WXman

Hang on, so we're talking about the main underhood battery for the vehicle? And it's a silver calcium battery? So I can't just walk into AutoZone and grab a new battery off the shelf? What?

First I've heard of this. I wonder if this is why I can't listen to my radio for 3 minutes with the key off without the stupid auto-shutdown happens and I get a warning on the dash? GAWD that's annoying............

Ricktwuhk

Wow...

If you don't want the battery warning to come up, drive the truck. And that means drive it for extended periods, like an hour, on the highway. Short trips will not charge the battery back up, and the warning will come up again and again.

If you want to listen to the radio, turn off the truck, remove your key, and push the radio button. It will let the radio play for a lot longer than 3 minutes unless your battery is low.

If you want to get rid of the message, simply buy a Battery Tender Plus and plug the truck in when you're not using it. I did this maybe a year and a half ago, at the suggestion of my Service Manager, and no more message. In the summer it's less necessary than the winter, but if I know I'm not driving in the next few days I simply plug it in. Easy, and no more annoying message.

WXman

My truck gets driven. A lot. 114,000 miles and counting. The annoying auto-shutdown feature has bothered me since I bought it, and I have read other threads about it on here, but I have never heard of this "smart charge" feature. Sounds like they should have called it "dumb charge" instead. Why the h*** would you NOT want maximum voltage on a full size truck meant for work? Is this why we also got under-performing A/C that cycles off as much as it possibly can? Was Ford so worried about MPGs that they decided to sacrifice usability on the job? Terrible, just terrible.

johnday in BFE

iTrader: (1)

Hmm, first I've heard of this "feature". How do I know if I have this? I can't check to see which battery I have, since I replaced it a few months ago.

RLXXI

Look at the negative battery cable, you should see a loop around it close to the battery with smaller wires going into it, that is the sensor.


.

Eric M

Actual pics of it are in the thread linked below.

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/replac...ew-way-231938/

Lee308

GOOD NEWS !
I just found out I can PAY the dealer, to have this "feature" turned off.
" 'Smart' battery charging system, which only charges the battery to a preset level to maximize efficiency and extend battery life. Unfortunately this also means that the 'reserve' in the battery is minimal. Ford dealers, for a cost, can reprogram the charging system so that the 'smart system' is turned off and the charging system works like 'traditional' charging system. Extremely useful if you have dual batteries fitted."
Will be calling the dealer for price.

johnday in BFE

iTrader: (1)

Well, lucky or not, it turns out I've got it. Hasn't caused a problem,can't see how it really would. I'm just gonna keep my paws off it.

FORDMAN

There is a 152 page thread about this. Been running for a few years.

https://www.f150forum.com/f38/radio-...4487/index152/

FORDMAN

This will only eliminate the Saver Message that shuts off the radio. But it will not charge the battery any differently.