Marlin's Dead Low Voltage Battery (LVB) -- Followed by Stuck in Park

[CHeil402]

Oh of course. What I'm saying though is that we're still just talking milliamps. It drains a small cell phone battery marginally faster, yes. But there's a helluva lot more power in a car battery. The same amount of milliamps draining from that should barely make a difference.

Not necessarily. The 12 V battery is 35 Ah from what I've seen. A modern cell phone battery is about 3.9 Ah. I've had a cell phone in a near dead-zone die in a few hours (let's say 5 hours). Multiply that out, it can kill a car battery in 44 hours. A car battery doesn't have a ton of capacity, it just has a lot of instantaneous power capabilities (a large C-rate).

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[ChasingCoral]

So, I really liked the hopeful message I had received from Ford that they would do everything they could to have Marlin back to me in 24 hours. Alas, that was not to be.

However, Ford has been all over this issue. As I reported yesterday, Ford engineers were in touch with the management and service department at Koons. The tech at Koons ran diagnostics, presumably coached by Ford engineers, working to find the problem. Of course, the car showed lots of system errors -- no surprise considering the 12v had tanked and system tests failed. They got those cleared and ran more diagnostics.

Today, a Ford engineer spent a couple of hours at Koons with my car, running more diagnostics and tests. The engineer left and was going to consult with the Mach E engineering team. The folks at Koons are awaiting word back from Ford engineers.

This buggered my plans a bit. I was due to take Marlin to Atomic Auto Salon yesterday for PPF and ceramic. I pushed off drop-off to today, now I've had to reschedule as TBD. This may get tight to have everything done in time to leave on the 28th to drive Marlin to Florida.

While these reports sound nice and calm, I've been anything but calm inside. If it weren't for the planned trip, I wouldn't be so concerned about timing, especially since we kept our Leaf and have 3 vehicles. Koons Ford did offer me a loaner if I need one but they probably don't want to loan me a car for a trip to FL.

Besides, their FCTP isn't in yet and part of the FL trip is to test the Mach E on a long-distance road trip, including multiple DCFC stops. I'll go back to fretting on my own and fill y'all in as I know more.

Good news: I spoke with a member of the Ford engineering team. They believe that the software package in the newer cars eliminates this problem and mine will be getting this upgrade. They are working toward having this available as an OTA update for those cars potentially affected. Since they don't have it ready as an OTA yet, they are loading it on Marlin by wire. They are also installing some enhanced data collection to monitor it. Ford hopes to have Marlin ready for me to pick up this afternoon. ?

All of you with later-built vehicles (sorry I couldn't wrangle the exact date out of him) should already be fine. Marlin was built 22 December.

 

[generaltso]

Good news: I spoke with a member of the Ford engineering team. They believe that the software package in the newer cars eliminates this problem and mine will be getting this upgrade.

That's great news! Did it sound like this is the same "software calibration" that some vehicles have had pop up under recalls?

 

[ChasingCoral]

That's great news! Did it sound like this is the same "software calibration" that some vehicles have had pop up under recalls?

Don't know but that's plausible.

 

[JellyBelly]

Good news: I spoke with a member of the Ford engineering team. They believe that the software package in the newer cars eliminates this problem and mine will be getting this upgrade. They are working toward having this available as an OTA update for those cars potentially affected. Since they don't have it ready as an OTA yet, they are loading it on Marlin by wire. They are also installing some enhanced data collection to monitor it. Ford hopes to have Marlin ready for me to pick up this afternoon. ?

All of you with later-built vehicles (sorry I couldn't wrangle the exact date out of him) should already be fine. Marlin was built 22 December.

I am probably asking for a lot here but would you have a screen shot of the main screen showing the software /firmware versions before they update. May come in handy. Of course, We dont know which version contains the fix and there may be several versions prior that in these cars.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I am probably asking for a lot here but would you have a screen shot of the main screen showing the software /firmware versions before they update. May come in handy. Of course, We dont know which version contains the fix and there may be several versions prior that in these cars.

I wish I had recorded that! I didn't get that far in playing with Marlin before the problem hit. Then again, I'm not sure what all we have access to in terms of module versions other than Sync.

 

[JellyBelly]

I wish I had recorded that! I didn't get that far in playing with Marlin before the problem hit. Then again, I'm not sure what all we have access to in terms of module versions other than Sync.

Got it thanks

 

[JSW]

Good news: I spoke with a member of the Ford engineering team. They believe that the software package in the newer cars eliminates this problem and mine will be getting this upgrade. They are working toward having this available as an OTA update for those cars potentially affected. Since they don't have it ready as an OTA yet, they are loading it on Marlin by wire. They are also installing some enhanced data collection to monitor it. Ford hopes to have Marlin ready for me to pick up this afternoon. ?

All of you with later-built vehicles (sorry I couldn't wrangle the exact date out of him) should already be fine. Marlin was built 22 December.

Thanks for the update. Tomorrow I pick my FE up and, unfortunately, it’s a mid-November build. May I please have a name/contact at your dealer in the event I experience similar issues?

 

[machefan]

Good news: I spoke with a member of the Ford engineering team. They believe that the software package in the newer cars eliminates this problem and mine will be getting this upgrade. They are working toward having this available as an OTA update for those cars potentially affected. Since they don't have it ready as an OTA yet, they are loading it on Marlin by wire. They are also installing some enhanced data collection to monitor it. Ford hopes to have Marlin ready for me to pick up this afternoon. ?

All of you with later-built vehicles (sorry I couldn't wrangle the exact date out of him) should already be fine. Marlin was built 22 December.

My news, I just got a call as well from the dealer, onsite field engineer says they have to replace a part. "communication issues with the main unit". part number - LJ9Z-14G490-A

Getting more details, but they don't want me to drive it so it's not coming home today.

 

[agoldman]

Well that's different. I would ask them why that is different diagnosis than what Mark and Epony got.

 

[machefan]

Well that's different. I would ask them why that is different diagnosis than what Mark got.

Mark got the red carpet treatment, I didn't, I don't know, problem might not be related. Was told by the service manager that the field engineer is seeing a communication issue. Replacing part "LJ9Z-14G490-A", whenever it shows up is unknown.

I have to trust that the local FE knows what he or she is doing and hope for the best. My MME could be there a while but fingers crossed otherwise.

 

[Accord07]

Not necessarily. The 12 V battery is 35 Ah from what I've seen. A modern cell phone battery is about 3.9 Ah. I've had a cell phone in a near dead-zone die in a few hours (let's say 5 hours). Multiply that out, it can kill a car battery in 44 hours. A car battery doesn't have a ton of capacity, it just has a lot of instantaneous power capabilities (a large C-rate).

The last time I had a phone depleting its battery charge due to poor signal was back in the late 1990s, a job site I visited regularly had me work in the basement. After the first couple of visits I learned my lesson and simply turned off my phone. Back then a typical phone battery had a capacity of 1Ah or less though.

Also "Ah" and "mAh" are not measurements of energy, because voltage is not included. It is used colloquially to compare battery capacity with the assumption that the batteries being compared offer the same voltage.

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

Mark got the red carpet treatment, I didn't, I don't know, problem might not be related. Was told by the service manager that the field engineer is seeing a communication issue. Replacing part "LJ9Z-14G490-A", whenever it shows up is unknown.

I have to trust that the local FE knows what he or she is doing and hope for the best. My FE could be there a while but fingers crossed otherwise.

I would inform them about the forum and Mark's information. Not that your FE is doing anything wrong but best to make sure they are aware of each other and not trying to independently reinvent the lightbulb

 

[SoCalPony]

Good news: I spoke with a member of the Ford engineering team. They believe that the software package in the newer cars eliminates this problem and mine will be getting this upgrade. They are working toward having this available as an OTA update for those cars potentially affected. Since they don't have it ready as an OTA yet, they are loading it on Marlin by wire. They are also installing some enhanced data collection to monitor it. Ford hopes to have Marlin ready for me to pick up this afternoon. ?

All of you with later-built vehicles (sorry I couldn't wrangle the exact date out of him) should already be fine. Marlin was built 22 December.

Concerning "eliminates this problem": What exactly is the root cause of the problem, and what is the implemented software solution?

Thanks,
SCPony

 

[ChasingCoral]

Thanks for the update. Tomorrow I pick my FE up and, unfortunately, it’s a mid-November build. May I please have a name/contact at your dealer in the event I experience similar issues?

I don’t think my Maryland dealer (Koons Silver Spring Ford/Lincoln) will do you any good. If you have issues, your dealer will be able to reach out to Ford engineers.

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