Years ago when I had my 1989 six cylinder Taurus wagon (140 HP) and towed my nearly 1400lb load, I suffered several vapor lockups on the long uphills. I had no warning and my temperature gauge did not indicate any overheating. This was scary and I do not want to repeat this again. I learned to stop shortly before the uphill section arrived, open the gas cap and vent the system to eliminate the vapor lockup. I did the same once I cleared the hill top. It is for this reason I am asking about a performance chip upgrade. Most of these chip upgrades are reversible and owners do this procedure prior to taking the vehicle to the dealership.

 

Billy, I wouldn't advise you to play with chips in a hybrid, much less the FEH/MMH.
http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...DSM500_HEV.pdf Look at page 49 on this document regarding chips used in the FEH/MMH. It's good reading the entire document if you understand somewhat how the FEH/MMH works.

GaryG

 

do you think i will be ok towing an 18ft aluminum bass boat, how will it do pulling out of the water up the boat ramp, will the trailer hitch void an extended warranty, i saw this on one of the warranty sites that modifications viod the warranty such as a trailer hitch, but since it is rated for towing maybe that wont be the case.

 

Thanks for the response and link for more information. You and other experienced posters have provided a ton of information and are a big reason I will be receiving my new Escape Hybrid in two weeks.

Too bad our experience posters can't set up an on-line training course(s). From my exerperience, the two dealerships I visited are still not too knowledgeable about the capabilities of the Escape Hybrid.

 

There can be a sticky situation if you are at a dead stop, and on a LARGE slope... or if you are at a dead stop with your wheels on a rock, curb, chocks, etc.

There is an electric current limiter and/or torque limiter and all torque will be disabled very fast ( like 1 second ) if it detects wheels are not moving when torque is applied. Now, get moving, even just a little, even just a few inches, and you have all the torque in the world... but you must keep the wheels moving.

I tried to use my FEH to pull another vehicle out of an icy patch last winter. I was on dry pavement, with normal traction, but since I could not get moving first, else snap the tow rope ( or worse ), my car wouldn't budge. The other car made a fine anchor.

On the other hand, I saw another guy tow a loaded U-Haul trailer, you know, the giant one with duel axel... like a boxed 8x12, plus luggage on the roof, plus 4 passengers, over a 7% grade at 11,000 ft in Colorado.
I KNOW he had in the range of 3,000 pounds being towed. And he made it.

Once you are moving, this thing has power. Tie it to a mailbox, and it won't budge if the wheels can't move.

-John

 

so it should be ok as long as i can get moving first which shouldnt be hard since the boat will be part in the water. thanks for all the help