F150 LIGHTNING 2022 LARIAT /CODE U019B

[Sahit]

I need help with my 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning /Lariat. The 12-volt battery keeps draining even after replacement, and the truck will not charge it.


I’m getting a persistent U019B – Lost Communication With Battery Charger Control Module (BCCM).
I cleared the DTC using Forscan, but the code comes back instantly, and the truck does not charge the 12V battery at all. It only drains it until the voltage drops completely.


I have already installed a new 12-volt battery, but the problem remains exactly the same.


The main issue is that I live in Europe, and there is no official Ford service for the F-150 Lightning near KOSOVO, since my truck is a US. import. So I currently have no access to certified diagnostics for the high-voltage or DC-DC charging system.


If anyone has experienced this issue — or knows typical causes for U019B on the Lightning, such as BCCM failure, DC-DC converter problems, wiring/CAN bus faults, or software issues — please let me know what I should check next.


Any guidance or experience would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

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[RickLightning]

Based on the code, replacing the battery was a waste of money. Surprised you could find the right battery.

If communication with the BCCM is lost, it has to be restored.

I have no idea what the issue might be, sorry. Buying a modern vehicle without FDRS access is, we'll, crazy IMO.

 

[evowner]

Could some animal chewed up the wiring? I would have a good look to see if you can find any signs of that.

 

[ZSC100]

We can help you fix this if you are handy with diagnostics and electrical, have tools, and are willing to work on your own vehicle.
You will need to get, FORScan, and remove the frunk tub. As soon as you let me know all of this is possible I will send you instructions on what to check.

 

[chl]

I recall reading about some bad modules somewhere, you might need a replacement?
Even US owners were having trouble getting them replaced back in 2024 from what I read.
Maybe the response time is better now?

But being overseas, you will probably have a lot of trouble getting that done unfortunately.

See 23B50-S1 attached.

It is probably that...but it could be the BMS just needs to be reset - when you get a new battery if you don't follow the procedure to do that, the BMS will not know when the battery needs to be charged and so the battery will get depleted, or the BMS will think the battery is depleted when it is actually fully charged.

Give it a try - I think this is the correct procedure - I copied it from somewhere:

To reset the BMS on a Ford F-150 Lightning, put the truck in accessory mode (start button without brake), flash high beams 5 times, then press the brake pedal 3 times; the battery icon on the dash will flash, confirming the reset. This procedure is crucial after replacing the 12V battery, allowing the system to recalibrate

There were some updates to the BMS software - be sure you have all the latest installed by checking your VIN at the Ford web site.

After you get this sorted out, I suggest keeping the battery on a AGM mode trickle charger when not in use. Keeping the battery topped off with prolong its life and mostly avoid high charge currents from the truck which are not good for the battery.

Connect to the blue circles as shown (NOT the red Xs) or to the jump posts (see the manual for their location if needed) downstream of the BMS sensor so it senses the battery is charged and by how much.

See also this thread about the many ways to charge up the 12V battery from the MAch-e forum about failed installs of OTAs:

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/how-to-get-failed-otas-to-install.29749/

Anyway, good luck.

 

[bmwhitetx]

FYI, he has the newer BMS sensor, I have checked it for him.

 

[MaintGrl]

We can help you fix this if you are handy with diagnostics and electrical, have tools, and are willing to work on your own vehicle.
You will need to get, FORScan, and remove the frunk tub. As soon as you let me know all of this is possible I will send you instructions on what to check.

Thank you for offering to work on this, I'm sure can use your help...

 

[chl]

I was thinking then with a battery replacement, the reset/recalibration may not have been done.

A low 12V battery seems to cause all kinds of error codes to pop up and with out recalibration the 12V battery could get low. So I imagine it could cause this error code to be issued.

But that would be the best case scenario which is why I'd try that first.

I would also think that if the U019B BCCM error was really a physical problem with the BCCM he'd have trouble charging the HV battery as well, right? IF he can charge the HV then when the EVSE is plugged in and the DC-DC converter is operational to power the modules, things would work.

But if the BMS was not recalibrated, the 12V battery would not get charged.

That's just my reasoning without any experience with the problem myself from what I have gleaned from reading, so I may be wrong.

So if not a low 12V battery, then I'd check for wiring issue as mentioned above.
If it's a software glitch requiring reprogramming how will he do that overseas?

Getting FDRS info would be a good idea as also suggested.

 

[ZSC100]

Thank you for offering to work on this, I'm sure can use your help...

I hope the OP is technical enough to help himself with our advice. If he is following this, here are the first two questions:

What is he using currently as a scanner.

What module is the persistent DTC from.

 

[MaintGrl]

I hope the OP is technical enough to help himself with our advice. If he is following this, here are the first two questions:

What is he using currently as a scanner.

What module is the persistent DTC from.

Well, since he's in Europe . . ANY help is better than NO help at all...
But it has to suck having a unicorn in Europe....that is having problems.

 

[RLXXI]

I need help with my 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning /Lariat. The 12-volt battery keeps draining even after replacement, and the truck will not charge it.


I’m getting a persistent U019B – Lost Communication With Battery Charger Control Module (BCCM).
I cleared the DTC using Forscan, but the code comes back instantly, and the truck does not charge the 12V battery at all. It only drains it until the voltage drops completely.


I have already installed a new 12-volt battery, but the problem remains exactly the same.


The main issue is that I live in Europe, and there is no official Ford service for the F-150 Lightning near KOSOVO, since my truck is a US. import. So I currently have no access to certified diagnostics for the high-voltage or DC-DC charging system.


If anyone has experienced this issue — or knows typical causes for U019B on the Lightning, such as BCCM failure, DC-DC converter problems, wiring/CAN bus faults, or software issues — please let me know what I should check next.


Any guidance or experience would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

This pass thru cable along with a sub to FDRS and your windows laptop/tablet if you want the bare minimum to do any diag on these machines.

 

[MaintGrl]

This pass thru cable along with a sub to FDRS and your windows laptop/tablet if you want the bare minimum to do any diag on these machines.

Holy Cannoli, that a lil bit of change...

 

[bmwhitetx]

But if the BMS was not recalibrated, the 12V battery would not get charged.

I'm pretty sure this is not true. Lots of batteries get changed every day and the BMS is not reset. Think Auto Zone, DIYer's, heck even dealers. I also have heard (vague, I know) that the BMS will eventually learn the battery's capability (12 hours at rest?).

 

[chl]

I'm pretty sure this is not true. Lots of batteries get changed every day and the BMS is not reset. Think Auto Zone, DIYer's, heck even dealers. I also have heard (vague, I know) that the BMS will eventually learn the battery's capability (12 hours at rest?).

I am not sure if the BMS recalibrates on it's own over time, or how long that would take.

I have heard that can happen in the ICE F-150's, so maybe it is true in the Lightnings.

But in the mean time, one might have an under-charged battery being drained further by the vehicle while in use and by parasitic draws and the BMS will not detect the real SOC of the battery.

When the battery gets down low enough the DC-DC converter is supposed to activate to charge it. But if the BMS thinks the battery is already charged, it will not trigger the DC-DC converter.

If not calibrated when a new battery is added, it may begin to load-shed thinking the fully charged new battery is the depleted old battery, and that could result in errors like the OP observed.

I think if you look for other threads about resetting the BMS you will find this is the case.

 

[Sahit]

Based on the code, replacing the battery was a waste of money. Surprised you could find the right battery.

If communication with the BCCM is lost, it has to be restored.

I have no idea what the issue might be, sorry. Buying a modern vehicle without FDRS access is, we'll, crazy IMO.

Thank you very much for the time you are taking to help me with your advice and support.

Yesterday, I removed and fully charged the 12-volt battery using a charger and then reinstalled it in the vehicle. The same fault code appeared again, however the vehicle did start and the 12-volt battery was being charged.
At the same time, I could hear a repeated clicking sound from underneath the vehicle near the main battery, similar to a contactor engaging and disengaging. While this was happening, I was monitoring the vehicle with FORScan connected, and I could see that the 12-volt battery was charging intermittently.
I left the vehicle running in this condition for a short time and then switched it off. When I attempted to start the vehicle again, it would no longer go into "Ready to Drive" mode and remained only in the ignition/on position.

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