Ford LIES!

[ElectrifyingMe25]

I own three, yes THREE electric Ford vehicles. I know, shame on ME for being a slow learner!

Yesterday on my way home, the Lightning lit up like Christmas in the Walmart parking lot and left me dead. Sat for three hours waiting for a wrecker to come load me up and take me to Ford. While waiting I tried all the usual shenanigans (power off, power on, stand on left foot, then right, etc.) and the car would not go back into drive. The whole time the dash told me death was imminent and I should come to grips with all my evil doings (it actually said "Stop Now" and other unhelpful messages)

Today, the dealership says "Started right up - looks good. Nothing else we can do here. When do you want to pick it up".

Fu$% Y%$ Ford. I can't believe for a second that there is not trouble codes somewhere they can see from the three hours of me dead at WallyMart! This is total horse shit. They simply threw up their hands and didn't even TRY to diagnose this thing.

How can I trust this, or any of my other shitty Ford electrics on a trip of any milage?!?!?

I would recommend three things to keep in a little toolbox/tote in your frunk...
An OBD2 scanner for reading Lightning codes, a 12v jump box, and a wrench to disconnect the 12V battery to reset your EV. Of course scan the codes before disconnecting the 12V battery.

This kit will solve a lot of your problems. Also, take pictures of what errors the dashboard is showing for the dealer and for proof for Ford... If you don't have proof, the dealer won't believe you.

Best of luck.
The good outweighs the bad for the Lightnings.... Hopefully Ford will keep updating our trucks until they make them were they won't create mystery faults.

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[DavidS]

I would recommend three things to keep in a little toolbox/tote in your frunk...
An OBD2 scanner for reading Lightning codes, a 12v jump box, and a wrench to disconnect the 12V battery to reset your EV. Of course scan the codes before disconnecting the 12V battery.

This kit will solve a lot of your problems. Also, take pictures of what errors the dashboard is showing for the dealer and for proof for Ford... If you don't have proof, the dealer won't believe you.

Best of luck.
The good outweighs the bad for the Lightnings.... Hopefully Ford will keep updating our trucks until they make them were they won't create mystery faults.

It looks like Sodium Ion jump boxes are starting to appear on Amazon. They might be a good alternative for winter use, especially if you’re storing the box in the frunk.

 

[21st Century Truck]

It is shocking to me that a 12V battery the size of a Coke can is the keeper of my entire Trucks health! What a horrible design.

I had LITERALLY 20 seconds notice from lights on the dash to 4 ton brick.

The 12V battery a bit larger. It is about the size of a four-pack of 16-ounce Coke cans.

I actually had something nearly identical happen last month, and I have over 90 thousand miles on my Lightning and know it pretty well. The truck refused to start when running shopping errands one sunny day. Just was completely dead dead dead. I of course tried everything and nothing solved the problem. So I called my insurance company's tow truck.

To my embarrassment, the tow truck driver 1st wiggled the negative and positive cables for the 12V battery. GUESS WHAT: the negative cable was loose. Talk about a red face on my head haha.

Good Luck! You have a good truck.

 

[Heliian]

If you haven't already, replace the 12v battery.

It's about the size of a six pack of tall cans.

What forscan changes did you make?

Do you have an obd reader plugged in all the time? Those draw battery also.

 

[EV Engineer]

"Never blame on malice what can be explained by incompetence"

Sounds like a poorly run dealership with a bunch of knuckleheads. This isn't some systemic FoMoCo thing.

 

[FastCote]

If you haven't already, replace the 12v battery.

It's about the size of a six pack of tall cans.

What forscan changes did you make?

Do you have an obd reader plugged in all the time? Those draw battery also.

I have an OBD link Bluetooth dongle. I ran it in my first lightning for 2 years with no issues. It's been in this current lightning for another year with no issues until now

 

[flux capacitor]

Since the dealer found nothing wrong it kind of sounds like what happened to me a couple of years ago I went to make an errand and it did almost the same thing refused to start or go into reverse. The speedometer went blank. I shut it off and on and still nothing. I tried a bunch of other things since I was starting to panic. I have a small garage the truck barely fits in the thought of a tow truck pulling out gave me nightmares of my truck getting scratched to hell pulling it out. I finally gave up and took my other car. Later that night I tried again and it turned on everything worked I could put it in reverse and back out of the garage all was good. I thought maybe it was a theft deterrent the more you try and for some reason the truck cannot verify you it finally locks you out. It has been a few Ford updates since then and I have never had that issue since, but I also don't try to do too many things when starting the truck and focus on one thing at a time and stay calm.

 

[FastCote]

OMFG, they have been looking up THE WRONG TRUCK this whole time.

My confidence is at an all time low

 

[EV Engineer]

My point stands

 

[rugedraw]

OMFG, they have been looking up THE WRONG TRUCK this whole time.

My confidence is at an all time low

It's funny, because when I looked up our messages to get your VIN, you told me in the message that you have two. It never occurred to me that the dealer was pulling the incorrect VIN. It's a silly mistake, but I see how that can happen.

 

[FastCote]

It's funny, because when I looked up our messages to get your VIN, you told me in the message that you have two. It never occurred to me that the dealer was pulling the incorrect VIN. It's a silly mistake, but I see how that can happen.

Ya, I actually feel bad for the guy. He apologized profusely. I told him shit happens. At least then can properly diagnose now

 

[ElectrifyingMe25]

Ya, I actually feel bad for the guy. He apologized profusely. I told him shit happens. At least then can properly diagnose now

Thank goodness the discovery of the mistake was made. It never hurts to check and double check when it comes to stuff that doesn't add up. I'm happy for you.

Let us know how it goes from here.

Best of luck.

 

[TruckOwner1]

What's worse is Ford used to show the LVB status on the ford website when you logged in and looked at your vehicle. As everyone was asking them to add the functionality to the Ford app they removed the feature from the website.

I'm surprised they haven't come up with a monthly fee to get the functionality added back.

 

[FastCote]

I use several of these, battery monitor Bluetooth only. I think they have some with wifi but the cost climbs.

Okay remember when I said I felt bad for the guy, that's no longer true. Now the dealership is saying oh we can see the codes but if they're not active right now there's nothing we can do!?!!

Is that seriously true?

Is there a Ford rep on this forum that can chime in cuz I'm well and truly done with Ford in general and this dealership specifically!!!!

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Okay remember when I said I felt bad for the guy, that's no longer true. Now the dealership is saying oh we can see the codes but if they're not active right now there's nothing we can do!?!!

Is that seriously true?

Is there a Ford rep on this forum that can chime in cuz I'm well and truly done with Ford in general and this dealership specifically!!!!

Chiming in - I was doing some background work to understand what's going on. Looks like the dealer is actively working on it, and engineering are on standby to support as needed.

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