Lots of dust in 12V battery area

[chl]

Wow, a pickup truck on a dirt road that collects dust, imagine that, lol.

But seriously, the LV battery compartment is way too open to the outside.

Just be glad you don't have rodents making a nest in there and chewing the charging wires, etc., like one unfortunate poster did!

I had some critters chew up my fuel pump and related tubes on my 2001 Ford Ranger during COVID when I didn't drive much...$1100 repair, but if it had been the Lightning, and electrical wires, could have been worse?

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[FloridaMan655321]

I have on my calendar to disconnect the 12v battery quarterly to give the truck a nice cold reboot. I usually clean it up at this time. I don't live on a dirt road, so you may want to do this more frequently.

 

[astrand1]

I took my frunk out a couple months ago and took the power washer on low setting to it and cleaned it right up. I figure I’ll do that maybe once a year or so. Not takes a few minutes to unbolt it and pull it out.

 

[Fistandantilus]

Don't drive.



Cover, what cover? The frunk has no cover. There is a frunk, where you put stuff. It has PANELS to shield the non-tub part of the electronics compartment.

The dust is not coming in there, it is coming in the wheel wells, the front grill, and underneath. The only way to prevent that is not to drive. And, it's not a big deal, it's dust, and you can't see it.

However you call it - there is so much dust that it is leaking the panel. It is my first F-150 so that´s why I am asking these questions.
If this is standard - I am ok, but not satisfied. It totally distorts the clean impression of an EV.

 

[Grumpy2]

there is so much dust that it is leaking the panel.

I believe the only opening to let dust into the frunk is the handle on the 12 battery door. I suspect it is a safety issue. You could stuff some foam in that small opening. Air would still get thru but most (all?) of the dust would not.

 

[Quibbs]

Don't drive.



Cover, what cover? The frunk has no cover. There is a frunk, where you put stuff. It has PANELS to shield the non-tub part of the electronics compartment.

The dust is not coming in there, it is coming in the wheel wells, the front grill, and underneath. The only way to prevent that is not to drive. And, it's not a big deal, it's dust, and you can't see it.

I agree that the dust is coming from underneath, wheel wells. If it wasn't, one would expect the tub in the frunk area to have way more dust than it typically does. At least from what I see. Our road is very dry most of the time but there is hardly any dust in the frunk. Pop the panel in the frunk area for 12v battery access and there is a ton.

Wash it, blow it off, what have you, I do not think it it is something to be really concerned with.

 

[fvineyard]

This little guy moves an amazing amount of air. I would recommend it and try it. $33 buck right now.

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[iFord]

I took my frunk out a couple months ago and took the power washer on low setting to it and cleaned it right up. I figure I’ll do that maybe once a year or so. Not takes a few minutes to unbolt it and pull it out.

I took off the frunk tub to adjust the frunk open alarm. I noticed a lot of dust as well and I eventually want to get back under there to do some cleaning. You used a pressure washer on that area?(electronics and all?) I would be too nervous to spray the components down directly with water… but if it works I guess that’s the most thorough way to clean it. I was thinking of just using my electric leaf blower instead.
[Edited to add photos]

 

[GDN]

That is a completely open area under the frunk tub, open to all the elements from below. Dirt and water.. Ford didn't try to seal it. I wouldn't put a high pressure washer up close on any of it, but don't see why light spray or rinsing it down would hurt. Lots of electrical so anything could go wrong if the boots covering connections are loose or have come off, but from the factory everything under that tub was expected to get dirty and wet or it would have been enclosed and sealed very differently.

 

[iFord]

That is a completely open area under the frunk tub, completely open to all the elements from below. Dirt and water.. Ford didn't try to seal it. I wouldn't put a high pressure washer up close on any of it, but don't see why light spray or rinsing it down would hurt. Lots of electrical so anything could go wrong if the boots covering connections are loose or have come off, but from the factory everything under that tub was expected to get dirty and wet or it would have been enclosed and sealed very differently.

I understand what you’re saying. Yes I don’t think I am going to run water directly over the components. Blowing it off occasionally would be a small benefit for it I think. It’s essentially a large computer with a huge power source. Blowing out a pc occasionally will help its performance and help it keep cool. Maybe the same applies to this?

 

[RickLightning]

Powerwashing that area would be a big mistake, just like it would for a gas vehicle. Powerwashing can force water into electronic components.

 

[astrand1]

That is a completely open area under the frunk tub, open to all the elements from below. Dirt and water.. Ford didn't try to seal it. I wouldn't put a high pressure washer up close on any of it, but don't see why light spray or rinsing it down would hurt. Lots of electrical so anything could go wrong if the boots covering connections are loose or have come off, but from the factory everything under that tub was expected to get dirty and wet or it would have been enclosed and sealed very differently.

Yeah. Obviously I’m not like right up on it. I use common sense but it does not hurt it one bit. I’m also using an electric pressure washer which is not as powerful and a wide spray nozzle so it’s pretty harmless.

 

[chl]

An air compressor and the spray nozzle to direct compressed air there is probably the way to go to avoid possible water infiltration, eh?

Most compressor kits come with one. But if you don;t have one, something like this is handy:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-P..._-205149499-_-3-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a-_-n/a

 

[DeePagne]

I have on my calendar to disconnect the 12v battery quarterly to give the truck a nice cold reboot. I usually clean it up at this time. I don't live on a dirt road, so you may want to do this more frequently.

what does a cold reboot do?

 

[GDN]

what does a cold reboot do?

All of the modules boot up from scratch. Clears errors or any that might be hung up. It happens and disconnecting the 12v battery can fix a ton of errors with these trucks. You'll see more and more as you read through different threads.

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