Battery Saver Mode and Cold Temperatures.

[steveo1960]

So it's been single digits here in NY where I live. My 24 Mustang went into "Battery Saver Mode" per the FordPass app. So before the snow arrived I took her on a 1 hour trip, mostly highway at 60 MPH or so and the voltage was fluctuating between 14.5 and 15.0vdc . When I started her, she started but slightly sluggish. That was 2 days ago. So today i'm getting the same message. My question is, would this be normal due to extreme cold? Coming up on 2 years ownership so possibly a weak battery? Thanks in advance

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[robvas]

The stock battery stinks, it may be on it's way out. Go get it tested.

 

[timd38]

The computer looks at he temperature and state of charge of the battery then turns off all the parasitic loads as a safety measure. Our daughter was a hockey event this weekend and the car was parked outside at the hotel, she received that same message on her new Expedition. Since I retired from the Ford battery supplier, I tested it last night when they got home and it tested fine.

 

[robvas]

I tested it last night when they got home and it tested fine.

Tested it in what way?

 

[timd38]

Tested it in what way?

I have have a large number of battery testers from my old job.

 

[Neggytive]

The newer electronic testers work really well , especially if you have not just charged them with a charger and put a surface charge on the battery that can give a false reading

They are getting really cheap to buy now too.

Then there is the good old fashioned " toaster oven" type that has been around since the dawn of time, and even a carbon pile type that is good for doing alternator load testing too.

But Ford OEM batteries are IMHO not great, I have had them fail way before they should have in the past and more than a few people have had issues with them on this forum and got them warranty replaced.

Just remember the alternator in many fords, including the S650 is an "on demand" system and is computer controlled, if the battery is charged and you look on the dash display you won't see 14.2 or similar until you give it a load like seat heaters, rear defrost, etc then it will command on. That is what the sensor on the negative battery terminal measures.


But back to the warning you are seeing, it is the same one you get if you let the car go 2 weeks or more without starting it, even if you have a battery tender on it.

The ECM will shut off anything that is drawing power except memory functions, that includes the modem so that is why Ford Pass will not work once that 2 week/low battery state is detected.

These small lightweight batteries do not have the reserve capaicty of the good old days so they want to make sure your car starts, and that start with turning off non essential systems

 

[AZ_Ryan]

So it's been single digits here in NY where I live. My 24 Mustang went into "Battery Saver Mode" per the FordPass app. So before the snow arrived I took her on a 1 hour trip, mostly highway at 60 MPH or so and the voltage was fluctuating between 14.5 and 15.0vdc . When I started her, she started but slightly sluggish. That was 2 days ago. So today i'm getting the same message. My question is, would this be normal due to extreme cold? Coming up on 2 years ownership so possibly a weak battery? Thanks in advance

Its not the cold. These cars go into battery saver mode after 2 weeks of sitting. Its normal.

That said you should put a trickle charger on the car if you don't drive it much.

 

[robvas]

Its not the cold. These cars go into battery saver mode after 2 weeks of sitting. Its normal.

That said you should put a trickle charger on the car if you don't drive it much.

shouldn't do it after only 2 days though should it?

 

[steveo1960]

shouldn't do it after only 2 days though should it?

That was my thought as it's sat for 3 -5 days normally and never an issue. Of course we have not been at this low a temperature in all that time which is what made me wonder if the algorithm checks temperature as well.

 

[Neggytive]

Its not the cold. These cars go into battery saver mode after 2 weeks of sitting. Its normal.

That said you should put a trickle charger on the car if you don't drive it much.

Even with a trickle charger on it, after 2 weeks it sends a notice to your Fprd{ass app and then shuts down the modem

My car is on a tender from late April to early October, and I get the notification if my friends don't start the car and take it for a ride for me.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Even with a trickle charger on it, after 2 weeks it sends a notice to your Fprd{ass app and then shuts down the modem

My car is on a tender from late April to early October, and I get the notification if my friends don't start the car and take it for a ride for me.

Yep. I wasn't implying you wouldn't get the message anymore with a charger. Just that its better for your battery.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

shouldn't do it after only 2 days though should it?

No. Maybe its a temperature thing. Or maybe the battery is on its way out. He said it was tested so IDK. The factory batteries dont seem to last very long.

 

[steveo1960]

Actually it was not tested. That's my plan as soon as I dig out from this igloo mother nature dropped on the northeast where I live. The Mustang is buried so it ain't going anywhere ATM. Wife's VW Atlas AWD has climbed over all the snow. Impressive IMHO. So when things clear up I'm gonna have Ford Mobile come by and take a look. I've taken screen shots. I'll also perform a static voltage test both running to see what i come up with. Thanks all for the excellent advice!

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Actually it was not tested. That's my plan as soon as I dig out from this igloo mother nature dropped on the northeast where I live. The Mustang is buried so it ain't going anywhere ATM. Wife's VW Atlas AWD has climbed over all the snow. Impressive IMHO. So when things clear up I'm gonna have Ford Mobile come by and take a look. I've taken screen shots. I'll also perform a static voltage test both running to see what i come up with. Thanks all for the excellent advice!

When my battery started to die I got this message on the app. Ford replaced under warranty.

 

[steveo1960]

When my battery started to die I got this message on the app. Ford replaced under warranty.

Thank you for posting that pic. I haven't gotten that message yet so as soon as I did out of the snow I'll keep an eye on it. Take care!

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