Here’s a review of my experience with GreenTec Auto and getting one of their remanufactured batteries for my 2008 last Friday, 8/17.

After a couple years now of intermittent low SOC events which got to the point of occurring every other day, I decided that I had to do something soon. After some research, I settled on buying a remanufactured battery from GreenTec ($1995 with a 12 month warranty, +$450 for mobile installation).

I ordered the battery on a Friday, and by the following Tuesday, I had an appointment set up for the installation on Friday 8/17, so a week after I ordered it.

Two technicians arrived on time for the install. These guys were awesome. They totally knew their stuff and explained everything. Usually, batteries are ordered by those with failed batteries or getting DTC codes, so I had to explain my history of degrading battery symptoms and 2 times that I did get related codes for their records for the warranty. I mentioned this forum and they definitely appreciated that I was familiar with a lot of the ins and outs of the FEH.

The install took less than 45 minutes and they did a courtesy check of fluid levels, etc.. After that, one of the techs went on a test drive with me. Only odd thing was I got several hybrid related DTC codes pop up on my EngineLink app. The tech informed me that it happens sometimes, due to the order in which the HV battery, it’s fuse and the 12V battery are reconnected. At my approval, he cleared the codes.

All in all, it was a very pleasant experience with everyone I dealt with at GreenTec.

I haven’t had to drive much this past week — only about 70 miles, but I’ve been very pleased with the battery — it’s almost like a new car. I have full acceleration back, my MPG is back up above 25, and even in the ~100F heat we’ve had in Texas all week, the ICE will shut off in eco mode (FYI - the whole battery unit includes new fans).

I’ll update periodically & answer any questions I can.

 

what year is your FEH?
how many miles you put on it?
4x4 or FWD?
would you recommend buying used?
other issues besides battery?

Cheers!

 

I have a 2008 4x4.

Based on my experience, no I would not recommend buying used. I just replaced the battery and am now having HCU issues... so, with 20/20 hindsight, I wish I'd gotten rid of it at this point.

 

Hi Tommy,

Thanks for your review, I might be going this route. I was curious if you could share more details on your symptoms as I am experiencing an odd issue. At first it was just a couple times a year, one bar on HV battery level, no EV assist, engine revving etc. Now, it is almost once a week. If pack was bad, I would imagine it would be consistent, but many times, I get in and it is fine, other days, one bar. One time recently, it was actually slow to crank up the engine and nearly didn't start. My EV range is still normal (about 2-3 miles on electric only). I cannot figure this out! Almost seems like something is occasionally getting "stuck" and keeping the EV battery on and discharging.

At this point, I am uncomfortable not starting it for more than 24 hours as if the big battery fully drains, I am SOL!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
-Ricky
2009 Ford Escape Hybrid AWD Limited

 

Hi -

How many miles do you have? Do you have a Scangauge or app so you can get some battery data or read codes? How is your 12V battery?


My battery showed similar symptoms. The low SOC events became more and more frequent. The SOC would be below 20%, I would have little power to accelerate, and it would take some driving time (5-10 miles) to get the battery back up to around 50% and even then, the ICE would only shut off below 20mph or so. The only correlation I could find between when an event would happen and other data was with the module delta voltage. Ideally, the ΔV should be near zero if the battery modules are performing equally. For me, over a matter of days, the average ΔV would rise to ~0.25V and then more often than not, I'd have a low SOC event the next morning. Note that this is my own conclusion. Also, on one occasion, I had a battery related code (P0A1F I think).

 

Many thanks for the quick reply!

I am at 200k miles now. I do have a scanner and so far no codes except for when I swapped the 12V (thought to start there even though old batt tested fine) and got "U3003 Battery Voltage, C1018 Regenerative Braking, U0100 Lost Comm w/ ECM/PCM" but I suspect that was related to battery swap. I can only seem to get it to read battery voltage (not SoC) and at low events I still see ~315VDC.

Very interesting about the module delta voltage, I will see if I can get that parameter on my tool to keep an eye on. Seems so strange that if battery was truly failing it could hold charge fine for a week, then nearly dead the next, then fine again. I have also heard something about "Power Sustain Relay" under the hood possibly getting stuck and keeping energized.

Also, some additional tests I have done... I disconnected the HV service switch on the battery....parked for a few days, nearly dead. Then another time I disconnected the same HV switch and the 12V battery for a few days, nearly dead.

 

No problem!

At 200K, it is probably an aging hybrid battery. My voltage was always in the proper total range. I read about the relay issue as well, but it didn't seem to apply in my case. I think once the modules get out of balance the battery discharges itself to balance itself. I did take my car to a local hybrid specialist (they mainly deal with Toyotas) after I got that code. They said the battery was fine to drive but would continue to deteriorate. That was in January 2017. By the late summer, I couldn't go more than 3 days without low SOC. Based on the info in the forum and talking with the GreenTec technicians, it seems like with these Escapes, replacement is one of the few options. Although other threads detail a battery balancing procedure, and for a time it seemed as though Hybrid Automotive was going to release a battery reconditioning system for the FEH, I was unwilling to try the procedure myself and last I heard, the Hybrid Automotive system was delayed.