Gary,

I'm pretty sure that I did not shut down the ICE after backing up. I tend to stick with the "If it's working, don't mess with it" school of mechanics. I did let it idle for several minutes before starting out as we were really out in the boondocks, and on a holiday to boot.

As a side note, I tried to contact my local dealer to schedule an appointment this morning and only got their answering system. They were recently taken over by the same group that runs my less-than-favorite Honda dealership. I take this as a bad sign.

Pat

 

Hi All,

Well, I got my Little Mule back at 5:00 p.m. Yesterday and she is running great. I stopped by the dealership after dropping my wife off at work. The Hybrid mechanic Joey had been talking to the experts on the “hotline” and was reprogramming everything. Glenda, the SA let me stay with Joey while he fixed the problems. He had a small computer plugged into to OBD 2 plug where we connect the scangauge and was doing all the repairs with his computer. He took programming from my PCM and reprogrammed my PCM with that data somehow. He said if he had to replace the eCVT, the engine had to be removed as a unit. The problems I reported were confirmed by Joey when he tried to start my Little Mule, but he knew it could be a computer problem. We both were happy when things started acting right.

At one point, he almost drove my Mule into a wall after he reprogrammed the ABS (brakes) because the brake pedal sensor needed to be adjusted by the computers. It looks like you not only need to be a mechanically inclined person, but a computer geek also to fix cars today.

Joey said I had loss regenerative braking which gave codes PO500 1A613, he also had to reprogram the ABS module and recalibrated the travel sensors. They gave me a Hotline report number #6K1BE001 and an OASIS ID #107 240 837 for what that’s worth. He wanted to drive and check the FEH then and also drive it after it was cold latter in the day before I picked it up.

Joey did a multi-point inspection and I’m glad the battery filter, air filter and everything else was in new condition. Both the battery filter and air filter were motorcraft which cost me a bundle from the dealership. The eCVT fluid looked great, but I’m ready for a oil change and have the parts. He knew the oil could wait for 10,000 miles, and knew I was on top of things which made me feel good. Thanks to Wayne Gerdes, he agreed mobil 1 5-20W was the best I could use. He did say always use 5-20W in the FEH . These guys are checking for maintenance, to defer cost and warranty. I was prepared, are you?

Joey left me with a 30mpg tank average with 38 miles on a full tank. I should be able to bring that average up to a nice average this time.

It appears the Ford Escape Hybrid is built better than a rock. Trust me, I drive my Mule like it will last forever. Today, my Mule is still a hard working animal..You cannot break this thing!

GaryG

 

Glad to hear your FEH is back up and about, with only minimal down time.

Seems the days of home maintenence are far over.

 

Gary, glad your mule is up and running again.

So what's the final culprit that caused the computer problem in the first place?

And so, because of the computer problems, the eCVT mechanically was operating in unkown mode, making grinding noise, lurching in park, etc...all this happens and your FEH is still mechanically sound after just the flashing the PCM and ABS? Really sounds pretty solid construction. That's great to hear.

 

Thanks Rich and OCC

The hybrid mechanic just said it was a computer glitch and he sees it in non hybrid cars and trucks also. He also at first thought it was a mechanical issue but the people on the hotline told him reprogram the PCM and the ABS module. The travel senor had to be recalibrated and one oxygen sensor also showed a trouble code that cleared up on its own. He also said that because all the modules communicate to each other, one bad glitch makes everything act up.

She runs like she did before the problem, and reprogram it with the same information as built. He said that my unit had no problems that the earlier and latter units had and said I got a good build date.

GaryG