12 VOLTS BATTERY DIED WITHOUT WARNING!!

[Jerrytball]

A somewhat Related question: Does leaving a usb thumb drive plugged in (music) drain the 12 volt battery if you leave it in after the car is off?

A somewhat Related question: Does leaving a usb thumb drive plugged in (music) drain the 12 volt battery if you leave it in after the car is off?

I don’t believe it does. The only one that I know drains is when you leave something plugged in the cigarette lighter unless you plug it into the cigarette lighter port or whatever you wanna call that I call it a cigarette lighter port in the very back right of the car, which is switched so turn the switch on and off that’s what I had my window mounted dash cam plugged into it with an extended cable

Sponsored

 

[Chris-MMEX_GT500]

Thanks to this forum, I had mine replaced while my GT was getting the oil pump repaired since it is coming up on the 3 year mark.

 

[4wheeldog]

That Audi battery may in fact be a higher quality battery than the one in the Mach-E. But I don't think that has much influence on the disparity between the lifespan of both batteries.

Bet the Audi battery is bigger than the H3 in the Mach-E. So with the additional headroom/capacity, it's less likely to have its voltage dropping into the unhealthy zone. Certainly not as often.

But the biggest difference is that when you turn that Audi off and go in for the night, the car actually leaves the battery alone. Let's it rest. Unmolested until the next time you wake the car up.

The Mach-E?
It tortures that poor little H3 incessantly! Wears the little fella out.

I am not sure that is the issue. I have a Sprinter van. If you don’t run it for 2 weeks it won’t start. So there is a fairly high constant load. But after 7 years I replaced the battery (It is located under the driver’s feet so not easy to test regularly) the old battery still tests as 90% life left. So good batteries are still made (Apparently in Germany) but common batteries here are not lasting nearly as long. My 05 Tacoma’s OEM battery lasted 9 1/2 years. The replacements, not so much.

 

[Fixbear]

Raw voltage is not an accurate measure of the health of a battery. I have seen batteries at full rated voltage in absolute failure when load is applied.

You are correct on voltage alone. However, if your in the car day after day you will see the starting voltage, charging peak, and the draw down after shut down. The time on the drawdown is what you pay attention to as it is low amperage load. Our EV's do not have a high amperage starting current, So a normal battery load tester isn't really calibrated for our little AGM. Unless you have a shop and a 3 to 4 hundred dollar battery tester from the last 5 years..

 

[4wheeldog]

You are correct on voltage alone. However, if your in the car day after day you will see the starting voltage, charging peak, and the draw down after shut down. The time on the drawdown is what you pay attention to as it is low amperage load. Our EV's do not have a high amperage starting current, So a normal battery load tester isn't really calibrated for our little AGM. Unless you have a shop and a 3 to 4 hundred dollar battery tester from the last 5 years..

You are not wrong, but…..I don’t want to play the part of the CPU in a piece of test equipment. I want something that simplifies the process.
I do use the same cheapo tester on motorcycle and ATV batteries with good results. The cheap one does an adequate job on all the lead acid batteries I maintain. And similar to your process, I am looking for trends, not absolutes. The advantage to my method is it is a periodic check on a schedule of sorts rather than a constant item to be aware of. I suppose the issue with my method is that the period in between may be too long to catch a rapid decline.

 

[SonicBlue]

I didn't infer scolding, and what anyone "should have to do" is subjective (aka "in a perfect world").

It's not a perfect world, and the reality is that this battery failure happens and is well-documented, so you "do have to do it"...or you will be stranded at some point. We all wish Ford had given better alerts for this, and made the battery easier to access, but they didn't.

I agree with everything you’re saying… except for your apparent conclusion that we should just eat this crap sandwich. We can accept that sometime life isn’t fair AND hold people/companies to account. This is not an either/or proposition.

 

[Mach-Lee]

A somewhat Related question: Does leaving a usb thumb drive plugged in (music) drain the 12 volt battery if you leave it in after the car is off?

No.

 

[Jerrytball]

You are not wrong, but…..I don’t want to play the part of the CPU in a piece of test equipment. I want something that simplifies the process.
I do use the same cheapo tester on motorcycle and ATV batteries with good results. The cheap one does an adequate job on all the lead acid batteries I maintain. And similar to your process, I am looking for trends, not absolutes. The advantage to my method is it is a periodic check on a schedule of sorts rather than a constant item to be aware of. I suppose the issue with my method is that the period in between may be too long to catch a rapid decline.

If $31 is a cheapo this one I use and if you read the description, I just adjusted it to the 380 cranking amps of the Mustang and the thing did a few different tests. Regular gas car does three good three or four good test.

https://a.co/d/cSZghPe

 

[4wheeldog]

If $31 is a cheapo this one I use and if you read the description, I just adjusted it to the 380 cranking amps of the Mustang and the thing did a few different tests. Regular gas car does three good three or four good test.

https://a.co/d/cSZghPe

As long as the tool is consistent, all you are looking for is the trend.

 

[jwalther]

Thanks to this forum, I had mine replaced while my GT was getting the oil pump repaired since it is coming up on the 3 year mark.

Seems to me this is the right call. Proactive replacement at or before the three year mark. It's not like we're talking about an expensive part.

 

[4wheeldog]

Seems to me this is the right call. Proactive replacement at or before the three year mark. It's not like we're talking about an expensive part.

My 24 is only 6 weeks old. I am hoping that by the time I need to replace there will be an after market alternative that lasts longer and fails less abruptly.

 

[Jerrytball]

My 24 is only 6 weeks old. I am hoping that by the time I need to replace there will be an after market alternative that lasts longer and fails less abruptly.

Too bad Ford isn’t like the local Hearing aids office that sells wide ex Hearing aids where they send you free batteries every time you’re out??

 

[4wheeldog]

Too bad Ford isn’t like the local Hearing aids office that sells wide ex Hearing aids where they send you free batteries every time you’re out??

My Costco hearing aids are rechargeable. Hummm. Maybe that is the problem with the Ford batteries. Not rechargeable?

 

[Mike G]

My 24 is only 6 weeks old. I am hoping that by the time I need to replace there will be an after market alternative that lasts longer and fails less abruptly.

 

[Tbird]

Can you share how exactly you check it?

I didn't see any issues with mine, but replaced it around 34 months.

I am watching the LVB voltage and state of charge using OBD2 and Scan Gauge. I am seeing that my State of Charge is going down more quickly as it ages. I charge overnight and in the morning the 12 v battery is at 93% SOC. After sitting for 2 days it drops to 73% SOC. It still recharges back to 80%+ after I drive it. I think it should hold a charge for more than 2 days but it depends on what else is going on like OTAs (which I have not had any since June) but that is another topic.

Sponsored