Preventative replacement of 12v battery?

PharaohHound138

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dave
Joined
Apr 29, 2022
Threads
5
Messages
187
Reaction score
237
Location
Ohio
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E premium
Occupation
Railroad
Country flag
My 2022 MME GT is now 3 years old with just over 20k miles. I need to take it to the dealer for a recall and state inspection tis month. Should I preemptively replace the 12v battery for safety sake? While we don't usually travel very far from home I'd hate to be locked out somewhere.
Absolutely! An ounce of prevention....... It is a fairly simple replacement also.
Sponsored

 

SummerlinBob

Active Member
First Name
Robert
Joined
Jul 14, 2022
Threads
1
Messages
33
Reaction score
45
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Vehicles
2023 Nite Pony Premium RWD ER
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
When my 2021 hit the 34-month mark, I got a check 12v battery alert, I brought into the dealer for that and another issue and they replaced it at no charge. Not certain why they didn't pro-rate it but I didn't ask why. If I buyout my 36-month lease on the 2023, I plan on replacing the 12v battery as a PM measure.
 

Maquis

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dave
Joined
Dec 21, 2020
Threads
34
Messages
5,698
Reaction score
8,087
Location
Illinois
Vehicles
2021 Mach E4X, 2023 Lightning Lariat ER
Country flag
Unfortunately, this is not accurate. There have been many instances of 12v batteries dying without the car giving any warnings at all. This happened to me in my old Tesla and I have heard this has happened to some MachE owners as well.
The warning message was only rolled out relatively recently. I’m not sure we have a documented case of a sudden, unannounced failure since then.
Mine failed without warning exactly 1 year ago, before the warning capability was implemented.
 

Fremont Kid

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Oct 8, 2022
Threads
12
Messages
773
Reaction score
667
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Vehicles
2022 Mustang Mach e Premium AWD
Occupation
Retired IT
Country flag
Many LVB threads if you want more information. Consensus is 'Yes' to replace the battery on schedule. It may last many more months but taking that risk is most likely not prudent.

I will say that the system generated a low LVB warning when the car was not plugged in for over a week when we did not drive much. Since then we plug in at least once per week, and every night in the winter to ensure the HVB remains above freezing.

Oh, a couple more items:
  • When the LVB is replaced, be sure to run the calibration process, otherwise the system may not assess the SOH correctly.
  • Replace with the same amperage and chemistry battery. The SOH system may read a different battery incorrectly, thus possibly generating erroneous messages.
 

Mach-Lee

Well-Known Member
First Name
Lee
Joined
Jul 16, 2021
Threads
262
Messages
11,381
Reaction score
25,066
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium AWD
Occupation
Sci/Eng
Country flag
I have a 2022 GTPE and im on stock battery still. I was curious about the 3 year timeline so I got an ODB2 scanner with car scanner app to read the 12V battery SOC. Just installed it yesterday and this is what I saw, 63% soc.

I then took a multimeter to the batter (after letting it rest overnight) and this is what I read.

PXL_20260110_192847583.webp


I don't know when the battery warning is going to go off but I'll keep monitoring it. I have a spare battery just in case I need it.
Remember if you are checking battery voltage, you have to open the hood and walk away for 30+ minutes to let the car go back to sleep. If you walk up with your phone or key fob in your pocket it will wake up the car and cause the voltage reading to be low since the car is using 12V power.
 


RickMachE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
267
Messages
17,957
Reaction score
27,990
Location
SE MI
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium 4X, 2022 Lightning Lariat ER
Country flag
When my 2021 hit the 34-month mark, I got a check 12v battery alert, I brought into the dealer for that and another issue and they replaced it at no charge. Not certain why they didn't pro-rate it but I didn't ask why. If I buyout my 36-month lease on the 2023, I plan on replacing the 12v battery as a PM measure.
For 3 years, the battery is full covered, that's why they replaced it. If you buy a new battery from Ford, that is covered for 3 years also.

The replacement you got is covered for 12 months I believe.
 

SummerlinBob

Active Member
First Name
Robert
Joined
Jul 14, 2022
Threads
1
Messages
33
Reaction score
45
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Vehicles
2023 Nite Pony Premium RWD ER
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
For 3 years, the battery is full covered, that's why they replaced it. If you buy a new battery from Ford, that is covered for 3 years also.

The replacement you got is covered for 12 months I believe.
Thanks, that's good to know when the 2023 is due.
 

EB87

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2025
Threads
5
Messages
109
Reaction score
94
Location
Arizona
Vehicles
2024 Mach-E Premium
My 2022 MME GT is now 3 years old with just over 20k miles. I need to take it to the dealer for a recall and state inspection tis month. Should I preemptively replace the 12v battery for safety sake? While we don't usually travel very far from home I'd hate to be locked out somewhere.
Yes. 12v battery isn’t that expensive. Do it for peace of mind.
 

Roomba

Well-Known Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Dec 10, 2023
Threads
3
Messages
60
Reaction score
33
Location
Bay Area
Vehicles
'22 GTPE
Occupation
Tech
Country flag
Remember if you are checking battery voltage, you have to open the hood and walk away for 30+ minutes to let the car go back to sleep. If you walk up with your phone or key fob in your pocket it will wake up the car and cause the voltage reading to be low since the car is using 12V power.
Ahhh, I didn't know that! So if I walk up to my car, unlock my car via keypad, I have to let it sleep in 30+ minutes? Even if the phone was never on me?

What I did was walk to my car (without phone), unlock frunk and measured the voltage. I was missing the "let it sleep" step
 

HuntingPudel

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Mar 23, 2021
Threads
88
Messages
12,946
Reaction score
17,394
Location
Bay Area, CA
Vehicles
2024 MME GT with Performance Upgrade, 1979 Fire-Am, 1972 K/5 Blazer
Occupation
Engineering
Country flag
Ahhh, I didn't know that! So if I walk up to my car, unlock my car via keypad, I have to let it sleep in 30+ minutes? Even if the phone was never on me?

What I did was walk to my car (without phone), unlock frunk and measured the voltage. I was missing the "let it sleep" step
Using the keypad wakes the car so that the car can unlock the doors. So, after that you need to let the car sleep again after the frunk is open. 😁🐩
 

Roomba

Well-Known Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Dec 10, 2023
Threads
3
Messages
60
Reaction score
33
Location
Bay Area
Vehicles
'22 GTPE
Occupation
Tech
Country flag
Got it! Haha. Either way, the OBD2 mentions that I have 63% soc left so I'm still OK for now
 

Jon Boy

Active Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2023
Threads
0
Messages
26
Reaction score
17
Location
UK
Vehicles
Mach e Premium ER AWD
Country flag
Mine failed at 14200 miles, no warning given (MY23) dealer changed F.O.C
 

RickMachE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
267
Messages
17,957
Reaction score
27,990
Location
SE MI
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium 4X, 2022 Lightning Lariat ER
Country flag
Got it! Haha. Either way, the OBD2 mentions that I have 63% soc left so I'm still OK for now
You were at 63% then. It could be 90% now...
 

Kamuelaflyer

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Feb 18, 2020
Threads
11
Messages
11,372
Reaction score
23,000
Location
Hawaii
Vehicles
2021 Premium Infinite Blue. ER AWD. 2020 Raptor, 2021 Ranger.
Country flag
You should get ample warning when that becomes necessary
Should. Should is also not synonymous with will.
Unfortunately, this is not accurate. There have been many instances of 12v batteries dying without the car giving any warnings at all. This happened to me in my old Tesla and I have heard this has happened to some MachE owners as well.
There are more than a few threads about sudden 12v failures. The advanced warnings may have mitigated that somewhat, but it doesn’t change the fundamental nature of the 12v battery, its use or operating conditions.
 

ipca204

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2024
Threads
19
Messages
820
Reaction score
1,200
Location
60543
Vehicles
2024 GT PE, 2023 VW ID.4, 2025 Equinox EV
Occupation
retired
Country flag
Yay! Another 12v battery thread! Lifeblood of the forum!
Sponsored

 
 







Top