Charging System Service Now - Argh

[Evenmetal]

Having the same issues currently. I have the anti-gravity battery and switched back to my factory motorcraft battery and am still having the same issue. Voltage just varies from 14.4 and will drop to 11.5 sometimes. This first happened to me tracking the car and now happens every time I drive it. I guess I will try a new alternator. From what I hear it's a PITA to install??

Sponsored

 

[galaxy]

@Evenmetal So you’re trying to track down a “problem” because of the voltage swing you’re seeing? And nothing else? And car otherwise drives just fine? Only asking since you didn’t mention anything else.

 

[Cory S]

Easy. If you say static battery voltage is 12.1 after sitting overnight, what is it after sitting TWO overnights?
If it’s below 11.7 ish then, your battery has a cell that’s failing.

 

[ChipG]

Down to 12V flat this morning, and I went for a short drive the other night.

 

[Cory S]

Down to 12V flat this morning, and I went for a short drive the other night.

Battery is failing.

 

[ChipG]

That's my hope at this point. I'll know Saturday once I put the new AG battery in if the error message goes away.

 

[Egparson202]

That's my hope at this point. I'll know Saturday once I put the new AG battery in if the error message goes away.

Word to the wise: Despite what they say and even what the embedded indicator says, they aren’t shipped fully charged. Run it through a full charge cycle with a lithium compatible charger before first use.

That will help avoid some quirks and give you a clean baseline.

 

[ChipG]

Yep, I already have the charger.

 

[Evenmetal]

@Evenmetal So you’re trying to track down a “problem” because of the voltage swing you’re seeing? And nothing else? And car otherwise drives just fine? Only asking since you didn’t mention anything else.

Yeah car drives fine, but I get "Charging System Service Now" error every time I drive the car.

 

[Egparson202]

Yeah car drives fine, but I get "Charging System Service Now" error every time I drive the car.

Chip did a nice job of outlining the possible causes in post #8.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/charging-system-service-now-argh.191726/post-3850067

Based on my experience it will get worse with time and miles. And the car will likely pass all the charging and load tests the parts stores provide. I’d lay a solid charge on the battery to try and rule that out. If it’s not the battery, try the alternator pigtail. It’s cheap and easy to replace.

 

[sublime1996525]

Just went through this with my car. Battery was dying, then alternator went out, then had to replace the pigtail because it’s made out of fairy dust and if you sneeze, it messes up. Now no more warnings lol.

 

[Evenmetal]

Chip did a nice job of outlining the possible causes in post #8.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/charging-system-service-now-argh.191726/post-3850067

Based on my experience it will get worse with time and miles. And the car will likely pass all the charging and load tests the parts stores provide. I’d lay a solid charge in the battery to try and rule that out. If it’s not the battery, try the alternator pigtail. It’s cheap and easy to replace.

Thank you

 

[Egparson202]

Thank you

Gotta stick together.

 

[ChipG]

Well. AG battery received, fully charged, and installed. Did the BMS reset as well (non-Forscan method). Battery shows 13.2V across the posts. Car fires right up, voltage meter goes immediately to 15V... and, about 5 seconds later, the Charging System Service Now message pops on. Back to the drawing board.

Current behavior is consistent - message pops up a few seconds after starting the car and stays on. This is different than the behavior I had when the pigtail was bad. In that case, the message would go on and off several times per trip.

So, I guess next step is to get under the car and try to find connection issues at ground, at starter connections, or anyplace else I can find. Last option is to swap the alternator (which appears to be generating voltage just fine) in the hopes the voltage regulator itself is bad. Ugh.

 

[Egparson202]

Does anyone know if there are aftermarket or OE alternatives to the factory alternator? That’s the road I want to try next time.

Sponsored