Traction Control and Hill Assist warnings on the display

[GrySql]

My one month old 2013 FFH -

Had several occassions where the left display showed an Alert window stating that my Traction Control, and later, the Hill Assist were not working.

An engine restart shut off the Alert windows but they came back at other times.

I captured these on the car's onboard Vehicle Health Report, sent it to the SYNC website and this info was included with my online Ford Service Appointment printout.

 

Just dropped it at the Ford dealer, my expectations were not too high when the friendly Service Rep opened the hood and said "wow, never seen one of these hybrids before".
About an hour later I was told that the car showed a number of faults on the Ford Service dept's master diagnostic computer.
I was told the dealership Tech's are "talking with Ford corporate, like in a Chat room" and currently don't have a fix - swell.

I got a dealer shuttle ride home and will be called when something is determined.

Edited January 9, 2013 by GrySql

[fusionTX]

Sorry to hear. Please keep us informed of the cause and how it is resolved.

[jeff_h]

expectations were not too high when the friendly Service Rep opened the hood and said "wow, never seen one of these hybrids before".

 

Sounds like you stopped at the Mayberry filling station! Hope it all turns out OK.

[GrySql]

:hysterical3: Aye, Mayberry, you're not far off....

However, this dealership has a good reputation even if the opening statement didn't inspire me.

 

I just talked to the Service Rep, they are keeping the car overnight.

Ford Engineering had the dealership Shop Foreman test each of the cars Main Control Modules individually, I think he told me there are 5 of them.

They all passed the computer interrogation, then they did a 'Hard Reset' of the entire system and were road testing it as I was speaking to the Service Rep.

After the road test they will run another computer diagnosis to see if the faults they originally found were still there.

 

Ford Engineering had the Rep ask me if I had any drivability issues other than the display warnings, I said no.

They will not release the car until they are absoluetly sure it is safe to drive.

 

I'll be given a loaner vehicle tomorrow if this is not resolved.

Edited January 10, 2013 by GrySql

[acdii]

I drove a Focus that did that everytime I stepped on the gas, it had a low battery.

[GrySql]

I drove a Focus that did that everytime I stepped on the gas, it had a low battery.

My Mustang GT's CEL Error Code was for a Camshaft Position Sensor, so I changed the alternator and that fixed it. Makes sense...

 

This FFH is a whole different animal, I hope they fill the gas tank after all this road testing.

Even more, I hope they find the problem, I really like the car.

Well, tomorrow we shall see what happens next.

[GrySql]

Picked the car up today.

Originally the shop computer identified the error codes, then they were advised by Ford Tech to test all the individual control modules, which did not show any faults.

So, the "Hard Reset" was done and the car was plugged into a portable computer and driven on two separate occasions for a total of about 42 miles, no faults appeared.

In essence, the service department did the Microsoft equivalent of 'Control, Alt, Delete' and are hoping for the best.

I am completely reassured - (end sarcasm.) :glare:

 

After some vague misgivings and rambling comments about safety, the Service Dept decided that I could pick up the car.

They added 5 gallons of gas and a wash job to sort of placate me.

I was advised that if those faults reappeared while I was on the road somewhere to promptly go to the nearest dealership and get the codes read by the super computer.

In that scenario I'd also have the car's Sync application file another Vehicle Health Report so the Codes are saved.

Anyway, glad to have the car back and will continue to be optimistic about this purchase.

 

LOL, I just went down to the local USPS office and 'golf carted' it most of the way, got 52mpg on the RT. (3 miles level, 56F, ICE already warmed up)

Edited January 11, 2013 by GrySql

[hybridbear]

I'm having an issue with the hill descent control in my 2013 FFH as well. We're on a road trip and coming down out of the mountains toward Phoenix the car was using the hill descent control and then revving the ICE when needed to maintain our speed. However, once we would finish our descent the max regen braking would stick on. The Hill Descent Control was turned off and the computer did not show any error messages. The car would then labor just to maintain speed on flat ground and if I let my foot off the gas it would start slowing down as if I were stepping on the brake to the point of max regen before the friction brakes kick in. We tried stopping and restarting the vehicle which worked the first few times this happened, but then the last time it happened, right as we were nearing Phoenix, even shutting off the car multiple times did not fix the issue. What finally fixed it was going down another steep hill where the hill descent control would have normally kicked in by itself, once we reached the bottom of the hill it disengaged and drove normally.

 

What's even stranger is that in all this time we did not see any extra charging of the battery. It's as if the car was going into max regen mode but not sending that power to the battery...very odd.

[GrySql]

As annoying as it is, I think trip to your dealer's service department is in order, don't let something like that get by you.

You need to start a file with Ford of any malfunctions as they occur, just for your own protection later.

They have computers that can look deeper into your system and possibly find that error.

What they can do about it is another kettle of fish.

 

If you are signed up with syncmyride.com, I would run a MFT Vehicle Health Report when something strange happens.

[mrasmussen]

I have a very similar expereince. I was driving and started seeing a blinking wrench stating check manual. I checked the manual and the error said DriveTrain Fault. I then drove to the dealer and while I was diving, I get a red error message telling me to pull over safley. I stopped and then started the car again and was able to limp to the dealer. That was sunday night. It is now Friday and I still don't have the car. The dealer told me it is a transmission module and the mechanic needed to order the part, then drop the trans to install the part. It is supposed to be ready today, we'll see.

 

It sounds like this issue might not be specific to me, maybe a mass issue with this module? I started seeing messages about Hill start and traction control not working before the pull over saftly message. Not a good feeling to have a car with 2900 miles spend 5 days in the shop....

[fusionTX]

I have a very similar expereince. I was driving and started seeing a blinking wrench stating check manual. I checked the manual and the error said DriveTrain Fault. I then drove to the dealer and while I was diving, I get a red error message telling me to pull over safley. I stopped and then started the car again and was able to limp to the dealer. That was sunday night. It is now Friday and I still don't have the car. The dealer told me it is a transmission module and the mechanic needed to order the part, then drop the trans to install the part. It is supposed to be ready today, we'll see.

 

It sounds like this issue might not be specific to me, maybe a mass issue with this module? I started seeing messages about Hill start and traction control not working before the pull over saftly message. Not a good feeling to have a car with 2900 miles spend 5 days in the shop....

Sorry to hear about your issues. let us know how it turns out.

How is your gas mileage? Is it what you expect it to be?

[mrasmussen]

I'm getting close to 40mpgs. I am trying to get good millage, getting the car into ev mode, slow acceleration. The last two weeks I've been dipping into the 35 - 36 range due to snow. So far I love the car, other that this current issue.

[KLH]

I think that I've just run into this issue. Here's my post.

[junior.29.dh]

Have you have this problem again because I am experiencing this problem currently. I was wondering if I can do the hard reset myself and maybe that might fix my problem? my local Ford dealer cant get my car in until next Thursday. one week away, the following Saturday I'm supposed to drive 1 thousand miles to New Jersey from Michigan to visit my mom and sister and I'm hoping to have this problem resolved before then. last night when it first occurred I was on my way 360 miles north to St Ignace Michigan for a car show. I was halfway there and had to turn around to come back! I wasted a call in from work, safety day from work, (which I cannot cancel, I get one a year) also $150 on my hotel room that i was supposed to stay in last night that was already paid for. needless to say this has been an expensive endeavor so far and it's not over.

[junior.29.dh]

my local Ford dealer told me my car should be fine to drive I just won't have the hill assist or advance Trac While error codes are shown.

[Waldo]

Yeah, I don't know why you turned around. Electronic systems are not like low oil pressure, you aren't going to cause any damage by driving. They just shut themselves off when they detect something wrong.

[FordService]

Have you have this problem again because I am experiencing this problem currently. I was wondering if I can do the hard reset myself and maybe that might fix my problem? my local Ford dealer cant get my car in until next Thursday. one week away, the following Saturday I'm supposed to drive 1 thousand miles to New Jersey from Michigan to visit my mom and sister and I'm hoping to have this problem resolved before then. ...

 

junior.29.dh,

 

Let me see how I can help. PM me your name, phone number, VIN, mileage, and dealer info.

 

Ashley

[KLH]

I had something more serious - but not unsafe - pop up over the last month. After driving 650+ on an uneventful roadtrip, I received a number of error messages:

 

* Service AdvanceTrac

* Collision warning not available

 

Link to video on dropbox

 

At other times I'd get the Hill Assist not available and Cruise Control not available warnings.

 

Anyway, I took the car into the shop (Regan Ford in Haverhill, MA) and they replaced an AdvanceTrac controller and all is well. Actually, all is better as I had been averaging 39MPG prior and 42MPG afterward!

[GrySql]

Actually, all is better as I had been averaging 39MPG prior and 42MPG afterward!

They probably disconnected the batteries (the equivalent to a Hard Reset) so your car is re-learning your driving habits, which is good.

[KLH]

It's been great driving it again. I'm not sure if a battery reset was performed because the EV+ areas weren't relearned. In any case, I'm just happy to have those warning sounds gone.

 

Here's a couple of things that I learned when the AdvanceTrac was out:

 

* The FFH software does a self-check every time the ICE turns on. I reasoned this as EVERY time ICE engaged, 4 warnings came on similar to the video. VERY frustrating, but safety first.

 

* There is a speaker that is for car sounds that is independent of the stereo. This speaker is where the car warnings and turn signal blinking sound comes from. It's located somewhere around the dashboard. I reasoned this as the warning "dings" are localized to a different location than the stereo. In addition, the turn signals "click" sounds disappear when the warning "dings" are going off. I guess people are used to the turn signal click sounds from the 70s and 80s...

 

It's almost been a year and I'm still learning things about this car.

[Waldo]

Turn signal "clicks" have been coming from the chime in the instrument cluster for at least 15 years now in most cars.

[KLH]

Yep. Makes sense. I was surprised to hear the clicks be cut off by the warning sound.