P061B and Limp Mode

[jayhoogs]

Hi guys. Haven’t had any issues with my car until this morning. I got it in October 2022, so a little over a year ago, and it has a bit over 10k miles now, as it’s my daily. Not sure if it’s relevant, but this past weekend I had to drive home in a decent amount of snow, and yesterday I drove home in the rain (which has happened many times and I’ve never had an issue). This morning, on my way to work, I stopped for coffee and got there with no issues, then headed to work by getting on the highway. Get up to speed no problem, then traffic starts building so I’m downshifting, to 5-4-3 then into 2nd (with rev match) and right then the car instantly came up with all the warnings like pre-collision assist disabled, drive modes disabled, etc. along with the wrench and very obvious limp mode making the car jerk and giving no power. Eventually I was able to stop and turn off the car for a minute, then back on and everything seemed fine. Checked for codes, and had an inactive P061B. I actually had this same code on my previous tuned ecoboost, but that I knew was the parameters in the tune needed to be adjusted. With this car, I’m not sure as it’s stock tune, stock intake and filter, etc. and I haven’t changed anything in a bit. But after that I drove all the way to work and it was fine, so I’ll see what happens now on the drive home. I will say, since I got the car, sporadically I would get the message “system turning off to save power,” particularly if it did sit for an extended time, and recently it seems that time has gotten shorter and it shows that message a bit more often. Starting the car always seems fine though and it never feels/sounds like it’s at all weak getting it started, but I know bad batteries can often lead to weird issues like this, does anyone have any personal knowledge or experience of something like this happening? It’s not an old battery and not many miles on the car, but I know many have had strange electrical things due to these batteries dying prematurely so I’m leaning that way.

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[MiamiGT350]

If the car power dips, all kinds of modules no longer have enough power to run, so it can result in a lot of "random codes." I would test and replace the battery, as it is very likely the culprit.
Don't forget to do a BMS reset afterwards.

You shouldn't see that "saving power" message unless you're sitting in the car a long time in accessory mode, listening to the radio, etc.

 

[MiamiGT350]

Also, for good measure, disconnect and reconnect the battery terminals. It could simply just be this.

 

[sakman84]

If the car power dips, all kinds of modules no longer have enough power to run, so it can result in a lot of "random codes." I would test and replace the battery, as it is very likely the culprit.
Don't forget to do a BMS reset afterwards.

You shouldn't see that "saving power" message unless you're sitting in the car a long time in accessory mode, listening to the radio, etc.

Agreed, that is the place to start.

Its likely a false code due to power issues. I wouldn't let it bother me unless it happens again after new battery.

The other thing is you can get false codes from moist ambient conditions. I used to live in WA state, and yes it rains as much as people say. During those times I was hanging out at a tuning and repair shop often, I made friends with the owner. Anyways he said a lot of times a one time code is just due to humidity, it happed a lot up there.

I popped a code once in my G35 on a very wet day up there. I restarted car and it went away. literally never had another code appear again and I put 100K miles on that car.

 

[jayhoogs]

If the car power dips, all kinds of modules no longer have enough power to run, so it can result in a lot of "random codes." I would test and replace the battery, as it is very likely the culprit.
Don't forget to do a BMS reset afterwards.

You shouldn't see that "saving power" message unless you're sitting in the car a long time in accessory mode, listening to the radio, etc.

Yeah I thought that may be the case, kind of why I’m leaning towards it being the battery. Like last week I had gone to dinner after a long drive (probably over 1.5 hrs). Then after dinner get in the car and that message was there right away, which doesn’t seem normal. I will try disconnecting the battery. I also have a tender that I haven’t used on this car but may try that too. As a note, after all that happened this morning, I got to work and now just got back home with no issues (about 40 miles), so I guess there’s a chance it’s also one of those random things that pops up once and never again, we shall see.

 

[jayhoogs]

Agreed, that is the place to start.

Its likely a false code due to power issues. I wouldn't let it bother me unless it happens again after new battery.

The other thing is you can get false codes from moist ambient conditions. I used to live in WA state, and yes it rains as much as people say. During those times I was hanging out at a tuning and repair shop often, I made friends with the owner. Anyways he said a lot of times a one time code is just due to humidity, it happed a lot up there.

I popped a code once in my G35 on a very wet day up there. I restarted car and it went away. literally never had another code appear again and I put 100K miles on that car.

Ok yeah that makes sense. It has been very humid the past few days here between the snow and then the rain on top of that which caused a lot of fog with melting snow. With what I’ve been reading online it seems if any moisture gets through to the MAF it can be very sensitive and cause a code like this so it’s a possibility. Just not sure why now as I’ve driven in plenty of rainy and humid conditions but you never know. Like you said, it’s also very possible it’s a battery issue as I know low voltage causes a bunch of weird issues.

 

[sakman84]

Ok yeah that makes sense. It has been very humid the past few days here between the snow and then the rain on top of that which caused a lot of fog with melting snow. With what I’ve been reading online it seems if any moisture gets through to the MAF it can be very sensitive and cause a code like this so it’s a possibility. Just not sure why now as I’ve driven in plenty of rainy and humid conditions but you never know. Like you said, it’s also very possible it’s a battery issue as I know low voltage causes a bunch of weird issues.

When I had that code on the G35 it was foggy, very wet at the surface. I had the car parked and the window cracked, and water droplets were formed all over the car including the interior. I remember grabbing the steering wheel and my hands were wet!

If the car power dips, all kinds of modules no longer have enough power to run, so it can result in a lot of "random codes." I would test and replace the battery, as it is very likely the culprit.
Don't forget to do a BMS reset afterwards.

You shouldn't see that "saving power" message unless you're sitting in the car a long time in accessory mode, listening to the radio, etc.

I'm with MiamiGT350 that sounds like a battery problem because of that message. The only time you should see that are under the conditions he describes, its the only time I have ever seen that message myself.

 

[GrayMater22]

Hi guys. Haven’t had any issues with my car until this morning. I got it in October 2022, so a little over a year ago, and it has a bit over 10k miles now, as it’s my daily. Not sure if it’s relevant, but this past weekend I had to drive home in a decent amount of snow, and yesterday I drove home in the rain (which has happened many times and I’ve never had an issue). This morning, on my way to work, I stopped for coffee and got there with no issues, then headed to work by getting on the highway. Get up to speed no problem, then traffic starts building so I’m downshifting, to 5-4-3 then into 2nd (with rev match) and right then the car instantly came up with all the warnings like pre-collision assist disabled, drive modes disabled, etc. along with the wrench and very obvious limp mode making the car jerk and giving no power. Eventually I was able to stop and turn off the car for a minute, then back on and everything seemed fine. Checked for codes, and had an inactive P061B. I actually had this same code on my previous tuned ecoboost, but that I knew was the parameters in the tune needed to be adjusted. With this car, I’m not sure as it’s stock tune, stock intake and filter, etc. and I haven’t changed anything in a bit. But after that I drove all the way to work and it was fine, so I’ll see what happens now on the drive home. I will say, since I got the car, sporadically I would get the message “system turning off to save power,” particularly if it did sit for an extended time, and recently it seems that time has gotten shorter and it shows that message a bit more often. Starting the car always seems fine though and it never feels/sounds like it’s at all weak getting it started, but I know bad batteries can often lead to weird issues like this, does anyone have any personal knowledge or experience of something like this happening? It’s not an old battery and not many miles on the car, but I know many have had strange electrical things due to these batteries dying prematurely so I’m leaning that way.

I would say the battery, I have a 22 GT Premium bought in October 2022 as well, my battery lasted 1 year.

 

[jayhoogs]

I would say the battery, I have a 22 GT Premium bought in October 2022 as well, my battery lasted 1 year.

Interesting. I don't get how these batteries seem to commonly have such short lives. Did yours actually die, as in it no longer supplied enough power to even start your car? Or were you experiencing weird electrical things or messages saying certain systems were disabled?

 

[iram]

So I also had the P061B code on my 2015 mustang GT premium, and it would go into limp mode and struggleee to start & sometimes just die on me.

turned out to be a Mass Air Flow sensor problem.The sensor was dirty and not reading air flow so it cut the engine off.

i bought a can of MAF cleaner, popped it out, sprayed down the small filament, let it dry, installed, and it worked perfect ever since.

if your stock air filter is dirty it could of let some debris get into/onto the sensor.
This was my experience… worth a try I guess

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Interesting. I don't get how these batteries seem to commonly have such short lives. Did yours actually die, as in it no longer supplied enough power to even start your car? Or were you experiencing weird electrical things or messages saying certain systems were disabled?

Bro. Move to Arizona. You're luck if you get 2 years out of a battery.

 

[GrayMater22]

Interesting. I don't get how these batteries seem to commonly have such short lives. Did yours actually die, as in it no longer supplied enough power to even start your car? Or were you experiencing weird electrical things or messages saying certain systems were disabled?

Both, prior to it dying I was having issues with door locks, battery conservation messages, etc, then I tried to download a tune and that completely killed it, tried to charge it since it was only a year old and that was the final nail in the coffin. Ford obviously uses garbage batteries in their cars.

 

[jayhoogs]

Further info. This morning got in my car to go to work, and out of curiosity checked the voltage on the screen in accessory mode before starting the car, and it showed 11.5 V. Drove to work and nothing weird happened like yesterday, but the whole drive it showed at exactly 14.5 V. Forgot to check again in accessory mode after getting to work. I’m not sure how accurate those readings are, but pretty sure if it’s actually around 11.5 V it’s close to dead. I'm just surprised it always starts the car right away without sounding weak or anything.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Further info. This morning got in my car to go to work, and out of curiosity checked the voltage on the screen in accessory mode before starting the car, and it showed 11.5 V. Drove to work and nothing weird happened like yesterday, but the whole drive it showed at exactly 14.5 V. Forgot to check again in accessory mode after getting to work. I’m not sure how accurate those readings are, but pretty sure if it’s actually around 11.5 V it’s close to dead. I'm just surprised it always starts the car right away without sounding weak or anything.

Definitely sounds like you need a battery.

 

[murick]

I am confused - why should a battery last only a year or two? What is the specific of a climate, driving habits, or Mustang that causes it to quit prematurely?

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