52merc

I would do everything except going to the dealer for the BMS reset. For far less than they will charge you for that 5 min service, you can get FORScan and a compatible OBD module and be able to do lots of stuff yourself, including a BMS reset.

All Hat No Cattle

Only if you want to give your dealer extra money for doing something that you can easily do yourself, for free, with no Forscan or BMS reset.

Simply follow the instructions from Post #4 in this thread, which is straight out of the Owner's Manual. Since we have the same truck year, I guarantee it is accurate, check your own manual.





Now the 2016 Shop Manual says this:



Why does it say that? Because if you went to the dealer to buy a new battery, and they told you that you have to leave your truck with them so that they could lock it up for 8 hours, like the Owner's Manual says, you would go nuts. I know I would.

So they set up a dealer shortcut by letting them reset the BMS with their specialized tools, and making them some money for doing so.

I mean, really, would Ford make someone that lives a couple of hundred miles from the nearest dealer, go there just to replace a battery? Come on!

How many Ford truck owners, not on this forum, do you think know what Forscan is?

Read and follow the manual, that is what most people do. Jeez!

16IngotFX4

Thanks, I forgot about the posting above. Admittedly I didn't pay close attention to it the day it was posted.

Also, there was a thread about a week ago discussing leaving the vehicle sleeping for 8 hours, blah blah and that thread sort of suggested it was stupid and unnecessary. Because this is the internet and when we don't know stuff we say that things are stupid. haha

It actually never occurred to me to check the manual regarding changing a battery for any reset procedures. Noted...

52merc

Many BMSs on many different makes of vehicles require, or at least strongly suggest, a reset after battery replacement. Any typical repair shop with a proper scan tool should be able to perform the reset. Its not just a Ford thing.

BTW, I've noticed many differences between the Owner Manual and the Work Shop Manual. Different divisions probably write them and like all big business, they don't communicate with each other.

PopsActual

You’re going to get a lot of opinions, so just take them for what they’re worth....

I just replaced the battery on my ‘15 EB as well. The positive terminal corroded pretty good and cracked the case. I took the opportunity to upgrade, so I replaced my wet cell H6 with an AGM H7. I used FORScan to update my BCM with the appropriate values for the battery and reset the BMS. Super easy process. I spent more time physically changing the battery than I did updating the BCM and BMS with FORScan.

Take a look at the sticky for info on FORScan. BCM is “Body Control Module”, so you have to change some values in there for a battery type change. BMS is the battery management system that most (if not all) EB Trucks have. The USB OBD2 adapter is about $15 on Amazon. BMS reset is literally just opening the software, plugging in the adapter, initializing, then clicking an icon. That easy.

elptxjc

Keep in mind the reset of the SOC (state of charge) and the reset of the BMS are two different things. Leaving the truck locked for over 8 hours won't reset the BMS, which is what needs to be done, so the system reverts to full charge. As the battery ages, the system ramps down the charging rate; that's why it's better to perform that reset. I've never done the other thing, and I charge my battery once a week. That seems completely unnecessary to me, since it's not that discharged to begin with, but to each his own.

stormsearch

Please read my post above, resetting the BMS sensor is not required. People who work in the battery business would understand that other factors as mentioned have a more highly effect on battery life than BMS reset. Since it is not required it is not shown in the Owner Manual.

I am the Ford Engineer who writes the Owner Manaul Section, who releases the battery, starter, alternator and BMS sensor and who writes the Workshop Manaul along with FCSD (Ford Customer Service Division). What you are stating is not correct. Resetting the BMS sensor to a new battery is NOT the same as the BMS sensor relearning the battery SOC. When a battery ages, it loses overall capacity. The BMS knows this and adjusts the charge rate. If you do not reset the BMS, it will assume the new battery is still the old one with a redecued capacity. Therefore, it will not fully charge the battery to it's full capacity. This is assuming if using an identical battery to the one selected in the BMS list (not a similar size, not a similar type, exact one).

I should say partially correct, because with the correct service tool, one could change the BMS SOC value to anything. Not sure if capable in FORScan but available to dealers.

If the BMS is not reset, the worst that can happen is the charging system will maintain the battery before all of this BMS Sensor (not the old hall sensor used on 11 - 14MY) came into play for the 15MY F150. And in some cases the BMS sensor will actually shorten the life of the battery. Because load shed, start/stop, and other control mechanisms more complicated than I can still believe, I would still recommend resetting the BMS when replacing with a new battery If at least is the same size and type as used or changed to in the BMS battery list.

Perfectly stated

The issue is FCSD wants Workshop Manual sections to be consistent thru all years and models to help eleviate confusion at dealerships. It is a balance of what to keep/what to change to keep customer happy and dealer happy. FCSD does have final say over engineering in the workshop manual but generally we meet and agree on wording before it gets "printed'. Ford Legal then has final say over all on what is printed in the owner manual. In our happy "sue everybody" country we live in makes it more complicated just to write manuals.

52merc

Sorry stormsearch. My comment wasn't directed necessarily at Ford or you. Just big companies in general. I'm sure I can speak for all of us here when I say we appreciate your input when you did chime in. Thanks.

stormsearch

No apology needed at all. The company I work for is far from perfect and I try not to bias one way or other on behalf of them. I try to provide information that is beneficial to the F150 community as feasibly possible. When we take a normally perceived simple process as replacing a battery with adding a recommendation to reset a module, there should be some some flack given. All in the name for fuel economy.

Re-tired

Why would any company want to make such a simple process as removing and replacing two lugs such a hassle