[Colorado_Al]

Here's a quick how to video that I made showing replacing the stock 12v 45AH lead acid battery with a 12v 70AH AGM battery.
Some folks have had issues with the stock 12v battery running down and not being able to unlock the vehicle, or start it by remote, or some to even start it at all, as it is needed to engage the relays for the high voltage battery. Some also get the "Deep Sleep" message in the FordPass app that indicates a low battery voltage for the 12v battery.
Adding a larger AGM battery helps to prevent these issues.
Besides topping up the AGM battery prior to install, it took about 20 minutes.

Edit - The 12 volt battery is under the floor in the rear cargo area. In the Titanium hybrid, the spare tire covers it, so remove the spare tire to see it. In the SE hybrid, there is no spare tire, so you'll see it once you lift up the floor of the rear cargo area. - Edit

Here is the battery that I used because I found one for $125! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FWCLHU
But any Group 48 AGM 12 volt battery will work. (Also called size H6)

Edit 2 - Thanks to a tip, I checked with the Ford service department and they said they do need to reset the BMS for an AGM battery. - Edit 2

Edit 3 - If you want to keep it all Ford, or have the dealer do it, here is the Ford battery:
Part #: BAGM48H6760 (48H6)
https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/electrical/battery-and-related-components/battery-7862483-1 - Edit 3

For everyone asking, here is the BMS reset procedure

 

[OurManInVanc]

Thanks for the great video.
Where is the auxiliary battery located (I cant find anything in the owners manual)

 

[Colorado_Al]

Thanks for the great video.
Where is the auxiliary battery located (I cant find anything in the owners manual)

It is under the floor in the rear cargo area. In the Titanium hybrid, the spare tire covers it, so remove the spare tire to see it. In the SE, there is no spare tire, so you'll see it once you lift up the floor of the rear cargo area. I'll add that to the 1st post. Thanks!

 

[sandog]

Good job ! I don't have a hybrid, but when it comes time to replace my under the hood battery, I'd like to squeeze in a bigger one than the little one it now has.

 

[jmcgliss]

Great video, Colorado Al. During our test drive yesterday my wife asked the salesman about the small battery (since we had battery life issues with a 2015 MKZ). When I mentioned your video and pointed to the mounting point for a larger battery, he offered me a job.

 

[Colorado_Al]

Great video, Colorado Al. During our test drive yesterday my wife asked the salesman about the small battery (since we had battery life issues with a 2015 MKZ). When I mentioned your video and pointed to the mounting point for a larger battery, he offered me a job.

Well, here's the Ford part for it if you want to get them to throw it in as part of the deal:
Part #: BAGM48H6760 (48H6)

https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/electrical/battery-and-related-components/battery-7862483-1

 

[OurManInVanc]

Well, here's the Ford part for it if you want to get them to throw it in as part of the deal:
Part #: BAGM48H6760 (48H6)

https://parts.ford.com/shop/en/us/electrical/battery-and-related-components/battery-7862483-1

Have you noticed much change since changing battery? Has it stopped the vehicle from going into "deep sleep"?

 

[Colorado_Al]

Have you noticed much change since changing battery? Has it stopped the vehicle from going into "deep sleep"?

So far so good.

 

[Rich_J]

Edit 2 - Thanks to a tip, I checked with the Ford service department and they said they do need to update the programming for an AGM battery. - Edit 2

I wonder what this programming change actually does.. I always thought AGM and FLA had the same charge characteristics.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[ralph7up]

I wonder what this programming change actually does.. I always thought AGM and FLA had the same charge characteristics.

Anyone have any ideas?

Do not know specific answer but will say my battery maintainer has separate settings for normal and AGM 12 volt batteries. Suggests to me that they are different.

 

[Rich_J]

Do not know specific answer but will say my battery maintainer has separate settings for normal and AGM 12 volt batteries. Suggests to me that they are different.

So I did some digging and found a thread over in the Gen3 forums. They're not changing the battery type to AGM, they're resetting the BMS to tell it that you've installed a new battery.

They list the procedure as below. YMMV, as always you do this at your own risk.

1. Switch ignition on (engine off)
2. Pull and release high beam 5 times.
3. Press and release brake pedal 3 times.
4. If successful the battery light will flash 3 times within the next 15 seconds
5. BMS reset completed.

 

[Gryffindor101]

So I did some digging and found a thread over in the Gen3 forums. They're not changing the battery type to AGM, they're resetting the BMS to tell it that you've installed a new battery.

They list the procedure as below. YMMV, as always you do this at your own risk.

1. Switch ignition on (engine off)
2. Pull and release high beam 5 times.
3. Press and release brake pedal 3 times.
4. If successful the battery light will flash 3 times within the next 15 seconds
5. BMS reset completed.

Like you said this is a “procedure” for 3G Escapes. That doesn’t work for all, there only has been some on this forum that said it worked tor them. Since this is a 4G Escape. The procedure could be different. The method that always works is to use Forscan to reset the BMS.

 

[wiz043]

Like you said this is a “procedure” for 3G Escapes. That doesn’t work for all, there only has been some on this forum that said it worked tor them. Since this is a 4G Escape. The procedure could be different. The method that always works is to use Forscan to reset the BMS.

Yes, it only works for some 3G models. Others you have to press the rear fog light switch 5 times and the hazard switch 3 times within a certain time and wait for the battery display to blink 3 times etc.
As you said these methods work for some and the 2020 + models are probably different again.

 

[Colorado_Al]

So I did some digging and found a thread over in the Gen3 forums. They're not changing the battery type to AGM, they're resetting the BMS to tell it that you've installed a new battery.

They list the procedure as below. YMMV, as always you do this at your own risk.

1. Switch ignition on (engine off)
2. Pull and release high beam 5 times.
3. Press and release brake pedal 3 times.
4. If successful the battery light will flash 3 times within the next 15 seconds
5. BMS reset completed.

Dealer reset mine for no charge while doing other warranty work.

 

[ralph7up]

So I did some digging and found a thread over in the Gen3 forums. They're not changing the battery type to AGM, they're resetting the BMS to tell it that you've installed a new battery.

They list the procedure as below. YMMV, as always you do this at your own risk.

1. Switch ignition on (engine off)
2. Pull and release high beam 5 times.
3. Press and release brake pedal 3 times.
4. If successful the battery light will flash 3 times within the next 15 seconds
5. BMS reset completed.

That procedure has been proven NOT TO WORK.

 

[Gryffindor101]

The procedure doesn’t belong in this thread anyway. Since it is not related to the 4G Escapes

 

[wiz043]

That procedure has been proven NOT TO WORK.

Maybe you have to squint twice and hold a lightning rod in the other hand as well...

 

[A2escape]

Maybe you have to squint twice and hold a lightning rod in the other hand as well...

LOL!! I believe you tap your heels together while repeatedly saying “there’s nothing like a new AGM battery”

But seriously, do we have a definitive answer? if we install a new AGM battery do we need to reset anything?


Eric B
2017 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0
2020 Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid

 

[Colorado_Al]

LOL!! I believe you tap your heels together while repeatedly saying “there’s nothing like a new AGM battery”

But seriously, do we have a definitive answer? if we install a new AGM battery do we need to reset anything?


Eric B
2017 Ford Escape Titanium 2.0
2020 Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid

Dealer said they reset the BMS when I brought mine in.

 

[invader]

This had already been posted over 8 months ago!

I have a 2020 Escape Hybrid and have had a series of strange behaviors and seemingly random error messages. For example, error messages about the automatic parking not available while driving down the street. Sat Nav showing locations 400 miles off from where the car was, automatic liftgate would not open, backup camera working sometimes and not others, proximity detectors giving phantom warnings (ghosts?), as well as constant low voltage shutdown alarms reported through the Ford app. These became so frequent I began taking pictures of the screen when they occured so I could show them to the Ford dealer. The dealer replaced the backup camera twice and eventually the battery but the low voltage errors keep occuring. I think, I hope, I have isolated the problem to the undersized OEM battery. When the voltage gets low (9 volts was the lowest but 10 volts was common) the electronic modules start to get really wonky. The Ford tech claimed the OEM battery was a deep cycle AGM and it tested fine. The OEM battery is not an AGM, it is a really cheap flooded lead acid that cannot keep up with this car's large electrical loads. I replaced the battery with an high quality (according to Consumer Reports) AGM battery (size Group 48, or H6). It's been a week and no errors and everything is working fine, for now at least. You may want to check the battery voltage on your car. If it is below 11 volts your cheap OEM battery is toast. The Ford dealer will say its fine, but its not. If they do replace it they will put the same POS the car came with. My recommendation is to get a larger AGM battery that can service the electrical demands of the car.