap the entire suspension.
But I know wonder if I can just swap the struts to fix the problem.
Oh no, sorry to hear that. Hope its not too expensive to fix.
Maybe worth trying to claim via Nissan as its a design flaw. Very early cars actually came with covers. For some reason the later ones didn't.
Good luck!
@@RSThinks Finally found the comment telling me to check my 2011 Leaf before buying caps!
I got hit with the faulty airbag passenger presence sensor: requiring one to replace the entire seat cushion assembly ($3000 when they were still selling it).
Done! Online sources 1,000% less costly than Nissan’s. US $17 EACH!!!! Online 2 for about $3.50 USD!!! Thanks
Bargain! Thanks for the comments.
Where did you find this? looking to order from canada
There are details in the video description.
Recycle Utilise plastic lids from powdered milk, Cadbury chocolate powder, Twinning chocolate powder containers, enjoy the contents
Mine have been in situ for the past 3yrs works perfectly. You could also uses a plastic bag with elastic bands to hold it down.
Good tips! Thanks for sharing.
@@bobtahoma yes you are correct, however the question was cheap alternatives and you can’t get cheaper that plastic bag and elastic bands, change them every 6 months just before going into winter. As I also said the plastic lids from powdered chocolate/milk containers are perfect size, my two have been in situ now for nearly 4 years and had no leakage of water.
This metal cup is a replaceable part it's not an expensive the worst rusted example where on car fitted with caps packed with white grease because moisture can still get in but with the cap and grease it cannot evaporated away look up some of the worst examples they had caps fitted regular cleaning will reduce this it is sacrificial part the caps are cheap to replace and dinit failed that quickly.
Paint with waxoyl will do just a good job if not better as it does not trap moisture
You made me go look see on my 2011 Leaf. It has the caps on already. I got it used. Perhaps someone else installed them or maybe Nissan did it.
Glad someone had the foresight. Now you get the benefit!
@@RSThinks Do you have a recommendation for a particular brand of LED high beam bulbs? My Leaf has halogen high beams. Not good for lighting up the road at night.
No, that is something that I didn't change on my car. I did upgrade to these (www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XRS9LBR/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=rs0a6-21&linkCode=w00&linkId=9beeb85c43e1354995cafc1d2bed39d7&creativeASIN=B06XRS9LBR) and found them brighter. Just check the fitting, these are H11, but they are available in other fittings.
I do have 2011 leaf and I am the first owner. There is no cap in there. FYI
It depends where it was built. If a Japanese made model, I believe they had them fitted at the factory.
It is usually the left one only standing in front of the Leaf (you can see the above one is the same) - if you check above the struts you will find a little tray below the wiper stem that is where the water is coming from. Most leafs I have seen with covers have been fitted too late as the rust already took hold (its surface only) - the struts should be replaced before the top rust even becomes an issue as its lifespan is limited (unlike the video implies) - save yourself the lids and grease folks and replace the struts when needed instead - you are lucky to get ten years out of a set of struts and there is no way these will rust enough in that time.
Spoken like a true capitalist. you must work for Nissan or its competitors and can’t wait to charge people $500-$1000 bucks to replace their struts. I’m on to you.
@@swilbeth 😂neither - even if you leave the little covers off the struts will have reached their end of life span before the rust becomes a safety issue.
Struts are good for five to ten years depending on your driving and the strictness of your countries vehicle testing stations.
I am on to him too. He Is a typical RUclips hack. You go girl!!😀
@@sheldonwilliams4952 😂RUclips hack😘 - I got two Leafs (2014 and a 2018) and both are just fine without the silly plastic bits...
I looked at Nissan's parts website and they don't have those for the 2023 Leaf SV Plus
Is it because they already come built-in in the 2023 model?
Hi, I don't know, you'd have to look under the hood. The parts I used are not obtained from Nissan and are actually for an older model VW Golf. They just happen to fit.
Thanks for watching though!
Great tip thanks 👍
Is their specific one u need for the tekna 2021 model
No, they are generic.
Thanks for watching!
Hi thanks for valuable information. But could not find it in ebay with the link or number. Please let us know if still available in ebay. Thanks
Glad you found it useful. Try searching for the part number (in the comments) , you should turn up some results.
The ebay link is currently out of stock, but it usually gets replenished so it is worth saving it.
Thank you for the video, the link in the description shows no result, do you think they still sell the same cover?
Yes, probably. This was a link from a couple of years ago now. A quick Google search should find an alternative that should fit.
Thank you for watching!
If you pour water down the drain on the drivers side you will see it drains straight into the strut housing, brilliant design!
Nissan penny pinching where they should have added covers at build time.
Hi There, can't find the part number.... Please post again.
Great idea thanks 👍
Is this something that affects the v older leafs? (2011 - 2017)? If it does will this rubber cap fit or is there another type designed for the older models?
Some first generation Japanese manufacturered Leafs already came with caps fitted, it's as if they already knew it would be an issue! 😉
Later generations didn't. The fitting is the same on all models so you'll have no issues.
Thanks for watching!
amazon has dust cap for leaf/juke pair for $15. fits 2011-17
Nice, care to share the link? Thanks for watching!
Probably better & easier, to use ‘proper’ grease rather than the feeble aerosol stuff
While you are greasing all over the car you can also go under it and give all bolts a little squirt ... it will take longer than car life to get those nuts rusted beyond repair .. think about motorcycles in the dirt/wet ... if it was a real problem nissan would have put 2 lousy caps there ... you are wasting WD on that thing believe me ! I will put some caps on there also when I get a leaf for sure but still :D
Thank you! Great tip.
FWIW, I'm seeing a nissan specific version of this cap if you search for part: 54330ED000 - Good luck!
Thanks for sharing!
Do you have a link that will take us directly to them. I can only find for mark 1 leaf not mark 2?
They use the same part 👍🏻
@ thanks 🙏
What service should I perform on my 2012 Nissan Leaf with 34,000 miles and after 6 years of parking in the garage?
I'll be honest and say that I don't know. I only had my Leaf for 2 years and had dealer servicing.
I'd recommend looking on the Leaf Facebook groups for an answer.
@@RSThinks thanks very much Boos
Place a link for the tops , please?
Check the video description. Thanks for watching!
Why will this save you money in the long run? What would be the consequence of that water/rust build up?
It stops the top of the strut and the suspension nut rusting/corroding which would eventually need replacing.
What are these caps called on ebay. The link in description doesn't work no more. Pick my leaf up in a week and want to be prepared to do this job
Strut caps.
Someone else commented yesterday and I checked ebay and there were lots on there. Search for 'Leaf strut caps'.
Thanks for watching!
@@RSThinks thank you 👍🏻
looks like i'm off to ebay! thanks very much
Thanks for watching!
Can I get the ebay link please, this video is so useful. Thank you
Hi, there is an ebay link in the video description. Thanks for watching.
Thanks that's really helpful.
Glad it was useful. Thanks for watching!
Call me an idiot but why do you have to put the grease on it before you put the cover on?
The grease acts a a barrier. The cap stops water but the grease stops condensation.
easier to use one of those liquid rubber compounds. jjust filll it after wd40 and silicone grease.
Do you know a site where I can order from Canada?
Sorry, I don't. The part I used is from VW so chances are it would be available in Canada. A search on Google will probably find some.
Wow I just checked my 3 year old leaf and the struts are rusty on top. Will order the caps now!
Hopefully just surface rust.
Just searched eBay for strut caps for my 2017 leaf they want £30 plus postage! Any recommendations for cheaper items?😮😮
Yes, check the description of this video or a quick search on eBay should find some. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133786418647?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=moi3lbm8tqa&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=XGBAi8wqQee&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
That second one looked like the passenger side to me! :)
I guess you're in a left hand drive country... The windscreen wipers would go the other way. 👍🏻
Cut the bottom off a 2litre fizzy bottle.3 years later still there.just push on.nice!
Nice cheap hack! 👍🏻
Thats what I did with mine too. 2 litre bottle bottoms, all good ever since, they cover even the outer ring i think, bit more than those shown here. Quite bad, that even 2017 models still have the same design fault not adressed from factory..
Any chance of a link to suppliers
Sure, I'll see if I can find another as the eBay link in the comments seems to have sold out.
Will this one fit?
www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-VW-Caddy-Golf-Cabriolet-Jetta-Syncro-Passat-Rabbit-cap-17141235901C/192872365981
@@KarineTKnudsen It looks like the one that I fitted, so I'll say yes!
Sorry for the late response YT flagged your comment as spam due to the link.
I can not find this on ebay for Leaf ZE1. Only ZE0 shows up. Help?
Same one should fit both models.
Please let me know What is cap name and Where can I this cap?
Hi, all the info is in the video description.
Thanks for watching.
I just fill the space with plumber's putty. Keeps the water out.
Good tip!
I've just ordered a new leaf, have they fixed this issue or should I get these caps? Thanks
Check under the bonnet/hood when you pick it up. I don't know. Very early cars from Japan used to get covers from factory but at some point they stopped it when production started in the UK.
@@RSThinks thanks for the info!
You're welcome.
Cannot find link for caps. Can you send it to me
It's in the description of the video. Will send later if you let me me know you still can't find it 🙂
Still having problems deciding which eBay link to use. Would appreciate a link