Truck Not Shutting off in Generator Mode

[DuckDog]

Community - (Not for the faint of heart here...)

I was off grid this weekend and had a small 19' travel trailer hooked up to my 2022 7.2 kw PB. On Saturday, I noticed that the truck would not shut off and was idling "low", not as it typically does when it is charging the onboard battery. I turned off the truck, and immediately restarted it in generator mode. I went to bed and it seemed to operate normally (meaning that the truck would only start up when charging the battery) for about 10 minutes when the truck kicked on to charge the battery, then never shut off.

When I got up Sunday morning, the truck was running (low idle) and didn't shut off for over an hour while I broke down camp and packed up.

When I finally got on the road, my speed was restricted to about 25-40 mph and the engine RPMs were extremely high - the truck would run up to about 6k rpm and do a very hard shift, but not get up to speed. I proceeded down the road about 10 miles and something happened that my truck started to run normally.

Here's some more bulleted details:

• There was a "low" load on the truck's generator over night. According to the display on the screen, I was never over 2 kw of use drawing from the truck's generator. Typical consumption was about 700-800 watts.
• The ambient outside temperature when I was camping in East Texas was in the low 40's overnight and in the low 50's during the day.
• The truck was hooked up to the camper for approximately 30 hours and was at no point was drawing over 2.5 kw.
• I never lost power to the camper overnight - power was excellent and never tripped on the RV or on the truck.
• Normally when I camp, I use about 1/4 tank of gas and that's when I use the AC on the camper. I used 3/4 tank of gas this weekend which tells me the truck was running a lot more than it normally does with less power draw on the generator.
• When I opened the truck door on Sunday morning, there was in inordinate amount of heat coming from inside the truck cab (it was very hot inside) although the truck's climate control was turned off.
• When I left camp and started driving down the road, the engine was rpms were very high (around 6k rpm), although the truck had to be pushed to go 40 mph
• The air conditioning would not blow hot air when it was in the above condition (truck running at low speed with high rpms).
• After traveling about 10 miles at low speed, something "came alive" with the truck and it took off and functioned properly and has been running fine ever since.
• There were no warning lights in above "restricted" condition and all temperatures displayed as normal.
• After the truck started running normally, the AC began to blow cold air immediately.
• I took it to the Ford dealership and they said that there were no anomalies with the vehicle log and it didn't throw any codes during this instance.
• They originally told me that I had to make an appointment (next available in mid-January) and they'd "drive it around" to see if they could see any issues.
  • I advised them that whatever the problem was, was caused by the generator and potentially throwing a lot of heat and putting the truck into some type of "restricted" or "protect" mode
  • They are clueless and had to be told how the truck's generator works. They advised they have two techs that could work on the truck that are qualified.
  • I offered to drag my RV 1.5 hours back to the dealership to put a load on it when they said that they have to get approval to do so.

I am hoping that someone here has had a similar experience or has had their PB hooked up to an RV or other significant off-grid application and can shed some insight.

Thanks in advance!

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[Snakebitten]

Yes, I had a similar overnight generator event with my 2021 Powerboost, except I didn't attempt to drive it for several hours afterwards, and therefore didn't experience drivetime anomalies.

I have a 2022 Powerboost now and have not had a similar experience, although one thing I never do now is turn off climate control completely. I'm not saying that had anything to do with it, but I was alarmed at how much heat was in the cabin on that one occasion that the ICE apparently ran for hours.

I'm a full time RVer, although that doesn't mean that I am a constant boondocker, because I am not. But I do frequently use ProPower and it's been very reliable. Also note that I keep this truck uptodate on all updates available, and after doing the same on the 2021, I feel that truck became far more polished and better behaved.

 

[DuckDog]

Yes, I had a similar overnight generator event with my 2021 Powerboost, except I didn't attempt to drive it for several hours afterwards, and therefore didn't experience drivetime anomalies.

I have a 2022 Powerboost now and have not had a similar experience, although one thing I never do now is turn off climate control completely. I'm not saying that had anything to do with it, but I was alarmed at how much heat was in the cabin on that one occasion that the ICE apparently ran for hours.

I'm a full time RVer, although that doesn't mean that I am a constant boondocker, because I am not. But I do frequently use ProPower and it's been very reliable. Also note that I keep this truck uptodate on all updates available, and after doing the same on the 2021, I feel that truck became far more polished and better behaved.

Interesting: So what you're saying is that since started to keep the cabin cooled down you've never experienced the truck continue to run in generator mode?

 

[Snakebitten]

Interesting: So what you're saying is that since started to keep the cabin cooled down you've never experienced the truck continue to run in generator mode?

Purely anecdotal, but yes, I leave the interior setup pretty much as if I were sitting in it parked and working. I do that because I have spent many hours in it as a remote office and it has always behaved consistently. The ICE will come about 3 times per hour and run from 55-90 seconds, and then go off.
Since that one time it appeared to misbehave, I had turned everything off in the cabin, I decided to not deviate much from what I would do if I was sitting in the truck.

I have no proof that the two strategies are tied to the overnight ProPower results.

From a software and computer module perspective, a highly optioned Powerboost is an intimidating ensemble of management code that is in its infancy, so to speak. It's got bugs and potential unintended consequences. I love it, but I don't trust it without making the effort to verify.

I keep an app on the phone and watch the tachometer when I'm on extended ProPower and not in the truck itself.

 

[DuckDog]

Purely anecdotal, but yes, I leave the interior setup pretty much as if I were sitting in it parked and working. I do that because I have spent many hours in it as a remote office and it has always behaved consistently. The ICE will come about 3 times per hour and run from 55-90 seconds, and then go off.
Since that one time it appeared to misbehave, I had turned everything off in the cabin, I decided to not deviate much from what I would do if I was sitting in the truck.

I have no proof that the two strategies are tied to the overnight ProPower results.

From a software and computer module perspective, a highly optioned Powerboost is an intimidating ensemble of management code that is in its infancy, so to speak. It's got bugs and potential unintended consequences. I love it, but I don't trust it without making the effort to verify.

I keep an app on the phone and watch the tachometer when I'm on extended ProPower and not in the truck itself.

Thanks for the information: It'll be a good thing to test on my next go-around at the deer lease.

 

[Snakebitten]

If you grab an OBDLink adapter, and you aren't too far from the truck (I am sitting in the RV with no issue connecting), you can monitor things like RPM and SOC of the Hybrid battery, as well as the real draw in Amps from the battery.

After a while, you'll learn the pattern for "normal" and it will take just a glance to see if it's working outside those expected parameters.

Below is an Android phone (or tablet) dashboard layout that I built using the free software that is manufactured by the company that builds/sells the adapter.

The gauges at the top are the Ecoboost gauges, and the gauges at the bottom are the Hybrid/ProPower gauges

 

[Aron]

I'm assuming that you have a bluetooth-enabled OBDLink like this one in order to view it remotely?

https://www.obdlink.com/products/obdlink-mxp/

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm assuming that you have a bluetooth-enabled OBDLink like this one in order to view it remotely?

https://www.obdlink.com/products/obdlink-mxp/

That's the one.
I actually have a toolbox full of OBD adapters. But that's the one I use for wireless access from a distance. It's got a nice refresh rate too.
And as you can see, they have the Ford/Lincoln/Mercury pids pretty much covered, as well as very customizable gauges.

I believe it's the right tool for the Powerboost.

 

[Fishstxy]

I noticed the same run-on problem with my new ‘22 PB Lariat powering a 21’ travel trailer. The truck was cycling normally for several hours but right about midnight I noticed the engine was low idling and not shutting down. It was late so I decided to shut the truck off. No problem next morning. This only happened once but I haven’t duplicated the circumstances since.

 

[Snakebitten]

It's gotta be some kind of bug in the Generator Mode management software. There's some parameter/circumstance that if the truck falls into it, it can't get out?

The reason I'm convinced of that is because you can't even get a Powerboost ICE to stay running in Park period. Except for a very specific diagnostic routine that can be performed for transmission coolant service.

I'm guessing anytime this happens a single key cycle would return it to normal? That would be even further evidence.

If it happens to me I intend to scan the truck before shutting down to look for any soft codes.

 

[Juiceman_210]

Joined this forum so I could specifically reply to this thread. I have a 2021 Powerboost and experienced the same issue. Was powering my travel trailer and it was a warm night. Truck said engine running due to engine being cold but that was not accurate. Turned off the truck, let sit for a while and turned it back on. Everything worked fine overnight. Next evening it happened again. Something is definitely glitching, but there are no errors being sent to my Ford pass app. Who knows…..

 

[JIMFOUNTAIN]

I have experienced something similar.... But only twice at 24K miles and 2 years...

ICE running and not shutting off when driving.... routes I am very familiar with and consistent have proper hybrid mode cycling. Same temps, etc. Screen says engine on due to "Engine Cold."

Which is impossible because water temp was 183+ degrees.

So I agree with @Snakebitten .... there is a bug somewhere!

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Joined this forum so I could specifically reply to this thread. I have a 2021 Powerboost and experienced the same issue. Was powering my travel trailer and it was a warm night. Truck said engine running due to engine being cold but that was not accurate. Turned off the truck, let sit for a while and turned it back on. Everything worked fine overnight. Next evening it happened again. Something is definitely glitching, but there are no errors being sent to my Ford pass app. Who knows…..

Good morning. Can you please send over a private message with your VIN and the name/location of your local Ford dealer? I would like to take a closer look at your F-150's performance issues.

 

[ricko24]

Something similar on latest camping trip. Used propower to keep 1300W space heater going all night in our tent. Normal cycle on and off for the first 4-6 hrs…I was listening to it from our tent before I fell asleep. Woke up at 7 am and I could hear the low idle consistent for a good hr before I got out to check on it. Did notice the interior cabin was super warm with the climate control turned off.

Happened 2 days in a row. My guess was the constant 1300w and the outside temps below 50f degrees.

never had an issue when powering my travel trailer. Which btw isn’t consistently demanding 1300w all night…so there’s that factor as well.

 

[DuckDog]

I would like to give a shout out to @Ford Motor Company - As I originally mentioned, it was apparent that my dealership had no experience with generator issues on the Powerboost. Shortly after I posted, I was contacted by a Ford representative who assisted me in getting a case established with their team regarding my problem.

My truck is scheduled to go in at the end of next week for a service call related to this issue. I’ll keep you guys posted on the diagnosis, but now have a renewed sense of confidence that this will be less frustrating since Ford is involved. “You’re my boy, Blue!”

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