Transmission Shifting Issues
#21
Re: Transmission Shifting Issues
Hi Everyone.. My first post here.. so forgive me if I'm thread-jacking...
I've got a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid and it is doing the same thing as others have reported in this thread.
It started about 3 weeks ago.
The engine will rev at 1700 rpm when idling in Park, even after running for 30 minutes or more. It does not kick into hybrid mode, even when the engine is at full operating temp. (the heater controls are set for econo) I will be driving along on a flat road at 50kph (~30mph) and the engine is rev'g at 2500rpm. This is much higher than normal.
If it does enter hybrid mode at a stop light, it only last for a little more than 30 seconds.
I read some of the first posts in this thread suggesting the system was going a charge/discharge cycle to warm the batteries, but it was still doing this even after driving around town for 3 hours, on a day that was not that cold. And it did not do this last March when we bought the truck.
I've taken the truck in to the dealer, but thought I'd post here to see if anyone else had other in-site.
Thanks
I've got a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid and it is doing the same thing as others have reported in this thread.
It started about 3 weeks ago.
The engine will rev at 1700 rpm when idling in Park, even after running for 30 minutes or more. It does not kick into hybrid mode, even when the engine is at full operating temp. (the heater controls are set for econo) I will be driving along on a flat road at 50kph (~30mph) and the engine is rev'g at 2500rpm. This is much higher than normal.
If it does enter hybrid mode at a stop light, it only last for a little more than 30 seconds.
I read some of the first posts in this thread suggesting the system was going a charge/discharge cycle to warm the batteries, but it was still doing this even after driving around town for 3 hours, on a day that was not that cold. And it did not do this last March when we bought the truck.
I've taken the truck in to the dealer, but thought I'd post here to see if anyone else had other in-site.
Thanks
GaryG
#22
Re: Transmission Shifting Issues
Hi Gary,
Yup. wheels are clear of snow, we have not had that much yet anyway.. Emergency brake is off.. (that was one of the first things I checked)
Just heard back from the dealer... they say "engine speed is not related to the speed of the vehicle. It is related to the electrical requirements. of the battery, and it is operating normally. "
I've asked to speak to the technician, because that can not be right... If the batteries require the engine to turn that fast to charge them all the time, there is something wrong with the batteries. Even after a 3 hour run around town it still does it.
FWIW we do park outside, and have not started using the block heater yet...
Gary.. when you say "Have you winterized your radiator with a block?" do you mean blocking part of the from of the Rad with something to reduce the amount of cold air passing across it?
Thanks
Dean
Yup. wheels are clear of snow, we have not had that much yet anyway.. Emergency brake is off.. (that was one of the first things I checked)
Just heard back from the dealer... they say "engine speed is not related to the speed of the vehicle. It is related to the electrical requirements. of the battery, and it is operating normally. "
I've asked to speak to the technician, because that can not be right... If the batteries require the engine to turn that fast to charge them all the time, there is something wrong with the batteries. Even after a 3 hour run around town it still does it.
FWIW we do park outside, and have not started using the block heater yet...
Gary.. when you say "Have you winterized your radiator with a block?" do you mean blocking part of the from of the Rad with something to reduce the amount of cold air passing across it?
Thanks
Dean
#23
Re: Transmission Shifting Issues
Hi Gary,
Yup. wheels are clear of snow, we have not had that much yet anyway.. Emergency brake is off.. (that was one of the first things I checked)
Just heard back from the dealer... they say "engine speed is not related to the speed of the vehicle. It is related to the electrical requirements. of the battery, and it is operating normally. "
I've asked to speak to the technician, because that can not be right... If the batteries require the engine to turn that fast to charge them all the time, there is something wrong with the batteries. Even after a 3 hour run around town it still does it.
FWIW we do park outside, and have not started using the block heater yet...
Gary.. when you say "Have you winterized your radiator with a block?" do you mean blocking part of the from of the Rad with something to reduce the amount of cold air passing across it?
Thanks
Dean
Yup. wheels are clear of snow, we have not had that much yet anyway.. Emergency brake is off.. (that was one of the first things I checked)
Just heard back from the dealer... they say "engine speed is not related to the speed of the vehicle. It is related to the electrical requirements. of the battery, and it is operating normally. "
I've asked to speak to the technician, because that can not be right... If the batteries require the engine to turn that fast to charge them all the time, there is something wrong with the batteries. Even after a 3 hour run around town it still does it.
FWIW we do park outside, and have not started using the block heater yet...
Gary.. when you say "Have you winterized your radiator with a block?" do you mean blocking part of the from of the Rad with something to reduce the amount of cold air passing across it?
Thanks
Dean
Your problem in my opinion is a very cold battery that never gets a chance to heat-up enough for a charge or discharge. If the battery can't take a charge or is full, your not going to heat it up much because that requires charging. Since it's too cold to drive in EV, the only way to break this discharge problem is electric motor assist from acceleration. The best way to warm a battery is to drive in EV to lower the battery SoC before parking at the end of the day. The next morning your engine will go through a engine warm-up strategy which retards the engine timing to heat-up the CAT converter for emission purposes. During the warm-up strategy the electric motors provide power to the wheels and the engine remains at a high idle. The battery can drain down further than normal and therefore heat-up higher while recharging after the warm-up strategy. You must maintain heating the battery by recharging so that means you'll need to drive in EV as much as possible. Here is where the full radiator block comes in by keeping the engine temp hot enough to drive in EV. There is a technique I found a few years ago to go EV with a cold or hot battery. If the engine has met all the conditions to go EV, shift to neutral and tap the brake pedal to go EV. Shifting to neutral eliminates regen (charging the battery) which is causing the problem of going EV with a cold or hot battery.
Use your block heater on a timer for 3 hours prior to a morning start. Read up on the many threads here on radiator blocks and try to drain your battery as much as possible the night before. Once you block your radiator correctly and the engine stays warm, do the brake tap in neutral while moving under 40mph to go EV with a cold battery.
GaryG
#24
Re: Transmission Shifting Issues
Example number one... I was under the impression that both the Electric and Gas motor were connected to the wheels through the CVT some how. What I found out yesterday is that this is not the case. The Atkinson Cycle engine is only used to turn the generator to recharge the batteries. All propulsion is proved by the electric motor.
Also the CVT is really an ECVT.. ( there is no traditional transmission as such it is all electronically controlled).
We had a 30 minute conversation with the Hybrid tech yesterday and learned so much... Most of which was contrary to what the salesman told us. Not that knowing the truth would have changed our minds, but knowing more now, explains a lot about how the vehicle behaves.
Anyway.. thanks to Gary for the feedback, and I will definately be on this forum a lot in the furture learning as much as I can, and hopefully some day, I'll be able to return the favour.
Cheers
Dean
Last edited by Muad-dib; 12-09-2008 at 05:35 AM. Reason: just wanted to shorten my post
#25
Re: Transmission Shifting Issues
Example number one... I was under the impression that both the Electric and Gas motor were connected to the wheels through the CVT some how. What I found out yesterday is that this is not the case. The Atkinson Cycle engine is only used to turn the generator to recharge the batteries. All propulsion is proved by the electric motor.
This is only true in reverse. When driving forward both the ICE and one of the electric motor/generators (there are two, the second one makes the eCVT function) can supply power either separately or in parallel.
Also the CVT is really an ECVT.. ( there is no traditional transmission as such it is all electronically controlled).
JeffD
#26
Re: Transmission Shifting Issues
I've definitely got a lot to learn... My brain is starting to hurt...
Cheers
Dean
#27
Re: Transmission Shifting Issues
GaryG
#28
Re: Transmission Shifting Issues
Typical, and the tranny is a planetary gear set. There is NO slipping of clutches, etc., because there is nothing to slip in it. It's normal, as is it revving up as you come to a stop after a long coast down a hill
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