[RicoS]

I had an interesting experience when purchasing my lightning. The dealer claimed that if I did not bring in the truck for a yearly maintenance that my warranty would be void. Apparently Ford requires the electric truck to be maintained every year? Logically I asked what is exactly included in the $600 yearly maintenance process with a vehicle that does not require any maintenance? They simply said the warranty would be void. I guess they are charging for warranty? Has anyone else had this happen?

On another note, the tech person showing me around the truck recommended I charge the battery to 100% the first few charges to "wake up" the battery. From everything I have seen I have only heard you should charge to 80%. Anyone know something about this?

 

[Junk in the Frunk]

Really curious if anyone else has heard anything like this -- for either case.

Welcome to the forum @RicoS

 

[Justjoe]

I have read that in normal daily use the battery should be charged to 90%. Use 100% only if needed for the extended range. Also only us DC fast charging sparingly. AC charging and charging to 90% is preferred for battery life/reliability. Never heard about waking up the battery.

 

[208]

I had an interesting experience when purchasing my lightning. The dealer claimed that if I did not bring in the truck for a yearly maintenance that my warranty would be void. Apparently Ford requires the electric truck to be maintained every year? Logically I asked what is exactly included in the $600 yearly maintenance process with a vehicle that does not require any maintenance? They simply said the warranty would be void. I guess they are charging for warranty? Has anyone else had this happen?

On another note, the tech person showing me around the truck recommended I charge the battery to 100% the first few charges to "wake up" the battery. From everything I have seen I have only heard you should charge to 80%. Anyone know something about this?

There has long been a school of though that Lithium batteries should be charged to 100% every so often. Putting all of the ions on the charged side of the fence every so often can fend off a degree of atrophy. This, combined with keeping your regular usage >20%<80% is generally regarded as being nice to your pack. A credible Tesla tech I talk to recommends topping off the pack "every few months.

A better reason to top off you battery at the start of its life and then every so often is to help the BMS calibrate itself. It is always counting amp-hours, and has a very good idea of where the charge level is, but the only way for it to ever be completely sure it's math is correct is to let it see the top of the pack. As the pack ages, so does capacity, so this recalibration becomes more important.

Ford recommends charging to "90%". It should be noted that this is 90% of the usable charge, which typically at least 10% under full-charge... i.e. Ford's "90%" recommendation likely falls square into the industry's 80% true capacity guidelines.

 

[RicoS]

@TeslaDriver Thank you for that information very helpful. Seeing as they already charged to 100% at the dealer I should not have to do this again for another couple months then. I will set the charge to 90% for now.

 

[208]

@TeslaDriver Thank you for that information very helpful. Seeing as they already charged to 100% at the dealer I should not have to do this again for another couple months then. I will set the charge to 90% for now.

😎👍👍

 

[ChasingCoral]

I had an interesting experience when purchasing my lightning. The dealer claimed that if I did not bring in the truck for a yearly maintenance that my warranty would be void. Apparently Ford requires the electric truck to be maintained every year? Logically I asked what is exactly included in the $600 yearly maintenance process with a vehicle that does not require any maintenance? They simply said the warranty would be void. I guess they are charging for warranty? Has anyone else had this happen?

Ask the dealer to show you where that is written in the warranty terms and conditions. Please share if they manage to find that (probably non-existent) fine print.

 

[GDN]

No such thing on the annual maintenance or lose warranty. Just your dealer with more of their slimy tactics. Just ask for him to show you in your manual and warranty information that came with your truck. Not something he pulls out of a desk drawer.

 

[kericks]

On another note, the tech person showing me around the truck recommended I charge the battery to 100% the first few charges to "wake up" the battery. From everything I have seen I have only heard you should charge to 80%. Anyone know something about this?

That's not a thing. RTFM

 

[SSSJDanny]

I had an interesting experience when purchasing my lightning. The dealer claimed that if I did not bring in the truck for a yearly maintenance that my warranty would be void. Apparently Ford requires the electric truck to be maintained every year?

My Dealer told me something similar except I needed to bring it in every 6 Months for them to check the batteries. I thought it was some California Clean Energy Program. I'll send him an email and see if he can give more info about it.

 

[ChasingCoral]

BS

 

[Justjoe]

to check the batteries.

I am thinking the Truck will tell you there is a problem, if there is one!

 

[chillaban]

I’m pretty new to the Lightning… What do you guys all do for service? Nothing?

An EV doesn’t require annual oil changes, sure, but there are a bunch of little things that still need maintenance (air filters, inspecting and lubricating the brakes, perhaps any silent warranty campaigns, etc). I have a 6 year old Tesla and while I know some Tesla owners who don’t do maintenance at all, I tend to do it every two years or so and just select the specific things I want changed (usually air filter and AC deodorization).

$600 per year like it’s a gas car seems a little excessive and I’d be worried the dealership isn’t actually gonna do anything. My last ICE was an Audi and they’d always send me home with a packet explaining all the things they did, and frankly I usually find evidence to the contrary, that they did nothing but an oil change.

 

[SSSJDanny]

From My Dealer:
Every 6 months or 7500 miles what ever comes first, the truck needs come in for inspection to maintain the warranties of the vehicle.