Battery monitoring system reset

rondeo · 18-03-2016, 10:30 AM

I'm about to replace the battery in a 2011 TDCi using a Varta F18
85ah 800cca (315x175x175mm).

I asked at three Ford dealers whether a battery management reset was required. Finally I emailed customer service who responded by saying they had rung a dealer to find out, (we can't give answers to technical questions).

Anyway these are the results of my enquiries:

A:definitely not required
B:reset available but not necessary
C:we need to plug into your car to find out, cost $140.
D:definitely is required

Mondaveo · 18-03-2016, 12:35 PM

There's nothing like a straight answer. And what you have there is nothing like one!!!

rondeo · 18-03-2016, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

There's nothing like a straight answer. And what you have there is nothing like one!!!

Seems to me the problem with straight answers is they might be wrong. In the case of Ford, God is IDS?

Mondaveo · 06-04-2016, 12:32 PM

Did you end up getting it reset rondeo?

rondeo · 06-04-2016, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

Did you end up getting it reset rondeo?

I replaced the 5 year old original Ford battery with a Varta F18 Silver/Ca before winter sets in.

I have driven the car with the multimeter plugged into pins 16 and 4 of the DLC. When going downhill the continuous average voltage went up to 15V and uphill down to 12.6V. So the system appears to be doing the right thing. The whole point of the smart charge system is to reduce emissions/fuel use, by 1 or 2 percent.

Yuasa has a device called Yu-Fit, which battery retailers can use to do BMS resets. I have a Yu-Fit vehicle application list specifically for smart charge (not ISS). It indicates a reset is not available for Mondeo.

rondeo · 06-04-2016, 02:29 PM

Mondaveo 'I connected up my trickle-charger to the vehicle's battery and this morning the LED was green for charged, but the car was still giving the 'Low battery' message?'

Check the battery voltage with headlights on and decent multimeter?
Trickle charging will not fully charge a low battery overnight.

NZ XR6 · 07-04-2016, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rondeo

I replaced the 5 year old original Ford battery with a Varta F18 Silver/Ca before winter sets in.

I have driven the car with the multimeter plugged into pins 16 and 4 of the DLC. When going downhill the continuous average voltage went up to 15V and uphill down to 12.6V. So the system appears to be doing the right thing. The whole point of the smart charge system is to reduce emissions/fuel use, by 1 or 2 percent.

Yuasa has a device called Yu-Fit, which battery retailers can use to do BMS resets. I have a Yu-Fit vehicle application list specifically for smart charge (not ISS). It indicates a reset is not available for Mondeo.

I'd thought about doing something similar using the ciggy lighter socket. What is the DLC?

rondeo · 07-04-2016, 09:42 AM

DLC = diagnostic/data link connector = OBDII connector.

The difference between reading battery voltage at the lighter socket and the DLC is battery voltage is always present at the DLC but needs a door opened to turn on at the lighter socket, which turns on interior lights, instrument panel etc. By looking through the driver door window you can see battery voltage under almost no load via the DLC.

Either way would be fine for generator testing I'd say.

I wired up a DLC plug to a small lead acid battery to keep the system alive while I changed the main battery (fuse and diode in series). The cig lighter turns off so no good.

NZ XR6 · 08-04-2016, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

Haven't got a multimeter unfortunately (great present idea tho...), so for now I can only go off the charger's status LED and what the Mondeo tells me.

Will leave it to charge for the remainder of the week, then probably I'll hit a battery shop before we leave on Friday to check and replace if necessary. Assuming it's the original battery from when the car was built (Nov '10), it's probably due anyway.

I'd guess the low voltage warning is triggered when the battery voltage drops below a preset value. If it doesn't go away after charging the battery or a long run, then new battery time.

Mondaveo · 09-04-2016, 01:00 PM

So the local Ford dealer had the cheapest quote for a new battery, surprise ($207.50 for a "Ford DIN75L"). I went down and was assisted by a delightful young mechanic there who delivered the news that the current battery was good, surprise surprise (12.63 V, 677 CCA of a rated 720 CCA).

I observed it is a Motorcraft battery, so presumably not the car's original.

The 'Low battery' message had remained on the cluster all week but I'd only been checking on the car, not driving anywhere. Once I started the motor it didn't recur. Maybe it needs the engine started to realise when the battery's been recharged?

Just for interest, I asked the mechanic about the necessity of doing the BMS reset. He confirmed it can be done in IDS, but seemed to misunderstand the question as he briefly discussed how manufacturers are making it harder to undertake service elsewhere and that you run the risk of the immobiliser activating, something he'd seen before apparently.

ope126 · 09-04-2016, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

So the local Ford dealer had the cheapest quote for a new battery, surprise ($207.50 for a "Ford DIN75L"). I went down and was assisted by a delightful young mechanic there who delivered the news that the current battery was good, surprise surprise (12.63 V, 677 CCA of a rated 720 CCA).

I observed it is a Motorcraft battery, so presumably not the car's original.

The 'Low battery' message had remained on the cluster all week but I'd only been checking on the car, not driving anywhere. Once I started the motor it didn't recur. Maybe it needs the engine started to realise when the battery's been recharged?

Just for interest, I asked the mechanic about the necessity of doing the BMS reset. He confirmed it can be done in IDS, but seemed to misunderstand the question as he briefly discussed how manufacturers are making it harder to undertake service elsewhere and that you run the risk of the immobiliser activating, something he'd seen before apparently.

The Low Battery message might have been for your remotes?
So it appears that the previous owner has already changed the battery at Ford, hence the Motorcraft installed battery.

Mondaveo · 09-04-2016, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ope126

The Low Battery message might have been for your remotes?

The mechanic suggested that too, but the messages said nothing about a key. Per the owner's manual, p96 the message for that is 'Key battery low' but I was seeing 'Low battery' as given on p93 (for which the suggested action is "Have the system checked by a properly trained
technician as soon as possible").

ope126 · 09-04-2016, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

The mechanic suggested that too, but the messages said nothing about a key. Per the owner's manual, p96 the message for that is 'Key battery low' but I was seeing 'Low battery' as given on p93 (for which the suggested action is "Have the system checked by a properly trained
technician as soon as possible").

Always best to change the remote batteries also. I do it in all my cars every 12mths...

NZ XR6 · 11-04-2016, 12:59 AM

My battery has lasted 5 years, so I wouldn't worry for a year or two!

cobrin · 11-04-2016, 01:42 AM

Yeah I just didn't know how old they were before I bought it. One looked original and showed typical aging, the other was a Panasonic and very shiny. Either way I can now say Easter '16 for their age.

stefcio007 · 24-04-2017, 02:27 PM

Buy a modified ELM327, there are some local sellers, it has a switch on it. Most sellers print the Ford logo on it too, to let you know it's the right one.

Connect to car with the OBD port, it's behind the small storage container below the headlight switch. Squeeze the sides of the container to enable you to swing it all the way.

Turn the switch to the "on" position on the OBD reader. Plug in. Turn on ignition.
Connect to the adapter using ForScan (Android/PC).
Navigate to "Service Procedures".

There should be a BMS reset listed. Run the procedure to reset the system after installing a new battery.
I have done this myself and verified it works.

Local dealer I called up were clueless about it. Go figure.

Mondaveo · 24-04-2017, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefcio007

Connect to the adapter using ForScan (Android/PC).
Navigate to "Service Procedures".

There should be a BMS reset listed. Run the procedure to reset the system after installing a new battery.
I have done this myself and verified it works.

Thanks for the info stefcio. What version of FORScan did you actually perform this with - PC or Android?

I have been using FORScan Lite on Android and I think rondeo does too. I never saw a "Service Procedures" option in the app. Rondeo and I both use OBDLink MX adaptors.

I have an inkling that FORScan Lite does not expose as many functions as FORScan on a PC, so maybe Service Procedures only exists in the PC version. Otherwise we've found a limitation of using OBDLink?

Edit: think I found the answer. From forscan.org:

Quote:

Run test diagnostic procedures (not supported in FORScan Lite yet)
Run service procedures (not supported in FORScan Lite yet)

stefcio007 · 24-04-2017, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondaveo

Thanks for the info stefcio. What version of FORScan did you actually perform this with - PC or Android?

I use the PC version (v2.1.9) running inside a virtual machine on my laptop connected via Bluetooth.

Newer versions of the software just hang for me at "identifying vehicle" or it thinks my car is from 1999 or 2000 and a petrol Zetec, haha.

rondeo · 24-04-2017, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefcio007

I use the PC version (v2.1.9) running inside a virtual machine on my laptop connected via Bluetooth.

Newer versions of the software just hang for me at "identifying vehicle" or it thinks my car is from 1999 or 2000 and a petrol Zetec, haha.

Forscan v2.3.8 is the latest. No BMS reset for Mondeo on PC.

stefcio007 · 24-04-2017, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rondeo

Forscan v2.3.8 is the latest. No BMS reset for Mondeo on PC.

v2.3.8 doesn't work for me, hence why I posted which version I use.
By the way, I have a Focus MK3 but I share the same engine. Just hanging about here since there's more info about the DW10C engine.
YMMV when it comes to software but hopefully I can contribute.

rondeo · 06-07-2021, 07:44 PM

Update on the BMS reset.

Driving for 30Km open road up and down hills I've seen a distinct change in the voltmeter readings since BMS reset.

Going downhill there's an increase in volts, and vice versa.
This accords with some descriptions of smart charge I have seen.

Maybe once the battery age is beyond some number of days, the smart charge system reverts to a preset behaviour?

My Lord Ford in heaven I believe in you, alas I understandn not,
but I love, as you gets me from A to B, albeit in my ignorance.

NZ XR6 · 30-04-2017, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefcio007

Buy a modified ELM327, there are some local sellers, it has a switch on it. Most sellers print the Ford logo on it too, to let you know it's the right one.

Connect to car with the OBD port, it's behind the small storage container below the headlight switch. Squeeze the sides of the container to enable you to swing it all the way.

Turn the switch to the "on" position on the OBD reader. Plug in. Turn on ignition.
Connect to the adapter using ForScan (Android/PC).
Navigate to "Service Procedures".

There should be a BMS reset listed. Run the procedure to reset the system after installing a new battery.
I have done this myself and verified it works.

Local dealer I called up were clueless about it. Go figure.

So I've looked for an ELM327 ... There are many options and I'm guessing the cheap ones use the copied, original firmware and don't work well.

Any recommendations? I've found an Australian seller who says he supplies genuine ELM firmware, but it doesn't have a switch. http://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/elm327/

cobrin · 24-04-2017, 06:30 PM

I really should mod my bt adaptor with a switch....one day

I use both phone/android and PC, now that I have a Portege Z20-t (lovely 12.5" hybrid w/detachable screen).

yeah Forscan was updated on android recently, I was happy to see it which is why it's still in my mind.

Mondaveo · 24-04-2017, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefcio007

Buy a modified ELM327, there are some local sellers, it has a switch on it. Most sellers print the Ford logo on it too, to let you know it's the right one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobrin

I really should mod my bt adaptor with a switch....one day

What's the story with this switch? Read to read/write toggle?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rondeo

Forscan v2.3.8 is the latest. No BMS reset for Mondeo on PC.

Darn. But is that a limitation of the software or the OBDII adaptor?

cobrin · 24-04-2017, 09:33 PM

Quote:

What's the story with this switch? Read to read/write toggle?

this explains it better

NZ XR6 · 25-04-2017, 01:11 AM

I'll have to buy one so I can disable the annoying overspeed chime!

Sent from my SM-G9208 using Tapatalk

rondeo · 25-04-2017, 08:05 AM

But is that a limitation of the software or the OBDII adaptor?

Mondaveo it's the software.
I have a non bluetooth adapter as well.
Also asked Forscan on their forum and they released a test which reportedly didn't work.
The switch is to enable MSCAN which is native to OBDlLinkMX.
MSCAN is a lower speed CAN bus for non critical applications.
Among other things the GEM acts as a bridge between the two.

cobrin · 30-04-2017, 10:24 AM

That looks as dodgy as NZ. Claims it's an original 2.1 (which there never was) then says it uses ELM327's firmware but not the Chip.....had me in stitches.

rondeo · 30-04-2017, 01:19 PM

No experience with these but this has the MSCAN switch.

http://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/s...rd-obd-scanner

When Forscan on PC starts it asks if the adapter has a switch.
My wired elm327 adapter has only HSCAN, my OBDLinkMX has both and is permanently plugged in, has low current standby,

I'd say it has this chip:

https://www.scantool.net/stn1170/

NZ XR6 · 01-05-2017, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rondeo

No experience with these but this has the MSCAN switch.

http://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/s...rd-obd-scanner

When Forscan on PC starts it asks if the adapter has a switch.
My wired elm327 adapter has only HSCAN, my OBDLinkMX has both and is permanently plugged in, has low current standby,

I'd say it has this chip:

https://www.scantool.net/stn1170/

Sounds good but I'm a bit wary after Cobrin's post. Anyone bought an adapter from this website?

EDIT: A quick search found some interesting feedback. I might keep looking ...