Battery Tender & Accessport

[Jkysh]

Quick question / looking for feedback:

This morning around 3am I woke up and got up quickly to use the bathroom. Took a stroll to the shop to check on my truck as I had just hooked it to a battery tender (brand) 3amp charger and tender. The battery was full and was on maintain mode. I shut the lights off and walked out, but before closing the door I noticed my accessport was physically ON and was on the screen stating it was looking for power. My center screen on dash (802A) was also popping on for about one or two seconds and then going off, over and over.

I figured this wasn't normal and unplugged the tender. I have used this tender without issue on a few other vehicles and have noticed my center screens popping on in the same manner and then turning off. My main question is about the accessport - I dont want either of these screens on if possible and am wondering if anyone has ran into this and found a solution other than just turning the accessport off before shut down or unplugging it all together while it is on the tender.

 

[FordTechOne]

It sounds like the AccessPort is waking up the truck’s networks. I would disconnect it and re-evaluate.

 

[Jkysh]

It sounds like the AccessPort is waking up the truck’s networks. I would disconnect it and re-evaluate.

Thinking the same, I have it powered off manually and reconnected the tender a few minutes ago. I am going to go back out shortly and see if the gremlin is dead.

 

[jm77]

Thinking the same, I have it powered off manually and reconnected the tender a few minutes ago. I am going to go back out shortly and see if the gremlin is dead.

Make sure you are connecting the battery tender correctly. Negative lead should be downstream of battery sensor. Either to frame or the lead coming off of it.

 

[Jkysh]

Make sure you are connecting the battery tender correctly. Negative lead should be downstream of battery sensor. Either to frame or the lead coming off of it.

I have the tender connected directly to both terminals as the instructions state and Ive done on each vehicle ive used this on. Where do you get that info?

 

[jm77]

Read the truck’s manual, negative shouldn’t be on the terminal. Yes, older vehicles could be on the terminals but not with the new battery management system.

Also, here’s a video explaining it in detail if you’ve got the time.

How To - Charge your battery.

Another very good video…

www.fordraptorforum.com

@Jkysh

 

[jeanco]

plug mine with cigarette lighter

 

[TwizzleStix]

The “auto on/off” function of the AP monitors the battery voltage as delivered by the alternator to turn on. When you have a charger hooked up it peaks the voltage which triggers the AP to turn on. The fact that it is on and pinging the CAN bus for data may be upsetting the APIM module so it turns on too.

 

[WTX]

Did you have your keys in your pocket? My screen will sometimes flicker when I walk up to the truck and it senses the fob nearby.

 

[Oldfart]

Read the truck’s manual, negative shouldn’t be on the terminal. Yes, older vehicles could be on the terminals but not with the new battery management system.

Also, here’s a video explaining it in detail if you’ve got the time.

How To - Charge your battery.

Another very good video…

www.fordraptorforum.com

@Jkysh

Thanks for posting this, I definitely didn't know that.