P068a code

[Metz302]

Hello everyone. I have a 2017 mustang GT, I just got back from vacation and my battery for my car was dead after a week (left my dash cam plugged in assuming anyways)

And it drove fine on the way home.

Woke up today to leave and I get this code and the power steering is gone, has a check engine light on with this code, and the wrench light is on.

I checked the relay for the PCM/ECM in the fuse box, checked the related fuses and they all seem fine (tested with multimeter)

I took my car to the shop so they’re diagnosing it because my dad and I couldn’t figure it out.

I don’t get it. Why was it fine before I left on vacation, and then I come back and this shit is all sorts of fucked?

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[SheepDog]

Probably needs a new battery. Or at a minimum, charge your battery completely, and then perform the BMS reset procedure

 

[Metz302]

Probably needs a new battery. Or at a minimum, charge your battery completely, and then perform the BMS reset procedure

I just got a new battery last week. You think that would be it?

 

[ORRadtech]

If it ran flat then, at a minimum, it needs to be put on a charger. The cars charging system is designed to run the car and top off what's used to start the car NOT recharge a dead battery. Not doing so will risk severely shortening the life of the battery.

 

[SheepDog]

I just got a new battery last week. You think that would be it?

Did you try clearing the codes before you took it to the shop?

You initially left out the fact that you have a new battery in the car, but regardless of that, if the battery was completely dead because you left on your dash cam, it could trigger that code.

I would have charged the battery completely, cleared the codes, and re-checked.

Is your alternator outputting charging voltage (13.5-14.5volts) when the engine is running?

 

[Metz302]

Did you try clearing the codes before you took it to the shop?

You initially left out the fact that you have a new battery in the car, but regardless of that, if the battery was completely dead because you left on your dash cam, it could trigger that code.

I would have charged the battery completely, cleared the codes, and re-checked.

Is your alternator outputting charging voltage (13.5-14.5volts) when the engine is running?

Sorry I was dropping it off at the shop whilst making the post I thought I included the battery being new my bad.

And the inside voltage meter on the gauge cluster was reading 12.8 when I drove it to the shop, the entire 15 minute drive there, never went up more than that.

It probably just needs to be charged. We put it on enough to just start the car so I could leave because we were traveling all day and were exhausted and wanted to go home, I figured a 20 minute drive would charge the battery.

The shop did say that the power steering came back but unsure about the CEL.

 

[SheepDog]

voltage meter on the gauge cluster was reading 12.8

Probably not enough. The BMS system can sometimes drop the alternator output down to battery voltage, but shouldn't be doing so if the battery's state of charge were very low. Did you reset the BMS system after you installed the new battery?

You can unplug the BMS sensor and see if the alternator output goes up to 14 volts. If the alternator output stays at 12ish volts, you probably need an alternator. Check all your fuses too.

Since it is already at the shop, they should be confirming that the Alternator is working

 

[Metz302]

Probably not enough. The BMS system can sometimes drop the alternator output down to battery voltage, but shouldn't be doing so if the battery's state of charge were very low. Did you reset the BMS system after you installed the new battery?

You can unplug the BMS sensor and see if the alternator output goes up to 14 volts. If the alternator output stays at 12ish volts, you probably need an alternator. Check all your fuses too.

Since it is already at the shop, they should be confirming that the Alternator is working

My dad and I pulled all the fuses and relays appropriate to the problem and tested them all with a multimeter and they seem fine.

I was questioning the alternator but wasn’t sure if that was the problem or not. And this may sound bad but I didn’t know you had to reset the BMS system after a new battery install since I’ve never had to install a new battery on this car until like two weeks ago.

 

[SheepDog]

My dad and I pulled all the fuses and relays appropriate to the problem and tested them all with a multimeter and they seem fine.

I was questioning the alternator but wasn’t sure if that was the problem or not. And this may sound bad but I didn’t know you had to reset the BMS system after a new battery install since I’ve never had to install a new battery on this car until like two weeks ago.

No problem. No one knows until they know.

You can also do this with FORScan

 

[Metz302]

No problem. No one knows until they know.

You can also do this with FORScan

Okay.

It does seem like it’s probably as simple as the battery. Car was perfectly fine before I left on vacation for 5 days…

Hoping to get my car back tomorrow.

 

[Metz302]

No problem. No one knows until they know.

You can also do this with FORScan

No update from the shop by EOD buttttt they did say that the electric steering came back to life as they pulled it int the shop so not sure.

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