I messed up

[wireman]

I documented in another post about my battery issues. Original battery was an EFB and it was replaced under warranty with an AGM on 11-1-23.

The last few months I was having problem with the battery holding a charge and the Auto start/stop not working.

Ford wouldn't warranty the AGM so I decided to replace it myself with an AGM Everstart from Walmart, $212.00 and full replacement 4 year warranty.

That was done on 2-20-25. Even with replacing it, the start/stop didn't work, and yesterday it got the dash message, Charging system service now, 2 times.

I checked battery voltage and it was 12.6 volts. The alternator was charging at 14.5 volts. Strange.

I rechecked everything and I found out I didn't tighten the nut circled in the photos completely. So a lesson learned, double and triple check your work.

That nut was removed to be able to move that cable going over the battery out of the way so the battery could be removed.

Pissed off at myself for a dumb mistake but all is working properly now.

 

[Dude]

Perhaps that nut was always loose and the Ford AGM Battery replaced under warranty on 11-1-23 was actually still good and didn’t need to get replaced?

 

[wireman]

It was tight when I removed it. Never a dash message about the charging system till yesterday.

Obviously a high resistance connection that didn't show itself till yesterday.

It was me. I tightened it just enough when putting everything back together to make a decent connection. Had about 2 full turns left to full tight. After tightening it and driving the auto S/S worked right away.

Old age works in mysterious ways.

 

[Mark S.]

I rechecked everything and I found out I didn't tighten the nut circled in the photos completely.

I would say rookie mistake, but given your ripeness I'm going with CRS* syndrome.

* Can't remember s--t.

 

[wireman]

I would say rookie mistake, but given your ripeness I'm going with CRS* syndrome.

* Can't remember s--t.

For sure. To many things going on in the brain bucket at once and it's easy to get distracted.

At least it was an easy fix, just one that never should have happened.

 

[Meanderthal]

I would say rookie mistake, but given your ripeness I'm going with CRS* syndrome.

* Can't remember s--t.

I prefer to call CRAFT disease.

Can't Remember A F___ing Thing!

 

[Rockboz]

Luckily for me being Polish descent, I was born with an excuse!

 

[wireman]

REMEMBER, 9 out of 10 Fords are still on the road, the other 1 made it home.

 

[Me3]

That one looks easy to miss. It used to be so simple to change a battery. Thanks for the reminder to check your work when fooling around under the hood.

 

[Bucko]

I documented in another post about my battery issues. Original battery was an EFB and it was replaced under warranty with an AGM on 11-1-23.

The last few months I was having problem with the battery holding a charge and the Auto start/stop not working.

Ford wouldn't warranty the AGM so I decided to replace it myself with an AGM Everstart from Walmart, $212.00 and full replacement 4 year warranty.

That was done on 2-20-25. Even with replacing it, the start/stop didn't work, and yesterday it got the dash message, Charging system service now, 2 times.

I checked battery voltage and it was 12.6 volts. The alternator was charging at 14.5 volts. Strange.

I rechecked everything and I found out I didn't tighten the nut circled in the photos completely. So a lesson learned, double and triple check your work.

That nut was removed to be able to move that cable going over the battery out of the way so the battery could be removed.

Pissed off at myself for a dumb mistake but all is working properly now.

It takes a unique person to admit to a mistake and share it so others don't repeat the same.

Hats off to you for letting us know.

 

[Bucko]

Luckily for me being Polish descent, I was born with an excuse!

I'm polish, and have no excuses for being perfect.

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.?

 

[Davexxxx]

I documented in another post about my battery issues. Original battery was an EFB and it was replaced under warranty with an AGM on 11-1-23.

The last few months I was having problem with the battery holding a charge and the Auto start/stop not working.

Ford wouldn't warranty the AGM so I decided to replace it myself with an AGM Everstart from Walmart, $212.00 and full replacement 4 year warranty.

That was done on 2-20-25. Even with replacing it, the start/stop didn't work, and yesterday it got the dash message, Charging system service now, 2 times.

I checked battery voltage and it was 12.6 volts. The alternator was charging at 14.5 volts. Strange.

I rechecked everything and I found out I didn't tighten the nut circled in the photos completely. So a lesson learned, double and triple check your work.

That nut was removed to be able to move that cable going over the battery out of the way so the battery could be removed.

Pissed off at myself for a dumb mistake but all is working properly now.

Thanks for the honesty and update. We all learn better, from both.

 

[SeaJay]

It was tight when I removed it. Never a dash message about the charging system till yesterday.

Obviously a high resistance connection that didn't show itself till yesterday.

It was me. I tightened it just enough when putting everything back together to make a decent connection. Had about 2 full turns left to full tight. After tightening it and driving the auto S/S worked right away.

Old age works in mysterious ways.

Sounds like your old age and wisdom were working wonderfully in your favor to: Stubbornly persist in solving the problem, Be open to the idea that it might be your fault, Determine the type of problem it might be, thoroughly check the correct things that could have caused the problem, fixed it by yourself.
I think there are a few more miles left on your tires.

 

[wireman]

I hope so. Issue didn’t show up for 3 weeks. That’s what had me thinking it was something that I did. Guess the miles finally loosened up the connection enough to display the message. We stumble fall and get back up.

 

[MG0351]

I documented in another post about my battery issues. Original battery was an EFB and it was replaced under warranty with an AGM on 11-1-23.

The last few months I was having problem with the battery holding a charge and the Auto start/stop not working.

Ford wouldn't warranty the AGM so I decided to replace it myself with an AGM Everstart from Walmart, $212.00 and full replacement 4 year warranty.

That was done on 2-20-25. Even with replacing it, the start/stop didn't work, and yesterday it got the dash message, Charging system service now, 2 times.

I checked battery voltage and it was 12.6 volts. The alternator was charging at 14.5 volts. Strange.

I rechecked everything and I found out I didn't tighten the nut circled in the photos completely. So a lesson learned, double and triple check your work.

That nut was removed to be able to move that cable going over the battery out of the way so the battery could be removed.

Pissed off at myself for a dumb mistake but all is working properly now.

Semper Fi Marine, sometimes it's the nut behind the wheel.