battery save mode when cold out
12-17-2017, 11:36 PM
#21
Senior Member
Further? Is it your opinion that the Ford batteries are weak?
Not sure why I haven't unhooked that yet, I've already seen this message in the last week. It's not that cold here, and the message is coming on much earlier than it needs to be.
Not sure why I haven't unhooked that yet, I've already seen this message in the last week. It's not that cold here, and the message is coming on much earlier than it needs to be.
12-18-2017, 04:14 AM
#22
Senior Member
I've had my '13 for almost a year and a half now, and the only time I've seen the battery warning is when I've been sitting outside the mall waiting for the wife with the key on in ACC listening to the radio.
Then I discovered, by accident, that I could turn the radio on with out the key being on.
My commute is about 20 minutes each way and during daylight savings time, in the dark both ways and I've never had an issue.
Last winter the truck sat for a couple of one week stints when we had snow and I drove my Ranger because I didn't want to get salt all over my new (to me) baby.
Again, no issues.
The only electrical accessories I've added are;
A constant hot feed to the lights and power point in my cap, and my ham radio.
Both are tapped directly from the battery positive terminal and grounded to a body ground so the BMS can monitor current draw.
Everything I've read about the "new" charging system, says it's designed to save fuel and reduce overcharging the battery which should extend the battery useful life.
On an individual vehicle scale, the fuel savings seem so small as to be a "why bother" thing, but those 1/10's of an MPG add up for the CAFE numbers when you look at a "fleet" of tens of thousands of trucks.
Just my 2 cents on the matter......
Mine works, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....
Then I discovered, by accident, that I could turn the radio on with out the key being on.
My commute is about 20 minutes each way and during daylight savings time, in the dark both ways and I've never had an issue.
Last winter the truck sat for a couple of one week stints when we had snow and I drove my Ranger because I didn't want to get salt all over my new (to me) baby.
Again, no issues.
The only electrical accessories I've added are;
A constant hot feed to the lights and power point in my cap, and my ham radio.
Both are tapped directly from the battery positive terminal and grounded to a body ground so the BMS can monitor current draw.
Everything I've read about the "new" charging system, says it's designed to save fuel and reduce overcharging the battery which should extend the battery useful life.
On an individual vehicle scale, the fuel savings seem so small as to be a "why bother" thing, but those 1/10's of an MPG add up for the CAFE numbers when you look at a "fleet" of tens of thousands of trucks.
Just my 2 cents on the matter......
Mine works, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....
12-18-2017, 04:49 AM
#23
I've had my '13 for almost a year and a half now, and the only time I've seen the battery warning is when I've been sitting outside the mall waiting for the wife with the key on in ACC listening to the radio.
Then I discovered, by accident, that I could turn the radio on with out the key being on.
My commute is about 20 minutes each way and during daylight savings time, in the dark both ways and I've never had an issue.
Last winter the truck sat for a couple of one week stints when we had snow and I drove my Ranger because I didn't want to get salt all over my new (to me) baby.
Again, no issues.
The only electrical accessories I've added are;
A constant hot feed to the lights and power point in my cap, and my ham radio.
Both are tapped directly from the battery positive terminal and grounded to a body ground so the BMS can monitor current draw.
Everything I've read about the "new" charging system, says it's designed to save fuel and reduce overcharging the battery which should extend the battery useful life.
On an individual vehicle scale, the fuel savings seem so small as to be a "why bother" thing, but those 1/10's of an MPG add up for the CAFE numbers when you look at a "fleet" of tens of thousands of trucks.
Just my 2 cents on the matter......
Mine works, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....
Then I discovered, by accident, that I could turn the radio on with out the key being on.
My commute is about 20 minutes each way and during daylight savings time, in the dark both ways and I've never had an issue.
Last winter the truck sat for a couple of one week stints when we had snow and I drove my Ranger because I didn't want to get salt all over my new (to me) baby.
Again, no issues.
The only electrical accessories I've added are;
A constant hot feed to the lights and power point in my cap, and my ham radio.
Both are tapped directly from the battery positive terminal and grounded to a body ground so the BMS can monitor current draw.
Everything I've read about the "new" charging system, says it's designed to save fuel and reduce overcharging the battery which should extend the battery useful life.
On an individual vehicle scale, the fuel savings seem so small as to be a "why bother" thing, but those 1/10's of an MPG add up for the CAFE numbers when you look at a "fleet" of tens of thousands of trucks.
Just my 2 cents on the matter......
Mine works, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....
12-19-2017, 05:14 AM
#24
Senior Member
I was starting to wonder if I was the only one not having issues, the only time I got the battery warning was when I sat in the truck listening to the radio for an hour with the engine off. No trouble starting after sitting for days and no warnings once started either. I've also never seen my alternator not charging at 14v aside from the initial delay after starting, when data-logging for hours it always seemed to stay at 14v.
It usually is around 14v with my normal local driving.
On a few long trips, I have seen the voltage drop to 12.8 or 12.9, but only after 4+ hours of highway driving.
12-20-2017, 12:11 AM
#25
King Hater
I unplugged mine today
12-20-2017, 01:48 PM
#27
I took some time and tried a few things and the one that stood out is I cleaned the pos. terminal and removed all the connections from it and cleaned them to, the main one was really dirty and after doing that Ive seen it once now after a week. Another question I thought about does the truck charge during the remote start time.......if not that would kill a battery fast as well.
12-27-2017, 03:22 AM
#28
Senior Member
My OEM battery had lots of corrosion on the + terminal when I bought it. Thought I might have to replace it was so bad.
That batt died and I have replaced it. No probs so far with the battery system and I have lots of mods.
That batt died and I have replaced it. No probs so far with the battery system and I have lots of mods.
12-27-2017, 11:04 AM
#29
Senior Member
I had mine come on yesterday. 2014 5.0. Went to do some running around and let the truck run the whole time. Pulled into Wal-Mart and the battery saver info came on. Figured with the truck being 4yrs old I bought a new battery.
Haven't started it yet. Put it in and let it sit for over 8hrs. Will see how it goes when I head for work.
Haven't started it yet. Put it in and let it sit for over 8hrs. Will see how it goes when I head for work.
