pfred

This is a very interesting thread. I have a 13 FX4 EB, with a mysterious battery drain. Truck has 17000 miles on it and has been back to the dealer 2x and is there now. The first time they replaced the battery, and the next day it was totally dead in my driveway. I have had similar issues of dash lights coming at night etc. The dealer can't figure out what is causing the drain. Yesterday I guess the truck started fine at the dealer, they pulled the meter off and parked out back and in 2 hours the battery has completely discharged. Off course the meter was off, so they have to try to replicate it again.

MY SA has been very good despite the issues. I am hoping they get it pinpointed soon.

The SA told me "Ford knows nothing about this" and "no reported issues" on their hotline...

RLXXI

I think Ford got a bad batch of batteries, I've seen this happen before more than once and didn't actually investigate because I had no reason to until the battery in my 13 died one morning, granted I have had a 2 channel dash cam/dvr system running 24/7 for over a year and very short trips during the day so my experience may not even fit.

What I do know is when batteries are going bad, or are defective in some way they can make a vehicle exhibit some strange electrical issues and with as many modules in our trucks always communicating with one another it don't surprise me the anomalies are amplified and/or varied from truck to truck.

30+ years working on vehicles (11 as dealer level Ford tech) backs up my theory but no way to prove or disprove, only enough experience to accept it for now and gauge how long my current new battery lasts.

What I can report is starter spin up sounds faster than even when I bought the truck Feb of 13 which tells me there is more cranking power in the new battery than the new battery it came with.

Who knows for sure? Only time will tell at this point.

Scarlet

I have an '11 Lariat. Up until last Feb., my truck has been pretty much flawless. It was really cold, and I hadn't been in the truck for about a week. One really cold morning I had to go to a Doc. appointment. I hit the remote start and just got a honk from the horn. I went out and tried the key, no start. So I hop into my Merc. and go to the appointment. After the doc., I come home and put the charger on the truck for the rest of day and night. It was fine for a week or so, but I was driving it every day. Then I stayed home for about three days. One morning I had to go out,. I hit the remote, and Honk! Took it the dealer and they replace the battery. That was last March, 6th.. Been fine...until... about a ten days ago. Once again it was dead. Battery is less than a year old. It was only sitting for about two days. Night time lows have been in the single digits, and day time in the thirty's. So I jumped it, did my monthly Doc. appointment, came home, put the charger on it and set it on trickle. I just attributed it the extremely cold temps. in the area. About mid day I went out and bumped the charger up to the mid level of charging. Right before dark I decided to take the charger off. Didn't want to leave it overnight since it was suppose to get wet. I took the cables off, went to open the drivers door to lock it up, and when I hit the lock switch, nothing. That's when I noticed no interior lights either. But, the green LED on my switch for my driving lights was still illuminated. But its 12V comes directly from the battery and all my added lighting is grounded to the frame. So, I tried to start it and nothing at all. No dash lights, anything. So I go to the battery, I just stand there like an idiot thinking what the H*ll. Felt the wires for heat, opened up the lid on the fuse box, figuring maybe I tripped a breaker. After a few moments I walk back to the door and as I open it I here a Click like a breaker reset. Now I have lights. I stick the key in and it starts. Everything seems normal. I take it for a drive, all is well. So, after doing much research here on the forums, again, I decided to shut everything down for the night. Climate control, Nav., everything I can, and my SCT Livewire, which I was thinking is the source of the draw. It's suppose to go into sleep mode, then shut itself down after 24/48 Hours? I didn't drive the truck for two days, and I had to go out. So I hit the remote start from my bedroom and the truck starts right up. Engine spooled real nice when I listened. And temps are still in the single digits at night. So........Now I'm going to leave everything as is like I usually do (Nav., Radio, etc.), but shut down the Livewire for the night. I want to know if the Livewire is the source of the draw. I'll update when I know....

Douda13

Well so now after the truck has been in the service dept for another 3 1/2 weeks I just got it back. This time the Field Service Tech actually made it out to our dealership (it took 3 weeks for him to make it) and his suggestion was to once again replace the battery, replace the parking sensor in the steering column and replace the wire harness assembly from battery to firewall. Its been about a week and so far so good, but that means nothing to me since this problem is always sporadic with no rhyme or reason ever. We will see.
My truck has been in the service dept now for a total of well over 100 days now in the 1 1/2 years of ownership. None of these parts replaced (except for battery) have been proven to be broken. Really just stabs in the dark based on what parts have not been replaced. I still feel that this problem is a electrical gremlin that may be impossible to ever find. Over 4 months into Lemon Lawsuit and Ford wants to see us in court at this point. That court date is next month and my understanding is that they will cancel that date at last minute and re-schedule another court date as to delay the process and hope that I give up. Not going to happen! I desperately want out of this vehicle, feel it is unsafe to drive especially anywhere remote where I would be in trouble if battery dies overnight in middle of no where.
Have not had any strange electrical issues in the week I have had it back but so far to date these are the things it has done. Dome lights come on while driving, radio turns off by itself, low battery warning while driving and alarm self activating while vehicle is sitting in driveway for no reason. And of course most importantly the battery dies overnight and renders vehicle unable to start. Will update with next chapter in the drama as it occurs.

jeffinthebag

Re:Rnlcomp........You seem to be a good judge of things. Did you replace it with a battery from the dealership or if not what brand and make did you purchase? Do you know what the cranking amps are of the new battery?
Last month when I took my 2013 to the dealership for a oil change they did mention the battery was a bit low but still acceptable. It does crank slower but always started even when the nightly lows where 0 degrees or lower during those few weeks straight.

KScountrygal

Hi folks,

I'm glad I found this thread, because I just took my 2013 STX in for a "Turn System Off To Save Battery" message. This is the second time it's happened; the first time, Ford replaced the battery, and it went away. This time (less than a year later, I might add), it occurs AGAIN, and once again Ford replaces the battery. However, replacing the battery this time does NOT make the error message go away.

The service manager at my dealership is baffled by this; I explained to him that yes, there is an actual problem, since I cannot use the 'aux' function whatsoever. He suggested I bring my truck in and leave it there so that they can "have a look at it."

I've done a quick Google search, and saw a bunch of these particular threads on a LOT of forums, so obviously there is a problem. If so, I certainly hope Ford is capable of coming up with a fix.

To be fair, my dealer has been excellent (so far) about working with me on this issue. And the issue- though annoying- has not YET left me stranded in a dark parking lot in the middle of a rainy night. I don't care, I just want the issue to be resolved.

Thanks for listening to a somewhat frustrated gal vent.

RLXXI

Got a Johnson Controls made battery from Walmart. http://www.walmart.com/msharbor/ip/E...ttery/20703125

Decent price as well. $109.00 Could have got new battery free under warranty but the dealer was closed when it died and I needed to roll.

jeffinthebag

ThankYou.
I used that Walmart battery in my last car. I worked very well. At the time Consumer Reports rated that battery "recommended ", if that means anything.

RLXXI

I learned a long time ago there are only 3 automotive battery manufacturers for all of them, Delphi, Exide and Johnson Controls, find one that fits the budget and never look back. The OEM Motorcraft batteries are made by Johnson Controls as well.

smith5

I was posting on another thread on this sight and after doing searches found several different threads and one common problem. Mine has been reported to ford also and they called me and said they couldnt help me any further! Mine is a 13 I special ordered with the 8200 g.v.w. package and a 5.0. Im also a automotive tech with my own shop and was a Ford tech at a dealership for many years. I have a friend who is still a tech and he says they replaced two instrument clusters at tech hotlines request and it fixed both trucks. On the third truck Ford said they would no longer authorize cluster replacement. They have several other cheap fixes and reprograms to try and solve this without the expense of clusters but to no avail. The latest is reprogramming the battery saver module to activate quicker. Thats not going to do it either because the body control module thinks the cluster needs powered up because of an internal short or open. Ford probably doesnt even have another supplier for clusters. I say its legal eagle time. This is ridiculous!