Hello,

I'm yet another annoyed MK4.5 customer who's experiencing battery problems like cabin lights staying off, passenger door keyless entry not working, Ford pass app complaining about preserving battery etc. I've played pingpong with the local garage too many times that I've lost count lol.  I only have a Blackvue dashcam which is wired a blackvue battery which is wired into the ignition slot so shouldn't touch the car battery for power and a Trackstar GPS into the fuse panel.

The battery is the stock Ford Varta EFB 60ah and I'm really contemplating replacing it with a better branded one but I took a look into the BCM with Forscan and noticed the value for Battery Type Factory and Battery Type Normal were set to "Incorrect value or not configured".

Just wondered whether that should actually be set or not? and if so do I set both or as its stock Ford set Battery Type Factory?

Also if I replace, which brand is best now? Bosch, Varta or Yuasa and should I stick with EFB or go AGM with my accessories above?

Edited December 22, 20241 yr by theroninhunter
Added context on battery replacing

57 minutes ago, theroninhunter said:

Hello,

I'm yet another annoyed MK4.5 customer who's experiencing battery problems like cabin lights staying off, passenger door keyless entry not working, Ford pass app complaining about preserving battery etc. I've played pingpong with the local garage too many times that I've lost count lol.  I only have a Blackvue dashcam which is wired a blackvue battery which is wired into the ignition slot so shouldn't touch the car battery for power and a Trackstar GPS into the fuse panel.

The battery is the stock Ford Varta EFB 60ah and I'm really contemplating replacing it with a better branded one but I took a look into the BCM with Forscan and noticed the value for Battery Type Factory and Battery Type Normal were set to "Incorrect value or not configured".

Just wondered whether that should actually be set or not? and if so do I set both or as its stock Ford set Battery Type Factory?

Also if I replace, which brand is best now? Bosch, Varta or Yuasa and should I stick with EFB or go AGM with my accessories above?

FORScan used to have a lot of settings for different Battery Sizes and types for the MK4 Focus but they were wrong so FORScan got rid of most if not all of them, I would assume the mK4.5 is the same.

A lot of people on this Forum have fitted a Yuasa YBX7096 to their MK4 cars and changed the Target State of Charge to 95% and that works well, mine is a good as new after over a year.

The charging system of MK4 was never designed for an AGM Battery, so won't be optimised for it. The MK4.5 may be the same.

Forscan has got the option for my battery to select but wanted to see if others have done so. 

 

Varta 60ah 600a

2 hours ago, theroninhunter said:

Varta 60ah 600a

That's a cute little battery, at least it's not a pack of 4 AA's

As John @Tizer has already recommended get yourself the Yuasa YBX7096 which is a 75Ah 700A EFB Start/Stop battery as used by the EcoBlue engines. Also get the SOC set to 95%

3 minutes ago, unofix said:

That's a cute little battery, at least it's not a pack of 4 AA's

As John @Tizer has already recommended get yourself the Yuasa YBX7096 which is a 75Ah 700A EFB Start/Stop battery as used by the EcoBlue engines. Also get the SOC set to 95%

I think AAs might be more reliable 🤣, if I switch to the Yuasa I guess I don't need to change anything in the BCM? 

 

I've already set the soc to 95% today

1 minute ago, theroninhunter said:

I don't need to change anything in the BCM? 

No need to change battery settings from what we can work out. The list that FORScan has appears not to be correct and if does change anything it will only be a slight adjustment to the charging profile. Most just leave the setting as "unknown" or "Not Configured"

@unofixanother question, if I've got a H5 battery, do you know if the Yuasa YBX7096 fits a focus estate mk4.5? 

 

I usually get a friend of mine who works on Aston Martins to do battery replacements for me. 

Hi,

I too have been having issues recently with interior lights not coming on and found this thread via google.

I was quite surprised that this is a "known " problem with the battery on Focus 4.5s.

Obviously I will approach my Ford dealer first and try to get them to replace the battery under warranty but if I get no joy is it a simple task to swap the battery myself? Will I get problems with the radio needing a code reset etc., or anything else? In 50 years of driving I have never needed to swap a battery, so sorry I am a little green on changing them!

On 12/27/2024 at 4:51 PM, theroninhunter said:

if I've got a H5 battery, do you know if the Yuasa YBX7096 fits a focus estate mk4.5? 

Ford H5 battery dimensions = Length 242mm X Width 175mm X Height 190mm

Yes the Yuasa YBX7096 will fit your Focus estate, it's what I have in my 2019 Focus Estate.

You will see that the Yuasa battery is very slightly longer but is in fact the same length as the Ford battery fitted to the 2.0 EcoBlue and all the Focus Mk4 / Mk4.5 use the same battery tray/box

YBX7096_DATASHEET.pdf

5 hours ago, Bomere boy said:

In 50 years of driving I have never needed to swap a battery, so sorry I am a little green on changing them!

Now is not the time to start to learn on the Focus Mk4.5

Take the car to a Halfords and let them change it. Get them to fit the Yuasa YBX7096, they do sell them so if it's not in stock they can get it for next day. Don't be conned in to fitting something else, and they will tell you it's not for your model but it does fit and will work (a lot better than the original).

Hi,

I too have had the same issues as many describe i.e. interior lights not working, passenger keyless entry not working, but also parking sensors making a higher pitched noise.

Went to my local dealership, who were very helpful. Receptionist said "sound like the battery, we've had a few of these". So new battery fitted under warranty and everything is fine now. Question is, if so many Focus's are having this battery issue why don't Ford issue a recall?

My garage had the car for a week, they diagnosed the battery was faulty which is funny as that's the second battery replaced now under warranty. 

Included a PCM update too but over 4 days the SOC didn't drop below 89% so we shall see. 

I also engaged Ford UK customer service so hopefully there will be some financial compensation (past examples when my AC didn't work across several months visits at the garage) which I'll save for a decent battery if this one fails. 

Edited January 19, 20251 yr by theroninhunter
Typo

1 hour ago, Bomere boy said:

. Question is, if so many Focus's are having this battery issue why don't Ford issue a recall?

Simple, because that would cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds.

On 12/27/2024 at 9:54 PM, unofix said:

Ford H5 battery dimensions = Length 242mm X Width 175mm X Haight 190mm

Yes the Yuasa YBX7096 will fit your Focus estate, it's what I have in my 2019 Focus Estate.

You will see that the Yuasa battery is very slightly longer but is in fact the same length as the Ford battery fitted to the 2.0 EcoBlue and all the Focus Mk4 / Mk4.5 use the same battery tray/box

YBX7096_DATASHEET.pdf 800.1 kB · 3 downloads

Sorry to resurrect an old post, but i have a Ford focus MK4 - if i was to replace the battery with this battery, do i need to do anything in Forscan? 

1 hour ago, captaincadet said:

if i was to replace the battery with this battery, do i need to do anything in Forscan? 

You will need to reset the BMS, no tools required.

Make sure that you fully charge your new battery for at least 12 hours before it is fitted. ALL new batteries should be charged for 12 hours before fitting, but places like Halfords will tell you it's not necessary but then again it's not there car !!

I would recommend using FORScan to adjust the factory default charge limit of 80% and increasing it to a more sensible 95% which will give you much better service from your battery.

I too am having the same problem with my 4.5 1ltr non-hybrid ecoboost.

So imma buy the YBX7096 

it's shocking how much batteries are, especially at halfords asking like £250

saw this https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/yuasa/ybx7096/ and damn it's so much cheaper

thanks for the assist on this @unofix just to confirm this just for hybrid to set the battery to 95% or is it for all?

That’s what I’m looking at currently. Going to try to get the garage to change it for me under warranty but if they don’t I just want to do it myself 

1 hour ago, Rowan112 said:

set the battery to 95% or is it for all?

The State Of Charge 'SOC' is only for the 12 Volt battery, so you can set yours to 95%

2 minutes ago, unofix said:

The State Of Charge 'SOC' is only for the 12 Volt battery, so you can set yours to 95%

do you know if it's suitable for the fiesta mk8? my misses got a 2017 (67 plate) 1ltr ecoboost and she has same issue with battery complaining. but her car is due for a battery replacement

Where the SOC can be adjusted (not available on many models) you can set it for 95%

12 minutes ago, unofix said:

The State Of Charge 'SOC' is only for the 12 Volt battery, so you can set yours to 95%

Let me guess I need Forscan?

On 4/7/2024 at 8:59 PM, unofix said:

FORScan (for use with Windows Laptop) : https://forscan.org/download.html

It's what many Ford owners use including some Ford technicians.

• vLinker FS, cable for laptop: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-vLinker-Adapter-FORScan-MS-CAN/dp/B0952P4MLP

OR

• OBDLINK EX, cable for laptop: https://www.amazon.co.uk/OBDLINK-EX-FORScan-OBD-Adapter/dp/B081VQVD3F/ref=sr_1_5

For diagnostic use only:

• vLinker FD, for android phone: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-Bluetooth-vLinker-Scanner-Diagnostic/dp/B08H82WC8L
• vLinker FD+, for iPhone: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-Bluetooth-vLinker-Scanner-Diagnostic/dp/B08H8JHWP2

 

Sorry that came over condescending earlier! 
 

thanks for that. I presume it’s best to change the value when the battery new?

Makes no difference when you change it.

Before fitting a new battery always make sure to charge it for at least 12 hours. Then as soon as it is fitted remember to reset the BMS

Cheers! Hopefully it’s covered under warranty but if not I’ll do it myself.

 

Bit annoying having the app go into power saving mode every other day