12 volt battery charge state detection recall coming out.

[rocks]

Connecting a charger every week or two can work OK. Another method I've heard of is to leave the charger connected but plug it into a timer so it only has power for about 1 hours per day.

An easier and more accurate way to keep a battery charged is to use a "Battery Tender" (or Battery Minder). They are small, sophisticated battery charger/maintainers. They can be left connected indefinitely.

https://www.batterytender.com/

That's the one brand I've used for a couple of decades on a classic car I owned and other garage vehicles. My BS sits a lot. Never an issue.

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[Thelawgiver]

This is interesting and thanks for the information. I have a 2021 Badlands and never encountered battery issues or the other gremlins reported on this recall, and it sits a lot between uses, often a week or two. I'm wondering if this really applies across all vehicles or just that they cannot determine which vehicles have the software glitch.

You can enter your VIN at this Ford site to check for recalls: https://www.ford.com/support/recalls/

Mine shows no recall, but maybe it has not been updated.

 

[sajohnson]

This is interesting and thanks for the information. I have a 2021 Badlands and never encountered battery issues or the other gremlins reported on this recall, and it sits a lot between uses, often a week or two. I'm wondering if this really applies across all vehicles or just that they cannot determine which vehicles have the software glitch.

You can enter your VIN at this Ford site to check for recalls: https://www.ford.com/support/recalls/

Mine shows no recall, but maybe it has not been updated.

I'm wondering the same thing. It would be nice to have a way to determine if the software update is necessary.

I just entered our VIN at the link you posted and got the same result -- no recall.

 

[rocks]

I'm wondering the same thing. It would be nice to have a way to determine if the software update is necessary.

I just entered our VIN at the link you posted and got the same result -- no recall.

Mine isn't listed either. It must be too early.

 

[freddyboy47]

Connecting a charger every week or two can work OK. Another method I've heard of is to leave the charger connected to the battery but plug it into a timer so it only has power for about 1 hour per day.

An easier and more accurate way to keep a battery charged is to use a "Battery Tender" (or Battery Minder). They are small, sophisticated battery charger/maintainers. They can be left connected indefinitely.

https://www.batterytender.com/

The unit shown is older. It is just 1.25A but works fine with the large AGM starting battery in our diesel Sprinter cab-chassis.

Newer units are sealed, some are weather resistant. Outputs vary from <1A to >4A. The larger units are not necessary unless: a) the owner wants to charge the battery faster, or b) the vehicle places a large, constant, parasitic load on the battery. The output of the BT must obviously exceed the current drawn from the battery.

I've found that even BT's smallest maintainer (the 0.75A "Junior") will work on our car batteries (but I use it for a motorcycle).

A BT will easily pay for itself by increasing the service life of your battery(s).

Yes, I have looked at tenders, but my BS is on the street in front of my house and I don't want to run an extension out there.

 

[rocks]

Yes, I have looked at tenders, but my BS is on the street in front of my house and I don't want to run an extension out there.

You can try this. I like his videos.

 

[sajohnson]

Yes, I have looked at tenders, but my BS is on the street in front of my house and I don't want to run an extension out there.

NO EXCUSES!

An alternative would be one of those solar panels that can be placed on the dash.

 

[NMhunter]

My F-250 sits most of the time, so I have a solar panel on the dash with a charge controller plugged into the cigarette lighter. It always starts right up. The more you store your battery at 100%, and the faster you recharge it after running it down, the longer it lasts. Amazon sells dash solar panels. With the Sport, I'd recommend the higher wattage panels. For $50, you can get a 12 watt panel with a charge controller. That will actually charge you battery.

As a battery charges, the amount of current it will accept goes down. It takes a long time to get the last 10% of charge. You won't get that on a short trip. A solar panel or a trickle charger is a good idea.

 

[gatornek]

This is actually a great thread. Battery maintenance is so critical nowadays.

This is interesting and thanks for the information. I have a 2021 Badlands and never encountered battery issues or the other gremlins reported on this recall, and it sits a lot between uses, often a week or two. I'm wondering if this really applies across all vehicles or just that they cannot determine which vehicles have the software glitch.

You can enter your VIN at this Ford site to check for recalls: https://www.ford.com/support/recalls/

Mine shows no recall, but maybe it has not been updated.

A general rule of thumb on batteries is replacement 'about' every two years. Not sure when you purchased yours, but does it still have the OEM motorcraft battery? If it does, it bodes well.

 

[Thelawgiver]

This is actually a great thread. Battery maintenance is so critical nowadays.

A general rule of thumb on batteries is replacement 'about' every two years. Not sure when you purchased yours, but does it still have the OEM motorcraft battery? If it does, it bodes well.

Yes. Still original.

 

[S Duncan]

Yes, I have looked at tenders, but my BS is on the street in front of my house and I don't want to run an extension out there.

I have a Halo, buy them on QVC.

They have them at Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/62B03B8C-2C5C-4BBB-AEBE-18631C21B472/?_encoding=UTF8&store_ref=SB_A02287671BRZP7JR56ANH-A06801073F4SM4SZ7XTEP&pd_rd_plhdr=t&aaxitk=9f7f7c0590dfa72f787f761446c91c4c&hsa_cr_id=5862919700301&lp_asins=B079FSPRXM&lp_query=halo car charger with air compressor&lp_slot=mobile-auto-sparkle-tetris&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_lsscm_cta&pd_rd_w=4Sy1H&content-id=amzn1.sym.4870a952-0dfa-4beb-9d2a-7a52537f019d:amzn1.sym.4870a952-0dfa-4beb-9d2a-7a52537f019d&pf_rd_p=4870a952-0dfa-4beb-9d2a-7a52537f019d&pf_rd_r=PM2QY7XRS2T31MTSDPET&pd_rd_wg=7vzs3&pd_rd_r=8a2b56a5-e244-4d21-9032-a3ed1b2546f3

 

[freddyboy47]

This is actually a great thread. Battery maintenance is so critical nowadays.

A general rule of thumb on batteries is replacement 'about' every two years. Not sure when you purchased yours, but does it still have the OEM motorcraft battery? If it does, it bodes well.

And the replacement battery should be ab AGM.

 

[sajohnson]

Portable jump starters (or power stations) can be helpful, but there is a lot of junk out there. Many sad tales of people left stranded. Before buying one, it's worth checking out some reviews. Here are 2, no doubt there are more, however as with many product "reviews" the primary purpose may be to earn money from affiliate links.

This first review from Car & Driver does have affiliate links, but they are upfront about it and have done some serious testing (which is more than I can say for most online reviews):

"Tested: The Best Portable Jump Starters for 2024":
https://www.caranddriver.com/car-accessories/g42569313/best-jump-starters-tested/

CR has tested them:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/jump-starters/c37102/

Here are the top 4:

The 3 columns to the right (specs) list the number of USB pots; cellphone and laptop connectors.

BTW, one thing that's often overlooked about CR is that they usually collect a lot of useful info about specs and features in one place. That makes it easy to compare products side-by-side. It's just solid, factual information, no opinions involved.

 

[sajohnson]

This is actually a great thread. Battery maintenance is so critical nowadays.

A general rule of thumb on batteries is replacement 'about' every two years. Not sure when you purchased yours, but does it still have the OEM motorcraft battery? If it does, it bodes well.

Not to be contrary, just curious -- where does the 2 year replacement come from?

There's certainly nothing wrong with that, but I've always heard 4-6 years, and with a BT, our batteries have lasted 8-10 years.

 

[Dude]

Not to be contrary, just curious -- where does the 2 year replacement come from?

I cannot speak for the person you are asking but typically here in the desert where summers are above 110°F for months on end I average about 2 year battery life - generally I think of the battery as a replaceable item and get a new battery every 2 years like clockwork. That’s just me and how I roll. Too many failed batteries to go much over 2 years - it’s risky,

Except for a new vehicle … for whatever reason on a new battery I generally get over 36 month life - it’s like the battery wants to make it thru the new vehicle warranty period before failing. ?

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