I purchased a 2013 Ford Interceptor Utility that runs great albeit throwing a Tire Pressure Monitoring Fault which I haven't been able to resolve. Tire pressure is within spec, I assume one of the monitors on a tire is faulty. Anyway, my question is if these vehicles have a built-in battery jump starter? I installed some aftermarket gear on a constant power circuit (resolved that) and overnight the battery kept draining and was dead by morning. I jump-started from another vehicle without issue... what is crazy is that the last time this happened, I tried starting, nothing, no turnover, lights dead, power locks didn't even work. Out of frustration that I did this again, I just cranked the key again and left it in the on position, cursed myself out for a min then cranked it one more time... to my shock, the display flashed twice, then started cranking over and started right up as if was jumped. I have the up-fitters guide book, the original manual and I have searched online, but haven't been able to find information if there is a built-in battery jumper. Is there such a thing? does any car battery have a reserve for starting when the main battery is drained? I since have drained the battery on purpose, again, nothing electrical functioning, and yet by repeating the original steps, it self jumps and starts.. any insight here would be appreciated.
It sounds like a janky starter relay or ignition switch.
By the way, you shouldn't run down your battery like that. It severely reduces it's lifetime.
There is no internal battery jump starting feature for Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles. I have driven several model years during my career, and never encountered that. I would refer to what the others have said about it simply being a janky part that was causing the issue.
I have not heard about this "internal jump starter". If you have another key, try with that and if the issue was still there, I would check the ignition switch assembly.
I appreciate the feedback, but since correcting the issue that was draining the battery, no problems starting or battery maintaining a charge... prior to my tapping the constant power wire, no issues starting or staying charged. I am no car expert by any means (far from it actually, but learning) but I know the battery was dead due to nothing electrical functioning (lights, alarm, door open ding, etc) and wouldn't crank at all. As soon as I hooked up to another car to jump-start, started right up.
Took me a couple of days to fix the wiring that was draining it overnight, after which, no more issues with keeping a charge or starting.
That being said, there is no such thing as an internal emergency jump starter that anyone has heard of?
I need to test this one more time just to see what exactly is going on and film it. Is there any way to deplete the battery without doing damage?
no, it's the depletion that does the damage
That is a wild story and how cool it would be if something like that existed. Scotty found a jump starter pack that relies on capacitors (in time the dead battery would charge up the capacitors, and then dump enough amps to turn the starter). No reason manufacturers could add this (especially for first resonders), but also, they dont need to. The world has not been clamoring for a battery backup. This is my first time of hearing about a built in battery back up and agree with the other posters that it doesnt exist and it is a faulty key ingintion and that is confirmed especially because of the timing between the "dead" battery and being able to turn the engine over.
An alternate explanation could be the chemical reaction of a battery. Story time: my friends battery died, couldnt turn the engine over, a few hours later I was able to get to him and before trying to jump, tried to turn the engine over and the engine turned over and started. The reason was due to the chemical reaction of the batter to generate electricity and charge itself. Hours passed, not minutes.
The battery doesn't exactly charge itself , but you're right that chemical reactions take time to spread. You can think of the charge in a battery like a big tub of honey. If you suddenly drained off a portion of it, it will take time for the honey to flow in and fill the 'hole' you made. The inside of the battery has liquid, and that liquid also needs time to mix.
This sluggishness is worse when outside temperatures are cold.