Let the journey begin. Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power (Fixed)

[Lpotter86]

Just starting another thread about Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power notification. Started getting a service vehicle soon message a couple weeks ago. Still under warranty but replaced the 12v myself to avoid having to go to the dealer. Didn’t help.

No reduced power. Charged fine. Shifter stowed without issue. Heat works fine.

Dropped truck off with an appointment 12/18/25. They said they’ll trying and get it back to me by Tuesday. I knew full well that wasn’t going to happen.

Had not heard anything so messaged them today and got the response pictured in the text.

Truck hasn’t moved in their lot since I dropped it off(drive by the dealership on my way to work)

2023 XLT ER 31k miles.

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[MountainAlive]

There was a recent ish post about a couple of people having the wrench icon, but with no loss of power. It ended up being the coolant diverter valve failing. https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...-malfunction-with-100-power-code-p0de9.31639/

 

[Lpotter86]

Update.

Just got a video from the dealership. They think they have it narrowed down to corrosion coming out of the back of this connector on this coolant pump(see picture). Can't download the video. Pump looks like it is bolted to the the back of the front subframe.

 

[Lpotter86]

See attached for the fix and tech notes. Maybe this will help someone else or maybe it was just a one off.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Thanks for sharing the details!!!

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

That's so cool they gave you a video showing the issue

 

[vvgogh]

Still under warranty but replaced the 12v myself to avoid having to go to the dealer. Didn’t help.

Dropped truck off with an appointment 12/18/25. They said they’ll trying and get it back to me by Tuesday. I knew full well that wasn’t going to happen.

Had not heard anything so messaged them today

The worst part about Ford is the dealer experience.

Why would they hold your truck for four business days and not even look at it? Sadly, I've shared that experience.

@Ford Motor Company - please penalize dealers $100 every day they unnecessarily hold a vehicle for loss of use. This is a horrible experience and a complete failure of basic resource scheduling. Forfeiting your car for days without a technician even looking at it is unacceptable.

 

[026TB4U]

The worst part about Ford is the dealer experience.

Why would they hold your truck for four business days and not even look at it? Sadly, I've shared that experience.

@Ford Motor Company - please penalize dealers $100 every day they unnecessarily hold a vehicle for loss of use. This is a horrible experience and a complete failure of basic resource scheduling. Forfeiting your car for days without a technician even looking at it is unacceptable.

100% agree. I've been through this with my mach-e. They held it for 7 days without touching it.

Going through it now with a different dealer for my lightning powertrain malfunction. Dropped it off on Monday and it's the holidays so we'll see. He said a few days before it gets diagnosed.

Ford needs to step in and put an end to this practice. Hire mechanics or learn how to schedule so customers don't need to wait.

 

[Lpotter86]

I will give the dealer credit, they did have it back to me on Tuesday like they had said when I dropped it off.

 

[RickLightning]

100% agree. I've been through this with my mach-e. They held it for 7 days without touching it.

Going through it now with a different dealer for my lightning powertrain malfunction. Dropped it off on Monday and it's the holidays so we'll see. He said a few days before it gets diagnosed.

Ford needs to step in and put an end to this practice. Hire mechanics or learn how to schedule so customers don't need to wait.

This has been discussed here for years. Dealerships can't wait for a customer to show up when the mechanic is ready. So, they build a queue, and take vehicles for that queue. At the dealership I go to, with one EV tech (the norm), he works 3 or 4 bays. Brings a vehicle in, diagnoses the issue, part gets ordered. Moves on to next vehicle, leaving vehicle #1 on the lift/in the bay awaiting part. Part comes in, he works his way back and installs it.

Because of my relationship with them, and them knowing I will be there with 30 min notice, when possible they have me do just that. But most customers won't be that responsive, and they don't want the tech sitting with nothing to do.

 

[The Unc]

I wonder what caused this? Maybe that connector wasn't fully seated from the factory?

I cringe at the thought of cutting and replacing the connector on the wiring harness. (just me)

I'm sure it's fine.

Interesting...

 

[Lytning]

As much as I would like to blame the dealerships for delay in evaluating and repairing our vehicles, I must put the blame on @Ford Motor Company for the poor design and manufacturing quality, which has resulted in a massive number of recalled vehicles.

What I do blame the dealerships for is not proactively and honestly advising us as to when they will get to our vehicles, and not showing even common courtesies such as returning our telephone calls.

 

[chl]

I wonder what caused this? Maybe that connector wasn't fully seated from the factory?

I cringe at the thought of cutting and replacing the connector on the wiring harness. (just me)

I'm sure it's fine.

Interesting...

Seems like there are a lot of connectors that get exposed to the elements underneath or inside the open cavities in the truck, so water and road salt, dust dirt and rodents get into them.

This is not the first post about such troubles.

That type of snap together connector is not entirely weather proof. But they are used a lot in autos.

Putting some dielectric grease on the plastic parts (not the metal connector pins and metal sockets) and then wrapping the connectors with electrical tape might be a good idea - of course over time the tape will loose it's adherence abilities depending on the quality of the tape.

Some silicone sealant or large heat shrink tubing to completely cover them might be another good idea - it would make it harder to unplug them in the future but not impossible.

Some of them might be a pain in the butt to get to add protection to, just have to look for the most exposed and easiest to get to ones.

It's on my list of things to do when the weather warms up this spring.

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