12V battery replacement

[chl]

12v batteries have been the weak link for basically every EV. I went through two in 10 months when I had a Rivian (under warranty fortunately). If yours is a few years old then definitely prepare to have it replaced. Some people get lucky and it goes out slowly, while others are left stranded without warning. I've experienced both!

I am still on my original 12v battery in my 2012 Leaf (delivered in DEC 2011).
I keep it on a plug-in trickle charger in my garage when not in use.
Also, I never run the AC or heat but I do use the heated steering wheel and heated seat in winter so I don't drain it all that much when I drive, just the usual vehicle computer and maybe an iPod or XM for music.

My last ICE truck (a 2001 Ranger) had a battery that lasted 14 years (a Ford 100 month battery), also on a trickle charger but it was on a little solar panel that sat on the dash (pointing south btw) and plugged into the cig lighter/acc plug. From what the manual says, it cannot/should not be plugged in that way to the Lightning:

---
From the manual (page 182 in my 2023 MY manual):

Do not plug in any device that supplies power to the vehicle through the
power points. This could result in damage to vehicle systems.
---

On the other hand, the little battery in our 2005 Prius had to be replaced twice in 10 years.
Our 2015 Prius is still on the first battery. I read that some people use 12V wheelchair AGM batteries in their Prius' because they are about $60 and fit nicely - Toyota wants $200 for theirs! So that will be my choice when the one in the Prius goes...knock on wood.

The bottom line is 12V lead-acid batteries last longer if they are kept fully charge most of the time, hence the trickle charging (a $40 item compare that to the cost of a new battery). Yes, AGM batteries are lead-acid batteries.

Ford does not make it 'easy' to trickle charge the one in the Frunk of course...leaving Frunk open is not convenient/safe unless you can do it in a garage, and some say leaving the Frunk open uses battery, haven't verified that though.

I haven't gotten around to running a wire to a more convenient place like inside the cabin for a dash solar trickle charger and those might not get up to the voltage AGM's prefer to float at 13.8 or so, although I think there are some designed for maintaining AGMs.

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[drdirk]

I am coming up on the 3 year mark. I am seriously considering the Ohmmu Battery as the replacement.

I am in the same boat, did you proactively replace the battery and if so with what type? I also read that there may be more to it, some kind of programing? Is that the case or is it just a swap?

 

[astrand1]

My first question is, did you leave the truck plugged in?
I get the impression you did not.
So if not, why not just leave the truck plugged in?
With the charge level set to say 62%, since you were leaving it at 61%. That would have avoided any problems.

Also, as you near the end of your absence you could initiate a charge to say 80-85% from the app, so the Truck is all ready when you get home.

The owners manual guidance on “storage” pertains to leaving the truck somewhere it can’t be plugged in.
was that your situation?

If so, then couldn’t you put a little battery tender on the 12v battery while you were gone?

The problem with this is that plugged in or not after around 8 days or so the truck goes into deep sleep so the app would not function to start a charge.

 

[jeff_h]

The problem with this is that plugged in or not after around 8 days or so the truck goes into deep sleep so the app would not function to start a charge.

I've only had one trip where I was gone for 10 days but have another coming up. On the first trip (no idea if it helped but things were fine when I returned), I had the truck plugged in and set the charge level to about 60%, then every couple days I'd go into the app and increase the charge level by another 5% so the normal process of the truck checking/charging the 12V would occur every couple days. Again, I don't know if it made a difference but I didn't come home to a dead 12V the first time so about to try it again.

 

[Lytning]

I am in the same boat, did you proactively replace the battery and if so with what type? I also read that there may be more to it, some kind of programing? Is that the case or is it just a swap?

I have not yet replaced my 12 volt battery. Several people on the forum have replaced theirs with the Ohmmu battery without any issues that I am aware of.

 

[astrand1]

I've only had one trip where I was gone for 10 days but have another coming up. On the first trip (no idea if it helped but things were fine when I returned), I had the truck plugged in and set the charge level to about 60%, then every couple days I'd go into the app and increase the charge level by another 5% so the normal process of the truck checking/charging the 12V would occur every couple days. Again, I don't know if it made a difference but I didn't come home to a dead 12V the first time so about to try it again.

I’ll have to report next Saturday once I get back to the structure where my truck will have been parked for about 28 days. I left it at about 65% and about 8 or 9 days in the app said in deep sleep and I have to drive to reconnect. I’ll report if it’s dead or fine when I get back. lol.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Even though the truck is in 'deep sleep mode' which is to conserve energy load on the LVB, I don't think the DC/DC inverter controls are shut down, it should still autonomously activate a charging cycle when the 40% floor is hit on the LVB.

 

[Robert1380]

I keep a Li-Ion jump starter in the frunk. The AZ heat kills our 12v, I fully expect I'll need a new one this summer. I'm hoping the stock one will make it through and I'll replace after peak heat. So far, I've jump started 3 co-workers ICE cars but not mine

What brand jump starter do you have?

 

[Rice_classic]

So there are multiple 12v battery threads.
How many folks in these threads have spent the $20 to update their LVB BMS to the current part?

Since I have done that, I haven’t had a single notification and that’s with a dashcam with a 12.5v cutoff.

 

[Zprime29]

What brand jump starter do you have?

https://www.amazon.com/Starter-NEXP...7HG61/dp/B0DQD7HG61/ref=dp_ob_title_auto?th=1

Amazon says this is the newer version of the one I bought, very reasonable price. It surprised my co-worker when it jump started his big Ram diesel (I forget the model, just that it has 2 batteries and he wasn't confident it would work). There's a promo code you can apply right now that makes it $30.

EDIT: Thinking about it more, that's a really good price. Just ordered one for the wife's car

 

[Robert1380]

https://www.amazon.com/Starter-NEXP...7HG61/dp/B0DQD7HG61/ref=dp_ob_title_auto?th=1

Amazon says this is the newer version of the one I bought, very reasonable price. It surprised my co-worker when it jump started his big Ram diesel (I forget the model, just that it has 2 batteries and he wasn't confident it would work). There's a promo code you can apply right now that makes it $30.

That’s Not a bad price at all. I’ve got one but it’s a different manufacture and was kinda pricey

 

[TaxmanHog]

So there are multiple 12v battery threads.
How many folks in these threads have spent the $20 to update their LVB BMS to the current part?

Since I have done that, I haven’t had a single notification and that’s with a dashcam with a 12.5v cutoff.

Those of us affected by the 'WRONG / underspec'd ' part had it replaced under a CSP, IIRC 2022/2023 trucks, I sprung for the $20 and did it my self as soon as it became known of a fix, not wanting to wait for the CSP and dealer BS of getting it secured and replaced. 5 minute job.

 

[Rice_classic]

Those of us affected by the 'WRONG / underspec'd ' part had it replaced under a CSP, IIRC 2022/2023 trucks, I sprung for the $20 and did it my self as soon as it became known of a fix, not wanting to wait for the CSP and dealer BS of getting it secured and replaced. 5 minute job.

I was affected but like I spent the $20 because dealing with a dealer costs me way more than $20 in time. But I am to assume that those where affected and got the update BMS this has pretty much solved things?

 

[TaxmanHog]

I was affected but like I spent the $20 because dealing with a dealer costs me way more than $20 in time. But I am to assume that those where affected and got the update BMS this has pretty much solved things?

Yes, that was a major help, but also a couple of OTA's came along that helped reduce the burdens on the LVB as well.

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