50% Gray bars at 84% SoC after being parked all day and preconditioned

[Xenotet]

Today, for the second time, I’ve experienced a power loss of about 50% gray bars. I started the car at 84% SoC after being parked all day and preconditioned for my scheduled departure time. The outside temperature was reading 111°F, but that’s nothing new.

The gray bars remained even after 15 minutes of driving.

Has anyone else experienced this?

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[Mach-Lee]

Because the battery was hot. Was it plugged in or not? Remote start doesn’t cool the battery FYI. You have to set a departure time and enable it while unplugged for it to work in a parking lot if not plugged in.

 

[Xenotet]

Not plugged in but it was preconditioned for my scheduled departure time (scheduled and enabled preconditioning, not remote started). It’s been this hot out every day all summer, with the exact same conditions (the same time, place, and SoC).

 

[AKgrampy]

I understood preconditioning only takes place when plugged in. Is that not accurate?

 

[SWO]

I understood preconditioning only takes place when plugged in. Is that not accurate?

That's my understanding.

 

[Xenotet]

Maybe, the settings are unclear about preconditioning the battery when unplugged. However, it’s not all that relevant to what I’m experiencing since I follow the exact same routine every day and don’t see gray bars on any other day this hot.

 

[mkhuffman]

Do you have the recall software installed? I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Personally I have only seen close to that many bars when the battery SOC was very low.

 

[scoopman]

I'd see if you have any diagnostic codes from an OBD reader or a friendly forum member who has FDRS access.

That doesn't sound normal to me.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

I have had a glitch once where, for no reason at apl, I had max grey bars. Temp wasn’t hot nor cold. I hadn’t been driving hard, I had been charging but only on my level 2 unit so nothing to cause a hot battery. As you said, the grey bars persisted for the 20 minute drive. Turned the car off for some shopping and came out to no grey bars. I counted it as a glitch in the startup. Ike starting my computer and having no Wi-Fi. Restarting fixed it.

 

[AKgrampy]

What I was wondering is if you preconditioned your cabin then the AC is operating which is discharging your HV battery and generating heat. Starting at 111 degrees may bump the temp a bit. That being said I live in the frozen north so I have no experience with those temps and an EV. Hopefully someone dealing with those temps will chime in. It would be interesting to see that if you were plugged in and preconditioned your battery is that would alleviate the issue.

 

[JimmyMachE]

It takes much longer than 15 minutes to cool down very heavy battery pack at 111°F ambient temperature, especially as battery might have been even hotter after sitting whole day in the sunshine, or due to preconditioning.

Besides, MME seems to prioritize cabin cooling over battery cooling:

 

[Xenotet]

Do you have the recall software installed? I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Personally I have only seen close to that many bars when the battery SOC was very low.

Yes, I did have the recall software installed after experiencing symptoms of a dead LVB. I also had a second update installed a few weeks later when the car had the same issue again.

 

[mkhuffman]

Yes, I did have the recall software installed after experiencing symptoms of a dead LVB. I also had a second update installed a few weeks later when the car had the same issue again.

I doubt your LVB problem is related, but it is worth exploring.

When I brought my MME home, I read so much about dead LVBs that I reconditioned mine by attaching a power supply set exactly to 13.6V and letting it sit for a few days after current dropped below what can be measured by my power supply. Of course you need let the car sit undisturbed and fully off for a few days to get that done.

Full instructions are here at Lee's awesome OP: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/how-to-recondition-service-your-12v-battery.11069/

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Today, for the second time, I’ve experienced a power loss of about 50% gray bars. I started the car at 84% SoC after being parked all day and preconditioned for my scheduled departure time. The outside temperature was reading 111°F, but that’s nothing new.

The gray bars remained even after 15 minutes of driving.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi there! Will you send us a message with your VIN and your local Ford dealer? I can look into things on my end.

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