Mach-E Long term storage

[andyg53]

Two questions as I will be storing my MME for 6 months.
1. How do I access the 12v battery?
2. In the past on ICE vehicles, I've disconnected the 12v battery and not used a maintainer. After 6 months and reconnection, the car started. I would like to follow the MME manual and disconnect the battery. Is that okay? What about disconnecting and trickle charging directly to the battery terminals?
Thanks.

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[fpavlo1]

As noted at the beginning of this thread i followed the manual and when I returned after 5 months and connected the 12V battery the vehicle would not start and had to be towed to the dealer. When I leave again in November I will be be using a battery maintainer on the 12V battery and hook it up to the negative ground post and the positive post in the frunk. You get to the 12V battery through the frunk. You have to snap off the back plastic piece and the left (drivers side) plastic covers.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Two questions as I will be storing my MME for 6 months.
1. How do I access the 12v battery?
2. In the past on ICE vehicles, I've disconnected the 12v battery and not used a maintainer. After 6 months and reconnection, the car started. I would like to follow the MME manual and disconnect the battery. Is that okay? What about disconnecting and trickle charging directly to the battery terminals?
Thanks.

See post above, but yes you'll have to pop off the frunk panels to access the 12V battery.

My dad had a lot of cars and used to store them in storage units, so I got pretty used to "reviving" them with him. He would always disconnect the 12V battery and leave the hood open so mice wouldn't build nests. Sometimes when we returned 6 months later the battery had gone dead (even though it was disconnected), so we always brought a pair of 25' jumper cables, jumped it off our other vehicle, and that was that. Gotta come prepared.

 

[andyg53]

See post above, but yes you'll have to pop off the frunk panels to access the 12V battery.

My dad had a lot of cars and used to store them in storage units, so I got pretty used to "reviving" them with him. He would always disconnect the 12V battery and leave the hood open so mice wouldn't build nests. Sometimes when we returned 6 months later the battery had gone dead (even though it was disconnected), so we always brought a pair of 25' jumper cables, jumped it off our other vehicle, and that was that. Gotta come prepared.

How does leaving the hood open prevent mice from finding a nice spot to nest? I think that my mice are more industrious than yours. Do I need any tools to remove the trim panels?

 

[andyg53]

As noted at the beginning of this thread i followed the manual and when I returned after 5 months and connected the 12V battery the vehicle would not start and had to be towed to the dealer. When I leave again in November I will be be using a battery maintainer on the 12V battery and hook it up to the negative ground post and the positive post in the frunk. You get to the 12V battery through the frunk. You have to snap off the back plastic piece and the left (drivers side) plastic covers.

Can I ask - did you try to charge the 12v battery prior to towing to the dealer and do you know if the 12v is an AGM battery? Thanks.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

How does leaving the hood open prevent mice from finding a nice spot to nest? I think that my mice are more industrious than yours. Do I need any tools to remove the trim panels?

Mice and rats don't nest in ares where there is a) lots of light and b) lots of air flow. Propping the hood open satisfies both requirements. You can remove the trim panels with your bare hands, though thinnish gloves will be welcome. Look for a video on the forum regarding removing the panels. It's useful.

 

[Mach-Lee]

How does leaving the hood open prevent mice from finding a nice spot to nest? I think that my mice are more industrious than yours. Do I need any tools to remove the trim panels?

Yup, as John said leaving the hood open makes them feel uncomfortable and exposed, so they won't nest. The only nest in closed off areas.

 

[mkhuffman]

How does leaving the hood open prevent mice from finding a nice spot to nest? I think that my mice are more industrious than yours. Do I need any tools to remove the trim panels?

While you are doing this, I highly recommend cutting holes in the trim panels over the LVB connection points. It was one of the first things I did to my MME. Then you don't have to remove the panel and risk losing a clip or two.

 

[fpavlo1]

How does leaving the hood open prevent mice from finding a nice spot to nest? I think that my mice are more industrious than yours. Do I need any tools to remove the trim panels?

You do not need any tool. Just start at one corner and lift gently until the clip releases and work your way along the panel

 

[fpavlo1]

Can I ask - did you try to charge the 12v battery prior to towing to the dealer and do you know if the 12v is an AGM battery? Thanks.

Yes I charged the battery. The car would still not start. I do not know the type of battery that is in the Mach-e

 

[fpavlo1]

As an update. I asked a friend in Florida to see if the Mach-e would start after 5 months in storage. He said that the Mach-E woke up, and started when he got in it without a problem. There was no battery tender on the vehicle and the 12V battery was not disconnected. The vehicle is showing 95% charge in the High voltage battery. That being the case I think I will do the same for the Mach-E that I have in Ohio when we return to Florida.

 

[andyg53]

As an update. I asked a friend in Florida to see if the Mach-e would start after 5 months in storage. He said that the Mach-E woke up, and started when he got in it without a problem. There was no battery tender on the vehicle and the 12V battery was not disconnected. The vehicle is showing 95% charge in the High voltage battery. That being the case I think I will do the same for the Mach-E that I have in Ohio when we return to Florida.

I have to admit that I am a rule follower. If Ford says that for long-term storage, the HV battery should be at 50% and the 12v battery disconnected, that is what I plan to do. Coincidentally, my car is at the dealer now for its routine 30K service. I had received a few error messages about a 12V battery fault so that's being looked at. When I dropped the car off, I asked the service adviser about storage and she said that she'd get me some info about doing something with the display screen to tell the car that it's being anesthetized.

 

[generaltso]

The vehicle is showing 95% charge in the High voltage battery. That being the case I think I will do the same for the Mach-E that I have in Ohio when we return to Florida.

You left the HVB at 95%+ for months?

 

[Bagus]

If I am storing say 9 months can I have my neighbor start the car once a month? Does that recharge the 12v battery? If so how long does it need to run?

 

[mkhuffman]

If I am storing say 9 months can I have my neighbor start the car once a month? Does that recharge the 12v battery? If so how long does it need to run?

Running the car will recharge the battery. I would probably leave it in for an hour to give it a chance to top off.

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