Jaybird08

Hey everyone,

So I bought a 2013 FX4 back in September and I must say love the truck and have been real happy with it thus far.

However, living in Canada, the cold winter air started to move in around late November. It was at this time that I noticed the "Battery Saver" alert on the console screen come on every time I shut the truck off. This also means the truck shuts off a lot of the electronics in the cab when this happens. Now, I've researched and read about this trouble before on these forums and I understand there can be a number of reasons for this. Rather than start fiddling around I thought I'd go through the proper Ford channels to see what can be done since it's a new truck and all.

Here's what happened:

First initial call: Talked to a service advisor and he suggested to pull the negative battery terminal to reset the electronics. Got home, disconnected the neg battery terminal, waited a bit (5-10mins), reconnected the terminal, initialized the idling procedure according to the manual, and hoped for the best. Seemed ok for a day or two but then it went back to square one.

Second call: Called back and talked to the service advisor. He put me on the phone with the local shop foreman. His speculation over the phone was that it has to do with the charging circuit in the truck when it gets cold. He told be to bring it in when I had a chance and he would reset the voltage sensor module to see if it helps. He was optimistic that it would not help but he said it's something we could try without booking it in for an appointment. So... brought it in, he came out to reset the sensor, and then I tried it for a day or so. Same as before, worked ok for awhile but then back to square one again.

(between the second and third call the weather got nicer... no troubles! now I know it is cold related so....)

Third call: Booked the truck in for an appointment to have it looked at. When I brought the truck in the service advisor was also quite sure that it was cold related and that it might be just the way it is in the cold weather. I understood what he was saying but in my mind I'm thinking..."so if it's cold outside I can't shut the truck off for a few minutes and listen to the radio or use any of the power outlets?"

He asked if I would like to have a mechanic/technician check it out anyway. I said yes as I had already made arrangements to get around with another vehicle (and I wanted a paper trail in their system to see I've brought it in). So they checked it out and according to them all systems are normal with the exception that they said the battery was "a little low". So they topped up the charge and sent me on my way.

When the truck is running everything is fine. The Battery Saver only kicks in when it is shut off.

I am in the process now of watching it again but I wanted to get some outside opinions here as to how accurate this is... my questions are:

1) Is this really something I'll have to live with in the winter time once it gets passed a certain temperature?

2) Do I call b.s. and say it is unacceptable and do not accept the reason given for the alert?

3) Any other advice you could give as to what I should do next if anything?

Sorry for the long winded story but I appreciate any comments you guys might have.

Regards,
Jason

RLXXI

Sounds to me like the battery is the issue as that is the one and ONLY item that might be affected by the cold temps.

If it acts up again and the alternator is charging then replace the battery.

P.S. Might wish to invest in a battery warmer.

.

Steve Osborne

mine did the battery saver stuff this summer while using the radio....had the battery tested and it was fine. the battery monitor system was the problem....some how the voltage was remembered below 12v... make sure the battery is fully charged before reconnecting.. the alternator is only allowed to activate when needed, fuel economy ....any way... found the info here.. and sofar i've had no more problems..

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/batter...-reset-109656/

Northernexposure

Fellow Canadian here... No, your truck shouldn't act like that. -38c here this morning and mine didn't do that.. not normal for you. Hell, it's been cold here for the past month and mine doesn't act like that... even the day we had -40c here, everything was fine with mine. Take your truck back to your dealer and keep taking it back until they solve the problem and you are satisfied.

Wanted33

I have to agree with my friend [MENTION=134559]Rnlcomp[/MENTION]. It's not an unusual situation to get a bad battery in a new vehicle sometimes. Could have a weak cell being drained by the cold. Reason I say this is that you said when the engine in running everything is fine, so the battery is being charged. Good luck.

RLXXI

One time when I worked at the dealer we had to jump start a new truck to drive it off the carrier.

The battery was replaced before we even had the transport protection plastic removed.

.

irishguy824

Sounds like either the battery needs replaced (not uncommon) or that the charge monitoring system is having a problem and needs checked out.

nbrowser

If I was the OP and since I am a mechanic...I'd go to another shop, not a dealer but one of them old garages that still have a Sun carbon pile battery tester and have it tested with that. It'll load it up so much that it'll show a dead cell or any other problem. The new testers (Yes I have one too) simply cannot load up a battery the way an old carbon pile tester can. Then head to the dealer with that information in your hot little hands if the battery fails miserably.

Damn Dirty Ape

iTrader: (1)

My thread on this...

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/proble...oughts-231458/

and another:

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/radio-...-saver-234487/

THIS many bad batteries? Ford has a problem.. mine started in June. Nice and warm weather.

BadAlBell

I have a 2011. I have the same problem, but not all the time. I drive my truck a lot, and usually long trips. I took it to the dealer over the summer and when I picked it up the tech had stated it was normal for it to do this. Complaints to the dealer were unanswered.
Last week the battery went dead. I hadnt driven it that week. Back to the dealer I guess.
Frustrating the truck is so nice and the service is so lacking, especially when its not easy for me to get it in for service.