Have an 05 F150 SCAB, 5.4L truck.

Usually use the AutoLamps, but for whatever reason, used the switch one nite only to leave then on w/ keys dangling in ignition (in off position).

Come morning, dead city.

Last Nite, I put batt charger on it, and once connected noticed slight glowing of headlamps and running lamps. I turned headlamp **** to Off and it still continues.

I thought maybe it'd just 'wake' up at one point w/ sufficient voltage.

I left charger on all night, and now morning just noticed the lamps still just glowing slightly (headlamps in OFF position, keys out of ignition), and battery did not charge.

ANY IDEAS what is happening here? Perhaps some control module is stuck in an F'd up state and not allowing a charge due to drain of headlamps? Maybe my charger is a Piece? (tho i've used often w/ no probs). Perhaps I should disconnect battery from truck and charge alone?? (tho cannot explain drain from headlamps or whatever state the elect syst is stuck in).

Suggestions? Thanks. I'll deal w/ this later in day after work.

drew in motown.

 

Just a wild guess, but I'd say you have a wiring/short problem. Try disconnecting the negitive side of the battery and re-charge battery, while it is disconnected, then if the battery takes a charge, (make sure light switch is off) re-connect the negitive cable and re-check the lights, if they are on when the switch is off, you may have a wiring/short (unless you have a Lariat, then, you must wait for the auto lamp relay to kick off)

 

Batt did take a charge when disconnected. Then reconnect and all fine.

Odd however, yesterday, I moved truck 10 feet forward in driveway, shut truck off (left keys in ignition in OFF position), then about a half hour later, noticed that HEADLAMPS were still ON!!! No running lamps, etc on (so didn't seem to be stuck in 'Autolamp mode'). Noticed that HIGH beams were on. Upon pulling blinker switch backwards, they went off. WTF???

Now, I experimented and Started truck, then off (autolamps set to remain on for ~2mins after key off) w/ blinker lever in Low Beam position. AFter 2 mins, all lamps off.

WTF??? Software somewhere, bad blinker assy? Man, I hate going to the dealer! Would prefer to avoid.

 

Better to go to the dealer since you are still under warranty. If you mess with it too much, they might deny some future related warranty work.

YMMV.

CMOS

 

experimented again last nite. shut truck off w/ high beams on and autolamp feature on. all lamps off after 2 mins, so seems okay now. of COURSE it won't duplicate itself now!

i thought ALL cars/trucks these days had that 'power shutoff' feature after some time (~30 mins), where say you left your door open, so interior lamps are on... they'd go off after time. same for headlamps, etc... (just not for cig/pwr ports).

am thinking it must be somethign w/ the blinker/hi-beam mechanism, but still, why wouldn't truck detect the 'draw' and shutdown after time??

ah fiddlesticks! guess its dealer time then. ggrrr. w/ winter and all, why risk a dead batt here in michigan. friggin truck only has 1200 miles on it too. curses.

 

dinebito.... I had the same situation happen this morning... any update on yours?

Mine is off to the dealer via a tow truck!

 

I had it happen this summer. We were listening to the sirius radio in the daylight. the battery went dead, and I noticed the headlights were on. Tried it again after jumping it, and after a while (maybe when battery got weak) the lights came on again. They were completely turned off. I thought it was stupid but supposed to do this. I guess I should ask the dealer!

 

update... still at the dealer's after two days and can't find the problem OR because I have an extended warranty, they don't care about speed!

 

drift/tod,

sorry bout your troubles. sucks eh? only upside to me is to know that i'm not the ONLY one w/ this problem. i've tried to describe this to some of my Ford Engineer buddies in Dearborn people, but they think i'm totally nuts or high... i really don't think they believe me.

i'm VERY interested to learn what happens w/ you two guys. please post or email your findings.

i've honestly not done anything w/ mine... and haven't driven it since this happened last month (truck is merely a spare vehicle... low mileage, low cost lease). it started fine the other day when i ran defrost for an hour to melt the thick sheet of ice from ice storm on window, that's about it.

 

Mine was at the dealer for 2 days and all he replaced was the battery. Checked the computer for any deviations and that was it? I don't think they have this situation down - as you both mentioned... it was high on my weird-o-meter!

So far, all is o.k.... I'll keep ya posted for any additional dead battery problems or freaky lights on with no power.

Thanks
Todd

 

I have a 2005 screw with 30,000 kms and the battery went dead a few times without warning and didn't seem to want to hold a charge anymore. To avoid the stealership hassles, I just bought the motorcraft 850 A for $118. If if happens again, I will be sure to take it in. Why do they put such a small OEM battery (650 A)??

 

that sucks tod/f150, this is SO not just a battery issue (if you had same happen as me).

two things that bother me:

1. WHY didn't something in the system detect draw, and then after time, shut down.

2. i do NOT understand why the autolamps did not shut off after time, or if they did, why the headlamps (only, not running) remained ON after time.

This first time I had prob, I wrongly (stupidly) left headlights ON, w/ switch in on position (not autolamps). My bad, then batt would NOT take a charge while still connected to vehicle.... Something was Funky and still drawing hard (headlamps). Nevertheless w/ Lights On for overnite, WHY didn't they shut off automatically after time?? I foolishly do this often in my Lincoln Continental and did same many times in my Crown Vic and last Town Car but each time, come morning, lights are off (regardless of switch being in Hard ON position) and car starts fine. SOMETHING detects draw and shuts all off. (NOTE: This is not case for a hot power port, as I've learned by leaving Power Invertor plugged in after a few days of not using that particular car, and batt it dead.)

The Second time I had trouble, truck was in Autolamp mode (not Hard On postition), I noticed Headlamps ON (was in HighBeam position on blinker assy) but running lamps off after 30-ish minutes. I caught it in time to prevent dead batt.

Oh well, will watch and see what transpires over time.