How to DIY - add access holes for LVB 12v battery connection points & HV Disconnect Relay for Safety

[dtbaker61]

Don’t you have to wake up the car to pop the hood? Just for comparison I’ve observed my Truck Battery dropping as low as 11.6v and it still cranks up for me!

I left the hood up overnight in my garage, and access port caps off so I didn't have to open the drivers door and wake up the car.

When it is working correctly, the MME should not ever allow the LVB to drop below 11.9.... It will 'wake up' the dc-dc converter and send a slug of energy from HV to LVB.

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[generaltso]

The OCD part of me wants to know if there is a way to turn off the frunk light with the hood unlatched?

It will turn itself off after a few minutes.

 

[dtbaker61]

My battery is generally 14.60 volts when I get in the car.

yup... when you open the door to get in, it wakes up. when MME is awake, the LVB system is powered up at 14.5-14.9 volts directly from the HV battery sending juice thru the dc-dc converter. This is how the LVB 'charges' whenever the MME accessory power is 'on'.

One way to get the LVB a full charge without an external charger is to leave the MME 'on' overnight, (you have to turn the auto-off setting to 'off').

 

[hawkeye3point1]

One way to get the LVB a full charge without an external charger is to leave the MME 'on' overnight, (you have to turn the auto-off setting to 'off').

After learning that the DCDC hits the LVB with 90+ amps initially when a key off energy transfer occurs, I am in complete agreement with this statement (especially on a cold night with a LVB that may be on the weak side).

And that was in a non-GT MME, may be even higher with the higher output GT DCDC.

No doubt this is probably because most subsystems are off and not sharing the load with the LVB.

Anybody else think that is not especially good for the LVB?

Credit to Jiji:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/my-winter-mustang-mach-e-project.13327/#post-341505
post 13.

 

[timmyboy]

Has anyone tried using a step drill bit to do this? I'd rather not pull off the whole cover including all of the tabs, and a step drill bit helps you to control depth easily. How much spacing is there between the cover and the wiring / etc. below the cover? Would this step drill bit (drilled to 2") touch any of that?

Here's what I am referring to - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CMPH9VY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A32FL4O5Z8G8DU&psc=1

 

[HuntingPudel]

Has anyone tried using a step drill bit to do this? I'd rather not pull off the whole cover including all of the tabs, and a step drill bit helps you to control depth easily. How much spacing is there between the cover and the wiring / etc. below the cover? Would this step drill bit (drilled to 2") touch any of that?

Here's what I am referring to - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CMPH9VY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A32FL4O5Z8G8DU&psc=1

Insufficient vertical clearance to use a step drill. A hole saw will get the job done more quickly with less of a chance to damage the stuff underneath.??

That said, I took everything apart multiple times in order to get good measurements for my jump point. ??

 

[Neil4Real]

Has anyone tried using a step drill bit to do this? I'd rather not pull off the whole cover including all of the tabs, and a step drill bit helps you to control depth easily. How much spacing is there between the cover and the wiring / etc. below the cover? Would this step drill bit (drilled to 2") touch any of that?

Here's what I am referring to - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CMPH9VY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A32FL4O5Z8G8DU&psc=1

You'll be fine with a hole saw. I did it from the top, without taking anything off, just using the photos here for placement. @ChasingCoral were the photos I used, looked at both photos with the tabs on and off and boom. Easy. Just take it slow and once you're through, just stop. It won't be as clean if you came from the bottom, up, but you can sand the edge to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

 

[dtbaker61]

Has anyone tried using a step drill bit to do this? I'd rather not pull off the whole cover including all of the tabs, and a step drill bit helps you to control depth easily. How much spacing is there between the cover and the wiring / etc. below the cover? Would this step drill bit (drilled to 2") touch any of that?

Here's what I am referring to - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CMPH9VY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A32FL4O5Z8G8DU&psc=1

there is only an inch or two clearance between bottom of panel, and connectors.

I would NOT recommend a step-bit because of the depth, and going thru plastic; hole saw will work better, and pilot only sticks about 1/2" thru. cut slow to prevent plastic from melting.

 

[mkhuffman]

Has anyone tried using a step drill bit to do this? I'd rather not pull off the whole cover including all of the tabs, and a step drill bit helps you to control depth easily. How much spacing is there between the cover and the wiring / etc. below the cover? Would this step drill bit (drilled to 2") touch any of that?

Here's what I am referring to - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CMPH9VY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A32FL4O5Z8G8DU&psc=1

It isn't hard to take the covers off. If you drill with them on, plastic shards go down into your nice clean car. It takes about two minutes to take them off and then there is no risk of damage.

 

[Rocketman]

Insufficient vertical clearance to use a step drill. A hole saw will get the job done more quickly with less of a chance to damage the stuff underneath.??

That said, I took everything apart multiple times in order to get good measurements for my jump point. ??

that's a really clean job! where did you get the parts from? can you share the links please.

 

[HuntingPudel]

that's a really clean job! where did you get the parts from? can you share the links please.

See this thread: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/frunk-tub-removed-pics.12094/ ??

 

[dtbaker61]

Reading this I am thinking there is an aftermarket product to be developed - frunk covers with built in doors with hinges at the right spot.

Or.... an opportunity for a proactive Dealership Service team to do the 'customization' work until the Ford team re-designs the side cover and frunk tub to allow easier access in future models.

 

[kdonnel]

Not sure if this will ever be needed but I went ahead and did it today. It only took about 30 minutes from start to finish. The hardest part was getting all the clips out. Several of them remained with the car instead of coming out with the trim removal.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[benk016]

Might as well share the pic of my install. Much more convenient than removing the whole trim piece.

 

[kennethjk]

Might as well share the pic of my install. Much more convenient than removing the whole trim piece.

Did you cut the whole with the trim pieces intact?

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