fbov

I've parked next to Escapes and marveled at the interior similarities... I wonder if there's a generic part number you could look for, instead of a C-Max-unique one.

Have you read the WVU report? It's very comprehensive, and as such, enlightening to the entire topic. They didn't only test VW's.... I'd seen that link to TTAC's "debunking" of another test, but it just reinforces the idea that they're not qualified. A couple paragraphs in... The first red flag in the video was the conversation with what appears to be an emissions station technician. He makes a point of mentioning that they have to disengage traction control and that is likely what puts the car into test mode. ... This is not possible as the Mk VI Jetta does not have a button to disable traction control.... The "button" is called a "fuse." F-150 owners who plow snow pull their ABS fuses religiously, as "TC off" resets. (Traction control burns up brakes in applications that require wheel spin.) The Daily Mail quoted a researcher, and you pulled a line with some numbers in it to make a point. That's worthless. Linking to some of the researcher's published findings would be worthwhile. Linking to an independent researcher doing similar measurements would be worthwhile. It's the same with your other "recent testing," also with no substantiation or documentation. Did you read the WVU report? It's a good piece of work. Catch the part where the car that passed the emission tests, also failed the test? How do you give a passing grade to a failing car? Researchers admit that the test was rigged, and discount the failure due to the test conditions, which were chosen specifically to assess a known worst case. All one needs do is set up a tail pipe sniffer at an intersection at the top of a long hill. Diesels will have run rich up the hill, I'd say "under full throttle" but diesels don't have a "throttle" to open, they just add more fuel - run rich. This is a known diesel operating mode, as is regeneration of particulate traps (if present), which exceed all emissions standards, and are acceptable. They're recognized as temporary operating modes. You don't get "diesel" without them. This link quotes the interim head of the WVE Center for Alternative Fuels Engines and Emissions, and report author: Catalytic converters break down NOX only when they’re hot, and keeping them hot may sometimes require that you burn more fuel than you need for the performance you want. You might want to run the engine on a lean fuel-air mixture, but you have to run it rich. "There’s also a trap for NOX that acts like a sponge,” Carder points out. “But if you saturate it with NOX, then you have to go to a rich-burning condition to use the catalyst to reduce the NOX” and thus wring out the sponge. So, please, feel free to share data and discuss the situation, but please stop the rumor mongering. The truth will come out; you're just adding collateral damage by repeating half-truths. Have fun, Frank

It's a sad day when a professor's opinion becomes a headline. That day came years ago, of course, as pundits are always happy to misapply news reports to further their goals. First, you quote "thetruthaboutcars.com" which has a huge red flag in its name. Next, you quote an article about an actual news report. Why did you not link to the news report? Because it's just the Daily Mail... I see one guy, who stands to benefit from the scandal, reporting data taken randomly at the road side from random vehicles, because it fails the latest (2014) emission standards (which allow 2x the NOx than in the US). I then see that report being picked up by lobbying groups, as one might expect. From the WVU report, car C, the "good" car that passed the emission standards, had 35x the allowed NOx emission in one of the tests. You can "prove" anything you want, you just need an audience that's short on skepticism. Have fun, Frank, your resident skeptic.

You don't see a sensor, so you've assumed there is none present. The unlock sensors are not visible on either front or rear doors. That's a locking sensor you see up front. When I do that, the car unlocks and the rear door opens. Since I have an intermittent front door unlock sensor, I very often use the rear door to unlock the vehicle. It doesn't always work, evidence the rear sensor is also intermittent. TSB's been applied twice, third time, they "couldn't find the problem" despite a demonstration. If this were a reliable system... Frank

You know, I don't always have the problem listed in every new OASIS post, but it's sure nice knowing about them. Thanks for the continued service! Frank

+1 But the tradeoff is power and effectiveness. Pad heaters are 50-100W, immersion more like 200-600W. Pad on the oil pan heats the oil. Pan in the coolant heats the entire engine, as the warmed coolant will rise and circulate. No question the OEM is the best option... were I in the place of the several folks buying a second C-Max, this would be on the mandatory list. Have fun, Frank

In my opinion, any car service organization will treat brakes like a lawsuit waiting to happen. If they replace one part, they replace them all, regardless of condition, so you leave with "showroom-new" brakes. I tend to do my own brakes, once I found out how easy it really was, and got a couple tools (brake fluid reservoir cap with a Schrader valve makes brake bleeding a cinch!). It was real helpful when I was autocrossing; BMW wanted new fluid every year, and the track events wanted clear fluid at every event. That said, I also recognize when I'm over my head, and need a pro (as I'm not one). HAve fun, Frank

And I've looked at lower radiator hose heaters... second one down. http://www.fivestarmanufacturing.com/kat_s They'd be easier to install than stock, and much higher power than the ones Paul used, but you need a stretch of fairly vertical hose with direct flow into the block. I should have looked when I changed the oil... Also normal warranty concerns, when making a mod to the cooling system, in the event of cooling related issues down the road. I've left mine alone, and shivered, I admit. Energi remote start has a real advantage here!! HAve fun, Frank PS Be sure you don't have one. http://www.etis.ford.com/home.do Enter your VIN and you get a list of pending service actions, with a summary of features. A link in the features gives you a complete list of available options, marked "with..." and "less..." depending if they're present. "Less immersion heater" is very common.

May I suggest a PM to one of the moderators. One easy way is to open the T-shirt thread and PM the originator of that thread by hovering over their name. Frank

The one thing you can say about black is that it matches the low-level trim in all models... We owe Robert a vote of thanks, as I don't think the forum has any other "staff." Frank

Poster lives in Detroit. Your version of Winter arrived today; 40's and rainy. I needed a jacket for the first time since Spring. We've been blessed with a very warm, dry September. Frank

There are simple things you can do. - check tire pressure, and increase tire pressures to sidewall rating - grill blocks have been long discussed and shown effective with no downside up here in the rust belt - use 91E0 fuel, but only for demonstration purposes; you won't save the difference in price. - drive deeper into the tank; folks see nearly 14gal. capacity. - drive slower... or take the back way instead of the freeway, and, finally... (drum roll please) - wait until Spring. Cold weather is the enemy of high mileage, especially in this car. If you have a block heater, USE IT. Many of us wish we did. You can reduce fuel consumption by keeping heat off this Winter, but shivering makes no contribution to moving the car, and the ICE still wants to warm up. Have fun, Frank

Those rear rotors look like they're in need of some use, not replacement!! The pads? I can't tell a thing... no idea what I'm seeing, but judging by the rotors, I don't expect wear. Have fun, Frnak

Two things to consider. The third car was actually a BMW X5. It passed, yet BMW stock dropped 10% on the rumor of a similar failure.. Hybrid and electric cars don't pollute less, they leave their pollution at the mine. There is a real environmental downside to all self-powered transportation machines. The only "warm fuzzy" is that the heavy metal pollution that results from neodymium mining will stay near the mine... in China. Have fun, Frank

no records...

Why am I not surprised? And the thread derails... but this brings up an interesting point. What are VW's remediation options? Ford chose the rebate route. Hyundai chose the annual gas card route. Neither did anything non-conforming to the car, their "issues" only affected the Monroney sticker, making a monetary remediation fully effective. VW has hardware issues, modes in their firmware that enable the car to operate in non-conforming emission modes. A software change, to eliminate the switching option, changes nothing because software can be unchanged. Will the EPA require hardware retrofits to eliminate the capability? Then there's the class action suit from owners due to loss of value... very different from Ford as this was design intent. Will there be a second class-action suit resulting from the hardware remediation? Will the Sportwagon still be sporty when it's no longer belching combustion byproducts? Hogwash. Last I checked, Nature decides what the weather will be today, and that choice severely limits the driver's FE options in my estimation. In February, I do not see 40MPG on the same roads that crack 60mpg on occasion... A heavy rain is a good 20% hit. All bets are off on snowy roads. You can see it in our Fuelly data... Yours would be a nice sinus rhythm on an EKG (and there's a subtle rising trend even now... so much for HVB issues). Mine is more of a low frequency wave....

This is a job for Ford Service! No, not the dealer, the Ford rep on the C-Max forum, aka "fordservice." Meagan was posting yesterday... this is exactly the kind of thing they do. Frank

Welcome to the forum! My first bit of advice is to add more information to your question. There are many stations broadcasting at 1430KHz in the AM band, but you don't say what city's broadcast you're interested in. I have to guess LA, so San Gabriel is close enough. This link contains links to the daytime and nighttime broadcast pattern. If you aren't in an area where they broadcast, you shouldn't blame the radio... Day/night will make a big difference, as will your exact location. Remember that there's a 5,000 foot "hill" just East of the transmitter, and Mt Wilson isn't an isolated peak. Night power won't make it over the ridge, and daytime power levels will be heavily shadowed, even at these wavelengths, if you're in the mountains. Have fun, Frank

My work everyday is a 15 mile drive. I can usually do about 5 miles on ICE and 10-11 on EV. My average speed is about 30mph. I bet your is higher... Frank

This could be groundbreaking. The Times says this is the EPA's "opening salvo." Under the terms of the Clean Air Act, the Justice Department could impose fines of as much as $37,500 for each recalled vehicle, for a possible total penalty of as much as $18 billion. To put this in perspective, VW's operating income has been $11.8B in 2013 and 2014. The real question is punitive damages... what's the multiplier for intentionally circumventing the regulations in an automated manner? Frank

Great idea! You could arrange it so you're driving downhill going and coming home!

If you want to see some immediate impact, do a search for VW's stock price... dropped 30% overnight.

Well, 35.5mpg was my February tank...

I came to the C-Max from a Volvo 940. I'd park next to an Escape and wonder if I could ever live with such a small cargo area. That's never been an issue in the C-Max. I'm glad they brought this UK platform over! Frank

I just put in: filter ptjones and I get: http://cse.google.com/cse?cx=partner-pub-8684893976521350:2564666606&ie=UTF-8&q=filter+ptjones&sa=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=filter%20ptjones&gsc.page=1 where the first thing listed is: http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/4389-how-to-replace-c-max-engine-air-filter/ Note that it does matter which "search" you use, left or right. This is the result of the right-side search: http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1 and opening the first item, I'm brought back to this thread!!! http://fordcmaxhybridforum.com/topic/5408-changing-engine-air-cleaner/?hl=%2Bfilter+%2Bptjones&do=findComment&comment=59745 However, the forum (right) search does have an advanced feature, just leave it blank and the advanced window will open. I still didn't find the link I wanted, that was on top of the Google search. HAve fun, Frank