New 1st hybrid owner

[Automate]

I recently purchased my first hybrid, a 2010 Fusion with 70K miles. Looking to learn from other FFH owners.

[SteveB_TX]

Howdy and Welcome! :)

[Cobra348]

As one who will have an FFH in a month or so, I can tell you one thing. Start reading! There's a boatload of tips and techniques here for almost any driving experience you want.

[lolder]

I recently purchased my first hybrid, a 2010 Fusion with 70K miles. Looking to learn from other FFH owners.

Read the Owners Guide cover to cover twice while parked and push all the buttons. Learn about the dash board menu and set the display to "Empower" and change the leaves to the bar graph. Then drive it like a regular car and don't obsess with the bells and whistles. Put the HVAC in "Auto".

There are two models of hybrids's discussed here, the 2010-12 Ford, Mercury and Lincoln which are considered Generation I of which only about 70,000 were made ( but Gen II of Ford, Mercury hybrids starting from the 2004 Escape ) and the 2013 + Ford and Lincolns Gen II's which are a completely different car. The Gen II's have a different type HVB but are very similar in theory of operation. You have a Gen I FFH.

 

There were some software updates that you should check to see if they were done with a Ford dealer. One is about the brakes and the other is about the display. If there is a large green car icon that says "ready to drive" displayed on the left dash for about 3 seconds after starting, the updates have probably been done.

 

I have a 2010 with 70,000 miles that I got new in July 2009 and it is working almost flawlessly on it's second set of OEM Michelins.

[TonyHzNV]

Hey Automate! Welcome! Congrats on your "new" car! As others have said, there is a lot of information here as well as many helpful, friendly people to include Ford reps who can and will also help you out. Chances are many of your questions have already been answered or discussed. So, dig into the threads that are of interest to you and don't be afraid to ask questions. You will get many and sometimes varied answers but don't let that bother you. We ARE an opinionated bunch! Welcome to Hybrid University!

[SteveB_TX]

We ARE an opinionated bunch!

 

That's YOUR opinion man! Don't be speaking for me! I am totally NOT opinionated! ;)

[TonyHzNV]

That's YOUR opinion man! Don't be speaking for me! I am totally NOT opinionated! ;)

OK Steve! You are totally NOT opinionated! Hmmm, totally + NOT = (cancel + cancel) = you are opinionated! ?

Edited February 11, 2015 by TonyHzNV

[Automate]

Thanks for the warm welcomes!

 

 

There were some software updates that you should check to see if they were done with a Ford dealer. One is about the brakes and the other is about the display. If there is a large green car icon that says "ready to drive" displayed on the left dash for about 3 seconds after starting, the updates have probably been done.

 

I'm not seeing any "ready to drive" message on the left. Just the green forward and reverse arrows in the bottom right corner. I purchased it used from a Ford dealer. Wouldn't they normally check this? How do I check for sure? Is there any cost for the software upgrade?

[lolder]

Thanks for the warm welcomes!

 

 

 

I'm not seeing any "ready to drive" message on the left. Just the green forward and reverse arrows in the bottom right corner. I purchased it used from a Ford dealer. Wouldn't they normally check this? How do I check for sure? Is there any cost for the software upgrade?

The brake update was called "Customer Satisfaction 10B 13." If you only see the small green car icon and an arrow beneath it and no large green car icon on the left for 3 seconds after starting, TSB 10-15-5 has probably not been done. The TSB also changes the trip summary on shutdown to xx.xx gallons used instead of xx.x gallons. There may be some other updates also. They were free when they were announced and most cars were under warranty. The were not recalls. If you bought the car from a Ford dealer you should request them to do it for free. Many dealers would not check for these.

You should insist that the Customer Satisfaction brake update be done for free. The brake system is computer controlled and monitored. The monitor was too sensitive and disabled the computer controlled regenerative breaking after falsely sensing a fault. When that happens, you have to push DOWN FARTHER about 2 inches on the pedal to get normal power disc mechanical hydraulic brakes. Almost all the people that this happened to including a Consumer Reports tester thought they had lost all braking !! The Owners Guide only says to continue pressing the pedal, not that you have to press much farther down. If this happened today instead of 5 years ago it would certainly have been a recall.

They will not usually do a TSB for free unless you report an associated problem. Tell them the dash display resets sometimes to the default display and maybe they'll do 10-15-5.

Other TSBs are 10-17-11 and 11-7-31

I may have some of the numbers not quite right.

Tell the dealer they sold you the car and for them do do all the updates.

They can put your VIN number in their computer to see if updates are appropriate or if they've been done.

Edited February 12, 2015 by lolder

[FordService]

Thanks for the warm welcomes!

 

 

 

I'm not seeing any "ready to drive" message on the left. Just the green forward and reverse arrows in the bottom right corner. I purchased it used from a Ford dealer. Wouldn't they normally check this? How do I check for sure? Is there any cost for the software upgrade?

Welcome!

 

I recommend heading to your dealer to have this taken care of. Let me know when you do, and I'll check into some options.

 

Meagan