12V Battery Status Indicator

[FordFamily]

Thanks, everyone for this (and every) thread. You led me (eventually with several answers) directly to the 12V SoC on the MyFord account. (not the Vehicle Dashboard, but use the Vehicle Account--who woulda guessed?) Especially for the link to Mach-Lee's complete explanation. https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/12v-battery-faq.32744/
Here's the fun part: when I first looked the 12V SoC was 56%; not charged or driven for a couple days. I checked again a few minutes later, it was up to 80%. Ah ha! My wife drove away.

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[kennelh]

I thought that widget uses the apis that could get your account banned? No?

It uses the FordPass API, which can get your account locked, but I've not had any confirmed reports of that happening. Most who've had their account locked were also using some other service which really abused the API.

That being said, there's currently no way to log in through the widget so if you're not using it now you wouldn't be able to start until that's fixed.

 

[Snakebitten]

What is the app you are using for the Bluetooth voltometer?

The Bluetooth voltometer comes with an app you download from the Play Store or Apple store.

Really nice app and it can switch between any of the 3 vehicles I have the voltmeters installed on.
The only issue I ever have is that sometimes more than one of the vehicles is in range of the smartphone and the app will connect to a different vehicle than the one I am desiring to check on. It requires me to manually select the alternative vehicle. 5 seconds.

Again and the real value to the gadget is getting both a settled/idle/static voltage reading, and a 24 hour log. You can open the log and actually view "activity" that took place at 2am while you were asleep. An example would be an OTA update attempt. Or even you walking by with your FOB.

A truly undisturbed 24 hour vehicle would look like this:

While here (below) are a couple of incidents where someone opened the door on my truck while it was parked in the barn. The first incident, at approximately noon, my brother started the vehicle for Just a moment to reposition it to get something out of the barn. Note the spike in voltage. Evidence that he turned it on and the DC/DC converter (Hybrid alternator) was enabled.
It took about 45 minutes for the AGM battery to settle/recover.
The second incident (~1:15pm) was just a door open or FOB wake up. It too taxed the AGM and it took about 45 minutes to settle/recover.

A really handy tool for monitoring and/or trouble shooting the low voltage power source (battery(s)) on these amazing modern vehicles.

It's very difficult to get a true static reading because of the various approach features that inevitably wake the vehicle up before you can get your voltage measure. Once it's awake, it's too late.

 

[dawger007]

The Bluetooth voltometer comes with an app you download from the Play Store or Apple store.

Really nice app and it can switch between any of the 3 vehicles I have the voltmeters installed on.
The only issue I ever have is that sometimes more than one of the vehicles is in range of the smartphone and the app will connect to a different vehicle than the one I am desiring to check on. It requires me to manually select the alternative vehicle. 5 seconds.

Again and the real value to the gadget is getting both a settled/idle/static voltage reading, and a 24 hour log. You can open the log and actually view "activity" that took place at 2am while you were asleep. An example would be an OTA update attempt. Or even you walking by with your FOB.

A truly undisturbed 24 hour vehicle would look like this:

While here (below) are a couple of incidents where someone opened the door on my truck while it was parked in the barn. The first incident, at approximately noon, my brother started the vehicle for Just a moment to reposition it to get something out of the barn. Note the spike in voltage. Evidence that he turned it on and the DC/DC converter (Hybrid alternator) was enabled.
It took about 45 minutes for the AGM battery to settle/recover.
The second incident (~1:15pm) was just a door open or FOB wake up. It too taxed the AGM and it took about 45 minutes to settle/recover.

A really handy tool for monitoring and/or trouble shooting the low voltage power source (battery(s)) on these amazing modern vehicles.

It's very difficult to get a true static reading because of the various approach features that inevitably wake the vehicle up before you can get your voltage measure. Once it's awake, it's too late.

thank you for this information , and speedy reply - much appreciated ! Went to Google Play Store [ as I have an android phone] and there is a multytude selection of " Bluetooth Volt a meter apps to choose from. I am guessing this one =
BM2
[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dc.battery.monitor2]

I don't want to get the wrong one , thank you for your help !!!
just reread your reply , wondering .....do you or don't you need / require a obd bluetooth doggle in the OBS port to made this work as intended? or is it all over bluetooth connection ? and if so is paring hard/complecated ?

 

[Snakebitten]

thank you for this information , and speedy reply - much appreciated ! Went to Google Play Store [ as I have an android phone] and there is a multytude selection of " Bluetooth Volt a meter apps to choose from. I am guessing this one =
BM2
[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dc.battery.monitor2]

I don't want to get the wrong one , thank you for your help !!!
just reread your reply , wondering .....do you or don't you need / require a obd bluetooth doggle in the OBS port to made this work as intended? or is it all over bluetooth connection ? and if so is paring hard/complecated ?

This device is a standalone voltmeter and has no need to communicate with the vehicle OBD interface. Think of it as a handheld multimeter that you clamped to the battery post and left it in the vehicle permanently. Except you can't view its screen because the hood is closed.

The screen is on your smartphone and getting it's value over the Bluetooth built-in to the voltmeter itself.

If you see a lot of apps in the play store, look for the icon:

 

[pottslaw]

My MME is also a 2021 and worried about the battery. Especially since live in the Phoenix, area and heat tends to kill batteries faster than normal. . What a deal for the OBD device, $12 on Amaz..

What's the App you recommend, for Android? Also is the port is tied up with another OBD device, Anyone know is there a way to plug two OBD devices into the MME. I have an OBD device from Allstate insurance OBD device plugged 24x7 for better insurance rates.

If you've still got the original battery in a 2021 Mach E in Phoenix, you're living on borrowed time. The battery in my Phoenix-based Job 1 2021 failed without warning at 32 months. The good news is it was still under warranty (barely), but the experience convinced me to proactively replace the battery again in 32 months. On my ICE vehicles, it is rare for a battery to go 36 months or three summers in this heat, and it looks like the same holds true for my Mach E.

 

[Christina]

Ford.com Then sign in>account>(yourname)account. The charge level is actually your 12v charge level.

did not know this, thank you

 

[zvez]

If you've still got the original battery in a 2021 Mach E in Phoenix, you're living on borrowed time. The battery in my Phoenix-based Job 1 2021 failed without warning at 32 months. The good news is it was still under warranty (barely), but the experience convinced me to proactively replace the battery again in 32 months. On my ICE vehicles, it is rare for a battery to go 36 months or three summers in this heat, and it looks like the same holds true for my Mach E.

I'm curious, if you had checked the SOC on a regular basis on ford.com if it would've given you a bit of heads up on the failure?

 

[AngryMan]

How do I get the app?

Its called Ford Status Widget in the Play Store on Android phones but as it was pointed out by the app designer Kennelh in post #32 there's an small log in issue right now

 

[FordMachEGo]

So for the last 2 days I charged my battery by leaving the car on in my garage for several hours during the day. The first day I charged it to 85% and over night it discharged itself to 79%. That looks good but the second day (yesterday) after a relatively short drive the car charged to 82% and in the morning it was down to 67%. In both cases there are no external devices plugged In including the OB2 device which I found drains the battery and lights are set to off. My key is not within BT range at night.

My battery is now around 39 months old (Since build date) and I am trying to determine whether or not to proactively replace it. Do these overnight discharge amounts indicate a weakening battery or do I need more tests? I live in SoCal. Thanks

 

[bbulkow]

It uses the FordPass API, which can get your account locked, but I've not had any confirmed reports of that happening. Most who've had their account locked were also using some other service which really abused the API.

That being said, there's currently no way to log in through the widget so if you're not using it now you wouldn't be able to start until that's fixed.

Yeah, makes sense. I will stick with the obd2 port solution.

 

[dtbaker61]

The 12 volt battery seems fairly important (getting into your car, starting the car, etc), is there an indicator, somewhere, anywhere as to the status of the battery? If not, it would seem fairly easy to add this and even a warning when it is degrading. Additionally, the access to replace it is also fairly challenging if your battery were to die in a remote location.

1) Are people regularly testing their 12V battery and if so, any specific tools to recommend?
2) Any replacement recommendations? I see some posts about the OHHMU battery vs lead acid?
3) Are people replacing these preemptively? My car is almost 3 years old with about 31K miles on it.

Thanks for the input

- charge level(voltage) at any particular instant does not reflect battery 'health' or capacity.

- replace with stock FoMoCo battery ONLY (it is a very specific size and capacity)

- I would have Dealership 'test' the battery at 35 months and try to get it replaced under warranty.... or make sure they have one in inventory ready for you

- if you have ANY warnings on screen about 12v battery health, or failed OTA updates, or strange 12v behavior... schedule battery replacement.

 

[dtbaker61]

An easy way to monitor its health is with a Bluetooth voltmeter.

I'm sitting in the Lazyboy and I just launched the app on the phone. The car is outside in the parking spot.

It also logs the voltage and you can view a 24 hour period, or a 7 day period.

Here's yesterday:

What’s nice about it is getting to view static voltage without waking the vehicle and taxing it, thus getting a misleading reading.

voltage give no real indication of 'health'.....

 

[dtbaker61]

Is voltage still an accurate reflection of battery health? I use a plug in device which shows 14.4. I verified it with a meter.

voltage is NOT an indicator of Health.... unless it is not charging an DOA

 

[dtbaker61]

I'm curious, if you had checked the SOC on a regular basis on ford.com if it would've given you a bit of heads up on the failure?

again.... SOC does not reflect 'health'

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