Recalls Improved Truck/ No More Battery Saver Mode

[ckodsi]

Has anyone else had this experience? I don't want to jinx it, but near the beginning of November, I started to get battery saver notifications on my phone. The truck would start right up, but things like the interior lights wouldn't come on until you put the key in. Took it to the dealership, asked if they could check the battery while doing an oil change. They said it came back fine, and that the symptoms I was experiencing were software issues addressed by the recalls.

Scheduled the recalls for a few weeks later. The battery saver notification was really inconsistent during that time. It would go away, I'd think I was fine, then it would come back again. Sometimes driving it for a hour on the highway would do nothing about the notifications, but driving it for 5 minutes over the course of 2 days, and it notifications would disappear for a few more days. So driving distance didn't seem to make much of a difference.

Took in in for the software recalls, asks politely again if they could just double check the battery since the truck was gonna be there for half a day. Battery comes back fine again. Now the notifications have been gone for 3 days. Part of me is hopeful getting all the recalls done has indeed fixed whatever was causing that. Part of me is worried right as I think it's fixed, the notifications will come back again.

Have any other hybrid owners been in this situation? Getting the notifications but your dealer saying the battery was fine? If so, did the software recalls help long term, or was it just a brief source of relief?

same experience and events, battery saver resolved after software update and battery check. They said nothing is wrong and they charged battery. Noticed that they took out the rear right door sill and forgot to install back, wonder if something was wrong in the battery area.

Sponsored

 

[CurtisB]

My 24 XL Hybrid started to also have battery warning issues. In the beginning of November sometimes it would say something along the lines of "Your vehicle has not been driven in a while so we are disabling remote fetures." This was strange since I literally finished driving about 100 miles a few hours before.
Fast forward to last weekend it had happened a few more times. When I went in for the 20,000mile check up I asked them to also look at the battery. Luckily for me they said it was defective and replaced it at no cost. I used the Ford dealership in Oxnard CA.

Did they replace it with an AGM Battery?

 

[ckodsi]

I also took my hybrid for the recall software update and the battery saver notification. Dealer updated the software and charged the battery. Said nothing was wrong with battery. Noticed when I got home that the right rear door sill was missing and wondered why they had to take it off to charge the battery, very strange unless they were checking for something else like wiring etc..

 

[HeyBales]

I have had a 22 XLT hybrid for over 2 years. After I got my dashcam installed after a month of owning I used to get sleep mode warnings all the time. I turned off parking mode on the camera and drove the car for a few days in low mode since it said online that it sends more power to the battery. Not gotten a single sleep mode warnings for over a year and a half. Original battery and 36k miles. Haven't done any resent recalls for last 7 months or so

Wrong battery.

Low mode increases regen - to the HVB, not the 12V system.

Coincidental effect. Turning off parking mode on dashcam isn't.

 

[HeyBales]

I also took my hybrid for the recall software update and the battery saver notification. Dealer updated the software and charged the battery. Said nothing was wrong with battery. Noticed when I got home that the right rear door sill was missing and wondered why they had to take it off to charge the battery, very strange unless they were checking for something else like wiring etc..

What MY truck, your profile description nicely says what trim which is very meaningful, but no MY?

If older and 1st recalls done, may have been some wiring harness checks.
Also concerning when they couldn't be bothered to notice a big piece of trim missing - like what else much smaller did they not notice? Like after a charge up, did they remember to push the button that tests the battery? Or merely read the ending voltage?

 

[HeyBales]

3rd battery here in 6 months had it to dealer on Friday they just charged it and said the battery is fine.... Started well over the week end with interior dome light on but i have lost faith and told the service guy i would see him in 2 weeks. i have wifi off, fordap off, auto updates off , keep keys in 2 separate faraday pouches and NEVER drive less than 10 miles after start up, even if it means driving around my neighborhood for an extra 15min. A simple quick run to post office requires 10 miles to the PO (or i take the chance and leave it running)then 10 miles back home so approx 45min for a 12 min trip. Willing to wait for up date this spring and if that doesnt help i guess AGM is next step or trade her in for dreaded reliable SUV. I have resisted SUV/mom Van for 50yrs hate to think it will come to that

You seem to have an effect well beyond what most are seeing as the poor charging system process when driving, to get that many bad batteries that quick.
Now maybe this last battery has no fault and you are just getting the normal process many are getting.

If you don't use the Fordpass at all - you might as well pull the fuse 11 to disable the TCU and it's updates to Ford servers. You could have terrible ATT network where the truck is normally at, and that's not going to help conserve battery it always looking for signal to connect when there is none.

They probably aren't going to do a thorough parasitic drain troubleshooting when there is an active alert they can throw the issue with. Sad since this seems different.

 

[Mark1]

same experience and events, battery saver resolved after software update and battery check. They said nothing is wrong and they charged battery. Noticed that they took out the rear right door sill and forgot to install back, wonder if something was wrong in the battery area.

Jinx what! Ther

Has anyone else had this experience? I don't want to jinx it, but near the beginning of November, I started to get battery saver notifications on my phone. The truck would start right up, but things like the interior lights wouldn't come on until you put the key in. Took it to the dealership, asked if they could check the battery while doing an oil change. They said it came back fine, and that the symptoms I was experiencing were software issues addressed by the recalls.

Scheduled the recalls for a few weeks later. The battery saver notification was really inconsistent during that time. It would go away, I'd think I was fine, then it would come back again. Sometimes driving it for a hour on the highway would do nothing about the notifications, but driving it for 5 minutes over the course of 2 days, and it notifications would disappear for a few more days. So driving distance didn't seem to make much of a difference.

Took in in for the software recalls, asks politely again if they could just double check the battery since the truck was gonna be there for half a day. Battery comes back fine again. Now the notifications have been gone for 3 days. Part of me is hopeful getting all the recalls done has indeed fixed whatever was causing that. Part of me is worried right as I think it's fixed, the notifications will come back again.

Have any other hybrid owners been in this situation? Getting the notifications but your dealer saying the battery was fine? If so, did the software recalls help long term, or was it just a brief source of relief?

JINX WHAT! The TITLE of THIS POST is misleading and FAKE. There is no software fix yet to resolve the battery issue. Please rename your post! Ford does not have a software fix. They do have what is called an SSM number 54087, regarding this issue. SSM, (SERVICE SYSTEM MESSAGE).
Everyone needs to stop giving misinformed advice to posts. Some witch doctor from Poedunk has no clue. Yes, charging will help.
The dealership can't do anything but replace a battery under warranty. I was told to flood Fords Customer Service number with complaints and give them the SSM #53087. Number is 800-392-3673. All this posting and bad witch doctor home remedies is a waste of time. Now call the number, don't be a feared and don't listen to backyard mechanics with back woods knowledge making up or guessing on facts. Like the polio shot gives you autism.
My advice is double click the remote and app while putting your tongue on the positive post. Kidding.....

 

[HeyBales]

Jinx what! Ther

JINX WHAT! The TITLE of THIS POST is misleading and FAKE. There is no software fix yet to resolve the battery issue. Please rename your post! Ford does not have a software fix. They do have what is called an SSM number 54087, regarding this issue. SSM, (SERVICE SYSTEM MESSAGE).
Everyone needs to stop giving misinformed advice to posts. Some witch doctor from Poedunk has no clue. Yes, charging will help.
The dealership can't do anything but replace a battery under warranty. I was told to flood Fords Customer Service number with complaints and give them the SSM #53087. Number is 800-392-3673. All this posting and bad witch doctor home remedies is a waste of time. Now call the number, don't be a feared and don't listen to backyard mechanics with back woods knowledge making up or guessing on facts. Like the polio shot gives you autism.
My advice is double click the remote and app while putting your tongue on the positive post. Kidding.....

Hopefully the dealership maintenance records for your VIN show you actually had the process for that SSM done.

Otherwise customer service will either tell you to go get it done if you actually have a drained battery, or will politely tell you thanks sir we made a note. And we know where that goes.

 

[Mark1]

Hopefully the dealership maintenance records for your VIN show you actually had the process for that SSM done.

Otherwise customer service will either tell you to go get it done if you actually have a drained battery, or will politely tell you thanks sir we made a note. And we know where that goes.

I did have the process done. It says that on the work order as well as referencing the SSM number to reference steps taken to come to the conclusion that it will be part of the first quarter recall.

It sure is bullshix that Engineering has time to designed a new model but can't spend the time to fix an ongoing issue.

 

[A Sturdy Beast]

Get the AGM Battery. You will always get sleep messages and no dome lights because our trucks always draw from our batteries long after you shut it down, BUT, the AGM battery will recharge faster and stay charged longer. The AGM battery is more compatible to the software our trucks run on.

I've had an AGM battery since May of this year. I get sleep messages, but not as often and my battery always gets fully charged. The flooded battery would sulfate and be dead with 2 months due to how the software charges the battery.

I tried to pick one up at Costco today. Interstate H4 AGM item #1840283. $185 plus $15 core plus any sales tax. Not in stock at any of the Costcos in my town.

I guess I will wait until after the Christmas rush and order one from Rock Auto or Wal-Mart. I’m going to avoid the cheaper Amazon one.

For anyone trying to look one up, size H4 AGM fits a 2019 Toyota Prius 1.8L.

 

[riparian]

I did have the process done. It says that on the work order as well as referencing the SSM number to reference steps taken to come to the conclusion that it will be part of the first quarter recall.

It sure is bullshix that Engineering has time to designed a new model but can't spend the time to fix an ongoing issue.

I'm probably the 10,00th person to note that lead acid battery technology is quite mature (perhaps excepting charging via a DC to DC converter rather than an alternator, although I think that element has been present in hybrid systems for years) and that the 12v battery in a hybrid is spared the one really demanding job that automotive batteries in conventional systems have to do - cranking a cold ICE. Disappointing that Ford can't deliver a vehicle with (at a minimum) courtesy lights that work every time you open the door. Even my '64 VW Beetle with the sketchy 6 volt electrical system managed to do that.

 

[OneAlienBoi]

My 24 XL Hybrid started to also have battery warning issues. In the beginning of November sometimes it would say something along the lines of "Your vehicle has not been driven in a while so we are disabling remote fetures." This was strange since I literally finished driving about 100 miles a few hours before.
Fast forward to last weekend it had happened a few more times. When I went in for the 20,000mile check up I asked them to also look at the battery. Luckily for me they said it was defective and replaced it at no cost. I used the Ford dealership in Oxnard CA.

Basically what I'm dealing with, battery saver mode, reconnect vehicle to reconnect remote features. It hasn't come back yet. I really don't want to be that guy, but if it causes issues, like if my truck straight up needs to be jump-started, or loses power while driving God forbid, but I believe these newer software recalls are meant to prevent that from happening, then I'll probably take legal action against my dealership.

I really don't want to. But if I bought the truck from them, get all the servicing done with them, and all the recalls through them. If they're refusing to swap my battery, and I have that it writing, and it causes issues, I would probably have a decent basis for a legal battle. I really don't want to do that, but I'm starting to get pissed with them. It's like, fix the vehicle I bought from you under warranty, that's the least you could do.

Sponsored