MacinTek Posted August 2, 2019 at 06:53 PM Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 at 06:53 PM Just replaced the DC inverter because batter wasn't charging. Now, it won't start and I get the dreaded "Run Power Active", press brake and touch Start button warning. I tried resetting by disconnecting the 12V battery overnight but that didn't help. It's my brother's car but he's a retired chef, not a mechanic so I'm lasso'd into trying to get the rolling robot car running again. Any ideas? I've seen this is a common occurrence with these Ford hybrids but I can't find any definitive solutions short of shelling out non-existent money to a Ford dealer to put right what should never have gone wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murphy Posted August 2, 2019 at 09:12 PM Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 at 09:12 PM If the 12 volt battery isn't being charged it would be the DC to DC converter. The DC inverter generates 3 phase power for the drive motors. Load test the 12 volt battery. If it's the original battery it is almost certainly bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacinTek Posted August 2, 2019 at 09:28 PM Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 at 09:28 PM The battery is less than a month old and the charger says it's charged 100%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacinTek Posted August 2, 2019 at 09:34 PM Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 at 09:34 PM I replaced the DC inverter because I was told that it's what acts as the alternator for the 12V battery. I replaced the battery before because it would drain overnight. Then the car drained the new battery, so I was told to replace the DC inverter. I did that and now, the "Run Power Active" message comes on and it won't start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murphy Posted August 3, 2019 at 12:27 AM Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 at 12:27 AM The DC to DC converter takes the place of an alternator.However if the battery can't supply enough current to pull in the contactors there is no high voltage to feed the DC to DC converter. Voltage measurements mean almost nothing on a battery unless the battery is under a 100 amp load during the measurement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacinTek Posted August 3, 2019 at 07:24 PM Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 at 07:24 PM Are you suggesting that a new battery like the one I installed two weeks ago might be a bad egg and this would cause the "Run Power Active" error? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacinTek Posted August 3, 2019 at 07:25 PM Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 at 07:25 PM Would hooking the thing up to an OBDII Scanner provide any clues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murphy Posted August 3, 2019 at 08:52 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 at 08:52 PM Are you suggesting that a new battery like the one I installed two weeks ago might be a bad egg and this would cause the "Run Power Active" error?No, but if the DC to DC converter is bad the battery would run down to zero. That is enough to cause material to flake off of the plates which if done enough and the material reaches the bottom of the plates it will short out the cell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murphy Posted August 3, 2019 at 08:53 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 at 08:53 PM Would hooking the thing up to an OBDII Scanner provide any clues?It would allow the reading of any codes that are stored in the car. If there are codes that could give you an idea of what to look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacinTek Posted August 5, 2019 at 03:42 PM Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 at 03:42 PM No, but if the DC to DC converter is bad the battery would run down to zero. That is enough to cause material to flake off of the plates which if done enough and the material reaches the bottom of the plates it will short out the cell.Well, that was the symptom before this fiasco... Then, I replaced the DC inverter and that's when I started getting "Run Power Active" problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russael Posted August 6, 2019 at 01:36 AM Report Share Posted August 6, 2019 at 01:36 AM Do the brake lights come on when you step on the brake to start? Possible defective brake switch. Another thing that comes to mind - is the safety disconnect to the high voltage battery connected and secure? Not sure what symptoms the car would have if that were tripped, but something to check on. Just tossing some quick check things out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.