Modern cars have a unique way they communicate with drivers when something goes wrong. They display warning light symbols on the dash to let you know what’s going on with the car.
Fortunately, not every dashboard warning light symbol indicates problems with your vehicle. Some light symbols will blink to mean that your car has activated specific functions. For instance, your vehicle may display the “Full Accessory Power Active” or “FAP” feature on the dash.
The FAP notification may occur when you turn off the ignition or press a dash button. But what does this notification mean, and how does it impact your vehicle? This guide discusses all you need to know about the FAP feature.
Question: What Does Full Accessory Power Active Mean?
The Full Accessory Active is a function that allows various car accessories to stay functional even after turning off the ignition. In other words, the notification tells you that the power supply is available for certain electric functions. Some of these functions include radio and seat warmers.
When you see this indication on the dash, you can decide whether to keep the feature on or turn it off. Remember that this feature works with your vehicle’s battery power to keep your accessories working. That means prolonged usage can quickly drain the battery.
The FAP message lets you decide whether your battery has enough power to run the accessories.
You can activate or deactivate the Full Accessory Power function, depending on the situation. For example, you can activate it to listen to the radio while waiting for someone in the car. However, if the function activates when you turn off the ignition, you can deactivate it to save your car battery from draining.
So, the FAP is a handy sign for preventing issues like starting difficulties due to a weak or drained battery. Disabling this feature when not required or when the battery charge is low is advisable.
Answer: Benefits of the FAP Function
The FAP feature has several benefits that can enhance the vehicle’s performance and improve the user’s experience. Some of these benefits include:
Keeps Various Accessories Active
The good thing about the FAP feature is that you can use certain accessories after turning off the ignition. Some include the radio, headlights, power windows, interior lights, automatic climate control, seat adjusters, seat warmers, and LCD screens. Note that these accessories will vary depending on the vehicle.
Proper Battery Maintenance
We’ve highlighted that the FAP message informs you about the battery powering various accessories. You can know when to use or deactivate the feature if you have a fully charged or weak battery. Doing this prevents prolonged usage that may drain the battery and shorten its life.
Provides Comfort
The FAP feature allows the battery to power accessories such as radio, automatic climate control, LCD screens and seat adjusters. These accessories can improve comfort when relaxing or waiting in your car.
Improved Reliability
By keeping track of the battery, you can rest assured your car engine will start without issues. You can save battery charge by turning off the FAP to use it when necessary.
Improves Convenience
Using this feature means you don’t need to start your car every time you want to use certain accessories. The FAP will keep these accessories running even after turning off the car’s ignition. As a result, the feature makes your job easier while improving convenience.
Answer: How To Turn On the FAP Feature
There are two common ways to enable the FAP feature. You can turn your car ignition key to the accessory position. Turning the key to this position will vary depending on the vehicle. But generally, you’ll need to stop the car before turning the key.
If you don’t know how to turn your key to the accessory position, check for instructions from the manual.
Besides this method, you can activate the FAP by pressing a button on the dashboard. You should consult the manual to locate and use this button.
Activating the FAP feature may vary depending on the car type and model. Again, use the help of the manual to turn on the FAP if necessary.
Answer: How To Turn Off Full Accessory Active
Like turning on the FAP, deactivating this feature can vary depending on the car type and model. Your car’s owner’s manual can be handy when turning off the FAP.
But in most cases, you can turn your vehicle off or press the same button used to activate this feature to deactivate it.
Deactivating the FAP cuts off the power supply from the battery and turns off the accessories. It’s a great way to conserve the battery’s charge.
Answer: When To Use Full Accessory Power
There are several situations where the FAP can be helpful. But note that your battery may drain faster and leave you helpless while starting the engine. Below are the instances you can use this feature:
- Keep the radio running as you wait in the car.
- Keep the vehicle’s interior warm or cool while parked.
- Charge your phone while parked.
- Keep the GPS running, especially when in remote areas.
- Keep the car’s interior lights on, especially when parked in a dark area.
These are only a few instances where you can use the FAP feature. If you wish to know more about utilizing the feature, your car’s owner’s manual will help. The manual has more detailed information on when and how to use the FAP feature efficiently.
Answer: Tips & Tricks When Using the Full Accessory Power
These tips and tricks will help you make the most out of this feature:
- Avoid prolonged use: Limit the use of the FAP to a short period. Using it for long hours can drain the battery. It’s best to use this feature when necessary.
- Activate the FAP after a long drive: Long drives give the battery plenty of time to hold sufficient charge. You can utilize the feature without worrying about the battery draining quickly.
- Turn off unnecessary Accessories: Some accessories, such as interior lights and headlights, may be unnecessary during the daytime. So, switch off those accessories you’re not using to preserve the battery’s power. The idea is to turn on the accessories when needed.
- Monitor the battery level: Always keep an eye on the battery level when utilizing the FAP feature. If the level gets too low, deactivate the feature and charge the battery.
Answer: Full Accessory Power Active Car Won’t Start
The FAP function allows you to use accessories without starting the engine. So, if the FAP is on, but the car won’t start, you might have ignited it without starting. In this case, you’re pressing the start button without braking.
Press the brake pedal and the ignition/start button to start the car. Doing this will deactivate the FAP function and allow the vehicle to start.
However, your car might have issues if the FAP notification appears despite pressing the brake pedal and the start button.
The battery is usually to blame when this issue occurs. It’s likely that you left the accessories on that drained the battery. Check the battery’s voltage using a voltmeter. If it’s below 12 volts, you’ll need to recharge it with a portable battery booster pack or jump-start it from another car.
A failing battery may also trigger this problem. Examine the terminals and connections to see if they allow a smooth power transmission. Clean the terminals and secure the connections. An old or defective battery could also be to blame. Contact the dealership or manufacturer to enquire about battery replacement.
Then, test the alternator to see if it’s functional. You can replace a faulty alternator to keep the battery charged.
If none of the above works, reset the vehicle computer to see if this will work. A hard reset to the ECM can help clear any glitch in the system. Alternatively, you can call a professional to scan the vehicle for error codes and fix the underlying problem.
Bottom Line
The Full Accessory Power Active is an important feature that keeps various accessories running after turning the ignition off. You can relax in the car and use the radio, seat adjusters, climate control, power windows, and interior lights at your convenience.
However, the FAP feature can drain the battery quickly and leave you helpless. So, it’s best to activate the feature when necessary to conserve battery charge.