Has anyone compiled a list of items to disable for the purpose of reducing discharge/recharge cycles on the chassis battery?

[gfdublin]

The lights that come on when I approach the vehicle come to mind first, and though I liked them, I no longer need them after almost a year. What I don't know is what else others are turning off to save the chassis battery from constant discharge/recharge cycles. Since retirement, I find my vehicle use is 20% of what it was when I was employed. That has never been a problem, but with the Nautilus hybrid, 4-5 or more days between drives is pushing that battery, I think.

Also, related, has anyone replaced the lead-acid battery with an AGM or other battery (lithium-ion or gel cell, perhaps?) that does not require acid, and how did that work?

 

[angore]

The 24 has an AGM battery.

 

[gfdublin]

The 24 has an AGM battery.

Ha... I didn't know that. Thanks Al.

 

[angore]

Here are things I do and admit some are not founded on specific information.

1. keep fob a reasonable difference away (some use faraday box). Mine is about 20ft horizontally through 4 walls..
2. If you use lincoln app disable near by devices permission
3. keep doors locked even in garage just in case vehicle is "thinking" you may return soon. I hope this accelerates turning off the "instant on" stuff. I use the lock button on door since reported this will clear some issues.
4. periodically charge battery and let stay charged a day so battery / BMS knows what full charge is if that matters. My experience is that the charging system is not trying to keep battery fully charged.
5. disabled approach assistance in setting so no approached lights
6. I try to reboot periodically (code may have memory leaks)
7. I know opening and closing doors (especially driver) and especially rear hatch repeated can reduce battery if repeatedly done.
8. If there is a software update, I will try to get it.

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[gfdublin]

Thank you Al. I printed that and will check my settings and examine these items

 

[swindler]

We don't do any of those things except keep the fob out of range when parked. We haven't had a sniff of a battery issue since those fixes came out in 2024. And we too, are retired and have low daily usage with 4-5 day gaps (averaging 550 mi/mo over 20 months — and half of that is a 600 mile trip every 2-3 months.)

I think many people are charging periodically because of 2024, but I don't believe a notable issue exists today. Is it a small battery in a high-tech hybrid and never seems to sleep? Yes, it can't sit for the winter and then just start up. But don't be overly concerned.

 

[Jacyte]

We don't do any of those things except keep the fob out of range when parked. We haven't had a sniff of a battery issue since those fixes came out in 2024. And we too, are retired and have low daily usage with 4-5 day gaps (averaging 550 mi/mo over 20 months — and half of that is a 600 mile trip every 2-3 months.)

I think many people are charging periodically because of 2024, but I don't believe a notable issue exists today. Is it a small battery in a high-tech hybrid and never seems to sleep? Yes, it can't sit for the winter and then just start up. But don't be overly concerned.

I agree. It seems there are issues with modules staying live after a bad update. They will cause drain issues but that is not normal operation. When everything is working as intended you will not see any battery drain of concern. I just had an issue after the version 11 update where something wasn't going to sleep. I couldn't reboot the infotainment system and every night it went into deep sleep and battery got down to 12v. They re-flashed everything and now its holding 12.4-12.5 even on sub freezing nights with the key nearby, PAK enabled and short drives to work.

 

[MattMacMan]

Honestly, grab a battery tenderizer and hook it up, you get to enjoy all the benefits of your vehicle without worrying about the battery dying on you. And it will prolong the life of said battery by keeping it topped off and if not used for long long times itll actually drain it some and recondition it. Well worth the cost and it is really easy to use. I prefer the CTEK brand since OEMs have CTEK make models for them. (There is a Ford Performance one I use).

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[Billz]

Honestly, grab a battery tenderizer and hook it up, you get to enjoy all the benefits of your vehicle without worrying about the battery dying on you. And it will prolong the life of said battery by keeping it topped off and if not used for long long times itll actually drain it some and recondition it. Well worth the cost and it is really easy to use. I prefer the CTEK brand since OEMs have CTEK make models for them. (There is a Ford Performance one I use).

while I agree with your approach the truth is no one should have to do this. We didn't buy a budget car. These are expensive vehicles. The auto industry is screwing up royally and Ford is leading the way. Honda just recalled 250k vehicles for SW issues.

 

[angore]

The problem is the software is not a steady state condition. Each update seems to have quirks and dealers are not going to reflash anything without being able to charge warranted. I have always use tenders for mowers and cars so not an usual event for me to extend battery life.

 

[gfdublin]

I do see low warnings from the BM 300 Pro when the car sits for a week. "Low" as defined by the 300 Pro, is subjective. I also acknowledge that the voltage has dropped but only on one occasion was it under 12 volts (11.8 is where damage starts to occur). Is that correct?

Is it a pain to reach up and pull an extension cord down from a reel on the ceiling, walk around and open the door to release the hood, and then plug in the power cord from the small charger? Yeah, it is. lol So I don't use it all the time, but if I park it knowing I won't be using it for a week, I trudge around and plug the danged thing in.

Like Al I've used chargers for years and probably have 10 of them around here. The snow thrower, the tractor, the mower, and the 300-pound generator all stay plugged in over the winter (though our winters these last 10 years have been very mild in central Ohio).

In the motor coach, I had a switch to that would allow me to pull from the house batteries should the chassis battery fail to start the rig. I never had to use it, but I was comfortable knowing that plan B was always available. Good to know the problems have been solved. Too bad they can't find a way to briefly connect the high-voltage battery to the 12-volt "safely" as a backup.

Anyway, Go Bucks!!.

 

[angore]

The real issue is the widely differing experiences with the Nautilus. Some having no issues while others having nothing and there is no one magic fix. II would contact the Concierge since they can check codes since clearing DTC (trouble codes) has addressed some issues. They fixed my backup start code issue without visiting a dealer.

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[MattMacMan]

while I agree with your approach the truth is no one should have to do this. We didn't buy a budget car. These are expensive vehicles. The auto industry is screwing up royally and Ford is leading the way. Honda just recalled 250k vehicles for SW issues.

Never once said it was a budget car. The truth is, technology is in all cars nowadays. And the nicer and more sophisticated a vehicle becomes, the more draw the electrical system will use. Battery tech hasnt really changed. Thats the issue. I mean it HAS but we are still using lead batteries in the engine bay. Why not Lithium? Fire hazard. Thats why. You can buy a Rolls Royce, and I betcha it still has the same 12V battery tech ours does. Its just the reality we live in atm. But hey, its a million dollar idea and you can get rich fast if you can find a better way!

 

[swindler]

Never once said it was a budget car. The truth is, technology is in all cars nowadays. And the nicer and more sophisticated a vehicle becomes, the more draw the electrical system will use. Battery tech hasnt really changed. Thats the issue. I mean it HAS but we are still using lead batteries in the engine bay. Why not Lithium? Fire hazard. Thats why. You can buy a Rolls Royce, and I betcha it still has the same 12V battery tech ours does. Its just the reality we live in atm. But hey, its a million dollar idea and you can get rich fast if you can find a better way!

They'll stick a whole lot more lithium battery capacity under your seat for an EV than the 12V battery in the engine bay holds.

 

[MattMacMan]

They'll stick a whole lot more lithium battery capacity under your seat for an EV than the 12V battery in the engine bay holds.

Ive never understood that. Especially with alot of vehicles having the 12V battery in the trunk. What gives?

 

[Billz]

They'll stick a whole lot more lithium battery capacity under your seat for an EV than the 12V battery in the engine bay holds.

Yes it’s not a budget car and that’s exactly why we shouldn’t have these problems. How about Ford build a strong SW team and maybe put a slightly bigger battery in the car especially since their SW team is weak.

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[MattMacMan]

Yes it’s not a budget car and that’s exactly why we shouldn’t have these problems. How about Ford build a strong SW team and maybe put a slightly bigger battery in the car especially since their SW team is weak.

Except thats easier said than done. Theres alot of manufacturers that have software issues. Im just thankful Ford/Lincoln isnt putting common features behind paywalls. (BMW and Tesla making people pay a subscription to enable heated seats, Toyota and Dodge making people pay for remote start and other app features, some brands making people pay subscriptions just to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto--Mercedes) Yeah we don't have it as bad as some make it out to be. It could be much worse. Im not dismissing your issue here, but Id much rather deal with this than the above.

With that being said, have you had the battery replaced yet? I work at a dealership and we have vehicles come right off the truck from the factory with a bad battery, the battery manufacturer gets bad batches at times. We get good ones for the most part, but there will be a batch of bad ones where almost every vehicle that comes off that one truck has bad or weak batteries. We try to save them with chargers, some make it a year or so in the customers hands, some don't make it off the lot, a salesman will go to show it to a customer and we get a call to go jump it. It happens. But that would be the first step Id take, that, and driving the vehicle more often.

And one last thing, the newer Nautilus have been known to have a vampire draw issue that shouldve been fixed with an OTA update. Make sure your vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi at home, and make sure automatic updates are turned on.

Hope this helps.

 

[angore]

And one last thing, the newer Nautilus have been known to have a vampire draw issue that shouldve been fixed with an OTA update. Make sure your vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi at home, and make sure automatic updates are turned on.

Hope this helps.

Define "newer Nautilus". Battery manufacturing should not be so random these days.

 

[Billz]

Except thats easier said than done. Theres alot of manufacturers that have software issues. Im just thankful Ford/Lincoln isnt putting common features behind paywalls. (BMW and Tesla making people pay a subscription to enable heated seats, Toyota and Dodge making people pay for remote start and other app features, some brands making people pay subscriptions just to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto--Mercedes) Yeah we don't have it as bad as some make it out to be. It could be much worse. Im not dismissing your issue here, but Id much rather deal with this than the above.

With that being said, have you had the battery replaced yet? I work at a dealership and we have vehicles come right off the truck from the factory with a bad battery, the battery manufacturer gets bad batches at times. We get good ones for the most part, but there will be a batch of bad ones where almost every vehicle that comes off that one truck has bad or weak batteries. We try to save them with chargers, some make it a year or so in the customers hands, some don't make it off the lot, a salesman will go to show it to a customer and we get a call to go jump it. It happens. But that would be the first step Id take, that, and driving the vehicle more often.

And one last thing, the newer Nautilus have been known to have a vampire draw issue that shouldve been fixed with an OTA update. Make sure your vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi at home, and make sure automatic updates are turned on.

Hope this helps.

I really appreciate your advice and it is right on. For the record, my battery issues are behind me. I am up to date on OTA (except hybrid warning sound). My point is this should have benefited sooner. Ford is way to slow in fixing things.
I am suffering form a few lingering issues that also should not take almost 2 years to fix.

- front rotor noise
- rear shock noise (which they will not address)
- Infotainment glitches that don't seem to be on Ford's radar.

not the definition of a quality car.

 

[MattMacMan]

Define "newer Nautilus". Battery manufacturing should not be so random these days.

24MY and newer. We have had several bad batches of batteries this year. I agree that it shouldnt be so random...but Ford doesnt actually manufacture these batteries. They buy them from several manufacturers, they get what is most available at the time. But while they are made for Ford, when you see as many batteries as we do every month, you can see slight variations in the casing of these batteries even if they are of the same size and capacity. Im guessing Ford uses several manufacturers to keep supplies stocked so production lines dont get interrupted.

Not to mention, these vehicles are shipped from China via a ship. This takes ALOT longer to process at the port in China, then the ship takes weeks to cross the Pacific Ocean, then they need processed through customs when they get to the port in the US, then they get transported to a rail yard, to be loaded on a train, then finally get to the destination rail yard where it is loaded onto a transport truck and taken to the dealership. These vehicles sit for well over a month while being in transit to their destination as well. People often don't see the full picture. They arent built at the dealership.