Dome/Courtesy Light Never Works

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

I think the best course of action is to purchase your own AGM H7 battery. Walmart or Batteries Plus or the like. Motorcraft batteries seem to be problematic, though it might solely be the result of Ford’s odd charging algorithm. First, manually put your fan speed at 5 or above for a significant period of time and then check voltage and your dome light. 5 or above kicks the charge up to 14.4 and can then fully charge an AGM battery. I’d do all that before going to Ford.

With the truck running the dome light and bed light operate as normal.

I'll check when I drive home today. It'll have charged the battery a bit by then and as soon as I get home i'll see if they operate.

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[FaaWrenchBndr]

Yeah my voltage is right over 12. Like 12.09 or so.

I'll stop by my Ford service center. I'm due for an oil change anyway AND I have a defect on my windshield.

Should be around 12.4 maybe 12.7
The only real way to tell with the batteries is the load test it, but certainly has low voltage

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

Should be around 12.4 maybe 12.7
The only real way to tell with the batteries is the load test it, but certainly has low voltage

12.5 after driving around town to find an H7 battery (2 local places had none, but there's an auto zone a few miles down the road with one). I'l grab one on the way home.

Batteries normally read 2.8 or so... definitely should not read under 12.1 after sitting for an hour (after a 20 minute drive). OR 12.5 right after driving around.

I'll go with what others say... these Ford motor batteries just suck.

I wonder if this is also why the truck has issues unlocking sometimes with the keys in my pocket. I touch the door and sometimes it doesn't unlock.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

12.5 after driving around town to find an H7 battery (2 local places had none, but there's an auto zone a few miles down the road with one). I'l grab one on the way home.

Batteries normally read 2.8 or so... definitely should not read under 12.1 after sitting for an hour (after a 20 minute drive). OR 12.5 right after driving around.

I'll go with what others say... these Ford motor batteries just suck.

I wonder if this is also why the truck has issues unlocking sometimes with the keys in my pocket. I touch the door and sometimes it doesn't unlock.

So is this truck a Powerboost, Ecoboost or 5.0

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

So is this truck a Powerboost, Ecoboost or 5.0

Ecoboost 3.5L TT

 

[hpwjr]

You need to periodically run your fan at five or above while driving. It’s the best way to keep your battery charged. You can also use a battery tender, but the fan trick works.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

You need to periodically run your fan at five or above while driving. It’s the best way to keep your battery charged. You can also use a battery tender, but the fan trick works.

We shouldn't have to run our fans periodically while driving and/or have to trickle charge. At least not on a 2023 F-150. I've had... ohh like 4 or so F150s in the past 3-4 years and i've never had issues with any of them up until recently. At least with the batteries. But I had my A/C on yesterday actually while driving around. So I shouldn't have issues today with low voltage.

It seems there are a lot of known issues with these batteries. I THOUGHT the issues were related to the Broncos but i guess the f150s have issues as well.

 

[hpwjr]

I’m not at all suggesting that the batteries are okay, I’m just saying that even with a new battery you’ll still need to run the fan high, 5 or above. I know it’s weird but that’s the way it is. Until Ford changes their charging algorithms, you’ll best off run the fan high. You’ll be amazed at all the good it will do.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Do you have the 2kw pro power?

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

Do you have the 2kw pro power?

Yes Pro power on board, although I never use it.

So I replaced the battery with a new H7 battery. Dome light/bed light would not work at first.
I went in to start the truck. Wouldn't even start. It couldn't see the fob. So I put the fob in the cup holder and it started.

Dome light worked.

Turned truck off. Started it back up, this time key in pocket. Started up. Turned it off. Locked/unlocked the truck, dome light came on as truck unlocked.

Bed light worked.

Soo maybe that solved my issue. I'm guessing when I first installed the new battery it just needed some OOMF to get going, having sat on a shelf for who knows how long.

I'll try it out later after it's been sitting and tomorrow after I head into the store.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Yes Pro power on board, although I never use it.

So I replaced the battery with a new H7 battery. Dome light/bed light would not work at first.
I went in to start the truck. Wouldn't even start. It couldn't see the fob. So I put the fob in the cup holder and it started.

Dome light worked.

Turned truck off. Started it back up, this time key in pocket. Started up. Turned it off. Locked/unlocked the truck, dome light came on as truck unlocked.

Bed light worked.

Soo maybe that solved my issue. I'm guessing when I first installed the new battery it just needed some OOMF to get going, having sat on a shelf for who knows how long.

I'll try it out later after it's been sitting and tomorrow after I head into the store.

So that system uses two batteries that’s underneath the passenger rear seat to power the inverter. If you end up taking it in, have them load check those batteries as well.

So most likely what you were looking at with that initial startup stuff is even though you got a new battery, that battery was most likely not fully charged.

After a few drives or 45 minutes or so down the freeway, the battery should end up getting to the fully charged point.

Afterwards, look up and do a BMS reset. It will teach the computer what the battery voltage is when it’s fully charged.

 

[4x4TruckLEDs.com]

So far so good. Took a drive to the boat docks (Long Island... so yeah we're surrounded by docks/beach). That's about a 20 minute drive each way. Dome light worked every single time.

It's a stupid little thing but with 2 kids it's nice to see at night loading them up again

The guy at the auto parts store was like "do ya need a big battery? ya running accessories?" and I just laughed at him "yeah I have a... FEW"

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