Weird limited power issue with apparent front motor failure

[GoHawks]

This just happened to me today. FCSP to 85%, preconditionined and had 56% power availably on departure . I cycled the truck, no dice. I proceeded to drive the truck 40+ miles on the 5. I verified just the rear motor was working (output and regen). 65-70 mph in 42 degree rainy weather and got 2.3 mi/kwh and only used 12% battery. Usually the trip takes approximately 18% of the charge with 1.9-2.0 mi/kwh. The best efficiency that I have ever experienced. Once I arrived at my destination, turned the truck off for 10 minutes and back to 100% power output from both motors. My last software update was 1/23 - the small things no name update.

Maybe Ford should update the software to allow the front motor to be disabled like Rivian to help improve efficiency on the highway. I didn’t notice the reduced power at all while driving but I wasn’t pushing it hard either.

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[Ford Motor Company]

Posting my experience to see if anyone has seen something similar to this:

Unplugged the truck with 70 % soc. Started the truck and the gauge cluster is telling me I am limited to 56% power on the far left (like how power is limited when low on battery/cold). Then get on the Interstate and change view to power distribution and notice 100% of the power is coming from rear motor. Then exit the Interstate and see regen breaking is the same, 100% regen showing it is from the rear motor with no movement from front motor. After stopping and restarting the truck, I have full power and power distribution is normal.

Hi there! Will you send us a message with your VIN and your local Ford dealer? I can look into things on my end.

 

[invertedspear]

Maybe Ford should update the software to allow the front motor to be disabled like Rivian to help improve efficiency on the highway. I didn’t notice the reduced power at all while driving but I wasn’t pushing it hard either.

Rivian data indicates that there's only about a 6% increase in range on a long road trip at highway speeds going into that mode. You're indicating a the possibility of a much better improvement for the lightning. It would be nice to have this option on the drive mode screen even if it's as little as the Rivian. I usually drive easy, so this would be my default mode, but it's always fun to throw it into the higher performance modes from time to time.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

This happened to me last year right after an OTA update and I took it straight to the dealership. Ford also called me to inform me of a recall involving a high voltage module. It was a 9-12 hour job which took 3 days after waiting nearly 2 weeks for the part. Not sure if this is the same situation but that was my experience and it sucked. It was pretty cool to see all of the batteries dropped out of the bottom as they reprogrammed everything

This was me as well. Power reduction followed by module replacement.

 

[GoHawks]

Rivian data indicates that there's only about a 6% increase in range on a long road trip at highway speeds going into that mode. You're indicating a the possibility of a much better improvement for the lightning. It would be nice to have this option on the drive mode screen even if it's as little as the Rivian. I usually drive easy, so this would be my default mode, but it's always fun to throw it into the higher performance modes from time to time.

Agreed, I would take any sort of range increase. However, my measurements were pretty inexact. If it happens again (and I hope it does't because that may be indicative a problem), I will plug in my OBDII scanner and measure more precisely. I will also point out that shortly into the trip, the available power dropped to 51% instead of 56%. Configuration/toggle of dual or single motor would be great but the truck doing it on it's own, not so great. For those of you that this led to a module replacement, did the truck throw an error? It didn't in my case. @Ford Motor Company do you want my vin as well? Please.

 

[eRock77]

Agreed, I would take any sort of range increase. However, my measurements were pretty inexact. If it happens again (and I hope it does't because that may be indicative a problem), I will plug in my OBDII scanner and measure more precisely. I will also point out that shortly into the trip, the available power dropped to 51% instead of 56%. Configuration/toggle of dual or single motor would be great but the truck doing it on it's own, not so great. For those of you that this led to a module replacement, did the truck throw an error? It didn't in my case. @Ford Motor Company do you want my vin as well? Please.

I would hope that this software is advanced enough to toggle a motor on and off depending on power demand. I was driving a 1995 Eldorado before I got my Lightning and they had it nailed back in the technology dark ages. I would further imagine that ANY range increase potential should be fully considered on these vehicles.

 

[LightningShow]

This has happened to me about a half dozen times in 18 months. Each time power cycling fixed the issue.

 

[GDN]

Due to the the type of motors they can not power off the front motor. It doesn't work like that.

Once you get that reduced power, the rest of the tell-tale signs of a failed battery module is that it won't charge at a fast charger. Give that a try.

 

[invertedspear]

Due to the the type of motors they can not power off the front motor. It doesn't work like that.

Help me understand how it happens where something gets messed up and the front motor will neither take nor regenerate power. What's going on there that would be different than powering off? It would be better to be able to be able to disconnect the front engine entirely I think, with some sort of neural, but it does seem the truck gets in an error state where the front engine is powered off.

 

[Pioneer74]

Help me understand how it happens where something gets messed up and the front motor will neither take nor regenerate power. What's going on there that would be different than powering off? It would be better to be able to be able to disconnect the front engine entirely I think, with some sort of neural, but it does seem the truck gets in an error state where the front engine is powered off.

Even if you power off the front motor, you still don't have a way to disengage the gearbox. Parasitic drag negates any energy savings you are trying to achieve.

 

[GDN]

Help me understand how it happens where something gets messed up and the front motor will neither take nor regenerate power. What's going on there that would be different than powering off? It would be better to be able to be able to disconnect the front engine entirely I think, with some sort of neural, but it does seem the truck gets in an error state where the front engine is powered off.

It's all about permanent magnet motors. It's one thing to have it happen when there are mechanical problems, but to do it for driving efficiencies doesn't happen when both are the permanent magnet. I can't recall the technical details, but it has been laid out a few times.

 

[ciferguson37733]

There are several of us who have experienced this issue. No fix yet.

This just happened to me this morning. Second time I have noticed it.
As I recall, first time was 3 or 4 months ago. As others mentioned, problem went away the next morning.

Today, happened on the way to work. Got to work at 5A, shut off the truck and went in the office.
Went back out to the truck about 10:30, turned it on, all good now. All good on the way back home this evening.

Have the 20K service call next Tuesday and have called out this issue for them to look at - along with the overly sensitive right rear object detector.

Don't know of any commonalities between the two instances. One was toward the end of a 3 hour trip. Today, first thing in the morning.

Anyone have any other updates or causal factors?

 

[Ford Motor Company]

This just happened to me this morning. Second time I have noticed it.
As I recall, first time was 3 or 4 months ago. As others mentioned, problem went away the next morning.

Today, happened on the way to work. Got to work at 5A, shut off the truck and went in the office.
Went back out to the truck about 10:30, turned it on, all good now. All good on the way back home this evening.

Have the 20K service call next Tuesday and have called out this issue for them to look at - along with the overly sensitive right rear object detector.

Don't know of any commonalities between the two instances. One was toward the end of a 3 hour trip. Today, first thing in the morning.

Anyone have any other updates or causal factors?

Hi there, Dean. This power concern doesn’t sound like something we want you to experience with your Lightning truck. Could you please send us a PM with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer? I'd be happy to look into how I can assist you on my end. To send a private message, just click on our username and select "Start Conversation".

 

[ciferguson37733]

Hi there, Dean. This power concern doesn’t sound like something we want you to experience with your Lightning truck. Could you please send us a PM with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer? I'd be happy to look into how I can assist you on my end. To send a private message, just click on our username and select "Start Conversation".

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[IdahoLightning]

Has happened to me three times since January. No errors on dash or app and issue goes away after turning the truck off for a bit then back on

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