Ford KA Start/Stop Battery and BMS Question.

Ford KA Start/Stop Battery and BMS Question.

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Ghost-Retro

Original Poster:

3 posts

38 months

Friday 26th March 2021
quotequote all
First things first, I don’t use Start/Stop, and I don’t care if it works or not.

My car is a 2012 Mark 2 Ford KA 1.2 Zetec (With Stop/Start Technology) (UK car).

Before next winter I intend to replace the battery, and believe I have to reset the BMS afterwards.

Launch, Ansel, and Topdon all say that my car does not need a BMS reset for a new battery, furthermore they say that no low-cost scan tools that they make that can do it. I sent all of them my VIN.

Buy yet all over the internet it says that BMS reset in essential, when replacing the battery.

I am really confused who is correct?

I do own a Topdon AL600, funny thing is, to use the ABS test function I have to select Fiat 500 instead of Ford or it won’t work.

The Topdon scan tool does have a BMS reset option, but I dare not try it in case it damages something as Topdon themselves said it will not work with my car for BMS reset. As I already bought this scanner, I don’t want to spend any more money on scan tools.

I emailed Kwik Fit to find out if they reset the BMS when installing Stop/Start batteries and they do not, but they told me not to worry about it as all their batteries come with a warranty. I may be being really thick here but surely that’s not the point?

Even the Haynes Manuel has no mention of having to reset the BMS, it says basically I can just replace the battery and drive away (with the correct battery for the KA Start/Stop car).

So, do I need to reset the BMS on my car or not?

If it does need to be reset what would happen if I just disconnected the module that is on the battery terminal (don’t want or need Start/Stop).

Final question does any of these BMS re-set procedures (flashing headlights five times etc) that I have read about on fords work or is it just nonsense?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Chris32345

2,086 posts

63 months

Saturday 27th March 2021
quotequote all
MK2 is the fiat 500 platform and shoud be self learning just fit a new battery and within a day or two it should start working providing the battery reads as good enough

Ghost-Retro

Original Poster:

3 posts

38 months

Saturday 27th March 2021
quotequote all
Chris32345 said:
MK2 is the fiat 500 platform and shoud be self learning just fit a new battery and within a day or two it should start working providing the battery reads as good enough
It makes more sense now, thanks for the advice!