VirginiaRick

I was having the same dead battery issue with my 2013 SEL last year whenever I towed it for more than a couple hundred miles.  I had a jumper box to get it going again each time, but was concerned that I was wearing out the battery.  After about 5-6 instances of that I had my local dealer check the battery, and they said it was still in good shape.

After Christmas I towed it from Virginia to California, never charging/running the C-max at the end of each day.  When I got to the West Coast the jumper box still got it going again, but I took it into the local Ford dealer.  They said that the battery wasn't 'up to snuff' and they replaced it (under warranty).  Since then, I bought and attached the BrakeBuddy 39332 Towed Vehicle Battery Maintainer <http://tinyurl.com/njwrljt>, as recommended by 'wab' over in another thread.  It relies on the towbar connection for the ground circuit, and it has worked fine ever since (I towed it back to Virginia in April with no problems, and a number of times this summer here on the East Coast).

I bought my C-Max Hybrid SEL last November (its build date was Aug. '12) and since I haven't driven it all that much (only ~6000 mi.) it went into the shop this past Tuesday (8/19) for its first oil change, and to take care of the following upgrades/recalls:

Outstanding Field Service Actions

12M02 - SYNC WITH MYFORD/MYLINCOLN TOUCH - WARRANTY EXTENSION COVERING ACCESSORY PROTOCO L INTERFACE MODULE (APIM)
13A01 - SYNC WITH MYFORD TOUCH - APPLICATION PERFORMANCE UPGRADE
13B06 - REAR GATE TRUNK MODULE REPROGRAM
13B07 - POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CALIBRATION
13C02 - HEADLINER HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION
 

It originally was supposed to be a one-day event but ended up staying in the shop until yesterday (8/22), due to cable problems and installing the various upgrades.

I just now went to the FordEtis website <www.etis.ford.com> to see if it had been updated and saw the list still there, along with a sixth item:

13B10 - FUEL ECONOMY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Not exactly sure what that last item is (customer survey, maybe?).  Anyway, I did notice the changes on the various screens of the Sync (I've got the 302A package, w/ full Nav.) but haven't had the chance to see if there were any changes the the way the liftgate acts, or if the electric motor continues to operate above 62 mph.  Also, I didn't see any discernible evidence concerning the headliner modification, but they assured me that it had been taken care of.

I must be one of the lucky ones, as I never did have any of the problems with the Nav system, or any of the other quirks people have mentioned.  I *will* be paying close attention to how it acts/performs now, to see what changes might show up.

VirginiaRick

In a few days I'm going to be towing my C-Max behind my motor home for the very first time.  I've got it all rigged - hardware-wise, and electrically, for the lights.  Exactly what is the step-by-step procedure to get it into 'tow-ready' mode?  I don't want to go digging into the emergency brake slot to do any gerry-rigging, as far as shifting it out of Park.  I tried starting it, shifting to neutral, and then turning it off, but that leaves a "Shift to Park" message on the display, along with the 'P-R-N-D-L' display lit.

I'll be taking it to a campground only about 20 miles away, so there shouldn't be any 'dead battery' issue to worry about, right?  And do you have to cycle it through the gears before it's ready to go?  :headscratch:

Thanks for any replies from 'seasoned' tow-ers!

VR

I think just about everybody who has let off steam on this forum about this 'glitch' or that 'bug' has qualified their remarks by saying that, given all the good aspects of it, they would *still* buy/keep their C-Max.

SnowStorm:

From the picture, it looks like you also got yours from Myers in Elkton.  That's where I got mine last November (I'm just down the road in Waynesboro).  I've had it for 5 months now, and I'm still learning all the 'ins & outs'.

VR

Yay, SnowStorm!  Maybe I'll pass you bopping down the roads here in the Old Dominion!  :shift:

VR

Are you saying that we can't do this?

Maximoto?

A six year period (1929 - 1935) in which Calles named himself Jefe Maximo and controlled the politics in Mexico by controlling three 'puppet' presidents - Gil, Rubio, and Rodriguez; he formed the PNR, and throughout the period became increasingly authoritarian; this perios saw increasing polarization and redicalization on both sides of the political spectrum; ended with election of Cardenas (whom Calles could not control)

Who's on First?

I'm just curious if anybody knows if it makes any difference (when descending a sloping grade) whether it's better to just coast, or to apply slight pressure on the brakes, in order to help to recharge the high-voltage battery.

..I'm the owner of both a Gas Guzzler and a hybrid, what does that make me?

Bipolar?

Here's how you open the hatch! ;)

Mine did not have the stickers covering the holes, but if some of the units are coming to the dealer with them still in place, it looks like the dealer might not know to take them off.

http://www.fordtechservice.dealerconnection.com/content/pdf/2013_C-Max_Pre-Delivery_Service_Record.pdf

Wow! Seems to me that Mr. Coulter has truly mastered the art of irony in his letter.

He's only about 30 miles up the road from me -- I want him on MY side! :worship:

VR

Rats!  I finally got around to checking my build date: "120120820" --> 8/20/12......a MONDAY!!! :banghead:

...Does anybody else feel like they are sitting higher in the mornings? I notice by the angle of the mirror. Either my spine decompressed overnight or more likely the seats don't give as much when they're cooler.

Yes!  I've also noticed that the rear view mirror is off when I first get in.  Was wondering if the seat had changed position, or maybe the mirror?  Didn't think of the possibility that I had 'grown' that much!

Just curious, Jus -- have you (or anyone else, for that matter) actually run the tank dry?  I was wondering how easy it is to get the C-Max going again (air lock, and all that).

VR

Riddley, Is your phone an iPhone?

I was curious about that also.  I've got an iPhone 4, and it's my understanding that MFT can't do text-to-voice with the iPhone.

VR

...Posted speed limit of 85.

Wow!  I was recently on I-10, going east from El Paso to San Antonio where the posted speed limit is 80 mph.  I thought to myself, "They can't possibly raise it any higher than this!" (Of course, the cops had somebody pulled over, who probably thought that whatever the speed limit is, I can do at least 10 mph over that.)

VR

'Owl' bet you're ready for the warm weather! ;)

VR

I bought mine back in November.  Haven't check the build date, but it's probably one of the first ones off the line.

VR

Lookin' good!!! :happy feet:  Now you make me feel bad 'cause I'm wasting this beautiful weather stuck inside scrambling with papers, receipts, etc. for taxes! :sad:

VR

You're right.  I've just got the:  'i' / Home / 'gears' option on the home screen.

VR

Except for the start screen, I haven't seen any of those other screens on my SEL.  Do they just come up by themselves, or do you press any buttons to get them to display?

VR

I just checked my hatch door.  I see the three holes but there isn't any sticker or tape covering them over.

VR