Electrical System Drain error message - no TSBs?

[Cobra427]

Over the holiday weekend, we got a charge fault, the red light by the charge port, followed that night by the Electrical System Drain - service required message that so many others have gotten. I have read the other posts looking for a fix, found none, and am surprised to hear that Ford has no TSBs on this.
Here’s what’s going on:

• 2022 Premium 4EX
• 10 months old, 9500 miles
• no prior problems
• charge at home - ChargePoint
• no DCFC in last 7 months
• PAAK never set up
• no aftermarket devices
• Recurrent subscription
• error message came in at 8-9 pm -FordPass
• LVB low, not dead, car still starts and accessible

After reading prior posts on the problem, I tried some of their suggestions -

• hooked my NOCO Genius 5 maintainer to the LVB in AGM mode
  • did not bring charge level up
• plugged in to home ChargePoint
  • brought LVB charge up in a few hours
  • left on charger overnight
  • error messages again on FordPass at 8-9 PM
• cancelled Recurrent subscription
• took car to dealer after the holiday

Dealer ran diagnostics, found codes (unknown what) updated BCM, checked LVB & found it good, charged LVB, called & said we could pick it up. Upon pick up, the radio volume was low, unable to increase, returned to dealer, start over. While still at dealer, another error message at 11 AM. Dealer now believes the radio is bad, and ordered a replacement.

I saw @Ford Motor Company asked some prior posters for a DM with their VIN and details, so hoping they are working on this.
Hope this helps.

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[Maquis]

The Recurrent access likely drained the 12V battery. Once it gets low enough, any and all types of errors can happen /codes set.

In addition to cancelling Recurrent, I’d change my FordPass password to ensure they can’t access the car.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Yes, Recurrent/Smartcar accessing your car probably drained the battery. You need to change your FordPass password immediately to revoke access.

After you do that, the issues should stop. I think your radio is fine, it's the 3rd party data access that is causing the problems.

 

[Ravensfan1996]

And Ford will cancel your Ford Pass access if you using a 3rd party to access it. Definitely change the password as they can still access it if you cancel or delete the app. Several of us had this issue a few months ago with the widget we were using.

I had the electrical drain issue when i first got my 2021 Premium, would happen here or there, no other issues. I think an OTA update fixed it since i havent had it probably a year now.

 

[Cobra427]

The Recurrent access likely drained the 12V battery. Once it gets low enough, any and all types of errors can happen /codes set.

In addition to cancelling Recurrent, I’d change my FordPass password to ensure they can’t access the car.

Done. Thanks

 

[Cobra427]

Yes, Recurrent/Smartcar accessing your car probably drained the battery. You need to change your FordPass password immediately to revoke access.

After you do that, the issues should stop. I think your radio is fine, it's the 3rd party data access that is causing the problems.

Done. Thanks

 

[Logal727]

Immediately knew the issue when you mentioned Recurrent lol

also there’s a TSB or SSM that the dealer should have seen about third party services

 

[Cobra427]

And Ford will cancel your Ford Pass access if you using a 3rd party to access it. Definitely change the password as they can still access it if you cancel or delete the app. Several of us had this issue a few months ago with the widget we were using.

I had the electrical drain issue when i first got my 2021 Premium, would happen here or there, no other issues. I think an OTA update fixed it since i havent had it probably a year now.

Done. Thanks

Immediately knew the issue when you mentioned Recurrent lol

also there’s a TSB or SSM that the dealer should have seen about third party services

Thanks, I will mention that.

 

[Mike G]

This.

 

[Cobra427]

UPDATE
MME at dealer four days, still not fixed. Dealer tests showed battery good and audio module bad, ordered new audio module, and found that in order to change audio module the whole interior must be removed, seats, console, and all.

Dealer EV tech going to school next week, so the car would sit. Unacceptable, so we picked it up. Drove home no problem, plugged in to home charger, audio turned off.

HVB battery charged fine, but two error messages in FordPass this am. One was the Electrical system drain message, but the other was telling us to plug the car in in order to charge the 12v battery because it is low and the car may not start. Yes, that's right, got a message to plug the car in when it was already plugged in.

Questions:

• Where is the audio system module that the entire interior must be removed to change it?
• How can the audio system module drain the 12v battery when off?
• Why does the 12v battery not charge when plugged in?
• Why was the NOCO Genius 5 not able to bring SOC up?
• Why do we get a message to plug in when already plugged in?

We have a week to puzzle this out, so chime in with ideas. We are not inclined to let the dealer techs tear the interior apart without proof that the audio module is the culprit. Thinking of calling Ford customer service next week.

 

[Maquis]

UPDATE
MME at dealer four days, still not fixed. Dealer tests showed battery good and audio module bad, ordered new audio module, and found that in order to change audio module the whole interior must be removed, seats, console, and all.

Dealer EV tech going to school next week, so the car would sit. Unacceptable, so we picked it up. Drove home no problem, plugged in to home charger, audio turned off.

HVB battery charged fine, but two error messages in FordPass this am. One was the Electrical system drain message, but the other was telling us to plug the car in in order to charge the 12v battery because it is low and the car may not start. Yes, that's right, got a message to plug the car in when it was already plugged in.

Questions:

• Where is the audio system module that the entire interior must be removed to change it?
• How can the audio system module drain the 12v battery when off?
• Why does the 12v battery not charge when plugged in?
• Why was the NOCO Genius 5 not able to bring SOC up?
• Why do we get a message to plug in when already plugged in?

We have a week to puzzle this out, so chime in with ideas. We are not inclined to let the dealer techs tear the interior apart without proof that the audio module is the culprit. Thinking of calling Ford customer service next week.

I don’t have all the answers, but a couple thoughts -

The reason the audio system is draining the battery when off is because it’s defective. It’s already been determined to be defective.
I thought that the 12V battery is supposed to charge (if necessary) when the car is plugged in. Some one may correct me.
The plug in message is a generic message presented when the 12V battery is low. No check is made to see if it’s already plugged in. Maybe?

 

[Cobra427]

I don’t have all the answers, but a couple thoughts -

The reason the audio system is draining the battery when off is because it’s defective. It’s already been determined to be defective.
I thought that the 12V battery is supposed to charge (if necessary) when the car is plugged in. Some one may correct me.
The plug in message is a generic message presented when the 12V battery is low. No check is made to see if it’s already plugged in. Maybe?

Thanks, similar thoughts here. Just not sure, though...

 

[Ford Motor Company]

UPDATE
MME at dealer four days, still not fixed. Dealer tests showed battery good and audio module bad, ordered new audio module, and found that in order to change audio module the whole interior must be removed, seats, console, and all.

Dealer EV tech going to school next week, so the car would sit. Unacceptable, so we picked it up. Drove home no problem, plugged in to home charger, audio turned off.

HVB battery charged fine, but two error messages in FordPass this am. One was the Electrical system drain message, but the other was telling us to plug the car in in order to charge the 12v battery because it is low and the car may not start. Yes, that's right, got a message to plug the car in when it was already plugged in.

Questions:

• Where is the audio system module that the entire interior must be removed to change it?
• How can the audio system module drain the 12v battery when off?
• Why does the 12v battery not charge when plugged in?
• Why was the NOCO Genius 5 not able to bring SOC up?
• Why do we get a message to plug in when already plugged in?

We have a week to puzzle this out, so chime in with ideas. We are not inclined to let the dealer techs tear the interior apart without proof that the audio module is the culprit. Thinking of calling Ford customer service next week.

Hi there! Will you send us a message with your VIN and your local Ford dealer? I can look into things on my end.

 

[Cobra427]

UPDATE 2.0

A Ford Social Media Team member put me in contact with a Customer Experience Specialist on the escalated Electric Vehicle support team, who contacted us on June 9, and gave us a name and number to call to help our dealer fix our car. We also now have an open case number. They plan to call the dealer and help them fix our car.

 

[Mach-Lee]

UPDATE 2.0

A Ford Social Media Team member put me in contact with a Customer Experience Specialist on the escalated Electric Vehicle support team, who contacted us on June 9, and gave us a name and number to call to help our dealer fix our car. We also now have an open case number. They plan to call the dealer and help them fix our car.

Did you change your FordPass password yet to block Recurrent? Otherwise the dealer may waste your time replacing modules and you’ll still have the battery drain afterwards (they’ll be stumped).

BTW, giving your FordPass login credentials to a 3rd party like Recurrent is against Ford’s terms of service, and may result in your account being locked out (which has happened to numerous people using Recurrent if you search the forum). Your warranty work may also be denied if it was found to be caused by misuse.

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