Unable to hold a charge

[Mamacast]

I have a 6 week old Mav, came out yesterday to go to an appointment and it was deader than a doornail (don't you love those phrases?) Called AAA and they came out and jumped it, told me to drive it for 15 or so and he left. None of the electrical worked, power steering, brakes, precollision warnings etc. I ordered a NOCO jump starter overnite. Rejumped it this morning, I let it set for 1/2 hours running, turned it off and then tried to restart it 15 min. later and again, deader than......Meanwhile I have left 6 messages and spoken to two people at the dealership where I purchased it. Today they will send someone out (after I bugged them every half hour)to evaluate. Has anyone else had issues of the battery not working? And when it is jumped do you have to wait a certain period of time before all the brakes and steering work? I searched the posts and it seems like the issues are more about them lasting not very long, not about the issues I am experiencing after it is jumped. Thanks for any feedback.

Sponsored

 

[Techcar]

I have seen where it helps sometimes when a battery dies like that before you recharge it to disconnect the negative battery cable for about 15 minutes to let everything power down completely then hook it back up and recharge overnight. Otherwise you're going to have to let it recharge for a couple of hours at least with the key off to see if it will return to normal.

 

[Mamacast]

I have seen where it helps sometimes when a battery dies like that before you recharge it to disconnect the negative battery cable for about 15 minutes to let everything power down completely then hook it back up and recharge overnight. Otherwise you're going to have to let it recharge for a couple of hours at least with the key off to see if it will return to normal.

This will sound really dumb, but without a regular battery under the hood, apparently just the jump post (can you tell I am new to hybrids?) is the battery you are referring to the one under the back seat? Also, not sure how you recharge with the key off, does that mean put it on a trickle charger? I wish dealerships had hybrid classes!

 

[MavStangVa]

This will sound really dumb, but without a regular battery under the hood, apparently just the jump post (can you tell I am new to hybrids?) is the battery you are referring to the one under the back seat? Also, not sure how you recharge with the key off, does that mean put it on a trickle charger? I wish dealerships had hybrid classes!

Yes the 12v is under the back seat. A trickle charger would need to be used and depending on model could take over a day to charge your battery if it can hold a charge. Several good threads on hybrid 12v battery maintenance. However if your your steering and brakes are not working when it is running you have a bigger issue than the 12v. 6 weeks old! Call Ford roadside assistance have it towed to the dealer at Ford's expense and DEMAND a loaner until they provide you a SAFE Maverick.

 

[Mamacast]

Yes the 12v is under the back seat. A trickle charger would need to be used and depending on model could take over a day to charge your battery if it can hold a charge. Several good threads on hybrid 12v battery maintenance. However if your your steering and brakes are not working when it is running you have a bigger issue than the 12v. 6 weeks old! Call Ford roadside assistance have it towed to the dealer at Ford's expense and DEMAND a loaner until they provide you a SAFE Maverick.

Ford mobile is coming out, but also do you have a number for the Ford Roadside assistance? We didn't get any closing info, and the manual is all online which is harder for us olders. I will search under battery maintenance instead of charging.

 

[MavStangVa]

Ford mobile is coming out, but also do you have a number for the Ford Roadside assistance? We didn't get any closing info, and the manual is all online which is harder for us olders. I will search under battery maintenance instead of charging.

1-800-241-3673

 

[Finnster]

The 12V battery is located on the passenger side, under the rear seat bottom.
The under hood jump posts are directly connected to the 12V battery, key on or key off!

I would prefer to have a local ford dealer tow it in with a dead battery, but if you need the car immediately - I would disconnect the negative terminal of the 12V battery for 15 minutes and then jump-start the truck after reconnecting the negative terminal of the 12V battery.
Similar to @Techcar's advice above.

 

[Mamacast]

I will know more when they come out this afternoon, if they have to tow it will definitely need a loaner.

 

[HeyBales]

Not going to assume because you only state you have a 6 week old Mav.

That could mean used, but 6 weeks with you.
Or new.

What year?
How long on dealer's lot from dates on window sticker?

And ya, tons of battery threads. You should be aware of both discussions you noted.
That's called a parasitic drain - something kept running after it should have gone to sleep - max 75-90 min depending on year.

And a healthy battery can take a few hits of that - if totally charged in-between hits.

30 min running would have charged it up decently - the charging system is very motivated after a drain like that. But it would have taken over 60 min easily to reach the point where it was.
And where it was might not have been great anyway.

May have also just had a bad quality battery anyway - it happens.
And that one drain ruined it.
And that 15 min wait might have still had the parasitic drain going full force - hence non-start again.

This is why what MY matters - there were some software updates for 2 known drains.

 

[HeyBales]

I have seen where it helps sometimes when a battery dies like that before you recharge it to disconnect the negative battery cable for about 15 minutes to let everything power down completely then hook it back up and recharge overnight. Otherwise you're going to have to let it recharge for a couple of hours at least with the key off to see if it will return to normal.

Actually, those exact steps - disconnect, then reconnect already drained battery - is not a good idea.

If the power cycle was useful - you just hooked up a mainly drained battery that would cause misreadings again on an under-powered 12V system.

While disconnected - charge it up.
Then reconnect.

 

[Mamacast]

Battery issue resolved. Ford Mobile came out and ended up replacing the battery, here is the readout he was getting.. He said the brakes and steering wouldn't work because the battery could not power the systems because they are based on pneumatics or some such!

 

[Mamacast]

Now another issue, the tailights and exterior cab light will not shut off. When I turn the light dial to the off position and I go back to look at it it has gone back to auto. Nobody will come out tonight. We have put a battery tender on it hoping that it is not dead in the morning.

 

[Mamacast]

Not going to assume because you only state you have a 6 week old Mav.

That could mean used, but 6 weeks with you.
Or new.

What year?
How long on dealer's lot from dates on window sticker?

And ya, tons of battery threads. You should be aware of both discussions you noted.
That's called a parasitic drain - something kept running after it should have gone to sleep - max 75-90 min depending on year.

And a healthy battery can take a few hits of that - if totally charged in-between hits.

30 min running would have charged it up decently - the charging system is very motivated after a drain like that. But it would have taken over 60 min easily to reach the point where it was.
And where it was might not have been great anyway.

May have also just had a bad quality battery anyway - it happens.
And that one drain ruined it.
And that 15 min wait might have still had the parasitic drain going full force - hence non-start again.

This is why what MY matters - there were some software updates for 2 known drains.

It is a 2026 battery replaced by Ford Mobile now the back tail lights and exterior cab light are on and the light dial goes from off to auto every time.

 

[MavStangVa]

Now another issue, the tailights and exterior cab light will not shut off. When I turn the light dial to the off position and I go back to look at it it has gone back to auto. Nobody will come out tonight. We have put a battery tender on it hoping that it is not dead in the morning.

Yes the lights default to auto when you start the truck. Not sure why you want to turn them off. Based on the link I have included turning the headlights ON every time will help charge your battery.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...ery-mystery-solved.81553/page-52#post-1453726
Lights should time out after turning off the truck or a double lock on the fob.

 

[Mamacast]

The lights are on when the truck is not, will run down the battery. Unable to turn the tailights off.

Sponsored