1st Battery Saver Mode since AGM Install

[HeyBales]

According to Ford, the Battery Saver Mode on all Ford vehicles is activated in 3 situations:
--Battery voltage less than 9.5 volts
--Inactivity for 14 days or more
--Extremely hot or cold weather.

...So after many BSM activations and a battery replacement (with an AGM battery) on my 2024 Maverick hybrid in October, I have been obsessively monitoring the new battery. I got a trickle charger and installed the Ancell BM200 monitor for my iphone. So far it has avoided the dreaded BSM. I have noticed some weird activity on the SOC (state of charge) levels, such as...
--Leaving the door unlocked can cause the SOC to drop (but not always)
--Leaving the tailgate open can cause a drop
--Even when locked, if the key is nearby it can cause a drop in SOC.

I am still trying to figure out how this all works. The Ancell records 5 days of activity. For some reason last Friday the SOC plunged to 34%, so I had to go for a 30 minute drive to bring it back. Since then (and a 250 mile trip) it's been between 70 and 90%. But no BSM!

Consumer Reports had a pretty good article recently on making the battery last for all cars. It covers many of the things I have noticed. Here's a link:
https://www.consumerreports.org/car...ake-your-car-battery-last-longer-a7617960844/

The Battery Saver mode starts at 12.1 V, when lights start going off sooner, power port plug shuts off sooner than max, passenger keyless entry sensor left off, ect.

What you quoted from Ford is on their page for Deep Sleep Mode - you can add a 3rd to that list which requires a scanner to read the PID - Ford SOC scale below 40%.
That same info with 3rd criteria is in an SSM. Funny enough - about false DSM alerts.

Be aware the SOC% on the Ancell doesn't match Ford's SOC scale, which has an 85% max when fully charged.
So that 34% on normal charts for AGM SOC, was probably around 11.8 V I'd bet.
And 70-90% on that SOC scale, is 12.3-12.7 V - so indeed no battery saver mode.

Appears to be holding strong!
Mine has been living at 11.8 V for months now, and no 30 min drive was ever going to get my FLA battery recovered - so that's great for yours.

Actually - had a nice cold 15 F morning today - since battery was so cold (even the HVB only got up to 35 F, it wasn't given much charge either), the system barely spent any time charging it, started and ended at 55% Ford SOC scale.
I'm expecting a few of these cold days will finish it off since barely any charge thrown at it.

Fob nearby for keyless entry, should stop sending out a signal if it stops moving, therefore truck should be in normal receiver mode as if the key was anywhere.
If you really see a difference - your fob may not be working correctly.
Test it - leave it on a shelf by the truck door after locking.
Come back 30 min later - trying to open with keyless touch not moving fob.

Tailgate open, hood open - both are states the system watches, like cabin light left on.
If the battery isn't too low - monitoring system will be left on for 75 min max seeing that, and hopefully not get stuck in some loop or have an issue turning it off later. If locked it's much shorter than 75 min.

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[johnDeere]

As I have said before, “battery saving mode”, ford says drive more, do you need too?
I noticed on my car scanner app that my SOC was at 79%, too low for me, didn’t drive enough the day before.

Parked my 23 Mav hybrid at work and turned all the accessories off, and just let it set, 5 hours latter, my SOC with car scanner is up to 91% and battery acid is at 1.265, so it’s getting close to fully charged., and it’s still charging at 15.1V, and is has been for the whole 5 hours.

I have a deep cycle flooded battery with removable caps.
I also changed my SOC setting with forscan to 95%.
My Mav hybrid runs less than a minute out of every hour to charge the battery in this charging scheme.

 

[Gunnar88]

It wont start, it wont unlock the doors! Im less than 500 miles out of warranty for new battery from Ford. I put it on a trickle charger for a few hours and it came off battery saver mode in the app, so I tried and it did start, so I let it run till it stopped and put it on my car charger and it say 58% charged so im slow charging it and I think I will just keep driving it and carry my jump pack for now and see whats what. 39 months with no issues, but I dont pay close attention either, it is for sure the first time the app said battery save mode. The battery everyone uses off Amazon is $140 and a two week wait for me, I shopped it around and an H4 from Walmart in stock is $189 with a 4 year warranty. The fitment guide at Walmart does not say that an H4 will fit, is that because it is an AGM? is there anything to be gained or lost doing a battery sensor reset being that I haven't replaced the battery?

 

[HeyBales]

It wont start, it wont unlock the doors! Im less than 500 miles out of warranty for new battery from Ford. I put it on a trickle charger for a few hours and it came off battery saver mode in the app, so I tried and it did start, so I let it run till it stopped and put it on my car charger and it say 58% charged so im slow charging it and I think I will just keep driving it and carry my jump pack for now and see whats what. 39 months with no issues, but I dont pay close attention either, it is for sure the first time the app said battery save mode. The battery everyone uses off Amazon is $140 and a two week wait for me, I shopped it around and an H4 from Walmart in stock is $189 with a 4 year warranty. The fitment guide at Walmart does not say that an H4 will fit, is that because it is an AGM? is there anything to be gained or lost doing a battery sensor reset being that I haven't replaced the battery?

Ok completely dead different story.
It's hit the end.

Walmart that is correct battery. Indeed because that is an AGM size usually, and database for pre-25MY says FLA and T4 - but drop-in ready for H4.

Telling the system this problem low charged battery is a new fully charged battery may give you few days, because you would have in essence lowered the bar.
But as it undercharges even more thinking it's almost fully charged - won't last long, and should make things worse sooner.

But you have a charger besides the truck - use it, it's cheaper than the truck charger, and better probably. Unless it's truly just a trickle-charger only, in which case at least that every night.

 

[HeyBales]

As I have said before, “battery saving mode”, ford says drive more, do you need too?
I noticed on my car scanner app that my SOC was at 79%, too low for me, didn’t drive enough the day before.

Parked my 23 Mav hybrid at work and turned all the accessories off, and just let it set, 5 hours latter, my SOC with car scanner is up to 91% and battery acid is at 1.265, so it’s getting close to fully charged., and it’s still charging at 15.1V, and is has been for the whole 5 hours.

I have a deep cycle flooded battery with removable caps.
I also changed my SOC setting with forscan to 95%.
My Mav hybrid runs less than a minute out of every hour to charge the battery in this charging scheme.

From reports of those with no problems - closer to 2 hrs of driving daily does indeed keep the battery up to stop the battery saver actions.
So drive more is a proper solution - just a tad ridiculous for time though.

79% is great actually, but normally it would go to float charge at 80%, but not in your case perhaps.

So the SOC has to be a calculated value, as it's not based purely on Voltage, as that also is an inaccurate figure within 2-4 hrs of charging, and certainly so while charging.
How many Amps was reported on the 12V line by the end of that 5 hrs?

I'd be curious for another only 15 min test, no need for hours. If you can find the BdyCM PID for 12V Current Amps.
What's the reading at the end of 15 min, with V and SOC%?

I'd also be curious where that 91% Ford scale SOC ended up the next morning after a BMS relearn overnight, if that was the night it was going to do it anyway?
Or upon the drive the next day, where was the SOC?

I've seen posted by 1 other SC3 user, a morning start up in 90%'s after a battery recharge - and upon driving it took nosedove to more normal below 85%.

 

[Finnster]

is there anything to be gained or lost doing a battery sensor reset being that I haven't replaced the battery?

You may want to read this whole thread, if you havent seen it yet.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/posts/1251285/

 

[johnDeere]

From reports of those with no problems - closer to 2 hrs of driving daily does indeed keep the battery up to stop the battery saver actions.
So drive more is a proper solution - just a tad ridiculous for time though.

79% is great actually, but normally it would go to float charge at 80%, but not in your case perhaps.

So the SOC has to be a calculated value, as it's not based purely on Voltage, as that also is an inaccurate figure within 2-4 hrs of charging, and certainly so while charging.
How many Amps was reported on the 12V line by the end of that 5 hrs?

I'd be curious for another only 15 min test, no need for hours. If you can find the BdyCM PID for 12V Current Amps.
What's the reading at the end of 15 min, with V and SOC%?

I'd also be curious where that 91% Ford scale SOC ended up the next morning after a BMS relearn overnight, if that was the night it was going to do it anyway?
Or upon the drive the next day, where was the SOC?

I've seen posted by 1 other SC3 user, a morning start up in 90%'s after a battery recharge - and upon driving it took nosedove to more normal below 85%.

just a update to my post.
It just got weird.
But after reading other posts, maybe it about right.
As I said, my SOC was at 91% after charging for 6hrs. (Truck was in ready mode). Then I looked at it and said O sh*t.
it was still at 91%, SOC but the voltage was now at 12.8v and 1-2 amps coming out of the battery, and not charging.

So it never made it up to the forscan programmed SOC but some thing else, and not a floating charge of 13+ volts.
I parked and locked the truck and will see what it comes up with the new SOC tomorrow.

it is possible that when I did the “fully charge the battery”, it may not have been fully charged.
This time I did check the gravity of the water. And it was 1.27

 

[HeyBales]

just a update to my post.
It just got weird.
But after reading other posts, maybe it about right.
As I said, my SOC was at 91% after charging for 6hrs. (Truck was in ready mode). Then I looked at it and said O sh*t.
it was still at 91%, SOC but the voltage was now at 12.8v and 1-2 amps coming out of the battery, and not charging.

So it never made it up to the forscan programmed SOC but some thing else, and not a floating charge of 13+ volts.
I parked and locked the truck and will see what it comes up with the new SOC tomorrow.

it is possible that when I did the “fully charge the battery”, it may not have been fully charged.
This time I did check the gravity of the water. And it was 1.27

It was at 12.8 because fully charged, and felt too high so using some current.

I'm sure you'll discover a readjustment to that SOC value - probably closer to a fully charged 85% Ford scale.

Here's similar view of it happening, sadly only the 1 day old battery ever saw this!
84% had just been at 85% a second before this - 1 A coming from battery, 12.8V. It indeed measured 12.7_ V on this FLA battery about 1.5 hr after I got home.

And since you have Forscan - perhaps a better setting you might take a look at, that might be used by the hybrid. I don't know, because you can find all sorts of EB specific PIDS on the hybrid willing to show a volue that is obviously meaningless. Or maybe even prior models.
Still under BdyCM - Battery Charge Mode. There were some options about faster available.
Mine is obviously the loser setting.

 

[Gunnar88]

I checked out that other thread, Im sure glad I have had 39 months of trouble free operation. I am hoping this is just a dead battery, and not the new normal. I am not looking to turn this situation into a hobby. I did buy the extended warranty a few months ago once I decided to keep it.

 

[Neils Bohr]

I checked out that other thread, Im sure glad I have had 39 months of trouble free operation. I am hoping this is just a dead battery, and not the new normal. I am not looking to turn this situation into a hobby. I did buy the extended warranty a few months ago once I decided to keep it.

Welcome to my new normal.

 

[Mareys]

Does anyone know why leaving the tailgate open cause battery issues? No light is activated that i am aware of. The reason i ask is i have had two times that it was frozen shut to the tonneau cover. I pulled the handle down but couldnt get it to open. I push on the tailgate to try and re close on it but 1x the tailgate opened when i hit a bump and the 2nd time while clearing it off the next day i saw it was slightly open and i was able to open it and close it but it in theory was unlatched overnight

 

[kcflynn]

The Battery Saver mode starts at 12.1 V, when lights start going off sooner, power port plug shuts off sooner than max, passenger keyless entry sensor left off, ect.

What you quoted from Ford is on their page for Deep Sleep Mode - you can add a 3rd to that list which requires a scanner to read the PID - Ford SOC scale below 40%.
That same info with 3rd criteria as in a SSM.

Be aware the SOC% on the Ancell doesn't match Ford's SOC, which has an 85% max when fulling charged.
So that 34% on normal charts for AGM SOC, was probably around 11.8 V I'd bet.
And 70-90% on that SOC scale, is 12.3-12.7 V - so indeed no battery saver mode.

Appears to be holding strong!
Mine has been living at 11.8 V for months now, and no 30 min drive was ever going to get my FLA battery recovered - so that's great for yours.

Actually - had a nice cold 15 F morning today - since battery was so cold (even the HVB only got up to 35 F, it wasn't given much charge either), the system barely spent any time charging it, started and ended at 55% Ford SOC scale.
I'm expecting a few of these cold days will finish it off since barely any charge thrown at it.

Fob nearby for keyless entry, should stop sending out a signal if it stops moving, therefore truck should be in normal reading mode as if the key was anywhere.
If you really see a difference - your fob may not be working correctly.
Test it - leave on shelf by door after locking truck.
Come back 30 min later - trying to open with keyless not touching fob.

Tailgate open, hood open - both are states the system watches, like cabin light left on.
If the battery isn't too low - monitoring system will be left on for 75 min max seeing that, and hopefully not get stuck in some loop or have an issue turning it off later. If locked it's much shorter than 75 min.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I will add it to my collection of information they won't tell you on the Ford App. The big dips in SOC do match the voltage calculations you mentioned. This is going to be a winter-long project!

 

[HeyBales]

Does anyone know why leaving the tailgate open cause battery issues? No light is activated that i am aware of. The reason i ask is i have had two times that it was frozen shut to the tonneau cover. I pulled the handle down but couldnt get it to open. I push on the tailgate to try and re close on it but 1x the tailgate opened when i hit a bump and the 2nd time while clearing it off the next day i saw it was slightly open and i was able to open it and close it but it in theory was unlatched overnight

And you had battery problem overnight that night?

 

[North Coast Joe]

Anyone else have a Battery Saver Mode unexpectedly on Christmas day? Must have been a “Merry Christmas” from Ford.

Anyone else have a Battery Saver Mode unexpectedly on Christmas day? Must have been a “Merry Christmas” from Ford.

Probably our NWOH weather up and down temps! Right now mine(original eqpt) is in my Ohio garage on a battery minder, as I am in Florida. If it repeats, it will fire right up when I get home.

 

[ShadowBlack XL440]

That is for sure. I just had an AGM installed and in two weeks battery dead again. Car went on a 200km drive and I parked it for one day. Next day it is dead. Back to the dealership for the third time. Now finally they have agreed to check for a parasitic draw. Software update and AGM did not fix problem. Pulling fuse 11/12 did not solve it either. Any other ideas out there???

I installed one of these monitors, easy install and then able to monitor it 24H to see when there is a draw.

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