Ford Lightning features I wish the Mach-E had

[Eric_C_Boston]

I went to the New England International Auto Show. They only had a MME GT and a couple of Lightnings for EVs. No Rally Edition.

I did get to sit in a Lightning and compare the displays/controls to the MME. The version I saw had both 12 volts and a 120 volt outlet easily accessible on the passenger side of the dashboard. My old Fusion Hybrid had a 120 volt outlet for the rear passengers and I wished the MME had one.

But the surprise I got was when I looked in the Frunk and noticed the battery jumper symbols. Then I noticed the method Ford implemented to remove the panel.

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[PA27]

I went to the New England International Auto Show. They only had a MME GT and a couple of Lightnings for EVs. No Rally Edition.

I did get to sit in a Lightning and compare the displays/controls to the MME. The version I saw had both 12 volts and a 120 volt outlet easily accessible on the passenger side of the dashboard. My old Fusion Hybrid had a 120 volt outlet for the rear passengers and I wished the MME had one.

But the surprise I got was when I looked in the Frunk and noticed the battery jumper symbols. Then I noticed the method Ford implemented to remove the panel.

Must agree that the factory method to overcome a dead 12v is not well designed. Pry open a small cover on the bumper and pull out wires then, find a 12v source and touch wires to it then, open frunk and violently remove lots of plastic then, find correct posts to touch 12v source to. What could be easier ?‍ If only dead 12v batteries had been an issue on ICE cars in the past where engineers could’ve learned lessons on how to better design this ?

 

[Jerrytball]

Must agree that the factory method to overcome a dead 12v is not well designed. Pry open a small cover on the bumper and pull out wires then, find a 12v source and touch wires to it then, open frunk and violently remove lots of plastic then, find correct posts to touch 12v source to. What could be easier ?‍ If only dead 12v batteries had been an issue on ICE cars in the past where engineers could’ve learned lessons on how to better design this ?

So for me just because I disconnected the battery a couple of times for troubleshooting, I don’t think it would hurt to take a Dremel and cut that area out where you could access that battery without even having to lift that cover. I don’t think it keeps rain or anything gonna make any difference if that was a little bit over top of the battery?

 

[PA27]

So for me just because I disconnected the battery a couple of times for troubleshooting, I don’t think it would hurt to take a Dremel and cut that area out where you could access that battery without even having to lift that cover. I don’t think it keeps rain or anything gonna make any difference if that was a little bit over top of the battery?

Agreed. I have seen good posts on here of creative people making round holes that plastic plugs will cover. Couldn’t possibly have cost Ford much to have designed it this way, just like most Ford ICE vehicles with remote jump points.

 

[Jerrytball]

Agreed. I have seen good posts on here of creative people making round holes that plastic plugs will cover. Couldn’t possibly have cost Ford much to have designed it this way, just like most Ford ICE vehicles with remote jump points.

Exactly or just like with the ICE vehicles, all my previous Mustang, which I’ve had many why can’t they just put the little pushpin retainer in there? That’s easier to remove than trying to break it loose, especially in a winter where it could crack. It’s just like taking the back off of a regular Mustang where the GT is they use metal clips from General Motors and sometimes when you push those in there to put them on it, bends the metal and then the covers loose.

 

[Jerrytball]

Must agree that the factory method to overcome a dead 12v is not well designed. Pry open a small cover on the bumper and pull out wires then, find a 12v source and touch wires to it then, open frunk and violently remove lots of plastic then, find correct posts to touch 12v source to. What could be easier ?‍ If only dead 12v batteries had been an issue on ICE cars in the past where engineers could’ve learned lessons on how to better design this ?

I guess one of the questions I have is what would be the reason you could not power external sources I’m not gonna save your house cause that’s what they advertise. I think on the lightning is you could power your home and an outage why is there no ability to charge something externally?

 

[dtbaker61]

Agreed. I have seen good posts on here of creative people making round holes that plastic plugs will cover. Couldn’t possibly have cost Ford much to have designed it this way, just like most Ford ICE vehicles with remote jump points.

literally takes 5 minutes with a 1-7/8" holesaw to make (3) holes.... over 12v+, 12v-, and HV disconnect. pop in standard electrical 50mm hole plugs and it even looks nice.

 

[HuntingPudel]

The jump to open wires in the front bumper are lame, but not much can be done about them. For actual battery access, there are a few options. ??

 

[Space_Pony]

I've never needed to access my LVB. I've only had my MME about a year. How soon will I need to get to the LVB?

 

[HuntingPudel]

I've never needed to access my LVB. I've only had my MME about a year. How soon will I need to get to the LVB?

The only times I ever needed access to the 12V battery was during FDRS sessions. If you don’t drive often, you may need regular, infrequent access to charge the 12V. Otherwise, you will probably only need access if the 12V reaches the end of its normal service life. ??

 

[Space_Pony]

The only times I ever needed access to the 12V battery was during FDRS sessions. If you don’t drive often, you may need regular, infrequent access to charge the 12V. Otherwise, you will probably only need access if the 12V reaches the end of its normal service life. ??

Hopefully that will be a few years yet. It's currently at 92%. The lowest I've seen was 70%.

 

[Jerrytball]

The jump to open wires in the front bumper are lame, but not much can be done about them. For actual battery access, there are a few options. ??

And where do you get that? I went out and messed around in the frunk today, already one who’s never popped off that cover area. I took some pictures of that cover that’s closest to the windshield and the battery and also there’s another picture I wanna show you. What is this button on the underside of the front end?
As far as underneath the cover, what are those green and red exactly for? I’m sorry if I’m being ignorant on this. But anyways, I’ve kinda stood up the panel that lines up with the hole so you have an idea where to pop that cover off.
Sorry, the red obviously is a positive connection and the little negative pole is over there to the left a little. I was just curious what that green plastic is?

 

[HuntingPudel]

And where do you get that? I went out and messed around in the frunk today, already one who’s never popped off that cover area. I took some pictures of that cover that’s closest to the windshield and the battery and also there’s another picture I wanna show you. What is this button on the underside of the front end?
As far as underneath the cover, what are those green and red exactly for? I’m sorry if I’m being ignorant on this. But anyways, I’ve kinda stood up the panel that lines up with the hole so you have an idea where to pop that cover off.
Sorry, the red obviously is a positive connection and the little negative pole is over there to the left a little. I was just curious what that green plastic is?

More info in my Frunk Tub Removed thread. It’s much more involved and costs more than the hole saw/furniture plug method. ??

The “button” in front of the air flow shutters isn’t a button. It’s the outside air temperature sensor. There is a similar one in the mirror cluster for cabin air temperature. ??

The green thing under the driver’s side beauty cover is the HV disconnect. It’s for emergencies where the vehicle has been disabled but first responders need to make sure the JV battery is disconnected. ??

 

[Jerrytball]

More info in my Frunk Tub Removed thread. It’s much more involved and costs more than the hole saw/furniture plug method. ??

The “button” in front of the air flow shutters isn’t a button. It’s the outside air temperature sensor. There is a similar one in the mirror cluster for cabin air temperature. ??

The green thing under the driver’s side beauty cover is the HV disconnect. It’s for emergencies where the vehicle has been disabled but first responders need to make sure the JV battery is disconnected. ??

Thank you

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