U3003 - Battery Voltage DTC -- tho the car's fine

[xcm77]

Hello all,

Found a U3003 - Battery Voltage DTC today. The car's been sitting in the garage for the last 3 weeks but cranked right up on the first go. I haven't seen any signs of a weak battery either, tho it's been 3 years since I bought the car. This is the OEM battery so it's definitely older then 3y if you factor in production, shipping to the EU and god knows how many months it sat on the dealer's floor.

I know it's common to change it after 3 years but in all honesty, it's working just fine.

Thoughts?

I'm thinking about simply keeping it under observation for the time being.

PS: This DTC is a one off (so far/*knock on wood*) and I scan the car about once every 2-3 months.

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[ORRadtech]

Have the battery load tested. I think you'll find that it is getting weak. It may well start the car but if the starter pulls the voltage too low it can piss-off lots of odd things.

 

[njweatherman]

The OEM battery on these cars is weak. I have a 2023 Mustang GT, automatic, and it's my daily driver. Since I bought the car in January, I have received the following message 3 times: Screen off to save battery." Also, when I had FORD Pass installed earlier in the year, I received the message that my battery went into deep sleep mode. I had the battery tested once already and it tested fine. The car always starts right up. I'm going to get it tested again tomorrow.
People on here either get an aftermarket stronger battery, or put a battery tender on it. I can't put a battery tender on it because I live in an apartment complex:(

 

[xcm77]

People on here either get an aftermarket stronger battery, or put a battery tender on it. I can't put a battery tender on it because I live in an apartment complex:(

I remember some negative posts about battery tenders around here...

 

[ORRadtech]

I remember some negative posts about battery tenders around here...

Negative in what way?
Buy a quality tender that's an actual tender (as opposed to say a float charger) and hook it up correctly and you'll have no problems.

 

[xcm77]

Negative in what way?

I can't remember tbh but something along the lines of either being useless, either too expensive compared to simply buying another battery

 

[ORRadtech]

I can't remember tbh but something along the lines of either being useless, either too expensive compared to simply buying another battery

A Battery Tender branded one runs $35ish. A new battery for our cars starts around $120.
Cars that sit, especially highly electronic modern ones, are very hard on batteries. A Tender can, and will, extend a batteries life by half or more. Seems to me like an inexpensive way to keep from buying batteries every year or so.
Now if you DD the car a tender is more trouble than it's worth. Personally, on our DDs I plan on a new battery every 3ish years. Extreme climates, hot, cold or both can shorten that time frame significantly.

 

[xcm77]

A Battery Tender branded one runs $35ish

Maybe in the states. a decent one is ~75€ over here
Not sure it's worth it...

 

[ORRadtech]

Your money...
At this point you aren't even sure your battery is falling.
Again, charge it fully and have it load tested.

 

[Torched10]

Auto zone will load test for free. I had them test my wife's car and they said it was finr.mine didn't pass so had the m install new one

 

[WW2]

The BMS is set from the factory to only charge to like 75-80 percent. This results in deep sleep mode kicking in way too much. Your battery is probably just fine. If Im not going to drive it for more than a week, I connect a trickle charger. It charges the battery to 100 percent. I believe you can up the charge percentage in forscan to prevent premature deep sleep. Also, at 2 weeks without a start, it goes into deep sleep anyway....

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