[centex]

Apology in advance if this has been addressed before, but I'd not noticed any posts telling us how we could reset the Battery Monitor System when we do a DIY battery replacement (lacking a dealer diagnostics tool).

Playing with my old rev 2.1.21 beta version of FORScan this morning I tripped on the "settings" tab only to find an option to reset the Battery Monitor System (!) You've got to be connected to your FE to see this.

Nowhere near needing a battery replacement I didn't 'run' the option, but everything else I've used FORScan for works fine so no reason to doubt this feature and I was glad to find it.

Get FORScan for windows to run on your laptop here (free) Download FORScan

You'll of course need an OBDII > USB interface cable (might also work with a Bluetooth interface, I've not tried that). Search ELM 327 USB for plenty of cheap sources for the interface (NOTE - ignore/don't use the included and totally unnecessary 'driver' mini disk that ships with the ELM .... most all versions I've read about, including the one that came with mine, have a malware / virus on the disk. No driver is needed for the interface to work with Windows, at least Windows 7, it's a standard USB device with built-in firmware support).

Anyway, just FYI for those that would like to DIY replace the battery and skip the dealer completely.

If anyone has another inexpensive tool that offers reset of the BMS, please share. Not being a "DTC" per-se, my 'generic' OBDII scan / DTC reset tool doesn't provide that functionality.

 

[HayaiKuruma]

I have noticed the option on FORScan as well. Since I am an early build 2013 (build 09/12)my plan is to replace my battery after this winter but before the next winter. Pretty much my whole every single one of my car batteries has died on the 4 year mark. I will probably go with the OEM battery even though some folks like to bump up the size. I have not experienced any electrical gremlins or battery failures to date, knock on wood. Whereas my buddies 2014 F-150 died on him last month.

 

[Delmar Schmidt]

The OEM battery died last week in my 2013 base. I replaced myself before reading this thread so had no prior knowledge of the BMS reset. Would having the battery disconnected for over an hour reset the BMS?

Oddly the OEM battery would start perfect then next time nothing. Before replacing the battery I cleaned the positive terminal that had a “terminal” case of the green cottage cheese. Afterward the car started perfect a few times, and then again was dead.

If there is a sensor I received no warning before the battery died, nor received a warning after replacing the battery. The car has started perfect for a week following the battery replacement.

 

[tech4cars]

I just replaced the battery in my 2013 Titanium at 50K miles. I was able to reset the Battery Monitor using an AutoEnginuity Scan Tool with their Ford diagnostic subscription package. I thought I'd try that tool first, since I had it, and was ready to try the FORScan if that didn't work.

 

[ralph7up]

I have a question along these lines. I just purchased OBD Fusion and I have a Carista BT monitor. I paid extra for the Ford Escape 2016 PID's and likely get them for my 2013 Escape as well. The problem is this: I am not familiar enough with PID's and there capabilities. Are there any PID's that you would recommend for evaluating battery health? The idea if such exist would be to view them and let them help me when to replace the battery.

My other option would be to simply replace the battery at either three or four years.

Thanks

 

[centex]

You can view all those factors that are used by the BMS for establishing the rate of charge (temp, battery in-service time, etc, etc) but none of those really help you with an 'anticipatory replacement plan' IMHO ..... they are factors used in a dynamic algorithm for the charging system (that data is measured both at-rest and when driving to build a complex 'picture' of battery health for the charging system - not easy for you to interpret independently).

Electrolyte condition (hard to check on a sealed battery), resting voltage, volts/amps at load all can guide an 'anticipatory' replacement plan but some of those are hard to DIY.

Personally I travel with jumper cables and run a battery 'till I need the jump (or have noticeable slow-cranking issues) before replacing. Perhaps slightly inconvenient but I've never been 'stranded' and given the huge disparity in the life of batteries I've experienced over the years I'm loath to 'second guess' how long one will last.

My (now) rarely driven F150 gets a weekly "Battery Tender" top-up and still starts/runs great with 5+ years on a "36-month" warranted battery .... would hate to have wasted all that service with an 'anticipatory' replacement (yeah, I'm a 'frugal type' that seeks to minimize total life-cycle vehicle operating costs).

 

[Vintre]

I was charged $162 for the Battery and $95 for the diagnostic and labour. Add in the tax and I'm at $290 total.

Whats a BMS? I dont have any tools to connect to the Escape and reset computers.

Vin

 

[centex]

BMS = Battery Monitoring System, the suite of sensors, electronic modules and computer program that determine battery condition and provide data to other systems which manage the charging rate and load-shedding (battery saver) features in the '13+ Escape.

Hopefully the "diagnostic and labour" charge you incurred included the requisite BMS reset, IMHO very likely if your replacement was done by a (competent) Ford dealer.

Clipped from the workshop manual:

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.

^^ In that context "scan tool" refers to the genuine Ford diagnostics device used by dealers. The BMS data is held in non-volatile memory (it is retained even when the battery is disconnected) and cannot be reset by any means other than use of an appropriate tool plugged into the diagnostics port on the car to send the correct 'BMS reset' command-code to the Body Control Module (BCM).

 

[brev]

battery reset tool

OTC 3112 BATTERY RESET TOOL is available BUT it's about $158.00 i think it's on amazon

 

[centex]

OTC 3112 BATTERY RESET TOOL is available BUT it's about $158.00 i think it's on amazon

Caveat Emptor - look at the manufacturer's website as of the date of this post and note that the '13+ Ford Escape is specifically NOT included on the detailed list of covered vehicles for this tool.

https://www.otctools.com/sites/default/files/3112_battery_reset_vehicle_coverage.pdf

https://www.otctools.com/products/otc-3112-battery-reset-tool

Search for other threads on this forum that discuss resetting the '13+ Escape BMS using FORScan freeware with an appropriate OBD interface device.

 

[IlikePizza]

Does it really matter?

When I bought my 2012 Focus I had an aftermarket battery in that the last guy did DIY with no calibration. It was fine for a year, I replaced it because it didn't really fit properly, and I wanted it OEM

 

[centex]

^^^ That's been flogged on other threads, search BMS or battery monitor system ..... then draw your own conclusion that you're comfortable with.

Purely IMHO it relates to long-term optimization of battery life and a one-year 'test' probably tells us nothing. Still IMHO I don't believe that failure to do the BMS reset will have any immediate or traumatic adverse effect on anything. More IMHO I do believe it has a positive purpose relating to getting the most out of a battery over its entire life, so I can't see a reason not to take advantage of the available technology as intended.

 

[HayaiKuruma]

I would love to be a fly on the wall at the dealership just to see if the Ford tech actually resets it.

 

[centex]

We've already gotten several posts evidencing that Ford's done a terrible job of education on this and some (many?) dealers don't know boo about it (so obviously don't do it).

That doesn't mean that the technology is flawed or without benefit.

It does put an unfortunate burden on consumers to be smarter than the servicing tech in some respects (but then, there's nothing new about that sad fact of modern car ownership).

 

[IlikePizza]

All 3 dealerships around me know its a thing, and do do it. I really questioned the fact that I could not replace the battery myself, so I called all of them and they confirmed that they do a calibration

 

[Georg123]

Anyone have a sure fire way to know if the BMS has been reset - by dealer or independent shop?

 

[Vader101]

I moved all of the BMS Reset discussion, from the replacing the Escape battery with a larger battery thread, to this thread as it is more pertinent to this discussion.

 

[ralph7up]

Anyone have a sure fire way to know if the BMS has been reset - by dealer or independent shop?

From that perspective, the only way would be to get the equipment and check it yourself. I was one who struggled a bit with the Ford Dealer to understand. I was able to get a page copy of the appropriate service manual page and give it to my service adviser who later told me he was unaware. That does not necessarily mean the tech is unaware or it would not be reset but he could.

I confirmed using a "Carista" BT OBD connector and the OBD Fusion app which I have on my iPhone. The app was $10 and the extended PID's were $10. The connector was about $20. The Ford tech was interested if my reading would coincide with his and it did (We checked together afterwards). After replacement, the days in service read 0 days which indicated that the BLM had been reset. Just disappointed it took so much effort especially from the dealer. I do not know if Autozone (or equivalent) has the capability to reset the BLM. They certainly do have some equipment.

 

[murcod]

I confirmed using a "Carista" BT OBD connector and the OBD Fusion app which I have on my iPhone. The app was $10 and the extended PID's were $10. The connector was about $20. The Ford tech was interested if my reading would coincide with his and it did (We checked together afterwards). After replacement, the days in service read 0 days which indicated that the BLM had been reset. Just disappointed it took so much effort especially from the dealer. I do not know if Autozone (or equivalent) has the capability to reset the BLM. They certainly do have some equipment.

The previously mentioned ForScan software is free for PC use and will do it with an OBD2 interface.

Out of interest, there is a setting in the BCM for alternator size and battery capacity that can be viewed/ changed using FoCCCus (which is also free.) I'm not sure if changing any of those parameters would actually affect charging?

 

[ralph7up]

The previously mentioned ForScan software is free for PC use and will do it with an OBD2 interface.

Out of interest, there is a setting in the BCM for alternator size and battery capacity that can be viewed/ changed using FoCCCus (which is also free.) I'm not sure if changing any of those parameters would actually affect charging?

Neither am I and I was unaware of them. I wonder if the Ford tech who replaced my battery was as well. What OBD2 interface do you have and where did you get it?