Dead 12 Volt Battery - 2013 Fusion Hybrid

[mrobinso8]

Today I took my almost 4 week old 2013 Fusion Hybrid to the dealer. Kept getting Battery Saver messages when shutting down the car. Also, could not run the radio in accessory mode with out being told to turn off power to save the battery. Took to the dealer and told them the 12 volt was bad. They said the symptoms were normal. I know this was not true since they were similar symptoms to what my wife had in her 2012 C-Max. In its first month it had been jump started 3 times. Spent a week in the dealer for a new module that controlled the brakes. Did not fix problem. On third trip they checked the battery and it fail all tests. Was replaced and all seems fine. Today they check and found my 12 volt failed the tests and that the computer reported a spike to the radio system. They replaced the battery and I go in the 22nd to see the "radio man" who comes in twice a week. Apparently he goes around to several Ford dealers.

 

The battery problem apparently is fairly common. The Sales Manager said he would make them replace the battery regardless of their findings. Real cooperative and apparently is aware of the issue. The C-Max forum reports quite a few battery problems. See http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/index.php?/forum/15-maintenance-tsbs-recalls/

or http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/index.php?/topic/361-battery-dead/

[acdii]

Seems Ford got a bunch of bad batteries. Wonder what else they got that were bad besides batteries and headlights.

[jeff_h]

Seems Ford got a bunch of bad batteries. Wonder what else they got that were bad besides batteries and headlights.

 

Bad batteries, or regular batteries that sat in TBD-land for too long? I wonder how long the OP's car took from build to delivery?

[Kaleido]

I too was getting Battery Saver messages when shutting down, my dealer checked my battery thoroughly, about a 45 min test. My battery tests fine but service said the warning message comes on if you spend too much time playing with your settings without the motor running to keep it charged up. It is a small battery. My car only took five weeks to build, from when I ordered it to when I picked it up, so the battery wasn't sitting around that long either. Since I got all my settings right now and I don't spend too much time playing around without it running, I never get the Battery Saver messages anymore. Got 600 miles and it's three weeks old.

[coach81]

*GULP*

[lmp180psu]

I had the battery saver message come up the 2nd day i was playing around with the settings, but not since.

[shaggy314]

There is a LOT of talk about CMax's having 12vt. battery problems too, some up to 7 pages.

[acdii]

I was at my dealer today. They were busy clearing the snow and had to move all the cars, and had to jump start quite a few of them.

[darlintr]

I too have the battery saver problem with a one month old Fusion Hybrid. The worst annoyance is that you can not work with the navigation system in the garage. My dealer has not found a solution. In fact, he demonstrated that a new Fusion Hybrid in the showroom exibited the same problem, not being able to access the radio or navigation system with the key in the accessory position. The key had to be put in ready-to-drive to have them work. This is not a good idea in a closed showroom when the engine starts. It is not clear to us whether this behavior is a system fault or a design problem with the battery management system. We hope to get an explantion from Ford.

[lolder]

The ICE of these cars in "P" with the car "on" only runs about %15 of the time with the HVAC off. They put out very little CO and having it run a total of 10 minutes every hour you are playing with it in a garage is probably not a problem. It is hard to gas yourself with modern cars. Crack the garage door a little if you are worried.

[darlintr]

My concern is that the BMS is not operating or designed correctly. The accessory key position is designed to allow operation of the car's accessories without "starting" the engine. I do not think Ford wanted you to operate the accessories with the engine running in a confined space. Something is not working correctly.

[Kaleido]

I too was getting Battery Saver messages when shutting down, my dealer checked my battery thoroughly, about a 45 min test. My battery tests fine but service said the warning message comes on if you spend too much time playing with your settings without the motor running to keep it charged up. It is a small battery. My car only took five weeks to build, from when I ordered it to when I picked it up, so the battery wasn't sitting around that long either. Since I got all my settings right now and I don't spend too much time playing around without it running, I never get the Battery Saver messages anymore. Got 600 miles and it's three weeks old.

Update.... my Battery Saver messages are back now at 2000 miles. My power window problem is back too. I've been reading that they are most likely related, the power windows "lose their memory" when the battery gets low and they have to be reset to restore the one touch up feature. I'm thinking of getting a better battery than the original, I just hope it's not the charging systems fault.

[neod192]

I heard about some problems with the battery on the C-max. Maybe some Fusions have the same problem? Check that your battery is the one that should be in the car before you go out buying a new one on your own.

[shaggy314]

The ICE of these cars in "P" with the car "on" only runs about %15 of the time with the HVAC off. They put out very little CO and having it run a total of 10 minutes every hour you are playing with it in a garage is probably not a problem. It is hard to gas yourself with modern cars. Crack the garage door a little if you are worried.

 

:redcard: As with any toxic gas, you can never be cautious enough. NEVER run your car with an even slightly closed door.

[darlintr]

I too have the battery saver problem with a one month old Fusion Hybrid. The worst annoyance is that you can not work with the navigation system in the garage. My dealer has not found a solution. In fact, he demonstrated that a new Fusion Hybrid in the showroom exibited the same problem, not being able to access the radio or navigation system with the key in the accessory position. The key had to be put in ready-to-drive to have them work. This is not a good idea in a closed showroom when the engine starts. It is not clear to us whether this behavior is a system fault or a design problem with the battery management system. We hope to get an explantion from Ford.

Today the Ford factory rep recommended the dealer replace the 12v battery. Let you know how it works out in a few days.

[darlintr]

After four days since battery replacement and any other required resetting of the battery management system , there are no error massages on the big screen or left console. Maybe problem solved!

[acdii]

Sounds like it. I do believe Ford received a load of batteries that are not doing well. There were a couple cars on the dealers lot that had dead batteries, and they just received them.

[mrobinso8]

My 2013 Fusion Hybrid had its 12 volt battery replaced Jan 18. Was unable to play radio or enter navigation destinations without the "Battery Saver" shutting down the dash. After the new battery worked fine until yesterday when I switched the car to accessory mode prior to starting car. Battery Saver notice again, noise like crumbling paper, and shutdown. When car started radio came on vice the USB that was playing before. All radio and Sirius station settings were lost. Back to dealer again on Friday for further analysis. Between this and my wife's C-Max battery replacement we feel at home at our Ford dealer.

[acdii]

When both cars go into EV+ going past the dealer, then you will know for sure!

[Fastronaut]

Just curious. For you folks who have had the battery problems, what was your build date? From what I'm reading, this may not be a bad batch of batteries if both older and newer build dates are involved.

[hermans]

Mine was built 11/17 and delivered on 12/4. It didn't sit long in Mexico like some others. My battery saver messages started within one week after delivery.

[acdii]

Someone mentioned elsewhere, short trip, low ICE time could lead to dead battery. Makes sense too, if you drive short trips and dont use a lot of ICE, the battery doesnt have a chance to recharge for the time it is used to power lights, radio, HVAC and such.

[hybridbear]

Someone mentioned elsewhere, short trip, low ICE time could lead to dead battery. Makes sense too, if you drive short trips and dont use a lot of ICE, the battery doesnt have a chance to recharge for the time it is used to power lights, radio, HVAC and such.

 

Is the battery only recharging when the ICE runs? Does it not also charge during regen braking? I thought I remembered reading that the 12V battery is charged by the electric motor generator that is used for charging the traction battery both during ICE operation and regen braking

[murphy]

Is the battery only recharging when the ICE runs? Does it not also charge during regen braking? I thought I remembered reading that the 12V battery is charged by the electric motor generator that is used for charging the traction battery both during ICE operation and regen braking

I don't have a 2013 yet but in my 2010 FFH the 12 volt battery is charged by a DC to DC converter that runs off of the high voltage battery. If a voltmeter is connected to the 12 volt battery with the car turned off and a reading taken (12 volts) and a second reading taken when the car is put in run mode, without the ICE starting, the battery voltage is significantly higher (14 volts).

[B25Nut]

Mine was built 11/17 and delivered on 12/4. It didn't sit long in Mexico like some others. My battery saver messages started within one week after delivery.

How long ago did you get the battery replaced? Have there been any issues since? Have you "stressed" the new one for an extended amount of time like when you try to master different aspects of MFT?