Battery dead

[Laurel]

JPD that seems to be the closest anyone with a dead battery has come to finding an answer.  Your post needs to be highlighted somehow so it doesn't get lost.  Thanks for posting your experience.

[Bill-N]

Thanks to this forum and someone mentioning wiring harnesses, my Ford service department took this problem seriously from the second time I had a battery failure.  The first time they replaced the battery, having not found any other problems.  a Ford field engineer happened to be visiting the service department the last day my car was there, the deadline before considering a replacement or buy back etc.  The field engineer said the problem is in the wiring around the liftback or a door.  Sure enough, a wire was "chafed" i the liftback causing a short circuit that activated a "module' (?) that caused said module to stay on and drain the battery.  Wiring repaired, problem solved hopefully.  in any event, the problem and solution are documented and should there be further issues, they will be resolved.  Also they were appreciative of my input, most of my info coming from this forum since they have lately had a few more mysterious dead batteries.  i hope this puts this vexing problem to rest  and we can all enjoy our vehicles!

Excellent news.

[pomtrey]

wow!! that is big news!! we've had dead batteries twice and now travel with a charger. hope the wiring/module is the answer for all and we can be free of this worry. thanks for persevering and posting.

[DaveofDurham]

Thanks to this forum and someone mentioning wiring harnesses, my Ford service department took this problem seriously from the second time I had a battery failure.  ...   i hope this puts this vexing problem to rest  and we can all enjoy our vehicles!

 

JPD

 

Fantastic news!    Where are you located (city, state)?

[Laurel]

Thanks to this forum and someone mentioning wiring harnesses, my Ford service department took this problem seriously from the second time I had a battery failure.  The first time they replaced the battery, having not found any other problems.  a Ford field engineer happened to be visiting the service department the last day my car was there, the deadline before considering a replacement or buy back etc.  The field engineer said the problem is in the wiring around the liftback or a door.  Sure enough, a wire was "chafed" i the liftback causing a short circuit that activated a "module' (?) that caused said module to stay on and drain the battery.  Wiring repaired, problem solved hopefully.  in any event, the problem and solution are documented and should there be further issues, they will be resolved.  Also they were appreciative of my input, most of my info coming from this forum since they have lately had a few more mysterious dead batteries.  i hope this puts this vexing problem to rest  and we can all enjoy our vehicles!

:happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet: :happy feet:

 

JPD this is my attempt at high lighting your post so we don't miss it if we need to go back and look for it to tell our service managers what your fix was.

Edited February 18, 2013 by Laurel

[yark99]

Hi all, I have to sign on to the dead battery list, sadly.

 

First occurrence: couple weeks ago. Husband found it dead. Doors wouldn't even unlock. Roadside service towed to dealer, where they replaced 12Vbatt.

 

Today also dead. Doors had been left unlocked so we could get in; otherwise no response. Interior lights not left on as we went out in the dark last night and would have seen it. Roadside assistance jumped it and it ran. I left it running for some time (down go the mpgs), drove it for a while, including one stop at a store, no further problems.

 

CMax SE with:

- nothing plugged in to USB, 12V or PowerPoint charger

- 201a power liftgate - was last closed using press button on the tailgate itself

- 201a ambient lighting

- winter package (heated seats + mirrors)

- remote start

- hybrid battery almost fully charged according to dash display

- no Nav

- moonroof

- 4.5 hour drive yesterday at highway speeds

 

I think people should report the options in case one of them is the cause of variable behavior.

** Someone mentioned liftgate above. Can anyone who's had problems report on whether you have SE with power liftgate? Never mind-- I posted to the roll call

 

Strangely, the clock appears to have stopped about the time we tried to start the car (within 30 minutes-- I did not record this time exactly) and did not progress until AFTER the car was shut off and re-started (key off and then on). That is, the clock did not progress during the entire time the car was running while the 12V was being re-charged, although the car did go to EV mode during that time.

 

Temp about 32F. Car kept outside.

Edited February 18, 2013 by yark99

[yark99]

excellent Laurel :)

[RachelnLa]

I wonder if the clock stops when the "short" happens?

[jonathan3d]

Today our C-Max battery was dead for the second time. The first time, a few weeks ago, I started it with a battery charger (no jumper cable handy) and took it to the dealer. They kept it overnight for observation and of course found nothing wrong with the battery (although they did replace a defective stabilizer bar). 

 

The vehicle is too unreliable to take anywhere remote (like to our cabin) or on a trip. 

 

We're going to have roadside assistance come this time and we'll take it to the dealer, but not for another futile overnight observation. We're hoping they'll respond to the information on this forum and replace the harness or wiring.

[yark99]

Good thought, Rachel, but wouldn't it stop in the middle of the night then, rather than when we went out to start it? If your idea is correct, then it is not a slow trickle drain, but a rapid short and drain.

 

However, I checked the time I called Roadside assistance, which was about 5 minutes after the discovered failure. The clock stopped at 11:05. The call time was 11:31. (We have it on a 24-hour clock so there is no chance that it stopped 12 hours previous at 11:05 pm.) It is possibly just a coincidence that it's so close to the attempted start time, and that time reflects how long it took the battery to drain: from about 5pm the day before = 18 hours.

[salman]

Thanks to this forum and someone mentioning wiring harnesses, my Ford service department took this problem seriously from the second time I had a battery failure.  The first time they replaced the battery, having not found any other problems.  a Ford field engineer happened to be visiting the service department the last day my car was there, the deadline before considering a replacement or buy back etc.  The field engineer said the problem is in the wiring around the liftback or a door.  Sure enough, a wire was "chafed" i the liftback causing a short circuit that activated a "module' (?) that caused said module to stay on and drain the battery.  Wiring repaired, problem solved hopefully.  in any event, the problem and solution are documented and should there be further issues, they will be resolved.  Also they were appreciative of my input, most of my info coming from this forum since they have lately had a few more mysterious dead batteries.  i hope this puts this vexing problem to rest  and we can all enjoy our vehicles!

 

JPD

 

This is really great news. It would help us all immensely if would please give us some additional information.

 

1) Please tell us a little more about the 12 volt failures you experienced. You mention two episodes of 12 volt failure, but you also say Ford was on the verge of offering a buy back or exchange, which suggests the problem must have been going on for a long time with many service visits.

 

2) Please tell us what city you are in or, even better, please tell us the name of your dealership so if/when we need to reference your case to Ford we will have enough information for them to locate the case record. Naming your dealer would positive for them, since you have good things to say about their service.

 

3) Last but not least, please tell us if the repair to chafed wiring at the rear hatch fixes the 12 volt problem for you.

[JPD]

ONE OTHER THING, THE WIRING IN THE LIFTBACK BECOMING CHAFED ALSO EXPLAINS THE FLICKERING OF TAILLIGHTS SOME HAVE EXPERIENCED.  POSSIBLY IT TAKES A NUMBER OF USES OF THE LIFTBACK TO CHAFE THE WIRING, EXPLAINING WHY IT TAKES 2 TO 4 WEEKS FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR.  AFTER THAT ANY LIFTBACK USE WOULD REPEAT THE BATTERY DRAIN.  I ONLY USED THE LIFTBACK A FEW TIMES AND IT HAPPENED TO BE AFTER USING IT THAT THE NEXT MORNING I HAD MY SECOND DEAD BATTERY.    

[JPD]

JPD

 

This is really great news. It would help us all immensely if would please give us some additional information.

 

1) Please tell us a little more about the 12 volt failures you experienced. You mention two episodes of 12 volt failure, but you also say Ford was on the verge of offering a buy back or exchange, which suggests the problem must have been going on for a long time with many service visits.

 

2) Please tell us what city you are in or, even better, please tell us the name of your dealership so if/when we need to reference your case to Ford we will have enough information for them to locate the case record. Naming your dealer would positive for them, since you have good things to say about their service.

 

3) Last but not least, please tell us if the repair to chafed wiring at the rear hatch fixes the 12 volt problem for you.

first fallure after 2 weeks, 600 miles, no known battery drain (lights left on etc.) had Ford roadside assistance tow car to dealer.  They could find no problem and assumed it was a bad battery which they replaced.  second failure after 4 weeks, 1200 miles.  Again had car towed to Englewood (FL) Ford.  They surmised that this was not a simple bad battery problem and i advised them of the problems others were having.  They had no other dead C-maxes, but they have not sold that many.  At the advice of this forum, I also called Ford Customer service in order to make them aware that this is not an isolated problem and , please, take it seriously and find a solution or maybe I need a buy-back.  after a few minutes on hold i was asked if I wanted a buyback BUT this is not to be construed as an offer of one.  I replied I really wanted my car fixed if possible.  I was told I would get a call from Ford in two business days with some sort of solution.  I never received that call, probably because my dealer called back to tell me that the problem appeared solved.  The service technician explained the chafed wire, etc. to me, and at that point I was just so delighted to get the car back I didn't ask for any more info.  Englewood Ford's service department was stellar as far as I'm concerned, I couldn't give them any higher accolades and i wouldn't want them barraged with calls or cause them any trouble.  Since it was a Ford field engineer who knew the problem was in wiring around the liftgate, I don't see why calling Ford at this point wouldn't yield results.  I think they only very recently discovered this problem's solution.  This may also explain that what i presume is the same set-up in the Fusion Hybrid hasn't resulted in but a few battery failures, because the Fusion doesn't have a liftback.

[salman]

JPD

Thank you for the details. There is no reason for any of us to call your dealer, but it will be important for us to be able to tell Ford where your car was diagnosed if our Ford reps are not as helpful as your dealer and the visiting engineer.

 

Please let us know if the repair solves the problem.

[JPD]

JPD Thank you for the details. There is no reason for any of us to call your dealer, but it will be important for us to be able to tell Ford where your car was diagnosed if our Ford reps are not as helpful as your dealer and the visiting engineer. Please let us know if the repair solves the problem.

So far no problem, but it took 2 weeks the last time, also I wonder if the new wire will also chafe.  Just in case, I now carry a jump starter under the driver's seat.  No need to wait for ford roadside, I'll just charge it myself, bring it back when convenient for me, no need for further documentation of a problem.  But lets hope there is no further problem.  I love the car!

[zhackwyatt]

Where was this happening on the wiring harness? I'm wondering if its easily accessible that we could monitor it.

[JPD]

I really have no other details, but I think it is somewhere between the liftgate and the roof area where the wiring must pass around a sharp edge under the rubber material.

[Mike51]

I wonder if the clock stops when the "short" happens?

My experience is that the clock seems to 'freeze' when the battery dies. That is, when you finally get the car charged and started, the clock indicates the date and time that the car died.

[erwhitham]

My experience is that the clock seems to 'freeze' when the battery dies. That is, when you finally get the car charged and started, the clock indicates the date and time that the car died.

What can be concluded if I've had clock problems 4 times? The last 2 have been within the past 3 days. Also my phone has not been connecting rather frequently lately. When I went in with the same problems previously an update was conducted but no specifics were on my service paper.

[mbedit]

Typically, when the battery runs down to the point that the on board computer can no longer function, the clock will quit updating at that point. Modern computers utilize a form of non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) to keep basic info, so when it reboots those values can be restored.

 

This sounds like good information. JPD, your details sound very much like mine, in so much as my first failure was around 800 miles and the second about a week later around 1500.

[dtorres]

That may help explain my one and only battery failure. It occurred on the morning we were leaving for a trip to San Diego. The night before the trip we opened and closed the lift gate probably 15 times as we kept loading things. In the morning dead battery. I jumped it using our Taurus X and haven't had it happen since. That was last December.

[dtorres]

Then again maybe opening and closing the lift gate so many times along with the overhead lights while we loaded things caused the battery drain :-)

Edited February 19, 2013 by dtorres

[flatbat]

I've had the car back for 4 days now since they fixed the wiring harness behind the dash an so far so good.  Of course the other times it took a while for the problem to occur, so i'm not holding my breath.  They check three different harnesses, so I don't think it's only the lift gate that is affected.  I would guess that it's more likely a problem on the assembly line making a new model rather than a specific design problem with routing the wiring.  

 

One thing that is surprising (and i guess a testament to the car) is that most of us still like the C-MAX in principle.

 

Good luck to everyone.

[Jus-A-CMax]

I've had the car back for 4 days now since they fixed the wiring harness behind the dash an so far so good.  Of course the other times it took a while for the problem to occur, so i'm not holding my breath.  They check three different harnesses, so I don't think it's only the lift gate that is affected.  I would guess that it's more likely a problem on the assembly line making a new model rather than a specific design problem with routing the wiring.  

 

One thing that is surprising (and i guess a testament to the car) is that most of us still like the C-MAX in principle.

 

Good luck to everyone.

 

No, I hate this car, I only hang here to kill me time.... ;) 

 

 Seriously man, good stuff on this battery situation and glad it turned out ok. Its 1st gen and these stuff has to be expected...not the MFT though  :rant:.

[Mike51]

What can be concluded if I've had clock problems 4 times? The last 2 have been within the past 3 days. Also my phone has not been connecting rather frequently lately. When I went in with the same problems previously an update was conducted but no specifics were on my service paper.

I'm only talking about how the clock responds to a dead 12V battery occurance. It is as if you took the battery out of a wall clock. Once you charge the C-Max, the clock resumes from where it left off (at least that's my assumption). Therefore, you should be able to tell when the battery died. Regarding the phone connecting, don't even get me started on Sync!