rowekmr

Here is a 2013 C-Max Energi with 112K for sale. I bought it with 104k miles with trans making noise and had a used 2005 trans inspected and installed by Ford hybrid tech. I also had recalls done, 12v battery replaced, and updated modem installed. I drove it for awhile then adult son drove as his commuter car for about 5k miles more. He bought a new car and since I already have a Fusion Energi I am selling it. Car has no issues, runs and drives great. I recently took to Ford and replaced horn, rear wheel bearing and all wipers. Battery range is approx 22 miles. Will try to upload pics soon. Car is $5300 Located in Chicago, IL

First I want to thank Stratosurfer and Snowstorm and all else who have answered my questions and didn't mind me jumping on their thread to get some clarification. I have owned a 2013 Fusion Energi that I gave my parents that didn't have any issues. I have bought and sold a few Energis mainly 2013-2014's and didn't have any issues with drivetrains until I got this 2013 C-Max Energi with 106k miles from auction. I bought it sight unseen after looking up the Autocheck that showed dealership visits that I thought were good maintenance but now I know at least the last one was for transmission and hence why it was probably put in auction. When it arrived it drove in EV around lot and didn't notice anything until I forced ICE by putting it in EV later and pressing the accelerator pedal while in neutral and the gas engine started in high idle and sounded like marbles were loose in engine/trans. Because of that I drove it only short distances in EV and only difference I could tell was during regen braking I could hear a louder than normal whine. I then drove it in EV later mode and with gas engine in normal driving I could only detect more noises with window down at high idle in traffic (HVAC operation). In normal driving esp cruising down highway I really couldn't tell the difference especially if I had passengers/radio/cell phone talk. At this point I went on Youtube and did Google search and found the most information in this forum. I took the car to Ford for recall check, oil change and request to check drive train noise trans TSB (I printed them out) and what the service writer told me was that i need transmission. They of course gave me the 7K+ estimate for new trans then I started to look at surrounding dealership prices for new trans prices which hovered in the mod 4k's with my pricing. I went to the parts guy at original Ford and he found a reman that was 3900. I then took that part # then went to other dealership and found the lowest price at 3300 with new part warranty. Mistake #1 I didn't buy that one. The Ford dealership where I have an account at I met the tech who said he does side jobs and would R/R my trans and correct any issues encountered plus fresh fluids. I started looking at parts yards with car-parts.com and using the VIN# of donor. This method seemed to show that trans from 2013-2016 will fit. It wasn't until I used 2017 VIN's that I could see a change i part #'s. I tried to get a 2016 trans which many said had updates that addressed the bearing issues. I also found that in the production of 2016 trans they were divided in the build dates of 2015 with some made up to a date then the ones build after a date. In the meanwhile I asked tech to split trans and check the issues. He found multiple bearing failures including main shaft. He said he did not feel it would be worth it to replace all. I listened and continued the trans search. I found my 2016 trans with 55k miles and got it for 1000 plus 300 for 3 years parts and labor warranty at $55 per hour.I drove and picked up the transmission and noticed immediately it wasn't on a skid which was an indicator of future problems. I had then load it on a skid then in the back of the pick up bed with fork lift and I notice a tab broken off. I took pic and sent it to tech that said it was just a lifting tab so I strapped it down and drove back the 5 hours (11 hours round trip) during the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Once I got it to tech house he took it off with a cherry picker did I mention the trans weighs more than 400# and isn't something I would want to move around myself. A few days later he called and said it was dropped on the side and had a crack in case, deformed test port and the pump was broken off. Long story short I wasted my time getting that trans and began looking for another. Fortunately I got a full refund and didn't have to bring the transmission back. I was VERY thankful for them for understanding. Then I began to look at 2013 trans which were more plentiful at yards but none with low miles and the ones with mid miles (more than my car) were close to and over 2K! Then I called the dealerships about the 3300 reman and now it was increased to mid to high 4k's. Maybe Ford made an adjustment to prices to adjust for demand...mines LOL! I went back to looking at used trans and found a 2005 trans with 89k at LKQ for 1030 my price that they delivered to my local yard and I picked it up and later brought back the bad trans for 75 core deposit. My tech remove the subframe and raised the car from the engine/trans. He checked the exterior of trans, flushed fluid and installed it and did any software updates. He had to do an alignment and recharge the AC then test drove it to check it all out. FInal cost was 1030 for used trans and 1200 labor, fluids 40 and I needed a new battery at 135. Well I picked it up today and will try to drive/enjoy the new life in the car. I hope to show that there are options to the 7K that Ford will quote but I realize my trans is also used but it has a 6 month warranty. In hindsight I should have paid the 225 for 3 years parts/labor warranty but had issues paying almost 25% for warranty but the labor for these trans is considerable.

My bearings were shot on multiple shafts. Tech says not worth repairing so I just ordered a 2016 transmission after trying your method of running both VIN's through the oemparts website to check for replacement transmission part #. I think I found that there was some sort of change during the 2016 year since they list a trans built up to a month then one built after that month but both have the same replacement #. Hopefully my repair goes as smooth as others on this thread.

So you were able to instal a 2018 transmission into a 2013 without any modifications?

My 2013 C-Max with 106k miles is going to get its trans remove and if the bearings can’t be replaced a used trans swap also. I’m using a local Ford tech to do it in his off time.

Does the trans R&R require any programming or just plug and play? Do these issues affect the C-Max Energi? I only see the C-Max Hybrid mentioned in the TSB and the threads.

In my quest I have found that Ford sells reman trans with same as new warranty. Anyone have any experience with these. They are about 800-900 cheaper. What's the Ford or shop book time to R/R the trans?

Thanks for the response/info. I was wondering was there anything I could look at before I drop it off. I drove it a few days on EV and ICE to see exactly when it does act up and honestly besides idling on ICE I didn’t notice much. I dropped it off at my Ford with a descriptive note on what happens and when and a copy of the TSB and will wait to hear their diagnosis. To prepare for the grimmest news I looked up parts yards prices for 2016 trans using the VIN lookup for oemford website to check compatibility. Just for giggle I asked the dealership my price for new trans (FM5Z 7000 D) and he quoted 4975 (6475 list) but he said his computer matched my car to a trans that was FM5Z 7000 BRM that is 3650 (4650) that’s a reman Ford unit both have same warranty.

Very informative thread thanks for posting. Are these issues with both hybrid and the Energi transmissions? I just got a 2013 C-Max Energi that makes noises at idle when ICE is running and trying to do my own research. I dropped the car off at Ford today and will wait to see what they diagnoses.

I just bought a 2013 C-Max Energi from auction with 106k miles. When I picked it up I started it and immediately heard an engine noise that I never heard before from this drivetrain (have briefly owned a few beforehand). I instantly learned why it was at auction lol I have only driven a mile to check out its basic operation. I notice the sound with gas engine running at idle. Since it is normally in EV at stop/idle I had to press the accelerator until the ICE engine comes on. Its like a slight chatter noise. At first I thought it was a loose heatshield. As it revs higher the noise goes away. In EV mode I don't hear a noise driving/accelerating until I am regen braking and as the car slows I can hear a whining noise increase. Now I know why my service writer told me to not buy used C-max's lol Where should I start with this?

Good Info here!

Great write up that I unfortunately might have to follow. Thanks for posting! I looked for Snowstorm thread but couldn't find it. Can someone post a link to it?

Hello I just got another 2013 C-Max Energi. I went to the MyFordApp and entered the VIN under add vehicle and it said Alert Another user has already initiated authorization for this vehicle. I did a Master Reset and connected my phone via Bluetooth and it still have the same message. I buy and sell a few of these and typically I can connect but can't control functions if it doesn't have the modem update which cost around $500 here locally. Any ideas or suggestions on where to start? Thanks

Check rear suspension. Mines clunk in reverse like yours and when stopping hard. My front mount of the rear spindle is missing the rubber bushing so that’s the metal to metal sound.

Mines has a missing bushing on the rear spindle mount so the clunk when I hit brakes hard Is the metal to metal contact.