Truly Unusual Battery Replacement Experience

[RebellaE]

My factory battery is exactly 4 years old. I had it tested last summer and it was fine, but batteries don't usually last 4 full years in our heat. I had been getting the Remote Features Disabled message more and more recently, so I knew I needed to replace the battery. I had plans to do it this past weekend. Unfortunately, the battery died on my first errand Saturday - the truck threw about 20 error messages at me and would not start. We left it in front of our veterinarian's office, dropped the dog off at home, and went to get a replacement battery.
I had already researched the battery I wanted (Duralast H4 AGM), and knew the closest store that had it. We found the battery on the shelf, and the clerk said "that one's a year old" and walked off. Apparently he had gone to check other shelves and the back of the store, but didn't tell us that. He came back and said "that's all I have but it's a year old". My husband thought to ask if they would give us a discount since it was old. Clerk said, yeah but it'll void the warranty. I decided the time saved that day would be worth a possibly shorter life. He rung it up as a used battery and the total came to $46, including tax (on a $269 battery)!

We spent 20 minutes getting the battery installed into the back seat platform of the truck (who decided to make the battery box that shape!!!). The truck started right up, with none of the system error messages, but did have a check engine light. The next day, before I had a chance to clear the check engine code, it went away on its own. Even if I get a year less out of the battery than normal, totally worth it.

The main reason I posted this, other than the insane deal, is that the sheer number of system error messages would have freaked me out if I hadn't KNOWN the battery was most likely the culprit. It feels a lot like the absolutely useless error messages that our EVs have thrown when their 12v battery dies. When will the manufacturers realize they need a clear and simple error message for the 12v dying on EVs and hybrids?!?

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[HeyBales]

Are you planning on giving it a full charge up, since a year old would be low charge anyway?
And that won't be helped by the BMS charging strategy.

And after you recharge it - find your Maintenance section in manual to do the BS Reset and following BMS Relearn.

Great plan having location and which one to get. Must have been popular.
Been seeing more older Mavericks in your area?

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

My factory battery is exactly 4 years old. I had it tested last summer and it was fine, but batteries don't usually last 4 full years in our heat. I had been getting the Remote Features Disabled message more and more recently, so I knew I needed to replace the battery. I had plans to do it this past weekend. Unfortunately, the battery died on my first errand Saturday - the truck threw about 20 error messages at me and would not start. We left it in front of our veterinarian's office, dropped the dog off at home, and went to get a replacement battery.
I had already researched the battery I wanted (Duralast H4 AGM), and knew the closest store that had it. We found the battery on the shelf, and the clerk said "that one's a year old" and walked off. Apparently he had gone to check other shelves and the back of the store, but didn't tell us that. He came back and said "that's all I have but it's a year old". My husband thought to ask if they would give us a discount since it was old. Clerk said, yeah but it'll void the warranty. I decided the time saved that day would be worth a possibly shorter life. He rung it up as a used battery and the total came to $46, including tax (on a $269 battery)!

We spent 20 minutes getting the battery installed into the back seat platform of the truck (who decided to make the battery box that shape!!!). The truck started right up, with none of the system error messages, but did have a check engine light. The next day, before I had a chance to clear the check engine code, it went away on its own. Even if I get a year less out of the battery than normal, totally worth it.

The main reason I posted this, other than the insane deal, is that the sheer number of system error messages would have freaked me out if I hadn't KNOWN the battery was most likely the culprit. It feels a lot like the absolutely useless error messages that our EVs have thrown when their 12v battery dies. When will the manufacturers realize they need a clear and simple error message for the 12v dying on EVs and hybrids?!?

DM sent

 

[RebellaE]

Are you planning on giving it a full charge up, since a year old would be low charge anyway?
And that won't be helped by the BMS charging strategy.

And after you recharge it - find your Maintenance section in manual to do the BS Reset and following BMS Relearn.

Great plan having location and which one to get. Must have been popular.
Been seeing more older Mavericks in your area?

Yes, I plan on charging it to full and resetting the BMS this week.
There are TONS of Mavericks in our area, and the city where I work seemed to have a lot of early adopters. I saw them there more commonly than anywhere else in the region.

 

[HeyBales]

Yes, I plan on charging it to full and resetting the BMS this week.
There are TONS of Mavericks in our area, and the city where I worked seemed to have a lot of early adopters. I saw them there more commonly than anywhere else in the region.

Now - inquiring minds want to know - how you got it to 4 yrs on OEM battery.

If you don't mind:
How long for time are your daily commutes, or frequent weekend trips?

Trailer used often, or hitch light installed most the time?
Driving frequently in the dark besides fun winter?
Frequently with fan speed above 5?

 

[RebellaE]

Now - inquiring minds want to know - how you got it to 4 yrs on OEM battery.

If you don't mind:
How long for time are your daily commutes, or frequent weekend trips?

Trailer used often, or hitch light installed most the time?
Driving frequently in the dark besides fun winter?
Frequently with fan speed above 5?

I honestly have no idea! I do park in my garage overnight, and have a parking garage at work, so it's not usually parked out in the direct sun. My commute is about 12 miles 3 days a week - sometimes I take surface streets and sometimes I take the highway. Lots of weekend driving for my son's sports and errands. My truck is typically used every day. We've done a few long road trips, no towing, some heavy loads, but mostly commuter driving. A/C us usually set to auto, fan speed between 1 and 3, but use Max A/C as needed. We live in the Dallas area, so the main issues are the heat and not the cold.
I think I just got extraordinarily lucky on the battery.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

My factory battery is exactly 4 years old. I had it tested last summer and it was fine, but batteries don't usually last 4 full years in our heat. I had been getting the Remote Features Disabled message more and more recently, so I knew I needed to replace the battery. I had plans to do it this past weekend. Unfortunately, the battery died on my first errand Saturday - the truck threw about 20 error messages at me and would not start. We left it in front of our veterinarian's office, dropped the dog off at home, and went to get a replacement battery.
I had already researched the battery I wanted (Duralast H4 AGM), and knew the closest store that had it. We found the battery on the shelf, and the clerk said "that one's a year old" and walked off. Apparently he had gone to check other shelves and the back of the store, but didn't tell us that. He came back and said "that's all I have but it's a year old". My husband thought to ask if they would give us a discount since it was old. Clerk said, yeah but it'll void the warranty. I decided the time saved that day would be worth a possibly shorter life. He rung it up as a used battery and the total came to $46, including tax (on a $269 battery)!

We spent 20 minutes getting the battery installed into the back seat platform of the truck (who decided to make the battery box that shape!!!). The truck started right up, with none of the system error messages, but did have a check engine light. The next day, before I had a chance to clear the check engine code, it went away on its own. Even if I get a year less out of the battery than normal, totally worth it.

The main reason I posted this, other than the insane deal, is that the sheer number of system error messages would have freaked me out if I hadn't KNOWN the battery was most likely the culprit. It feels a lot like the absolutely useless error messages that our EVs have thrown when their 12v battery dies. When will the manufacturers realize they need a clear and simple error message for the 12v dying on EVs and hybrids?!?

Once I needed an antique tractor battery. I only needed a small one. Store had not much in the way of small batteries.

Guy felt bad for me. So I got a year-old PRIUS AGM battery ($250) for $60.

Ya. It's been fine. Fair deal. Win/win.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I honestly have no idea! I do park in my garage overnight, and have a parking garage at work, so it's not usually parked out in the direct sun. My commute is about 12 miles 3 days a week - sometimes I take surface streets and sometimes I take the highway. Lots of weekend driving for my son's sports and errands. My truck is typically used every day. We've done a few long road trips, no towing, some heavy loads, but mostly commuter driving. A/C us usually set to auto, fan speed between 1 and 3, but use Max A/C as needed. We live in the Dallas area, so the main issues are the heat and not the cold.
I think I just got extraordinarily lucky on the battery.

Using it every day, or me, 5 sometimes 6 days a week helps them last longer.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

My factory battery is exactly 4 years old. I had it tested last summer and it was fine, but batteries don't usually last 4 full years in our heat. I had been getting the Remote Features Disabled message more and more recently, so I knew I needed to replace the battery. I had plans to do it this past weekend. Unfortunately, the battery died on my first errand Saturday - the truck threw about 20 error messages at me and would not start. We left it in front of our veterinarian's office, dropped the dog off at home, and went to get a replacement battery.
I had already researched the battery I wanted (Duralast H4 AGM), and knew the closest store that had it. We found the battery on the shelf, and the clerk said "that one's a year old" and walked off. Apparently he had gone to check other shelves and the back of the store, but didn't tell us that. He came back and said "that's all I have but it's a year old". My husband thought to ask if they would give us a discount since it was old. Clerk said, yeah but it'll void the warranty. I decided the time saved that day would be worth a possibly shorter life. He rung it up as a used battery and the total came to $46, including tax (on a $269 battery)!

We spent 20 minutes getting the battery installed into the back seat platform of the truck (who decided to make the battery box that shape!!!). The truck started right up, with none of the system error messages, but did have a check engine light. The next day, before I had a chance to clear the check engine code, it went away on its own. Even if I get a year less out of the battery than normal, totally worth it.

The main reason I posted this, other than the insane deal, is that the sheer number of system error messages would have freaked me out if I hadn't KNOWN the battery was most likely the culprit. It feels a lot like the absolutely useless error messages that our EVs have thrown when their 12v battery dies. When will the manufacturers realize they need a clear and simple error message for the 12v dying on EVs and hybrids?!?

I still have the original flooded battery.
My Maverick has a build date of January 2023. It currently has 27,818 Mi on it. It doesn't get driven often.
Both times I had instances of interior lights not coming on, was when I had the telematics fuse 11/12 installed. After pulling the fuse.
I connected a battery charger/tender directly to my battery charged it overnight and did the BMS & BSR.
So far so good I expect to hit the four-year mark with my OEM battery.
When it does need replacing.
I will definitely go with a H4 AGM.

ADDED: I got new internet service a year and a half ago. It came a new router / modem
I never signed the truck up to the new service. It doesn't to be online.

 

[XL Hybrid Cactus Gray]

I honestly have no idea! I do park in my garage overnight, and have a parking garage at work, so it's not usually parked out in the direct sun. My commute is about 12 miles 3 days a week - sometimes I take surface streets and sometimes I take the highway. Lots of weekend driving for my son's sports and errands. My truck is typically used every day. We've done a few long road trips, no towing, some heavy loads, but mostly commuter driving. A/C us usually set to auto, fan speed between 1 and 3, but use Max A/C as needed. We live in the Dallas area, so the main issues are the heat and not the cold.
I think I just got extraordinarily lucky on the battery.

I'm still on the OEM battery as well.

2022 Hybrid, build date 12/2021.
Current mileage 85,500.
Daily driver. Garage stored. No towing. Always drive with parking lights on during day (of course headlights at night).
Pulled telematics fuse 11 years ago.
Uninstalled Ford App years ago.
Same, A/C usually set to auto, fan speed between 1 and 3.
Never had the low battery, low power warnings ever.
I am surprised the stock battery has lasted this long.
Will go to H4 AGM when that time comes.

 

[HeyBales]

I'm still on the OEM battery as well.

2022 Hybrid, build date 12/2021.
Current mileage 85,500.
Daily driver. Garage stored. No towing. Always drive with parking lights on during day (of course headlights at night).
Pulled telematics fuse 11 years ago.
Uninstalled Ford App years ago.
Same, A/C usually set to auto, fan speed between 1 and 3.
Never had the low battery, low power warnings ever.
I am surprised the stock battery has lasted this long.
Will go to H4 AGM when that time comes.

From the charging strategy - that right there and daily driving helped the most probably.
You were constantly getting 100% charging potential.
Or at least better than 85% SOC.

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