Anyone else experiencing this New Gremlin?

[Valhalla]

You just made the whole jingle play in my head. Now it’s on repeat.

I'm there for ya' it's almost like it's>>>> THE FINAL COUNTDOWN....

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[buzpro]

That’s your alternator supporting the battery.

Even if it shows 12.5 with the engine off doesn’t necessarily mean the battery is good

My battery reads 12.39 with the engine off, but even the lights don't flash when i lock the car. They flash when I unlock 'em though.
I dont get how the alternator is not charging the battery. I mean its not completely dry but low enough to trigger that message?

 

[Bugkillah]

 

[TheKim]

My battery reads 12.39 with the engine off, but even the lights don't flash when i lock the car. They flash when I unlock 'em though.
I dont get how the alternator is not charging the battery. I mean its not completely dry but low enough to trigger that message?

If you've got a few minutes, I would recommend getting the battery tested, or try charging it if you have a home battery charger. Make sure the charger supports AGM batteries as they charge differently than standard 12v.

 

[zuke]

My battery reads 12.39 with the engine off, but even the lights don't flash when i lock the car. They flash when I unlock 'em though.
I dont get how the alternator is not charging the battery. I mean its not completely dry but low enough to trigger that message?

What's your driving pattern? If you aren't driving it for at least 20~30 minutes continuously every once in a while (a couple times a week), Then you aren't charging the battery enough, and you'll continue to see that message. This is not a Bronco unique problem, Many modern vehicles exhibit the same behavior when driven only on short commutes,errands.

 

[BroncoChallenger]

My battery reads 12.39 with the engine off, but even the lights don't flash when i lock the car. They flash when I unlock 'em though.
I dont get how the alternator is not charging the battery. I mean its not completely dry but low enough to trigger that message?

As mentioned above, many modern vehicles display this issue - the vehicle needs to be driven quite a distance several times a week or the battery will not stay charged. The reason is that, with so many different modules, each of them having their own 'Keep Alive Memory' that constantly draws power, it draws down the battery. Couple that with the battery management systems they've put on them to prevent over-charging of the AGM batteries, and you've got a recipe for constantly low(er)-charged batteries.

You'll also come to find that batteries on most modern vehicles will only last about 3 years, instead of the 5+ we used to get out of older vehicles as recent as 2017 (my Power Wagon, a 2017, still had the original battery when I traded it in back in '23). And as they age and their voltage drops closer to 12VDC, you'll start to see erratic error messages and behaviors that don't have any rhyme or reason - I don't think I've seen anyone have the exact same behaviors as their battery got weaker, but changing the battery solved the issues for 99% of them. For instance, yours is the first I've heard of that won't flash the lights when you lock it.

If you have an AGM-compatible charger (which is something I'll need to invest in, which sucks because I have an older Schumacher that still works GREAT), put it on overnight and see if your errors go away. If they do, see if the battery maintains that charge or if the errors come back quickly. If it stays at a higher charge, you just need to drive more to keep the battery charged (or put it on the charger a few times a week). If it doesn't, you need a new battery.

 

[buzpro]

What's your driving pattern? If you aren't driving it for at least 20~30 minutes continuously every once in a while (a couple times a week), Then you aren't charging the battery enough, and you'll continue to see that message. This is not a Bronco unique problem, Many modern vehicles exhibit the same behavior when driven only on short commutes,errands.

If my destination is less than 20 minutes away I usually ride my motorcycle, so I almost, always make it a point to drive at least 20 minutes continuously. (I also don't use the Auto start/stop function just to lessen the load.)

As mentioned above, many modern vehicles display this issue - the vehicle needs to be driven quite a distance several times a week or the battery will not stay charged. The reason is that, with so many different modules, each of them having their own 'Keep Alive Memory' that constantly draws power, it draws down the battery. Couple that with the battery management systems they've put on them to prevent over-charging of the AGM batteries, and you've got a recipe for constantly low(er)-charged batteries.

You'll also come to find that batteries on most modern vehicles will only last about 3 years, instead of the 5+ we used to get out of older vehicles as recent as 2017 (my Power Wagon, a 2017, still had the original battery when I traded it in back in '23). And as they age and their voltage drops closer to 12VDC, you'll start to see erratic error messages and behaviors that don't have any rhyme or reason - I don't think I've seen anyone have the exact same behaviors as their battery got weaker, but changing the battery solved the issues for 99% of them. For instance, yours is the first I've heard of that won't flash the lights when you lock it.

If you have an AGM-compatible charger (which is something I'll need to invest in, which sucks because I have an older Schumacher that still works GREAT), put it on overnight and see if your errors go away. If they do, see if the battery maintains that charge or if the errors come back quickly. If it stays at a higher charge, you just need to drive more to keep the battery charged (or put it on the charger a few times a week). If it doesn't, you need a new battery.

I hear ya both. My Bronco is a '21 and I live in balmy Arizona, so you're probably right about the end of life on the AGM.

I have a handheld, chargeable jumper unit which is absolutely amazing, but you are correct I need to get a modern charger as well.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate you, AND everyone else who chimed in for that matter.

 

[Jazer]

Bad or poorly charged battery.

 

[Roger123]

I hear ya both. My Bronco is a '21 and I live in balmy Arizona, so you're probably right about the end of life on the AGM.

A '21 in AZ, it's time, a new battery will fix you right up. My original battery lasted 34 months in VA.

 

[Dral97]

Has happened to me two or three times over the years, usually while driving. It hasn't happened for well over a year now (just screwed myself).

Get it tested or throw on a trickle and see what happens from there. If the battery is borked, the trickle won't do much.

 

[zuke]

If my destination is less than 20 minutes away I usually ride my motorcycle, so I almost, always make it a point to drive at least 20 minutes continuously. (I also don't use the Auto start/stop function just to lessen the load.)

I hear ya both. My Bronco is a '21 and I live in balmy Arizona, so you're probably right about the end of life on the AGM.

I have a handheld, chargeable jumper unit which is absolutely amazing, but you are correct I need to get a modern charger as well.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate you, AND everyone else who chimed in for that matter.

Yup, I've got a 21 as well, My original battery was wore out over a year ago.. and I drive a minimum of two 30+ mile trips five days a week. I think you're on the right track, new battery time..

 

[Bikeric]

My Bronco did the same thing a few months back. All it needed was some high speed-long distance running and all was good. Even my A.S.S. started functioning again (really need to find a better acronym for that).

 

[jrollo7]

1. Don't expose it to bright lights.

2. Don’t get it wet.

3. Don’t feed it after midnight.

And don’t talk back to it or you’ll be cut off.

 

[Brian_B]

hear ya both. My Bronco is a '21 and I live in balmy Arizona, so you're probably right about the end of life on the AGM.

My factory battery only lasted a little bit over two years. It would take three to four straight hours to recharge while driving, and be back to low battery in a week of regular driving.

I limped it along a bit by putting it on a charger each night, but I did replace it before it left me stranded someplace.

Same symptoms - random weird gremlins, sustained high alternator voltages while driving, no updates for a while, deep sleep mode. Thinking back, the first big gremlin popped up about 4 months before I eventually replaced it

My wife’s Sport though - lots of short trips. Whenever her ASS stopped working we would put it on a charger overnight and it would be good for another few months. Her battery got replaced a bit ago under recall, but was 3 years old and still looking good at that point

 

[crzyhawk]

My battery reads 12.39 with the engine off, but even the lights don't flash when i lock the car. They flash when I unlock 'em though.
I dont get how the alternator is not charging the battery. I mean its not completely dry but low enough to trigger that message?

Bad battery. The alternator's providing a charge, but the battery is not holding it.

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