Dead 12 Volt Battery - 2013 Fusion Hybrid

[gkinla]

With my experience using the iPod and hearing the double buzz when I open the door, I believe the USB port is dead until the door is opened...so no voltage drain until the door is opened.

[acdii]

On the Prius it probably has the USB powered on at all times, but the Fusions power down after a while. I had put my nearly dead Iphone on the USB to charge it in the car, and when I got back in the car a few hours later, the phone didn't have a charge on it, so the port does shut off.

[shaggy314]

A friend of mine who has a Prius was constantly having problems with his 12 volt battery. He finally was fed up and took it to the shop and had them keep it for several days, so they could see the battery would drain on its own. It turns out he had a flash drive connected to a USB port that was draining his battery. It didn't hurt too much when he drove it every day, but every time he left it at the airport, it would be dead when he came back.

 

Trying to talk this out... Why would a USB flash drive drain the battery, especially a huge car battery? It's a flash drive, so no power is required with the MFT system off. The car isn't actively accessing it, it's drawing now power. The drive is solid state. Now if it was a USB powered HDD, then sure, it's spinning it. I have a difficult time believing a flash drive, not being accessed, to could draw any significant power, much less drain a car battery.

 

I am not not doubting your finding, but there has to be more to the story. I suspect some flaky Ford (or Toyota) firmware, but the car shouldn't be seeing the device. It'd be like a USB flash drive plugged into a laptop that was off was killing its battery.

Edited April 27, 2013 by shaggy314

[hermans]

The 12v batteries in the '13 are pretty small, that's the problem. They are only 390 amps and the ICE needs to be running for it to charge. People like me who are getting the high gas mileage - their battery is only charging 50% or less of the time. Mine had to be replaced and this one looks like it won't hold up. This would be my third battery, including the one that came with the car.

[B25Nut]

Last night when I got home I turned the key off, opened the door, then closed it. The blue light in my FD when out at the same time all the interior lights faded out.

[lolder]

In the 2010, the accessories stay on for 10 minutes or until you open a front door.

[lolder]

The 12v batteries in the '13 are pretty small, that's the problem. They are only 390 amps and the ICE needs to be running for it to charge. People like me who are getting the high gas mileage - their battery is only charging 50% or less of the time. Mine had to be replaced and this one looks like it won't hold up. This would be my third battery, including the one that came with the car.

The 12 vdc battery is charged whenever the car is "on". The ICE does not have to be running.

[gkinla]

Update to this topic.

 

It's been two weeks since the 12v battery was replaced and no BS notices. Changing the battery seems to have solved the BS problem.

[shaggy314]

That was solving it on the CMax's too...

[spaceship]

Yesterday, I got in my car and it was DEAD. Needed a jump to get it started so that I could drive it to the dealer. I had read posts about Battery Saver messages and mentioned that to the service guy. They put my battery on a charger for a couple hours and then it tested out perfectly fine. When I asked why this happened, all they could tell me is that "maybe something was left on". Isn't this car smart enough to shut things down after you exit? When I later started my car, I noticed that the clock and seat settings were messed up and had to reset them. I also noticed that the chime I was hearing every time I turned on the car (sort of a "La Ti Da" x 3 chime) was gone. I wonder if that chime started about the same time as the Battery Saver messages. ??? Anyway, I'm going to watch for that. My theory on this whole thing is that the car (computer) is not properly shutting things down upon exit. I am very good about turning things off before I get out of the car and I do not charge my phone, use USB drives and I don't have a Nav system. When I turn off the car, I get out.

[murphy]

Yesterday, I got in my car and it was DEAD. Needed a jump to get it started so that I could drive it to the dealer. I had read posts about Battery Saver messages and mentioned that to the service guy. They put my battery on a charger for a couple hours and then it tested out perfectly fine. When I asked why this happened, all they could tell me is that "maybe something was left on". Isn't this car smart enough to shut things down after you exit? When I later started my car, I noticed that the clock and seat settings were messed up and had to reset them. I also noticed that the chime I was hearing every time I turned on the car (sort of a "La Ti Da" x 3 chime) was gone. I wonder if that chime started about the same time as the Battery Saver messages. ??? Anyway, I'm going to watch for that. My theory on this whole thing is that the car (computer) is not properly shutting things down upon exit. I am very good about turning things off before I get out of the car and I do not charge my phone, use USB drives and I don't have a Nav system. When I turn off the car, I get out.

The computers and such run 24/7. They don't stop when the car is turned off. It is also very easy to leave the inside reading lights on and not notice it when you get out of the car. They do turn off after about 15 or 30 minutes, I forget which.

 

I have a battery charger that can display the percent charge level of the battery while charging the battery. I hadn't used the car over the weekend and put the charger on it yesterday. It indicated that the battery was at 55% charge level.

 

I wish I could find the specs on the battery but it is a Ford proprietary battery. Since it is not used to start the car it should be a deep discharge battery in this application. A standard car battery can be destroyed by allowing it to discharge completely. They are designed to supply short bursts of high current and then immediately be recharged.

[acdii]

Yesterday, I got in my car and it was DEAD. Needed a jump to get it started so that I could drive it to the dealer. I had read posts about Battery Saver messages and mentioned that to the service guy. They put my battery on a charger for a couple hours and then it tested out perfectly fine. When I asked why this happened, all they could tell me is that "maybe something was left on". Isn't this car smart enough to shut things down after you exit? When I later started my car, I noticed that the clock and seat settings were messed up and had to reset them. I also noticed that the chime I was hearing every time I turned on the car (sort of a "La Ti Da" x 3 chime) was gone. I wonder if that chime started about the same time as the Battery Saver messages. ??? Anyway, I'm going to watch for that. My theory on this whole thing is that the car (computer) is not properly shutting things down upon exit. I am very good about turning things off before I get out of the car and I do not charge my phone, use USB drives and I don't have a Nav system. When I turn off the car, I get out.

If and when you get a battery saver alert on the MFT(if you have it), take it back and ask they replace the battery since it isnt holding a charge. I'm too lazy to go back and read all these posts, but I recall someone mentioning the wrong battery being installed too.

[neod192]

If and when you get a battery saver alert on the MFT(if you have it), take it back and ask they replace the battery since it isnt holding a charge. I'm too lazy to go back and read all these posts, but I recall someone mentioning the wrong battery being installed too.

The battery installed is correct - the manual is just listing the wrong one ... There have been reports of a some bad batteries, so replacing it should fix it.

[acdii]

Thats what it was. See too lazy to even think right. Must be the weather.

[gkinla]

I'm going away for 9 days and leaving the 2013 FFH parked in the garage. The 12 V battery was replaced on 4/11/13 and I haven't gotten the battery saver message since. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to put a trickle charger on the LVB, just because. I know when the car is off there are systems on standby waiting for a touch, B pillar key pad, a key placed in the ignition, etc. I don't know what the power drain is waiting in standby. I think I will anyway, I don't want the hassle of having a dead battery when I get back.

[mrobinso8]

I called Ford Customer Service Friday about the battery saver messages again and as a result having to reprogram windows, no problem, and audio presets. Battery previously replaced. Went to put a new usb drive in car and got battery saver when opening door. Just then the District Rep for Ford called and asked how I was doing. Told her the problem and that it was unacceptable. She agreed and stated that "Soon" a software fix would be out the would change how the 12 volt is charged. I replyed that "the check is in the mail". She said the projected time was 60 days but could go either way. Hope it happens and works. Car drives well but the software issues are frustrating.

[SoCalFusion]

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.

Where can I find my build date, I know I purchased the car as it came off the truck on 10/5/12, but don't know build date. Anywhere to look it up?

[murphy]

Where can I find my build date, I know I purchased the car as it came off the truck on 10/5/12, but don't know build date. Anywhere to look it up?

Go here

 

http://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRegSelector.do

 

 

and enter your VIN.

 

The date will be in european format.

[hermans]

I'm going away for 9 days and leaving the 2013 FFH parked in the garage. The 12 V battery was replaced on 4/11/13 and I haven't gotten the battery saver message since. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to put a trickle charger on the LVB, just because. I know when the car is off there are systems on standby waiting for a touch, B pillar key pad, a key placed in the ignition, etc. I don't know what the power drain is waiting in standby. I think I will anyway, I don't want the hassle of having a dead battery when I get back.

I just returned from an 8 day trip to the Left Coast and my FFH sat in the garage. No problems.

[milleron]

I called Ford Customer Service Friday about the battery saver messages again and as a result having to reprogram windows, no problem, and audio presets. Battery previously replaced. Went to put a new usb drive in car and got battery saver when opening door. Just then the District Rep for Ford called and asked how I was doing. Told her the problem and that it was unacceptable. She agreed and stated that "Soon" a software fix would be out the would change how the 12 volt is charged. I replyed that "the check is in the mail". She said the projected time was 60 days but could go either way. Hope it happens and works. Car drives well but the software issues are frustrating.

Just think what would happen if the computer programmers at the various antivirus companies had the same work ethic as the "software" lackeys at Ford. The entire Internet would be nonfunctional within a week. That "60-day" BS about fixing a problem that's leaving paying customers with cars that suddenly won't start, is utterly reprehensible. SHAME on you FoMoCo.

[DelS]

Just think what would happen if the computer programmers at the various antivirus companies had the same work ethic as the "software" lackeys at Ford. The entire Internet would be nonfunctional within a week. That "60-day" BS about fixing a problem that's leaving paying customers with cars that suddenly won't start, is utterly reprehensible. SHAME on you FoMoCo.

Hey it's the most advanced car this side of Tesla(I bet). I love technology, and it took me a couple of weeks to get used to, and learn the tech in this beast. So to design all the code to make this bad boy run, is pretty phenomenal.

 

Mine had the battery issue this weekend. I'm impressed with the car, nevertheless.

They'll work it out, and it'll be a distant memory.

Edited May 9, 2013 by DelS

[mrobinso8]

The 60 day estimate from Ford ended up being a couple of days. TSB 13-5-1 was done Tuesday. Do not know yet if it worked though. Time will tell. Milleron, you are correct. This car has many issues that the Ford folks could be addressing, especially with the Navigation system.

[smr2112]

Isn't it a fairly simple test of a a battery to see if it has a bad cell, not holding a charge, losing battery acid...etc.?

If these batteries are defective, it should be easy to tell and a no-haggle warranty repair from the dealer.

 

For those who have had this problem, did any of the dealers do this test and find a definite bad battery? If

these batteries are all testing good and not holding a charge, then the car has an issue of some sort?

If if you sit in the car 15+ minutes with it on, a good battery should handle this and charge back up as

soon as the car starts and runs a bit.

 

 

[acdii]

A good battery can show up as bad if it isn't peak charged during use. The TSB should correct that problem.

 

On a side note, I stopped at an EV certified dealer to check out the Cmax Energi, and guess what....dead 12V.

[Fastronaut]

The 60 day estimate from Ford ended up being a couple of days. TSB 13-5-1 was done Tuesday. Do not know yet if it worked though. Time will tell. Milleron, you are correct. This car has many issues that the Ford folks could be addressing, especially with the Navigation system.

I asked my service department guy about this and he said Ford won't allow him to do a TSB unless you actually have a problem they can reproduce. Huh?