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Battery drain

Tiny
LINCOLN MKX
  • MEMBER
  • 2018 LINCOLN MKX
  • 3.7L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 900 MILES
On 4/30/18, 5/3/18, 5/25/18, on these occasions went to start car and it just would not go. On 4/30/18 AAA came and boosted battery and it went. On 5/3/18 same problem. AAA again boosted battery. AAA claim that power was being drawn from battery when car was shut down. Took it to Lincoln dealership. They replaced battery and said there was no extra draw when car shut down. About three weeks with new battery, go out on 5/25/18 and car would not go. AAA boosted it and towed it to dealership. They put meters on it all weekend to see if there is anything drawing power and they claim there is not.
Car, of course, starts up but obviously we have a problem and they cannot find it. Claim they have checked everything and cannot find problem. We have no confidence in car. Frightened we will be broken down on the side of the road. This car has less than 1,000 miles on it.
Husband uses a walker and uses lift switch on dash to put walker in car and out of car on each trip. Only extra thing he does rather than drive car. He checks each time that lights have turned off as we are parked in an underground garage.
Claim they have never seen this problem. Do you have any suggestions as to what can be wrong? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Car is now at dealership and they are still trying to find issue. What could it be?
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Wednesday, May 30th, 2018 AT 10:13 AM

15 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,289 POSTS
The battery is not the problem. This car has several computers that must go into "sleep" mode which is sounds like it is not doing. This can be because something is still active such as a CD stuck in the player or a door sensor is not telling the computer the car is ready for the shut down sequence.

I have also seen where an alternator diode can short out causing the battery is go bad relatively quickly this can be tested by checking for AC voltage in the system when the engine is running.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

When the car does run is there any warning lights on? I would like to get this fixed for you please let me know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Thursday, May 31st, 2018 AT 11:50 AM
Tiny
LINCOLN MKX
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Ken, thanks for your reply. Have forwarded it to our Lincoln dealership. Apparently the charging system was checked multiple times. They feel trouble was in the rear gate and they replaced and programmed the rear gate module. Claim they had this problem in some of their 2017 MKX cars. Of course they are not positive this was the problem. Guess time will tell.

Have you heard of this? What are your thoughts?
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Friday, June 1st, 2018 AT 6:37 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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I have heard of modules doing all kinds of weird things like going into sleep mode. So yes that can cause it. Please let us know if this fixed the problem I am interested to see.
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Friday, June 1st, 2018 AT 7:53 PM
Tiny
LINCOLN MKX
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Thanks for your help. Guess time will tell. Hopefully optimistic that they have found the problem. Will let you know if we have any other trouble with this.
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Friday, June 1st, 2018 AT 8:03 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.

Cheers, Ken
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2018 AT 11:54 AM
Tiny
LINCOLN MKX
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hi Ken, Car would not start again today 6/6/18. Picked it up from dealership about a week ago. Said problem was due to rear gate. They replaced and programmed rear gate module but within a week or so, same problem car will not go. Drove it to and from airport last night and everything was working. Will be towed to dealership tomorrow morning. Still has less than 1,000 miles. On it. What else do you think should be checked? This is the fourth breakdown since April 30, 2018. As of now battery and rear gate module have been replaced. If you can give me a list I will make sure that everything you suggest is looked at.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Just so frustrated with this.
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Wednesday, June 6th, 2018 AT 2:20 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sorry for the frustration, it happens. Is this car a Hybrid?
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Thursday, June 7th, 2018 AT 5:17 PM
Tiny
LINCOLN MKX
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
No. Regular car. Any ideas as to what is causing this total depletion of the battery each time?
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Thursday, June 7th, 2018 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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There is a body control module located in the left kick panel. I feel is causing the issue. It must not be powering down into sleep mode. Can I ask do you notice anything the car is doing that seems out of the ordinary other than the problem at hand?
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Friday, June 8th, 2018 AT 11:45 AM
Tiny
LINCOLN MKX
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
No I really cannot think of anything. Just before it quit running completely last time it flashed something like "accessories active" "check your brakes". That is about all that I can think of.
It is now in the dealership for the third time in a month. They did replace and program the lift gate module within the past ten days. They have another gate module on back order apparently but what are the chances you would have a bad one ten days ago and how confident would I feel if they just replace this same part again. Frustrated to the nth degree with this whole situation.
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Friday, June 8th, 2018 AT 1:40 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, I will give you what my grandmother used to say "this too shall pass". I am not sure the lift gate module can go bad that fast unless they know there is a problem with them. Also, have them check the electrical system for AC voltage this will cause computers to go out pretty quickly. If AC voltage is present the alternator is bad and needs to be replaced.

This guide give you an idea of how to change an alternator:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

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Friday, June 8th, 2018 AT 1:46 PM
Tiny
LINCOLN MKX
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I wish I was as optimistic as your grandmother. How confident would you be to take this car on a 4,000 mile round trip? Assume we will have to cancel as we do not have a reliable vehicle. How crazy is that? We have fulfilled our obligations. It is time for Lincoln to do the right thing. I feel this car needs to be replaced. Perhaps they could use it at a service test center. Rip it apart and use it as a teaching tool for their mechanics. Afraid to be broken down on the side of the road and all the angst that this would cause. Lovely car to drive but in reality we need more than looks and ride. We need something that will go and keep going!
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Friday, June 8th, 2018 AT 2:11 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, I am sure you qualify for an exchange under the lemon law.

https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/automotive-law/lemon-law.php

I would call Lincoln 1 (800) 521-4140

Let me know what happens.

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Friday, June 8th, 2018 AT 3:47 PM
Tiny
LINCOLN MKX
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Thanks. Will let you know how all of this unfolds.
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Friday, June 8th, 2018 AT 7:57 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Please do.
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Saturday, June 9th, 2018 AT 10:15 AM

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