To AGM Battery or not to AGM?

[Stizzed]

I'm a 62 year old first time Mav owner. I only recently purchased my 2022 Lariat Hybrid with 34k miles on it. Great shape and $3k below KBB so I'm quite pleased with it. Of course I'm learning of the problems with both the platform as well as my specific vehicle.

The first few days of use saw no problems at all. I played with the configurations and upgraded the software using the wi-fi method. All was running well. Gas mileage was AMAZING! Recently now I'm seeing 'battery saver mode' in FordPass. So, I've been reading alot about it here in the forums and many folks are in agreement that Ford should have been using AGM batteries on the hybrid since day 1. However, I am not yet convinced that an AGM battery is the way to go. Here are my thoughts based on what I have read/learned..

Because the 12 volt battery does not actually crank the engine in the hybrid it doesn't really ‘cycle alot’ like its EB cousin which does not have a HVB to crank the engine. This, of course puts many more cycles on the EBs 12 volt battery. The hybrid does not require this of its 12 volt. This is certainly why Ford is putting AGMs in the EBs but not the hybrids. Although I did read that Ford may now be installing AGMs in the 25s.

Additionally, I've read that the AGM battery requires 14.8 charging volts and the Mav doesn't supply near that. Doesn't this mean that the AGM may never fully charge? These two items, if true, lead me to believe that perhaps the recommendations to use the AGM battery in the Mav Hybrid might not be worth the extra cash.

So, what are your thoughts? To AGM or NOT to AGM? I'm clearly no expert and am very much open to correction and clarification. In fact, I'm asking for it!

Bonus question: has anyone used an ANCEL BM300 battery monitor on their Mav Hybrid? Pros? Cons? Does it work well and is the data reliable?

Thanks in advance!
I'm looking forward to many great miles in my (new to me) Maverick Hybrid!

Sponsored

 

[Ozarkbeard]

A new or AGM will just delay the inevitable 12v battery failure, due to improper charging by the Battery Management System. Ford should have a fix very soon to address the BMS issues.

In the mean time, to protect the longevity of your existing battery, use a battery maintainer periodically to fully charge the battery. If equipped, use the battery maintainer's de-sulfation procedure, too. Connect the maintainer to the jump points under the hoood - driver's side.

 

[Uncle Ed]

I'm a 62 year old first time Mav owner. I only recently purchased my 2022 Lariat Hybrid with 34k miles on it. Great shape and $3k below KBB so I'm quite pleased with it. Of course I'm learning of the problems with both the platform as well as my specific vehicle.

The first few days of use saw no problems at all. I played with the configurations and upgraded the software using the wi-fi method. All was running well. Gas mileage was AMAZING! Recently now I'm seeing 'battery saver mode' in FordPass. So, I've been reading alot about it here in the forums and many folks are in agreement that Ford should have been using AGM batteries on the hybrid since day 1. However, I am not yet convinced that an AGM battery is the way to go. Here are my thoughts based on what I have read/learned..

Because the 12 volt battery does not actually crank the engine in the hybrid it doesn't really ‘cycle alot’ like its EB cousin which does not have a HVB to crank the engine. This, of course puts many more cycles on the EBs 12 volt battery. The hybrid does not require this of its 12 volt. This is certainly why Ford is putting AGMs in the EBs but not the hybrids. Although I did read that Ford may now be installing AGMs in the 25s.

Additionally, I've read that the AGM battery requires 14.8 charging volts and the Mav doesn't supply near that. Doesn't this mean that the AGM may never fully charge? These two items, if true, lead me to believe that perhaps the recommendations to use the AGM battery in the Mav Hybrid might not be worth the extra cash.

So, what are your thoughts? To AGM or NOT to AGM? I'm clearly no expert and am very much open to correction and clarification. In fact, I'm asking for it!

Bonus question: has anyone used an ANCEL BM300 battery monitor on their Mav Hybrid? Pros? Cons? Does it work well and is the data reliable?

Thanks in advance!
I'm looking forward to many great miles in my (new to me) Maverick Hybrid!

my battery monitor plugged in to cigarette outlet often reads 15.2 volts while driving.

 

[Benilla]

Buy a battery charger instead. I've had that "wireless functions disabled to save battery" alert twice so far, both in the dead of winter at -20C or colder when I haven't driven in a few days. I charge the battery and it's fixed. The only way I'd upgrade to the AGM is when the original batter can no longer hold a charge even after I've used a battery charger.

 

[Stizzed]

my battery monitor plugged in to cigarette outlet often reads 15.2 volts while driving.

Thanks for the info!
What plug-in battery monitor are you using, please?

 

[Stizzed]

A new or AGM will just delay the inevitable 12v battery failure, due to improper charging by the Battery Management System. Ford should have a fix very soon to address the BMS issues.

In the mean time, to protect the longevity of your existing battery, use a battery maintainer periodically to fully charge the battery. If equipped, use the battery maintainer's de-sulfation procedure, too. Connect the maintainer to the jump points under the hoood - driver's side.

Thanks so much.
Any recommendations on a good battery maintainer, please?

 

[dhaskit]

Thanks for the info!
What plug-in battery monitor are you using, please?

Here is one that would work.
It also has a couple USB ports on it. I use this in my aircraft but it would work fine in a Maverick as well.

https://www.sportys.com/flight-gear-usb-12-24v-slimline-charger.html

 

[ShadowBlack XL440]

my battery monitor plugged in to cigarette outlet often reads 15.2 volts while driving.

I replaced the OEM flooded battery in my MY24 Hybrid with an AGM and have not had any issues since. The truck charges at 15.4V almost all the time which is much better suited for an AGM than a flooded battery. Not only that the AGM has a much larger capacity than the cheap OEM battery. Be sure to reset the BMS per the owners manual after installing a FULLY charged battery. That sets the baseline for recharging status. I purchased the H4 AGM battery on Amazon for 125.00 which was cheap to resolve the deep sleep issue. The dealer would only replace the bad battery with the same stock flooded battery which would be just kicking the can down the road.

 

[ripperAZ]

I'm a 62 year old first time Mav owner. I only recently purchased my 2022 Lariat Hybrid with 34k miles on it. Great shape and $3k below KBB so I'm quite pleased with it. Of course I'm learning of the problems with both the platform as well as my specific vehicle.

The first few days of use saw no problems at all. I played with the configurations and upgraded the software using the wi-fi method. All was running well. Gas mileage was AMAZING! Recently now I'm seeing 'battery saver mode' in FordPass. So, I've been reading alot about it here in the forums and many folks are in agreement that Ford should have been using AGM batteries on the hybrid since day 1. However, I am not yet convinced that an AGM battery is the way to go. Here are my thoughts based on what I have read/learned..

Because the 12 volt battery does not actually crank the engine in the hybrid it doesn't really ‘cycle alot’ like its EB cousin which does not have a HVB to crank the engine. This, of course puts many more cycles on the EBs 12 volt battery. The hybrid does not require this of its 12 volt. This is certainly why Ford is putting AGMs in the EBs but not the hybrids. Although I did read that Ford may now be installing AGMs in the 25s.

Additionally, I've read that the AGM battery requires 14.8 charging volts and the Mav doesn't supply near that. Doesn't this mean that the AGM may never fully charge? These two items, if true, lead me to believe that perhaps the recommendations to use the AGM battery in the Mav Hybrid might not be worth the extra cash.

So, what are your thoughts? To AGM or NOT to AGM? I'm clearly no expert and am very much open to correction and clarification. In fact, I'm asking for it!

Bonus question: has anyone used an ANCEL BM300 battery monitor on their Mav Hybrid? Pros? Cons? Does it work well and is the data reliable?

Thanks in advance!
I'm looking forward to many great miles in my (new to me) Maverick Hybrid!

I have a 2023 lariat and I replaced my battery with an AC Delco AGM after three months because I was annoyed not being able to start it in advance to cool it in the Phoenix heat as I consistently got the message that those services were shut down. I put very few miles on the truck so it would sit for a few days the AGM batteries solve all those issues in an addition Everything just seems brighter. I’d go with the Delco battery. I think it’s the leading AGM and that weird size that goes in the backseat.

 

[Stizzed]

I replaced the OEM flooded battery in my MY24 Hybrid with an AGM and have not had any issues since. The truck charges at 15.4V almost all the time which is much better suited for an AGM than a flooded battery. Not only that the AGM has a much larger capacity than the cheap OEM battery. Be sure to reset the BMS per the owners manual after installing a FULLY charged battery. That sets the baseline for recharging status. I purchased the H4 AGM battery on Amazon for 125.00 which was cheap to resolve the deep sleep issue. The dealer would only replace the bad battery with the same stock flooded battery which would be just kicking the can down the road.

Awesome, THANKS! I've ordered a battery monitor so that I can monitor the charge/discharge rate to get a better look at what's going on.

Ive seen several of these Amazon AGM batteries at very reasonable prices. As these generally carry 3 year replacement warranties what could we expect the return policy to be over say a locally purchased (more expensive) AGM? This problem just screams battery replacement within 3 years so will likely be replaced under warranty...

 

[ThisWas]

Nice truck. Good question. My advice: do nothing.

Ford hoped to have a fix to the Battery Management System by the end of March. Now maybe April. Who knows?
Why not wait until Ford has a solution? Maybe they'll give us new batteries. Maybe pigs will fly.

Meanwhile my Maverick goes to sleep if I haven't driven it for a while, but it always starts right up. If it doesn't, I carry a jump starter. I've got a battery maintainer/charger, too, but I'm not going to the trouble of hooking it up if I don't need to. If a bad BMS is harming my battery, after 3 years the damage is already done.

 

[ripperAZ]

Nice truck. Good question. My advice: do nothing.

Ford hoped to have a fix to the Battery Management System by the end of March. Now maybe April. Who knows?
Why not wait until Ford has a solution? Maybe they'll give us new batteries. Maybe pigs will fly.

Meanwhile my Maverick goes to sleep if I haven't driven it for a while, but it always starts right up. If it doesn't, I carry a jump starter. I've got a battery maintainer/charger, too, but I'm not going to the trouble of hooking it up if I don't need to. If a bad BMS is harming my battery, after 3 years the damage is already done.

Auto start is almost necessary in Phoenix unless you wanna get into a car, that’s 190 to 220° inside so I couldn’t wait for a software update and the Delco AGM battery fixed it completely. I haven’t gotten a single message yet and my car has sat uncharted for two weeks at one point. I understand waiting but 115° convinced me that 150 bucks was worth it to fix the problem.

 

[MetalsGeek]

In the "bad olde days" when the only constant battery drain was to power the KAM (keep-alive memory in the ECU), the charging system's main problem was that the regulator (mounted on the alternator) would warm up much faster than the battery itself. The temperature compensation built into the regulator was designed for steady-state conditions, and would not fully charge the battery when the vehicle was driven mostly for short trips. It seems we have a similar problem from different causes today, in that constant battery drain is MUCH higher to support remote functions and constant emissions testing. IMHO an AGM battery should handle this relatively deep cycling somewhat better than a conventional flooded cell battery. I've made my peace with putting a charger on the Mav to keep the battery topped off when it will sit for more than a couple days. Not terribly thrilled with that, but it seems to help reduce deep sleep events. I've been pretty happy with a Noco G3500 charger, now replaced by their Genius5.

 

[inline_five]

Auto start is almost necessary in Phoenix unless you wanna get into a car, that’s 190 to 220° inside so I couldn’t wait for a software update and the Delco AGM battery fixed it completely. I haven’t gotten a single message yet and my car has sat uncharted for two weeks at one point. I understand waiting but 115° convinced me that 150 bucks was worth it to fix the problem.

Also consider that if your car is really hitting 200°, every 15° above 77° (internal 12v temp) the 12v battery half life is halved. True for lead acid as well as AGM.

Basically, heat is killing your battery.

 

[ripperAZ]

Also consider that if your car is really hitting 200°, every 15° above 77° (internal 12v temp) the 12v battery half life is halved. True for lead acid as well as AGM.

Basically, heat is killing your battery.

Oh no doubt. Batteries here last two years maybe I’ve always used the AAA battery service cause you get a free battery cause it dies within the 36 months, but they had no solution for the hybrid backseat. It totally stumped them. They went to research and came back and said they couldn’t supply the battery. They wouldn’t be comfortable warranty it. So I dropped in an AC Delco and 16 months and not one message from the car. Complete fix

Sponsored