Burlworld
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2023
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 17
- Location
- Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
- Vehicles
- 2021 F-150 XLT Powerboost
- Thread starter
- #1
Hey all,
First post here. This was a great resource for researching the purchase of my 21 XLT Powerboost. Now I'm looking for some advice.
First, some context: I live in the Yukon, Canada. It gets extremely cold here, obviously. I was hesitant about getting a Powerboost (1st year model, etc) while living in an extreme climate, and diligently researched this vehicle before purchasing it. I was expecting a marked drop in fuel efficiency during the winter months (check), but figured I could live with that given the other benefits. Nowhere in all my reading, nor at any time during the purchase process with the dealer (dealer was in southern British Columbia - they were fully aware of where I live and the climate here. Claimed to have sold many vehicles to customers from northern territories) was any mention made of any usage limitations based on outdoor temperatures. I've now owned the truck for nearly 2 full winters, and have recently discovered (after a few no-start episodes) through a technical support request put in to Ford Canada through my nearest dealer in Whitehorse, YT, that the the HV hybrid battery is not designed to operate in temperatures below -40C. As in, the truck is locked out and doesn't even attempt to turn over on startup. A quote from the Hybrid/EV tech support in response to the tech support request from the dealer:
"Since we did find the DTC P0AFD (Hybrid/EV battery pack temperature too low) setting when the temperature is below the -40 degree mark, this is suspected of causing the vehicle to be in a no start condition. Within the normal operation and fault conditions of the DTC it does state that the high voltage battery is not designed to operate in temperatures below -40C and that fault sets when the thermistor internal to the HV battery detects it being below -40."
Further context - I have lived in the Yukon for 20+ years and am well aware of how to care for and prep a vehicle for extreme cold starts. This truck has coolant rated to -50C, a battery blanket, block heater, and oil pan heater. All confirmed to be functioning properly.
The Whitehorse dealer suggested I start with contacting the Customer Care line, who can be "quite helpful". Just got off the phone with them, they are apparently just a complaints department with no ability to escalate this or provide anything resembling a solution.
At this point, I am just completely baffled as to how these vehicles are even being sold in Canada (or Alaska for that matter). I realize -40 is an extreme temperature, but this is a temperature reached commonly across the country every winter...are we just supposed to not drive when it gets cold? Can they possibly actually be designed to just not operate below a certain threshold?! How can I be the only one?! This is a work vehicle, and due to the nature of my work, the colder it gets, the busier I get, and the more I need a reliable truck...therefore, it's essentially a $68 000 CAD brick of useless regret sitting in my driveway. Basically I need a fix or I need to sell the truck (to whom though?).
Anyways, I will be contacting the dealer where I made the purchase, and expect a loooong fight, but figured I'd deviate here for a minute in case any of you fellow Ford enthusiasts have any suggestions. Many thanks for reading...
First post here. This was a great resource for researching the purchase of my 21 XLT Powerboost. Now I'm looking for some advice.
First, some context: I live in the Yukon, Canada. It gets extremely cold here, obviously. I was hesitant about getting a Powerboost (1st year model, etc) while living in an extreme climate, and diligently researched this vehicle before purchasing it. I was expecting a marked drop in fuel efficiency during the winter months (check), but figured I could live with that given the other benefits. Nowhere in all my reading, nor at any time during the purchase process with the dealer (dealer was in southern British Columbia - they were fully aware of where I live and the climate here. Claimed to have sold many vehicles to customers from northern territories) was any mention made of any usage limitations based on outdoor temperatures. I've now owned the truck for nearly 2 full winters, and have recently discovered (after a few no-start episodes) through a technical support request put in to Ford Canada through my nearest dealer in Whitehorse, YT, that the the HV hybrid battery is not designed to operate in temperatures below -40C. As in, the truck is locked out and doesn't even attempt to turn over on startup. A quote from the Hybrid/EV tech support in response to the tech support request from the dealer:
"Since we did find the DTC P0AFD (Hybrid/EV battery pack temperature too low) setting when the temperature is below the -40 degree mark, this is suspected of causing the vehicle to be in a no start condition. Within the normal operation and fault conditions of the DTC it does state that the high voltage battery is not designed to operate in temperatures below -40C and that fault sets when the thermistor internal to the HV battery detects it being below -40."
Further context - I have lived in the Yukon for 20+ years and am well aware of how to care for and prep a vehicle for extreme cold starts. This truck has coolant rated to -50C, a battery blanket, block heater, and oil pan heater. All confirmed to be functioning properly.
The Whitehorse dealer suggested I start with contacting the Customer Care line, who can be "quite helpful". Just got off the phone with them, they are apparently just a complaints department with no ability to escalate this or provide anything resembling a solution.
At this point, I am just completely baffled as to how these vehicles are even being sold in Canada (or Alaska for that matter). I realize -40 is an extreme temperature, but this is a temperature reached commonly across the country every winter...are we just supposed to not drive when it gets cold? Can they possibly actually be designed to just not operate below a certain threshold?! How can I be the only one?! This is a work vehicle, and due to the nature of my work, the colder it gets, the busier I get, and the more I need a reliable truck...therefore, it's essentially a $68 000 CAD brick of useless regret sitting in my driveway. Basically I need a fix or I need to sell the truck (to whom though?).
Anyways, I will be contacting the dealer where I made the purchase, and expect a loooong fight, but figured I'd deviate here for a minute in case any of you fellow Ford enthusiasts have any suggestions. Many thanks for reading...
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