Kelleytoons

You're missing the point -- go back and re-read what I wrote. It doesn't solve THE problem -- and there is no THE problem. There are all kinds of issues, ranging from bad standard radios (which they fixed pretty quickly) to wiring harnesses (which they addressed around January of this year). And there are, apparently, still some issues they have yet to figure out. But clearly there are some dead batteries caused by these cars sitting on lots and dealers not understanding these are tiny batteries which won't last the same way as much larger ones do. Replacing these batteries is the first step in diagnosing ANY battery issue.

Except if the battery does run down on the lot it won't provide power for that split second. That's all we're talking about here -- clearly leaving any battery unattended for months can bring it to a point where it won't function as intended. As said, there may well be other causes for those cases where the battery is at least charged every week or two. That doesn't rule out the possibility of a bad or improperly maintained battery to begin with.

That's a good observation -- we know the batteries on these are smaller than "typical" car batteries, and it appears that they may run down more. So perhaps sales staff (or at least dealership folks who take care of the lot cars) need education on how to maintain them.

Mike, I certainly think that's part of the problem, but remember we've seen folks here for whom Ford replaced the battery and they still have problems. Certainly if I had a 2013 with even a couple of battery jumps needed the first thing I'd insist would be that they replaced the battery. THEN if they still had issues they could be addressed better.

MFT is My Ford Touch and is a touch system (and voice controlled) system. If that is what you have then you have the SEL (because the SE "base" system doesn't have that). All SEL models come with it standard. Rating, of course, is all arbitrary based on your own particular needs, desires and preferences. The C-Max is the best car I've owned (in over half a century and many, many autos). So it is "superior" in every way to everything else I looked at (although, to be fair, I did not look at everything but only what I could afford and met certain of my standards -- I'm sure there are much better vehicles for more money out there, or better vehicles that didn't have the head room or comfort that I needed, like the Focus, which was not the form factor my wife and I could live with). And, yes, taking a chance on anything that's the newest, be it a car or the newest iPhone, is always more risky than things with a proven track record. And a car, being more expensive than anything else you'll ever own outside of a house (or a boat, I guess, if you have a lot of money) is usually something you don't want to take many risks on (which is why I didn't get a 2013 model).

Sorry to hear about your troubles -- the question I always ask is "Standard radio or MFT?" It's not the only cause by a long shot, but we definitely find more standard radio issues than those with MFT. You also put 2013 as the year and I do think this is an issue which has improved with time, because it does appear less common than those with 2014 (particularly after January builds). I don't think your wife made a bad choice at all -- indeed, it was a bold and rather brave one considering how little press and talk there is about this superior car. Remember, every single car model has lemons (which is why entire laws were enacted for the purpose) and if you went to the Focus forums you'd find folks who would call it a big mistake to buy one because they ended up with one made on a Monday. If the "lesson" she learned is to never take a chance on new technology then she will miss out on an awful lot of truly great things in life.

Ours has auto (don't they all?) but in the summer I *want* to be cooled down but do not need heat in the winter. So it's set for 73 degrees whenever it's 80 or hotter outside. Otherwise I turn it completely off (because it *will* try and turn on the heat/AC depending on what the interior temps are).

Actually, I'm hoping Maximis outlives me (it still may be possible with our Durango, that we've had for 14 years now and will probably keep at least another three or four). Who the heck cares what value it has to others?

In related news Toyota reported that the new Prius V will come pre-installed with digital tracks of classic comedians who tell "stories" rather than jokes. "It will take their minds out of how slow it takes to get there", Larry Nitwitz, Toyota's executive vice-president for Humorization told CNN. "Back in the old days, a good joke took three or four minutes before you got to the punchline. We want our customers to realize that 'fun" is relative and not to expect the instant gratification of the MTV generation." In still other news, Toyota announced they were replacing Nitwitz with an executive who understood that "MTV generation" was a term no longer used or even understood by anyone.

Even at 48 yesterday we didn't use heat -- my wife and I were dressed warm, though (well, warm for Florida - long pants, which I seldom wear, and an actual jacket). If we hadn't planned on spending more time outside the car than driving we might have dressed lighter and turned on the heat but as it was it wasn't needed even for a 30 minute journey (which averaged 50.1 mpg -- love our Maximis!) But we may end up turning on the heat if we are out and about at night during December/January (then again, we're old people who like to be warm).

And I'm at least 20 years older than you, Mark, so you could just imagine how much more I have (I started with vinyl in the 50's). Let us know what you see on your phone and in particular the audio system in your Max (whether you have MFT). I'm sure we can get this sorted out.

If your phone is synced AND is recognized when you get in (with MFT you will see that it is on the screen -- otherwise your phone itself will show the device as connected in your BT settings) then it will stream whatever is on it, FLAC or otherwise. But if both your phones are synced you need to be sure that your phone is primary AND auto connects when you get in (don't use Android so can't comment but before the last iOS update the iPhones would not connect properly this way -- last one fixed this issue). So check it -- if connected it should play just fine assuming you have selected BT as the audio source (you also need to do this). (And Jack, I have SO much music in my collection I won't live along enough to hear it all, so I'm hearing things I've never heard before all the time).

USB is unlikely to work (the C-Max expects an attached USB drive and is pretty picky about how it's formatted -- it won't "see" the phone as such a drive). Does the car connect via BT to your phone otherwise? IOW, are you able to make calls, etc. through the interface (and, while we're at it, are you using MFT or just SYNC?)? I am unfamiliar with how SYNC works, but the MFT system will properly stream BT from any device, as long as it connects. Come to think of it, you need to connect BT to SYNC to do this as well. So the first question is, did you sync your phone (no pun intended) . You will need to enter the code that SYNC produces into your phone to tell it it's okay to send there, and it will show up as a BT device. Once that's done anything you play on your phone will also play through the BT on the car (again, this is for MFT -- I have no experience otherwise). You *can* run from the input jack on your phone to the audio input into the car (in the compartment that has the USB inputs) but that's kind of a PITA. For that you'll need the right cord (I *think* it's just a 1/8 jack to RCA plugs, but I might be mistaken -- have no desire or inclination to ever do this).

Yeah, I have to say that the C-Max is actually the best overall experience I've ever had buying and driving a car (yes, early days yet but this includes the whole buying experience which was a real PITA in the past). This is my first Ford and unlikely to be my last no matter what ever happens to it. My longest lasting car in my half century of ownership is our Durango -- had it 14 years now and I'm hoping for another three or four (now that Maximis is our fav :>). But I hate the Dodge dealer here and didn't even think about buying another one in our quest for a new car. I think you need to try and be reasonable and not let your experiences cloud your judgement -- much easier to say than do <g>.

The only thing I'll note is that my tire pressure was *very* low and the light never did come on -- finally checked to find out it was under 30psi and might have been that way since I picked it up (silly me, I assumed the dealership would have inflated them correctly). I inflated to 40psi and immediately got a 5+ mpg boost. And haven't had to add air more than once a month or so. Bottom line: if you wait until the light comes on you're probably waiting too long.

Well, my first thought is you'd have to be a LOT more specific (cloud music means anything streamed and that covers a *wide* range of things). In general my experience with streaming even on platforms built for it (like my iPhone) is that it is less than perfect -- a world that, when it works, is fantastic, but it just doesn't work all the time. Too unreliable, and thus I have fallen back to storing my music locally on both my phone and, in the case of Maximis, on a hard drive attached to USB (which also allows me to use the wonderful voice commands for searching and playing). And I am usually on the bleeding edge of things - so for me to give up on it, at least for the present, says a lot.

Wait until you get older (LOL) At my age if I followed that philosophy I'd have run out of car makers a long time ago (and, yes, one of those lemons was a Toyota or as I like to refer to that maker now, the "Toy"car company). Every company has "Monday" cars - actually, if you were smart you would have followed your wife's advice, as the odds were much better you would have gotten a good one. Kind of like Garp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBSAeqdcZAM

Well, I don't deserve much credit -- Florida terrain and weather probably have the most to do with getting good mpg, as well as (usually) not driving over 55. Yes, I do practice the best driving tips (driving like an egg is between my foot and both the gas and brake) but I suspect most everyone here is doing that as well. Before the weather changed, when I was using A/C constantly, I was getting mostly in the 40's -- high 40's to be sure, but never really anything much better. Now that I don't have to use either A/C or heat the numbers have gone *way* up, with high 50's (and low 60's) easy to get to. Even on my short trips (say 3 or 4 miles to the tennis courts) where before I was seeing pretty bad mpg going and decent coming back (because I'd hit the EV+ mode close to home) I am now easily getting in the 60's (and to come back to the thread topic, even 80+ at times). I could see a short city commute, with no heat or A/C, is where the C-Max really shines. I'll say one thing, though -- with the C-Max I find myself driving close or below the limit rather than the 5+ over it I always used to allow myself. And as a result I am finding the drives, no matter the distance, MUCH more enjoyable. For one thing, I seldom have to worry about someone slower (and having to pass them), and for another it just feels easier to drive that way (gee -- what do you know? It seems like the actual posted limits are what you SHOULD drive. Who'd have thunk it?)

Make sure you read at least some of the battery threads here (a quick search will reveal some of the longest ones -- those are ones you definitely want to pay attention to). There are *many* causes of this problem, and a simple battery replacement is seldom the answer. You will need to be the point person on this, as you absolutely cannot leave it up to your dealership to solve it. I know -- that's annoying, but this issue is complicated and most dealerships don't have a clue (and even Ford is still searching for definitive answers). But by reading the threads and learning what causes you can point them to look at you can be proactive and help (and there are at least a few causes that can be "fixed" apparently). This issue is most prevalent with 2013 SE models without MFT -- if this description fits you then you *definitely* need to do the research.

I'm glad folks love snow -- otherwise you'd all be down here. I love snow as well -- it's looks *really* pretty on TV (which is where it belongs). Oh, and in the freezer -- nothing beats ice in a drink on a warm Florida winter day <g>. As for me, I hope to never, ever see snow in person again (outside our community we have a sign that says "Free Snow Removal" which is a nice service to have. Of course, it will *never* be used :>). (And today we got 65 mpg on a nighttime trip of mostly highway (55+) speeds on a trip around 20+ miles (and then back again, at 62 for some odd reason -- then again, I was going a *bit* faster). Outside temps at night were a fairly cool 62 degrees. Hoping it warms up in the coming weeks).

And this is why we live in Florida <g>. Not that we don't get below freezing even here in central Florida, but it's nearly *always* at night and by the time I'm up and about it's never cooler than the 50's (which feels just fine in a car without heat). On those very rare days when it's cold even with the sun out I stay inside as God intended. Bring on global warming!

In watching it it was clear that some of the folks just didn't understand the challenge -- some thought it was a "speed" challenge (kind of the opposite of what they needed to do) and others just didn't get what was being displayed (IIRC one of them even thought they were supposed to use up as much gas as possible, sort of). And, of course, this was undoubtedly the first time anyone of them had been in a C-Max. But totally aside from that, I'm always amazed by how many people just don't understand the first thing about proper driving techniques, no matter *what* they are driving. My friends (who own Priuses) are like this -- driving fast up to the stoplight, slamming on the brakes, etc. etc. They boost about how great the mpg they are getting not even realizing they could easily be doubling their mileage (even in their non-hybrid vehicle). I was taught how to drive to conserve gas back in the 70's, during the "gas crisis" (gas rationing -- any of you youngsters remember that, the even/odd days you could buy and the long lines around any station?) I can't say I *always* practiced those techniques, but in general throughout the decades I've done my best to get the most out of a gallon (and save the wear and tear on things like brakes as well). My wife, OTOH...

Hmmm -- never saw this thread before and never heard of ANC either (actually, to be *really* ignorant, I never even thought about having over the head microphones, although it makes sense that you have to have a microphone somewhere in order for the MFT to hear what you are saying. Up until now, though, I just through it was in the steering wheel or dash). Jack, this has *nothing* to do with the audio system. It's designed to help with the noise produced by the CVT. Here's an article: http://www.torquenews.com/1083/ford-fusion-makes-noise-keep-car-quiet I'm assuming the reason the microphone tapping works is because the system then shuts down temporarily in order to hear commands spoken to it (assuming you have MFT). It certainly sounds (no pun intended) Clyde like your system is defective and, like all those problems that go away when you take it in to be serviced, is going to be difficult to get fixed. Recording won't help anyway, even if you had a sensitive enough device, because a service person really needs to hear it for him or herself. So I'd just keep taking it in, describing the issue, and see if they can track it down. In the meantime, here are some folks who disabled the system (in case that's what you'd like to try -- personally I think you'd get more bad sound than it was worth, but since I've never heard it perhaps not): http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/8160-disconnected-active-noise-cancellation-anc-mics/ http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/7091-disable-active-noise-cancellation/

We bought our C-Max after A5 came out and we *still* didn't get it (because, on the lot, the car only had A4). However, for $35 I didn't mind buying it afterwards (I certainly wouldn't pay more than $50 for it, though). In the old days of GPS this was pretty typical -- yearly fees for updating. Since nearly all standalone units these days come with lifetime map updates it's kind of unreasonable for Ford to charge for this sort of thing (they should allow you to download the updated info onto the card). I assume you DID update your iPhone to the latest iOS, right? 8.1? It would not have come with that, but that fixed a lot of bluetooth issues. For me, with both my wife's iPhone 6 and my 6 Plus they work flawlessly now with MFT (even to the point where it sees my wife's phone and connects automatically when mine isn't around -- before only the primary phone would connect automatically, although she *could* manually connect). Before 8.1 (with the previous 8.02) nothing worked right for me.

I know this -- since the last week our mileage has jumped from high 40's to high 50's (and our lifetime MPG went from 39.3 to 44.2). In our case the difference was obvious -- no A/C needed (and little heat, although I admit this weekend it was rather cool). All on regular. Today coming back from a normal 20 mile run (averaging around 50mph) I make all the time with 47mpg being the norm we got 62 -- and we had a bit of heat on as well (again, because it's unseasonably cold). So maybe it's the same for you. I'm loving not using A/C.