Post Recall Software - Service Vehicle Soon

[ohmslaw]

So our Mach E has been into the dealer twice to try to fix our FordPass issue (the car has stopped sending data to the ford servers). Both times the dealer just reflashed software; and both times it didn’t fix.

Now for the fun part. Part of the flash was the recall fix. Car charged to 100% SoC (usually we only do 80 but the latest flash I guess ignored our charge settings). Merged onto a highway; 60-70% throttle. Car throws codes and starts current limiting. Wonderful.

Does anyone here know how long it is safe to drive like this? I honestly trust some on here in diagnosing/troubleshooting over my dealer.

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[RickMachE]

I believe it will continue to limit until the HVBJB is replaced. Dealer can pull the codes, see the diagnosis, order it (if they don't have one) and you can possibly keep driving it until the work gets done. Haven't seen a lot of discussion on that though.

 

[ohmslaw]

I believe it will continue to limit until the HVBJB is replaced. Dealer can pull the codes, see the diagnosis, order it (if they don't have one) and you can possibly keep driving it until the work gets done. Haven't seen a lot of discussion on that though.

Part of me is happy this happened; get the contactors fixed and hopefully early enough there won’t be parts issues. Another part of me is worried; since this will be the first one my dealer probably has done.

The crazy thing is the day before was hotter and the battery was definitely more heat soaked; did several almost full throttle inputs and car was fine. One high throttle input at high SoC and it failed.

 

[ZuleMME]

Part of me is happy this happened; get the contactors fixed and hopefully early enough there won’t be parts issues. Another part of me is worried; since this will be the first one my dealer probably has done.

The crazy thing is the day before was hotter and the battery was definitely more heat soaked; did several almost full throttle inputs and car was fine. One high throttle input at high SoC and it failed.

Maybe that day before was most of the damage and it was detectable after you then floored it. My new mantra is to just drive the car harder and faster until mine pops. And if it doesn't, my smile will be bigger anyway.

 

[ohmslaw]

well; a case has been opened with ford and it’s at the dealer. Here’s hoping if it is the contractor issue the parts come quick and ford walks them through the process very closely.

 

[Logal727]

Part of me is happy this happened; get the contactors fixed and hopefully early enough there won’t be parts issues. Another part of me is worried; since this will be the first one my dealer probably has done.

The crazy thing is the day before was hotter and the battery was definitely more heat soaked; did several almost full throttle inputs and car was fine. One high throttle input at high SoC and it failed.

What model Mach-E do you have?

 

[ohmslaw]

Premium extended range; I’m willing to bet that this new safe condition added would not have been triggered if I wasn’t at 100% SoC

 

[Neil4Real]

Premium extended range; I’m willing to bet that this new safe condition added would not have been triggered if I wasn’t at 100% SoC

Doubt it, especially if it was just a level 2 charge to 100%. Mine got the message from throttling it and I was only at 70%/80% charge.

 

[ohmslaw]

I’m really curious what the trigger of the new fault is. Do they have a temp sensor on the contactor? Do they have a way to measure voltage drop across the contactor? Sometimes I really hate being an engineer and needing to know everything about every machine I use.

 

[RickMachE]

I’m really curious what the trigger of the new fault is. Do they have a temp sensor on the contactor? Do they have a way to measure voltage drop across the contactor? Sometimes I really hate being an engineer and needing to know everything about every machine I use.

The updated SOBDMC software (LJ98-14G069-AXG, LJ98-14G069-AZG, LJ98-14G069-BBG, LJ98-14G069-BDG) will monitor contactor temperature and intelligently reduce battery power to prevent damage to the contactor. The updated BECM software (NJ98-14C197-AE, NJ98-14C197-BD) will monitor contactor resistance to identify an overheated contactor and reduce vehicle power to prevent further damage.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2022/RCLRPT-22V412-2331.PDF

 

[ohmslaw]

Well the dealer had a chance to look. Unfortunately the service advisor I have been dealing with seems to be “willfully ignorant” when it comes to EVs and couldn’t give me any details other than. “We have to drop the battery and it’s a $3000 part”. Anyone think that’s the whole HVJB?

Thankfully I do have someone at Ford corporate keeping an eye on everything. They were going to double check they were doing the right work when they ordered parts.

 

[HuntingPudel]

The HVBJB is approximately an $850-900 part. Labor is in the range of $1500-2000. So the dealer’s retail price would be $2.5-3K for the service were it not warranty work. It involves de-energizing the HV battery, dropping the battery, removing the battery cover, removing the old/installing the new HVBJB, reinstalling the battery cover, pressure testing the battery assembly, then reinstalling and charging the battery. ?‍??

I am sure Ford has a counteracted price they pay to the dealer at something less than retail. ??

 

[ohmslaw]

Part of me was super paranoid if they would just replace a single contactor. Wire termination is an art and I highly doubt most automotive techs can do it correctly. Glad they replace the whole thing. Just also watched the Munro tear down of the battery; looks like the HVJB has all quick release connectors thankfully.

Here’s hoping they do that pressure test right; that’s the only aspect I can see being a 2-3 year problem that arises rather than an immediate issue.

 

[Logal727]

Premium extended range; I’m willing to bet that this new safe condition added would not have been triggered if I wasn’t at 100% SoC

What is your build date?

 

[ohmslaw]

Don’t recall the specific finish build date; but it was sometime mid December 2021.

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