In sept of 2010, the low voltage battery showed a red eye. I purchased a new battery from the local ford dealer and installed the battery as per instructions in the owners manual. after driving the vehicle approximately 30 highway miles, the check engine icon came on. After I came to a stop, the motor transferred to electric power and the wrench icon came on and the car would not move. I moved the car to the side of the road and left it for a day. When I returned the next day, I started the car and found the wrench icon had gone off but the motor icon was still on and the car had power in the gas mode , but after it warmed up and the wrench icon returned and the car returned to electric mode, It would not move. I found that if you turned the key off and let the car set for a minute or so, it would have power to move in gas mode once again as long as you didn't apply the brake, at which time it would return to electric mode and would not move.
I contacted the local Ford dealer and they informed me they had no hybrid mechanic and to take it to the Ford dealer in Ukiah, Ca--some 35 miles away. With some struggle, I got it there and they ran the codes and couldn't exactly find what was the matter but THOUGHT it might be the computer. The dealership also said that if we opt for the new $1700.00 dollar part, If that did not solve the problem, we would still have to pay for this computer. As it is obvious we were reluctant to accept this arrangement, we contacted Ford's customer service and complained to them that Ford has built a car that they could not properly diagnose when there was a problem and we had been led to believe that these parts had an eight year guarantee. We might as well have been talking to an alien being as they merely told me how proud Ford Motor Co. was of their Hybrid technology. They suggested we take this to another Ford Dealer 65 miles away in Santa Rosa, Ca. As this will involve towing charges and no guarantee they can accurately diagnose the problem, we have searched for other solutions to no avail. So here we are 150 days later no longer able to drive the car and no confidence in the car if it is repaired. Ford had TRUMPETED their technology regarding this car and now we find they have built and sold a car that they can't diagnose. We had even accepted the computer diagnosis and told Ukiah Ford to install it, but after 15 days wait, they called us and said they couldn't get the part. This incredible revalation astonished three of my mechanic friends and is hard to believe that Ford can't even supply a part that they can't guarantee will repair their CUTTING EDGE vehicle.
This sounds very much like the Ford of Pinto and Falcon fame, not the Ford that they are foisting on the american public today. I had to pay a premium for this car and if it can be repaired, will have to try to drive the value out of it. If more problems occur, I do not trust Ford's ability to solve the next problem as this all happened because the low voltage battery failed.If anyone thinks they know for sure what is the problem, I would be very interested in hearing your solutions. I'm sure you can diagnose as well as Ford has been able to.
In sept of 2010, the low voltage battery showed a red eye. I purchased a new battery from the local ford dealer and installed the battery as per instructions in the owners manual. after driving the vehicle approximately 30 highway miles, the check engine icon came on. After I came to a stop, the motor transferred to electric power and the wrench icon came on and the car would not move. I moved the car to the side of the road and left it for a day. When I returned the next day, I started the car and found the wrench icon had gone off but the motor icon was still on and the car had power in the gas mode , but after it warmed up and the wrench icon returned and the car returned to electric mode, It would not move. I found that if you turned the key off and let the car set for a minute or so, it would have power to move in gas mode once again as long as you didn't apply the brake, at which time it would return to electric mode and would not move.
I contacted the local Ford dealer and they informed me they had no hybrid mechanic and to take it to the Ford dealer in Ukiah, Ca--some 35 miles away. With some struggle, I got it there and they ran the codes and couldn't exactly find what was the matter but THOUGHT it might be the computer. The dealership also said that if we opt for the new $1700.00 dollar part, If that did not solve the problem, we would still have to pay for this computer. As it is obvious we were reluctant to accept this arrangement, we contacted Ford's customer service and complained to them that Ford has built a car that they could not properly diagnose when there was a problem and we had been led to believe that these parts had an eight year guarantee. We might as well have been talking to an alien being as they merely told me how proud Ford Motor Co. was of their Hybrid technology. They suggested we take this to another Ford Dealer 65 miles away in Santa Rosa, Ca. As this will involve towing charges and no guarantee they can accurately diagnose the problem, we have searched for other solutions to no avail. So here we are 150 days later no longer able to drive the car and no confidence in the car if it is repaired. Ford had TRUMPETED their technology regarding this car and now we find they have built and sold a car that they can't diagnose. We had even accepted the computer diagnosis and told Ukiah Ford to install it, but after 15 days wait, they called us and said they couldn't get the part. This incredible revalation astonished three of my mechanic friends and is hard to believe that Ford can't even supply a part that they can't guarantee will repair their CUTTING EDGE vehicle.
This sounds very much like the Ford of Pinto and Falcon fame, not the Ford that they are foisting on the american public today. I had to pay a premium for this car and if it can be repaired, will have to try to drive the value out of it. If more problems occur, I do not trust Ford's ability to solve the next problem as this all happened because the low voltage battery failed.If anyone thinks they know for sure what is the problem, I would be very interested in hearing your solutions. I'm sure you can diagnose as well as Ford has been able to.
- Larry L., Lakeport, CA, US