djc

I too hate that late smearing wipe, and do what Zathrus does (when I remember).

I came across YouTube videos from Weber State University showing the history and operation of the transmission in the Fusion and C-max hybrid. In the 2005 Escape hybrid, Ford used a transmission from Aisin. Aisin appears to be a Toyota controlled transmission supplier to Toyota and other auto makers. Ford used two generations of Aisin transmissions in the Escape hybrid 2005 through 2012. Then in 2012 Ford began producing the HF-35 in our cars. As the first video shows, there is essentially no difference between the HF-35 and the earlier Aisin transmissions used in the Escape: The instructor goes through the opened transmissions in order and reaches the HF-35 around minute 12, as I remember. Apparently a version of this transmission is also used in the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid, as well as in the latest generation of the Prius (earlier Toyota used a related design, but just recently moved to this more compact design with MG1 and MG2 in parallel that Aisin developed for Ford). This second video covers the electrical control system of the HF-35: All in all, these transmissions, even with the motor / generators, look to be somewhat simpler than the complicated hydraulic automatic transmissions of the past. The magic is in the electronic control systems. One point he mentions in second vid is that the oil pump for the transmission is driven by the engine shaft. So, as I understood him, on the C-max hybrid there is no oil flow in the transmission when the vehicle is running in EV mode, engine off. Whereas the Energi version of the transmission adds an external electric oil pump to lubricate the tranny when the engine is off. This suggests that in similar service the Energi transmission might have a longer life than the regular hybrid version.

Or salvage. For reference: from 2017 Fusion hybrid with 32k miles $1525 shipped. https://www.ebay.com/i/142863684700?chn=ps C-max should be similar and increasingly available. Unfortunately there's no salvage labor.

Consumer Reports online published a short piece yesterday titled "Four Disappearing Cars we'll Miss in 2019" The cars are the big Cadillac CT6, the similar size Chevy Malibu, the sporty Ford Fiesta ST (and only the ST) -- and the Ford C-max hybrid. They say: The C-Max hatchback started its life in Europe before it came to the U.S. Like GM, Ford is also cutting back on car models in favor of more popular (and more profitable) SUVs and pickup trucks. We found the C-Max to be an appealing all-around package. It combines the fuel efficiency of its standard hybrid powertrain with the practicality of a tall, small wagon. Based on the Ford Focus, the C-Max handles nimbly, rides comfortably, and feels substantial. It packs an impressive amount of room and utility into a small footprint. Its tall stance and low entry height make for easy access, and the cabin is airy and spacious." Seems about right. I brought a 10' long 3/4" pvc pipe home yesterday in the C-max - it just fit diagonally, with a bit of flex. Not long before that it hauled a big boxed recliner chair home from the store. Meanwhile it is comfortable to ride in. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-driving/disappearing-cars-we-will-miss-in-2019/

Nice improvised fuel line disconnect. Congrats!

For future reference (unneeded, I hope!): What is the tool? A flare nut wrench? Can obdII distinguish a stuck or dirty injector from an open injector? Did you check with a meter to confirm the injector was open circuit? If the injector showed up in OBDII with a code for "open", I assume it means the coil is burnt out or there is a connector problem. I myself would check the injector with a meter for continuity before pulling it. If the injector coil was indeed open circuit, then injector cleaner is not going to help.

I have seen rumors to the effect that Ford was losing money on the C-max in Europe and the UK and was considering ending production there. https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2018/12/ford-launches-phase-one-of-its-restructuring-plan-changes-target-money-losing-european-arm/ This appears to be confirmation: https://www.nasdaq.com/article/ford-in-talks-with-german-workers-about-saarlouis-job-cuts-20181210-00765 Meanwhile GM is ending U.S. production of many car lines, including the Chevy Volt hybrid. There is a suggestion that they see the future as all EV, not hybrid. Perhaps this is changing economics - battery costs falling to the point that it is cheaper and more efficient to produce all-electric vehicles rather than cars with engines that are only on some of the time, that add weight and that require more complicated transmissions (with potential reliability problems). But Toyota doesn't appear to draw same conclusion.

Sorry to hear the injector went. As I remember replacing them definitely looked like something one could do oneself - they are high on the engine and are just pressed into little 0-ring like gaskets on the manifold. If this happened to me, and I did the work myself, i would replace all 4 - almost all the labor is in removing and installing the rail, so negligible increment to do all injectors at once. Please post here to let us know how it went. Good luck!

While it would be nice to use recirc in really cold weather, in my experience it doesn't work well. Really cold weather = really cold glass, so the least bit of moisture inside (including from occupant breath) condenses on the windows. Coupled with snow tracked in to the foot-wells, which then melts and adds moisture to the cabin air, and it is isn't possible to drive safely using recirc in cold winter weather. It might work if there were partial recirc, but it seems to be binary.

In response to a reader question, Consumer Reports car testers recommend used C-max Energi over newer Chevrolet Volt, Hyundai Ioniq or Kia Nero: starting at minute 19:40 Several of the favorable comments apply to C-max hybrid as well.

More detail from Consumer Reports / Reuters: https://www.consumerreports.org/car-recalls-defects/toyota-prius-recall-for-fire-risk/ Reuters is cited as saying only one known fire has been reported: a Prius in Japan. CR: The problem: A bundle of wires wrapped in a protective sleeve—known as a wire harness—could wear out after contact with the cover of the vehicle’s Power Control Unit, which controls electricity within the hybrid drivetrain. If the harness wears, it could cause an electrical short circuit and lead to a vehicle fire. The fix: Dealers will check the vehicle’s engine wire harness assembly and replace it if a wire core is exposed. The new harness will include a protective sleeve. If the wire core is not exposed, dealers will apply protective tape. [so the usual repair is almost literally a Band-Aid.]

The latest model, produced mid 2015 to mid 2018; about 200k of these are in the U.S. Over-heating potential caused by wear to the wiring harness: https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/05/news/companies/toyota-prius-recall/index.html

With continued decline of C-max sales in Europe, Ford is apparently considering ending C-max production there. I believe there was no hybrid version of the European C-max, so the poor sales indicates a relative lack of buyers for other aspects of the car, which Ford calls an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle). http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180727/ANE/180729783/ford-seeks-european-profitability-with-shift-to-suvs-vans European sales of Ford's SUVs and commercial vehicles remain good and profitable.

Might be of interest to some: http://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2018/06/24/missouri-shop-takes-on-geico-in-court-claiming-10k-short-pay/ Near $17k bill to repair rear-ended 2016 C-max with what looked to be mainly tail gate damage. Photos show battery pack, dropped headliner, doors off and some other details you don't normally see. Plus saga of shop suing Geico.

There were several C-max and Fusion hybrid batteries on Ebay last time I looked. Seems to me salvage would be the place to get a replacement HVB. Suspension parts I looked at were shared with Focus and/or Mazda models. Used door locks are cheap (joke).

Automotive News reported that the last Ford C-max hybrid was built Friday in Wayne, MI. I haven't seen a report yet on the total number of C-max's produced 2012-2018. I plan on keeping mine several more years, and to enjoy its scarcity value. (Other Ford news reported that production at Ford's Mexico plants (Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Fiesta) is way down.)

SUVs tend to be boxy, tall (65" and up), and have raised ground clearance. Much like this popular Ford model: The 1949 Ford wagon was the most expensive vehicle (and maybe most profitable) in Ford's offerings that year. It had dimensions similar to many current SUVs. It was 67" tall, 72" wide on a 114" wheelbase, and weighed a little under 4000 lbs. By the 1960s station wagons were substantially lowered, with much less ground clearance, and they wallowed on soft suspensions. So I am thinking the recent shift to SUVs is, more or less, a return to the original mid-century station wagon layout, with modern drive trains and suspensions.

The LX has no switch either; just seems to read all modules it can find. I've been leaving the LX plugged in. My impression is that either it shuts down, or the car shuts down the 12V to the obdii port at some point. My Insignia tablet running Windows did revive - apparently if the charge is low enough, it doesn't even light an "i'm charging" LED. I installed the free Windows version of Forscan. The Forscan user interface is cumbersome, uses tiny icons for everything and is (for me) is very not intuitive. I did try the brake pressure parameter in the ABS module and (I think) it did a good job showing the shift from regen to friction braking.

I had to replace C-max sway-bar links at around 35000 miles. Dealer replaced the front under warranty; I replaced the rear after warranty expired. In both cases this fixed rattles going over bumps at low speeds. As I remember the C-max shares the parts with Maxda3; perhaps because both are based on the Ford C1 platform. Moog rear "improves on OE design": https://www.amazon.com/Moog-K750465-Stabilizer-Bar-Link/dp/B00K6KXEKM/

Thanks for info. I didn't think of that - it didn't look heavy enough to do useful balancing work.

Claims: cheap and light weight; provide regen braking; and allow for more, and more efficient, electrical accessories (e.g. AC). https://www.consumerreports.org/automotive-technology/why-your-next-car-might-use-48-volt-technology/

Thanks much P3G for the brake pressure info. A year or so I bought the cheaper LX model obdii reader - seems to work fine with Forscan. I did have some trouble losing connection when I tried it last week - could be my phone. This morning I stumbled upon an "Insignia" (= BestBuy) Windows tablet i have and thought I would charge it up and download Forscan since the Windows version is free. But - of course! - the tablet shows no sign of accepting charge. With an 8" screen it would have been a nice way to monitor multiple obdii parameters.

When I was swapping summer for winter tires and wheels last week I saw a gear and pulley at the end of the C-max engine. The gear appeared to have a sensor mounted below it - I am guessing it does ignition timing. It does seem odd that this was exposed, not covered. And mounted on the gear was a pulley, but I could find no belt. Hallucination? Power take-off for a wood-chipper? Sign this engine is used in other applications?

Out and about, wrapped in tape and plastic disguise: https://www.leftlanenews.com/spied-2020-ford-escape-100344.html Brief article says it would make sense for Ford to offer a hybrid version to replace C-max. Speculated availability: very late 2018 or early 2019.

P3G, Could you walk us through these parameters you have chosen to display on the screenshot you attached to your original post, explaining what they are and why you find them useful (besides the tire pressures?) I am thinking the 12v battery charge would be interesting to know. Maybe also info on whether the friction brakes are about to engage? If so, do you know the names of parameters available in Forscan that might show those? Is there any mpg info that is good to know but that is not clear from the stock Empower /MyView etc displays included on the C-max dash?