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keybman

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Everything posted by keybman

  1. keybman
    I have my hands over my ears...not listening.
  2. keybman

    MPG Happy Talk

    keybman replied to elle's topic in Fuel Mileage

    It would seem that "cool" trumps "rain". Yesterday, I drove 25 city/highway miles in the rain and got 51 MPG. With the summer heat lately, I would normally have expected mid 40s. And then the trip coming home at night, still raining, but temps down to low 80s, the trip yielded 61 MPG. I cannot wait for this summer heat to be over so I can consistently get these kind of numbers.
  3. keybman
    It is my understanding that you can speed up the EV+ learning process by turning the ignition on & off 11 times in a row. With my FFH, I have found that it will only climb about 6 parking garage levels in EV+ before ICE has to kick in the 1st time. And jeff_h is correct - pick a parking spot which allows you to only go downhill for the beginning of the trip home. Free mileage!
  4. keybman
    And to answer the OP's question, I just got the Ford PCM letter on Saturday. Since I had already had the update completed on 7/31, I guess I didn't give the service department a chance to call me about it. However, I would feel comfortable in guessing that they would not have given me a call.
  5. keybman
    You are right on the money, acdii! It was the 2.5 I was also struck by just how different this car's interior was. Did not at all expect to see a different dashboard, instrumentation, radio, climate control, etc - a totally different feel. Even the driver's seat operated differently (but that might have been the settings - don't know).
  6. keybman
    While my FFH is having the TSB, FSAs and 10,000 mile oil change completed, my service dept put me in a rental Fusion (non-hybrid). Knowing that I would be paying for any gasoline used, I figured I would try and drive this vehicle as conservatively as possible. So, I drove this car as if I were driving my FFH, hoping to get a direct comparison of fuel economy. And I was shocked! It seemed so easy to get good mileage in this rental. The instantaneous MPG (which I set to compare every minute) consistently stayed at the high mark (40+ MPG) minute after minute, on 40 MPH roads or the 65 MPH highway – all with the A/C blasting. The only times it dipped were at red lights or a few spots of traffic congestion. I know that a lot of that can be contributed to the driving method, but I am still very impressed with how this 2013 Fusion responds fuel efficiency-wise.
  7. keybman
    I set up an appointment with the service dept yesterday to have the 10,000 mile oil change (actual is 8800 mi), and then to also send the FFH around to the different service departments so that they can verify and order parts - leather shifter knob, thrust washer kits, fuel module. Keeping in mind that my service dept doesn't necessarily have the best track record in this area, I was very surprised to hear yesterday that the oil change was done, and the thrust washer kits had been delivered (in less than 2 hours). Not wanting to lose out on the opportunity (since the thrust washer kits will be likely be gone if I reschedule), I was given an overnight rental car (a non-hybrid Fusion) and they are planning on completing the Ping Pong Ball fix (TSB 13-5-24) as well as possibly installing the shifter (13B03) AND the fuel module (13S04)! I am not one for counting chickens before they hatch, so we will see. But the dealership's reputation would sure have a satisfied customer here giving praise if they can pull all of that off today. (fingers crossed)
  8. keybman
    I think there may be something here that is lost in the math. I agree with the numbers from 55 to 47 MPG. But as the MPG gets lower, the loss of savings grows exponentially. As as illustration, I will use my gasoline savings from my 2013 FFH vs my previous vehicle (which was one of the deciding factors in my purchase), and base the data upon my yearly driving amounts. Assuming $3.50/gallon, if I were to get 55 MPG instead of my current 48.5 mpg, I would save an additional $13.13/mth, or $157.56/year. On the other hand, if I were to get 40 MPG instead, I would lose (or have "less savings" of) $26.62/mth, or $319.44/year. I tend to keep my cars long term, so if I look ahead 10 years, that savings/loss figure adds up to a lot of money as the MPG gets lower. The attached file illustrates the savings I would experience at various MPG levels and at different gasoline prices ($3.50 vs $5). It also shows the various loss amounts that would ultimately add up. And for me, these are not trivial amounts.
  9. keybman
    After 1 week of driving, post-PCM update, here are a few of my observations… I have not yet noticed a marked difference in summertime A/C efficiency. (maybe it’s just too darn hot still) For city driving (my typical commute), there is little noticeable difference, if you are driving 62 MPH or less. The biggest change seems to be the ability to go faster (above 62 MPH) without necessarily sacrificing MPG. In the morning, I typically saw 53-56 MPG (with no A/C). The last 2 mornings, I have logged 59 MPG for the same trip. And my EV miles to ICE miles ratio has NOT changed. The one noticeable driving habit that HAS changed is that due to the occasional faster speed, I am able to coast longer stretches than previously, which likely accounts for some of the increased efficiency. I would agree with LEM that the Range for EV (the blue area) appears a bit taller in EV mode than it did before the update. While highway driving has not been as prominent in my typical day, I have been finding opportunities to drive in the 70-75 MPH range, so that I can get a good feel for an upcoming road trip (Houston-Orlando). I expect that the PCM update should greatly reduce any MPG degradation for such a trip. My previous expectations for a 2000+ mile trip, would be that my overall Lifetime MPG would end up, by the time I return, reduced to the 43-45 MPG range. Now, I am expecting my 48.5 to be reduced to no less than 46 MPG. That is definitely good news. As a result of my higher speed experimenting, my lifetime MPG is currently down a tenth or two. Because, after all, Speed and Acceleration still stifles MPG. I would highly recommend the following post by hybridbear. It was a good reminder for me to bring me back to sound FFH driving habits, after all the PCM update testing. http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/6994-fuel-economy-tip-list/?do=findComment&comment=62132
  10. keybman
    LOVE 25. realizing that I add Fuelly updates that are consistently higher than not just some Priuses, but Motorcycles too!!! (who'd thunk?)
  11. keybman
    okay, it may seem premature but I'm going to go ahead and add Love #24: 24. that Ford seems like they are genuinely trying to make a good thing even better (PCM recalibration upgrade) and that officially makes twice as much Love as there is hate :wub:
  12. keybman
    You are welcome - hopefully it will be helpful in your update.
  13. keybman
    I have to agree. My afternoon commute home today yielded a 46 MPG trip - which is what I had been experiencing over the last few weeks of ~100 degree weather. But, I have the ability now to drive 70 MPH (if traffic allows for it) for a few miles, and at no major hit to the MPG. Previously, if I were to drive above 65 MPH, the MPG would drop precipitously down into the 30s. Speed, extreme cold and extreme hot were all previously mileage killers for this vehicle. You could say that this update potentially mellows all of those factors. I also noted this afternoon that the A/C kW draw on the climate gauge looked just about the same as it did pre-update - in the 2-2.5 range. How this will ultimately affect overall MPG is still unknown at this point - the jury is still out on that one.
  14. keybman
    Do you think that thrust washers might help? (sorry, couldn't resist!) :drop:
  15. keybman
    I was wrong - the PCM update does affect my work commute. This morning, over the same 17.6 miles, I attained 56 MPG, which is in par with what I normally might do but...I had several miles available to cruise at 70-75 MPH and the EV mode seemed to be utilized even more than usual. Plus, this MPG trip was achieved without my EV+ destination point - which normally helps my last 2 minute climb up around and around the parking garage at work. I am impressed so far. :)
  16. keybman
    Something to share with your service dept's tech so that your PCM update works on the 1st try: I was able to talk to the tech that did the PCM recalibration on my FFH yesterday (both times). He said that he read the Ford bulletin re-programming instructions 5 times before he figured out what the problem was. He indicated that while technicians know how to reprogram the IDS, they likely are just doing what they know to do. The bulletin in this case, though, clearly states that they must have Version 85.05 for the reprogramming to work correctly. Once he updated the IDS with the correct version, the recalibration worked like a charm. Hope this helps! :)
  17. keybman
    The 2nd PCM Recalibration was successful. I was able to take it on the highway and was thrilled to realize that I was cruising at 75 MPH in EV mode. My 23 mile drive in 98 degree weather, with A/C full blast, came in at just over 45 MPG. About 2/3 of that trip was on the highway driving between 70-75 MPH. The same trip back home garnered 51 MPG - the only difference being the temp outside is only 89 degrees. While this update will not likely affect my typical work commute (as I am not able to drive any long stretches above 65 MPG), it should greatly aid my planned Florida trip in August. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to utilize the "set and forget" method. I'm just imagining cruise control at 75 MPH and getting 45+ MPG for 1000 miles. And only 1 gas stop. More to come...
  18. keybman
    To djminfll and 46stang - it is not you, they did not program it correctly. I will call my dealership tomorrow and see if I can get the details about the "left out step" that caused the 1st failed attempt. If I can get that information, then perhaps others will be able to get the recalibration on the 1st try. It definitely seems like a learning curve situation for Ford Service Advisors and Techs.
  19. keybman
    Thank you, David Henry. After 90 minutes at the dealer this morning, the PCM was recalibrated and I went on to work, happy that I was now updated. With interstate driving available, I cranked her up to 75 mph...nothing. I let it coast and sure enough, it kicked into EV mode - AT 62 MPH. Nothing different than I had before. I tried several different ways of coaxing, but to no avail. No EV above 62 mph. I got maybe 40 MPG over those 10 miles. I called the dealership back and they assured me that all was well, and that it would take 1500 miles before the system would be recalibrated. I, of course, having the experiences from fellow FFH Forum members here, did not buy that line for even a second. After lunch, I had a chance to visit here, and read the above message (and others). I called the dealership back, talked to a different service advisor, who told me to come back in and they would re-do the update. However, when I got there, there was about 15-20 minutes of me explaining why I knew that the update wasn't working, and them explaining why everything was fine and didn't need doing again. Then, the tech who had done the work this morning interrupted, explaining that he had "found the problem". Apparently, there is a code that must be entered several places in their computer system as a setup and this had not been done with mine for the recalibration. (I'm thinking I am truly a guinea pig at this point) He jumped in the car and went to perform everything all over again. 90 minutes later, I have the car again and drove home, hopefully this time with the update completed. I took the same trip home that I took this morning to the dealer. 15 miles, 35-40 mph, all stop-n-go. This morning, 80 degrees, using only a little bit of A/C, I managed a 50 MPG trip. This afternoon (after update), 99 degrees, I used A/C the entire way, it was a 45 MPG trip. As hot as it is right now, that is a minimum drop-off. I will be traveling later this afternoon, and should be able to test at highway speed. So, I will chime in later tonight. And I trust that there will be good results and that the update has actually happened.
  20. keybman
    Are you going to Gullo or PF? If its PF, maybe I'll see you there in the AM. If Gullo, I am seeing if I can schedule my other FSAs and TSB there in the future - I really liked my initial conversation with their service dept. More of a "can do" vs a "we're real busy, sorry, get in line" attitude.
  21. keybman
    Okay, I'm diving in. And my dealer's service dept actually agreed to get me in and out tomorrow morning (Wed 7/31). <thud> (sound of my jaw hitting the floor as they have actually agreed to do something expediently) I am very interested in seeing whether this will help my summer heat A/C efficiency. Our local forecast here is for ~100 degrees every day for at least the next 2 weeks, with no rain possibility. Currently I am seeing 56-63 MPG in the early morning hours with little or no A/C running, and 46-50 MPG in the baking afternoon drive home with A/C running. Not bad numbers overall, but would love to see if there is an improvement in the afternoon. It can't make it worse, right? Right?? Guinea pigs R us.
  22. keybman
    So, now that the ETIS/Hill Launch Assist discussion has subsided, what about the "Traction Control System" operation (OM, pgs 182-3) for my particular experience? The OM description of how this operates, describes "to a T" how my car responded that day. Is it reasonable to assume that this is what happened? Others here have shared similar occurences and/or knowledge (thank you acdii, terryb, GrySql, hybridbear!) which would lead me to believe that this seems likely in my case. Any affirmation?
  23. keybman
    I appreciate your response, acdii. Having a similar experience in Feb (albeit different code/faults/warnings), there are certainly some commonalities. And the diagnosis then was a bad 12V battery, which was replaced. The main difference is as you mentioned, no loss of power. Also, it was a mid-February night, so no heat to deal with. It also happened immediately upon ignition, with codes galore a’flashin’. But the loss of power this time leads me to my current working theory…Traction Control System. According to the OM, if the “vehicle begins to slide, the system applies the brakes to individual wheels and, when needed, reduces engine power at the same time.” This accurately describes what I was experiencing. And going through the Engineering Test Mode, I was able to identify the 2 of the lights that remained illuminated for my short lunch drive – Stability Control and Stability Control Off lights. Either through the driving conditions at the time (downhill out of the parking lot exit while turning) or through an overheated 12V battery causing things to go on the fritz - this system was both activated for the initial 2 blocks, then turned off. And if I add to this your supposition that my subsequent lunch drive allowed the 12V to charge and then cool, then perhaps this mystery is solved. The above theory is also bolstered by the fact that there was no fault code listed in the ETM suggesting that the FFH was acting “normally” in utilizing a feature.
  24. keybman
    Avg MPG 49.2 Lifetime MPG 48.5
  25. keybman
    Ran the Engineering Test Mode...pretty cool concept to know how to access this feature. Thanks again, hb. And no fault codes listed. It is as if the event never happened. Hmmm...maybe that's another working theory - 6) the heat was affecting MY brain and it never really occurred.
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