frunk access panels

[lesz]

Apologies if this has already been covered, I did look and could not find it. Are the frunk access panels only cosmetic? Is there any reason I can’t just remove them and leave them off? Providing easier access to the battery, etc.

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[Snakebitten]

The car will operate with the panel(s) removed.
But why do you need continuous access to the AGM battery itself?

Just curious.

 

[lesz]

The car will operate with the panel(s) removed.
But why do you need continuous access to the AGM battery itself?

Just curious.

Actually, it’s not continuous access, it’s just if I ever need access. This is my first EV, but in the 30 cars I’ve owned before this I’ve never had to remove anything except opening the hood to get to the battery. I’m assuming the hood of the Mach-e provides the same weather protection as any ICE vehicle.

 

[HuntingPudel]

They're cosmetic but they also part of the fluid dynamics that manage under-hood air flow. You can operate the car without them but air that has been through the heat exchangers will be drawn into the inlet for your HVAC. Not so bad on a cold day, but not so goods on a hot day. ??

Removing the panels themselves takes a few seconds. They're not really much of an impediment to accessing the 12V battery. I put in my jump point because I am a super-lazy dog. That pesky quick brown fox is always jumping over me. ??

 

[lesz]

They're cosmetic but they also part of the fluid dynamics that manage under-hood air flow. You can operate the car without them but air that has been through the heat exchangers will be drawn into the inlet for your HVAC. Not so bad on a cold day, but not so goods on a hot day. ??

Removing the panels themselves takes a few seconds. They're not really much of an impediment to accessing the 12V battery. I put in my jump point because I am a super-lazy dog. That pesky quick brown fox is always jumping over me. ??

thanks

 

[Snakebitten]

This didn't take me but a few minutes to accomplish the first attempt.
It will take me much less time the second occasion. Easily less than 10 minutes, still using soft-hands to avoid damaging anything.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

They're cosmetic but they also part of the fluid dynamics that manage under-hood air flow. You can operate the car without them but air that has been through the heat exchangers will be drawn into the inlet for your HVAC. Not so bad on a cold day, but not so goods on a hot day. ??

Removing the panels themselves takes a few seconds. They're not really much of an impediment to accessing the 12V battery. I put in my jump point because I am a super-lazy dog. That pesky quick brown fox is always jumping over me. ??

This.

I drilled access holes for the jump points in the driver side panel. No need to remove the panels now to jump or charge the battery. There are a couple of threads on how to do that here —somewhere— including one with a template (which is the one I used).

 

[Space_Pony]

This.

I drilled access holes for the jump points in the driver side panel. No need to remove the panels now to jump or charge the battery. There are a couple of threads on how to do that here —somewhere— including one with a template (which is the one I used).

I've had my MME for almost 1.5 years and never jumped or charged the battery. How often do you connect to your battery to jump or charge? i used to monitor the LVB charge at ford.com and it was usually 80-90%. I had thought about cutting access holes at one time but the LVB charge seemed to be adequate whenever I checked it.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

3 and a half years with two Mach-E’s. Never had to access the 12V battery unless it was to do a hard reboot at home or connect some accessories that I wanted to always have 12V power. I know others have needed to charge, or plug in a power supply for doing FDRS updates. But the reality is that after you’ve taken the panels off once, you figure out that it takes about 30 seconds. The benefit of leaving them in place certainly outweighs the pain of needing 30 seconds to access the 12V battery in a pinCh. Hopefully, if and when you need to access your 12V, it will neither be in a NASCAR Pit Stop, nor when Jason Vorheese is chasing you.

 

[Jerrytball]

This didn't take me but a few minutes to accomplish the first attempt.
It will take me much less time the second occasion. Easily less than 10 minutes, still using soft-hands to avoid damaging anything.

This is only an if question. What if you don’t ever even use that area upfront could you leave all that out and drive the car without it causing problems what would be the main issue? Does any of that under their protect anything?

 

[SRQAMT]

This is only an if question. What if you don’t ever even use that area upfront could you leave all that out and drive the car without it causing problems what would be the main issue? Does any of that under their protect anything?

They're cosmetic but they also part of the fluid dynamics that manage under-hood air flow. You can operate the car without them but air that has been through the heat exchangers will be drawn into the inlet for your HVAC. Not so bad on a cold day, but not so goods on a hot day. ??

Removing the panels themselves takes a few seconds. They're not really much of an impediment to accessing the 12V battery. I put in my jump point because I am a super-lazy dog. That pesky quick brown fox is always jumping over me. ??

Question, meet answer.

 

[steveg95]

Apologies if this has already been covered, I did look and could not find it. Are the frunk access panels only cosmetic? Is there any reason I can’t just remove them and leave them off? Providing easier access to the battery, etc.

There are posts on drilling access holes tour the battery posts. Once done you can put it back together and would only need to remove the panels to replace the battery.

 

[lesz]

There are posts on drilling access holes tour the battery posts. Once done you can put it back together and would only need to remove the panels to replace the battery.

thanks, and I’ve seen the posts as well as the template. I was more curious why the Mach-e needed the panels covering the 12v battery when all of my ICE vehicles did without.

 

[Snakebitten]

I don't think many ICE vehicles are designed to make the underhood space a weatherproof storage area.

Although Porsche does on their 911/Cayman/Boxster.
Now where's that battery?

 

[HuntingPudel]

thanks, and I’ve seen the posts as well as the template. I was more curious why the Mach-e needed the panels covering the 12v battery when all of my ICE vehicles did without.

A lot of ICE vehicles have a lot of cladding on them that also hides the 12V battery. My ‘87 Fiero required the removal of a panel to access the 12V battery. My ‘14 Fusion Energi had its 12V battery in the trunk behind the trunk quarter trim panel. The MME is however my first car where I cannot get to the battery if it’s dead without external help. ?‍?

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