Charging Problems

[PleasantFields]

This really sounds like a dead 12v battery, rather than a drained HVB. Two glitches occurred: 1) something drained the LVB; 2) the DC-DC converter didn't kick on to charge it back up when it was low. It's not supposed to happen, but it's been known to happen. I'd be concerned only if this keeps occurring.

Just got the report back from the dealer. They said the 12V battery failed so they installed a new one

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[Vulnox]

Couldn't open the door to get into the car. Also no additional car available to use to jump it. Towing was my only option

As noted you don't have to open any doors, just the frunk, but without a 12v jump box or charger you still would have needed help, but the tow truck driver should have had a jump box and avoided the tow.

Not saying this as anything against you as you seemed a bit defensive when I was just providing detail, but in case it ever happens again it's good to know this stuff.

 

[AliRafiee]

Get one of these, and put it in your garage: https://a.co/d/dzftojM

 

[Snakebitten]

And get one of these and you will never wonder what the health/voltage of your AGM battery is.
You'll know standing 30 feet away without disturbing the vehicle. Along with a 24/7 visual log if you open the app on the phone and let it download the data.

(we live in remarkable times. Science Fiction isn't fiction anymore)

 

[CameraCarl]

And get one of these and you will never wonder what the health/voltage of your AGM battery is.
You'll know standing 30 feet away without disturbing the vehicle. Along with a 24/7 visual log if you open the app on the phone and let it download the data.

(we live in remarkable times. Science Fiction isn't fiction anymore)

Interesting device. How does it work? Do you clip it onto the battery and just leave it there? Doesn't it rattle around the frunk?

 

[RickMachE]

Interesting device. How does it work? Do you clip it onto the battery and just leave it there? Doesn't it rattle around the frunk?

You can't keep it in the frunk. When the 12v goes dead, and you want to open the bumper port to get the frunk open, what are you going to use?

 

[Snakebitten]

It's attached straight to the battery posts and uses Bluetooth to report to the smartphone app.

The OEM low voltage charging strategy was very anemic on the Powerboost when I first acquired one 3 years ago. It was impossible to get a true reading of the battery since just approaching it or opening the door would tax the battery and give a misleading value.
The Mach-E is very similar in that it's not really ever asleep and waking it up does the same thing.

With the Bluetooth voltmeter I can get a static voltage reading and log without approaching the vehicle. And it's interesting to see just how active these modern cars/trucks can be while you are counting sheep.

So far the Mach-E has shown a very healthy low voltage charging strategy. Especially with my personal use case. I'm daily-ing it for 50 miles or more.

On the truck:

 

[HuntingPudel]

Does your utility have some sort of charge monitoring system that required you to allow them to use your FordPass credentials? If so, there have been numerous reports of utilities pinging cars so often that the 12V systems were drained, so you would need to change your password for FordPass in order to keep them out of your car’s business. ??

 

[PleasantFields]

As noted you don't have to open any doors, just the frunk, but without a 12v jump box or charger you still would have needed help, but the tow truck driver should have had a jump box and avoided the tow.

Not saying this as anything against you as you seemed a bit defensive when I was just providing detail, but in case it ever happens again it's good to know this stuff.

Not at all. When I called the dealer they told me to get it towed to them so they could take a look at it. No suggestions about what the problem could be and how to resolve it. I was not aware of the jumping option in the frunk panel and the dealer or the tow truck guy did NOT offer it up as an option. Anyway, it was a failed battery, which they replaced and I'm now better informed thanks to you and other Mach E forum folks.

 

[Vulnox]

Not at all. When I called the dealer they told me to get it towed to them so they could take a look at it. No suggestions about what the problem could be and how to resolve it. I was not aware of the jumping option in the frunk panel and the dealer or the tow truck guy did NOT offer it up as an option. Anyway, it was a failed battery, which they replaced and I'm now better informed thanks to you and other Mach E forum folks.

Glad to hear it! It's frustrating and I wish they made the battery access a little easier. Maybe in the redesign. But hopefully it's just something you never run into again.

 

[PleasantFields]

Glad to hear it! It's frustrating and I wish they made the battery access a little easier. Maybe in the redesign. But hopefully it's just something you never run into again.

Hopefully not, but I have ordered a 12V car battery jump starter which I will keep in my workshop if it should happen again.

 

[Jerrytball]

Just curious, has anybody ever tried using those connections on the front bumper even though the battery is fine, just as a test?

 

[RickMachE]

Just curious, has anybody ever tried using those connections on the front bumper even though the battery is fine, just as a test?

Yes. They do absolutely nothing unless the battery is DEAD.

 

[Jerrytball]

Yes. They do absolutely nothing unless the battery is DEAD.

Thanks , I just thought I never read where somebody actually tried it with a good battery.

 

[Jerrytball]

Thanks , I just thought I never read where somebody actually tried it with a good battery.

Stop by the Ford dealer today to sit in the ICE Mustang that I ordered that I didn’t get because I bought this EV. I asked if they have any electrical specialist yet? They said they’ve got some guys in school right now, I said yeah cause I hate to have to go somewhere else if anything happens.

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