HannahWCU

I can say for certain that when the battery SoC is 100% (bar graph if full) it stops charging. If you are traveling down a long grade and the hill descent mode on, when the battery is charged the ICE will engage to replace the regen. I have observed this several times.

A4

After 20 years of marriage, I have two little phrases that every man (or woman) needs to use for a lasting relationship: "Yes Dear" "I'm Sorry"

An interesting note, the CMax I spotted in my neighborhood in eary June, has not moved since then. I really don't know the story on it. It has out of state tags, so I thought it was a visitor. An elderly man lives in the house it is parked at. But I never see anyone else there. Just wondering how long the HV battery will last with not being used for so long.

Don't let the wife drive the car. Oh sorry, you said you wanted a "Happy" wife! :lol2: Seriously though, the only way to do this is to give her driving tips for driving a Hybrid. Like which screen to use to help with EV mode, how to accelerate for best mileage, how to achieve GREAT brake scores (I am betting with low 30 MPG they aren't that great), etc.

I second what MtnMarty said. Old Fort grade on I-40 west is a 6% grade for 6 miles and the CMax has NO problem with it. As others have said, your not going to get "great" mileage if you are constantly climbing hills, but I am pretty sure you will not be lacking power to climb them. Just keep in mind with a CVT transmission you WILL hear the gas motor on those hills.

WOW! That is pretty cool!

That looks great on the screen. I might have to try that one.

Oh that is just wrong!!! :rant2: Back on topic... I use google image search, and search for "MFT Wallpaper" then use the search tools and search for sizes exactly "800X384" or "800X378". 800X378 is older units size but will work in ours. A couple I really like are: and also

Here is mine.

THAT IS GREAT!!!! I'm using a Carolina panther logo. It goes with the color of my car.

I just sent an Email to my dealer to schedule a service for both recalls and two other minor issues. As soon as I get it completed I will post up my thoughts. As my daily commute is mostly highway (>65mph speed limit) I should be a good indicator of how this will affect highway mileage.

I had this happen once on my SE. Turned out, when I turned the key to "start" the car, it didn't take. The Ready to Drive symbol on the dash was not lit. I don't know if I was just in a hurry and didn't turn the key far enough or press the brake peddle enough. But I put the car back in park, turned the key off and tried again and it worked. Dumb question but, did you try it multible times? It also could be a dead 12v battery, have you gotten the update for that? I've never had that problem but several on here have and there are whole threads dedicated to that issue (look under the "Batteries" topics). Sorry I couldn't be more help.

My daily commute is 54 miles round trip. But, overall, I am averaging about 70 miles/day if you add in Lunch, trips to the store and vacations to Myrtle Beach (~700 over a 4 day weekend). So yes, I am putting on alot of miles. But I LOVE my CMax!! :love_shower:

Over 14,000 miles and at 98%.

My 2c is that hills are all different. Here in the Piedmont of NC there are no flat roads and almost all the hills are steep enough that my CMax almost never is charging when climbing a hill. It would be hard to discuss a hard and fast rule to how to climb a hill, unless we are all climbing hills with the same incline. That said ... What works for me is I actually try to accelerate up the hills to a speed at or alittle above 65mph (the speed limit). Just as I crest the hill I let off the throttle to start charging and loosing speed to get to below 62 and into EV. I then "feather" the throttle to keep my speed between 60-62mph until the bottom of the hill. Rinse, repeat.

WARNING: Very Technical Discussion Ahead! :gaah: Being an Engineer, I have long wondered exactly how the eCVT in the CMax works. I have read articles and seen diagrams, but until now, I have not been able to really understand how a single planetary gear set can output variable speeds from two input sources (electrical, motor and mechanical, engine). I know how a planetary gear works. But how this is applied in a Hybrid Drivetrain I could not figure out. Until I found this video. This video is how a Gen3 (and newer) Prius works, but I am sure the Cmax is similar. Its a long video (30 minutes) but very informative. I hope some of you find this as interesting as I did.

You'll have fun with all those mountains and hills. Like a roller coaster, the uphill sucks, but the downhill makes it all worth it!! :shift:

Thanks for the link!! Thanks for adding to the discussion!

I can't speak to this 100% accurately because, as I have stated, there are very few “flat” roads in my area to test this. These scenarios assume that, on a flat road and with the CURRENT software and traveling above 62 mph, that most of the time you are using ICE and charging the battery. The second assumption is that with the NEW software, on a flat road traveling at speeds up to 85mph, you will be in EV and discharging the battery. However, in my limited experience (with flat roads), it isn’t as black and white as these scenarios make it out to be. At any speed (up to the current limit of 62mph) I can be in EV and using the battery OR I can give it a little more pedal, trip the car into ICE and then back off to maintain the same speed. Only now I am charging. Also, when the battery is fairly charged (say above 70%), the CMax uses the battery to supplement the ICE at speeds above 62mph. Again, this is my experience, with the terrain I drive on every day. I am also betting that it will be MUCH harder to keep the car in ICE as speed increases. The wind resistance will be MUCH greater at 70 than 60. I would not be surprised if it would be almost impossible to keep the CMax in ICE at constant speeds above 70. Yes, I know the next comment will be “How does the Energi get to 85 with the same drivetrain (except a bigger battery)?” I am guessing that the Hybrid model limits current to the electric motor more than the Energi does. Have you ever tried to get the CMax Hybrid to 60MPH in pure electric? Want to bet the Energi does it faster? Why would that be, they have the same drivetrain, UNLESS the Hybrid limits current to the motor to preserve what little KW it has. I expect some people will get worse mileage with the new software, but I am betting that the vast majority of normal drivers of the CMax will get better mileage with the update (maybe not on this board, I don’t think too many of us consider ourselves “normal” drivers :) ). These are just my thoughts on the new software. Comments are welcome, just trying to add to the discussion.

My daily 27 mile drive to work includes over 20 miles of 65mph interstate. I WILL be getting the update. The topography of the Piedmont area of NC has almost no level roads. I drive at less than 62mph to shut down the ICE on the downhill sides of hills. I may lose some mpg or I may not. But being able to drive at least the speed limit and shut down the ICE on the downhills will be worth it. Just my $0.02

Found today. All they could get was 38mpg, but they don't dwell on it and conclude, for the hybrid driver "... the C-Max delivers a practical, useable solution for family transportation happiness." :wub2: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130719/CARREVIEWS/130719845

I had the same recall on my 2000 Dodge Intrepid. It does not mean the roof structure is not sound. All it means is that there is inadequate padding in the B-pillar area (for those that don't know, the B-pillar is the vertical support of the automobile's window area between the front and rear doors). The Dodge recall was: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Recall number: 01V273000 Recall date: 08/02/2001 Problem Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES (NON-SUNROOF ONLY) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT. Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD WERE TO CONTACT THE B-PILLAR. Corrective Action: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A STORAGE BIN ACCESSORY UNIT THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO THE B-PILLAR ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, IF AN OWNER WISHES, THE DEALER CAN PERFORM THE INSTALLATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403. This "Storage Bin" was basically a sunglasses holder that slid into place on the B-pillar. In the event of a roll-over and your head came in contact with the "storage bin" the bin would crush providing more padding between your head and the car structure. I really don't see this as a big deal. Ford has sold over 16,000 C-Maxes (C-Maxi?) to date. I am guessing the majority are without the sunroof, so there are alot of parts to make. 2 B-Pillars per car X 12,000+ cars = 24,000+ parts to make if there is only one part to each B-pillar. This takes time. And since it keeps them from selling the cars I am sure this is a HIGH priority.

Get rid of the blinking white circle on the nav!!!!

I found this same thing. I want to be comfortable in my car. I start at 75, then as the energy gauge shows the AC use is a minimum, I start dropping my set point one degree at a time until I get to the temp I am comfortable at.