Another low battery issue...

[AZ_Ryan]

Got this message on my phone last night. First time I've ever seen it.

I hooked up my battery tender and charged it over night.

This morning on my way to work, I got the chime again on startup, instead of the heartbeat.

On my way home everything was normal and got the heartbeat on startup.

I am now convinced that the periodic chime instead of the heartbeat that everyone seems to get, indicates a low battery message that happened on the previous cycle.

After this and the update issue due to low battery, I am apparently going to have to start charging my battery once a month even though it's my weekly commuter. I do have a very short commute. Only about 4 miles that only takes 10-12 minutes and no freeway. So I know that's not much charge time. But still, I have to wonder if these cars have a parasitic drain, or just inadequate batteries.

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[dusman59]

What is your bulid date? Early job one cars sat when the line had issues. There where many compaints with battery problems that got replaced. These AGM batteries are suppose to charge fairly quick. Maybe 4 mile trip isn't quick enough.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

I first had the heartbeat, then it Ford chime and aince a month I have nothing at all. Lol.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

What is your bulid date? Early job one cars sat when the line had issues. There where many compaints with battery problems that got replaced. These AGM batteries are suppose to charge fairly quick. Maybe 4 mile trip isn't quick enough.

The issues seems to be the batteries on these car aren't getting fully charged on a regular driving, or they are draining way to fast due to the electronics. My guess is the latter. There are tons of people on this forum who couldn't get the latest update due to a low battery condition and didn’t know it.

 

[LouG]

Got this message on my phone last night. First time I've ever seen it.

I hooked up my battery tender and charged it over night.

This morning on my way to work, I got the chime again on startup, instead of the heartbeat.

On my way home everything was normal and got the heartbeat on startup.

I am now convinced that the periodic chime instead of the heartbeat that everyone seems to get, indicates a low battery message that happened on the previous cycle.

After this and the update issue due to low battery, I am apparently going to have to start charging my battery once a month even though it's my weekly commuter. I do have a very short commute. Only about 4 miles that only takes 10-12 minutes and no freeway. So I know that's not much charge time. But still, I have to wonder if these cars have a parasitic drain, or just inadequate batteries.

I got it after fitting the front cam, no clue why. Put it on charge and all's well.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

An alternator will never bring a car up to optimum charge like a Battery Tender does.

It helps to turn off interior motion sensor, but every time I do it reverts back to on. These cars also constantly make clicking noises just parked...there's always something going on. It doesn't take long for the car to go into sleep mode to protect the battery.

It's a PIA to have to hook up a Tender every few days, but it's a reality with these new cars. I've told the stories before here. Long story short, Road Assistance work consists of about 80% jumping dead batteries on modern cars as told to me by one worker.

 

[MAT1955]

@AZ_Ryan ..... if it was anyone else I'd be concerned but because you are a very knowledgeable car guy I know you will account for those short drives by more frequent full synthetic oil changes. 4 miles is a very, very short drive. I can easily see battery run down in a 4 mile drive, particularly if AC is involved. At least you aren't "up north" where 4 mile to work drives in the winter (if you drove your 'stang in the winter) would be absolutely brutal on the engine and transmission.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I got it after fitting the front cam, no clue why. Put it on charge and all's well.

Which cam do you have and how is it powered?

 

[AZ_Ryan]

An alternator will never bring a car up to optimum charge like a Battery Tender does.

It helps to turn off interior motion sensor, but every time I do it reverts back to on. These cars also constantly make clicking noises just parked...there's always something going on. It doesn't take long for the car to go into sleep mode to protect the battery.

It's a PIA to have to hook up a Tender every few days, but it's a reality with these new cars. I've told the stories before here. Long story short, Road Assistance work consists of about 80% jumping dead batteries on modern cars as told to me by one worker.

All good points. I'm sure many modern cars aren't charging 100%. And to be clear, I'm not worried about a dead battery necessarily. I've never had a hard start or voltage warning in the car. But, when you are getting these messages, and you can't perform software updates, it seems like either the battery/charging system isn't quite adequate, or there is a drain somewhere. I agree about all the sensors and noise it makes. I can't even walk to the fridge in my garage without things clicking in the car.

 

[Skye]

I've never checked the draw when starting, but some engines could take as much as 200A of current to spin over. Once running, the alternator assumes the load (ever higher in modern vehicles) and charges the battery. But at four miles and ten minutes, that's not a lot of time.

When I was studying one power-related topic, I encountered a sea of similar threads: different makes and models, the owners expressing concern how quickly their batteries could be drained.

These vehicles are busy, even when sitting and not running.

- BCM battery State of Charge measurements
- PCM emissions evaporation canister checks
- Door proximity sensors and contacts
- Trunk proximity sensors and contacts
- Hood ajar sensor
- Door ajar sensors
- Trunk ajar sensor
- Telematics modem and vehicle cellular system
- Bluetooth (802.15) interfaces (if enabled)
- Wireless (802.11) interfaces (if enabled)
- BCM background functions
- PCM background functions
- Interior motion detectors
- Vehicle movement detection
- Vehicle slope change detection
- Remote Transceiver Module (Intelligent Access)
- Engine Immobilizer (Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS))
- Driver-installed ancillary devices

 

[Zig]

I've never checked the draw when starting, but some engines could take as much as 200A of current to spin over. Once running, the alternator assumes the load (ever higher in modern vehicles) and charges the battery. But at four miles and ten minutes, that's not a lot of time.

When I was studying one power-related topic, I encountered a sea of similar threads: different makes and models, the owners expressing concern how quickly their batteries could be drained.

These vehicles are busy, even when sitting and not running.

- BCM battery State of Charge measurements
- PCM emissions evaporation canister checks
- Door proximity sensors and contacts
- Trunk proximity sensors and contacts
- Hood ajar sensor
- Door ajar sensors
- Trunk ajar sensor
- Telematics modem and vehicle cellular system
- Bluetooth (802.15) interfaces (if enabled)
- Wireless (802.11) interfaces (if enabled)
- BCM background functions
- PCM background functions
- Interior motion detectors
- Vehicle movement detection
- Vehicle slope change detection
- Remote Transceiver Module (Intelligent Access)
- Engine Immobilizer (Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS))
- Driver-installed ancillary devices

Ah fast-charging regenerative braking only retains a charge when sustained, as in doesn’t actually charge the battery that quickly. Even a quick charger needs more time than the op drive takes, even if you add 15 minutes warm up.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

All good points. I'm sure many modern cars aren't charging 100%. And to be clear, I'm not worried about a dead battery necessarily. I've never had a hard start or voltage warning in the car. But, when you are getting these messages, and you can't perform software updates, it seems like either the battery/charging system isn't quite adequate, or there is a drain somewhere. I agree about all the sensors and noise it makes. I can't even walk to the fridge in my garage without things clicking in the car.

You bring up a good point I should clarify. Most of the time the batteries in these modern cars don't go dead, they go into protective sleep mode, so even though the battery is not dead, it still needs a damn jump to wake up. I keep a jump pack in my wife's car for that very reason.

 

[TcarterGT2024]

Got this message on my phone last night. First time I've ever seen it.

I hooked up my battery tender and charged it over night.

This morning on my way to work, I got the chime again on startup, instead of the heartbeat.

On my way home everything was normal and got the heartbeat on startup.

I am now convinced that the periodic chime instead of the heartbeat that everyone seems to get, indicates a low battery message that happened on the previous cycle.

After this and the update issue due to low battery, I am apparently going to have to start charging my battery once a month even though it's my weekly commuter. I do have a very short commute. Only about 4 miles that only takes 10-12 minutes and no freeway. So I know that's not much charge time. But still, I have to wonder if these cars have a parasitic drain, or just inadequate batteries.

Mine slides into sleep mode too, even if it’s on the tender full time. I Brought it to ford, they had no idea. Multimeter shows a fully charged battery.

 

[Skye]

Mine slides into sleep mode too, even if it’s on the tender full time. Brought it ford, they had no idea.

I've noticed that in my car since purchase and consider it normal.

IMO, load shedding and/or battery preservation in Fords can happen two ways:

I've seen that, connected to a tender or not, my car will alert me to sleep mode at about the two week mark. Consistently. Always has. This aligns with some of the verbiage in my owners manual. I believe Ford has a timer set to two weeks in the 6G. If not driven in that time, sleep or deep sleep is implemented. The car doesn't know when you'll be back. It's something of a safety latch. Just in-case.

The other way is when the battery is actually draining. We've discussed the parasitic losses. At a given point, the vehicle will begin turning down some features. It's been watching the battery's State of Charge and wants to ensure there's something left to start the car. Driver features or background processes are temporarily disabled as a result.

Edit,

To those considering Li batteries, like an Anti-Gravity, batteries like these will actually disconnect from the car to preserve charge. This can matter if using a tender, or for the uninitiated, attempting to start the car, but nothing, like 0 voltage, is present. Resets can be simple enough. There are some unique operating and charging characteristics to be aware of. Installation guides and owners manuals are available at the maker's web site.

 

[JimC]

I had to replace the battery about 2 months after I bought the car. Then this past month started getting that same message. Dealer couldn't find any reason for it, battery took a charge no problem, and so far it is holding again. I typically drive to my office 25 miles one way 3 days a week and that hasn't been enough to keep the message away recently.

The battery tender is now in the garage since colder weather is hitting us. I figure I will have to use it at least once a week this winter.

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