Battery light on the dash is on, truck won't start

[twodogsdennis]

Well, well, April 1 was no joke this year. For the third time since January 26, and one week after the truck returned from four weeks in the shop, the Pro gave me the dreaded red light pull over. This time it was in my driveway, so luck was with me. I had tried four times through the afternoon to initiate a charge and the truck refused. I checked the 12V, which read 12.3 so on went the NOCO1 to the posts on the passenger side of the frunk. The NOCO started but then stopped and all lights and the center screen shut down. After a few minutes, I restarted the NOCO and the red light stayed on through the night and about 16 hours later went to green. The truck still wouldn't start, but all lights and the center screen came back. I sent a note to Tiara, my contact at Ford and who earlier in the week was sending a debit card as a good will gesture over the PTC problem, and I called Brett, my contact at the Ford dealer.

Ordinarily, the tech would have brought his computer and got the truck started just as he did when the truck failed on him and the PTC was found to be a problem. This time though, the cloud was spitting out a very different set of new codes to the tech so the tow was necessary.

It's important to note too that the truck has been performing very well since the PTC was replaced, that is until Ford sent an OTA update on the 29th. It was unusual for the update not to come with an explanation. The update was an 83-minute download that had the truck whining so loud that I could hear it from just inside the house. The update was for BlueCruise, among other things, which my Pro does not have or ever will have.

While I've researched each code, I'll post them here for grins.
PSCM UO415 The U0415 diagnostic trouble code is triggered when the vehicle's computer detects invalid or implausible data from the PSCM. This can affect the ABS, traction control, and stability systems.
SOBDMC POA3C This code indicates a problem with the powertrain temperature warning lamp and the motor coolant over temperature message. The issue may be due to the software within the SOBDMC.
SOBDMC UO19B This code indicates an inoperative high voltage to low voltage energy transfer feature and an inoperative intelligent backup power feature. The issue is due to the software level of the gateway module A (GWM).
SODL U2008 and SODR U2008 This code may be triggered by issues such as a faulty audio control module, software glitches in the audio system, damaged wiring harnesses, or a malfunctioning phone interface module. The audio phone system is responsible for hands-free calling, Bluetooth connectivity, and other phone-related features in the vehicle.

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[twodogsdennis]

Just got off the phone with the service dept and they may have found the ultimate culprit behind all of my Pro's problems. There is a high voltage cable near one of the rear wheels that has a small wear spot, so spray a little water on the area and presto, a dead truck. The tech discovered the issue by spraying the entire underneath then narrowing down the wet areas until the truck died consistently. Wait for the area to dry out, reset the truck with his computer and now they've got the truck to shut down ten times using just a dropper bottle. This cable ties into the PTC along the way, which is what was thought to be the problem last time, but driving through 7" of fresh snow at the ski area may have killed the PTC because of the spot on the HVW. The tech had the truck shut down in his driveway during the PTC problem, but after driving through several miles of slush. The drain of the 12V battery, which was thought to be the problem with the first shut down most likely can also be sourced to the cable while driving 5 miles in slush. I washed the truck and then parked it in the shade alongside the house on April 1, the last time it died. Apparently, with the movement of the wheel and suspension the spot doesn't always get wet hence the truck didn't die on every trip in the snow and rain since December.

The part may be four weeks out and I'll be looking for the opinions of lemon law experts since this is probably a factory defect that may reappear or find another weak spot on the truck.

I thought about creating a new thread that would briefly mention the issue and point back to this thread so other owners may benefit, but I'll leave that idea to TaxmanHog and other moderators.

 

[mr.Magoo]

There is a high voltage cable near one of the rear wheels that has a small wear spot, so spray a little water on the area and presto, a dead truck.

VERY interesting!
Any chance you could get some pictures to share ?
Also, do they have an idea/opinion as to what caused the wear in the first place?

 

[twodogsdennis]

VERY interesting!
Any chance you could get some pictures to share ?
Also, do they have an idea/opinion as to what caused the wear in the first place?

I'll try for pictures the next time I see the truck. No clue as yet for exactly how the spot formed.

 

[Maquis]

Hopefully, it’s not rodent damage.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I thought about creating a new thread that would briefly mention the issue and point back to this thread so other owners may benefit, but I'll leave that idea to TaxmanHog and other moderators.

Let's keep it all here until the final verdict is in, then from that final report, it's likely I'll just point to post number 17 or a later post once your certain it's eventually fixed.

 

[twodogsdennis]

Hopefully, it’s not rodent damage.

Nope, the tech said no rodent damage.

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