Tcarter
Active Member
My 2020 FX2 battery died at 14 months after receiving 'Vehicle Charging' msg for several weeks. Never received any indication of sleep mode. Just totally dead one morning. I'm in Ga. and this was a few days b4 xmas. Would not jump so had to have it towed. Fortunately the tow truck driver knew how to get it out of park so he could back it out of the garage to the street.The dealer just called me back and said the battery checked out fine. I asked him why the auto start/stop hasn't been working for a few weeks. He said the battery was low. I asked him why was a good battery low if I drive it almost everyday and not short trips. I told him that something wasn't right. Either the battery was bad or the truck wasn't charging the battery. He had to speak to his shop foreman. He came back and said the shop foremen told him to change the battery because he believes it wasn't holding a charge. Apparently their 45 minute battery check out apparatus didn't confirm that but I'm getting a new battery. I've had the truck for 14 months.
The good news was that it didn't strand me on the side of the road. In the future I'll be using the auto start/stop feature as my canary in a coal mine battery life verification.
Ford replaced the battery due to a bad cell. I am now getting the same 'Vehicle 'Charging' message again daily. Everything is fine when arriving home. Next day, same msg. I, like you, use the ASS as a battery health indicator. It takes a 20 mile or so drive for the msg to go away. Then I Immediately didable the ASS. Stupidest invention ever IMHO.
I'm afraid the battery is again being destroyed since once it was installed, it was fine for a while until recently.
I'm afraid to go camping in this truck which is one reason I have a truck! I bought a Ctek trickle charger and a LI jumper jic.
It is ridiculous that the new Ranger can't seem to hold a charge like my old 95'. It could go for weeks and fire right up. Had I known of this issue I would have never made this purchase. Never in my life have I owned a trickle charger and the last time I checked, primitive camping spots don't have 110 outlets. Why these trucks have multiple USB and 12v ports is beyond me if the battery system can't support their use. Supremely dissapointed in Ford. Want to trade it but now, vehicle inventory is so low you have to order and won't get as good of a deal. Would gladly take my old truck back if I could. Someone mentioned on another thread that the BMS engineer should be fired due this design. Not only fired but spanked before hand.
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