AGM battery reliability

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

? Lurker alert, it's been a while since I've been on here.... Finally replaced the OEM battery from my Oct '19 ranger purchase. I have only driven it 400 miles since June and i did occasionally start it now and then and it started right up each time but will be driving it some more now and wanted the peace of mind. I was getting the shutdown messages more frequently than the usuall 14 days. All in all pretty good life just about what i expected for a battery in FL I have never gotten more than 3 -4 years from one since I've lived here.

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[Muffin1]

After resetting the BMS in Forscan and changing charge level to 90% from the factory 75% I tested the battery again after a couple driving cycles and trickle charge when not in use, those changes didn’t help with health of the battery.
The results are that the battery is going to have to be replaced.
So off I go battery shopping, just wanted to try all options before replacing it.

 

[dtech]

So, you went to the Dark Side.

Yeah

So, you went to the Dark Side.

Well looking on the bright side - turns it was way more $$$ but with that it way more bs to endure until me and 2 other accomplices started a company.

 

[dtech]

After resetting the BMS in Forscan and changing charge level to 100% from the factory 75% I tested the battery again after a couple driving cycles and trickle charge when not in use, those changes didn’t help with health of the battery.
The results are that the battery is going to have to be replaced.
So off I go battery shopping, just wanted to try all options before replacing it.

that's a bit of a surprise as the internal resistance isn't that high and the resting voltage isn't too low, but batteries if anything can be unpredictable. Nice battery tester, I want one , the name suggests it could be a mafia enterprise - they might also have ties to battery makers ?

Also interesting is the charging voltage - assuming that is from the alternator while running ? the rule of thumb is that agm 12v batts should not be subjected to voltages much exceeding 14.6v, 15 v the max , only slightly different from flooded lead acid.


If IR>30 milliohm, battery is in very bad condition. Probably unusable.
If IR is between 10 to 30 milliohm, still poor condition but may be usable or revivable.
If IR is between 5 to 10 milliohm, it is in good condition.
If IR is less than 5 milliohm, it is in very good condition.

 

[Muffin1]

that's a bit of a surprise as the internal resistance isn't that high and the resting voltage isn't too low, but batteries if anything can be unpredictable. Nice battery tester, I want one , the name suggests it could be a mafia enterprise - they might also have ties to battery makers ?

Also interesting is the charging voltage - assuming that is from the alternator while running ? the rule of thumb is that agm 12v batts should not be subjected to voltages much exceeding 14.6v, 15 v the max , only slightly different from flooded lead acid.


If IR>30 milliohm, battery is in very bad condition. Probably unusable.
If IR is between 10 to 30 milliohm, still poor condition but may be usable or revivable.
If IR is between 5 to 10 milliohm, it is in good condition.
If IR is less than 5 milliohm, it is in very good condition.

Yea that’s some interesting battery info, since Im the second owner on this and not knowing how the battery was cared for and the low miles when I bought it (7,615) and now a approx 13,400 there was a lot of ‘off’ time plus it sat for 2 months on the dealer lot according to the build date and Carfax sale date and additionally 75% on the preset charge didn’t really bode well for long life.
So before I find myself inconvenienced with a no start it was time to change it out, i purchased the Interstate from Costco, here are the #’s from the tester obviously much better than the old battery.

And the TopDon might be affiliated with ‘The Teflon Don’ LOL.

I was surprised to see on the battery ‘Made in Germany’ FWIW.

 

[airline tech]

Yea that’s some interesting battery info, since Im the second owner on this and not knowing how the battery was cared for and the low miles when I bought it (7,615) and now a approx 13,400 there was a lot of ‘off’ time plus it sat for 2 months on the dealer lot according to the build date and Carfax sale date and additionally 75% on the preset charge didn’t really bode well for long life.
So before I find myself inconvenienced with a no start it was time to change it out, i purchased the Interstate from Costco, here are the #’s from the tester obviously much better than the old battery.

And the TopDon might be affiliated with ‘The Teflon Don’ LOL.

I was surprised to see on the battery ‘Made in Germany’ FWIW.

I am just curious here, since I am putting together a full tutorial on how this system works, but to compare specs, when you were in Forscan and changed it to 90%, was it at 75% or 70%, I am attempting to figure out if the 2019's were set at 70% and 2020 and up were set at 75%, I just bought a Topdon myself and to compare to your reading, on the new battery, since I have the Lariat my CCA is 800 CCA, The noted reason I am pointing this out is due to what is programed into the BCM for battery 100%, Yours 760 CCA - 100% = 12.76 v , Mine 800 CCA - 100% = 12.89v, so it does affect what the truck's BCM considers 100%.
Plus, just curious where you found the IR- Ref table, that would be good reference info to add to my tutorial.

Thanks

 

[rang19ca]

I just went through this after my battery is about 4 years old. I also went with the Interstate MTX 48H. I have had great life out of Interstate batteries in the past. My buddy who has an auto/electric business said that an AGM battery is good for about 4 years so I was due.

 

[Muffin1]

I am just curious here, since I am putting together a full tutorial on how this system works, but to compare specs, when you were in Forscan and changed it to 90%, was it at 75% or 70%, I am attempting to figure out if the 2019's were set at 70% and 2020 and up were set at 75%, I just bought a Topdon myself and to compare to your reading, on the new battery, since I have the Lariat my CCA is 800 CCA, The noted reason I am pointing this out is due to what is programed into the BCM for battery 100%, Yours 760 CCA - 100% = 12.76 v , Mine 800 CCA - 100% = 12.89v, so it does affect what the truck's BCM considers 100%.
Plus, just curious where you found the IR- Ref table, that would be good reference info to add to my tutorial.

Thanks

The original % was 75, now changed to 90%, also not sure what you mean ''where i found the IR Ref table" i don't believe i ever mentioned that in any post, maybe you saw it posted by someone else and confused with me. lol.

 

[HowIconic!]

Update: Friday I started doing some meter checking of my battery. Cold surface voltage was 12.06. Charging 14.85. Put a 130 amp load on the battery - 11.30. Took it into dealer today. Charged it again for two hours. Battery failed! Replaced battery under warranty. Reset the body control module and the battery management sensor. On thd way home at the first stop the Automatic Stop/Start functioned again! Truck ran great again.
I was getting the “Remote features deactivated“ message by just opening a door! It was coming in on my Ford Pass app every time I did anything with the truck.

 

[maxbottomtime]

Ok. Supposedly the dealership put it on their BIG charger for several hours. On the way home it drove fine. ASS still inop. Drove it aday or two later - still no stop/start. Drove it today, air conditioner off. Came to a light - gray circle came on engine still running.

give the dealer negative ford feedback. they'll roll. clearly the battery is failing.

 

[BGDOGY]

Had the same issues with ASS and door locks stop working in December and had battery replaced since it was just over 3 years old, but it's already doing it again 3 months later. Charged the battery to 100%, but so far the door locks are still not working except for the driver's door. Haven't gotten a chance to drive it yet tonight. I guess I need to edit with Forscan to make the BMS charge it to 90%.

 

[HowIconic!]

Well, the end of Dec. the dealer finally said the battery failed. Installed a new battery. I realize I don’t drive it a lot. Not every day anyway, but I started getting the darn To Preserve Battery messages again tonight. I just drove it Thursday. Ranger in the garage is about to find a new home.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Well, the end of Dec. the dealer finally said the battery failed. Installed a new battery. I realize I don’t drive it a lot. Not every day anyway, but I started getting the darn To Preserve Battery messages again tonight. I just drove it Thursday. Ranger in the garage is about to find a new home.

Hi Robert,

I am so puzzled by the AGM battery failures. I too have had premature failures on my Ranger and my Nautilus. Really puzzled as I have AGM batteries in my Alfa Motorhome that are 6 years old and going strong. They are 6V deep cycle batteries, Six in a series/parallel arrangement to provide 12v into the motorhome. I was impressed vs the flood cell batteries. Then my MKX, Ranger 5G and Nautilus need new batteries way before the bumper to bumper warranty...What gives??? I think it is just poor quality that Ford needs to address with the Battery supplier. I fear Ford went with an off brand Chinese supplier... JMO.

Best,
Phil

 

[Racket]

My late summer 2019 build Lariat had given me the warnings early last winter and I took to attaching a trickle charger as I was only driving every 3-5 days and rarely far.

January I cleared the BMS via FORSCAN and the one touch rear door locks worked again after becoming intermittent. A week and a half ago started getting the power warnings again and the frequent posts prompted me to go ahead and replace the battery. About three and a half years I guess is the norm. Got the highest CCA AGM battery at Sam's Club for the truck (Duracell) with a three year warranty. For about $200 less the 'Sam's Bucks' ive gotten using their charge card it was painless.

Doesn't make sense to draw these things out.

 

[Floyd]

this could explain a lot,
I bought a new battery before I saw this....

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