Jujulie

Realized driver side in UK is not the same as here, duh. Oops

I need to replace my cmax driver side carpet and they don't make it anymore, and auto upholserers cannot replicate. I found a 2017 GRAND cmax carpet in the UK...anyone know if this would fit? Thanks!

On 11/4/2021 at 2:03 PM, Jujulie said:

Hmm. Yesterday I removed both cowls and searched all over for drains and found none. I did clear some leaves out along the sides of the windshield but these weren't areas of concern. I put everything back together after an hour of searching for culprits. Then, I poured some water down the windshield (was told by my mechanic that this is the typical failure point and my glass is not stock.) I didn't see or feel any wetness inside but did see a steady stream drip down from the windshield, past the cowls, and into the engine compartment,close enough to the firewall that this could be the issue. The wet seemed to happen in heavy rain while driving.

 

So, I talked to ford this morning and they have a leak troubleshoot protocol they use to isolate. Fingers crossed!

Correction, leaves were along the sides of engine compartment, not sides of windshield. 

On 11/4/2021 at 7:43 AM, Bill-N said:

Yes, this can be an issue.  There was a thread about this some time ago that had to do with pine needles clogging drains.

Hmm. Yesterday I removed both cowls and searched all over for drains and found none. I did clear some leaves out along the sides of the windshield but these weren't areas of concern. I put everything back together after an hour of searching for culprits. Then, I poured some water down the windshield (was told by my mechanic that this is the typical failure point and my glass is not stock.) I didn't see or feel any wetness inside but did see a steady stream drip down from the windshield, past the cowls, and into the engine compartment,close enough to the firewall that this could be the issue. The wet seemed to happen in heavy rain while driving.

So, I talked to ford this morning and they have a leak troubleshoot protocol they use to isolate. Fingers crossed!

On 11/2/2021 at 2:13 PM, homestead said:

We had rear wiper fluid tubes pull apart in the front passenger ceiling liner and caused fluid to pool on the passenger seat floorboard area.

Just had to push the tubes back together in the ceiling under the liner.

Interesting. My moisture is happening when it rains and I am suspecting the drains under the windshield cowl might be clogged. I've got wet, smelly carpet and am going back and forth with insurance on next steps. 

Follow up...has anyone had an issue with drainage tunes getting clogged and causing water in the floorboard areas?

Secondly, does anyone know if the 2013 and 2015 cmax carpet is the same? This is replacement carpet, not mats. Thanks

On 10/28/2021 at 4:22 PM, homestead said:

Your picture of the windshield on top driver side looks just like my car.

Windshield was replaced a few years ago.

I watched them change it, There was no trim at the top just lots of sealant.

Ours doesn't leak.

 

 

Thank you!

On 10/28/2021 at 5:25 PM, fbov said:

Two things.

 

These are very different tires, with polar opposite snow performance. You don't say where you live, but you've been warned. 

 

The CrossClimate2 tires in the UK test had different tread depth and tread features than the ones I bought. Tire Rack has a review of the US tire, and it's not as complementary as the UK review. That said, since 2017 I've bought 6 sets of CrossClimate+ and CrossClimate2, and no one's been unhappy.

I am in San Francisco and don't really ever get up to the snow. 

I was working last weekend during our torrential rains and had at least 2 issues occur. First I noticed a rubbing sound from front passenger wheel...the plastic wheel well cover had been torn away and the insulation at the top was rubbing on the tire. I went to my usual auto shop and he ordered a replacement. I had also come up on a flooded corner turn on the freeway with no where to escape, and drove through at least 2 ft of water. I was so proud of my cmax for being a warrior. Until...

Over the next day or so, I started noticing an awful smell. It has only gotten worse. I was going to get the carpet shampood but the more I learned, the worse it got. I checked my insurance, and I have a $100 deductible for flood damage. The driver side carpet is wet above and below, which is where the odor is coming from. I assume water found its way in when I drove through the flood, but it was a lot of water coming from all directions that night. I hope the shop that repairs her will be thorough and figure it out.

Question...I  have noticed this before, but is it typical for the windshield to have a rather "unfinished " look to it? I can see and feel the edges of the glass...there's no trim covering it. Is it possible that water got in there somehow either causing my driver side wet issue or contributing to it?

On 10/28/2021 at 9:38 AM, fbov said:

My C-Max came with Michelin Energy Savers, not Defender or Energy, and they remain a good 3-season LRR tire. Worthless in snow and cold. Here's a recent test of all-season tires that included rolling resistance data, a rare thing done right. The only caveat is that it's a UK test, and some tires may not be the same on both sides of the pond. (And he does some really nice comparisons in other tests.)

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2021-Tyre-Reviews-All-Season-Tyre-Test.htm

 

I also look at tires based on total vehicle cost. If a set of $800 tires lasts 40K miles, you paid $0.02/mile. My recent fuel cost is $0.072, so I see tires as "cheap" given how much a drop in MPG would cost.

 

For reference, my Escape Hybrid's about to kill its OE tires (Bridgestone Ecopia 442 HL) and I've already purchased Michelin CrossClimate2 to replace them. Not the lowest RR in the test, but still very good. I'd recommend the Ecopia as well, except these OE tires worked a lot better than any review has led me to expect, so Ford may have a unique rubber compound; they won't make 35K but stick like crazy, even in snow.  

That was a great article, thanks. And you are right, it is rare to find the rolling resistance noted, so that was great.

Doesn't look like the new pirelli sf2 is here in the states yet, so I may go for the cross climates, or maybe the Michelin energy savers. Gotta do a little more comparison on those now.

I had some flood damage occur last weekend, so I have a little time to decide on tires now booooo.

On 10/27/2021 at 11:47 AM, Lacienega said:

My car came original with the Michelin Energy, and my mpg went down with my new Firestone Tires?. Only reason I didn't get the ENERGY's again was the prize...they're pretty expensive...though they lasted me 90 000 miles. Next time I might just get them again.

Thank you...I have seen mixed results on how many miles people are getting which also makes me wonder of the oem are slightly different than what is listed for sale at tire shops as the michelin a/s. I know my current tires are not lrr, so trying to see if there is a lrr that will last longer than what I can find in the michelin a/s and still get better mpgs.

I think if I got the m a/s and they lasted 60 or 90k, the extra cost would be worth it for the mpgs. But, if they only last 30k, not so sure. Thanks

Curious if the recommendation to keep OEM michelin defenders on the vehicle is still good advice? I do need something that can handle in some some rain, because I live in San Francisco. I'm definitely interested in the best miles per gallon I can get. I currently have a brand called  Delinte on the car which came with a when I bought it used a few years ago. I'm not able to get above 38.1 miles per gallon at the moment and I wonder and hope that the michelins will help me get above 40.  My tire guy wants me to go cheaper but I've been holding out for the Michelin since I got the car. My miles are mostly city...thanks everyone. Oh, and it sure seems like there might be more than one type or model of defender a/s. What do I need to specify?

All good advice, thanks everyone. I ordered 1/2 inch so I should be good. :)

For the breaker and socket is 1/2 or 3/4 better?

I have used 3m clear film to cover my large middle grill, my fog lights, headlight seams, and inoperable body seams. Time will tell...

Is there any kind soul who can recommend a setup for lug nut removal? Do I buy a breaker bar and a socket? What size? Sorry, I keep going back into the threads but the dimensions are all over the place...

I looked at the lug nuts on my c-max and they appear to be in good condition. Small marks on the flat sides but no rounding off, no rust. No obvious bulging. I think it would make sense that after 375k, the oem's have been replaced with something else. I don't know what that means for the specifics of the lug wrench. I'll try to get one that fits oem and hope that works.

Now I'm thinking through what it'll take to rotate cross-ways my tires. Will I need to put it up on 4 jack stands to be most efficient? I'm stuck thinking about the last step and only 3 lift points enacted (as in, I'm worried that the front left, with no wheel, will need to be kept up til the end and will I have enough gear to get all the way around the car in the meantime.)

awesome, thanks for all of that! Great tips...I have done the cabin and air filters, so all set on that. Curious about the spark plugs/wires, too, if anyone has info on that end.

Interested in others opinions on this:

Should I invest in a car jack, lug wrench, and either ramps or jack stands? I used to change my own oil and rotated my tires for years and then didn't need to with electric leafs, so I sold all my equipment. Didn't need ramps back then since my old (old 90's) car didn't have an under-cover.

Looks like I can get what I need for $50-80 depending (used on Craigslist or new on Amazon/chinese-made probably.)

An oil change at a shop will run me around $75 including tax here in SF. Doesn't make sense to go to ford, probably, since it's 45 miles away. Not sure how much $/which brand of synthetic oil is best?

Also, I ordered the inner fender liner since I'm missing one in front, so I either pay someone $40 to install or do on my own. Seems like maybe investing in the equipment will nearly pay for itself for that one job. I no longer have a garage to store stuff so I gotta consider that, too...sigh.

So...recommend me doing my own maintenance? If you do yours, what oil do you recommend? I'll be adding Motor Purr at each change, already have a jar of it ready (and about 9800 miles til I need it!) But, the fender liner will be here next week... I also have always carried tire plug kits with me, and have one in the c-max too. Have saved me many times, never had a failure using them either. Have had 2 unrepairable tires due to sidewall blowout or nail too close to sidewall for safe repair.

Ok...have at it! :)

Well, I feel a little stupid but also excited to have figured out that my mpg can be found in different ways. I've been looking at the ongoing readout on the empower screen option (finally hit 41mpg today!), but today I checked the trip 2 readout, which I had reset at my last (2nd!) gas-up. (The pump shut off early, at 3/4 tank for some reason, which is actually what I wanted and what I did at my first fill-up, preferring not to carry the extra fuel weight of a full tank.) Anyway...the trip 2 says I'm getting 43.7 mpg! Yay!

Another dumb question, then: what is the empower mpg reading from? Some accumulation but what accumulation? Is that a lifetime reading?

Hey, all-

I'm back...went through quite a process to get a new password since my last phone got wet. Here are my updates:

Changed air filter. Not as bad as I thought, no cuts, tears, nor much cursing. Filter didn't look too bad. I glanced around for spark plugs but nothing obvious that I felt comfortable diving into.

I also installed the gas pods.

I inflated my tires to within 1lb of sidewall max.

I removed the dealer-installed Thule roof rack that came with the car and sold it for $35 tonight.

I used 3m clear bra tape to seal the gaps around my front headlights, along with the seams on the body that are at the front and rear (non-operable seams.)

I've gone from 37.5 to 40.9mpg after all that.

I ordered more 3m tape, with the idea of sealing off the fog light recesses and also would like to remove the pipe insulation from the lower two front grills and cover with the tape/film instead. I don't think I need insulation as much as to block the wind. Agree?

I think a few people lost the Lifetime Summary after one of the ford updates.

Looking at forum posts and it looks like they discontinued this summary after June 2013 production of the c-max. Boooo.

No lifetime with either method. Too bad

Don't hit OK, Just shut off car and watch the left Smart Gauge Screen, first you should see your current trip results and in about 15 sec Life Time should show up otherwise hit up or down buttons once and LifeTime Score should show up. LT49.6.JPG

 

Paul

Once you turn the car off after you drive it gives a trip summary on the left hand screen next to the speedometer. After about 15 seconds its switches to lifetime summary, or you can skip the wait and use the down key on the left side of the steering wheel.

Tried that. OK button did nothing and the screen times out after 15 seconds or so only showing me my last trip results. Hmmm