How to Reset the Ford Battery Management System

Car batteries are an essential part of the car without one the car simply will not start. Even if you did manage to get the car to start without a connected battery it would soon stop because a constant current is required to run the vehicle's electrics including the spark plugs.

In this post we are looking at Ford's battery management system which helps regulate the use of the car battery. The official Ford line is that this system was not designed to be user serviceable. Generally you will be told you need to bring your car in to a professional.

We will look more at what this system is and actually give you the option to reset your own system and avoid costly labor charges for a job that should take no more than a few minutes to complete.

Why Would You Need a Battery Management System Reset?

If you have been a car owner for many years you may be aware that in some of your earlier cars you could simply just change the battery and get back on the road no problem. Well for all the great things that Ford's battery management system can do it does have one annoying problem.

The Ford battery management system needs to be reset every time you change the battery or if you use an auxiliary power supply to recharge the existing battery. This very smart system learns each specific battery and when a big change is made to it, it still remembers the old settings and does not adapt.

So resetting the battery management system is very important to avoid issues with your electrical system. You may have a perfectly good battery but the management system does not recognize this and treats it like it’s a worn out battery.

This problem can be avoided however by leaving the vehicle off for at least 8 hours after changing or charging the battery. This is obviously not always possible so you will likely want to know how to reset the battery management system yourself so you can get on the road again all the sooner.

What Is the Ford Battery Management System?

The Ford battery management system has been around for a few years now but there are still mechanics who have not caught on to it. It’s not uncommon for battery issues to be misdiagnosed because they did not know they needed to reset this smart system.

Essentially what the battery management system does is monitor the battery and keep track of its charge. In checking the battery's charge this system can make changes in the car to ensure the best running of the vehicle.

If your battery is running low for instance this management system will shut down some of the less essential electrical power drains. This might include things like heated seats, SYNC or the auto start stop function.

The intent of this system is to maximize battery life so if you are draining more current from the battery than the alternator can replace the system does it’s job and saves power.

Systems that may shut down include:

• Climate control
• Audio unit
• Heated rear window
• Heated seats
• Navigation system

You will likely receive a notification through your display screen that the battery management system will be shutting down some of the components.

This system doesn’t just take action based on low power it will also make changes if your battery is fully charged. The system recognizes there is no longer a need for additional current so it will turn off the alternator.

The benefit of turning off the alternator when the battery is fully charged is that it actually saves a little on fuel.

How Can You Tell You Need to Reset the Battery Management System?

There are two main warnings to look out for that may indicate you need to reset the battery management system. The first of which is “Engine on due to Vehicle Charging.” This is usually accompanied by the “A” auto start/stop icon being greyed out with a slash through it.

If this persists it can be a sign of a number of issues but the simplest of all the possibilities could be a need to reset the battery management system. The second indication would be a warning that says “System Off to Save Battery” on the SYNC.

What to Ask the Ford Service Technicians

As mentioned this system was not really designed for user self servicing so if you have any reservations you should go to a Ford technician for assistance. The following paragraph is taken from a Ford workshop manual regarding battery replacement.

“If the vehicle battery is replaced, it is very important to perform the battery monitoring system reset using the scan tool. If the battery monitoring system reset is not carried out, it holds the old battery parameters and time in service counter in memory. Additionally, it tells the system the battery is in an aged state and the (sic) may limit the Electrical Energy Management system functions.”

When you go to the technicians ask them to check your battery and alternator first and if these are fine, request that they perform a reset of the battery management system. Ford technicians should know what this is although as mentioned some mechanics are still getting used to the existence of these systems.

If your car is still in warranty this should be a simple thing to get done. If your warranty has expired however you could be charged up to an hour of labor time for a job that takes literally a few minutes.

How to Reset the Ford Battery Management System

If you have a Ford truck that was made after 2011 you will have a battery management system. It is important to know this so you can be aware of the need for a reset. There are two ways of performing a reset and we will explain both of them to you in this post.

The FORScan Battery Management System Reset Method

You need just two pieces of equipment to perform this reset method, firstly an OBD II adapter and secondly either a cell phone or laptop. The below steps should help you perform a successful reset of the battery management system.

• Ensure your truck has been turned off for at least 30 minutes before you start this process. It will make it easier to perform the reset
• Make sure that the positive cable in your truck is attached to the positive post of your car's battery. Disconnect the negative cable from the negative post and attach it instead to the vehicle's ground
• Ensure that you have FORScan loaded to your laptop or phone before connecting it to your vehicle's computer using the OBD II adapter
• Put the key in the ignition but do not turn it yet. Connect the OBD into the appropriate port (you may need to check your manual to located this for your truck)
• Once connected you will have a tab pop up that will have a wrench symbol somewhere on it. Click this wrench as it means settings.
• Search the settings for BMS Configuration and choose to disable it. You will be prompted to change the code which again you can find in your user manual.
• Once the code is changed click on Play which will be found near the stop bar
• Follow the instructions you are given to complete the process
• Once done unplug the OBD adapter and you should be all set.

Ford Battery Management System Reset Without a Scanning Tool

There is a method that does not require a scanner tool to complete and it does work on most Ford trucks. But it may not do so on all of them.

• Ensure the truck has not been on for at least 30 minutes before you get inside the vehicle
• Insert the key in the ignition and turn but do not start yet. Wait for a few seconds and watch for the battery light to flash up to five times
• Press and release the brake 3 times
• After 5 – 10 seconds the battery light symbol on your display should flash if it does then you should be good

Note: You may need to repeat this a couple of times but make sure to let the system cool off for 30 minutes at least between attempts.

Conclusion

When we change the battery or perform an external battery recharge on 2011 or newer Ford trucks we will likely have to reset the battery management system. This is something Ford urges us to have done by professionals but we can do it ourselves with a little know-how.

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