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Old Feb 19, 2021 | 02:42 PM
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error message

just throwing this out for comment.

had a "service battery soon" message today and a little battery red light.

drove for about 30 minutes. turned the truck off. did some shopping. turned the truck back on. light was cleared and no more error message.


im assuming the batteries were cold.



the battery window indicator was green...usally indicating they dont need water.
 
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Old Feb 19, 2021 | 03:18 PM
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I would check the battery voltage and charging voltage. Pull caps and check electrolyte level also. Wouldn't hurt and my keep you from getting stranded.
 
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Old Feb 19, 2021 | 08:49 PM
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check water level, use distilled water to top them off if needed.

Green light doesnt always mean " all is well "
 
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Old Feb 19, 2021 | 10:41 PM
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The service battery soon message is triggered by the BMS and is a rare message. The BMS will trigger this if it tries to up the field voltage but chassis voltage will not climb as it thinks it should. My guess is you are looking at a battery failure in the near future.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 12:10 PM
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I'm assuming you have the 2 batteries where you have the Diesel.
When was the last time you bought batteries and maybe there was something drawing on them you didn't realize?
I didn't have an issue in my '06 Diesel until I needed to get new batteries, 3 years in I think
 
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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 12:24 PM
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Truck has 7500 miles on it and was bought new in mar 2019.

im going to investigate today

 
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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 03:23 PM
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Checked voltage and initially got 13.79

inspected acid level and it was fine

checked terminals and pax side positive has some corrosion on it.

cleaned up all terminals

checked charging voltage again and got 13.97

edit 14.1 after 10 minutes

battery light is still on


pulling batteries and will test on the bench.

either way, looks like this is headed to Ford service.

 
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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 04:37 PM
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Were both batteries at that amount? I know if 1 is low you can't start the truck, at least on mine it was that way... but that may have been when it was a bit cold out.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 04:54 PM
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Update

pulled both batteries and charged them on my bench .

with nothing connected I let them sit for 40 minutes

pax side battery (the one that had corrosion on the terminals) dropped to 10.2 volts

so I guess the pax side was not charging and I have been running off the drivers side battery for a while.

im going to replace both.

im going to keep the old batteries and recondition them (de sulfate) then add them to my solar farm.

since I had 14.1 volts in the vehicle before I pulled them, new batteries should do it since the problem was just 1 battery.

Will update after new batteries and some road time.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2021 | 05:30 PM
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Charge the batteries up separately, load test them separately, then check specific gravity of each cell. My bet you have a failing battery with one bad cell. Then try and get Ford to come good on what you find. When they test, tout they don’t do this charge up first, they just load test and replace only the battery that fails. They do have Motorcraft MAX AGM batteries but they are in short supply. Or you can just go Odyssey group 65 for a cool 600 USD for a pair. Up here in Canada I can get them, without warranty, and 2 would cost me 900 plus CDN.

My original batteries lasted less than 60,000 km, 3 years, stood me up on the side of the road, had to buy two new AC Delco batteries at a Lordco. One battery down on voltage, low voltage warnings and battery light when I tried to start, not before I shut it off, no start.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2021 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Lin19687
Were both batteries at that amount? I know if 1 is low you can't start the truck, at least on mine it was that way... but that may have been when it was a bit cold out.
See, some things don't change with newer models. They should have a meter on them in the truck to help with that maybe
 
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Old Feb 21, 2021 | 11:05 AM
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watched a few videos...very complex system that uses a variable charge voltage
 
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Old Feb 22, 2021 | 04:04 PM
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Update

replaced both batteries with new ones and have “service charging system” message.

called local dealership and was given a 6 July appt. today is 22 feb.

wow, that many Ford owners with electrical problems.


called a dealership 2 states away and got a 3 mar appt.


may have to do a hotel or a rental .


nothing like Ford having your back.

2019 f-450 with 7500 miles. And yes, I have an extended warranty.

 
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Old Feb 22, 2021 | 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by speakerfritz
Update

replaced both batteries with new ones and have “service charging system” message.

called local dealership and was given a 6 July appt. today is 22 feb.

wow, that many Ford owners with electrical problems.


called a dealership 2 states away and got a 3 mar appt.


may have to do a hotel or a rental .


nothing like Ford having your back.

2019 f-450 with 7500 miles. And yes, I have an extended warranty.
Do you have access to forscan or forscan lite? After battery replacement pull up the code stored in the BCM and record and clear it. Then in service procedure reset the BMS and this should get you fixed.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2021 | 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by ford390gashog
Do you have access to forscan or forscan lite? After battery replacement pull up the code stored in the BCM and record and clear it. Then in service procedure reset the BMS and this should get you fixed.

I have forscan on my iphone

gavent played with it in a while...but will try it.

 
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