Cold Weather & Acceleration

[Larva]

I tried searching the forums for an answer on this, but had no luck, so I apologize if this has already been covered.

My MME GT is suddenly unable to accelerate at it's normal pace. I have around 10 gray bars on the power meter that seem to indicate it is limited. These bars are there all the time. Is this because it is now usually cold out (15 degrees)? I've seen these bars appear temporarily before, and my understanding is this is due to heat. Does more extreme cold also limit the power?

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[sotek2345]

I don't have direct experience, but the battery being cold would limit power output. Have you tried pre-conditioning it first? Does it get better the longer you drive?

 

[Larva]

I will try to precondition it. I wish it preconditioned when plugged in and remote started. My departure times are so sporadic that I haven't set any in the app.

My driving is also typically only a few miles here and there most days, so I haven't had a chance to drive long enough to see if it goes away.

I'll update when I know more. Just wanted to know at this point if that is "normal" behavior.

 

[DevSecOps]

At about 50 degrees you'll get 1 grey bar, 40 you'll get 2. It shouldn't be 10!!! Can you explain your conditions a bit more and is this after hard acceleration or after DCFC? Those will cause limiting as well.

 

[Kevin P]

Yes, its normal for a cold start, and it can take time to go away. It DOES precondition if you remote start it. At least my GT does. Others seem to say it doesn't but I can tell you for certain that if I remote-start my GT the gray bars are non-existent or last a much shorter time once I start driving.

 

[Kevin P]

At about 50 degrees you'll get 1 grey bar, 40 you'll get 2. It shouldn't be 10!!! Can you explain your conditions a bit more and is this after hard acceleration or after DCFC? Those will cause limiting as well.

Cold start with no preconditioning, my GT will always have ~10 gray bars. Seems to not matter what outside temp is, but I just got it in mid-October so it has never been hot.

 

[DevSecOps]

Cold start with no preconditioning, my GT will always have ~10 gray bars. Seems to not matter what outside temp is, but I just got it in mid-October so it has never been hot.

I ask what "cold" means to you and the OP because I just went to my car. Sitting outside in 48 degree weather for 5+ hours, no preconditioning and I have one bar upon starting it. I have NEVER seen 10+ bars ever. I have seen 7-8 bars when leaving a DCFC for ~7 minutes but nothing like what the OP is describing. My MME GTPE is fully updated, which most are not.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I tried searching the forums for an answer on this, but had no luck, so I apologize if this has already been covered.

My MME GT is suddenly unable to accelerate at it's normal pace. I have around 10 gray bars on the power meter that seem to indicate it is limited. These bars are there all the time. Is this because it is now usually cold out (15 degrees)? I've seen these bars appear temporarily before, and my understanding is this is due to heat. Does more extreme cold also limit the power?

Hi there. Will you send us a message with your Mach-E's VIN and dealership info? I can look into things on my end.

 

[Kevin P]

I ask what "cold" means to you and the OP because I just went to my car. Sitting outside in 48 degree weather for 5+ hours, no preconditioning and I have one bar upon starting it. I have NEVER seen 10+ bars ever. I have seen 7-8 bars when leaving a DCFC for ~7 minutes but nothing like what the OP is describing. My MME GTPE is fully updated, which most are not.

Wow, I am jealous. Mine is a mid-August build. It absolutely would not behave like that, but I wish it would. How would I find out if I need updates (other than going to dealer)? As for cold, it does the same thing regardless, up to at least the 60s that its been since I got it.

 

[DevSecOps]

Wow, I am jealous. Mine is a mid-August build. It absolutely would not behave like that, but I wish it would. How would I find out if I need updates (other than going to dealer)? As for cold, it does the same thing regardless, up to at least the 60s that its been since I got it.

DM me with your VIN and I can check if you need updates.

 

[Larva]

Driving it for some time reduced the gray bars, eventually down to 2. Still checking on the per-conditioning.

 

[benk016]

I ask what "cold" means to you and the OP because I just went to my car. Sitting outside in 48 degree weather for 5+ hours, no preconditioning and I have one bar upon starting it. I have NEVER seen 10+ bars ever. I have seen 7-8 bars when leaving a DCFC for ~7 minutes but nothing like what the OP is describing. My MME GTPE is fully updated, which most are not.

OP is in Minnesota, and just glanced at the weather there and its not getting above freezing, and snowing. So very different weather conditions than you get in Cali.

I can see the car limiting quite a bit in that condition.

 

[DevSecOps]

OP is in Minnesota, and just glanced at the weather there and its not getting above freezing, and snowing. So very different weather conditions than you get in Cali.

I can see the car limiting quite a bit in that condition.

I didn't charge last night so that there wasn't anything warming the battery, got in this morning at 31 degrees and I had 2 grey bars. 10 just sounds crazy. My comment is also in reply to "doesn't matter what the outside temperature is" from Kevin who said this has been happening to him since October in Kentucky.

Other than these two I haven't seen any other reports of 10 bars so I'm not so sure everything is normal.

 

[benk016]

I tried searching the forums for an answer on this, but had no luck, so I apologize if this has already been covered.

My MME GT is suddenly unable to accelerate at it's normal pace. I have around 10 gray bars on the power meter that seem to indicate it is limited. These bars are there all the time. Is this because it is now usually cold out (15 degrees)? I've seen these bars appear temporarily before, and my understanding is this is due to heat. Does more extreme cold also limit the power?

Do you happen to have an OBD reader? You can hook it up and see what your temps look like. I expect if it is due to temps, its your battery being too cold.

If you're not preconditioning at all, and only driving a few miles here and there, it may be cold enough that it can't get warm in the few miles you drive.

Do you keep it plugged in overnight? In a garage or outside?

 

[Rabidsquirrel22]

I didn't charge last night so that there wasn't anything warming the battery, got in this morning at 31 degrees and I had 2 grey bars. 10 just sounds crazy. My comment is also in reply to "doesn't matter what the outside temperature is" from Kevin who said this has been happening to him since October in Kentucky.

Other than these two I haven't seen any other reports of 10 bars so I'm not so sure everything is normal.

I've seen the 10 gray bars show up on mine a couple times when parked outside, unplugged or on 120V power in below freezing weather for a day or two. Level 2 or 3 charging + preconditioning makes them go away.

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