stevedebi

I belong to three forums using this same forum software: the C-Max Energi, the Fusion Energi, and this C-Max forum. I generally use the "show unread messages" feature so I don't have to look for new messages, but lately this forum (and only this one) has not been showing them. When I go back to the main forum I can see there are unread messages, but the feature to view only those messages is not showing any (except one every now and then). The other two forums are working fine, and I see myself logged in under my user name, so it should know who I am. Anyone else having this problem?

I find the Nav unit to be fairly good - use with caution as always. It is way better than the one in our 2014 VW Passat. It takes a lot of operator training to get the voice recognition to do what you want, and I still don't like that it can't compose text message (my phone can do this, and the C-Max can read text to voice, so it would be possible to at least "reply" to incoming texts). I ended up getting an Energi, with the 303a package. I don't use the auto-park, but the all around parking sensors are coming to be very useful. I can get in a really small space using them. The Pano roof I would not have ordered, though it does look nice and warms the car in winter months. Basically, there were only two on the lot in the Ice Storm color when I was shopping - a 302a and a 303a, at about the same price due to dealer add ons to the 302a.

If I lived that far north, I'd get a separate set of snow tires for winter use. Are you useing the stock tires?

Wait, I just realized you have an Energi. You do realize this is a C-Max forum? I think the Energi forum would be more interested!

Looks good, but I actually use that space to store stuff!

A couple of notes. 1. I don't think they can put DRL in previous models. I believe the are using a separate bulb for the DRL now. In the past they used the main lights, just at a lower voltagel. 2. The C-Max comes with a temperature guage (at least the C-Max Energi does). It is one of the customizable views of the "MyView" left hand display. Or maybe you are speaking of this guage? It is note worthy that Ford does not measure water temp; they measure Cylinder Head temp and calculate water temperature from that.

It was added as a user option in the 2015. Not available to change on the 2014. The dealer could change it on the 2013. All model years had fleet sales set the DRL to ON.

Funny topic for me. I want to turn on the DRL for my 2014 C-Max Energi. For this model year it cannot be done after the factory. They removed the option from the BCM software module. It could be done for the 2013, and it is on all 2014 fleet / Canadian sales, and it is a user setting on the 2015, but for the 2014 I cannot get it enabled. Very frustrating for me.

I frequent this forum to get tips on the C-Max Hybrid, as well as the Energi forums for C-Max and Fusion. Recently I discovered an interesting fact I thought I would share, since it surprised me. Several years ago, hybrid cars sold in the CARB states carried a longer hybrid powertrain warranty. In most states it was 8 years or 100K miles, but in CARB states it was 10 years and 150K miles. I just discovered that under the current rules, the conventional C-Max now has only the 8 year warranty in CARB states. The Energi models still carry the 10 year warranty. This warranty covers the hybrid components and powertrain. The reason is that only the Energi models are now classified as SULEV / PZEV; the conventional hybrids are now classifed as ULEV II. It turns out the classifications are based on what percentage better emissions the vehicles are than the average car - so it makes sense that over time the standard would be harder to meet. I thought folks would want to know. It surprised me because my 2008 Escape Hybrid had the 10 year warranty.

Hard to believe his doesn't have dual climate. But he should have bought a BlueTech Diesel - it would have gotten much better mileage.

Take it to the dealer. There is a TSB about transmission noise, although that noise happens even in neutral. But I've not read of any such drone. It is also possible that the Active Noise Suppression system is not working right. I'm in an Energi, BTW, but same transmission.

Non the less, it would be disturbing if the data didn't match between the two Ford sites.

I recall that the ANS system description mentioned that they reduced engine weight by allowing it to be louder. Not that I can recall the URL, of course...

Ah, sorry. I thought you may not have known. I suspect the noise supression wasn't programmed for that. Room for improvement.

That is normal and happens with all cars. If you crack open a front window and then the rear, it won't make the sound. You just cannot open only the rear windows in a hatchback, due to the air flow back there.

All of them except the Jeep are outside my price range, and I don't like Jeep reliability (or MPG). Sorry, I don't have personal experience; I do keep up with the trends on the auto magazines and sites, but then anyone can do that.

Besides Tesla (which is a very small and almost hand built sort of vehicle), I don't know of any auto manufacturer who provides hardware kits to update electronics for the purpose of providing newer features. You don't see BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac, Jeep, etc. doing it. As I said before, it would require reintegrating the entire entertainment system into the rest of the vehicle electronics. It might could be done (depening on the form factor of the display and the layout of the internal components), but it would be prohibitively expensive, and there would not be enough demand to justify the expenditure, in my opinion. They will do it if there is a serious safety issue with something, under recall, but we are speaking of a capabilities upgrade, not a safety issue that must be repaired. BTW, I also think folks could use a bit of courtesy. I try not to put folks down, even when disagreeing.

Yep, I read up a whole lot before I purchased. I do that with most cars, but especially this one, with the (to me) new electric technology.

They could have mechanically supressed the engine noises - many manufacturers do. They chose to let the engine produce the noises, and cancel them instead. That way they could keep the engine both powerful and lighter, because it is less complex and has fewer parts.

My day job is testing software, so I have some experience in these sort of decisions. At a certain point, it simply isn't a viable option to do an upgrade, if you've changed your product such that trying to shoehorn it into a different hardware platfrom simply isn't worth it from either an economic, time, or technical standpoint. I suspect this decision is technical. These days a car is a multiconnected set of computers (it has been more and more like that since the late 1980's). At this point it is like a small computer network, and there is a lot of programming, most of it customized by the auto manufacturer to their specific brand. Ford has chosen a different path for their entertainment system, and I'm sure they would have provided it to current owners if it were technically feasable. I don't consider "technically feasible" to include swapping out hardware parts on a vehicle they sold 1,2,3,4 - or however many - years ago. They began some time ago to redesign their computer systems in each vehicle to include the new sync. They can't keep updating past products. There is a long lead time in designing new products, and it is not a simple matter to just retrofit software onto a different platform. This is not to say they don't have a responsibility to fix any problems found in their current releases, of course. They do, and they have released new versions of their current Sync. The current Sync is just OK, in my opinion. It could be a lot better. I recognize the interface design because I have used Microsoft products for years, so that I intuiatively understand at least some of the ways it works. I suspect it may be harder for Apple users!

I'm not so sure. It is quite possible that the new system is not even running the same OS, and has different hardware requirements from what we currently have. That would make it more like an upgrade from PS3 to PS4 - quite simply, a different system entirely. That is not the same as an upgrade for a phone, which works on the same hardware. In point of fact, Ford has been upgrading the current sync over time. It just depends on how much they changed the new Sync, and in what way.

Wow, a C-Max and an Explorer are entirely different classes of vehicle! Why did you go so large after the smaller C-Max?

I don't think any Energi results are in there - I tend to go well over 1K on even a basic tank.

That system is called the BAT (can't remember what it stands for, Belt Alternator something-or-other). It was used on their "hybird" Vue for a short time. BTW, BMW uses engine stop technology.

Forgive me for not knowing, but is our current MFT 8 inches?