• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Ford Fiesta Forum and Ford Fiesta community dedicated to Ford Fiesta owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Ford Fiesta Forum today!


HELP 2016 Fiesta - temp gauge issue, than battery dead, won't start

jdm2tenn

New Member
Messages
2
Likes
1
City
COLUMBUS
State
OH
Country
United States
What I Drive
2016 FIESTA
#1
Hey guys so my ford fiesta wasn't showing any bars on the temperature gauge, then when i turned the car off and back on i noticed it struggled a little to start. After that the battery was completely drained and would not start. I tried charging the battery at AutoZone only for it to start a few times with the temp gauge working and then go back to being completely dead.

Has anyone else had this issue? The only other problem I have with the car is that it struggles to start after pumping gas, but always turns on after the second crank. Could these problems be connected somehow? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 

LionsTooth

Well-Liked Member
Premium Account
Messages
735
Likes
955
City
Northern
State
CA
Country
United States
What I Drive
2015 Fiesta SE HB Magnetic
#2
Basically sounds like your battery is shot. These cars are super sensitive to low voltage and low amps. Try cleaning all the grounds around the battery. Did AutoZone load-test the battery?

The starting issue after pumping gas is usually related to the EVAP system and/or sensor. Mine used to stumble a bit after I filled up, but if I stopped doing any top off--when it stops, I pull the hose---no topping at all; that stopped the issue.
 

scotman

Well-Liked Member
Premium Account
Messages
1,813
Likes
1,508
City
Grass Lake
State
MI
Country
United States
What I Drive
2011 Fiesta SE hbk Blue
#3
I agree with Lions tooth. With the addition of extra emphasis on clean and tight ground connections. The other issue with a failing battery situation is not just hard starting. As we drive our fiestas, we place varied demands on the electrical system. Especially when the A/C or heater blower is turned up. Thanks to the intense effort to reduce exhaust emissions, there is a voltage limiter that prevents the alternator from charging under certain conditions. This is controlled by the pcm. Some of the scenarios are rpm related others are based on system demand.
Bottom line is that a weak battery can cause rapid spikes and losses in voltage that raises havoc on those sensitive processors and relays!
A starved or spiked electrical system can cause massive damage to the car. Even a cheap new battery is preferable to any inadequate or failing battery. I cannot overstate the importance of this.
 

Handy Andy

Well-Liked Member
Premium Account
Messages
1,455
Likes
1,140
City
Grand Rapids
State
MI
Country
United States
What I Drive
2018 Ford Fiesta SE HB
#4
Hey guys so my ford fiesta wasn't showing any bars on the temperature gauge, then when i turned the car off and back on i noticed it struggled a little to start. After that the battery was completely drained and would not start. I tried charging the battery at AutoZone only for it to start a few times with the temp gauge working and then go back to being completely dead.

Has anyone else had this issue? The only other problem I have with the car is that it struggles to start after pumping gas, but always turns on after the second crank. Could these problems be connected somehow? Any help is greatly appreciated.
What does your console tell you?

(Not to sound stupid but...)

Your Dashboard, if not all the SENSORS are connecting - they don't always light up - the circuit to them is OPEN, just as bad as a dead short - at least with a short, you see the light left on in the console for the circuit it affects ..

When they are OPEN, does not mean it still communicates and then says "hey wait a minute" - no they are OFF - and stay OFF - does your "key to ON before starting look like this?"
1626393429306.png
Some will wink out after a moment (self test) yes, but some will ALWAYS BE ON until the Engine is started.
When you start having Starting problems, one of two things are wrong - Engine and mechanics of it, or you have Electrical problems...

The issue I see in the above from you is you are not always seeing "Temperature" gauge working - so if that is not working - then you have a connector, or several connectors - loose or even blown fuses creating problems with your dash trying to report what it wants you to know.

When you have "no start" can be from bad cables - causing your battery to go dead, or it could be that you do short trips and that the alternator is unable to fully recharge the battery while driving - this condition sulfates the plates - causing shorts across cells of the battery. LACK OF RUN TIME TO RECHARGE - kills batteries - from lack of ability to fully recharge.

If you drive less than 10 minutes to get somewhere, how is the battery even going to get a partial recharge from the running of the engine on such a short trip?

Ok, it's a little better if you can drive for 15 minutes, that length of time allows the battery some ability to balance the electrolyte in the cells and keep the plates from sulfating and shorting out together.

The problem with short trips, or any "quik-trip" is the reliance on CLEAN good strong Battery Connections and this means the Charging system and the Electrical may need to be checked.

You should have codes getting set on these conditions - if not, then the low-battery or loose connections - clears out the codes, can't store them - so this will be an enigma until you get under the hood and start checking for bad corroded wiring, bad loose fuses and or loose battery and ground terminal connections.

Fords are a lot like the Millennium Falcon - Han Solo was always having to fix it...

 
Last edited:
OP
J

jdm2tenn

New Member
Messages
2
Likes
1
City
COLUMBUS
State
OH
Country
United States
What I Drive
2016 FIESTA
Thread Starter #5
Hey guys thank you so much! Got a new battery today wish me luck!
 


Top