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!
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid - replace 12 volt battery with larger Group 48 AGM
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
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
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Well, here's the Ford part for it if you want to get them to throw it in as part of the deal: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.
Part #: BAGM48H6760 (48H6)
So far so good.Have you noticed much change since changing battery? Has it stopped the vehicle from going into "deep sleep"?
Dealer reset mine for no charge while doing other warranty work.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.
- Switch ignition on (engine off)
- Pull and release high beam 5 times.
- Press and release brake pedal 3 times.
- If successful the battery light will flash 3 times within the next 15 seconds
- BMS reset completed.
Dealer said they reset the BMS when I brought mine in.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
The stock lead acid battery is 45ah, however it self discharges to below 10v quite rapidly. The AGM battery is 70ah and also retains charge for much longer when inactive due to its superior construction.How many am hours is the ford battery? The link page doesnt say that I can find.
They will have to update the BMS (Battery Management System) with the info on the new battery. I would talk with them and see if they will warranty the labor, if you pay for the better AGM battery. It will not take them any more time to install the AGM battery than it would to install another crappy lead acid battery, and their parts department will make some money off the sale of the AGM battery. It is worth the cost to have it fixed even if Ford will not pay for it. You could also have it done at a non-ford location like any good battery service shop, and then talk to the ford service manager and ask them to reset the BMS for no charge since they could not fix your problem.I read all your posts and sent a few to my service guy at my Ford dealership, and he said they did replace that 12 volt battery, under warranty, but can't upgrade it under warranty and I would have to pay for that. He also said they never did the SSM 49574 update because my build date on my vehicle was out of the build date range (this seems like a no brainier to do regardless, since I have had my 2020 escape in for this reason at least half a dozen times, why wouldn't they just do it for shucks and grins!) Now he is telling me to bring my vehicle back in so they can perform that SSM 49574 update. I am so beyond frustrated. The "System off to save battery" message comes up every single day and is now worth it to me to just pay the Ford dealership and have the larger AGM installed. I agree with the other posts, that FORD should fix this or not make me pay for the larger AGM, but I'm tried of taking my Escape in and having to leave it overnight for "battery draws" and then have them tell me the voltage is good and they can't verify the concern, which is laughable and makes me question the competence of their Ford Certified Mechanics, since the error message comes up each time the door is opened now. I'm also aggravated that I have now stumbled upon these blogs and your answers/suggestions, you can't tell me Ford Engineers don't see this stuff too, so for them to say the "We can't verify the concern" or the old stand by of "The car isn't throwing any codes" really infuriates me. I hate that I have to pay the dealership to upgrade this for me (since I really can' t do this on my own) Can you verify for me if the dealership will need to do some kind of update it after they upgrade it?
Good luck with it and let us know if it resolves your problem. It has fixed my issue.
2021 Hybrid? The ICE only engines all come with the group 48 AGMI see in the 2021 Escape the owners manual on page 395 it shows they now call for the larger AGM battery part # BAGM48H6760 (48H6). I have not looked at one at the dealer but if this is true and the book shows that it is, then I would think if folks are still having trouble with Deep Sleep Mode, maybe you can get Ford to upgrade your battery. For some reason they made a change it would appear from 2020 to 2021 to the larger AGM battery. A wise idea Ford, they must have been getting service calls or they have been reading this forum.
Problem is that Li batteries need a different charging profile and voltages and also can be damaged if charged below freezing. Most will need a heating system, if you're in a colder part of the world. If the internal BMS shuts off due to exceeding paramaters, you'd have worse problems than a dead lead acid battery. Add to that the high price, and I don't think it's really something that most would take on.Colorado Al, thanks for all the great information. Curious to know if anyone has ever replaced with or done research as to a lithium replacement vice the AGM?
Just spend the $200 and get an AGM group 48 battery already. Why go through all of that when it takes 30 minutes to fix?I have a 2020 Titanium Hybrid with the 12 volt battery problem. You are correct that the AGM battery is now the OEM battery for the 2021, but not for the 2020. I have taken my escape to the dealer 6 times now because my 12 volt battery has to be jumped. They replaced the battery once, they did all the updates and SSM. They also did the parasitic draw test which was good. I bought this brand new in April 2021. I did open a case with Ford for buy back and they denied it. So now I am sending them a letter for final repair opportunity via the Georgia Department of Law, Consumer Protection Division (Lemon Law) once Ford signs for the letter they will have 7 days, etc...
Oh. Sorry about that.Watched your video and it does not show how to move the hold down screw for the battery. It mentions that it has to be done, but not how to do it.
It is pretty self explanatory once you actually remove the battery, but for completeness:
To release the existing battery you need to remove a bolt on the hold-down clamp on the right side of the battery at the base. When you remove that bolt, the hold-down clamp comes free. When you install the new battery, you will notice a bolt hole farther to the right of the first one where you removed the hold-down. It should line up with the edge of the new battery, if you are using the correct group 48 size. Reinstall the hold-down clamp in that location.
For everyone asking, here is the BMS reset procedure
Just put one in yourself. Or take it to an independent battery shop and have them do it.
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