Battery Data from AlphaOBD - Time to replace? Source of RA2 issues?

[Escotch]

Hello all,

I've been struggling with an RA2 upgrade and OEM backup camera installation. While comparing AlfaOBD logs with the sample database I came across some data from the Intelligent Battery Sensor.

Intelligent Battery Sensor
-State of Charge 16%
-State of Health 40.0 A/h
-Limit for Start Capability 7 minutes
-Lifetime charge received 7712.5 A/h
-Lifetime charge Released 7231.25 A/h

This is my first time exploring this with AlfaOBD and I've only had the truck about a month but these numbers do not look good. I have an OBDII scanner with a battery/starting system test function and it didn't show anything was off - not sure if AlfaOBD has more trustworthy data.

I thought I read somewhere that a bad battery could cause radio issues - perhaps that's why the volume control is not working on the RA2 I bought.

Can anyone confirm that this data does not look good?

 

[HDRam]

I'm gonna follow this one. When I start mine with the remote, it only runs about 7 minutes and truck shuts down. Started it this morning with uconnect using my cell phone, it did the same thing. I didn't check the state of the batteries with my Alfaobd yet.

 

[Escotch]

Well, I answered my own question and just thought I would share so it's part of the public record in case someone has a similar question in the future. Installed a new battery straight from the store and this is what I got on AlfaOBD:
State of Charge: 43%
State of Health: unchanged
Limit for start capability: 72 mins

After a 30 minute drive I checked again and got:
State of Charge: 52%
State of health: unchanged
Limit for Start Capability: 105 minutes

So, there's some data points for a new healthy battery. Unfortunately, the new battery did not solve my RA2 issue (still no sound, no volume control, and no backup camera). I didn't think that it would. Looks like it's back to an RA1 with a $300 backup camera that I can't see.

 

[joelmic]

So did you read that data live or did you upload to google drive each time and found it there???

Strike that... I found it... that's some cool info... I'll have to keep an eye on that

state of charge 84%
state of health 74.50A/h
Time limit for Start Capability 262min

 

[Escotch]

So did you read that data live or did you upload to google drive each time and found it there???

Strike that... I found it... that's some cool info... I'll have to keep an eye on that

state of charge 84%
state of health 74.50A/h
Time limit for Start Capability 262min

Interesting. Was that with the engine running? Those number are substantially higher than mine. My numbers were engine off, ignition at 2 clicks on.

 

[joelmic]

Interesting. Was that with the engine running? Those number are substantially higher than mine. My numbers were engine off, ignition at 2 clicks on.

Same here... no engine running.

 

[chrisbh17]

From the service manual:


In addition to real-time measurements, the IBS transmits some calculated battery data over the LIN bus, including state of charge, state of health, and state of function. These values are calculated by storing measurements over time.

The battery sensor is readable/diagnosable via a "scan tool" that can display all of the available parameters needed for vehicle servicing or trouble shooting.

Information the Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) send out on the CAN Bus is

- SOC = Battery state of charge (or SOC) is expressed as a percentage. The IBS calculates the SOC based on measured voltage, and charge and discharge rates. Therefore, SOC is not a direct percentage of battery voltage.

- SOF = Battery State of Function: Battery state of function (or SOF) is a calculated prediction of the lowest voltage the battery will drop to during engine cranking.The
PCM and BCM use this calculated information to optimize vehicle power management for increased fuel efficiency. The data transmitted from IBS is interpreted and sent over the CAN network by the module connected the IBS's LIN bus.

When the IBS is powered up for the first time or is powered after a power disconnection, it enters a "recalibration" phase, where the IBS must recognize the type of battery and its characteristics and state. So in this phase the tolerances on the state functions (SOC, SOF) are greater than in normal working condition. When IBS is disconnected from the battery, the device loses its stored memory. When power is restored, the IBS starts a relearn process. Until the relearn process is complete, accurate battery state information is unavailable to other vehicle systems. The IBS relearn process requires five normal, operator initiated starts with at least eight hours of engine off time between each start. Usually, the process takes a few days of vehicle operation to complete. Remember, the relearn process is restarted every time power is reconnected to the IBS. This has a major effect on the stop/start feature.