I’m still getting used to my DS4 E-tense and using it in combination of elec only and hybrid. I understand the need that every now and again it is good to do a run with the petrol engine on to keep 12V batteries topped up etc. But how many miles of elec-only driving do people think is ok, before doing some on petrol?
The reason for asking is that even with traction battery charged, my car is currently saying “Electric Mode Unavailable”, and its done a lot of driving on hybrid (400miles) since I got it and only done 1.5 charges on elec-only (i.e about 35 miles). Under bonnet volts on battery and alternator seem ok (12.4V, 14.4V) - but its only a basic check.
A few days ago I did have an error message (orange spanner and “Electric Traction System Fault: Repair Needed”) appear on the dash, but it seem to clear itself and no fault reported the next time I turned it on and it has not reappeared.
Even though this message has gone, it feels like I should get it checked at dealer … buy I’m new with the vehicle and still learning.
I’ve had the “electric mode not available” a few times but only after driving the car on full electric down to 0%, after charging its ok again.
If I had the error message about the traction battery I would certainly have it checked out.
Thanks - I’ve just re-charged it and the “electric mode unavailable” message was still there immediately after. I’ve got a journey tomorrow and will see if it the message stays that way after that. There are a few other minor things that I think need the dealer attention - and I just wanted to gather everything before I book it in.
I have had this message “electric mode unavailable” pop up sometimes. It usually happens right after I have charged the car fully, unplug the cable and start the car, but if I switch off and start again, this message goes away and it starts up in electric mode. I assumed it was just because the system hadn’t updated with the charge level. Anyway, even if it starts on Hybrid mode it should switch to running on electric soon after.
You’re 99% certain that the small 12V 12Ah 190A battery (OE PSA 9828201580) in the armrest (not big one under the bonnet) needs to be replaced. If the internal resistance of this battery (after charging) is more than 8-10 mOHM (a new one has about 4-5 mOHM), it must be replaced, because the module of this battery measures it and turns off the electric mode when starting the car. It’s a common failure, and this battery lasts an average of two years.
The fault related to your problem is probably P17EE 1B - battery 12V 2 - resistance above threshold.
I’ve driven my DS4 e-tense for about 6,500 miles since the beginning of the year (90-95% only on electric mode), and I’ve never had this message when starting the car. I often drain the traction battery to 0% and then charge it to 100% because I drive in electric mode every day.
What do I do for both 12V batteries? I check and if necessary maintain them once a month.
Interesting.
I’ve had issues with the main 12v battery and the smaller 12v inside the car, both were changed under warranty, the main one 4 times !!
The dealership have said each time they check the main one its showing as fully charged but has “poor battery health”, so the change it !
They suggested it could be down to the low mileage that the car does.
One of the technicians at my dealership suggested that I maintain the main 12v battery under bonnet by trickle charging once or twice monthly.
I bought a decent charger, had it looked at by the technician to see if it was ok to use on the car, he approved.
Then a few weeks later the main 12v battery needed changing again, this time they said to stop maintaining it monthly.
The car is now due for its first service next week, they’ll be checking the battery again to see if it’s still ok or requires changing again.
Each time they change it, there’s no error codes a stored on the car and I’m not seeing any issues, it’s just when they check the battery it’s showing as having poor battery health.
How do you maintain you main 12v battery.
Is it charged whilst still in the car or do you remove it ?
Same with the smaller one under the arm rest, how do you get to both terminals , one of the terminals is hidden away.
I’m sure the technician said the smaller one gets its charge from the bigger one, but I might be wrong ?
Thanks everybody - I guess I may have a problem given the one-time orange error message Electric Traction System Fault, and the current Elec Mode Unavailable - which it has been showing for the last four jouneys even though charged. Sounds like it could be related to a degraded 12V battery - something to add to the list for the dealership to look at.
@JacTac I’ve just seen your post about how to access the 12V battery in the armrest - thanks. I will have a look later.
Getting to that battery is easy, but you can only see one terminal, the other is a bit too far back, so I’m not sure how you would be able to get at both terminals to charge the battery.
I also read that theres a correct sequence for disconnecting the both 12v batteries, I dont think it’s a simple case of just taking off the terminal.
It does show this in the DS manual.
Update :
I just looked at the smaller battery, you can see the terminals but they both have protective covers on them, the negative also has some sort of socket.
CTEK mxs 5.0 charger has wires with eyelet what is perfect to maintrance small 12V battery. I use this model for battery maintenance. This cable is still mounted in my car for easy access.
Thats exactly the charger I have, and use the eyelet on the main 12v battery.
When I last took the car to the dealers for them to check on the batteries they were apparently told by DS technical to remove the eyelet as it might be the cause for the battery to be self depleting ???
So, it was removed, a new 21v main battery was fitted and now I’m waiting for them to recheck the new battery to see what the outcome is.
Personally I think they are talking rubbish, trying to blame the eyelet.
Just in case anybody reads this with a similar sounding problem (PHEV E-Tense Electric Mode Unavailable) - I have not had the warning or any repeat of this situation since I wrote this. I was scheduled to take the car in to the dealer get some diagnois on this, but have cancelled.
I guess the problem was from when the car was on dealer forecourt and only being used for occassional short test drives, and it just needed more long petrol-engine only drives for all the 12V things to get properly charged up (even though I had done some long drives when this happened). My normal driving is mixed - probably 1-2 charges on Elec for short journeys before I do a longer drive (Hybrid with petrol engine running).
