With the stupid attitude by Ford to disable certain features based on the battery SOC levels, has anyone found out ways to enable the cabin lights regardless of SOC level? 

I did try searching the forum but didn't find any hits... 

14 minutes ago, TheKesselRun said:

ways to enable the cabin lights regardless of SOC level? 

Have you changed the SOC to 95% ?

10 hours ago, TheKesselRun said:

With the stupid attitude by Ford to disable certain features based on the battery SOC levels, has anyone found out ways to enable the cabin lights regardless of SOC level? 

I did try searching the forum but didn't find any hits... 

I had also asked this question, as it would resolve what I consider one of the more irritating aspects of the battery saver mode — having to negotiate a Focus blackout on dark winter nights. Searching this forum, Forscan forums, and several other sites hasn’t provided any solution to date.  I’ve now accepted that there’s no easy (obvious) fix. 

I find the automatic shut down annoying not so much with the cabin lights, but the audio. 

When waiting in a car park with the engine off, I like to listen to the radio.  Not much to ask!  My Focus allows me around 10 minutes play; my Berlingo around 20 minutes before they close down.

A friend reckoned it is because the screen drains the battery, so I turn screens off but that makes no difference.

I'd love to be able to override this.

8 hours ago, LincsFordFan said:

I'd love to be able to override this.

That could be arranged by hard wiring all the accessories direct to the battery supply and bypassing the 'battery saver' control.

After sitting in the car park for 30 minutes listening to the radio, personally I'd think you would be more than just a little disappointed when the car didn't start.

18 hours ago, unofix said:

Have you changed the SOC to 95% ?

Did mine yesterday.

2 hours ago, unofix said:

That could be arranged by hard wiring all the accessories direct to the battery supply and bypassing the 'battery saver' control.

After sitting in the car park for 30 minutes listening to the radio, personally I'd think you would be more than just a little disappointed when the car didn't start.

Yes Unofix, I most certainly wouldn't be happy!  It's just that I got used to my Mondeo Mk3 (and all previous cars) where the Ford radio plays with the ignition key on position one! 

I now have a Bluetooth speaker kept in the Focus, and play the radio from my phone!   

Hardly progress, but then again I assume all modern cars close down?

2 hours ago, LincsFordFan said:

Hardly progress, but then again I assume all modern cars close down?

Yes, I expect they all are.

What you probably don't realise is that when you switch off the engine and stay in the car, there is a huge amount of equipment that remains active. Assuming that it is daylight then the current draw on the battery is around 20A for the first 6 minutes. It then drops to about 10A where it stays while you remain in the car. Of course if it is dark then the auto headlights will remain on for a few minutes which will further increase the current draw on the battery.

Back in the days of the Cortina / Sierra when you switched off and left the old MW stereo on the total current draw was only around 3A, so you can see the issue with newer cars.

16 minutes ago, unofix said:

Yes, I expect they all are.

What you probably don't realise is that when you switch off the engine and stay in the car, there is a huge amount of equipment that remains active. Assuming that it is daylight then the current draw on the battery is around 20A for the first 6 minutes. It then drops to about 10A where it stays while you remain in the car. Of course if it is dark then the auto headlights will remain on for a few minutes which will further increase the current draw on the battery.

Back in the days of the Cortina / Sierra when you switched off and left the old MW stereo on the total current draw was only around 3A, so you can see the issue with newer cars.

That's really interesting.  Didn't realise all the bits drew so much current.

It's about the only niggle I have with the Focus Mk4.5. Thrilled with it, actually.

I still got my Mk3 Mondy which I'm hoping will make official classic car status in 4 years time 🤞 I actually display it already ... some classic car shows round these parts allow 20 years and over. I sit in it and play the radio or a CD ... no problem, haha!

(Sorry to go OT!) 

1 hour ago, LincsFordFan said:

I still got my Mk3 Mondy

I see the photo is taken at 'T C Harrison'

I bought my Ranger Stromtrak from TC Harrison Derby last March.

5 hours ago, unofix said:

I see the photo is taken at 'T C Harrison'

I bought my Ranger Stromtrak from TC Harrison Derby last March.

Yes, this was at the TCH Peterborough branch.  Very nice people to deal with.

Both their Derby and Peterborough dealerships each hold an annual one day Ford car show, where owners are invited to display their pride and joy.

I was actually going to post the 2026 details of them on here, but cannot find a suitable section for "events".   Could you advise me on that please @unofix ?   Thanks! 

(Seriously OT now! 😳) 

 

 

Slightly off piste here but I have now reset SO to 95%, and then tried to disable AutoStart/Stop. Forscan confirmed disabled, but it still works.  It seems this can only be done via the AS BUILT settings so my questions are  1.Has anyone done this and if so, what are the code changes?.  2. Would it involve any other code re-writes? 3. Would Ford take me off  their Christmas Card list!

 

 

 

10 hours ago, LincsFordFan said:

Could you advise me on that please

I'd suggest posting in the meeting forum, you just need to select the best regional area.

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/forum/42-ford-owners-club-meets-regional-discussion/

OR post in the General Ford Discussions forum

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/forum/6-general-ford-related-discussions/