Trailer Module Recall

[Glen Baker LLC]

At the time of 1st warranty replace - was it AGM, or still SLA?

Ya, only effect of module update would be not having truck on maintainer and like keeping the door open lights on during a slow process.
That can take the already undercharged battery down more than a bit - and if not driven much it'll take awhile to get it back to where it was.
But at least on big drains the BMS is inspired to charge higher on subsequent drives.

Mike,
I'm a little confused.
All of a sudden I'm starting to see SLA instead of flooded battery.
Are we still referring to the oem Motorcraft batteries
From my understanding an SLA is a sealed lead acid battery and contains no venting whereas our flooded batteries have to be vented.
Venting tube on my OEM Flooded battery

From the internet
Contrast to the flooded battery, a sealed lead-acid battery requires no maintenance and do not require venting which is a large selling point for those that do not want to deal with battery maintenance.

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[HeyBales]

Mike,
I'm a little confused.
All of a sudden I'm starting to see SLA instead of flooded battery.
Are we still referring to the oem Motorcraft batteries
From my understanding an SLA is a sealed lead acid battery and contains no venting whereas our flooded batteries have to be vented.
From the internet
Contrast to the flooded battery, a sealed lead-acid battery requires no maintenance and do not require venting which is a large selling point for those that do not want to deal with battery maintenance.

I was using FLA also, and reminded those have the vent caps that can be removed.

We have SLA, which is still FLA, but sealed. You better believe it sitting in the cabin.
They have pressure relieve valves in them in case overcharged. They don't vent.
And I'm betting the "valves" are nothing more than thin plastic area that is designed to give at certain PSI. Eh, maybe they close again once pressure relieved.

ETA - when was the last time you added distilled water to a battery? We have maintenance free.
Pry that cap off with vent tube, and you'll see the real sealed caps and the pressure relief valve.

https://www.batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-201-how-does-the-lead-acid-battery-work/

Sealed Lead Acid
The first sealed, or maintenance-free, lead acid emerged in the mid-1970s. Engineers argued that the term “sealed lead acid” was a misnomer because no lead acid battery can be totally sealed. To control venting during stressful charge and rapid discharge, valves have been added that release gases if pressure builds up. Rather than submerging the plates in a liquid, the electrolyte is impregnated into a moistened separator, a design that resembles nickel- and lithium-based systems. This enables operating the battery in any physical orientation without leakage.

The sealed battery contains less electrolyte than the flooded type, hence the term “acid-starved.” Perhaps the most significant advantage of sealed lead acid is the ability to combine oxygen and hydrogen to create water and prevent dry out during cycling. The recombination occurs at a moderate pressure of 0.14 bar (2psi). The valve serves as a safety vent if the gas buildup rises. Repeated venting should be avoided as this will lead to an eventual dry-out. According to RWTH, Aachen, Germany (2018), the cost of VRLA is about $260 per kWh.

Several types of sealed lead acid have emerged and the most common are gel, also known as valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA), and absorbent glass mat (AGM).

Unlike the flooded, the sealed lead acid battery is designed with a low over-voltage potential to prohibit the battery from reaching its gas-generating potential during charge. Excess charging causes gassing, venting and subsequent water depletion and dry-out. Consequently, gel, and in part also AGM, cannot be charged to their full potential and the charge voltage limit must be set lower than that of a flooded. This also applies to the float charge on full charge. In respect to charging, the gel and AGM are no direct replacements for the flooded type. If no designated charger is available for AGM with lower voltage settings, disconnect the charger after 24 hours of charge. This prevents gassing due to a float voltage that is set too high. (See BU-403: Charging Lead Acid)

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I had the update done by the mobile service on my 23 Hybrid XL and it took less than 10 minutes.
Did not have the deep sleep problem after but am having it now, @ a month later. Also had it during last winter.

MY original battery lasted 1 1/2 years and I suspect the replacement is now bad.

Put a new 100% charged battery in.
Start using "The Tricks"TM

Don't change any more batteries through 2035.

 

[HeyBales]

Mike,
I'm a little confused.
All of a sudden I'm starting to see SLA instead of flooded battery.
Are we still referring to the oem Motorcraft batteries
From my understanding an SLA is a sealed lead acid battery and contains no venting whereas our flooded batteries have to be vented.
Venting tube on OEM Flooded battery

From the internet
Contrast to the flooded battery, a sealed lead-acid battery requires no maintenance and do not require venting which is a large selling point for those that do not want to deal with battery maintenance.

Turn that battery sideways or upside down.
It will not leak, because it's sealed.
If the pressure relieve valve should blow due to overcharging - that vent tube is required for the gases to not be in the cabin.
That wimpy cover can come off exposing the sealed covers and PRV.
That vent tube on the wimpy cover is not the PRV.
Someone had a post and pictures of our actual small T4 battery like yours way back, when they replaced it themselves with mail order AGM so no core return.

 

[Snowbird]

At the time of 1st warranty replace - was it AGM, or still SLA?

Ya, only effect of module update would be not having truck on maintainer and like keeping the door open lights on during a slow process.
That can take the already undercharged battery down more than a bit - and if not driven much it'll take awhile to get it back to where it was.
But at least on big drains the BMS is inspired to charge higher on subsequent drives.

They said they had to put in the original type SLA.

My 3 year warranty ends 10/25/26 so I am going to have it checked and hopefully get another replaced. Hopefully they put in an AGM if it happens.

 

[HeyBales]

They said they had to put in the original type SLA.

My 3 year warranty ends 10/25/26 so I am going to have it checked and hopefully get another replaced. Hopefully they put in an AGM if it happens.

Almost 1 year now on warranty battery - it's a long drive fight to get to 50% SOC. And then it drops to 42-43% overnight.
I won't need to provide much help to get it down to below 40% before next April, to get an AGM.
I plan on sessions of radio on and doors open and dancing in the street.
Not my street of course, neighbors know me.

 

[Snowbird]

Almost 1 year now on warranty battery - it's a long drive fight to get to 50% SOC. And then it drops to 42-43% overnight.
I won't need to provide much help to get it down to below 40% before next April, to get an AGM.
I plan on sessions of radio on and doors open and dancing in the street.
Not my street of course, neighbors know me.

As I thought my replaced battery was bad.
This time they put in a BAGM*H4* under warranty. Invoice said $328.37, glad I had it checked before my warranty ran out.
In my previous post I said my warranty runs out 10/25/26, it is actually 8/25/26 so I just made it!

 

[HeyBales]

As I thought my replaced battery was bad.
This time they put in a BAGM*H4* under warranty. Invoice said $328.37, glad I had it checked before my warranty ran out.
In my previous post I said my warranty runs out 10/25/26, it is actually 8/25/26 so I just made it!

Excellent.
And nothing needed to be done special?
Except perhaps a little more heat!

Did you call the service advisor on the fact it was AGM?

 

[Snowbird]

Excellent.
And nothing needed to be done special?
Except perhaps a little more heat!

Did you call the service advisor on the fact it was AGM?

I had made an appointment at the dealer I bought it from to get my annual state inspection done and told them I wanted to get the battery checked because of 2 recent deep sleep notifications. They had replaced the original battery after 1.5 years, 23 XL Hybrid, with the OEM type SLA.
They said they pulled the battery to test it and it was bad so they put a new AGM one in this time.

 

[Moosehead87]

I had made an appointment at the dealer I bought it from to get my annual state inspection done and told them I wanted to get the battery checked because of 2 recent deep sleep notifications. They had replaced the original battery after 1.5 years, 23 XL Hybrid, with the OEM type SLA.
They said they pulled the battery to test it and it was bad so they put a new AGM one in this time.

I have my 23 Hybrid Lariat at my local dealer now with a 2nd bad battery that was already replaced in December 2024 and they won't put in an AGM even at my request. They stated they can only put OEM original battery. How did you get them to do the AGM?

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I had made an appointment at the dealer I bought it from to get my annual state inspection done and told them I wanted to get the battery checked because of 2 recent deep sleep notifications. They had replaced the original battery after 1.5 years, 23 XL Hybrid, with the OEM type SLA.
They said they pulled the battery to test it and it was bad so they put a new AGM one in this time.

NOW make sure to run your headlamps
Or parking lamps every trip. Day or night. It "tricks" the truck into staying fully charged. Fan speed 6 or 7 does it too but most people don't like to run the fan 6 or 7 all the time. I know
I don't.

I run parking lamps on every drive now.
Battery charge has stayed 100% for half a year and counting.

 

[Snowbird]

I have my 23 Hybrid Lariat at my local dealer now with a 2nd bad battery that was already replaced in December 2024 and they won't put in an AGM even at my request. They stated they can only put OEM original battery. How did you get them to do the AGM?

When I was checking out they said they replaced the battery under warranty. I asked what kind and they said they put in an AGM. I guess I got lucky.

 

[Snowbird]

NOW make sure to run your headlamps
Or parking lamps every trip. Day or night. It "tricks" the truck into staying fully charged. Fan speed 6 or 7 does it too but most people don't like to run the fan 6 or 7 all the time. I know
I don't.

I run parking lamps on every drive now.
Battery charge has stayed 100% for half a year and counting.

Thanks for the tip. I always leave the default set day time running lights on.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Thanks for the tip. I always leave the default set day time running lights on.

DRL does not work.
It's odd, but parking lamps need to be on. That's mandatory.

parking lamps only works

parking lamps on with headlamps works

 

[OLEO]

I have my 23 Hybrid Lariat at my local dealer now with a 2nd bad battery that was already replaced in December 2024 and they won't put in an AGM even at my request. They stated they can only put OEM original battery. How did you get them to do the AGM?

This would have been the third battery they replaced. I guess they decided it might be best to try the AGM.

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