Two days and I know it all!

[Cobra348]

:wub: I lied. Nytwing finally arrived about 2 Pm EDT Tuesday with 2 miles on the odometer. Since then I've put 308 miles on him (MPG shows as 41.1 on the screen), spent quality time with the manual and the screens, cleaned the MFT screen at least twice, did some "what does THIS do?" tests and generally experimented a lot.

 

As recommended I do have the Empower screen display on. I would like to configure a MyView but I think I bolluxed it up and have no clue how to delete something out of it. Gotta look over the manual and screens again to find where to reset the trip meter(s) ... gonna need that in another 190 miles or so. <chuckle>

 

Adaptive cruise is interesting ... it really puts on the brake pressure if needed. :shift: Impressive. This was one of the "what's this do" things - with a friend in their car. This is the largest car I've had since 2002 when a Neon was added to the Dodge Dynasty LE that was in the drive. When the Dynasty finally died, it was Neon to Fiestas ... until now. So it's Fiesta and FFH in the drive.

 

Coming up this Saturday ... since I have no appropriate work area to do all this, my local Goodyear shop and I are having some bonding time! When we get done there should be:

1. a donut spare (following the 16" donut 'recipe' thead!!)

2. some Summer rims running the OEM tread ... go to TireRack and look up the Verde Regency. Black with machined lip.

3. installation of strut tower brace, hood struts and rear sway bar from Steeda. Although the fitment data on their pages may not specify MY 15 (or Hybrid), the sales person assured me they will fit.

4. Some rattle-can metallic black Duplicolor and judicious masking should do the trick on blacking out the grille bars. The rim will remain chrome ... sorta like the machine lip on the wheels. This may have to wait for slightly warmer temperatures. We're to be mid-50s ... just a tad cool for spray painting.

 

The factory rims will be used as Winter items and I'll put snow tread on them as Winter approaches. So that's the last 48 hours or so in the life of a new FFH owner and his car. I am certain there will be more interesting times ahead! :happy feet:

Edited April 16, 2015 by Cobra348

[hybridbear]

An Energi owner recently used Plasti-Dip to black out his grille. You may want to check out that thread.

 

Edit: Here is the link: http://www.fordfusionenergiforum.com/topic/683-anyone-changed-appearance-of-grill-maybe-blacked-out/

Edited April 16, 2015 by hybridbear

[Cobra348]

I've used PlastiDip on the Fiesta grilles. What I found is that although the black 'Dip looks pretty good, the location that gets dipped might gray out after some exposure to the elements. It starts out black, but lightens up to a dark grayish color. One good use for it though - and you really need to be careful with this.

 

The little light sensor on the dashboard ... if nothing other than headlights will be affected by doing this ... small amount of PlastDip to cover it up. It fakes the sensor into thinking it's dark enough for using the headlights. Set the headlights to Auto and forget it. Apply directly on ... do not scuff the surface ... it can then be easily removed if you sell/trade the vehicle.

 

Every time ignition is on, the lights will be on. DRL setting does NOT illuminate tail lights and in poor visibility, someone coming up from the rear may not see you until too late. This cures that issue.

 

EDIT IN: I do not plan on doing this on the FFH. I simply disabled the DRL in the settings. I have always turned headlights fully on at all times any way.

Edited April 17, 2015 by Cobra348

[Waldo]

The sensor is also used by the automatic climate control. Covering it up will also fool the climate control into thinking it's nighttime and it will not cool as effectively.

[lolder]

Why can't you just turn the headlights on and leave them on?

[Cobra348]

The sensor is also used by the automatic climate control. Covering it up will also fool the climate control into thinking it's nighttime and it will not cool as effectively.

See ... this is what I cautioned against. On the Fiesta the headlights are hooked in but the climate control (if equipped with the Comfort Package) gets direction from elsewhere.

 

So for FFH, PlastiDip on the sensor is a sucky idea! <shrug>

[Cobra348]

Why can't you just turn the headlights on and leave them on?

Headlights ON or on AUTO? I've not tried the ON position and I would assume that eventually they would probably go out - or drain the battery. In AUTO, they only come on when it is dark enough to trigger the sensor or the wipers are on in at least the intermittent setting. Because I disabled the DRL in settings, I flip the headlights ON after the car is started and running. A bit archaic, but to me a more effective warning system than the rear end weakness of DRL.

[Cobra348]

Crazy first fill up ... 459.3 miles ... 42.2 MPG. That's almost a rival to the best highway I ever got in a Fiesta. This represents about 45/55 city/highway.

 

Me like ... a LOT!

[Waldo]

Why not leave the DRLs on? When you turn the lights on they will be overridden anyway. And just leaving it in the ON position all the time will get you a bing when you turn off the car and open the door, but they will go off with the battery saver after 10 minutes.

 

The Fiesta certainly does use that light sensor for climate control just like every other Ford with auto climate.

[Easy Rider]

A bit archaic, but to me a more effective warning system than the rear end weakness of DRL.

 

You aren't considering the whole picture.

 

How much of the time do you drive in crappy conditions where tail lights would help versus "normal" conditions where they aren't needed ?

 

Truth IS that having your tail lights on all the time makes your BRAKE lights a little bit less noticeable in normal daylight conditions.

 

And since the vast majority of your daytime driving probably is in relative sunny and clear conditions..........leaving them on all the time tends to give you a net reduction in safety, not an increase.

 

If the conditions are bad enough either the auto control or the wiper control will turn them on anyway.

I don't think running they the other 95% of the time is really wise.

[lolder]

Sun sensors either increase blower fan speed or bias the selected temperature down a few degrees. I think Ford increases the fan speed and GM lowers the temperature.

[hybridbear]

The sensor is also used by the automatic climate control. Covering it up will also fool the climate control into thinking it's nighttime and it will not cool as effectively.

Excellent point.

 

Headlights ON or on AUTO? I've not tried the ON position and I would assume that eventually they would probably go out - or drain the battery. In AUTO, they only come on when it is dark enough to trigger the sensor or the wipers are on in at least the intermittent setting. Because I disabled the DRL in settings, I flip the headlights ON after the car is started and running. A bit archaic, but to me a more effective warning system than the rear end weakness of DRL.

I like to turn my park lights and fog lights on during the day. I believe that this makes the car a bit more noticeable than headlights in daylight. Based on the book I read last summer called Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do researchers have found that many accidents happen because we see what we expect to see. Doing something to make your car stand out makes you more visible.

 

Sun sensors either increase blower fan speed or bias the selected temperature down a few degrees. I think Ford increases the fan speed and GM lowers the temperature.

I have experienced this. If left in Auto the climate control seems to increase fan speed. If you have the fan on manual but the rest of the HVAC on auto it will adjust the air temp out the vents. Or at least this is what I think I've experienced.

[md13ffhguy]

I simply disabled the DRL in the settings.

Says a guy with the choice... ;)

[corncobs]

Says a guy with the choice... ;)

after '13 and '14 MY owners went thru all sorts of hoops to get theirs enabled and Ford finally gave up resistance. :)

[GrySql]

 

Doing something to make your car stand out makes you more visible.

You already have, you bought a Fusion!

Yesterday, when I was parking at the local grocery store, the very young lady pushing grocery carts stopped to say that she really liked my car, she said she thought the new Fusions were so cool looking.

 

I used to drive with my lights on but got tired of having to remember the lights so talked my Dealer into turning them on, way back in 2013.

The Fleet 2013's already had the DRL's activated but getting them turned on in non-Fleet cars was a hit or miss proposition, depending on the Dealer.

Edited April 18, 2015 by GrySql

[Cobra348]

You already have, you bought a Fusion!

Yesterday, when I was parking at the local grocery store, the very young lady pushing grocery carts stopped to say that she really liked my car, she said she thought the new Fusions were so cool looking.

 

I used to drive with my lights on but got tired of having to remember the lights so talked my Dealer into turning them on, way back in 2013.

The Fleet 2013's already had the DRL's activated but getting them turned on in non-Fleet cars was a hit or miss proposition, depending on the Dealer.

Welp ... there's a boatload of comments as to why I should run DRL. Noted and I shall adjust my thinking. Points were raised I had not considered so consider me corrected! :worship:

 

I am really loving this car more and more as I play with things. Setting the center stack to the car status display is quite a nice graphic way of seeing where power is being used, etc. The easy in/out is WAY nicer than any car I've had! I can't tell you how many times I've banged a shin or kneecap on the door dogleg!

 

Thanks for the comments, folks ... and all the research on spares and everything. I learned tons and am still doing so! :happy feet: :thumbsup:

[machoman1337]

About DRLs, Canadian law requires them. If you import a US-spec car to register in Canada, you actually need to get a mechanic to disable the ability to turn off DRLs (very stupid IMO, can't you just ticket people who have Canadian plates but with DRLs off?), and that's a cash grab (typically a few hundred bucks) that manufacturers use to "punish" Canadians who go south to save money during times of currency parity. Note that the law doesn't apply to tourists driving US-plated cars into Canada for temporary stays. If you sit by the roadside, you can always tell who's American by whether or not their DRLs are on, LOL.

 

I've also learned a lot from this forum - including the availability of a TSB notice for one early issue I had!