CNCGeek

The only one I have seen on TV (US) is this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPgJKFDuAfA

This is probably nothing to do with your quirky operation you posted here but I discovered a feature that I would think is abnormal if I did not know it was a normal operations feature on the C Max. The owners manual talks about a feature called "hill start assist" (pg 212). Basically, a sensor activates when stopped on a slope and delays the brake release (2-3 sec) until engine rev is detected and automatically releases the brakes. The purpose is to prevent vehicle roll on while transitioning from brakes to gas pedal. This feature sounds cool if you live in hilly areas. Also though a new sensor to go bad.

 

Another cool feature I found is "grade assist". The little button on the side of the shift selector. That is on pg 209 in the owners manual. It functions to charge the battery and speed control while driving on a downgrade. Basically it is engine braking. Cool stuff.

I am not sure if the hill climb assist was the cause (my garage is only slightly sloped for water to run away from the building, but level enough to not cause the car to roll on it's own). I have not experienced the problem again so hopefully it was just something I did wrong. There was no code either, but I have no idea if a faulty hill sensor would send one or not. I'll keep this in mind though if it happens again somewhere where there is a decent slope.

I found out about the grade assist when I was driving and noticed the lamp for it on the cluster. It took me a bit to realize that I had bumped it, and it's nice to have on long hills when the regen fills up the battery early on.

Is a tap on the throttle the norm (sometimes) ?

Yeah, this is one of the things that seems to be the most inconsistent when backing out of my garage. Sometimes it will just roll (when in reverse) and sometimes it needs a little kick to get going - especially when the engine is running due to a low battery.

At least 1 owner seems to be exceeding EPA, 55.2mpg average in city driving;

 

https://www.fuelly.c...r/cmaximus/cmax

If you look at the comments there, he/she is using several Hypermiling techniques (which makes a lot of sense given the mpg figures). It is nice to see what the c-max is capable of, though that driver's numbers are probably going to be at the far right on the bell curve.

 

Are you using ethanol mixed fuel? I can't find any stations near me that have straight gasoline.

 

http://www.fuelecono...g/ethanol.shtml

You are correct, I believe (but need to verify) that stations sell 10% ethanol around here - year round. The EPA tests are run with 100% gas (no ethanol). That's still only about 2mpg lost to e10, which moves things closer to 47mpg for me, but not quite within reach. Possibly winter blends could be a further hit on mpg, but I am not sure by how much.

Wow, $8 for a screw, I think Ford is just being intentionally ironic.

Another option is a rear view mirror with camera capabilities.

I have the SE and was thinking the same, but the best ones I have considered (Gentex GENK332) run about $380. The cameras I have seen as cheap as $15 (non OEM of course) on Ebay, though I have no idea how well they work or fit.

if you open the door after it's started, it will shut off. I thought something was wrong because I've never had a car with a remote start that would shut off when the door was opened. After reading the very brief owners manual, I discovered that this is normal with this starter on vehicles with MyKey.

I asked my co-worker who has the remote start (with pushbutton) on his Escape, he said that his will also shut off when he opens the door, but if he puts his foot on the brake it will remain on - of course it would have to stay on long enough to do that.

Hello everyone. My actual mileage so far is 41.9. The computer shows 43.6 so it is a little optimistic. Temps have been in the 40's to 50's. Tire pressure at 38 as per spec. I had EV+ mode turned on but I turned it off today to see if it made any difference. I was use to getting near 50 mpg with my 2006 Civic Hybrid so getting less in the higher rated C-MAX is a dissappointment. Personally I am not a believer in the brake in period but maybe this one is different. I have just under 1900 miles so far. Today I averaged 45.7 indicated but it was near 70 degrees. This is a mix of mostly highway.

I agree, I am starting to think 41-42mpg will end up being my average. If it gets better than that, it won't have anything to do with the car breaking in, it will be a change in my driving habits. At least among the people I know, Toyota drivers (Prius and Camry Hybrid) seem to be getting at least as good or better than EPA mpg, but it seems to be a struggle for me to get within reach of the EPA numbers on the C-max. OTOH I don't think I'd be happy with a Prius.

Thanks for doing the heavy lifting on this, hopefully the expensive parts will be stock and this can be done for a couple hundred bucks. Thanks also for mentioning the fordparts.com site, it is going to come in handy.

There are 3 connectors on the inside of the panel on the dirver side, closer to the center of the vehicle, but none of them look like the one in the pic from the passenger side, they appeared to be connected, so I am guessing the one in the pic is not a connector for the fogs.

Thanks for the info. I've begun a discussion of this subject in the Lights, etc forum on this site.

 

Yes, there might be a kit down the road but at this point, Ford customer service said there wasn't/wouldn't be one. The difficulty is that in addition to the lights, grills, switch and wiring jumper harness as it's called, it seems there is a different BCM (Body Control Module). One could say, well, just buy the different BCM but, again, what I've learned from posting these questions on other forums is that BCMs are coded to VINs and somehow you'd have to fool the BCM into thinking it was in a different vehicle. I have seen kits for versions of the Ford F-150 which actually include a replacement BCM, so maybe not too far fetched an idea. I could go old school and just wire it to the battery with a relay but I've been advised not to for safety/warranty reasons. I didn't think a request for fogs would become such a complicated issue but it seems to be just that.

 

Yes, I wish I could have at least had the winter package but we needed to replace our totaled Volvo (nobody hurt) right away from dealer stock and the closest model with our chosen colors which had the winter package was 500 miles away.

First congratulations on the new C-max, I also bought the SE, but would have liked to get the heated (cloth) seats and mirrors, but nothing else on the SEL was necessary for me.

I should probably post this in the other thread, but did Ford say that the BCM was different on the SE vs SEL? I find that surprising if true since there are only a handful of extras that it would support for the additional cost of two different modules.

Does anyone have any idea on the correct size wheels and tires for snow tires/wheels? TireRack and Discount Tire Direct do not have the C-Max in their system so they cannot advise as to what will fit. I am thinking 16" x 7" wheels with 215/60 R16 tires but I need to find out if they will fit without rubbing.

The manual says use the same size as what they put on at the factory - page 331 in the manual. It also says they don't recommend chains, so I wonder what they expect people to use, aside from a tow truck?

I don't have the fog's either, but would add them if there was a grill kit available for a reasonable price. I took some pics through the hole in the shroud which is right below the grills, there is not much behind them but I did see something that could be a connector on the passenger side, will check to see if it is on the driver side later and post back.

This was looking straight up through the hole on the passenger side, and could be a connector for fog lights:

Otherwise there is not much going on behind the grills:

Found one and ordered it: http://shop.tlcentra...Hitch-p1079.htm

 

Supposedly works with the foot operated rear hatch, see video at

 

I'll install it and report back.

Awesome! I hope it works out, are you planning to install it yourself?

Watched the video and am thinking that with the sensor it may unintentionally open while mounting bikes or the hitch. I think I'd zip tie a towel or something soft to the carrier the first couple times (to protect the liftgate from hitting it) until it can be seen one way or ther other if mounting the bikes or hitch would trigger it.

That is funny because the one on this page: http://www.ford.com/.../#page=Feature3

 

Shows the bi-directional one.

The accessories page for the c-max shows both of them so I'd guess they would both work with it - I was not sure which one Ford was selling with the factory option though - based on the post from ZHack it is the square one. The bi-directional does cost more. I've also seen them on ebay for $225 - searched for the part number CM5Z-19G364-B.

http://accessories.f...mote-start.html

On a side note, did you know that you can hold down the unlock button on your remote for a couple of seconds and when you release it, all of your windows will roll down. Kind of a neat feature. You can stop how far they go by hitting the button again.

Thanks, I will check the window thing out.

It sounds like adding remote start is probably worth the money and I think I can handle the install myself. I am guessing the shut off thing with the door being opened must be to prevent theft, but also limit liability in case by some magic the car moved when somebody was getting in. I have a coworker who has the remote start (with pushbutton) on his new Escape, I will ask him if it has the same behavior when the door is opened. His remote fob is all in one with the keyless entry, alarm and remote start on the same fob, but it is not bi-directional.

Yes I have the touch screen, my option package is 302a. I did have the USB cable attached from the iPhone to the C-Max just like in the tutorial video. Still the system does not recognized any variation of the command Mobile Apps.

 

I even downloaded the latest version of sync and updated my C-Max via USB drive created on my iMac. The C-Max update was successful and I sent the data back to Sync to update my vehicle firmare status. Still no Mobile Apps?

I don't think mobile apps (app-link) are available with MFT (pg405). - see the 3rd note down on the page in the manual.

I am not sure why this is, does not make sense to pay more and not get this feature, but it is pretty nice to get it on the base, especially for Pandora.

Thanks for posting the pics, at least since this is such a new car they will have to use factory parts and not some after market garbage to fix it. It looks like there is a lot of plastic up front in the structure, guessing it is a weight savings - noticed the same on the Escape.

I hope they get it back on the road soon.

I have watched the videos and I have the SEL version will all the sync services. What I cannot get to work is the Destinations App with my iPhone 5. According to the videos on youtube you hit the voice command button and say "Mobile Apps" but I get a response of "Command not found". When I say "Help" Mobile apps or mobile anthing is not listed as an available command.

 

Has anyone gotten Sync Applink to work?

Do you have the touchscreen? I don't think mobile apps (app-link) are available with MFT (pg405). It also says that you need to use the cable with the iPhone (not bluetooth).

24 mile cruise at 35 MPH, both directions so wind was and then was not a factor, on Daytona Beach A1A with eco-cruise set, got 64 MPG

I think my best real world mpg so far has been on streets under 45mph. Out of curiosity, what is the speed limit on that road, and is it respected?

Cool, even though I've had the vehicle for a while I am still getting used to the way it operates, and I would not rule out operator error somehow - unfortunately at the time I did not stop and take some notes on the circumstances, though both myself and the passenger noticed it. If it re-occurs I will take down some notes. I hope it is just some transient weirdness.

Update - I just checked and there are no codes. I am going to chalk this up to user error unless it happens again and I can document it better. The only scenario that makes sense is that maybe I did not have the key all the way on, and possibly when I put it back in park to re-try backing out I may have turned it off and back on (if I did that it, it slipped my mind). So it may have been in the accessory position and not the running position when I was gassing it. I have had a few starts when I thought it was on and realized that the green go light on the dash was not lit so had to twist the key again.

I am willing to wait after the 1,000 mile break in recommended by the adminstrator's post. I am currently getting about 35 mpg. No matter how much I baby the throttle on the freeway I can't get a constant reading near 40 mpg. But in Orange County, CA the traffic here is tough. A lot of stop and go, and when you go, you better haul ass or you'll get a honk or middle finger. I would rather see a rating with worse/best case senario. Like, the worst case you'll get 32 mpg and you can max out maybe 52 mpg.

One way to get it to go into EV is to get up to speed on the engine, and then when you are at or near where you want to be, feather off the gas just a bit and the EV will probably kick in, then if you need to speed up a bit do it really slowly. Using the "Empower" mode on the right monitor helps too since it gives a moving threshold for where the EV will drop out if you gas it too much, it takes a real light foot to keep it dancing in the EV mode.

I believe the only difference between the hybrid and Energi is a larger battery pack. They both have gas engines and transmission. Energi costs more money when compared against the Hybrid model but I think the Energi has more features with the base model.

The biggest drawback aside from the price on the Energi is the hit that cargo space takes. I found a pic (and a cool website) which demonstrates how much they raised the cargo floor to accomodate the bigger battery pack. It would be cool to be able to top off the battery though (would even like to be able to do it on the hybrid since it makes a big difference in EV performance).

http://www.c-maxenergi.com/2012/02/accounting-for-trunc-space-of-c-max.html

reality trip, drove from toledo ohio to wytheville virginia 5 mph above speed limit, of course some real mountains in WV and Virginia, used eco cruise, got 36 MPG.

 

Drove from Charleston SC to Savannah Georgia yesterday and got 41.5 at around 60-65 MPH along coastline and marshes.

 

But yes this same vehicle will post your numbers when given the opportunity, got 54 MPG last night from dinner back to Hotel

That sounds about right. Getting the advertised mpg would probably be possible if I did not mind pissing off everyone else on the road by always driving the limit or below. I have had one tailgater who I think saw the hybrid tag and saw red for some reason, but that was his problem not mine. Ironically a level freeway is probably a worst case scenario for this car, in terms of mpg, but it is still very good.

The white is really nice, but the blue was what caught my eye. Blue is a $400 option though.