Fordpass app missing notification option for "charger error"

[Levi8than]

A fun thing happened last night. I'm not at home, but the house has a 50 Amp welder outlet in the garage, so I plugged in the mobile charger and went to bed. I woke up to nearly no increase in charge. Once open, the app does show a charger error, but with no further details. Unplugging and replugging allowed the system to resume charging. But that doesn't make the vehicle usable anytime soon or fix the fact that this would have been great information to have when it happened. Beyond that, I don't even know how to debug this sort of thing.

I'm only partially venting. I'm also asking 2 questions:
1. How does one debug issues with the mobile charge cable that was included with my lightning? I've never had an issue with my home's dedicated charger.
2. How do we request that the app be updated prioritize letting us know about issues like this when it happens? I can't be the only one who has been in situation.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Maybe the folks monitoring the forum will pass your observations along to the Fordpass DEV team.

Or contact them via the app-store or play-store contact links for Fordpass.

It is possible (in android) to modify the notification tone to something more obnoxious that you ~might~ hear in the middle of the night. I've adjusted mine to a nice DING, though I use quiet time rules on my phone, I have exceptions for Fordpass to present it's notifications even in the middle of the night.

Getting back to the charging failure, if I were away from my principal charging location, I'd want to do a dry run with the FMC and the outlet be it 120v or 240v.

Folks have experienced issues with not seating the adapter into the case fully that can cause an error, but it's usually immediate.

Get a charging process rolling and monitor it for a period of time, not saying to babysit all night, unfortunately stuff happens, depending on conditions (cold temps) the FMC has been known to fail at the least opportune times.

 

[Levi8than]

It is possible (in android) to modify the notification tone to something more obnoxious

Thanks for taking the time to respond with the suggestion, but it's not the notification sound. There just is no notification, and no option to add one for such an event in the app.

if I were away from my principal charging location, I'd want to do a dry run with the FMC and the outlet be it 120v or 240v.

Folks have experienced issues with not seating the adapter into the case fully that can cause an error, but it's usually immediate.

...(cold temps) the FMC has been known to fail at the least opportune times.

I don't think it was below freezing last night, but it was probably pretty close to freezing.

The error kicked in about an hour after it began charging. 240, 50A breaker, I've charged in this location several times before and have never had an issue before. Of course today, getting stranded very far away from any public charging options I'm frustrated.

Now I know to check the app every 20 minutes and make sure it is still making progress. And if cold temps is the issue, maybe the mobile charger needs to start wearing a little jacket.

 

[TaxmanHog]

OK, then Ford needs to make an obnoxiously persistent special notification for charging failure, suggestions should be made. @Ford Motor Company

 

[chl]

A fun thing happened last night. I'm not at home, but the house has a 50 Amp welder outlet in the garage, so I plugged in the mobile charger and went to bed. I woke up to nearly no increase in charge. Once open, the app does show a charger error, but with no further details. Unplugging and replugging allowed the system to resume charging. But that doesn't make the vehicle usable anytime soon or fix the fact that this would have been great information to have when it happened. Beyond that, I don't even know how to debug this sort of thing.

I'm only partially venting. I'm also asking 2 questions:
1. How does one debug issues with the mobile charge cable that was included with my lightning? I've never had an issue with my home's dedicated charger.
2. How do we request that the app be updated prioritize letting us know about issues like this when it happens? I can't be the only one who has been in situation.

" 1. How does one debug issues with the mobile charge cable that was included with my lightning? I've never had an issue with my home's dedicated charger. "

The Mobile Power Cord charge seems to be notorious for errors and failures from posts on the forums anyway.

Any failure should be treated as a warning that something is wrong.

There is an error code table for it (attached in three images) if that helps.

One thing to think about is the dongle that adapts it for 240v or 120v - be sure it is seated well in the body of the MPC.

Some (most) severe failures have included "melt downs" literal melting/overheating of the components and case. I wonder if the Lightning is asking for too much current and the MPC is trying to provide it, i.e., 32A vs 30A. Exceeding the current capacity of a device is the most common cause of excess heat failure.

The FMPC should be on a 40A breaker which won't pop unless 40A is exceeded for a period of time. Your 50A outlet - is it on a higher amperage breaker? That could/would be a problem if the FMPC decides to draw more current than it's internal components can handle!

If anyone diagnoses the reason for so many failures of the FMPC with Lightnings, I would like to know.

Maybe the components used inside it are not really suited for everyday use?

 

[topofsuperior]

OK, then Ford needs to make an obnoxiously persistent special notification for charging failure, suggestions should be made. @Ford Motor Company

@TaxmanHog ,thank you for boiling this down succinctly. I second your motion. @Ford Motor Company

Sponsored