Windshield replacement went sideways

[A-A-Ron]

Finally got around to having my windshield replaced this afternoon. Had to argue with Safelite about not calibrating the ADAS because I've got the front camera failure issue to bring in for the dealer to replace and then recalibrate (and they want $500 to calibrate it, that's BS). Anyway, the guy replaces the windshield and when he's done, he asks me "Does your car turn on?" and I'm like "uh, yeah" and I sit in there and turn it on and... nothing. And by nothing, I mean it didn't turn on. It did click, shake the brake pedal, throw every dash light and go between Stop Safely Now and a dozen errors about everything from the collision system to the frunk and door systems to brakes failing.

Anyway, it's a 21 and I've been around here long enough to know what it usually means when the car throws every failure at you - 12v battery replacement time.

Fortunately, the driver's door was open because that quit working about 3 minutes later. Popped the frunk, pulled the panels, and then it starts drizzling. Called my MIL, she came and babysat the open car while I took her car to the Ford dealership and they had my battery in inventory!!! Took me less time to put the new battery in than it did to open it up. As soon as I popped the negative terminal back on, everything came back to life (including the frunk light - that's helpful, too bad it doesn't work for taking out a dead battery).

I knew the battery was nearing the end of it's life. I guess sitting out in the cold with the doors open and lights on pushed it over the edge. Fun times.

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[New2EV]

I've got a 2021 job 1 and am starting to worry about the battery. My cheap power plug volt meter says 11.8v which tells me I'd better start looking for a new battery. Really don't want an inconvenient dead battery.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I've got a 2021 job 1 and am starting to worry about the battery. My cheap power plug volt meter says 11.8v which tells me I'd better start looking for a new battery. Really don't want an inconvenient dead battery.

I replaced mine at 41 months. July of this year. I had no issues with the 12v but wanted to keep it that way.

 

[4wheeldog]

I've got a 2021 job 1 and am starting to worry about the battery. My cheap power plug volt meter says 11.8v which tells me I'd better start looking for a new battery. Really don't want an inconvenient dead battery.

11.8 volts is full on dead already. Fully charged is 12.8-12.9 volts on an AGM battery. Anything under 12.0 is dead. You are beyond being on borrowed time. I hope you have a garage to park in. I would keep the window open in the garage so you can get to the battery. And go to the Ford store ASAP.

 

[CarsIMBwife]

I replaced mine at 41 months. July of this year. I had no issues with the 12v but wanted to keep it that way.

I replaced mine a couple of months ago to be on the safe side.

 

[A-A-Ron]

I replaced mine at 41 months. July of this year. I had no issues with the 12v but wanted to keep it that way.

Mine was built the week of December 10, 2021 so it’s right at 3 years (delivered April ‘22). Was planning on replacing after I owned it 3 years but it had other plans.

I think my bigger concern is that there’s no warning it’s failing, then a huge series of unrelated warnings and full loss of function. I knew immediately that it was almost certainly the 12v but I think that’d be terrible if someone that hasn’t been active here for years experienced this. And don’t get me started on how poor the battery placement is

 

[A-A-Ron]

I've got a 2021 job 1 and am starting to worry about the battery. My cheap power plug volt meter says 11.8v which tells me I'd better start looking for a new battery. Really don't want an inconvenient dead battery.

There’s no convenient time for it to die. And mine was mid driveway (blocking both sides so the tech had room to replace the windshield), in cold, wet weather, when I was supposed to be picking up my daughter from school.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Finally got around to having my windshield replaced this afternoon. Had to argue with Safelite about not calibrating the ADAS because I've got the front camera failure issue to bring in for the dealer to replace and then recalibrate (and they want $500 to calibrate it, that's BS). Anyway, the guy replaces the windshield and when he's done, he asks me "Does your car turn on?" and I'm like "uh, yeah" and I sit in there and turn it on and... nothing. And by nothing, I mean it didn't turn on. It did click, shake the brake pedal, throw every dash light and go between Stop Safely Now and a dozen errors about everything from the collision system to the frunk and door systems to brakes failing.

Anyway, it's a 21 and I've been around here long enough to know what it usually means when the car throws every failure at you - 12v battery replacement time.

Fortunately, the driver's door was open because that quit working about 3 minutes later. Popped the frunk, pulled the panels, and then it starts drizzling. Called my MIL, she came and babysat the open car while I took her car to the Ford dealership and they had my battery in inventory!!! Took me less time to put the new battery in than it did to open it up. As soon as I popped the negative terminal back on, everything came back to life (including the frunk light - that's helpful, too bad it doesn't work for taking out a dead battery).

I knew the battery was nearing the end of it's life. I guess sitting out in the cold with the doors open and lights on pushed it over the edge. Fun times.

How the hell would this happen? She came to your house, babysat your car, and lent you hers? That’s a great MIL. Mine wouldn’t do that for me.

 

[dbsb3233]

I replaced mine prematurely in Oct 2022 when my HVBJB was dying. That was back when we were all still figuring out the HVBJB issue, and it presented more like a failing 12v battery at first. We were 1000 miles from home (Reno), and an HVBJB meant leaving the car there for a month and renting a car to get home. So I took a chance and had the dealer there install a new 12v battery ($500) just in case. Nope. Oh well.

At least Ford reimbursed me for the rental car.

Next time I'll probably replace it myself, if it starts failing at home instead of on the road. $300 in labor seemed like a ripoff.

 

[dbsb3233]

There’s no convenient time for it to die. And mine was mid driveway (blocking both sides so the tech had room to replace the windshield), in cold, wet weather, when I was supposed to be picking up my daughter from school.

If you have a battery charger, you might have been able to give it a charge to get it going until a more convenient place/time.

That reminds me... as mine gets older, I'll probably throw my charger and a long extension cord in the frunk, just in case.

 

[A-A-Ron]

If you have a battery charger, you might have been able to give it a charge to get it going until a more convenient place/time.

That reminds me... as mine gets older, I'll probably throw my charger and a long extension cord in the frunk, just in case.

I did have a charger, but it charged a few minutes until the accessories started powering back up and the charger stopped and reported a failed battery. I could have probably taken the battery out, charged it, then tried again - but on a 3 year old battery with a known 3 year life, that’s just an extra battery installation cycle - definitely an option if my MIL and the dealer weren’t both within a 2 mile radius odd my house.

 

[A-A-Ron]

I replaced mine prematurely in Oct 2022 when my HVBJB was dying. That was back when we were all still figuring out the HVBJB issue, and it presented more like a failing 12v battery at first. We were 1000 miles from home (Reno), and an HVBJB meant leaving the car there for a month and renting a car to get home. So I took a chance and had the dealer there install a new 12v battery ($500) just in case. Nope. Oh well.

At least Ford reimbursed me for the rental car.

Next time I'll probably replace it myself, if it starts failing at home instead of on the road. $300 in labor seemed like a ripoff.

Ouch, yeah, I paid $132 for the battery and the swap was ridiculously more complicated than it should be but not actually difficult. It does look similar to the HVBJB failure, particularly when the Stop Safely Now message pops up.

 

[JJR]

Mine was built the week of December 10, 2021 so it’s right at 3 years (delivered April ‘22). Was planning on replacing after I owned it 3 years but it had other plans.

I think my bigger concern is that there’s no warning it’s failing, then a huge series of unrelated warnings and full loss of function. I knew immediately that it was almost certainly the 12v but I think that’d be terrible if someone that hasn’t been active here for years experienced this. And don’t get me started on how poor the battery placement is

I installed an Ancel battery monitor that mounts to the battery and uses bluetooth to connect to an app on my phone. It displays the battery’s voltage.
I hardly drive the MME so I need to know what the SOC is.
One thing that should have been addressed during design.

 

[Tbird]

I have 49 months on my Job 1 and the LVB battery has started to show signs of failure this week. After charging to 90% if it sits for 2 days it is down to 50%. I purchased a new battery from Ford Parts ($119 + 18 for core). Dealer is going to install it on Wednesday.

 

[gb55]

Sorry to hear that. Glad it all worked out.

Did the actual glass install go well? Did you go with OEM replacement?

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