"Please turn off ignition or start vehicle to save battery" message

[labjr1]

After the latest software update I am getting a new message each time at shutdown "please turn off ignition or start vehicle to save battery". It happens after I press the start/stop button to turn off the truck and before I open the door. Is anyone else getting this message? When I check Ford Pass I get a vehicle in battery saver mode so I suspect I have a battery that is failing. Software update was the "enhanced Stability update ECG-24.2.4.9". Truck is 1 year old and I have thrown the charger on it but probably will just replace the battery.

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[Ricksc]

Just replace battery with a good aftermarket make. I did an interstate and went form H6 to H7. Also changes SOC to 95%. No more deep sleep battery issues.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Cannot put my finger on it... I believe Ford has been sending trucks out with defective batteries. I had some really funny readings 4 months after delivery. Stopped on the road and swapped with a NAPA catalog AGM battery. Did a few other things but not peep out of the system since. That includes three Wyoming winters (eg -20ºF average). Nothing special about how I drove it... you cover some miles in Wyoming.

 

[labjr1]

Just replace battery with a good aftermarket make. I did an interstate and went form H6 to H7. Also changes SOC to 95%. No more deep sleep battery issues.

Thanks, I charged and then tested the battery. It showed marginal. I replaced it with an H7 AGM and my error went away.

 

[Ricksc]

Ford stock batteries are under sized and trash. Too many computer draws on it all the time. You can also turn on ac or heat with fan on to make it charge I have read. The charging system doesn’t like short trips. To meet EPA and MPG standards.

 

[Snakebitten]

Yeah, on a Powerboost, raising the HVAC fan speed to 5 or higher immediately raises both the charging voltage (if the SOC was already high enough to trigger a lower DC/DC converter voltage) and the amount of charging current (amps).

It's an odd attribute, but it's easy enough to confirm with a voltmeter.

 

[Bryan Simon]

Yeah, on a Powerboost, raising the HVAC fan speed to 5 or higher immediately raises both the charging voltage (if the SOC was already high enough to trigger a lower DC/DC converter voltage) and the amount of charging current (amps).

It's an odd attribute, but it's easy enough to confirm with a voltmeter.

Don’t know for sure if this works on normal normally aspirated engines, but I did this for a day.
Could not take the blower noise.
Not just this truck, but on any of my AC vehicles for 40 yrs.
Even winters in Idaho, warm up to melt ice and turn the fan backdown to low.
Pretty sure the pickup is on 2 or 3 now and has been for a long time.
I don’t roll windows up until the hot stale Texas air has had a chance to get sucked out while in motion.

 

[Snakebitten]

Don’t know for sure if this works on normal normally aspirated engines, but I did this for a day.
Could not take the blower noise.
Not just this truck, but on any of my AC vehicles for 40 yrs.
Even winters in Idaho, warm up to melt ice and turn the fan backdown to low.
Pretty sure the pickup is on 2 or 3 now and has been for a long time.
I don’t roll windows up until the hot stale Texas air has had a chance to get sucked out while in motion.

I live in the Texas heat, and I still rarely have the fan speed beyond 3.

The fan trick is simply a method to give that battery a ~14V shot in the arm if it needs it. I've seen the charging amps at as much as 20amps, if the SOC is less than 85%

With the new charging strategy, I would hope nobody needs the fan trick unless their battery is already injured.

 

[labjr1]

It turns out a new battery did not resolve my issue. After 48 hours with the new battery my truck is still giving me the same messages on shutdown (please turn off ignition or start vehicle to save battery) and I cannot access the truck from my Ford Pass application because the truck is in "battery saver" mode. I do not have any dash light indications of issues of any type.

 

[Ricksc]

Dumb question but did you reset your BCM? May still think it’s old battery

 

[labjr1]

I did not, how do I do that?

 

[Jerome10]

I had this message and it turned out the 12V battery was defective. Replaced under warranty after about a 30 minute, I think they called it "Rotunda Test", which the battery failed.

I was outta the dealership in under an hour.

 

[Jerome10]

I did not, how do I do that?

Page 513 of my 2023 Owners 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."

I would start with that. But also on the same page:
"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.
Note: Prior to relearning the battery state
of charge, the battery management system
may temporarily disable some electrical
systems."

 

[labjr1]

Page 513 of my 2023 Owners 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."

I would start with that. But also on the same page:
"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.
Note: Prior to relearning the battery state
of charge, the battery management system
may temporarily disable some electrical
systems."

Thank you! I will try resetting and then locking it up for the night!! You are awesome!

 

[Ricksc]

That should help

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