Message: system shutting down to save battery?

[Deleted member 22921]

I agree with GrandpaD. When I had my new H8 Everstart Platinum battery installed at WalMart, I immediately drove my truck to the local Ford dealer and asked the Service guy to get a mechanic to “perform a BMS (Battery Monitoring System) reset” for me.

Service guy said, “No BMS reset needed. Just drive the truck.”

I replied well, I had read on this F-150 14 Gen forum that a BMS reset was needed, and explained that it involved flash headlights five times, then step on brake pedal three times etc etc. and I asked Don’t their mechanics do this BMS reset after they install a new battery.

He said, “No, the truck’s computer resets the BMS by itself after it is parked overnight.”

So …… I said OK, if you say so. I then drove the truck home.

No problems with the new H8 battery since (six months).

Don’t know about all you guys, but hey, this worked for me. ?‍

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[Sig Oris]

New 24 KR PB here, I am already having that message along with the loss of approach lighting/interior lights, and loss of FordPass remote starting, at only 1200 miles. I had this same exact issue with the 22 XLT 302a 2.7EB I had prior.

I was hoping that by now, this POS issue would have been resolved. Nope. I guess we are the poor saps that STILL have to deal with this.

Even after a 120 mile round trip on the superslab at 75 mph, I STILL had the f$&@ing battery saver mode the very next morning. What, am I supposed to do 500 mile a day 100 mph trips to stay out of battery saver mode? And no, I am not running a battery tender. I am not going to run a 100 foot extension cord out to it, and have to pop the hood to unplug it at zero dark thirty in the pouring rain/snow/freezing cold when I go to work.

I’ve pretty much given up on it. It sucks that I have to manually turn on my interior lights at night, so I can see the stuff I need to grab from the back seat, then hopefully I remember to turn the damn interior lights off before I close the door. I paid for the approach lighting feature, yet only get to use it part time, when it decides to not be in battery saver mode. It is what it is, I guess. At least I can still remote start it with the key fob, for now anyway.

Everything else about the truck is excellent. But this battery saver mode bullshit has soured me on the ownership experience, especially since this is my second F150 in a row with this unsolved issue. Ford’s battery management programming is absolute garbage, and the engineer(s) responsible for this should be fired, and never be allowed to work in the engineering field again.

It’s funny. My wife has loaded Subaru Outback. We have left it for two weeks in a parking lot when we have gone on vacation. We come back, all approach lighting/interior lighting works, and it starts right up as if we drove it the day before. No battery saver mode BS. I wouldn’t dare use my truck for that now, at least without having my booster pack under the back seat.

I’ve seen people mount the maintainer inside the engine compartment and have the 110VAC plug dangle thru the grill like a block heater

 

[Magician]

My 2022 was getting this for a couple weeks. I cleaned the terminals on both sides and charged the battery stand alone(disconnected) and have had nothing since.

 

[ChiefD]

I took my 21 Powerboost in for this yesterday and they replaced the battery. This is the second one for my truck. The last one only lasted 30 months. Arizona weather Is hard on batteries.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I took my 21 Powerboost in for this yesterday and they replaced the battery. This is the second one for my truck. The last one only lasted 30 months. Arizona weather Is hard on batteries.

Heat is a known killer of batteries. I spent two years on Guam in my Navy time. Batteries out there make it maybe two years... Latitude 8ºN... I'd have thought Arizona would be kinder to batteries at the higher latitude, but maybe not..

 

[Figster]

I purchased my new 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor back in October 2024. Everything was fine until a few weeks ago.

It's been pretty cold here in Hamilton, Ontario these past couple of weeks. My truck started by sending me the following message on my Ford app, "Remote features disabled to Preserve Battery" about 3 weeks ago.

I go out the following morning to start the truck and it's completely dead. Have to open the door manually with the key. Open the hood and boost the battery. This has been happening every night for several weeks until I was able to make an appointment with the dealership.

I finally brought the truck into the dealership this morning. The mechanic tested the battery. After a few hours in the shop, the mechanic said that the battery was fine. 100% charged. No issues.

Asked me to leave it at the dealership over night to see it the issue happen again. It's currently outside the dealership for the night.

I guess I'll see what happens tomorrow morning.

The truck came with a H7 battery installed. FoMoCo BAGM-94RH7-800.

I'll update you all when I find out more tomorrow.

I also did a little research on the web for a solution and found a Ford Technical Sevice Bulletin. I've attached the bulletin to this post.

Asked the mechanic to refer to the bulletin and apply the update to see if it will fix the issue.

If anyone has an alternative solution, please let me know. Thank you.

 

[RedwoodRyan]

had the same issue on my 4 month Lariat and read all the threads. Didn’t want to go in circles with dealership over a $200 replacement battery that took me less than 15 min to install. Got Napa replacement and zero issues. So frustrating that’s what $76k buys. Still love the truck though.

 

[KingDavid]

*sigh* guys, the factory motorcraft batteries suck. Go to Walmart and get an h8 battery. H7 if you're a powerboost.

My 21 was having these same issues and more. Went from motorcrap h6 to a Costco h8. ZERO problems. Save yourself some time by performing the extremely quick and easy BMS reset yourself instead of taking it to a dealer. Outrageous to have this problem on these expensive trucks (especially the higher models), but there's your solution. You don't need a battery tender. I have one because I installed it on my truck and I like plugging it in overnight when I feel like it.

 

[KingDavid]

I agree with GrandpaD. When I had my new H8 Everstart Platinum battery installed at WalMart, I immediately drove my truck to the local Ford dealer and asked the Service guy to get a mechanic to “perform a BMS (Battery Monitoring System) reset” for me.

Service guy said, “No BMS reset needed. Just drive the truck.”

I replied well, I had read on this F-150 14 Gen forum that a BMS reset was needed, and explained that it involved flash headlights five times, then step on brake pedal three times etc etc. and I asked Don’t their mechanics do this BMS reset after they install a new battery.

He said, “No, the truck’s computer resets the BMS by itself after it is parked overnight.”

So …… I said OK, if you say so. I then drove the truck home.

No problems with the new H8 battery since (six months).

Don’t know about all you guys, but hey, this worked for me. ?‍

You have a lazy or uninformed dealer. The fact they wouldn't do something so simple that would cause no harm is crazy. But I'm glad it's been fine for you. I replaced the battery, went about my day, got home, plugged it into my battery tender overnight, and performed the BMS reset in the morning.

From another f150 forum where a poster said something similar to your dealer & the subsequent reply with quotes directly from the service manual;

"It will also reset if you leave it locked for 8hrs and undisturbed."

*Reply*

"Not correct.

^That^ allows the Battery Management System to re-calibrate battery SOC but does not reset the distinctly different battery-age parameter which is required when a new battery is installed.
.
After battery replacement, or in some
cases after charging the battery with an
external charger, the battery management
system requires eight hours of vehicle sleep
time to relearn the battery state of charge.
During this time, your vehicle must remain
fully locked with the ignition switched off.
.
The only way (without use of FDRS or FORScan) to reset the battery age parameter is to reset the Battery Sensor manually using the procedure described in the Owner's Manual.
.
Battery Sensor Reset
When you install a new battery, reset the
battery sensor by doing the following:
1. Switch the ignition on, and leave the
engine off.
Note: Complete Steps 2 and 3 within 10
seconds.
2. Flash the high beam headlamps five
times, ending with the high beams off.
3. Press and release the brake pedal three
times.
The battery warning lamp flashes three
times to confirm that the reset is
successful.
.
Absent ^that^ manual intervention / reset procedure, the Battery Sensor has no possible way of knowing that a new battery has been installed. This is what allows you to disconnect a battery for an indefinite period for whatever reason, charge it or whatever, and reinstall the same old battery without losing its true age parameter. The battery-age parameter is stored in non-volatile memory, it does not require any connected battery to be retained forever (or until manually reset).
.
Indented italic citations above are clipped verbatim from the 2022 F150 Owner's Manual, Maintenance Section; this is explained in greater detail in the F150 Workshop Manual."

 

[Figster]

Quick update on my battery draining issue over night. So the dealership kept my truck over night and in the morning, they confirmed that the battery had completely drained. After having the truck in the shop all day long, I get a call from the dealership stating that they need to keep it in the shop as the mechanic didn't find the cause of the battery drain yet.

Keep you guys updated when they figure it out. Hoping it's something simple that they over looked.

Any advice on here would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hobkvet]

Quick update on my battery draining issue over night. So the dealership kept my truck over night and in the morning, they confirmed that the battery had completely drained. After having the truck in the shop all day long, I get a call from the dealership stating that they need to keep it in the shop as the mechanic didn't find the cause of the battery drain yet.

Keep you guys updated when they figure it out. Hoping it's something simple that they over looked.

Any advice on here would be greatly appreciated.

IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT- DID THEY RETURN YOUR TRUCK YET

 

[Bobcatou]

I'm going to the dealer for that and other minor issues like my tow plug accessory pin doesn't work, customer satisfaction recall, a check engine light that came and went and a couple minor things. Not really bothered about the stuff yet. Been 9 months since I bought the truck and figure this is my "bug" repair that all vehicles go through these days when they are first bought.

 

[Figster]

Update: This past Friday the dealership contacted me and told me that the mechanic still couldn't find the drain. At this point, I had enough. I asked them if the mechanic had done a parasitic drain test. The service desk wasn't able to give me an answer. At this point, I had enough with this dealership. I dropped by the dealership asking for paper work on what the mechanic had tested. The service desk wasn't sure and had no paper work for me. So at this time, I asked for my truck back and took it to another Ford dealership.

While at the new Ford dealership, the mechanic did a parasitic drain test and found that there was no drain. Then he tested the battery and it failed. Replaced the battery with a new AGM H7. Asked me to keep an eye on it over night. So far, it's been fine. I was able to start the truck this morning without an issue.

I did notice something else though. When I was in the truck today with the engine off, I heard a consistent clicking on and off coming from behind the dash. It happens every 30 seconds or so.

I contacted the new Ford dealership that replace the battery and he told me that it might be a faulty blend door actuator. IT may operate incessantly, even when the vehicle is off, due to internal malfunctions. This constant activity can drain the battery over time.

Bring it in on Monday just to make sure.

If you're battery in getting drained, I would recommend doing what I did. Turn off your engine, open the door and close it again while sitting in the drivers seat. Wait until all electronics shuts down. Wait for a minute or so and listen for a clicking on and off sound. If you hear the sound, it may be a faulty blend door actuator which will drain your battery.

I'll give you another update on Monday after I have the Ford mechanic look at it.

 

[Hobkvet]

Update: This past Friday the dealership contacted me and told me that the mechanic still couldn't find the drain. At this point, I had enough. I asked them if the mechanic had done a parasitic drain test. The service desk wasn't able to give me an answer. At this point, I had enough with this dealership. I dropped by the dealership asking for paper work on what the mechanic had tested. The service desk wasn't sure and had no paper work for me. So at this time, I asked for my truck back and took it to another Ford dealership.

While at the new Ford dealership, the mechanic did a parasitic drain test and found that there was no drain. Then he tested the battery and it failed. Replaced the battery with a new AGM H7. Asked me to keep an eye on it over night. So far, it's been fine. I was able to start the truck this morning without an issue.

I did notice something else though. When I was in the truck today with the engine off, I heard a consistent clicking on and off coming from behind the dash. It happens every 30 seconds or so.

I contacted the new Ford dealership that replace the battery and he told me that it might be a faulty blend door actuator. IT may operate incessantly, even when the vehicle is off, due to internal malfunctions. This constant activity can drain the battery over time.

Bring it in on Monday just to make sure.

If you're battery in getting drained, I would recommend doing what I did. Turn off your engine, open the door and close it again while sitting in the drivers seat. Wait until all electronics shuts down. Wait for a minute or so and listen for a clicking on and off sound. If you hear the sound, it may be a faulty blend door actuator which will drain your battery.

I'll give you another update on Monday after I have the Ford mechanic look at it.

Thanks I may need a new battery and this just seems to be a pain, I'll be waiting have a good rest of the weekend

 

[Gros Ventre]

I've observed that the Ford batteries are the common thread. Keep in mind that the parasitic drain could really be there, just located in the battery itself. If that's the case then the test would not show it. There could be an assembly fault could lead to such a drain and the only way to find it would be to take the battery out of the truck and check terminal voltage to see what kind of ramp exists and compare that to expected self drain.

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