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He Replaced The Battery In A Ford F-150 Lightning. Here's How Hard It Was
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Sunshine piefed.ca Sunshine@piefed.ca
Joined: 2025-06-07
Quote

In some ways, it's a lot easier than swapping an engine. In other ways, it's harder.

58   Original
reddig33 lemmy.world reddig33@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-09
#2 · Quote Reply

“Finding a single module that's unhealthy and swapping it out, though, is much harder than just replacing the entire battery.”

To me, this is the design failure. You shouldn’t have to replace the entire pack when one cell fails.

47
Trex lemmy.world Trex202@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-01-03
#3 · Quote Reply

Not hard at all, they "other ways" that its harder is that the battery can be 1800 lbs and needs a proper lift.

Undo electrical cables, undo coolant hoses, unbolt battery and drop it down. Reverse with new

15
EggZackLee lemmy.today EggZackLee@lemmy.today
Joined: 2026-08-16
#4 · Quote Reply

“Finding a single module that's unhealthy and swapping it out, though, is much harder than just replacing the entire battery.” To me, this is the design failure. You shouldn’t have to replace the entire pack when one cell fails.

Design failure or design intent?

20
artyom piefed.social artyom@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-06-08
#5 · Quote Reply

“Finding a single module that's unhealthy and swapping it out, though, is much harder than just replacing the entire battery.” To me, this is the design failure. You shouldn’t have to replace the entire pack when one cell fails.

You should see the Teslas. All the cells are sealed in with a thick foam. Only way to recycle them is to send them to the shredder.

11
artyom piefed.social artyom@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-06-08
#6 · Quote Reply

Not hard at all, they "other ways" that its harder is that the battery can be 1800 lbs and needs a proper lift. Undo electrical cables, undo coolant hoses, unbolt battery and drop it down. Reverse with new

Its how most EVs work.

7
baldingpudenda lemmy.world baldingpudenda@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-10
#7 · Quote Reply

“Finding a single module that's unhealthy and swapping it out, though, is much harder than just replacing the entire battery.” To me, this is the design failure. You shouldn’t have to replace the entire pack when one cell fails.

They could build them in small packs like swappable batteries in scooters. Then when there's bad individual cells you can unbolt that smaller pack and either get it replaced or pull it open and find the bad cell.

Unfortunately, they are already engineering ICE vehicles to be so convoluted and tightly packed that a common wear item like a battery needs an hour removing shit that's in the way. They are trying to force you to go to the dealer to get it done. I think it was a Chevy truck that had the battery tucked partially under the intake and some plastic moulding under the windshield.

18
adhocfungus midwest.social adhocfungus@midwest.social
Joined: 2023-08-03
#8 · Quote Reply

“Finding a single module that's unhealthy and swapping it out, though, is much harder than just replacing the entire battery.” To me, this is the design failure. You shouldn’t have to replace the entire pack when one cell fails.

Things must have changed with full EVs. I know a guy who tests and selectively replaces the modules in old Priuses. He only does a full replacement if someone specifically requests it.

7
dorkage lemmy.ca dorkage@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-15
#9 · Quote Reply

Its how most EVs work.

Except my RAV4 Prime 😭

Refrigerant into the battery for some unknown reason.

2
SaveTheTuaHawk lemmy.ca SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-03-07
#10 · Quote Reply

Design failure or design intent?

Intent. Tesla packs their cells in expanding foam, then makes the pack structural to the car.
People need to educate themselves and not buy these cars.

8
artyom piefed.social artyom@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-06-08
#11 · Quote Reply

Except my RAV4 Prime 😭 Refrigerant into the battery for some unknown reason.

Because the battery is cooled!

3
SaveTheTuaHawk lemmy.ca SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-03-07
#12 · Quote Reply

“Finding a single module that's unhealthy and swapping it out, though, is much harder than just replacing the entire battery.” To me, this is the design failure. You shouldn’t have to replace the entire pack when one cell fails.

This is Detroit's dream, make cars like iPhones. Disposable as soon as payments end.

3
SaveTheTuaHawk lemmy.ca SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-03-07
#13 · Quote Reply

Because the battery is cooled!

But batteries are cooled with coolants.

3
artyom piefed.social artyom@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-06-08
#14 · Quote Reply

But batteries are cooled with coolants.

Not yours.

1
dorkage lemmy.ca dorkage@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-15
#15 · Quote Reply

Because the battery is cooled!

Everyone uses coolant not refrigerant which requires a license to touch

1
SaveTheTuaHawk lemmy.ca SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-03-07
#16 · Quote Reply

They could build them in small packs like swappable batteries in scooters. Then when there's bad individual cells you can unbolt that smaller pack and either get it replaced or pull it open and find the bad cell. Unfortunately, they are already engineering ICE vehicles to be so convoluted and tightly packed that a common wear item like a battery needs an hour removing shit that's in the way. Th...

For years, to get to the battery on some Chryslers, you had to remove the front wheel and inner fender. Chrysler was innovative at enshittification.

6
dorkage lemmy.ca dorkage@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-15
#17 · Quote Reply

U

1
dismay3915 lemmy.world dismay3915@lemmy.world
Joined: 2026-02-15
#18 · Quote Reply

“Finding a single module that's unhealthy and swapping it out, though, is much harder than just replacing the entire battery.” To me, this is the design failure. You shouldn’t have to replace the entire pack when one cell fails.

How do the corporations make money then?

1
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