Radio didn't play when vehicle turned off "battery saver"
05-30-2014, 11:16 AM
#771
I've decided that I'm just going to live with it. We have virtually no consumer protection in Canada.
I've disconnected the current sensor ring on the negative battery terminal to get rid of the stupid message. I also hardwired in a "Battery Tender" that I will use if I have to park my truck for more than 4 days at one time. So far I drive it everyday so it hasn't been an issue.
I hope at some point Ford will not simply write this problem off. At some point, like the problem with the GM ignition switches, this will come back to bite them in the *** in a big way.
I've disconnected the current sensor ring on the negative battery terminal to get rid of the stupid message. I also hardwired in a "Battery Tender" that I will use if I have to park my truck for more than 4 days at one time. So far I drive it everyday so it hasn't been an issue.
I hope at some point Ford will not simply write this problem off. At some point, like the problem with the GM ignition switches, this will come back to bite them in the *** in a big way.
05-30-2014, 11:19 AM
#772
Senior Member
Dealer "thinks" they know whats going on. When I took the truck in they charged the battery and reset the minder. Well, their charger will put more of a charge in the battery than the alternator will. The battery minder will go into battery saver mode once the charge is down 10% so if for instance their charger will charge the battery to 13.2 volts and they reset the minder it will set the normal battery level to 13.2. But the truck might only be able to charge it to 12.4. So you don't have much wiggle room before it's down to 11.9 volts or so which will trigger the battery save mode. The truck might or might no be able to bring the charge back up to the level to cancel out the battery saver mode. It at least sounds plausible on paper and would explain why some people are only seeing the problem in cold weather.
So what they did was let the battery run down to like 12.2 volts and then reset the system. They said part of the reason for the sensor on the negative is to monitor things to allow for the alternator being shut down to increase gas mileage. I drove it this morning. Before starting it 12.4 volts. Running it was at 14.3 volts but after driving for several minutes it dropped to 13 volts. and stayed there. Engine off dropped to 12.8.
Seems to me if someone is seeing the warning you would just need to disconnect the battery for a few minutes then reconnect it and let the truck sit overnight for the 8 hour sleep time it take for the system to reset to your current voltage if this is really the problem.
I'll update in a couple weeks or when the problem comes back LOL!
So what they did was let the battery run down to like 12.2 volts and then reset the system. They said part of the reason for the sensor on the negative is to monitor things to allow for the alternator being shut down to increase gas mileage. I drove it this morning. Before starting it 12.4 volts. Running it was at 14.3 volts but after driving for several minutes it dropped to 13 volts. and stayed there. Engine off dropped to 12.8.
Seems to me if someone is seeing the warning you would just need to disconnect the battery for a few minutes then reconnect it and let the truck sit overnight for the 8 hour sleep time it take for the system to reset to your current voltage if this is really the problem.
I'll update in a couple weeks or when the problem comes back LOL!
05-30-2014, 11:21 AM
#773
Dealer "thinks" they know whats going on. When I took the truck in they charged the battery and reset the minder. Well, their charger will put more of a charge in the battery than the alternator will. The battery minder will go into battery saver mode once the charge is down 10% so if for instance their charger will charge the battery to 13.2 volts and they reset the minder it will set the normal battery level to 13.2. But the truck might only be able to charge it to 12.4. So you don't have much wiggle room before it's down to 11.9 volts or so which will trigger the battery save mode. The truck might or might no be able to bring the charge back up to the level to cancel out the battery saver mode. It at least sounds plausible on paper and would explain why some people are only seeing the problem in cold weather.
So what they did was let the battery run down to like 12.2 volts and then reset the system. They said part of the reason for the sensor on the negative is to monitor things to allow for the alternator being shut down to increase gas mileage. I drove it this morning. Before starting it 12.4 volts. Running it was at 14.3 volts but after driving for several minutes it dropped to 13 volts. and stayed there. Engine off dropped to 12.8.
Seems to me if someone is seeing the warning you would just need to disconnect the battery for a few minutes then reconnect it and let the truck sit overnight for the 8 hour sleep time it take for the system to reset to your current voltage if this is really the problem.
I'll update in a couple weeks or when the problem comes back LOL!
So what they did was let the battery run down to like 12.2 volts and then reset the system. They said part of the reason for the sensor on the negative is to monitor things to allow for the alternator being shut down to increase gas mileage. I drove it this morning. Before starting it 12.4 volts. Running it was at 14.3 volts but after driving for several minutes it dropped to 13 volts. and stayed there. Engine off dropped to 12.8.
Seems to me if someone is seeing the warning you would just need to disconnect the battery for a few minutes then reconnect it and let the truck sit overnight for the 8 hour sleep time it take for the system to reset to your current voltage if this is really the problem.
I'll update in a couple weeks or when the problem comes back LOL!
05-30-2014, 12:19 PM
#774
I agree. Mine has a 200amp alternator. If it can't keep a battery charged with no extra accessories on it, there is a problem.
05-30-2014, 06:24 PM
#775
Seems to me if someone is seeing the warning you would just need to disconnect the battery for a few minutes then reconnect it and let the truck sit overnight for the 8 hour sleep time it take for the system to reset to your current voltage if this is really the problem.
05-31-2014, 08:41 AM
#777
Senior Member
When you disconnected the battery or replaced it was it a battery that had been charged on a charger? If these guys are right (I ain't holding my breath) you would want to disconnect the battery to reset the system once it's been in the truck a few days and at the level of charge the truck can maintain, not what a battery charger can bring it up to.
05-31-2014, 08:51 AM
#778
Senior Member
The only bright spot in my case is Ford got involved right away and is at least trying to figure it out. I only have a little over a month left when I can invoke the Lemon law and need one more failed attempt at a fix to qualify so we'll see what happens.
05-31-2014, 10:27 AM
#779
Dealer "thinks" they know whats going on. When I took the truck in they charged the battery and reset the minder. Well, their charger will put more of a charge in the battery than the alternator will. The battery minder will go into battery saver mode once the charge is down 10% so if for instance their charger will charge the battery to 13.2 volts and they reset the minder it will set the normal battery level to 13.2. But the truck might only be able to charge it to 12.4. So you don't have much wiggle room before it's down to 11.9 volts or so which will trigger the battery save mode. The truck might or might no be able to bring the charge back up to the level to cancel out the battery saver mode. It at least sounds plausible on paper and would explain why some people are only seeing the problem in cold weather.
So what they did was let the battery run down to like 12.2 volts and then reset the system. They said part of the reason for the sensor on the negative is to monitor things to allow for the alternator being shut down to increase gas mileage. I drove it this morning. Before starting it 12.4 volts. Running it was at 14.3 volts but after driving for several minutes it dropped to 13 volts. and stayed there. Engine off dropped to 12.8.
Seems to me if someone is seeing the warning you would just need to disconnect the battery for a few minutes then reconnect it and let the truck sit overnight for the 8 hour sleep time it take for the system to reset to your current voltage if this is really the problem.
I'll update in a couple weeks or when the problem comes back LOL!
So what they did was let the battery run down to like 12.2 volts and then reset the system. They said part of the reason for the sensor on the negative is to monitor things to allow for the alternator being shut down to increase gas mileage. I drove it this morning. Before starting it 12.4 volts. Running it was at 14.3 volts but after driving for several minutes it dropped to 13 volts. and stayed there. Engine off dropped to 12.8.
Seems to me if someone is seeing the warning you would just need to disconnect the battery for a few minutes then reconnect it and let the truck sit overnight for the 8 hour sleep time it take for the system to reset to your current voltage if this is really the problem.
I'll update in a couple weeks or when the problem comes back LOL!
Tried that. No luck.
05-31-2014, 10:34 AM
#780
I've just gotten to the acceptance stage. Every couple weeks I throw the Genius 7200 smart charger on it. Brings the charge up (which keeps the bluetooth connections working) and maintains the capacity of the battery.
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gregsf150stx (05-31-2014)