Battery saver message

[Barsoom]

Thanks, O.

 

I brought the car to my dealer last year in March, shortly after purchasing it. They said they tested the battery and it was fine. I brought it back several times last year for the same reason. I went on a trip out of the country in May for 14 days, and when I returned the battery was dead. I had it towed to the dealer, who charged it back up and said that it tested fine.

 

I was living with the daily messages, too, until today. When I charged it up myself over the weekend and it still gave me the message, that was it.

 

The only thing I have in the car are two 12v USB adapters with nothing in them when nobody is in the car (one has an LED light on it), and a USB memory stick for the music system. Neither of these should have the current draw to drain a 12v 390CC battery in 48 hours.

[Barsoom]

I just took four separate 15 mile trips yesterday, and I got the Battery Saver message after each one of them, so even the accumulated 60 miles of driving did not recharge my battery.

 

I did get a call from my regional service contact after Ashley set up a case for me. Unfortunately, I was not in a position to take the call and left a message later. I will be out of town next week, so I will reconnect when I get back. The car will sit undriven for four days.

[inco]

For some reason I got to thinking that maybe there is a short in the system somewhere and it's slowly draining the battery. I'm sure they have checked for that, but what if it was missed because the draw was so little. Maybe testing the voltage every day? That would mean having the car sit idle for a few days though and maybe that isn't feasible. ;(

[gkinla]

I've been getting the BS messages often lately. I took my 2013 FFH to the dealer today and explained the situation. The BS messages first appeared back in early 2013, the battery was replaced and haven't had a message since May of 2013. I bought a digital VM as you can see in the photo. The voltage has never been below 12.2 volts with the BS message showing on the MFT screen. With the ignition on the volts always read 14.2 vdc, including night driving, so I know the battery is being charged.

 

 

Here is today's explanation which I can grasp. The battery was checked today and was okay. I have been taking many short trips because of a house remodel, many ignition key cycles per day. This battery is not being used hard, no cranking amps. All it does is supply power to support the various electronics, mostly in standby. With the ignition on you would hope the the charging system would supply enough power to support the various needs and recharge the battery with the excess. What I was told is the system monitors the time the ignition is on, in accessory mode and in standby with the key pulled and listening to the radio, if on. Also, whatever lights are on waiting to exit the car. The system self monitors and if it feels enough key off time has been exceeded with current draw, this time is additive, it will go into BS mode. What is doesn't want is the LVB to become so low that there is a no start condition. So these short trips seem to be the culprit. It's a very aggressive monitoring system. I was told that long enough drive times will reset the system, what that time is no one seemed to know. This is a DC to DC charging system so the ICE doesn't have to be running, just the ignition key being on will charge the LVB. The system can also be manually reset, which was done today. After several on off cycles this afternoon, there were no BS messages. Time will tell, the remodel is not finished, another 2 months of short trips with occasional 50 mile round trips. I'll keep updating this post.

[hybridbear]

One thing that's interesting, the Energi models should never have BS message issues because they will use wall electricity to charge the 12V battery after the car is done charging as needed. Since many Energis are bought by ppl who do short trips, this serves to keep the 12V battery sufficiently charged.

[B25Nut]

I would like to see the key fob have the option of having the first push of the lock button turn off the lights and power to things like the USB port. A second push would then lock the car. I don't lock my car when it's in our garage or business parking lot. This option would eliminate a significant amount of battery drain for me.

[corncobs]

My question would be why are the USB ports aren't shutting down when you look the car with the key. Lights are a different topic but why keeping the USB ports on while the 120V is turning off.

[acdii]

That explanation makes perfect sense(wow, thats rare that Ford can actually explain something that makes sense!). It also explains why those of use who drive long trips have never seen the BS(except those who actually had bad batteries). Seeing the battery voltage as normal while seeing the BS on the screen is further proof that they may be correct in that explanation.

 

I guess it can be tested, I could try it in my FFH and Flex and see, but how many short key cycles would it take. The Flex also has BS, I have seen it when I had the radio on while detailing, so would be interesting to see if it does the same thing.

[milleron]

Thanks, gkinla, for that marvelous explanation. It does make perfect sense and illustrates yet another monitoring algorithm that we didn't know the car possessed. Especially interesting was the fact that the LVB charges from the HVB as long as the ignition is on. I might have deduced it if I'd thought about it, but the FFH seems to have no alternator/generator other than the charging motor, something I hadn't quite realized before.

A word to the wise, though: folks with this problem should have the battery checked, at least once, as my BS message was cured by a new battery, replaced under warranty, without changing driving habits -- i.e., there are still some causes other than the way the car's being driven.

[Barsoom]

I am in touch with my regional service advisor, and we'll see what my next steps are.

 

I have already said that my driving is mostly 3.6 miles to work and 3.6 miles home. However, sometimes I will take a short 1 mile drive to lunch, and the 1 mile drive back to the office. I might also stop at the grocery store after work on my way home.

 

So instead of a single ignition to work and another back, I might have 1 to work, 1 to lunch, 1 back to work, 1 to the grocery store, and 1 to go home. That would be 5 ignitions for a total of 9 miles driven. I don't do this every day, but maybe once or twice a week. Otherwise, it's 1 to work and 1 to go home for 7.2 miles, or 1 to work, 1 to the grocery store, and 1 to go home for 7.2 miles.

[rvlasek]

Received call from Ford Customer Service Rep about my "Battery Saver" message issue which I have had since car was new 12 months ago. I reported this to Ashley, Ford Customer Service agent who monitors this forum. I had requested battery change out the 3 previous times I brought in for battery saver issue. Ford Service either charged battery or performed one of the TSB updates on charging system. This time I was told by Ford customer service they would replace battery if it checks low. So brought in vehicle last week, battery checked LOW. They replaced battery this time at no charge. I'm sure this was done with backing of Ford customer service. NO Battery saver messages, but need to test for at least a month. I do drive a lot of short trips, 3-8 miles. But I would get message even shortly after driving long trip say Dallas to Houston and back, about 440 miles round trip. Side note, by Ford service disconnecting old battery, EV is relearning home and work locations, I seem to getting better mileage, but could be due to current warm trend here in Dallas.. Maybe the hard reset of disconnecting and reconnecting battery power does work, causing vehicle to go in re learn mode. Anyways, so far so good, Thanks Ashley for your help......................

[Barsoom]

I'm still in talks with my dealer. When I brought mine in, the mechanic confirmed the messages and put out a call to Ford for ideas. The dealer called me this week to ask that I bring the car back in, since Ford has some other things they want the mechanic to try. I told them I wouldn't be able to bring it in until March 14, so I'll report back after that.

 

BTW, the message is still happening.

[Ric]

Mine is going in tomorrow for this. Rather irritating. If I put the trickle charge on overnight, the message goes away for a couple weeks. Been going on for many months.

[B25Nut]

I had to charge mine again last night. The battery was at 64%. I've only had short trips the past 3 weeks so the BS message was not a surprise, but it is still disappointing.

[Rupert]

I got my 2013 Fusion Hybrid in June of 2013 and I get this battery saver message from time to time. It seems pretty random. The weather has warmed up over here the past two days. It's above 50 degrees and I've been getting the battery saver message since yesterday. What bothers me is the unpleasant chiming noise it makes when in battery saver mode. I guess the problem will randomly go away in a few days or so.

[Ric]

At dealer today. They checked it: battery was ok, but, continued to get conflicting readings from the computer? Computer may be bad. Had to leave it there. At least they gave me a loaner.

[Wingmn]

I think I need to take mine in as well, it's been doing Battery saver now for about a month solid.....

[Ric]

Dealer updated the DCDC module today. Update obtained from Oasis. So far no problems. We'll see if this worked. If not, back to the dealer. Truthfully, we like the car but it has been a PITA. More than any other car we have ever had. We normally trade every three years or so, this one might be sooner. Hate to take a bath on it so we will try to keep it going.

[hermans]

Dealer updated the DCDC module today. Update obtained from Oasis. So far no problems. We'll see if this worked. If not, back to the dealer. Truthfully, we like the car but it has been a PITA. More than any other car we have ever had. We normally trade every three years or so, this one might be sooner. Hate to take a bath on it so we will try to keep it going.

How old is your car? The TSB on this came out a long time ago.

[Ric]

November 2012, message is back upon ignition shut off after getting it back from the dealer today. What TSB should they be looking at?

Edited March 14, 2014 by Ric

[murphy]

Ford will not admit it but the supplied 12 volt battery is way too small if you don't put a lot of miles on the car every day.

I had a similar problem with my 2010 Fusion Hybrid.

[hermans]

It's this thread. Your car was built around the same time frame as mine. Ford got a bad batch of 12v batteries and mine is on its third battery. They replaced the first one with same bad date code. On the third one they applied the TSB and I haven't had an issue since. Some here will tell you may not be driving your car enough, but my car get driven maybe once or twice a week for no more than 5 miles at a time and the issue has not returned.

 

My wife drives her MKZh eight miles total a day, 5 days a week and she has never had the battery saver message.

[FordService]

Hi folks,

 

Just wanted to pop in and remind you that I'm here to help with this battery concern. Just PM me your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info. I'll take a look and see how I can assist.

 

Ashley

[Ric]

Ashley: Sent you a PM.

[FordService]

Ashley: Sent you a PM.

 

Ric,

 

I see the notification up there. I will check it out in one second.

 

Ashley