Charging System Service Now

[davekro]

After two days being parked outside, it starts as normal and driving down the road I see the center screen with the warning:
"Charging System Service Now"
After my driving (3 miles), I checked the voltage and as expected it was 12.5.

Any insights as to what this might mean... what changed to give this notice?
5,500 miles

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[paul123]

After two days being parked outside, it starts as normal and driving down the road I see the center screen with the warning:
"Charging System Service Now"
After my driving (3 miles), I checked the voltage and as expected it was 12.5.

Any insights as to what this might mean... what changed to give this notice?
5,500 miles

that doesn't sound good. The alternator turns on & off, but you should see 14V when its on. If it stops turning on, you got limited miles before the battery dies.

 

[FordTechOne]

After two days being parked outside, it starts as normal and driving down the road I see the center screen with the warning:
"Charging System Service Now"
After my driving (3 miles), I checked the voltage and as expected it was 12.5.

Any insights as to what this might mean... what changed to give this notice?
5,500 miles

Did it have 12.5V when it was off or when it was running?

 

[davekro]

Did it have 12.5V when it was off or when it was running?

12.5v with engine off. Good point, I did not think to check the dash voltage regulator to see if the alternator was charging (reading 14 V).
I'll check that now.

EDIT:
Started up, scroll to voltage meter in dash, say 14.9v. meter on battery said 14.95v.
I got back in car, now voltage meter in dash says 14.5v which sounds like it is charging just fine.

I did not mention this initially, as it seemed unrelated, but I do not recall seeing this before when shutting the car off.
When I got home from the drive when first seeing the "Charge system warning", when i turned the car off, the dash showed a screen with two options:

Alarm,
(x) All sensors (selected)
( ) [something else]

Why am I seeing that alarm notification only only.

 

[GT Pony]

I did not mention this initially, as it seemed unrelated, but I do not recall seeing this before when shutting the car off.
When I got home from the drive when first seeing the "Charge system warning", when i turned the car off, the dash showed a screen with two options:

Alarm,
(x) All sensors (selected)
( ) [something else]

Why am I seeing that alarm notification only only.

That's normal about what you said about the alarm notification.

Might check your battery connections and other main wires under the hood for tightness ... start with the simple stuff.

 

[Reds197]

Check the bolts on the + terminal. One is most likely loose. I had the same thing.

 

[davekro]

EDIT: Ok, Ok, I meant ANY mouse, not just Didi the mouse!

I have never loosened the battery terminals. Bad connection has me worried now.

The Mustang was parked in a gravelled storage lot (field)* where I just started storing my work truck. I leave the MUstang and come back two days later. My box truck has powdered food products in it. I found several bags this time a mouse had chewed into. :eyebulgeidi a mouse climb into my Mustang and just nibble some wires!!! I had a mouse eat the heck out of one of my vending machines wires many years ago. for some reason they seem to like the covering on wires. Crap, is so it could literally be anywhere and anything.

*The secured lot is surrounded by farm fields. so lots of field mice, I'd guess.

I've never had a car attacked by mice before.... hmmmn.

 

[paul123]

Didi a mouse climb into my Mustang and just nibble some wires!!!

:lol:

 

[FordTechOne]

I have never loosened the battery terminals. Bad connection has me worried now.

The Mustang was parked in a gravelled storage lot (field)* where I just started storing my work truck. I leave the MUstang and come back two days later. My box truck has powdered food products in it. I found several bags this time a mouse had chewed into. :eyebulgeidi a mouse climb into my Mustang and just nibble some wires!!! I had a mouse eat the heck out of one of my vending machines wires many years ago. for some reason they seem to like the covering on wires. Crap, is so it could literally be anywhere and anything.

*The secured lot is surrounded by farm fields. so lots of field mice, I'd guess.

I've never had a car attacked by mice before.... hmmmn.

Sorry to hear that, mice can be devastating to wire harnesses and insulation.

 

[davekro]

I checked the battery terminal connections and confirmed that they are snug. Weird battery connectors though.

 

[davekro]

Check the bolts on the + terminal. One is most likely loose. I had the same thing.

UPDATE:
Charge system warning remained present thru this morning so I checked for OBD II codes. There were none. Instead of just confirming the battery connections were tight as I did initially, I removed both batt. terminals and reattached. I started engine up, then turned it off. NO charge warning.

I hope this remains the case. I'm guessing that whatever anomaly caused the error message was no longer present and removing power rebooted the Mustang's OS, so to speak. ;)

I did examine the engine bay carefully for evidence of any 'mousey' droppings or nibbles, especially at the alternator. All looks normal. I'll certainly report back if the warning returns.

 

[Project Whitemare]

No need to over analyze.

 

[davekro]

Anyone else have this incessant 'Charge System Warning' come up every time you start the engine?

Update:
I have removed both batt. terminals completely and wiped terminals and connectors with a rag, then reinstalled. Still get warning at start up. As always when running, charging always shows 14 -14.5V.
Today I tried disconnecting the neg cable (not connector over lug) for two hours. I reconnected, started and as always after 20 seconds the loud chime and warning is displayed (still).

I'm hoping to avoid the PIA of needing to arrange for a ride from a friend in order to drop it at a dealer for the day to 'maybe' get a diagnosis or explanation.
I would not be surprised to get a 'Gee, we don't know either' response from a dealer. It would not be the purchased from dealer as they are 1.5 hours away.

 

[FordTechOne]

Anyone else have this incessant 'Charge System Warning' come up every time you start the engine?

Update:
I have removed both batt. terminals completely and wiped terminals and connectors with a rag, then reinstalled. Still get warning at start up. As always when running, charging always shows 14 -14.5V.
Today I tried disconnecting the neg cable (not connector over lug) for two hours. I reconnected, started and as always after 20 seconds the loud chime and warning is displayed (still).

I'm hoping to avoid the PIA of needing to arrange for a ride from a friend in order to drop it at a dealer for the day to 'maybe' get a diagnosis or explanation.
I would not be surprised to get a 'Gee, we don't know either' response from a dealer. It would not be the purchased from dealer as they are 1.5 hours away.

Looks like you have aftermarket lighting installed on your vehicle.

Disconnect all aftermarket equipment and re-evaluate. Chances are the issue will no longer be present.

 

[paul123]

Anyone else have this incessant 'Charge System Warning' come up every time you start the engine?

does this display and then go away, or does it stays on the whole time you are driving?

As long as you are getting 14V out of the alternator, the car should keep charge on the battery.

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