Mach e dead in garage, next step

[PKrasAshland]

My newish 2023 Mach e is sitting dead in garage, locked. Because it has no power. I can’t access door codes to get in. I never had any problem like this before, but I imagine it is 12 volt battery (?) what should be my next step? Call Ford roadside assistance? Will they know what to do? To make things more complicated, my modem previously got disconnected — the car thinks it is 200 miles away on my vacation —so I cannot use Ford Pass, or see the state of my battery using Owner Ford website.

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[Mach-Lee]

The 12V battery is likely dead. You will need to jump start it to get the car open. You'll need a pair of jumper cables or a booster pack. Use the leads in the front bumper to get the hood, open, then remove the panels to access the 12V battery and jump start it. If you call a tow truck, make sure they have jumper cables in order to get in the vehicle or they won't be able to tow it correctly.

Note: lithium-type jump packs will require the use of the "override" button in order to apply voltage to the frunk jump leads. See the jump pack's manual for information on how to activate the low voltage override.

Battery chargers will not work for jump starting. It must be a high-power jump pack or use cables off another running vehicle. Some jump packs are not powerful enough to jump start the Mach-E, make sure the pack is rated for jumping a diesel engine to be sure.



The procedure is also explained in the owner's manual:

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...A&div=f&vFilteringEnabled=False&buildtype=web

 

[PKrasAshland]

Thank you

 

[dj_stang]

The 12V battery is likely dead. You will need to jump start it to get the car open. You'll need a pair of jumper cables or a booster pack. Use the leads in the front bumper to get the hood, open, then remove the panels to access the 12V battery and jump start it. If you call a tow truck, make sure they have jumper cables in order to get in the vehicle or they won't be able to tow it correctly.

Note: lithium-type jump packs will require the use of the "override" button in order to apply voltage to the frunk jump leads. See the jump pack's manual for information on how to activate the low voltage override.

Battery chargers will not work for jump starting. It must be a high-power jump pack or use cables off another running vehicle. Some jump packs are not powerful enough to jump start the Mach-E, make sure the pack is rated for jumping a diesel engine to be sure.



The procedure is also explained in the owner's manual:

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...A&div=f&vFilteringEnabled=False&buildtype=web

Maybe y’all can think about charging the 12V to a healthy level while plugged in now, and not just while charging the HVB? Is that really too much to ask after all these years.

 

[zvez]

Maybe y’all can think about charging the 12V to a healthy level while plugged in now, and not just while charging the HVB? Is that really too much to ask after all these years.

I think it's a good idea to several times a week log in to ford.com and check 12v battery level, it takes seconds and can perhaps give some warning of potential problem with it.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I think it's a good idea to several times a week log in to ford.com and check 12v battery level, it takes seconds and can perhaps give some warning of potential problem with it.

In this case it sounds like a module locked up, there may be no warning of that. The SoC value doesn't update when the car is off either, so the % would not be representative of the current status. There's been multiple cases of people coming out to dead batteries and saying the website still showed 70+% 12V battery level (which was likely the value when the vehicle was parked, but drained afterwards).

 

[Mike G]

The 12V battery is likely dead. You will need to jump start it to get the car open. You'll need a pair of jumper cables or a booster pack. Use the leads in the front bumper to get the hood, open, then remove the panels to access the 12V battery and jump start it. If you call a tow truck, make sure they have jumper cables in order to get in the vehicle or they won't be able to tow it correctly.

Note: lithium-type jump packs will require the use of the "override" button in order to apply voltage to the frunk jump leads. See the jump pack's manual for information on how to activate the low voltage override.

Battery chargers will not work for jump starting. It must be a high-power jump pack or use cables off another running vehicle. Some jump packs are not powerful enough to jump start the Mach-E, make sure the pack is rated for jumping a diesel engine to be sure.



The procedure is also explained in the owner's manual:

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...A&div=f&vFilteringEnabled=False&buildtype=web

Wow...when they made that video were they trying to see how short they could make it?

And the removal of the rear and left underhood beauty panels...like magic! It took no force at all and they just lifted off! Gosh! That guy is good! It's either that or he's lost every single one of these:

 

[Deleted member 19354]

One would think the Ford Pass would give some sort of indication of low battery. They can when tyres are low…..

 

[mburtsvt]

Dealing with the same thing this morning. Parked the car at home, closed the drivers door and tried to open the rear door to get the groceries out....and nothing! I knew right away what had happened. Just glad it did not happen in a parking lot in 100 degree weather with a child in the car! Took about 5 minutes to get the battery charger hooked up to the bumper leads and open the frunk. An additional 10 minutes on the jump points under the panel and I had enough power to un lock the doors. Calling ford later today to get a jump to get it to he dealer this afternoon. It's a 21 FE so I'm sure it's the 12 volt battery. just hope the dealer has one.

 

[dtbaker61]

I think it's a good idea to several times a week log in to ford.com and check 12v battery level, it takes seconds and can perhaps give some warning of potential problem with it.

the 12v voltage varies widely through the day and night, losing charge every time it 'wakes up' with your Fob or phone passing nearby, or attempting an OTA update. Under normal circumstances, the 12v will call for a charge if it drops to 12.1-12.2 or thereabouts. Low voltage does not really indicate bad health.

things you can do:

- be ready to replace your 12v any time after 36 months

- turn off Buetooth, or force-stop Fordpass on your phone when you are home, and if you use a Fob, make sure it is stored as far away from the car as possible.... more than 50'.

- once a month or so, leave your MME on overnight, with auto-timeout setting 'OFF', or go for a long drive to give the 12v time to charge to 100%

 

[dtbaker61]

Dealing with the same thing this morning. Parked the car at home, closed the drivers door and tried to open the rear door to get the groceries out....and nothing! I knew right away what had happened. Just glad it did not happen in a parking lot in 100 degree weather with a child in the car! Took about 5 minutes to get the battery charger hooked up to the bumper leads and open the frunk. An additional 10 minutes on the jump points under the panel and I had enough power to un lock the doors. Calling ford later today to get a jump to get it to he dealer this afternoon. It's a 21 FE so I'm sure it's the 12 volt battery. just hope the dealer has one.

yup 3 yr old 12v....they die with NO warning.

 

[dtbaker61]

One would think the Ford Pass would give some sort of indication of low battery. They can when tyres are low…..

low voltage at 12v doesn't mean it's bad....

if its 3 yrs old, or drops to 12.2 and cycles back up more than once a day under normal conditions... is about all the warning you get.

 

[PhuhQ]

I had a similar experience on June 8 but much more serious. My wife was at Walmart with our two kids and as she got out the car closing her door to head to the back door to get our kids the car somehow died. As you noted, nothing worked to unlock the door. Mind you we live in NC, and the outside temperature was about 95 degrees. I tried to use the ford pass to remotely unlock the doors, roll down the windows, remote start the car but nothing worked. At this time, panic and terror started to set in as my wife starts to see our 1- and 3-year-old screaming in terror. We had no choice but to call the fire department. Ultimately, the fire department had to break the front passenger window to get our kids out. We were told that the inside temp of the car was around 120 degrees, and our kids would have been dead in about 3 more minutes.

At this time, I still have not been told what caused this issue and my car has been in the shop for a month now. I also had the 12v replaced on 4-20 so it basically was brand new. I have a 2022 GTPE that has been in the shop 5 times since Aug 2023 for HVJB/Battery issues. The HVJB has been replaced 3 times already. I tried to request a buyback after my 3rd HVJB was replaced back in May but was denied and I tried again after this car almost killed my kids and was denied again so good luck.

 

[Vgkfan]

I’m so sorry that happened to you, and beyond glad the kids are ok.

 

[mburtsvt]

I had a similar experience on June 8 but much more serious. My wife was at Walmart with our two kids and as she got out the car closing her door to head to the back door to get our kids the car somehow died. As you noted, nothing worked to unlock the door. Mind you we live in NC, and the outside temperature was about 95 degrees. I tried to use the ford pass to remotely unlock the doors, roll down the windows, remote start the car but nothing worked. At this time, panic and terror started to set in as my wife starts to see our 1- and 3-year-old screaming in terror. We had no choice but to call the fire department. Ultimately, the fire department had to break the front passenger window to get our kids out. We were told that the inside temp of the car was around 120 degrees, and our kids would have been dead in about 3 more minutes.

At this time, I still have not been told what caused this issue and my car has been in the shop for a month now. I also had the 12v replaced on 4-20 so it basically was brand new. I have a 2022 GTPE that has been in the shop 5 times since Aug 2023 for HVJB/Battery issues. The HVJB has been replaced 3 times already. I tried to request a buyback after my 3rd HVJB was replaced back in May but was denied and I tried again after this car almost killed my kids and was denied again so good luck.

At the end of the day Ford will need to do a better job of letting everyone who has a 2-3 year old Mach e that this will happen WITH NO NOTICE! It happened to me...Ford (via Ford service) is meeting expectations right now. We will see. The call has been made.

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