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Is anyone here familiar with the completely annoying "System Off to Save Battery" message displayed on the Sync screen? I can't be completely sure at the moment, but it sure seems like this thing comes on every time I open a door on my XLT as well as after I shut the vehicle off. It even happens after driving around town for 30+ minutes, when the battery should be good and charged. If I even attempt to play the radio/Sync system with the engine off, this message shows up, and turns the system off. If I push buttons, it will often display the message, in it's entirety, again. So, if Ford is really trying to save battery power, then why do they display the saving power message (with it's progress indicator bar) for a full minute, each and every time?
Is this message supposed to indicate some kind of a battery problem? I've had it in to the dealer, and they tell me the battery is "fine". If I put a meter on the battery shortly after I get out of the vehicle (courtesy lights on and such) the meter reads in the 10-11 volts range, which seems like crap to me. When everything shuts off after a minute or two, the meter jumps up to 12.xx. I know voltage isn't a perfect gauge of a battery's health (load-testing is), but I don't have access to the kind of gear that can test an automotive battery.
Driving around town doesn't automatically charge up your battery. Anytime you come to a stop light or high acceleration, alternator output is limited. When it is cold out, it takes some time for the battery to accept a charge. If you want to get rid of that message, charge up your battery overnight with a proper charger and negative lead to a body/engine ground, not on battery negative post.
If there is a battery problem there will be a "Check Charging System" and battery symbol displayed on the cluster. This message is telling you it is shutting the vehicle down early to save battery capacity since it is weak.
Any battery voltage under 12.1v is over 50% discharged. It may go below that under a very heavy load, like the starter, but normal loads it should be above 12.0v. If you are getting 10v to 11v under normal usage, the battery is toast. Take the vehicle to a big box auto parts place and they will load test your battery for free.
I see that you have a 2016. You are probably still under warranty and the dealer doesn't want to put in a new battery.
Any battery voltage under 12.1v is over 50% discharged. It may go below that under a very heavy load, like the starter, but normal loads it should be above 12.0v. If you are getting 10v to 11v under normal usage, the battery is toast. Take the vehicle to a big box auto parts place and they will load test your battery for free.
I see that you have a 2016. You are probably still under warranty and the dealer doesn't want to put in a new battery.
I think batteries are "pro-rated" but even with that it's probably less expensive to just buy a new one and be done with it. The dealer doesn't pay anything for a battery that's warrantied so they shouldn't play games if it's bad!
My 2016 started showing this message 2 days after I got home with it. I drove it for a couple of weeks or so till I had to boost it. Dealer installed new battery under warranty. My truck had set on the lot through the winter when I got it and I"m guessing these AGM batteries may be more particular about staying charged than regular batteries.
When the message is displayed, open the truck door (will reset the system) and close it. You should be able to power ON your radio and listen to it...
In the meanwhile read threads about resetting the battery charge monitor (sorry don't remember technical name) for further info on how to deal with the battery issue.
02-22-2018, 10:48 PM
Annoying "System Off to Save Battery"
That's 100% correct. If that battery is that low with a load it's time for a new battery....... end of story.
