Low Battery Warning
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Low Battery Warning
I'm currently in North Dakota for work, and the MyFordTouch display has been giving me a warning along the lines of 'please turn off the ignition or start the vehicle' as soon as I turn the truck off. I have gotten this message before after running the radio for a few hours, but it's now happening immediately after vehicle shut down.
The truck is a '13 FX4, Ecoboost, purchased in September new off the lot. It's been -20° F the last few days, but I let the truck idle for 15-30 minutes in the morning to get ice off the window, and my drive to work is around 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. I haven't had any issues with starting the vehicle since I did have a block heater installed before coming up here. I would think that there's sufficient run time every morning and evening to keep the battery charged.
I'm looking at buying a battery heater as well, since I'm concerned that the battery is just too cold to charge well. Could it just be that the battery is too cold, or could I be running into a bad battery? Thoughts?
The truck is a '13 FX4, Ecoboost, purchased in September new off the lot. It's been -20° F the last few days, but I let the truck idle for 15-30 minutes in the morning to get ice off the window, and my drive to work is around 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. I haven't had any issues with starting the vehicle since I did have a block heater installed before coming up here. I would think that there's sufficient run time every morning and evening to keep the battery charged.
I'm looking at buying a battery heater as well, since I'm concerned that the battery is just too cold to charge well. Could it just be that the battery is too cold, or could I be running into a bad battery? Thoughts?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Before doing any buying, it might be easiest to eliminate the stuff that doesn't cost. Why not start by having your battery tested? The battery should charge regardless of those North Dakota temperatures. 
Steve
Steve
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Yeah, I'm not going to start throwing parts at it right away. Mainly just looking for thoughts. I'll have the battery tested when I'm out of the oil-field boom towns. Lines and getting service is just ridiculous up here, so at Christmas I'll be home and have it tested then. The truck starts great, so I'm not too worried that it's not charging. It just seems odd that it gives me the warning message as soon as the truck is turned off.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2005
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Mine is doing the same thing but it is in a heated garage. I keep the temp at about 40 deg. I measured the voltage the other night and it read 12.2 The following day we made a trip that was about 150 miles overall and when I got home I measured the voltage again and it read 12.5 Should have been at least 12.6 so something is not right. I have not cleaned the terminals so I'll start there. I bought the truck in August but it was made in Dec of 2012 so maybe not clean enough?? They look good though. Never had the problem with my 2010 Platinum and it had a lot more stuff than this Lariat. Hope this isn't a start of a problem. Have to look up the alternator amps maybe in the cold weather we are getting it uses more amps.
Bill
Bill
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,200
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From: Timbuk3, MI
2011+ has the BMS (Battery Monitoring System) and any re-charge (which requires that the jumper connection not use the -(negative) post) and new install requires 8 hours of uninterrupted non-use. No opening doors, no ANYTHING (also applies to re-charge if there was direct -(negative) to -(negative) charger to battery connection).
Things that can drain the battery ...------------------------------
-click- the pic'
Goth 150
< This space intentionally -blank- >
Things that can drain the battery ...
- leaving the key in the ignition after exiting.
- accessories plugged-into recepicles.
- non-factory accessories that are cabled directly to +(positive) post of battery.
- door(s) not completely shut.
- faulty door-ajar, shifter position sensors.
- "...running the radio for a few hours" without the engine running.
-click- the pic'
Goth 150
< This space intentionally -blank- >
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Shouldn't be, unless the battery is questionable.
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Posting Guru
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I'm just going to have to have the battery tested when I'm home over Christmas. I had 10+ hrs of driving to get up here to ND on the interstate, plus plenty of driving around the area here with very few short trips. The battery should be charging just fine.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Timbuk3, MI
DIYiT - So because I ran the battery down with the radio 2 weeks ago, the truck is still giving me low battery warnings since I haven't put a charger on it for 8+ hrs un-interrupted?
There's also a FoMoCo dealership service re-set available ...
BMS reset procedure with Ford "Diagnostic Engineering Tool":
Go to Gen Diagnostics and select Module ID to 726 (BCM)
Select Service 0X10 and extendedDiagnosticSession, and press "Send Message" button
Select Service 0X31
Check "User Defined" box, and type in "201A"
Press "Send Message" button
For future reference, do not connect the -(negative) charge lead to the -(negative) battery post. Connect it to another ground attachment point on the truck. That way, the re-charge will be measured by the BMS hall sensor (very near the negative battery post) and will correctly re-adjust the battery SOC (State Of Charge).Go to Gen Diagnostics and select Module ID to 726 (BCM)
Select Service 0X10 and extendedDiagnosticSession, and press "Send Message" button
Select Service 0X31
Check "User Defined" box, and type in "201A"
Press "Send Message" button
If the dealership's service doesn't have a clue, here is the section in the workshop manual:
When charging the vehicle battery by connecting the charger to the negative battery terminal is necessary, such as when using a combination battery charger and battery tester/analyzer, like the GR 1 190 V3.0 Intelligent Diagnostic Charger, the BCM will not immediately update the battery state of charge. In this instance, after charging, you must carry out the Battery Monitoring System (BMS) Reset using the scan tool. This reset is needed for proper engine off load shedding and to prevent invoking of engine off load shedding earlier than normal.
NOTE: If the reset is not carried out, when the battery is charged by connecting the charger to the negative battery terminal, it takes approximately 8 hours for the BCM to learn the new battery state of charge. During this 8 hour period, the vehicle must be undisturbed, with no doors opened or keyless entry button presses. If the vehicle is used before the BCM is allowed to learn the new battery state of charge, engine off load shedding can still occur and a message may be displayed.
When charging the vehicle battery by connecting the charger to engine or chassis ground, the negative charger clamp must be connected to an unpainted chassis surface or a solid engine component such as a generator mount or engine lifting eye. In this instance, after charging, the BMS Reset is not required. Through this method of charging the BCM will update the battery state of charge during the charging process.
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Posting Guru
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OK. I guess I was taking your comment about charging as to mean any means of re-charging the battery. I did not use an external battery charger; I didn't run the battery flat, just far enough that the truck warned me about a low battery, I stopped using the radio, started the truck and just drove it as normal. I haven't had any issues with starting, just the warning message after shutting down the truck. I also hadn't had any warning messages in the first week after running the battery down. It wasn't until the weather got cold (-20 to -30°F) that I started getting the warning message.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,292
Likes: 6
From: Ardenvoir, Washington
OK. I guess I was taking your comment about charging as to mean any means of re-charging the battery. I did not use an external battery charger; I didn't run the battery flat, just far enough that the truck warned me about a low battery, I stopped using the radio, started the truck and just drove it as normal. I haven't had any issues with starting, just the warning message after shutting down the truck. I also hadn't had any warning messages in the first week after running the battery down. It wasn't until the weather got cold (-20 to -30°F) that I started getting the warning message.
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Posting Guru
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Nope. No solution yet. I don't drive my truck more than once every two or three weeks anymore so I get the low battery warning every time I drive it. I've never had any problems with the truck, but I do get the message.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,458
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From: Calgary Canada
It may sound like a hassle, but if you are letting the truck sit for a week or more regularly, it's probably worth getting a battery tender or CTEK or other small charger and letting it keep the battery topped off while the truck sits.
I do mostly short trips in the winter, and I slap on the charger when it gets cold out. I think it helps, although that's kind of hard to prove.
I've had a couple of rides through the years that had small parasitic draws, and I'm a little **** about the state of charge these days.
I do mostly short trips in the winter, and I slap on the charger when it gets cold out. I think it helps, although that's kind of hard to prove.
I've had a couple of rides through the years that had small parasitic draws, and I'm a little **** about the state of charge these days.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 165
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My 13 does the same thing from time to time. Only when it's very cold. I've tested the battery at least 3 or 4 times and it always says "No Problems". Everyone I talk to says its not the battery. Battery tender seems to fix it for a few months, at some point I'll probably replace the battery with a different brand at some point...
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
Charge it up nice and head to your local Ford store for the BMS reset as noted above. If that doesn't do much then replace the battery at your leisure.
The batter minder 'feature' does tend to be quite sensitive, and I get a number of Fords coming in complaining of this during cold snaps. Oh for the days of a simple accessory delay relay running of a capacitor.
The batter minder 'feature' does tend to be quite sensitive, and I get a number of Fords coming in complaining of this during cold snaps. Oh for the days of a simple accessory delay relay running of a capacitor.