Cmax Problem

[wb8nbs]

I bought a 2013 C-Max a week ago. My wife has been nagging me for 8 months to get one as she hates the 09 Focus we traded in. But by the next day she had already decided she hated the C-Max too, even called the dealer and tried to return it.  Too complex (has the space cadet display) and worse, she cannot lock the car. Part of her lock ritual is to walk around the car and pull all the door handles to see if they are locked and guess what? They never are. Does anyone know a way to disable the key fob sensors in the doors?

[ceemax71]

Welcome to the C-max forum.

 

The problem with pulling on the door handles is that it unlocks the doors if you have the key fob with you.

 

I always just look inside the car to make sure the amber "locked" indicator is lit when I want to be sure it is locked.

 

I also learned that if you leave one of the fobs inside the car, it will automatically unlock itself even if you have the other fob with you on the outside of the car.

 

It takes a little time to get used to all of the features.  I can understand how it seems too complex.

[Laurel]

Wb8nbs welcome to the forum.  I can relate a bit to her distress over her ritual of locking up the car.  It still is a struggle for me not to do that as I had a similar little ritual when exiting my car.  Now I force myself to trust the amber light that shows that it is locked, but on occasion I forget and grab a handle which unlocks the car.  Maybe when she is exiting she can put her fob in a lead lined little container and put it in her purse, and then pull it out when she comes back to the car.  I know how hard it is to give up comforting rituals, but I hope she will give it time and she will likely enjoy the car if she does.  Not sure where you would find a little lead box for her fob LOL.  Good luck.

[JohnnOhio]

Tell her to use the thob to lock the car. Press the lock button twice. It will blow the horn to tell you that all of the doors are locked. As ceemax posted there is a amber light on the radio control panel that will light up also.

[fotomoto]

I bet your wife will learn to love the car. :wub2:   My wife would not even drive my Volt for the first month or so of ownership because she was so overwhelmed by the technology and screens but by the time I traded it in on the CMax for more room she was the one wanting to keep it.  

 

You can simplify the left and right screens on the drivers dash to reduce information overload.  I'd go with DTE (distance to empty) on the left and the leaves on the right; simple with maybe even a calming effect.   Ford has made a ton of explanatory videos on CMax operation including how to change the screens.   Maybe these will help:https://owner.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Owner/Page/OwnerVideoPage&year=2013&make=Ford&model=C-MAX%20Hybrid

 

Good Luck!

Edited December 9, 2013 by fotomoto

[joe]

I laughed when I read this post.  I too had a ritual of pulling the driver's door handle to ensure the car was locked, and kept unlocking the door.  Hopefully, she can reprogram her ritual, as I did.  I was afraid my wife would be overwhelmed by the technology.  She ignores the screens that report on mpg performance.  She just loves to drive the car.  She loves the snug fit of the seats, the handling, the heated seats, and the power.  Our C-Max replaced a mini-van which had a manual rear hatch which was heavy to open and close.  My loves being able to just wave her foot under the back to open or close the rear hatch.

 

I suspect, in time, your wife will come to love the car.

[marshtex2]

One solution would be to trade your super upgrade version to the basic SE.  My basic SE has a regular electronic key fob that will lock and unlock the doors and blow the horn and after the doors are locked, they can be tested the old fashioned way by pulling on the handles.

[Jus-A-CMax]

imo, the SEL was a major selling point for me over the SE. Not worth it but I am bias since I own an SEL thats in da shop for a manicure and some chiropractic adjustment.... :dance:

 

The first time I ever had the remote locks was in a Jaguar XF and I too was confused - and Jaguar had a proximity auto lock...walk away with the fob and the car would automatically lock. That was cool...but when I went to give my keys to a friend (who drove a Prii), she could NOT understand the auto locking and swore the car would not lock. Everytime she pressed the LOCK and then tried the door it would open...repeat that like 10 times. O'really...lol.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Jus-A-CMax

[Tdefny]

Welcome Wb8nbs. I have the same problem (ritual), but it has mostly gone away in the Max. For the times when I lapse, I found that you can hold the handle by its top and bottom (rather than wrap your fingers around it) and it won't unlock the door. The fob is also a good option. Hit it once and you can hear the locks click. It will sound the horn if you hit it a second time (I can't do that because my car sits right underneath my neighbor's bedroom window).

 

My wife still prefers to drive our other cars - partly because she feels that it has too many distractions, partly because she prefers the visability of her minivan or the small size of our Prius to the C-max, and partly for other reasons like the smaller trunk (a prime reason why many C-Maxers didn't go with the Energi). This saddens me a bit, but it has a side benefit that I get to drive it more and my settings aren't constantly getting changed. I am delighted with the C-Max as you will be too.

[HPRifleman]

Returning the C-Max because it is too complicated? I bought one because I like the technology the car has. To each his own I guess.

 

In my previous car I would hit the power door lock before I stepped out. Now with the C-Max I get out, close the door, and touch the black finger sensor on the door handle. I hear the locking click and I know the doors are locked. I rarely use any other method.

[C-MaxSea]

The SEL touch lock system is beautiful, elegant..... :love_shower: :love_shower:  :love_shower:  .......  give yourself a chance to learn & understand it. 

 

If all else fails, as Tdefny noted you have both new and old systems;  "you can hold the handle by its top and bottom (rather than wrap your fingers around it) and it won't unlock the door".

 

Best of luck & welcome.

 

Nick

[MtnMarty]

I went back to the dealer on my second day of ownership to complain that the doors could not be locked. Well, duh, you can't try it by putting your hands around the handle...that unlocks it. Now I just fold my fingers into a fist and press the little black button on the handle to lock. Works every time. And what's really funny is that my wife's Toyota Highlander has the same black button on the handle that we never used for the first 2 years of ownership because we didn't know what it was. Now, both cars are the same!

[wb8nbs]

Wife is learning to use the small button on the outside of the handle.  Will try Tdefny's suggestion.  I wish the locked LED on the console was brighter, is difficult to see in the daylight.  So far she has not driven the car herself thought she promised she would. Too much bad weather here.

[HotPotato]

One solution would be to trade your super upgrade version to the basic SE.  My basic SE has a regular electronic key fob that will lock and unlock the doors and blow the horn and after the doors are locked, they can be tested the old fashioned way by pulling on the handles.

 

Yes! Tell you what, w8nbs...I'll trade you my used SE for your new SEL so the door locks work the way she is accustomed to. Heck, I won't even charge you!  :)

[ArizonaEnergi]

Funny OP!  Talk about buyer's remorse!  I for one just slide my thumb over the black square and listen for the solenoid to thump.  The wife likes to double punch the fob and get a honk.

[C-MaxSea]

That is good news wb8nbs.  (I'd call that "C-Max problem" - Solved)

 

I too always have to have that extra assurance the car is locked - whatever the car I am locking.  The nice thing with the C-Max touch system is you can listen for the solenoid to thump and see the light on the side mirror flash at the same time - a nice immediate double assurance.

 

Hope you are finding the dash display more enjoyable every day.  It requires some time to customize to your liking.  Which trim package did you get?  I would recommend resetting the right display to get rid of the leaves, replacing it with something more useful, like the Navigation ball if you have that.  Take it one step at a time, and explore these display options.

 

It sounds like you will need to patiently master these, and slowly introduce them to your wife, championing there value.  Again, little by little, and don't forget to watch the road ahead - do most of your fiddling in the driveway or garage.

 

Best of luck again,

 

Nick

Edited December 17, 2013 by C-MaxSea