Odd AC Charging behaviour

[TaxmanHog]

Did you try using the Ford Mobile Charger [FMC] that was sold with the truck to the original owner, or was that missing when you purchased it?

If you have it, try using it in 120v mode and 240v mode with your 14-50 outlet.

Curious if the failures persist!!!

Also try public free or fee-based L2 charging to confirm a truck born problem.

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[chriserx]

While I don't seem to have the same issue that you do, I've got a weird AC charging issue too. When it gets cold (like lower than 35 degrees), my charger will throw a fault. I have to use a heat gun to warm it up a little and then plug it in and it works. No idea why.

Definitely try the public L2 first.
I also wonder if there could be condensation in the relay, could also be a 12v issue. Try plugging in before it gets cold, in theory it should stay charging from the DCDC if it's a 12v issue. That also assumes that it doesn't power cycle the DCDC for whatever reason Ford decides...

 

[Maquis]

As mentioned, dealer didn't want to take it in because it started working again...

They can read the codes in their system - you don’t need to take it in. The codes should be stored even after the problem goes away.

 

[truthlesshunter]

They can read the codes in their system - you don’t need to take it in. The codes should be stored even after the problem goes away.

This is what I thought as well...but they didn't want to take it in. I don't understand the part where you mentioned I don't need to take it in. Can they check remotely? Or are you saying i can see the error message with an OBD module even if it's in the past?

 

[truthlesshunter]

While I don't seem to have the same issue that you do, I've got a weird AC charging issue too. When it gets cold (like lower than 35 degrees), my charger will throw a fault. I have to use a heat gun to warm it up a little and then plug it in and it works. No idea why.

strange...do you have another EV where that happens or only on the lightning that you know of? and do you have the same issue in below freezing with DC charging if you've tried it?

 

[jdmackes]

strange...do you have another EV where that happens or only on the lightning that you know of? and do you have the same issue in below freezing with DC charging if you've tried it?

Never had the issue with a different AC or DC charger (I have a portable AC charger that I used before the one at my house was installed). I don't have another EV to test it with, but I assume it's just some weird issue with the charger I have. My local power company installed it so it's probably just a piece of junk (but they paid for half of the service upgrade/install/equipment so I guess I can't complain that much)

 

[Maquis]

This is what I thought as well...but they didn't want to take it in. I don't understand the part where you mentioned I don't need to take it in. Can they check remotely? Or are you saying i can see the error message with an OBD module even if it's in the past?

Yes, codes can be read remotely. Some guys on here used to do it for us before Ford clipped their wings. If I walk into my dealer with an issue, the first thing the service advisor does is call up my VIN on his computer and tells me if there are any related codes set.

 

[truthlesshunter]

Yes, codes can be read remotely. Some guys on here used to do it for us before Ford clipped their wings. If I walk into my dealer with an issue, the first thing the service advisor does is call up my VIN on his computer and tells me if there are any related codes set.

I'm definitely going to bring this up if/when the AC clonks out again. thanks.

 

[chl]

I will apologize right off the bat for the long, detailed post..but I am new to my lightning and I want to make sure I understand what's going on. I posted something similar on reddit, but there has been an update since and this forum seems like a better place to post this

TL;DR DC charging always works, AC works sporadically...any reason this would happen/what should I do?


I bought a 2022 Lightning Lariat ER a week ago. I had to drive it back home with a few stops along the way, all DC charging. Not an issue anywhere.

I have two EVSE (EV Chargers) at home. I have another EV at home as well (Lucid Air Grand Touring). The first one, a PionPower EVSE (relatively new company here in Canada, has a good reputation overall), gets plugged in..doesn't charge, registers as AC Leakage fault error in the app. No problem, I try the other EVSE. This is a Grizzl-E charger (well-established Canadian company and in EV circles in general). Plug it in, registers a "two beep/two blink" error when it tries to charge the truck. I look that up and it means a GFCI Fault.

Okay...fine..maybe something got knocked loose (yay hardcore reference) at one point or another. My 14-50 outlet was installed by a licenced electrician when I built the house, relatively recently. But I figure I'm just going to look through the socket just in case (I did a lot of wiring previously and wired the EV/14-50 outlet in my last house myself). I cant' see what would be wrong...re-strip/re-cut the wires, attach them clean, etc...I keep getting the same two errors on the two chargers.

I finally decide to plug them into my lucid...and bingo, both charge normally without issues. Unplug from the lucid, plug it into the lightning...and boom, errors again.

I post this and others have said they have the same issue...it's the onboard charger and i need to get it repaired. After a bit of fighting with Ford, I'm able to schedule 3-4 days later. I go charge at a DC charger up to ~30% the night before (since it was done to 10% from being used)...and just for fun, when I get home...I plug the lightning back in to confirm it doesn't work...and OF COURSE, it works. I let it charge overnight and it charged at the regular pace the whole night until we unplugged it in the morning.

I called ford and they said to cancel the appointment and to call back if it goes bad again. But I don't want to live with the "will he/won't he" charge for my truck every day.

So what do I do? Is there a pattern of charging I should be looking at with the truck that I don't know about that makes the AC charging wonky? Ford says if it's working before I get there, they won't see the error in the past and can't diagnose it...but once agian, that's insane because that means if it stops working again at home and I arrive there and it works, I'll look like an idiot. This is so frustrating to happen in the first days of owning it.

side note: I bought this from A FORD DEALERSHIP and they said they never heard of anything similar happen and it always charged for them (but they used a DC charger)

I'd suspect the 12v battery is failing or was very weak when it would not L2 charge.

It is needed for L2 charging and I believe there have been two other post on the forums about this issue.

The DC charging probably topped off the 12v.

I keep my 12v on a battery maintainer when the truck is not in use because there have been so many reports of failures and various consequences.

Yes the 12v is needed to start L2 and run charging - to close the contactors and run the J1772 signaling, etc.

 

[truthlesshunter]

I'd suspect the 12v battery is failing or was very weak when it would not L2 charge.

It is needed for L2 charging and I believe there have been two other post on the forums about this issue.

The DC charging probably topped off the 12v.

I keep my 12v on a battery maintainer when the truck is not in use because there have been so many reports of failures and various consequences.

Yes the 12v is needed to start L2 and run charging - to close the contactors and run the J1772 signaling, etc.

that's fine but it wouldn't charge after a 2 hour drive...not sitting or idling or anything. So is the 12v battery constantly having problems? Or does the OEM 12v battery really die out after only 3-4 years?

 

[chriserx]

Or does the OEM 12v battery really die out after only 3-4 years?

Sometimes less

 

[truthlesshunter]

Sometimes less

if that's the case, then it may be the battery. i'll have to get someone to check out its status

 

[chriserx]

if that's the case, then it may be the battery. i'll have to get someone to check out its status

It's extremely tiny with an odd, harsh charging profile, your profile doesn't list the year truck but the older ones also had a 12v BMS issue.

 

[chl]

Yes, sadly, the way the Ford BMS for the 12v battery works is not designed for longevity:

It does not top it off all the way to 100% on a regular basis;
when it charges the 12v it does not limit the current to a healthy level apparently which ends up damaging the battery over time (heat);
it allows the 12v battery SOC to get low which results in sulfates building up over time.

Here's some more info fyi:
-----
I keep my 12v battery on a trickle charger/battery maintainer with an AGM mode to avoid premature death (its, not mine) and to ensure OTAs get installed..

Deep discharge, which the lightning algorithm allows, is not good for longevity of these batteries, and the high charging currents seen when the battery is low, are another bad feature of the lightning system of 12v battery management.

This post form the Mach-e forum goes into depth about these 12v AGM batteries:

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/how-to-recondition-service-your-12v-battery.11069/


If the details about how AGM battery charging progresses are accurate, the truck will not, on it's own, top off the battery in many cases because of the time it takes. That makes a trickle charger even more important for longevity since it can be on the 12v battery for many hours at a time charging even when the truck HV is not.


And this one about the different ways to charge up the battery to get OTAs:

https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/how-to-get-failed-otas-to-install.29749/

Also several threads here about putting trickle chargers on the battery and how to make it easier by adding a trickle charger wire:

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/charging-12v-battery.16979/

This is what I did (a fused SAE cord to the charge port from the battery):

 

[truthlesshunter]

It's extremely tiny with an odd, harsh charging profile, your profile doesn't list the year truck but the older ones also had a 12v BMS issue.

it's a 2022 so definitely would be in the affected years

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