Seems like a stupid oversight. There has to be one already to run power from the hi-V batter to the 12V battery, they must just not be turning it on periodically to top off the 12V battery (or they have some reason to not do so?). Which doesn't make sense, not when it's plugged into the wall. Seems like something that just a few lines of code would fix.
James May shows why Tesla engineers are so smart, they come full circle to being fantastically stupid.
- Thread starter MrPlow
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So.....anybody know what the car will do if you're on the interstate and the 12V gives up? Do some systems go down, even though the main battery is at full charge? Or......does the main battery carry all duties when the car is "on"?
VW Touareg is actually the same - and it isn't even a hybrid.
You have to remove the rear licence plate light and feed less than 5 amps through the socket to energize the system enough to unlock any doors, hood, trunk.
Plenty of engineering fails in the car industry.
edyvw
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Wait, on Tiguan is the same system. There is an actual mechanical lock in the drivers' door, where a piece of plastic has to be removed. I have that comfort access and in case the battery fails, there is always a mechanical option.
The same system on my X5 I had that was comfort access, sam on my current 328.
Since the Mach E has this same "problem" being in business 100 years is no recipe for "how it is actually done."
James "I hadn't used the car for a while" May should know and understand how his car works, but Im not at all surprised he doesn't.
I wonder why he doesn't say how long "a while" is?
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...igh-voltage-charging-process.4922/post-143825
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...drained-dead-update-mach-e-jump-started.3457/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/mme-strands-me-in-a-blizzard.3494/
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/tough-headline.5273/
edyvw
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FORD jumped on TESLA train. Instead of competing with TESLA who will develop better iPad, they suppose to build on know-how.
The VW Touareg doesnt have a mechanical lock cylinder at all...I didn't believe it either.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I mean I know BMW is always bashed for going too far on electronics, but even they did not do that.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Only programmers who never actually owned a vehicle could oversee this. This is where they supposed to have some older guy with the wrench asking questions.
My 05 STS had electric ones on the front doors and mechanical on the rear.. I never had any real problems with them, but that was always a head scratcher for me.
As far as what to do with a dead battery using the physical key in the one hole on the drivers door mechanically opened the door. As in the motion of turning the key also turned the latch.
Another idea would be to run that plug set up same as the video guy had back to the charging access point on the car. Plug the battery charger into that socket and charge the small battery without dismantling the car.
It won’t prevent the expensive service call though when that battery does need replacing.
Kind of like replacing a $50 timing belt but having to remove the engine from the vehicle to do it. $1000 later the $50 timing belt is replaced. We have been down this road before.
It won’t prevent the expensive service call though when that battery does need replacing.
Kind of like replacing a $50 timing belt but having to remove the engine from the vehicle to do it. $1000 later the $50 timing belt is replaced. We have been down this road before.
Not seeing it is the same issue of not being able to open the hatch, or is it? I had a 98 Chrysler that even said in the owners manual not to leave the car more than three weeks or the battery may be dead. I see the real issue is no way to get to the battery an average person could do. If the battery is dead, you can’t open the cover to it to charge it in any remotely normal way. Talk about beginner engineering. Ford issued a fix for that battery draining problem.
If you leave either car long enough it will happen.
Fords fix is a bit deeper in that it wasn't just drain down from sitting - it will do that, but was draining the 12v while the main pack was being charged, and this fix required a revisit to the dealer vs OTA.
Both cars have solid state doors.
I looked up the Mach e and it has all electric doors and front trunk. They have a place in the front bumper to be able to jumpstart the 12v battery. That opens the trunk and doors also. Who carries that power source around and knows how to do it? I would as it could be something pretty small but I’m sure most people don’t do that kind of work. They call towing. They are dressed to go out for dinner, not work on a car. I think it’s a fail to not have the mechanical backup key in the fob. Even that is rocket science to a lot of owners. Oh well small fry like me just can talk.
If it dies while charging at home you are probably ok- if it happens on a road trip you've got a bigger problem.
It's not fair to jump on Tesla for this when other automakers, many with 90 to 110 years of experience also have similar issues. The new Jaguars are known to leave you locked out if the battery voltage drops below a certain level. The fix is to use the tiny key that is built into the fob to open the door, and then pop the hood to access charge points to recharge the battery which is actually in the trunk.
It is recommend to use a CTEK trickle charger if you don't drive your car daily and that will keep the battery always at full charge.
As far as the legacy companies like Ford being an example of not making stupid design decisions since they already have 100 years of experience, I will remind you of the 2018 recall of 1.4 million vehicles because the steering wheels could come off.
Seriously ? THE STEERING WHEEL COULD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING ?
Maybe Ford should go back to a rudder control.
It is recommend to use a CTEK trickle charger if you don't drive your car daily and that will keep the battery always at full charge.
As far as the legacy companies like Ford being an example of not making stupid design decisions since they already have 100 years of experience, I will remind you of the 2018 recall of 1.4 million vehicles because the steering wheels could come off.
Seriously ? THE STEERING WHEEL COULD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING ?
Maybe Ford should go back to a rudder control.
There are small portable power sources available to carry. The main thing here is Tesla made it very difficult, the others made it pretty easy. One thing on the Ford is in a crash involving the front, there goes the emergency 12v battery port in the bumper.
This sounds like the typical workaround for modern cars these days. At least you can get in and pop the hood. The point of the video is that Tesla leaves all that out. It’s all electronic and the only way to get emergency access is to know where the emergency hood releases are and how to use them. After that the disassembly begins.
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