Telerisk

My 2016 C-max is coming up to 6 Yrs; Manual reads change coolant in Cooling system and Hybrid Inverter system 100k or 6 years. So when I contact a Ford dealer they can provide costs to Drain/Refill Engine coolant...but when I ask about changing Hybrid Inverter Coolant...the answers went from, there in no such system to chnaging $150.00 to change the Inverter coolant....to include we have never changed a Ford Hybrids' Inverter Coolant...WOW. With answers like this, I am not all that motivated to take my C-Max in to a Ford dealer; and these are large dealerships.......and spend over $300.00 (the dealers that acknowledged the Hybrid Inverter Coolant Chg quoted $150.00 each for engine & Inverter Coolant replacement).... My C-Max has 14,000 miles on it, appearance really means nothing, but coolant in both engine Overflow and Hybrid resorvoir like great. How is it that the Ford C_Max has been around since 2012....and the 4 dealers I have called none have changed Inverter Coolant? I am guessing the amt of Coolant in the Inverter isn't much more than what is in the resorvoir...so $150.00...if they even know how to change the Inverter Coolant...seems real high to me. Is there a detailed set of Instruction how to change the Hybrid Inverter Coolant in a 2016 C-Max?

Are you saying, you won't change the coolant in the Inverter until or if your Transmission needs replacement? But is the same true as to your Engine Coolant? Anti-freeze not only coos it protects and Lubs cooling parts and over Mileage\Years those properties diminish. It is for these reasons I would and if I have my car when it is 6 years Old....I will Flush and re-new the Coolant for sure in the Engine, may put off that change in the Inverter. I am surprised no one has been able to tell me if there is even a Drain for the Inverter Cooling system...even the 3 Ford dealers I called. Now that I see the 6yr\100K miles before the 1st Drain/New Anti-freeze I am more at ease...but really; the Ford dealers should know this. true, the C-Max is no longer in production...but the Fusion I believe is...and it has if not the same Hybrid design...it sure must be close. But wait, the C-Max was released in 2012...and discontinued in 2018....that should have been sufficient C-Max's in a Ford dealer for various repairs that Ford dealers should be familiar with how to performed Maintenance.... I hate feeling like if I Take my C-Max in that the tech has little to no idea how to proceed to perform the work. I have had my Oil\Filter chged at the dealers since I purchased it.....but this year I may have that maintenance done elsewhere.

I decided to stop being so stupid and see if there was a maintenance schedule Manual that came with my 2016 Ford C-Max. Page 223 in the 2016's owner manual..."Your vehicle has TWO separate cooling systems. One is for cooling the engine and one is for cooling the Inverter system controller that is specific to the hybrid Operating system". So that answers one of my questions. I wish it had read instead of Inverter...Battery system but sure they are one of the same. Manual outlines how to check and add coolant to each system but does not have any details as to Draining and renewing...the steps to follow. But here's what seems the real answer I needed....Page 353 in the Owners manual..."Scheduled maintenance"...."AT 100,000 miles/Change engine coolant and motor /electronics coolant". Further there is a footnote. Initial replacement at six years or 100,000 miles, then every three years or 50,000 miles". I just don't understand why terminology cannot be consistent, one place in the Manual it refers to the Hybrid system as the Inverter system, and in the Scheduled maintenance refers to it as...Electronics Coolant. My 2016 C-Max with less than 13,000 Miles on it and now Just 5 years old....per Ford's Owners Manual...I have an entire Year to go before it reaches 6 Yeras the recommended Coolant Service and this car under my ownership will never have 100K miles on it. So this perplexes me even more with the 3 Ford dealers...and large dealerships at that...1st not knowing there were 2 Separate Cooling systems....and I told each the age and Miles I had on the car...and all 3 did not advise both Ford Installed Coolant systems per Ford do not need service until 6yeras or 100,000 Miles. Surely any of the 3 dealers would have graciously taken my money for needed not yet required per Ford. Await comments.

My 2016 C-Max is 5 years old....which means, according to the Ford maintenance Schedule....the Engine Coolant and ...maybe if its separate...Hybrid Battery coolant needs to be flushed and replaced. Vehicle has 14,000 Miles on it....I think Coolant losses its protection qualities by both Mileage (50,000 Recommended) and years...in my case again, vehicle is over 5 years old. Here what is very perplexing...I called 3 Ford dealers, Flushing Engine Coolant and New Anti-Freeze...$150.00. If its done right I have no issues...but my guess is, they drain, and refill...no flushing. But even more concerning...I asked about the coolant in the C-max's Hybrid Battery System...and no one, at least the Service Advisors had any clue of what I was referring to.... One dealer that checked further told me, the Engine Coolant and Hybrid Battery are the same system cooling system....so one Drain, Flush and re-fill covers both the Engine and Battery Coolant.... IS THIS TRUE? One Dealer after checking further came back....said he had never heard of the C-Max having a Hybrid Battery Coolant System no less one that needed Coolant replaced...but said if there is 2 separate Engine and Hybrid Battery systems...it would be $150.00 Each to Drain/Flush and add new Coolant. The 3rd dealer said, there was 2 Separate Coolant systems, one for Engine, the other for Hybrid Battery....cost $150.00 each. So 3 Ford dealers and 3 Different Answers....and the reason I am perplexed...as there can only be ONE Right answer. Hopefully someone reading this Posts has actually drain/Flushed/re-filled the Cooling System in their 2016 (sure earlier models may have same design) and can respond with the right answers.... Does the 2016 Ford C-Max have 1 Cooling system that cools/circulates Coolant and therefore one Flush re-news both the engine and Hybrid battery cooling system? Does the 2016 Ford C-Max have 2 Separate Cooling systems....therefore each would need to be flushed and re-newed? Does the 2016 Ford C-Max Engine Cooling System have a Drain...or is it drained by removing the bottom Radiator Hose? If the Hybrid battery IS a separate Cooling system requiring a separate Drain....does it have its own Drain Plug, if so, where is it located? I have more confidence in the responses I will get from this Forum than I do from certified Ford Dealers....

2016 C-Max; current Mileage 13,000; Gas\Elec (this is not a Mistake...its 13,000) .....will be 5 yrs old in April. I called dealers to get price quotes on Flushing and new Anti-Freeze in Cooling system and Hybrid Cooling system. First, I was amazed by the $149.99 Chg for the Cooling System. But I was amazed that none of the dealers knew that the Hybrid system needed to be flushed with new Coolant.... One dealer even said, they had no idea how the Hybrid system could even be drained and that you never had to Drain and replace the Hybrid cooling System. Comments like this quite honestly really make me concerned about taking the C-Max in to the dealer to get this Maintenance done...I mean if they don't have the knowledge of what and How...how can I trust the work will be performed properly. I had to push back on one dealer when they informed me the Hybrid system needed no Maintenance...that the Maintenance Booklet that came with the C-Max documents the Hybrid coolant system Change. When I did finally force a Quote, I got $149.99 for the Hybrid change; same as the Cooling system....these prices just seem very high. So my questions to this Forum....those that have drained ...Flushed..put in new Coolant in 1) Cooling System 2) Hybrid System * Both systems can be drained, Flushed and new Coolant put in? * Does the Cooling system have a drain Plug? Or, do you just remove the Bottom Hose to drain? * Does the Hybrid system have a drain Plug..and if not, how is it drained? * Does anyone know of a Link that details how...step by step... * How to drain/Flush/put in new Anti-Freeze in the Cooling system and Hybrid Systems?

Once again; Love my C-max wish Ford had not discontinued the model....but they did I drive without thinking how I am driving; I realize a controlled approach delivers a great MPG result. But I drive just to enjoy....and I would say I dive the Niro exactly as I drive the C-max. From my personal driving experiences, as I wrote, my 2018 Niro EX gets better MPG for me personally. If i chose to drive more precisely as your excellent Post outlines...my results may be different. I just drive...no thought...just enjoy....

I love my 2016 C-Max and hate the fact that Ford did such a poor job of marketing it that it caused its demise. Thre wasn't one person I recall that I told I drove a Ford C-max that ever knew of the car. Terrible marketing by Ford...and because it is no longer ...our vehicle values has dropped...even the so called Trade your C-max in on a New Ford that Ford has mailed me is really a very low value. I like the CVT Traney, how it zips around. I drove both the 2016 C-Max and 2018 Kia on the highway; cruise controls set to 65, about round trip of 156 miles...C-Max 38; Kia 54 mpg

Thank you and understood; and yes...good memory...we have discussed this in the past. if the Battery symbol was not present this would be an issue/concern for me. But since replacing the 12v Battery; the symbol now stays in the mid to Upper range and prior to the replacement...it was pretty much always in the mid to low range. The only thing that has changed is ...replacing the 12v battery....perhaps the Battery symbol is monitoring both the Hybrid and 12v Battery? Am waiting for the 2020 Escape Hybrid that was supposed to be in showrooms around this time but not in dealerships as yet. Pricing however, looking at the Gas 2020 Escape...makes me feel the 2020 Hybrid may be above my pricepoint. I do have a 2018 Kia Niro; it really is a well built Car...whereas the C-max averages 40...the Niro averages 50mph....you do feel the difference in Hp between the 2.

2016 Ford C-max SEL..... For the past year or so I have been concerned over the Hybrid battery pack. I realize it is warranted for 8 yrs 100% replacement...but none the less; the Battery Dash Symbol in the past year has stayed in the mid to bottom range whereas prior to that, it had always been in the mid to upper range. I have had to replace the 12 Volt battery recently as the original one totally died. Interesting the 12v covered 3 years Flat; the Hybrid 8 years. Since getting the New 12v battery the Dash Battery Symbol is back to pretty much staying in the Mid to Upper.... Is there any connection between the 12v and the Hybrid batteries that if the 12v Battery was not fully charging it would be reflected in the Dashboard battery symbol and therefore why I had been seeing the Symbol mostly registering in the lower part of the symbol? As I wrote since replacing the 12V...the symbol displays mostly in the Upper part of the Symbol...... Driving habits have not changed so that is not a factor.....

So by Hybrid; sorry to exhibit my lack of knowledge in this area.....Hybrid means Elec\Gas like my C-Max? Can you provide Link, I would like to read whatever might be available. I love my C-max and I am disappointed Ford discontinued the Model...sure lack of Sales speak to why but, the fault in with Ford....you can't sell anything unless you advertise it. I have yet to find anyone I speak with that I drive a C-max that hasn't asked, whats a C-max? Who Makes it? This is all on Ford. So what if they error-ed and overstated the MPG and got sued and had to settle with owners...that wasn't on the Car, it was on Ford marketing..but that mis-information was the demise of the C-Max....Ford just felt they could not get the car's reputation back that is was a contender to match up with the Toyota Prius. So if the 2019 Fall Release of the Hybrid Escape is Elec\Gas just like the C-Max....I would appreciate Links where I can read up on the vehicle. I if its the technology matching the C-max...I would be very interested in owning it.

Anyone confirm the Announcement from Ford? If so, Release date...2019 or 2020 Model year. I would only be motivated to buy if released in gas/Elec like the C-Max. I can never see myself being tethered to an Electrical outlet to Charge my Car

2016 Ford C-Max SEL.... When you push up or down on Turn Signal Lever and release....ie, push up and release Right turn signal comes on and Flashes 3 times (You can hold it up and it will Flash as long as you hold that position)......same occurs if you Hold down and release for left turn; Signal lights Flash 3 times. Within the menu/Settings Tree...and I have reviewed that Tree, seems to go on forever....is there a setting that you can increase the number of times the signal Light Flashes...to 5 times, or 8 Times? If it is doable, can someone in the know reply with detailed steps to get to the menu item and make this change....? Thanks

I am facing the same issue; never had an extended but Ford Warranty will expire shortly. No issue with my C-max either....just Oil changes and a Factory Recall. Extended warranty to extend 1 year (Mileage has no impact for my purposes)...is over $1,000.00. 2 year extension....just $50.00 more than 1 yr...go figure. Not sure what I will do, more to forgoing than spending the money for a Contract I'll get nothing back...

Well, I'm Back.... Here in Florida we went thru 3 weeks of what we consider Cold....highs low 60's so AC was not needed. During the 3 weeks HVB was always upper half....never falling below half. The past week it has gotten back to low 80's and AC is being used; HVB back down staying in lower half...so AC is having an Impact on HVB Charge level. I went to MY VIEW; turned on AC and it barely shows any of the Blue bar....should I have seen while at Idle in driveway, running AC...the Blue Bar in My View at any time showing a rise? I will write; AC in this Car is the coldest and best running AC of any car I have ever owned. From monitoring the HVB Charge level the past 4 weeks; 3 wks cold/no ac running...high Charge levels (at times almost to the Top Tip) to this last week with AC running, Low Charge levels always midland or Lower....seems it points to right or wrong, something not working right or not...the AC running vs not...makes a Big difference in the HVB Charge level of my C-Max.....

Update...Now that Winter is here in Tampa, Fl, Temps in the 70's...."pause for effect for those of you living in the North...." and I am not using the AC; my HVB symbol averages at midpoint or higher....the different, have not had to use AC. I realize AC is totally driven by Battery Power....so now it makes me wonder why in my 3rd summer of ownership why this past summer the HVB averaged midpoint to bottom, vs the pror 2 summers when it averaged Midpoint and higher....could the AC Electric Motor be drawing more battery Power then previous summers? AC Compressor with age requiring more Elec Power to run? I will write, the AC in my C-Max is by Far the Best AC I have ever had in any vehicle, it blows Cold very fast and the volume of Air is terrific cooling my hot vehicle quickly. So I Point out the questions above as a could it be....with the follow that the AC Runs great. It is just that the only difference between now and this summer...is now I am not running the AC......

Frank... I understand, my concern is driving as you described, I can get the HVB to that 70% (top) but from there if I am in an area where I can drive mainly on EV....ie flat roads (I am in Florida); very little Braking....that 70% charge will quickly discharge to the 30%....about 1 to 1.5 miles of driving on EV...... This is what I mean when I wrote, my HVB Charge "Lives" mostly at the bottom of the HVB Dash Symbol. My feeling is the HVB Battery will Charge to 70% if I drive the vehicle Braking, off acceleration....Gas engine running.....so it does charge fully (I guess) but the HVB in my thinking discharges much too fast based on distance Traveling on EV. Its liken to a battery at idle, it can show it is fine....but once a load is placed on it...its State of Charge is poor and its power runs down quickly. Further, this is how its been since July, prior to this....I would say where I drive hasn't changed very much, prior to July the HVB Symbol was in the Mid to upper range...so to me, this is the basis for my concern.

Darn; I was hoping for a 2019 release...again, I believe it will be the Escape???? so I could trade my 2016 C-max in for the same type of Vehicle (Sm SUV) with the same Powertrain as the C-Max (Has\Elec; Not Plug-in) because even though the Hybryd battery has a full 100% no depreciation or Deductible replacement for 8 yrs....the Battery in my 2016 "Lives" mostly in the bottom of its range per the symbol....and it bothers me. It will charge with Gas Engine\braking to about 90% full, it will quickly discharge to the bottom running on Elec Power. The dealer check was to I guess, check battery at idle....but not under load which is where the Charge drops. I can maintain @42MPG so thats not bad....but sometimes I fine myself driving to Charge the Battery than MPG..... When I get w/i 1/4 mile of my Home...rather than Park it at the lowest charge....I will drive around the block forcing the Gas Engine to come on and I can get the charge up to 65% (the vehicle has Navigation so w/i a predetermined distance from your Home EV+ comes on which tries to keep vehicle running on elec). Even though the Hybryd has been around for what 6 or 7 years...due to at least in my area where VERY few C-Max's were sold, the dealers Techs seem to be poorly trained on the Hybryds Elec system as to troubleshooting.....

I own a 2016 Ford C-Max....Ford blew it big time in my opinion...they failed to advertise, most people had no idea what a C-Max was.... Now that it is gone, is Ford going to have a replacement in its 2019 small SUV Footprint with the C-max Elec\Gas power train (Not Plug-In).....I had heard the Ford Escape which I believe is the next step up in size from the C-Max....might be in the 2019 Line up with an Elec\Gas Hybryd (Not Plug-in) Anyone know, can point at a dependable Article?

I must be honest; when I took the C-max in with the complaint, I really did get the feeling it was a drive it, see it....I just didn't get the feeling the issue was thoroughly checked out....the display showed a charge, no matter it was low, it passed as OK.

Thanks; am I correct, should the HVB die.....the 12v battery would start the C-Max...and the vehicle will run on the Gas engine.....one Poster wrote, if the HVB Battery dies, Vehicle will not run......reason for asking. It wouldn't seem logical that with a Dead HVB battery that the Gas engine would not operate the C-Max. I may sit down with the dealership Service Mgr and have a talk....at one point he mentioned bringing in the vehicle and leaving it with him for a "Few" days. I just don't feel it should take a 'few" days to determine if there is an issue with the HVB Battery. I don't feel its the charging because if that were so...I would think the increase in Charge as displayed by the Symbol would be slow to take place, its not so, it is just the discharge running on EV where the symbol drops more quickly then it did in the past.

For clarity; there are 2 batteries in the C-max; one small one that is used exclusively to Start the car the other larger is the HVB that runs the AC, Power Steering, EV, etc....all Electrical components. This is just a Hypothetical, If by chance, the Hybryd battery were to go completely dead, would the "Starter" battery start the car and the C-Max would run on the Gas engine.....? Clarity; the battery display....very bottom its showing 32% charge, very top 65% charge?

Sure wish the Ford dealerships had the proper testing equipment to examine the health of the Hybryd battery. They have nothing other than visual, and idle battery evaluation...nothing to put battery under real driving conditions to show how battery health under Load is OK (Elec Motor elec draw). So for now I seem to drive my C-Max working to keep battery charged then for high gas Mileage. As I wrote previously, my Battery display symbols may go as high as a little over 50%, but as soon as I drive on EV, it goes down to 20 range. I believe someone wrote in a prior Post...the battery Display is actually showing a range of 30% to 80%. Its just my Feeling the SOC is not at full health and the reason the Battery, as seen by the Display, discharges so quickly when running on EV. I realize this time of the year the AC is On all the time, its drawing power from the battery, but this is my 3rd summer season of ownership and I didn't experience this issue in prior summers.... Oh well, it is what it is...I still manage to get around 40MPG....but prior to this issue, it was higher. With Ford moving over to more Elec cars maybe their testing equipment will get better in the future. Nice to know that the Hybryd Battery has a 100% replacement warranty for 8yrs....although I don't plan in owning the C-Max that Long. If the battery just stops functioning, not saying it ever will, the Gas engine will keep me going if I am not in a place where I can get into a dealership (ie vacation). Would like to think the 2019 Escape will be released with this Gas\Elec (non-Plug-in) model but seems from what I have read, it may be released with the Plug-in model.....

2016 Ford C=Max with Sync 3 Navigation. Since the last Software Update; 4 weeks ago or so, every time I start the vehicle I get Sync can be automatically updated if connected to Network..... I checked WiFi Network and it shows it is connected to my Home WiFi Network. Its a pain to see this Popup as you must tap CLOSE to get rid of it. Anyone else having this issue?

WOW...I had not opened this up for about a week and decided to take a look for nay updates...and there it was, your POST from Yesterday. How do I send PM to you....I will be going out for about 2 hours.....either day would work for me, which ever day is better for you

ptjones......the dealer just said everything checked out. But I just wonder how that conclusion was arrived out...by actual Diagnostic equipment....if there is such a device. Hmmmm....I am near Dunedin, FL.