Battery Replacement

robatl067

I was planning on ordering a Ford battery from my dealer and was told I should have them install it @ $420. The fee included the installation and reprogramming. What is involved in the reprogramming, can this be done by me (I can swap a battery)? See the convo below...

Me: I was quoted $240 for the battery from your parts dept. Your install fee is $160+? WOW!!!
Service advisor: That’s correct. It’s half an hour of labor. That includes install, and reprogramming the battery management system.

What is involved in the reprogramming, can this be done by me (I can swap a battery)?

My dealer is full of SH!!
Owner's manual instructions....

How to replace the vehicle's 12V battery?
To disconnect or remove the 12V battery, follow these steps:[1]Apply the parking brake and switch the ignition off. Switch off all electrical equipment, such as lights and the radio. Wait a minimum of two minutes before disconnecting the battery.
WARNING : Disconnecting the battery without waiting can cause damage not covered by the vehicle Warranty. Disconnect the negative battery cable terminal. Disconnect the positive battery cable terminal. Remove the battery securing clamp.Remove the battery.To install, reverse the removal procedure.
WARNING : For vehicles equipped with a 12V battery vent tube, always properly reconnect the vent tube to the battery after disconnecting. Failure to follow this instruction could allow harmful gasses to enter the vehicle cabin, which could cause personal injury or death.Before reconnecting the battery, make sure the ignition remains switched off and that the battery cable terminals are fully tightened. After cleaning or replacing the battery, reinstall the battery cover or shield.[1]If you disconnect or replace the vehicle battery, you must reset the following features:[1]Window bounce-back.Clock Settings.Pre-set radio stations.Steering Angle Sensor.To calibrate the steering angle sensor, drive the vehicle above 30 mph (50 km/h) for a minimum of 1.2 mi (2 km). Make sure to drive straight ahead for a minimum of 30 seconds. Several vehicle functions are disabled and a warning light could appear until the sensor is calibrated.[1]Make sure that you dispose of old batteries in an environmentally friendly way. Seek advice from your local authority about recycling old batteries.[1]
WARNING : Batteries normally produce explosive gases which can cause personal injury. Therefore, do not allow flames, sparks or lighted substances to come near the battery. When working near the battery, always shield your face and protect your eyes. Always provide correct ventilation.WARNING : When lifting a plastic-cased battery, excessive pressure on the end walls could cause acid to flow through the vent caps, resulting in personal injury and damage to the vehicle or battery. Lift the battery with a battery carrier or with your hands on opposite corners.
WARNING : Keep batteries out of reach of children. Batteries contain sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes when working near the battery to protect against possible splashing of acid solution. In case of acid contact with skin or eyes, flush immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes and get prompt medical attention. If acid is swallowed, call a physician immediately.
WARNING : Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash your hands after handling . WARNING : This vehicle may have more than one battery. Removing the battery cables from only one battery does not disconnect your vehicle electrical system. Make sure you disconnect the battery cables from all batteries when disconnecting power. Failure to do so may cause serious personal injury or property damage.
WARNING : For vehicles with Auto-Start-Stop the battery requirement is different. You must replace the battery with one of exactly the same specification.

robatl067

My dealer is full of SH!!
Owner's manual instructions....

How to replace the vehicle's 12V battery?
To disconnect or remove the 12V battery, follow these steps:[1]Apply the parking brake and switch the ignition off. Switch off all electrical equipment, such as lights and the radio. Wait a minimum of two minutes before disconnecting the battery.
WARNING : Disconnecting the battery without waiting can cause damage not covered by the vehicle Warranty. Disconnect the negative battery cable terminal. Disconnect the positive battery cable terminal. Remove the battery securing clamp.Remove the battery.To install, reverse the removal procedure.
WARNING : For vehicles equipped with a 12V battery vent tube, always properly reconnect the vent tube to the battery after disconnecting. Failure to follow this instruction could allow harmful gasses to enter the vehicle cabin, which could cause personal injury or death.Before reconnecting the battery, make sure the ignition remains switched off and that the battery cable terminals are fully tightened. After cleaning or replacing the battery, reinstall the battery cover or shield.[1]If you disconnect or replace the vehicle battery, you must reset the following features:[1]Window bounce-back.Clock Settings.Pre-set radio stations.Steering Angle Sensor.To calibrate the steering angle sensor, drive the vehicle above 30 mph (50 km/h) for a minimum of 1.2 mi (2 km). Make sure to drive straight ahead for a minimum of 30 seconds. Several vehicle functions are disabled and a warning light could appear until the sensor is calibrated.[1]Make sure that you dispose of old batteries in an environmentally friendly way. Seek advice from your local authority about recycling old batteries.[1]
WARNING : Batteries normally produce explosive gases which can cause personal injury. Therefore, do not allow flames, sparks or lighted substances to come near the battery. When working near the battery, always shield your face and protect your eyes. Always provide correct ventilation.WARNING : When lifting a plastic-cased battery, excessive pressure on the end walls could cause acid to flow through the vent caps, resulting in personal injury and damage to the vehicle or battery. Lift the battery with a battery carrier or with your hands on opposite corners.
WARNING : Keep batteries out of reach of children. Batteries contain sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Shield your eyes when working near the battery to protect against possible splashing of acid solution. In case of acid contact with skin or eyes, flush immediately with water for a minimum of 15 minutes and get prompt medical attention. If acid is swallowed, call a physician immediately.
WARNING : Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash your hands after handling . WARNING : This vehicle may have more than one battery. Removing the battery cables from only one battery does not disconnect your vehicle electrical system. Make sure you disconnect the battery cables from all batteries when disconnecting power. Failure to do so may cause serious personal injury or property damage.
WARNING : For vehicles with Auto-Start-Stop the battery requirement is different. You must replace the battery with one of exactly the same specification.

That's just the physical replacement. You will need to reset the BMS, but you can do that yourself as well with a tool like FORScan. Why it doesn't say that in the manual I don't know but the BMS tracks things like battery life, etc. and if you don't reset it it will continue to use the old info.

BTW, IDS/FDRS do this automatically, so I guess the 1/2 hour is just wait time for everything to complete for the tech or something.

The battery price if fair, but the price to reset is high. I had a ew battery done at the dealer, prices were equal, and only charged $75 to reset.

Have always used jump starter to keep 12v power to vehicle during battery replace [but last vehicle 2013 F150].Does that not apply to 2022 Bronco WildTrak?

Hey OP,
You can easily reset your BMS module after you have replaced the battery and you do not need FORSCAN, nor do you need pay your dealer ridiculous labour costs. To do the reset you will simply do the following:

1. Turn the ignition ON but do not start the engine.
2. Flash the high beam headlights 5 times quickly (pull your high beam stalk towards you)
3. Immediately press the brake pedal 3 times.
4. Check for a flashing BMS light in the lower right-hand corner of your instrument cluster.
5. Turn the key to the OFF position.
6. Turn the key to the ON position. If done correctly, the battery warning light will blink rapidly for a few seconds, confirming the reset.
   It is important to note that the BMS reset is necessary for all Ford trucks if you recently replaced a battery. This reset helps the newly installed battery to function better and allows the BMS time to relearn or reprogram the battery status.

BTW... I was told my battery is right at 50% and I noticed the AUTO-STOP-START stopped working. The levels are good according to the gauge and no difference in start-ups. Would you wait or replace now?

the poacher

Hey OP,
You can easily reset your BMS module after you have replaced the battery and you do not need FORSCAN, nor do you need pay your dealer ridiculous labour costs. To do the reset you will simply do the following:

1. Turn the ignition ON but do not start the engine.
2. Flash the high beam headlights 5 times quickly (pull your high beam stalk towards you)
3. Immediately press the brake pedal 3 times.
4. Check for a flashing BMS light in the lower right-hand corner of your instrument cluster.
5. Turn the key to the OFF position.
6. Turn the key to the ON position. If done correctly, the battery warning light will blink rapidly for a few seconds, confirming the reset.
   It is important to note that the BMS reset is necessary for all Ford trucks if you recently replaced a battery. This reset helps the newly installed battery to function better and allows the BMS time to relearn or reprogram the battery status.

This is not an "official" Ford way of doing it, and I've heard mixed results so I would be careful. I would still suggest FORScan to be sure it gets reset (see below for why it's important it get done, and done properly) but also for all of the other settings and changes you can make with it. For example, my Badlands now has ALL of the G.O.A.T. modes including Sport, and no longer has the annoying double honk, etc. So I think it's worth the small investment.

@robatl067 The BMS is likely what shut off your Autostart/stop. In general the BMS maintains a battery health model, including:

• State of Charge (SoC)
• State of Health (SoH)
• Charge acceptance
• Temperature-based derating
• Battery aging curves

As the Battery ages, Ford intentionally reduces charging aggressiveness to protect the battery. So if you don't reset the BMS and install a new battery it could result in:

• The alternator under-charging the new battery
• Start-Stop is often disabled
• The battery never reaches full health
• Premature battery failure is common

JoergH

This is not an "official" Ford way of doing it, and I've heard mixed results so I would be careful. I would still suggest FORScan to be sure it gets reset (see below for why it's important it get done, and done properly) but also for all of the other settings and changes you can make with it. For example, my Badlands now has ALL of the G.O.A.T. modes including Sport, and no longer has the annoying double honk, etc. So I think it's worth the small investment.

@robatl067 The BMS is likely what shut off your Autostart/stop. In general the BMS maintains a battery health model, including:

• State of Charge (SoC)
• State of Health (SoH)
• Charge acceptance
• Temperature-based derating
• Battery aging curves

As the Battery ages, Ford intentionally reduces charging aggressiveness to protect the battery. So if you don't reset the BMS and install a new battery it could result in:

• The alternator under-charging the new battery
• Start-Stop is often disabled
• The battery never reaches full health
• Premature battery failure is common

Thx!!! I will shop around for a dealer with a reasonable replacement rate and let them reset the BMS.

robatl067

I was planning on ordering a Ford battery from my dealer and was told I should have them install it @ $420. The fee included the installation and reprogramming. What is involved in the reprogramming, can this be done by me (I can swap a battery)? See the convo below...

Me: I was quoted $240 for the battery from your parts dept. Your install fee is $160+? WOW!!!
Service advisor: That’s correct. It’s half an hour of labor. That includes install, and reprogramming the battery management system.

The dealer is quoting you the "book" rate for the installation and programming. Service manuals have a quoted time to do any job, and that time is basically the amount of time it would take someone who's never done the job before. It's usually double the amount of actual time any experienced person needs. That battery price is $60 more than Costco charges. Add that $160 installation, and I personally would DIY for $220 savings. Just follow the BMS reset instructions already provided.

After talking with my service advisor and my veteran discount, total cost of replacement $368.59.