Dead car comes alive... what's going on?

[Suncoast Hybrid]

So my 2019 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid has been perfect (except for the usual evap system code that I've heard is common) until last night. I unlocked it with the fob, got in, and noticed that the dash lights didn't come on as usual. I held the brake and hit the start button and everything came up just fine, so I figured it was just a glitch.

 

This morning I couldn't get in and the car seemed dead (no keypad lights or any sign of waking up), so I thought maybe it was a fob battery or sensing problem. Anyway, I waited a bit and tried again a few times, and it finally unlocked. The dash lights still didn't come on but I was able to start the car after a couple of tries. So, does this sound like symptoms of a bad 12-volt battery in the trunk? Or does this sound like it could be worse?

 

Thanks!

 

EDIT: NEVER MIND! I'm embarrassed to tell you it was just the key fob battery, don't know why I didn't think of that originally. I took the car to Batteries & Bulbs and they checked the 12v battery in the trunk, starter, and alternator on a little machine and they all showed fine. I was puzzled and started describing what had happened, and the woman helping me immediately said "let's check the fob." Turned out the battery was bad, so I'm sure that's why the dash lights didn't come on and everything seemed dead.

 

I'm a little surprised, though; don't other cars warn you when the fob battery is getting weak? My Honda Goldwing motorcycle does. What's worse is that on the way to B&B, the yellow wrench warning light popped up on the dash. I checked the manual and it said "Powertrain issue - take car to dealer immediately." That really scared me, worrying about the hybrid powertrain and wondering how much it was going to cost...

Edited November 3, 2023 by Suncoast Hybrid
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[mwr]

Your post leads me to ask (everyone) how long the key fob batteries usually last.

[Suncoast Hybrid]

2 hours ago, mwr said:

Your post leads me to ask (everyone) how long the key fob batteries usually last.

Can't say for sure since I bought it used in 2020, but if it's the original battery then it's lasted since it was built in late 2018. I've used it pretty heavily to remote start the car every day in the summer (it's nice to get the AC going when you live in hot humid Florida). It's not the standard CR2032, it's a 2045 which is bigger.

 

I should have known something was wrong - first sign was that the passenger door wouldn't unlock when I put my hand on the handle, then the thing with the dashboard lights. And I learned from youtube that the door pillar keypad should still come on if you swipe it even if the fob is dead, that's "the test."

Edited November 4, 2023 by Suncoast Hybrid
Add info

[Suncoast Hybrid]

UPDATE: Well hell, it's doing it again, not fixed. Maybe the fob itself has just gone bad, but I think it's more than that because the keypad won't stay lit when I touch it. Just for kicks, I tried placing the fob in the special spot in the console for starting with a dead fob battery, but it won't start. The touchscreen briefly came to life but didn't stay on. I don't have my spare fob with me (out of town) so I can't test the bad fob theory, and I'm just hoping that at some point it will start up again like it did yesterday so I can drive home and take it to the dealer...

[Waldo]

Sounds like a bad 12V battery to me.  No way a dead fob battery would ever cause a wrench light.  And yes, mine gives me a warning weeks before the keyfob battery actually dies to the point where it doesn't work.

[Suncoast Hybrid]

FINAL UPDATE (I hope): Yes, it was the 12v battery acting up, maybe an intermittent problem which would explain why it would be dead one moment and fine the next. Does anyone know if that's typical of AGM batteries? I managed to get it started after trying a few times over a couple of hours and was able to drive home. On the way, I figured I'd replace the battery anyway since it was 5 years old, so I stopped at a different B&B near my house and it's been fine ever since. Glad I didn't take it directly to the dealer - it probably would have taken days and cost a lot more $$.

 

Another weird thing is they had trouble figuring out which battery to put in. They spent a lot of time fiddling with their computer system cross-checking this and that, and even then the first one they tried was too big. They finally found the right size (and cheaper, $219 vs. $300, maybe they were just trying to upsell me).

Edited November 7, 2023 by Suncoast Hybrid

[mwr]

1 hour ago, Waldo said:

And yes, mine gives me a warning weeks before the keyfob battery actually dies to the point where it doesn't work.

What type of warning does it give?

[billford]

My 2014 has a warning message on the dashboard to replace the keyfob batteries.

[mwr]

1 minute ago, billford said:

My 2014 has a warning message on the dashboard to replace the keyfob batteries.

Thanks!

[Suncoast Hybrid]

59 minutes ago, billford said:

My 2014 has a warning message on the dashboard to replace the keyfob batteries.

Interesting! If mine does, I've never seen it. My motorcycle puts up a little key icon next to a low battery icon and flashes it, can't miss it.

[2014FordFusionSE]

On 11/4/2023 at 4:47 AM, mwr said:

Your post leads me to ask (everyone) how long the key fob batteries usually last.

 

My 2014 keyfobs have their original batteries, so 9 years and counting ?

The logical reason is that I have an actual key for the ignition which is why the fob only uses the battery when I press a button.

The push-button ignition Fusions have an 'always-on' fob

[mwr]

19 hours ago, 2014FordFusionSE said:

 

My 2014 keyfobs have their original batteries, so 9 years and counting ?

The logical reason is that I have an actual key for the ignition which is why the fob only uses the battery when I press a button.

The push-button ignition Fusions have an 'always-on' fob

My 2017 FFH has a push-button ignition and yes, the fob is always on.

[billford]

Another fun fact, the regular keyfob uses one battery. The pushbutton start keyfob uses 2 batteries, double the cost. 

The 2 battery keyfobs seem to work at a longer distance also. 

[MeeLee]

On 11/7/2023 at 10:03 AM, Suncoast Hybrid said:

FINAL UPDATE (I hope): Yes, it was the 12v battery acting up, maybe an intermittent problem which would explain why it would be dead one moment and fine the next. Does anyone know if that's typical of AGM batteries? I managed to get it started after trying a few times over a couple of hours and was able to drive home. On the way, I figured I'd replace the battery anyway since it was 5 years old, so I stopped at a different B&B near my house and it's been fine ever since. Glad I didn't take it directly to the dealer - it probably would have taken days and cost a lot more $$.

 

Another weird thing is they had trouble figuring out which battery to put in. They spent a lot of time fiddling with their computer system cross-checking this and that, and even then the first one they tried was too big. They finally found the right size (and cheaper, $219 vs. $300, maybe they were just trying to upsell me).

I bought a lithium battery,

Lighter, and cheaper. (Just $200 shipped to my door).

 

See this post: https://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/16592-12v-battery-timer-reset/?do=findComment&comment=118151

[Suncoast Hybrid]

9 hours ago, MeeLee said:

I bought a lithium battery,

Lighter, and cheaper. (Just $200 shipped to my door).

 

See this post: https://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/16592-12v-battery-timer-reset/?do=findComment&comment=118151

Didn't even know that was an option! Next time...

[MeeLee]

On 12/26/2023 at 9:45 AM, Suncoast Hybrid said:

Didn't even know that was an option! Next time...

They have a special on it. $136 for the battery.

Probably many people return it, because they don't know regular 14.4V car alternator chargers shut off the BMS on the battery. (Hence the diodes, but you can also solder some resistors in parallel with the charge wire).

 

I bought mine nearly 2 years ago. Just verify if the size is still similar to the stock battery.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGRZP5Q6

 

Edited December 31, 2023 by MeeLee