Two days running I have parked the car, when I returned I put shopping in the boot, just before I started the car, then screen said start the car, or turn ignition off, the it said battery save.

Does that mean my battery is on it's last legs? I know the weather has been below freezing and will drain the battery quicker, the battery is about four and half years old now.

id go for a new battery, once they start causing issues, especially after 4 years, i'd replace it, you could try recharging it but at that age, I wouldnt trust it

14 hours ago, steplce74 said:

id go for a new battery, once they start causing issues, especially after 4 years, i'd replace it, you could try recharging it but at that age, I wouldnt trust it

Appreciate your advise, that was my thinking really, my previous cars I used to change the batteries, I know it's more complicated now, I don't own a battery charger, so might consider buying one, as I read that even a new battery needs charging before fitting? thanks.

My previous Mk 8 Fiesta started throwing up the message almost from new. It was still doing it 5 years later, my current one's just the same.

My mileage is pretty low and fairly irregular these days, so I just give the battery a charge every 5/6 weeks. 

You can't really do without a charger these days - as you say, you need to ensure even a brand new battery is fully charged before fitting.

1 hour ago, Nimrodmk8 said:

I don't own a battery charger, so might consider buying one,

Don't put it off, you will certainly need one.

MAYPOLE MP7425 Electronic Car Battery Charger 5A - A good charger at a very sensible price £24.95

eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323961816093

 

Credit goes to @StephenFord for finding this latest 5 Amp version of the already popular 4 Amp Maypole charger.

22 hours ago, unofix said:

Don't put it off, you will certainly need one.

MAYPOLE MP7425 Electronic Car Battery Charger 5A - A good charger at a very sensible price £24.95

eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323961816093

 

Credit goes to @StephenFord for finding this latest 5 Amp version of the already popular 4 Amp Maypole charger.

Thank you, I have placed my order, is it okay to charge with battery in the car, or better to remove when charging, the owners manual is pretty limited, I can't find battery specifications.

Charge in the car. Connect the negative lead to a chassis ground point, not to the battery post. This will ensure the battery monitoring system monitors the charging current.

•  

Posted December 29, 2024

On 12/29/2024 at 12:59 PM, HSamwel said:

They asked how I drive and how many km a year. After I told them mostly shorter trips with only the occasional longer trip. They recommended me to charge my battery at home about every other week to keep the car happy.

I asked if the Focus had some issues with excessive battery drain. They said not to their knowledge or experience. It’s simply up to how you use the car they said. This is a general issue of newer cars with all their features I was told.

I’m a bit sceptical of these comments though. I’m not aware of any of my collegues or friends having so much battery issues with other brands. To me it rather seems Focus uses more power than the car is able to recharge.

Expand  

go back to a 1975 escort... it had to supply the ignition coil and the radio, a drain of about 3 amps - add another 10 amps with the blower motor in the summer and another 10 amps with the rear window in the winter - so around 23 amps in the day and about 40 amps at night (for a 20 min drive home)

now almost in 2025, we are pulling 75 amps stuck in a jam for an hour at idle or worse with start stop destroy my cam drive enabled and no charging at all - then we park it up for 10 days, going in the house the stupid mirrors fold in, the comfort headlamps show the parking space 10 yards from the front door (so are no help at all), the canbus stays awake for 20 mins, then the alarm saps what's left

if undriven for more than 5 days always put anything modern on a trickle charger

On 1/3/2025 at 6:32 PM, Nimrodmk8 said:

Two days running I have parked the car, when I returned I put shopping in the boot, just before I started the car, then screen said start the car, or turn ignition off, the it said battery save.

Does that mean my battery is on it's last legs? I know the weather has been below freezing and will drain the battery quicker, the battery is about four and half years old now.

If you are going to buy a new battery, can I recommend you get the correct Yuasa battery for your car. My son has one fitted on his partner's car, which has lasted about 5 years, and is still going strong.

I've also got one on my car, which is only about 4 years old, was originally fitted on my old Vauxhall then swapped before it was sold. It was then fitted on my caravan as a leisure battery for a couple of years, then was put on my C Max when the original battery failed in November.

The best supplier for batteries I have found is https://www.tayna.co.uk/, next working day delivery, and well packaged.

Yes, I have had several batteries from tayna over the years.

Never a problem. Prices are good and delivered intact to the door.

I don't know how they manage to convince the carrier to handle a heavy lump of lead that might just leak acid.

If I wanted to do the same from my home, I very much doubt they would be so accommodating!

ScaniaPBman.

48 minutes ago, ScaniaPBman said:

If I wanted to do the same from my home, I very much doubt they would be so accommodating!

 

Tayna's own returns policy doesn't even allow for home collection.  They have to be taken back to a depot.  I would now advise anyone to triple check battery dimensions before ordering.

On 1/5/2025 at 10:48 AM, mjt said:

Charge in the car. Connect the negative lead to a chassis ground point, not to the battery post. This will ensure the battery monitoring system monitors the charging current.

Thanks for that, I would have put the negative to the battery post, that's good to know.

On 1/5/2025 at 1:14 PM, Alan G H said:

If you are going to buy a new battery, can I recommend you get the correct Yuasa battery for your car. My son has one fitted on his partner's car, which has lasted about 5 years, and is still going strong.

I've also got one on my car, which is only about 4 years old, was originally fitted on my old Vauxhall then swapped before it was sold. It was then fitted on my caravan as a leisure battery for a couple of years, then was put on my C Max when the original battery failed in November.

The best supplier for batteries I have found is https://www.tayna.co.uk/, next working day delivery, and well packaged.

Thanks, I put a Yuasa battery in my Toyota Mr2, mine I had for at least 5 years, I think they have a 4year warranty?

 

Since my post, nothing has displayed about the battery, but probably is getting near end of life after 41/2 years, as above think I will go for the Yuasa, I don't think it's too complicated to install.

Just remember to fully charge it before installing and then reset the BMS.

On 1/7/2025 at 5:07 PM, mjt said:

Just remember to fully charge it before installing and then reset the BMS.

Sorry, what's the BMS?

27 minutes ago, Nimrodmk8 said:

Sorry, what's the BMS?

BMS = Battery Management System.

It monitors all the current flowing in to the battery (charging it) and all the current flowing out of the battery (discharging it).

The information is then used to determine the level at which the cars alternator should charge the battery using the 'Smart Charge' system that modern cars use.

2 hours ago, unofix said:

BMS = Battery Management System.

It monitors all the current flowing in to the battery (charging it) and all the current flowing out of the battery (discharging it).

The information is then used to determine the level at which the cars alternator should charge the battery using the 'Smart Charge' system that modern cars use.

Thanks for that, is it easy to reset the BMS, I'm going to use the battery charger tomorrow, I'll then decide whether to buy a new battery, I'll also check the dimensions while I'm at it.

1 hour ago, Nimrodmk8 said:

is it easy to reset the BMS,

Yes, just watch the video below. Only reset the BMS if you fit a brand new battery.

 

On 3/29/2023 at 8:14 PM, unofix said:

How to reset the BMS method 2                                                                         Search Tag: BMS2

 

 

18 hours ago, unofix said:

Yes, just watch the video below. Only reset the BMS if you fit a brand new battery.

 

 

That's great thank you, I'm just charging the battery with the Maypole charger, it showed around 10.3 V, just checked the charging and the battery symbol had a cross in it, guessing it's time to put my hand in my wallet.

18 minutes ago, Nimrodmk8 said:

That's great thank you, I'm just charging the battery with the Maypole charger, it showed around 10.3 V, just checked the charging and the battery symbol had a cross in it, guessing it's time to put my hand in my wallet.

Are you sure the clamps were making good connection?  10.3v won't be enough to run any electrics in the car.

6 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Are you sure the clamps were making good connection?  10.3v won't be enough to run any electrics in the car.

 

7 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Are you sure the clamps were making good connection?  10.3v won't be enough to run any electrics in the car.

 

7 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Are you sure the clamps were making good connection?  10.3v won't be enough to run any electrics in the car.

I'll just check.

I find this really useful, both as a USB charger for Sat Nav/phones etc AND as a voltmeter:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235888968956

17 minutes ago, Nimrodmk8 said:

 

 

I'll just check.

Well done, the negative lead wasn't making a good connection, it's showing 13.6 V and it looks and though 1 bar and it will be fully charged, I have just ordered a new battery, which probably won't be a bad thing, I did notice on the battery there is a plug into the battery, not the terminals, I hope the new battery has that, maybe it's sensor?

5 minutes ago, Nimrodmk8 said:

I did notice on the battery there is a plug into the battery, not the terminals, I hope the new battery has that, maybe it's sensor?

There shouldn't be anything plugged directly into the battery.  It's probably just clipped or stuck on somehow.  If you can post a picture I'm sure one of us can confirm what it is.