Recommended 12V Battery SOC to Receive Updates?

[Gimme_my_MME]

This is so stupid. While it’s good to know the reasons, I still want someone to explain to me, in bunny rabbit English, why my Mustang Mach-E is the first car I’ve owned in over 30 years that I’m consciously aware of even HAVING a 12V battery ?

How many other cars have gotten OTA updates to all different modules?

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[Aubury]

In my family's experience with hybrid cars, 12 V battery aging and failure caused almost all of the drama in several otherwise solid and reliable cars. I wonder if we should just replace the darn things every 3 years whether they need it or not.

I hope in the future Ford and other OEMs switch over to a lithium LVB (and while they're at it use it as an opportunity to upgrade the LV architecture, Tesla did that when they moved their models away from lead acid, and Ford has wanted to use a 48V architecture for a long time). There's no real reason for EVs to use lead acid batteries since they don't need high cold cranking amps like ICEs do, other than the fact that it's cheaper to use a lead acid battery and reuse components from other designs and have the user replace the battery every ~3-5 years. LV lithium batteries also offer higher energy density both by weight and volume

 

[Mach1E]

It depends on the update, some require more than others. 6.6.0 and 6.8.0 require higher 12V levels. I would recommend 80% or higher to get those to install. In some cases 80% may not be enough if your battery capacity is degraded. The actual threshold % is dependent on battery aging and is not the same from vehicle to vehicle.



Yes, although it can take 12+ hours to fully charge the 12V battery. The car must be on. Plugging in the car is not enough.

If you are experiencing difficulties getting OTAs to install, I strongly recommend you follow the steps in my guide which covers all this: How To Get Failed OTAs To Install

This is brought up a lot about how to get failed updates to install.

But does low 12v voltage have anything to do with getting updates to download?

I still haven’t gotten an update since August.

FWIW, part of the troubleshooting the Ford update people did was asking if my 12v was at 90% or higher.

 

[Mach-Lee]

This is brought up a lot about how to get failed updates to install.

But does low 12v voltage have anything to do with getting updates to download?

I still haven’t gotten an update since August.

FWIW, part of the troubleshooting the Ford update people did was asking if my 12v was at 90% or higher.

No. As long as your connected services and data sharing is turned on in settings, you should download available updates when you turn the car on and drive. Low 12V only affects installation, not download.

 

[Rt1AWD]

In my family's experience with hybrid cars, 12 V battery aging and failure caused almost all of the drama in several otherwise solid and reliable cars. I wonder if we should just replace the darn things every 3 years whether they need it or not.

The cars like that definitely lack LVB monitoring information. SOH, SOC, etc

 

[Graction]

In my family's experience with hybrid cars, 12 V battery aging and failure caused almost all of the drama in several otherwise solid and reliable cars.

Totally. My Nissan Altima hybrid was doing all kinds of crazy things that didn’t seem battery related at all. Like cylinder misfire errors, check engine light, driving poorly. Finally changed the battery - don’t even remember what clued me in - and then everything started working well again.

 

[RMoore]

What is the recommended 12V battery SOC to receive updates? My 12V battery SOC seems to be around 60% - 65%. I went on a “charge the 12V battery drive” to get the SOC to 70%. When I went into Starbucks for 5 minutes, the SOC dropped to 68%, but I was able to get it back to 71% before pulling in my garage?
Related question: if I leave the car “running” in my garage, AND plug in my L2 charger (FCCS), will that fully charge the 12V battery AND keep the HVB charged?

Definitely read @Mach-Lee's post that @YunniorO suggested in his response to your question. Over the past week, after failing the 6.6 installs a few times because of low SOC of the LVB, I've successfully installed 6.6, 7, and 8 using either the "Long Charge" or "Blower Charge" method to get my LVB to 81-82% after it was down below 60% or so. As @Mach-Lee says, the last bit takes the longest but each time I was able to charge the LVB in 3-4 hours. Running the blower with the car on for 2-4 hrs does use up some HVB charge (maybe 2-3%) but it is quicker than the "Long Charge" method.

 

[Jimrpa]

No. As long as your connected services and data sharing is turned on in settings, you should download available updates when you turn the car on and drive. Low 12V only affects installation, not download.

Well, this is unwelcome news ?

 

[Mach1E]

Well, this is unwelcome news ?

Agreed.

The important word is “should.”

But when I haven’t gotten an update in 5 months, no one can figure out why not.

 

[AKgrampy]

Agreed.

The important word is “should.”

But when I haven’t gotten an update in 5 months, no one can figure out why not.

Just to let you know I likewise have not had an update since mid August. I do seem to run a bit behind and I do not have BC so I am not concerned at the moment. My HVBJB is being replaced Jan 23 so maybe if nothing happens by then they may load all the latest software updates.

 

[Mach1E]

Just to let you know I likewise have not had an update since mid August. I do seem to run a bit behind and I do not have BC so I am not concerned at the moment. My HVBJB is being replaced Jan 23 so maybe if nothing happens by then they may load all the latest software updates.

Did yours die or did you get the recall part scheduled?

 

[Just Lurking]

Sigh. So I’ll have to spend all day driving around at random just to get the stupid 12V battery to the right level? I’ve had the car on the charger to recharge it after driving it around to get it to 70%. I now have the HVB at about 80% and the stupid 12V battery is only at 76%? Sigh.

As others have said, just leave the car on with shutdown disabled and it'll charge, slowly.

Alternatively, plug in the level one charger if your car came with one. The car will charge the 12 volt as it slowly charges via L1. Charging from 80 to 90-95% should give your 12V a pretty good boost.

 

[Space_Pony]

Our MME is driven at least 30 miles/work day and the LVB runs at 80-90%. I've never had any issues with updates.
I'm wondering if some of these problems are as a result of the cars not being driven enough. I don't see why you should have to put your car in the start mode while it's parked for an extended time, if you drive it regularly.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I'm wondering if some of these problems are as a result of the cars not being driven enough.

Yes, that's a major factor. Lots of WFH and retired folks that only drive a couple miles a couple times per week. Dashcams that drain the 12V is another one.

 

[Jimrpa]

Yes, that's a major factor. Lots of WFH and retired folks that only drive a couple miles a couple times per week. Dashcams that drain the 12V is another one.

I don’t drive very much (22,000 miles in almost 3 years), but I don’t have any aftermarket accessories, so there’s nothing that could be a power drain (unless it came from the factory ?)

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