Topic: Problem with your hybrid? Burn more gas, Ford tells owner

[Trainman]

As she says, sort of defeats the purpose, no?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/lisa-sweeney-ford-fusion-hybrid-sludge-1.3779293

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Short trips in any car in winter are tough. Hybrid or not, the engine has got to get to operating temperatures to remove condensation once in a while.

Ford may have to look at their programming to see if they can mitigate the issue.

[ArticSteve]

I guess that lady never got the memo; if something significant is wrong with a Ford, Ford will never fix it.  Fords are a crap shoot.  You get a good one and your laughing.  Get one with a problem and Ford will BS you till you just give up.  Unless you live in the US were Ford is forced to by it back. 

For 3 1/2 years my wife drove a 2012 Camry Hybrid 4km to work and 4km back.  In a climate that is colder than St. John's.  Oil changes every 8K km.  Thing was like knew when let it go @ 78k km.


She wants Ford Canada to buy back her car so she can afford to purchase a new vehicle

 

Because of the bad press Ford will make an offer @ below wholesale which probably will be on a 2014 Fusion Hybrid $15.000   She'll still be out the tax.

[84im]

She'd probably be better off with a full EV, since her daily drives are fairly short.

[tenpenny]

I guess that lady never got the memo; if something significant is wrong with a Ford, Ford will never fix it.  Fords are a crap shoot.  You get a good one and your laughing.  Get one with a problem and Ford will BS you till you just give up.  Unless you live in the US were Ford is forced to by it back. 

For 3 1/2 years my wife drove a 2012 Camry Hybrid 4km to work and 4km back.  In a climate that is colder than St. John's.  Oil changes every 8K km.  Thing was like knew when let it go @ 78k km.


She wants Ford Canada to buy back her car so she can afford to purchase a new vehicle

 

Because of the bad press Ford will make an offer @ below wholesale which probably will be on a 2014 Fusion Hybrid $15.000   She'll still be out the tax.

So, I take it you're not a Ford slappie?


Sent from my Vic20 using Java Moose

[EV-Light]

As she says, sort of defeats the purpose, no?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/lisa-sweeney-ford-fusion-hybrid-sludge-1.3779293

this is such an interesting case! I am wondering if other hybrids would suffer the same fate if she was to put them through the same kind of stress...

[rrocket]

^^This can happen to any car that's rarely driven or is a garage queen.  Or makes short trips.

I've read about it on the 911 forums.

[ArticSteve]

The woman drives it regularily.

Their Fusion/Lincoln hybrid is 2nd tier.  Ford still has too much debt and the company is under capitalized.  They are doing a good job considering the fierce competition.  However, in this country, if you buy a Ford and it has a major issue you're SOL.

[pi314]

Well I was lucky with my focus I guess then?


Maybe if I get the 1.0L ecoboost focus I should lease then... hmmmm

[rrocket]

The woman drives it regularily.

I added "Or makes short trips".  Also, this is more common in cars with looooong oil fill tubes.  Is the Ford loooong?

Again...see the same thing on some other forums, but nowhere near that bad.

Here's a typical 911 condensation

[me_2]

First oil change move I did with the Volt was to go full synthetic to avoid moisture build-up, foam oil reaction. Maybe it is only a urban legend but why not if it reveals to be true.

I believe the worst condition is when the ICE doesn't run long enough to reach it operating temperature. May the oil change schedule to be shorten in this condition?

[EV Dan]

First oil change move I did with the Volt was to go full synthetic to avoid moisture build-up, foam oil reaction. Maybe it is only a urban legend but why not if it reveals to be true.

I believe the worst condition is when the ICE doesn't run long enough to reach it operating temperature. May the oil change schedule to be shorten in this condition?

Yeah, sound like crappy oil. Her travel to work is 20 min. For a non-plug hybrid it's a lot of time for engine to warm up. If it has a plug though I wouldn't be surprised.

Or maybe it's a "fun guy" 
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0I4KKSgeBI

[Serniter]

As she says, sort of defeats the purpose, no?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/lisa-sweeney-ford-fusion-hybrid-sludge-1.3779293

I have been thinking of getting a hybrid to replace my diesel Passat once it is returned to VW. Now with these issues, I'm not sure a hybrid is applicable since my use case is very similar to that described in the article. Guess a small 4 cylinder it is... Anyone know of similar issues with the Toyota hybrids (Prius and Camry)?

[Trainman]

As she says, sort of defeats the purpose, no?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/lisa-sweeney-ford-fusion-hybrid-sludge-1.3779293

I have been thinking of getting a hybrid to replace my diesel Passat once it is returned to VW. Now with these issues, I'm not sure a hybrid is applicable since my use case is very similar to that described in the article. Guess a small 4 cylinder it is... Anyone know of similar issues with the Toyota hybrids (Prius and Camry)?

This is a good question, and not only to Toyota's but any similar system.  Is it a Ford problem, or is it widespread to all hybrid's? 

[dkaz]

I wouldn't consider 12km short. 5km or 15 minutes and under would be short.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

As she says, sort of defeats the purpose, no?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/lisa-sweeney-ford-fusion-hybrid-sludge-1.3779293

I have been thinking of getting a hybrid to replace my diesel Passat once it is returned to VW. Now with these issues, I'm not sure a hybrid is applicable since my use case is very similar to that described in the article. Guess a small 4 cylinder it is... Anyone know of similar issues with the Toyota hybrids (Prius and Camry)?

This is a good question, and not only to Toyota's but any similar system.  Is it a Ford problem, or is it widespread to all hybrid's?

This is the first time I've heard of the issue in any hybrid. Ford has sold a pile of hybrids over the years, so if it was widespread, I'm sure we would have heard of it prior to now.

[Jaeger]

Short trips in any car in winter are tough. Hybrid or not, the engine has got to get to operating temperatures to remove condensation once in a while.

Ford may have to look at their programming to see if they can mitigate the issue.

A 12 km drive to work should be more than adequate to get her car up to operating temp.

[Trainman]

Short trips in any car in winter are tough. Hybrid or not, the engine has got to get to operating temperatures to remove condensation once in a while.

Ford may have to look at their programming to see if they can mitigate the issue.

A 12 km drive to work should be more than adequate to get her car up to operating temp.

But how much of that is actually using the internal combustion engine?  That seems to be the issue here, it is not running enough in the 12km/20 minutes to actually warm up as the battery is providing most (but not all) the power.

[JohnnyMac]

Would CAMVAP not be the right people to contact after the dealer states they can no longer help her?  Ford Canada is a member and sounds like it might be the best scenario for her to have it bought back.

I wonder if they would consider trading her hybrid for a gas one and use her car for studying and avoid all the hassle of bad media and upset customer.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Short trips in any car in winter are tough. Hybrid or not, the engine has got to get to operating temperatures to remove condensation once in a while.

Ford may have to look at their programming to see if they can mitigate the issue.

A 12 km drive to work should be more than adequate to get her car up to operating temp.

I drive 6 kms to work and for three months in winter my temp needle barely moves off cold by the time I get to work.

I do periodically take if for a longer drive to make sure it's up to operating temperature for a half hour or better though.