ctford Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 So it's been 2 1/2 weeks since I bought my car. One week in the dealer getting engine light issues fixed. I finally picked up my car yesterday and drove home, leaving a spare car behind. My mom came with me on the way to work this morning to pick up the other car. As I turned the corner nearing the Ford dealership, the power steering went out. I pulled into the service bay. I left the car on to show the service manager that I had no steering. As I sat there, the car systematically shut down. First the "Check battery charge" light came on. Then the displays went out. I couldn't roll up the windows or unlock the trunk to get out my bag for work. Then, as I tried to pull up further into the bay, the car shut of entirely, even the gas engine. The service guys finally managed to put the car in neutral and roll it into the garage. No warning. No problem indicators. I'm amazed this just happened to be at a time right as I was rolling into the dealership to get the other car, or I would have been stranded on the road. And I am totally scared that my car may shut down on the road while I'm driving. That's insane. Losing power steering was scary enough, but the whole car? So now, as I near week 3 of C-Max ownership, I am once again without the car. I think I've had it almost an entire week in the 3 weeks I've owned it. I have a Focus rental, free of charge of course. Did I buy a lemon? Looks like I should have gone with the Prius after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salprint Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Sorry to hear about your troubles with car CT. You may have bought a lemon....I've had mine for 3.5 weeks now and have not had one bit of trouble. I hope they can figure it out for you. If not....maybe you can demand a new car. In NY we have Lemon laws. Hope you have them where you live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-MaxJaxon Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 All car manufacturers have a certain number of lemons. When you sell thousands of vehicles that are each made up of tens of thousands of parts that are sourced from countless suppliers around the world, it's a minor miracle when nothing goes wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 Ctford I doubt whether it is a lemon. Probably some soft ware glitch that will be fixed and all will be well. Let us know how things go please. Fingers are crossed that it is a simple fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erwhitham Posted November 20, 2012 Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 You have my complete sympathy. Considering only a limited number of CMax sales here and very few posters, it feels like above average serious problems. Didn't see this on my Prius forum. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSmith1915 Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Just bad luck. I've had mine for a month now with nary a problem. Might want to brush up on the lemon law requirements to see when you can demand a replacement. You could even complain enought to maybe get some free upgrades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNCGeek Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Thanks for posting, but that really sucks. I'd suggest keeping a log of everything they tell you, when, and who is saying it - it may come in handy later. Hopefully Ford is taking problems like yours seriously so if it is some software problem they can address it. You could probably get a loaner from the dealer if they need your car for a day or more. It is not reasonable for them to sell you a new car and have it end up in the shop 3 weeks later without at least providing a loner vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 ctford do you have any updates about what is wrong with your car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctford Posted November 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 Update: So when they checked it out, they got a battery code. They changed the battery. The service manager took it for a test drive after everything appeared fixed, and lo and behold, the power steering went out on him too. Lovely. They took it back and called engineering. They determined the problem to be a bad fuse box. The part has been ordered and should be in the beginning of next week. This is ridiculous. The dealer has had my car more than I have. And what if the fuse box isn't the problem? I'm not mechanically inclined, in any way shape or form. I just know I'm a little doubtful and am now very nervous my car is going to die on me while I drive. So, would one of you who knows more about cars tell me, do you think a bad fuse box sounds like a plausible explanation? PS - I have looked up the Texas lemon laws. If I have another problem after this, I will pursue that option. Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedLdr1 Posted November 23, 2012 Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 Colleen, I'll take a shot at answering your question... I have been working in the electronics arena for over 40 years and the bad "Fuse Box", or Power Distribution Box as Ford calls it, is a distinct possibility. There are three fuse boxes in the C-Max, I'm betting the dealer is replacing the "pre-fuse box located in the engine compartment" as described on page 268 of my .pdf version of the Owners Manual. The C-Max uses Electric Power Steering (EPS) so any power interruption will "kill" the EPS and you now only have manual steering. The main Power Distribution Box Fuse Box being defective may also explain the other problems you have had as the Fuse Box has dozens of wires, on various connectors, both bring in the electricity from the 12V battery supply and distributing it to all the different accessories. Having a loose connection, causing an intermittent electrical connection at a Fuse Box is not unheard of, I see it in the older cars and motorcycles that I restore periodically. Having a defective Fuse Box on a new car is uncommon...but so was my defective Instrument Panel! I have not had any problems since my Instrument Panel was replaced and hopefully the Fuse Box will resolve your issues. I hope this helps, Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctford Posted November 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 Thanks Red, that makes me feel a little better. When I bought my Nissan Rogue in 2007, it was also a new model with limited availability. My check engine light kept coming on. It turned out to be a bad timing valve. After it was replaced, I have had almost no problem with the Rogue since. I'm hoping once this gets straightened out, it will be the same. Losing power steering at high speeds is a frightening thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctford Posted November 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 Ok, just got off the phone with the dealer. The connections to the fuse box had come loose causing some nuts to melt. It is the main box in the engine they replaced. They got the part sooner than expected and it's ready for me to pick up. Keeping my fingers crossed. RachelnLa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedLdr1 Posted November 23, 2012 Report Share Posted November 23, 2012 The connections to the fuse box had come loose causing some nuts to melt. A perfectly plausible and logical explanation, I have seen that on other vehicles.... That should address the issues for you. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erwhitham Posted November 24, 2012 Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 Good luck from here too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctford Posted November 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2012 Got my car back yesterday. So far so good. Keeping my fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valkraider Posted November 25, 2012 Report Share Posted November 25, 2012 Considering only a limited number of CMax sales here and very few posters, it feels like above average serious problems. The vast majority of car owners never bother to find Internet discussion forums. Even fewer bother to create accounts and write posts. Those who do are usually motivated by two things: they are enthusiasts or they have problems. Internet forums will always be weighted heavily with problems, because people don't log on every day and post "made another drive today with no problems!" (They do that on Facebook :) ) Didn't see this on my Prius forum. Yeah, the whole unintended acceleration problem never happened... Or maybe it just killed the people who it happened to so they could never log on and post about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erwhitham Posted November 25, 2012 Report Share Posted November 25, 2012 The vast majority of car owners never bother to find Internet discussion forums. Even fewer bother to create accounts and write posts. Those who do are usually motivated by two things: they are enthusiasts or they have problems. Internet forums will always be weighted heavily with problems, because people don't log on every day and post "made another drive today with no problems!" (They do that on Facebook :) ) Yeah, the whole unintended acceleration problem never happened... Or maybe it just killed the people who it happened to so they could never log on and post about it... The acceleration issue did not come up on Prius forums the first month of its release but years later. I owned a 2005 which went to my daughter when I purchased my 2007. In 2011 there was a recall to adjust front floor mats which supposedly caused the acceleration as the gas pedal became stuck. Questionable problem as well as solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erwhitham Posted November 25, 2012 Report Share Posted November 25, 2012 The vast majority of car owners never bother to find Internet discussion forums. Even fewer bother to create accounts and write posts. Those who do are usually motivated by two things: they are enthusiasts or they have problems. Internet forums will always be weighted heavily with problems, because people don't log on every day and post "made another drive today with no problems!" (They do that on Facebook :) ) Yeah, the whole unintended acceleration problem never happened... Or maybe it just killed the people who it happened to so they could never log on and post about it... The acceleration issue did not come up on Prius forums the first month of its release but years later. I owned a 2005 which went to my daughter when I purchased my 2007. In 2011 there was a recall to adjust front floor mats which supposedly caused the acceleration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.