[KillerBean]

2014 Mk2 Kuga Titanium X AWD.

Had our Kuga for just over 2 years and never had a problem with it at all until yesterday. I got a call from my wife yesterday saying the car was coming up with 'key not detected' and the dash lights kept going off, obviously the car wouldn't start. She tried various things but eventually I came home from work to have a look. My first impression was that the main battery was flat so I put it on charge for an hour or so and hey presto the car started fine. I went for a run in it for about 10 miles or so without problem, then later in the evening I took it for fuel doing another 12 mile round trip again without problem. We came to go to work this morning and have exactly the same problem, there wasn't even enough power to open the doors with the central locking, I had to use the key.

So where do I start, I think there must be something draining the battery, is it likely that with all the rain that some electronics have gotten wet? If so where would be the most likely place, I hope to use my small compressor to blow them out. I don't know how old the main battery is, but I have had no problem at all with it the last 2 years and I don't think it is the problem itself. We both work in a hospital which is a daily round trip of 50 miles, I have a 20 year old Astra as a spare car but would much prefer using the Kuga.

Cheers.

 

[smartguy69]

How old is your battery

 

[KillerBean]

How old is your battery

Not sure TBH, its was in the car when I bought and I haven't changed it. I don't think its the battery, to go from no problem at all to completely draining over night although not imposable its not likely.

 

[Guzzilazz]

Not sure TBH, its was in the car when I bought and I haven't changed it. I don't think its the battery, to go from no problem at all to completely draining over night although not imposable its not likely.

I have to disagree... Probably in the last 10-15 years, your experience is the precise way in which batteries exhibit failure... With more electronics, the car won't allow itself to be started...

 

[KillerBean]

I have to disagree... Probably in the last 10-15 years, your experience is the precise way in which batteries exhibit failure... With more electronics, the car won't allow itself to be started...

So do you think its worth going straight for a new battery? There not cheep you know.

 

[KillerBean]

Just came upon this thread, Think Ill try it tonight and see how it goes.

Mk2 Kuga 2014 Battery Drain

Hi there I was wondering if anyone has come across an excessive battery drain on a 2014 Kuga, Battery is discharging overnight, 1.87 amps discharge, I've isolated which circuit it's on, if I remove fuse F11 from the engine bay fuse box the drain stops, trouble is F11 fuse does a whole load of...

www.kugaownersclub.co.uk

 

[Gregs24]

If it was pretty flay then an hour on charge and a 12 mile journey will be nowhere near back to full charge. Agree with others though - when they fail it can be very quick.

 

[RonnieM]

Sounds battery related to me, I would put in on a charger first to charge it properly, then see what happens, quite a few battery related problems experienced by other members when battery reaches 5 years old

 

[Guzzilazz]

I'm lucky enough to have a DC clamp-on meter which measures current when the jaws are around either of the battery leads, if you have an ordinary multimeter with say a 10A scale, you could try measuring current drain by disconnecting the neg lead and connecting the + lead to the battery lead,and the - lead to the battery - post...

 

[andspenka]

Hi @KillerBean welcome to the forum, sorry to hear of your troubles.

Please take a minute to read this thread..... It will save you having to start your posts with what model you have... Welcome to the Forum, Please Read

 

[Landie9]

With other cars that have had battery faults I've fully charged the battery then If the battery goes flat next day I'd charge the battery, then disconnect the negative terminal. If the battery is flat next day you've got a faulty battery. If the battery starts the car then you needed to check for current drain using a meter.

 

[smartguy69]

Sounds exactly the same as our 16 plate Mokka. Was fine and just wouldn't start one morning. Jumped it off, took it for a drive, charged the battery and showing well over 12 volts. Next morning wouldn't start. Put a new battery on and it's been ok.

 

[murcod]

if you have an ordinary multimeter with say a 10A scale, you could try measuring current drain by disconnecting the neg lead and connecting the + lead to the battery lead,and the - lead to the battery - post...

There will be a bit of a current surge disconnecting/ reconnecting. It may be enough to blow the fuse in the multimeter on a 10A one. It could be okay though- just something to keep in mind.

 

[KillerBean]

OK thanks for the advice. I tried charging it again when I got home last night but after a couple of hours it was still pretty much dead. So Ill replace the battery, any recommendations of where to buy one that can be delivered, I can pick one up from Halfords but they're not the cheapest of places.

Cheers.

 

[Landie9]

I've used Tanya batteries, very fast delivery and a wide choice of batteries.

 

[KillerBean]

On Halfords website it says because I have start/stop I will need the professional fitting because the battery will need registering with the computer, is this right? Looking at Tanya I assume I need to choose an EFB type.

Cheers.

 

[smartguy69]

If your car has stop/start then you need an EFB battery.

If so the Halfords is an EFB110 @ £114.00 collected. Tanya is a little cheaper. Make sure you get a brand name like Bosch, Exide, Varta etc although the Halfords one with a 5 year warranty has to be considered in my opinion and if ever you got a problem, Halfords are in just about every city in the UK.

110 EFB Enduroline Start Stop Car Battery 75Ah (tayna.co.uk)

Check to see if you have a battery specialist in your area who just deal in batteries.

 

[smartguy69]

On Halfords website it says because I have start/stop I will need the professional fitting because the battery will need registering with the computer, is this right? Looking at Tanya I assume I need to choose an EFB type.

Cheers.

Following a post by our moderator @andspenka, it has been proved that you do not need to reset the BMS as the car will reset it itself.

 

[KillerBean]

Thank you. I notice the battery you linked to is a 110 size, I have been looking at 100 size as this is what was suggested on the sites that I have looked at, as it happens I was going to get the Endurance.

Edit: I think the 110 is the one one to go for.

 

[smartguy69]

The EFB110 is the one that comes up when I put my registration in on the Halfords site. It needs to be a 75ah battery.

The EFB100 is only 65ah and as my current battery was fitted by Ford with a 75ah battery that is what I would be replacing mine with. Same result comes up on Carparts4less and Eurocarparts.