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2014 C-Max Battery Problems


AMA904
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First of all, what is MFT?  I own a NEW 2014 C max hybrid, SEL model. Ive had the car for 1 1/2  weeks and have already experienced a dead battery. The car was parked in my garage, locked up and was driven the previous day without any problems. Nothing was left on. Im pretty disturbed by this to say the very least. 

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First of all, what is MFT?  I own a NEW 2014 C max hybrid, SEL model. Ive had the car for 1 1/2  weeks and have already experienced a dead battery. The car was parked in my garage, locked up and was driven the previous day without any problems. Nothing was left on. Im pretty disturbed by this to say the very least. 

Do you have a Jumper Battery, that will make life a lot easier. Good Idea to find where to connect up to under the hood, It's in Owners Manual. The research I did awhile ago showed SEL's out numbered SE's better than two to one. FORD is pushing sales of only 5% SE's. for 2015. :)

 

Paul

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First of all, what is MFT?  I own a NEW 2014 C max hybrid, SEL model. Ive had the car for 1 1/2  weeks and have already experienced a dead battery. The car was parked in my garage, locked up and was driven the previous day without any problems. Nothing was left on. Im pretty disturbed by this to say the very least. 

 

I'm sure you already know to open a case with Ford and have the vehicle towed to the dealer to troubleshoot and inspect. Based on everything I've read thus far, my guess is the dealership probably had that vehicle sitting so long it drained the battery, then sold you the car  with a low state of charge after they jumped it. Have the dealership properly test the battery and either replace it or charge it properly. And please let us know what the resolution is!

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I had the roadside assistance people come over to give me a jump, it didn't take much. It has been running just fine for the past few days.

So, you didn't let the dealer look at it?  

 

IMO, the battery issue needs to be addressed by the dealer each time it happens. It could be a one-off event and an inconvenience to go to the dealer but given the history of the dead battery issue, IMO a trip to the dealer is worth the inconvenience.   If this dead battery issue continues to happen (maybe next week, next month, next year), I would want dealer documentation of the issue for possible use down the road if it becomes a frequent occurrence (lemon law).

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First of all, what is MFT? I own a NEW 2014 C max hybrid, SEL model. Ive had the car for 1 1/2 weeks and have already experienced a dead battery. The car was parked in my garage, locked up and was driven the previous day without any problems. Nothing was left on. Im pretty disturbed by this to say the very least.

 

MFT = My Ford Touch

 

SEL's have very few battery problems, one thing that will cause a DEAD SEL battery is to hit the off button

without

your foot on the brake pedal.

Edited by wab
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Why? What happens or doesn't happen if you hit the off button without your foot on the brake pedal?

 

Fukushima and Ebola for starters. 

Yeah, I'm curious too. Seems a bit odd since if I had push button start/stop I would first put the car into park, get my feet comfortably off the pedals, then shut the car down with the button. I've never had any feet on any pedals after transmission is in P then turning a vehicle on or off.

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Yep agree with above.  One needs the car in park to shut it off.  If not in park, a message will pop up about placing it in park if one pushes the off button.  One does not need the brake pedal depressed to turn off the car via the "off" button.

 

When I turn off the car, I step on the brake pedal to come to a stop, shift to park and pull up the emergency brake.  Then, I release the brake pedal to ensure the car won't roll, turn off the radio, and then turn off the car (push the off button or turn the key / switch in other vehicles).  I've never had a dead battery in my C-Max SEL with this procedure.  I've done it this way for as long as I can remember - probably since Drivers' Ed in my PA high school. :)  -  according to WikI, the first high school Drivers' Ed course was started in 1934 in State College, PA.

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MFT = My Ford Touch

SEL's have very few battery problems, one thing that will cause a DEAD SEL battery is to hit the off button

without

your foot on the brake pedal.

OPS Sorry, I left out a couple of steps from the towing behind a motor home thread.

 

When the cmax is being towed it must be off and in neutral.

It won't go to sleep and will run the battery in a few hours.

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  • 3 weeks later...

  1. Thanks all  for the feedback. I do not have the start button on my model, its a keyed ignition, not what you are talking about, correct? Im very sad to report that I am waiting for the Ford Roadside Assistance people to come over to my garage again for a completely dead battery, 2nd time. The car is a 2014 hybrid SE, I drove it yesterday about 10 miles, parked it in the garage and it wont start now. I really like the car when its running. I no longer feel that I can rely on the car and am going to take it back to the dealership, not necessarily to return it, but I want something done to prevent the issue. I would be more understanding about the situation say if the car was five plus years old.

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  1. Thanks all  for the feedback. I do not have the start button on my model, its a keyed ignition, not what you are talking about, correct? Im very sad to report that I am waiting for the Ford Roadside Assistance people to come over to my garage again for a completely dead battery, 2nd time. The car is a 2014 hybrid SE, I drove it yesterday about 10 miles, parked it in the garage and it wont start now. I really like the car when its running. I no longer feel that I can rely on the car and am going to take it back to the dealership, not necessarily to return it, but I want something done to prevent the issue. I would be more understanding about the situation say if the car was five plus years old.

 

You didn't get a jumper battery?  It is time to get one, this doesn't have to be a problem and you know how to jump it now. No big deal. :)

 

Paul

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  1. Thanks all  for the feedback. I do not have the start button on my model, its a keyed ignition, not what you are talking about, correct? Im very sad to report that I am waiting for the Ford Roadside Assistance people to come over to my garage again for a completely dead battery, 2nd time. The car is a 2014 hybrid SE, I drove it yesterday about 10 miles, parked it in the garage and it wont start now. I really like the car when its running. I no longer feel that I can rely on the car and am going to take it back to the dealership, not necessarily to return it, but I want something done to prevent the issue. I would be more understanding about the situation say if the car was five plus years old.

 

 

Do you have MFT by any chance?  (The standard stereo has apparently more issues than those vehicles with MFT).

 

For sure follow Paul's advice and get something that will allow you to start the car yourself (there are lots of options you can find with a simple Amazon search) so that you will have reliability in the meantime.  And then make sure your dealership follows all the TSBs and reports posted here on this forum (you can search through the threads to find the relevant ones and print them out for them).

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It really seems that the SE's are a big problem and the SEL's for whatever reason don't have an issue or don't have many issues. I'm not bashing Ford here, but that is part of my concern. The quality just doesn't seem to be there with SOME of these vehicles.

I have a friend at my church who leases an SE and she has never had an issue with a dead battery or any other problem that I know of.  Maybe thats the trick don't buy one...lease it. :lol:

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