RedLdr1

Not all of the rise is required. But since I'm using a dolly that effectively lowers the rear of my C-Max I like having it. Since you have a 2" hitch I'd try the Spare Tire Carrier without any riser first. You can always buy a riser, if needed, later....

After reading this thread I went the tow dolly route. We purchased an Acme "Eze-Tow" Dolly with surge hydraulic disc brakes. While a flat tow has some advantages I did not want to modify our C-Max or deal with the dead battery issues. I had enough dead batteries with our first C-Max! :rant: We tow our C-Max with a 2016 Forest River Sunseeker 2400W MBS. In short that is a 24 foot Class C on a Sprinter 3500 chassis. ;) No issues to date other than as previously mentioned it can be a hassle moving the dolly around. Since we don't take the C-Max on every trip that isn't a big issue for us. And I can use the dolly to tow other vehicles if necessary. Since some of our trip involve long distances and bad roads I wanted to have a spare tire for the C-Max. To do so first I had a Curt trailer hitch installed on our C-Max. I then added a MaxxTow Receiver Adapter 1-1/4" to 2" with a 4-1/2 inch rise to allow mounting a Curt Spare Tire Carrier. A little more digging around and I found a used matching wheel. A visit to a local tire shop for a new tire and I now have a easily removable, correctly sized spare tire installed on the C-Max. :) A set of magnetic mount tow lights, and a magnetic "Vehicle In Tow" sign, and I'm Fifty state legal and also meet the Canadian requirements.

I'm back... After a couple of years without a C-Max I returned to the fold last week. My previous C-Max never really recovered from it's electrical glitches, see my early posts, so I finally traded it in. Now I have a 2015 that looks about the same except it is a 302A Package and doesn't have the glass roof. The good news is this one hasn't any issues and I've already racked up almost 2,000 miles in seven days... :) I've started doing my "standard mods" and had the tinting done and ordered color matched Body Side Molding from SportWing. They should be in next week. I need to see if any of my previous C-Max "stuff" is buried in my garage.... :) I'm retired now and this C-Max will also be used as a "Toad" behind the motor home we have on order. I think the C-Max will be ideal for that purpose.

Yes, I have... See the very first post in this thread for the details.

Someone has to draw the C-Max versus a FFH for the new hybrid screen. Beyond that there shouldn't be any changes.... But since 3.5.1 still is not available for the C-Max there must be another "issue" floating around out in bogus code land....

Sorry, lost track of the thread... :doh: On Day 2 the Sync PCIM was reset by dealerships's MFT guru working with Ford's tech support. After that the 3.5.1 code loaded with no other issues. The 3.5.1 FFH version is a big improvement over 3.2.2 and the new Hybrid screen is really good. It shows which power source, ICE or Battery, is being used and why the ICE is running. My wife doesn't like it as it "rats out" her lead foot "Acceleration" and shows that the heater causes the ICE to run! I did loose my XM/Sirius presets and phone pairings but pairing a phone is much easier in 3.5.1, all you do is confirm the number displayed rather than type in a code. Hopefully 3.5.1 will become available for the C-Max soon....

"Examining the raw data from the hybrid Fusion’s original FTP and HFET results, it appears that Ford used the “mpg-based” approach to determine its window-sticker numbers, a perfectly legal option." That one line says it all....especially the last four words.

I believe DRLs are installed on US "Fleet" sales versions, as in rentals and large corporate purchases, but are not available on consumer versions. If you are unfortunate enough to have been stuck with DRLs I suspect you cannot turn them off. Check with your dealer....

What brand Radar Detector? I have a Valentine V-1 with a mirror mount that I will be installing. I plan on using the existing power to the mirror to power the V-1 using a power feed similar to this one on eBay. No cutting, no splicing, just a easy tap at the connector...

Easy to schedule anyway.... Our FFH is being kept in the shop while a new Sync PCIM module is being ordered. It seems the new software and old firmware / hardware had some compatibility problems that knocked out the navigation completely.... Keep in mind this car was on 3.2.2 and was working fine when we took it in this morning. But I have a good dealer who has given us a loaner Fusion while ours in the shop so no big issue... I can hardly wait to give them the C-Max and see how that goes after this round... ;) I'll post an update when the FFH is put back together and running on 3.5.1.

They should be, you are just choosing your plan which is tied to your radio serial number. Once you give the XM/Sirius rep your radio serial number they can confirm it is....

Laurel, They will negotiate a bit if you call...it seems there is always a "special" running... ;) I got a "deal" since I have two vehicles and have been a customer for quite awhile. One way to save some money is to determine which channel package you really want... If you just want music, without the "talk shows" and sports the "Mostly Music" package is a lot cheaper. Or look at a A La Carte package....

Well that was way too easy... I'm scheduled for tomorrow morning for the 3.5.1 / A4 card update on my FFH... They want my Fusion for at least three hours to do the upgrade so it will be interesting to see what all it entails since the software install only is supposed to be around an hour. While I'm at the dealer I'll see what I can find out about the C-Max update that I need more than I do the Fusion update. It must be harder to draw a power flow diagram on a C-Max background than on a Fusion is all I can figure....

I had an existing subscription and XM/Sirius added my remaining time on it to the "free" trial period. Make sure you have your existing account number handy when you call....

Since I have a C-Max and Fusion I'll see if I can get my local dealer to update my Fusion using the FSA number. At least then I'll be able to directly compare the new code to the old version in the C-Max. It will be interesting to see what new bugs, I mean undocumented enhancements ;) , Microsoft has inflicted on us....

I tend to occasionally as well... Look at my Fuelly stats and you will see some 35MPG tanks, those were "regular" car driving...or really bad weather. Since my average MPG difference between "regular" car and "hybrid" driving is only around 15% that isn't a big deal. But I do like to play around and see just how high I can get the MPG now and then...

Most dealers will mark up the tint job so it is usually cheaper to deal directly with the tint shop. Also if the tint has a warranty you want it in your name not the dealers... I paid about $350 for mine, you can see it HERE.

Interesting comment on the roof potentially breaking from your installer... I have never heard that one before and tinting sun roofs is quite common around here. With only the thin sunshade, instead of a lined heavier panel, to protect the inside I had my panoramic roof tinted with the same tint as the windows. We'll see how it holds up...

I currently use an older Craftsman I wouldn't recommend... Of the three listed the Porter Cable is the "pro" choice due to their good name. But look carefully and you will see has a different style grip than the other two...which style grip is going to be more comfortable for you?

I have not done a lot of highway driving since the install.... And it may be a while before I do another long road trip with the C-Max. But since my "mixed" driving MPG are steadily increasing, along with the warmer weather, it does not appear that they have had much impact. Even if it is a couple miles per gallon highway it will be more than offset by the savings around Hotlanta in the summer.

I would be concerned the center mount would create "wind noise" if the "Lap Vents" are open and you crank the fan speed up to Max. Plus the angled mount looks better to me...

Still no issues with the C-Max, other than MFT's annoying glitches, since the IP problem was resolved... :) I am very happy with my dealership, that is why we recently bought our Fusion Hybrid SE to go with the C-Max from them...

It isn't necessarily a "hybrid" thing. Last Christmas vacation I had an 18 wheeler pull up on the tail of my Flex and flash his lights and honk for me to move over. This was at 1AM in the morning at the merge of the the Florida Turnpike and I-75N where there are four lanes! I was in the third lane from the left with my cruise set at 75MPH... There was nothing in the two lanes to my left, or the one on my right, and I mean nothing even faintly close. I just turned off the cruise and let my Flex start slowing down until he decided to pull around me. Just south of Ocala FHP had the idiot pulled over, I honked and put my window down and gave the trooper a thumbs up in the hope that it might help convince him to cite the "professional" driver who was acting like an idiot and speeding. The best "cure" I've had for tailgaters was the windshield washers on a mid 90's Chevy pickup. When driving at highway speeds if I "washed the windshield" about two thirds of the washer fluid blew over the cab and landed on the car behind me. The "blue goo" spray caused many a tailgater to back off... :) Maybe I need to realign the rear window windshield washer on the C-Max.... ;)

Bad news folks... The politicians, and the Feds at the Federal Highway Administration, would like to replace the existing Federal gas taxes with a "Miles Driven Tax" of $.018 per mile. "With fuel efficiency increasing and more hybrid and electric vehicles on the roads, LaTourette said the miles tax would be a fairer way of sharing the costs of using highways than the gasoline tax, which is based on the amount of fuel purchased." See Here for the full article.

Looking at Fuelly is okay... :) Opening my monthly gas credit card statement and seeing $188 for the month instead of the usual ~$400 is GREAT! :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: