Cold Weather Electrical Issues 2.0 Ecoboost

[Mitchell]

December 12/24 - 9am
-24 Celsius - first cold morning since I owned this truck and has only 7000 km (4300 miles).

Remote fob would lock/unlock but not start the truck.
I went out to start manually but the electrical was out on the dash, there was no defrost fan, and the engine would not turn over with the key.
I tried several times to start but absolutely nothing happened.

Finally I left the key in the on position and after about 10-15 seconds the defrost fan came on and the (large) dash warnings began to flash one after the other showing countless messages: No hill assist, No pre collision, No front camera etc., etc.

I then turned the key to the start position and the engine started no problem. At that point I was able to drive but idiot lamps for ABS and pre-collision assist remained on.

After I reached my destination, I shut off and restarted the engine, and found everything was back to normal.
My wife took the truck later and reported the radio/infotainment screen shut off by itself while she was driving. She manually turned the radio back on. Not sure what is going on yet. I will be booking a dealership visit. It almost seemed like the power relay was frozen up (if it even has one).

Update:
Brought to dealership and the battery was replaced. Showed 51% charge.

Update 2. Due to our cold climate and the battery issues with these trucks I am thinking of installing an 80w battery blanket around the battery for cold nights instead of relying on the block heater. If the battery is warm the engine will turn and it will start. I have used them years ago on my vehicles

and they work great.

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[JacobEleventeen]

I'm no mechanic but I almost wonder if the 12v battery may have been having some issues with the cold. I know the batteries they put in these things are pretty bad and the cold does affect batteries but usually only after they are near the end of their life.

 

[RFEJR]

The book says the following about cold weather operations:

 

[Meeka]

December 12/24 - 9am
-24 Celsius - first cold morning since I owned this truck and has only 7000 km (4300 miles).

Remote fob would lock/unlock but not start the truck.
I went out to start manually but the electrical was out on the dash, there was no defrost fan, and the engine would not turn over with the key.
I tried several times to start but absolutely nothing happened.

Finally I left the key in the on position and after about 10-15 seconds the defrost fan came on and the (large) dash warnings began to flash one after the other showing countless messages: No hill assist, No pre collision, No front camera etc., etc.

I then turned the key to the start position and the engine started no problem. At that point I was able to drive but idiot lamps for ABS and pre-collision assist remained on.

After I reached my destination, I shut off and restarted the engine, and found everything was back to normal.
My wife took the truck later and reported the radio/infotainment screen shut off by itself while she was driving. She manually turned the radio back on. Not sure what is going on yet. I will be booking a dealership visit. It almost seemed like the power relay was frozen up (if it even has one).

Wow, cold in Thunder Bay, my stepson is in Winnipeg and it’s -20 C also! Yes cold does affect these trucks! I’m in BC and it’s only -5 and am having ‘issues’ in the mornings.

 

[Mitchell]

The book says the following about cold weather operations:

That's called pretty much every winter.

 

[Mitchell]

Wow, cold in Thunder Bay, my stepson is in Winnipeg and it’s -20 C also! Yes cold does affect these trucks! I’m in BC and it’s only -5 and am having ‘issues’ in the mornings.

That is not good. Wow.

 

[Mitchell]

I'm no mechanic but I almost wonder if the 12v battery may have been having some issues with the cold. I know the batteries they put in these things are pretty bad and the cold does affect batteries but usually only after they are near the end of their life.

I will bring it in and have it checked but I think it is something else or it wouldn't have started at all.

 

[Jah.]

Engine block heater would be ideal in subzero temperatures .

 

[Ozarkbeard]

December 12/24 - 9am
-24 Celsius - first cold morning since I owned this truck and has only 7000 km (4300 miles).

Remote fob would lock/unlock but not start the truck.
I went out to start manually but the electrical was out on the dash, there was no defrost fan, and the engine would not turn over with the key.
I tried several times to start but absolutely nothing happened.

Finally I left the key in the on position and after about 10-15 seconds the defrost fan came on and the (large) dash warnings began to flash one after the other showing countless messages: No hill assist, No pre collision, No front camera etc., etc.

I then turned the key to the start position and the engine started no problem. At that point I was able to drive but idiot lamps for ABS and pre-collision assist remained on.

After I reached my destination, I shut off and restarted the engine, and found everything was back to normal.
My wife took the truck later and reported the radio/infotainment screen shut off by itself while she was driving. She manually turned the radio back on. Not sure what is going on yet. I will be booking a dealership visit. It almost seemed like the power relay was frozen up (if it even has one).

If it's a flooded-lead-acid battery, you should try putting the battery on a charger/maintainer until it shows fully charged and the battery has been desulfated. Then reset the BMS using the bright headlight flash 5 times, followed by the brake pedal 3 times.

Numerous on-screen warnings like you saw are typical of discharged or bad battery.

 

[Mitchell]

Engine block heater would be ideal in subzero temperatures .

I have one but I don't bother until it is a bit colder. Regardless it wasn't a cold engine problem, it is an electrical problem.

 

[JRADD]

Several days ago I had a strange thing happen too. Temperature was in teens. Was not at home. Tried to use the key fob remote start, did not start so thought I may have been too far away. Tried remote start again. Was almost next to truck but still no start. Tried to unlock using the fob and no response. Tried to use key in door lock to manually unlock and that did not work either.

Used my phone app to start and unlock truck. Got in inserted key and off I went. Next morning tried to unlock with usual key in door and that did not work. Used my spare key to unlock manually. That worked as it should. Tried to use usual key again and everything worked normally. Has worked normally since then. Was glad I thought to use my phone app and that it worked to get me home.

Not sure what happened but have not been able to recreate situation. Have used remote start multiple times since and works every time.

 

[Mitchell]

Several days ago I had a strange thing happen too. Temperature was in teens. Was not at home. Tried to use the key fob remote start, did not start so thought I may have been too far away. Tried remote start again. Was almost next to truck but still no start. Tried to unlock using the fob and no response. Tried to use key in door lock to manually unlock and that did not work either.

Used my phone app to start and unlock truck. Got in inserted key and off I went. Next morning tried to unlock with usual key in door and that did not work. Used my spare key to unlock manually. That worked as it should. Tried to use usual key again and everything worked normally. Has worked normally since then. Was glad I thought to use my phone app and that it worked to get me home.

Not sure what happened but have not been able to recreate situation. Have used remote start multiple times since and works every time.

That is funny because my wife told me the same thing happened to her a few weeks ago and she had to use her phone to get in the truck. She said the fob wouldn't work and the key in the door wouldn't work either. I thought it was just her. If it would have been me I would be walking because I don't carry a cell phone.

 

[710-oil-614]

That's called pretty much every winter.

Did you get the engine block heater?

 

[Mitchell]

Did you get the engine block heater?

Yes they are pretty much standard in Canada for anything you buy. I don't bother using them unless it gets lower than -30C.

 

[Camdak]

If it's a flooded-lead-acid battery, you should try putting the battery on a charger/maintainer until it shows fully charged and the battery has been desulfated. Then reset the BMS using the bright headlight flash 5 times, followed by the brake pedal 3 times.

Numerous on-screen warnings like you saw are typical of discharged or bad battery.

Will resetting the BMS also work on the AGM battery when you fully charge it? The 5 flash and 3 pumps. Don’t go there! Just curious as mine on EcoBoost looses juice overnight also.

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