ICEY

Thanks Allen,

Thank you. Very informative, but I guess from what you describe this is only usable if a person has a laptop with MS Operating system and not Apple OS?? I have neither. 

If there is anyone having this Hybrid problem and in the San Jose, Calif. area  and was able to do this procedure on their vehicle please contact me and maybe we can get together.

Steve 

DoGo88,

Thanks for the info and link to the other FF Forum. I'll take the info to some local Ford dealers and see if they are interested in checking this procedure out. 

INFORMATION:  I spoke to a relative who works in the automotive industry and told him of my problem. He contacted a guy who is in charge of the hybrid vehicles in a city( not going to name city) that my relative deals with.  This guy says that the problem is in the hybrid battery and said it was either Cell#4 or Cell #7 that is causing the problems. Have no idea how many cells comprise these hybrid batteries.  

When the car goes into hybrid mode at a stop, for example, and you take your foot off the brake to drive in hybrid mode that detected “load” on the hybrid battery  is detected by the hybrid system and because of one of the cells mentioned above being bad the system shuts down hybrid mode and defaults to the ICE. That in order for a diagnostic trouble code DTC to show up it has to do that five or so times in a hour. 

I’ll mention this to my dealer but I suspect they are going to chalk it up to “normal wear and tear”  and not do a heck of a lot. 

I may also talk with Ford customer care. Don’t know number off hand but it is in owners manual some place.  

Another point of contact, for me anyway is, is California 's Bureau of Automotive Repair. 

Hope me this helps. 

Wel, my dealer tested ABS contrôler and all ok. They reprogrammed it just  in case.  

They also reprogrammed the hybrid battery but nothing has changed. Still same problem as when I brought it in. 

They will contact Ford hotline to see what is next. 

I think it is the hybrid battery as do other posts but Ford doesn’t want to replace under warranty it seems. 

Will talk with them later today or tomorrow. 

All tests of my temp sensors indicated that they were fine. Ford Hotline engineers are now suggesting that there is a possibility that my issues are ABS related and Ford tech is checking  ABS sensors and controllers. They named the proper names but, sorry, i can not recall specifics. 

This may make sense since as soon as foot comes off break pedal  the gas engine starts right up.  

Maybe brake related ???   Stayed tuned folks I’ll advise outcome. 

Steve

I have the same issue as jzavadil. The car is currently at the dealer and between their tech guy and some hotline calls to Ford they can’t figure it out. I am beginning to think that the car thinks it is warmed up enough when in fact it is not. 

Even though in Calif. we have generally higher temps there have been several days of 40-50.  I’ll get it back next week and see what happens as outside temps start to warm. Have had this car since new and now 108k. 

I am surprised that Ford can not figure this out. I have talked to them about temp. as a possibility  but don"t think anyone there has an open mind to that possibility. 

Frustrating. 

I want to order a dash cover for my hybrid. The online retailers are asking if I want a mat with the climate control sensor location marked, or cutout. Does anyone know where the sensor is located? Does anyone have a recommendation for which mat to order...or not order? Thanks in advance...

You probably found one by now but I got mine from Dash Design in Arizona (online). Order with sensor cut out. Mat fits like a glove. Can not find my receipt or would give you more info.

Cost was about 40 bucks. Thay did not make on for the rear deck.

Steve

Mine has done it a few times. Always resets to the default display. And yes mpg readouts average and long term always go way down.

I'll check in to the TSB number.

For the size of the car I feel mileage is great even with the minor descrepencies.

What is this manual seat recline recall? Did I miss a post. Certainly I have received no letter from Ford.

Others have reported a problem with screeching as soon as you put it into reverse.

 

You say it gets steady "when you get closer to an object".

 

That happens to me all the time, because it is supposed to. Does it happen all the time or just when you get close? According to the manual:

 

As you move closer to the obstacle,

the rate of the tone increases. When

the obstacle is less than 10 inches

(25.0 cm) away, the tone will sound

continuously

 

It goes on as soon as I go into reverse. No set pattern when it will do this. Has not done it for last couple days. Lke folks said maybe it is a bad sensor.

Anybody have a problem with the backup warning buzzer staying on and not just beeping when you get closer to an object?

This happens intermittently but usually 2-3 times a week.

Steve

Oldschool

 

I'm sorry to hear your still having problems with your ride. Yes indeed my car was DX from a northern VA Dealership. It had almost 1300 miles on it when I got it. We wanted a Silver car with the Black leather Interior with the 502a package. I did indeed test drive your car while it was at Haley at least I am almost certain I did. When test driving the car I did not experience the problems that you are explaining. However, I was a newb when it comes to the car and all the bells and whistles got the best of us. We were drooling! :car:

 

Now as far as our car we do have to wait a bit for the car to warm up for the regen to start working. Now the brakes to me feel the same with or with out the regen circle display coming on. I have not noticed any difference in the before and after driving feelings of car since the update. Now I am pretty particular with my cars. Being a Pilot you grow accustom to being overly sensitive to things that you are operating. My wife drove the car this morning 25 miles to work and didn't mention any differences in the car either.

 

Above you quoted me, I just want to show were I got my information from about Ford using there own technology in this car that they came up with.

 

http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/03/ford-fusion-hybrid-the-most-patented-car-in-history/

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/05/editorial-attention-i-wall-street-journal-i-ford-does-b-n/

 

Check it out pretty interesting write ups.

 

TAZZBOO

I checked out your info on the Ford technology. That was interesting reading those articles and cleared up a misperception on my part. Thanks

Steve

Not to add anymore confusuion than already is there but my wife read/heard sometime back that Toyota licensed a lot of its hybrid technology to Ford. Myth??? Don not know. But is is interesting.

Steve

The brake software apparently changed on cars manufactured after the middle of Oct., 09. Look on you placard at bottom of drivers door sill; it tells manufacturing month and year in upper left corner after "Date".

Right. Thanks. I just saw the Consumer Reports article about this upgrade. Haven't received a letter yet but will check with Ford dealer.

Steve

.....those that have not had braking issues.

 

I really need help getting these questions answered by someone else that has had the Brake update performed or not had the need for the update. I think the update only pertains to FFH's manufactured prior to November 1, 2009.

 

The conditions I am looking for are the car has been run so the ICE and battery packs are adequately warmed as well as the car has been turned off and restarted several times. Good time to pay attention to this is when you are running quick errands but it is not necessary. If the car has been off for more than several minutes is fine as well......I think..

 

 

After starting the car, allowing all the systems to boot up and then driving off.....when you apply the brakes.........does the car show the regen icon or does the icon not appear.? Iam using the 3rd setting so I actually have that green recycle icon and I can't remember if all the settings use this or some form of gauge to show the regen process.

 

If it does not appear, how long after you begin driving does it take the icon to appear?

 

The HV battery state of charge is not realevant but I would like to know at what level the charge indicator is showing if the icon appears or does not appear.

 

Do you notice any difference in the pedal feel, pressure or otherwise.......... related to how the car brakes? Without the Icon? With the Icon?

 

That is all for now and I will explain after I can get a few answeres to these questions. Let me thank everyone in advance any and all the help that can be provided.

First of all did not know there was a brake upgrade. My FFH has 7500 mi. and was made pre Nov '09. My brake regen icon (little circle of arrows around battery) starts after about a mile. I think it always has and I just figured that was normal. This is from a cold start. Once warm the circle of arrows is always there when braking. Never noticed a change in pedal response.

Steve

Anyone gotten anywhere with the MPG history reset issue? Mine seems to reset while driving every 200 miles or so; I have also seen the right LCD flicker. Doesnt give me a warm and fuzzy.

I have started reseting my instant mpg just about every trip. Have not noticed any flicker but then again I am not glued to the readout. Have not tried reseting the overall mpg wich at this time is 40.4

Would think Ford could put in an upgrade or reboot the computer?

Hmm, that is an interesting take. I wouldn't have guessed this as normal since I don't recall every noticing it on the other couple of new cars. My wife's 07 FEH did not seem to have this. It's a thought however. Be easy enough to test. I so do find it very distracting in the rain at night though. Perhaps a good sandblasting eh?!

Heck, I just used the advise of a detailer and used body clay with a lot of soapy water. Rain-x gone and a bright new non- streak windshield.

Steve

Yep, I'm sure of this. There is some automatic brightness changes built in based on light sensing or something.

 

Noel

Sure, the light sensor is that little black knob center dashboard. Cover it up and you'll see how it works.

Not a programmer myself I would think the same but I also have to wonder about the codes written into each screen. It's a huge guess here but........part of my thought also tells me that this is something inadvertant or unplanned. Regardless I'm happier seeing the higher numbers and the performance more like my Wife's Prius. I mean if I can pull numbers close to 60 with her car......I should be able to come dang close to 50 with mine....that's assuming that the 10mpg difference remains constant through the increase.

 

But ya know that Math we all said we'd never use back in High School??????? It would really come in handy right about now. Too bad I spent most of that time hanging out with the rest of the guys on the team and not extraat time working on my math skills.

Well oldschool you may be on to something. Have been driving around lately in Engage mode. Seems to me I can keep the needle in the green longer for whatever reason.

Had to laugh at one comment regarding us all "playing a video game" for the highest score..."just drive the darn thing" or words similar.

Everyone have a Merry Christmas.

Steve

Sorry did not mean to send twice. Senior moment!

Not a programmer myself I would think the same but I also have to wonder about the codes written into each screen. It's a huge guess here but........part of my thought also tells me that this is something inadvertant or unplanned. Regardless I'm happier seeing the higher numbers and the performance more like my Wife's Prius. I mean if I can pull numbers close to 60 with her car......I should be able to come dang close to 50 with mine....that's assuming that the 10mpg difference remains constant through the increase.

 

But ya know that Math we all said we'd never use back in High School??????? It would really come in handy right about now. Too bad I spent most of that time hanging out with the rest of the guys on the team and not extraat time working on my math skills.

Well oldschool you may be on to something. Have been driving around lately in Engage mode. Seems to me I can keep the needle in the green longer for whatever reason.

Had to laugh at one comment regarding us all "playing a video game" for the highest score..."just drive the darn thing" or words similar. The guy is probably right.

Everyone have a Merry Christmas.

Steve

Ace,

 

We're South of Richmond in the Tri-Cities area. Basically the same distance from here to Williamsburg as it is to Richmond.

 

As far as the changes in things.....let me say it's not like I'm making this up but..........the vehicle responds different in the screen mode I am currently using. I can't remember the exact setting but I think it's Engage and it is the second to the last option.

 

I swear that the the vehicle operates more frequently....actually more like my wife's Prius.....in EV this mode?????? I can actually apply more throttle pressure without engaging the ICE. That is until the charge depleates itself to below 1/2.

 

Until I took it out in the snow to look at Christmas lights last night......I was hitting 42 Long-term on the same routes I was hitting 36 in the Empower mode. The only reason we tanked then is because we dropped our speed down so much that it caused the ICE to get too cold.

 

If I had to take a guess.....I really think there is a programming error with my vehicle. Given the issues I'm still having with the dash.....I can't think of any other explanation.

Well that is interesting. Never thought about that. Have been in the Enlighten Mode for so long. I'l switch to another mode and is what happens. What the heck maybe I'll get back to my 41.7 mpg overall..currently 40.8

Not being a computer wiz wouldn't you think the cars would all be programed the same right out of the shoot?

Steve

Since I last reported my MPG.....it has tanked. First off the on-board system reported 36.8 long-term. I normally reset all of the numbers on the trip and the long-term through the info settings when I fill up. Tiday I filled up and decided to run manual numbers. I'm not perfect about things but I do try to fill the vehicle the same way each time and as far as my driving habits or routes????? Let's just say they are very conservative and quite predictable. Anyhow for 283.6 miles it took 8.3 gallons and calculated out a mpg of 33.6. Well off the pace of the 41 I was enjoying right after they reprogrammed the IC.....(problems explained in the "Something Weird" topic)

Well, I do the same thing when getting gas....miles divided by gallons but I do come pretty close to the mpg readout on the dash. Had the veh. since May (6600 miles thus far) and got the overall mpg to 41.7 where it stayed for quite some time. Now with the winter gas here in Calif it has dropped to 40.8 Ok, still good but it is not as cold as where some of you live so am thinking that it is just gas formula related. Because like everyone here my driving habits did not really change.

And like you I am also in "something weird" and trying to keep up with that info as I posted a similar event. To the dealer this week for oil and to again talk about the weird stuff.

Steve

I talked to a Ford engineer when I was invited to a Ford marketing event, they have not heard of that before. I guess it takes a few of us to report to dealers before they start investigating. I will mention to the dealer next time I get a chance.

[/quote

 

 

Ok, thanks

 

Steve

Happened to me for the third time last week ~ 6500+ miles.

Have you spoken to Ford about it yet?

Visit your dealer, there is a TSB on the ecm, and I think it may solve the dash reset issue....Mine did it to, then the next day the speedometer stuck at 0, and nothing I tried would make it work again. The computer update Ford issued has resolved both problems so far.

Do you know the TSB number?

Steve