HYBRID 12V Battery Mystery SOLVED

[Mavster Mechanic]

So since a tail hitch connection triggers it- then something like this would work ?

https://a.co/d/01zIie8g

Yes it will. As will any.
But it disables blind spot warning because it thinks you have a trailer and does not know how long you are with a trailer. Most people don't want to give up that feature.

On the other hand if your truck did not come with blind spot warning (XL) you have nothing to lose and a fully charged battery to gain.

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[Glen Baker LLC]

So since a tail hitch connection triggers it- then something like this would work ?

https://a.co/d/01zIie8g

Hey Fred,
What year is your Maverick?
Do you have 2k or 4k towing?

 

[Waterick]

So if I followed along correctly, you have a new battery now.

To keep it in like new condition run your headlamps / parking lamps on every drive or at least every-other-drive, 50% duty minimum, and chances are you'll never need to use a plug-in charger.

So far, almost always use the parking lights and find its alarm after I shut off very useful. Am getting into the habit of turning them on at start and turning them off prior to shut down.

 

[heyitsfred]

Hey Fred,
What year is your Maverick?
Do you have 2k or 4k towing?

2024 XLT. 2k tow package

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

2024 XLT. 2k tow package

Thank you.
The reason I asked is.
On the 2026 with the tow package, you have a setting for your trailer length right down to 3 ft. Allowing you to use the hitch light and it won't disable BLIS at least on the passenger side.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...ossible-without-a-trailer.82213/#post-1409745

 

[El Kabong]

What's your question?

Welcome back from the gulag!

I *think* my question is answered vis. what-all to be monitoring for the 12v situation in my '26. I'm still mucking around with CarScanner and the OBD tool that came with the OBDlink, but since I don't really drive all that much not sure if any of my findings will be helpful. I just wanted to make sure I was looking at recording the right stuff.

Right now in CarScanner I have selected: [BCM] Vehicle Battery SoC, 12v battery Soc (same thing, I think?), 12v battery voltage, and 12v current, as well as hybrid battery voltage and current. I'll try to log some stuff to see what that gets us.

 

[KenE]

Welcome back from the gulag!

I *think* my question is answered vis. what-all to be monitoring for the 12v situation in my '26. I'm still mucking around with CarScanner and the OBD tool that came with the OBDlink, but since I don't really drive all that much not sure if any of my findings will be helpful. I just wanted to make sure I was looking at recording the right stuff.

Right now in CarScanner I have selected: [BCM] Vehicle Battery SoC, 12v battery Soc (same thing, I think?), 12v battery voltage, and 12v current, as well as hybrid battery voltage and current. I'll try to log some stuff to see what that gets us.

Question: will enabling tail lights with DRL using FORscan trigger 12v battery charging to 100%, since tail lights would be enabled when using DRL? Or is the 'trigger' by switch position vs 12v current draw? We know parking lights, headlights, trailer plug, and blower fan speed reate a trigger.

 

[HeyBales]

Question: will enabling tail lights with DRL using FORscan trigger 12v battery charging to 100%, since tail lights would be enabled when using DRL? Or is the 'trigger' by switch position vs 12v current draw? We know parking lights, headlights, trailer plug, and blower fan speed reate a trigger.

Post 1 was updated and includes that tidbit.

DRL no, because not a draw test.
Even though the charging strategy probably included some aspect of higher draw in the logic, just a switch test.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Post 1 was updated and includes that tidbit.

DRL no, because not a draw test.
Even though the charging strategy probably included some aspect of higher draw in the logic, just a switch test.

I think his question was a little different.

 

[HeyBales]

I think his question was a little different.

I think you proved it's not about the actual draw that may be occurring - but what the engineer perhaps thought would be extra draw that needed to be covered by extra charge.
Hence the hitch light with barely any draw kicks it off.
But a high draw back seat plug in device doesn't do it.

Since DRL didn't cause it, increasing that setting's draw with tail lights added thru Forscan for an unplanned combo shouldn't either.
I guess it could be worth a test - but now a custom setting would be required for that one to work.
I see the desire - DRL can be setup as auto-use.
Perhaps a Forscan setting for DRL to use Parking lights in general, not the specific lights, would confuse and cause The Tricks to work.

 

[KenE]

Post 1 was updated and includes that tidbit.

DRL no, because not a draw test.
Even though the charging strategy probably included some aspect of higher draw in the logic, just a switch test.

Thanks for the update. Such a great bunch of floating knowledge on this forum. Cheers.

 

[KO Stradivarius]

Yes it will. As will any.
But it disables blind spot warning because it thinks you have a trailer and does not know how long you are with a trailer. Most people don't want to give up that feature.

On the other hand if your truck did not come with blind spot warning (XL) you have nothing to lose and a fully charged battery to gain.

I got one of those brake lights that inserts into the hitch receiver and plugs into the 4-pin connector. I thought it would be cool and an easy way to maintain the battery. I don't have the 4k trailer package, nor do I have BLIS but it disabled the parking guidance lines in my backup camera display. That's a deal breaker so I took it out.

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