Ford Fusion Tips

[ConFusioned]

I just found this out and wanted to share. Some of you experienced 2013 Fusion owners probably already know this.

 

With all your windows up and doors locked, take your remote and unlock the door by pressing the remote unlock button once then release. Then immediately push the unlock button down again and hold it down for about 7 to 10 seconds and see what happens.

 

Works the other way too. Lock the door with the remote then immediately press the lock button again and hold it down.

 

Don't mean to bore the experienced owners, the new owners may not know this.

 

Maybe you experienced owners can share some of your tips?

[erichFla]

It has a name, it's called Global opening and closing of windows. It's purpose is to let out Hot air trapped inside your car after being parked all day with windows up. It's a cool feature. Also if you have the Moon roof it opens too.

[wazzul]

My Mom liked that I took her keys for her 2012 and did this. It's one of those cool features not many people know about!

[ny2oc1996]

Some of these tips apply to options that are not on all Fusions.

 

• Make sure the auto sensing wipers are turned off at the car wash (just move the stalk down to off)
• You can program an extra key but you will need two keys to do this. Once you misplace one of your two keys it's too late (pg 61-62)
• Do not block air vent holes behind rear seat (they cool the high voltage battery)
• Fuel door doesn't open? There is a manual override release in the trunk
• Vehicle has no transmission oil dipstick and no fuel filter
• Every additional 400 lbs of weight decreases gas mileage by 1 mpg (pg 223)
• Rear camera has a manual zoom (pg 191-192)
• Enable easy entry/exit (In driver info display p 135). This automatically moves the seat back and prevents large people from pushing hard against the seatback on exit.

[erichFla]

@ ny2oc1996...... so accourding to the Info you posted above mine "Every additional 400 lbs of weight decreases gas mileage by 1 mpg (pg 223)" with the additional Spare tire weight that some of us are putting in the car we should see NO decrease in MPG., correct, or at least that's what the manual says.

[neod192]

• Rear camera has a manual zoom (pg 191-192)

I did not know that! I'll have to check it out :)

[ny2oc1996]

erichFla, Spare tire weight would be negligible, no adverse effect on mileage, that is correct. Many other things effect mileage besides weight. If you drive at highway speed with the window/s down, the rush of air in against the inside of the rear windshield creates a considerable drag that decreases mileage. Low tire air pressure will redude mpg. Many other claims are exaggerated hype such as a tune up increases mileage by up to 20%. This is basically nonsense. The only time a tune up will increase mileage is if you had a engine misfire before the tune up. Same with wheel alignment. Only if the car is out of alignment to begin with and two of the three alignment adjustments wouldn't even effect mpg in many cases. BYW, cars do not get knocked out of alignment if you hit a curb or pothole. That's more nonsense. Alignment adjustment is locked down. If you "knock a car out of alignment", you just bent something.

[acdii]

Yeah, like hitting a curb while sliding on ice. :doh: Cars these days rarely need alignments unless parts are worn and replaced. They say to have the car aligned when getting new tires, which is true, it should be done since the car was aligned on original tires, and unless you replace them with the exact same tires, there could be a slight variation in the tread design, sidewall height, etc. that could throw off the alignment a bit. However, it would be so minuscule that all it would cause is a slight wear on the new tires.

[46stang]

Your premise on alignments is incorrect. If the vehicle stayed in alignment for most of it's life cycle the Auto manufacturers wouldn't make it possible to adjust any of it as it costs more money to make a part that is adjustable opposed to one that is not. Second, suspension components have rubber compounds built into them to isolate noises and vibrations. With time these rubbers wear down and this does affect wheel geometry. I have performed hundreds of alignments over the years and they are rarely perfect and don't need any adjustment. Having said that, it is true an alignment won't have a significant affect on MPG but it can on tire wear and tires aren't cheap these days.

Here are some easy steps to see if your car is out of alignment,

While driving on a mostly flat road, the steering wheel should be perfectly straight, if it is off center left or right, it needs an alignment.

While driving down a mostly flat road take your hands off the wheel and the car should continue to go straight for awhile before slightly veering to one side or the other. If it does an immediate left or right veer, you likely need an alignment.

Lastly, check your tire wear every so often. If you see it wearing on the inside edge, outside edge or feathered, you likely need an alignment. If it is wearing mostly in the center-your tires are over-inflated and if they are wearing on both the inner and outer portions your tire is under-inflated.

I do an alignment on my cars roughly every 3 years or on a new set of tires, whichever comes first, not for mpg but to maximize tire wear.

[acdii]

Here, read this again and pay special attention to the part in bold.

 

Cars these days rarely need alignments unless parts are worn and replaced

 

 

Which means basically the same thing that you just said. :)

[dalesky]

It has a name, it's called Global opening and closing of windows. It's purpose is to let out Hot air trapped inside your car after being parked all day with windows up. It's a cool feature. Also if you have the Moon roof it opens too.

Did not know that about the moon roof. Cool!

[dalesky]

 

Some of these tips apply to options that are not on all Fusions.

 

• Make sure the auto sensing wipers are turned off at the car wash (just move the stalk down to off)
• You can program an extra key but you will need two keys to do this. Once you misplace one of your two keys it's too late (pg 61-62)
• Do not block air vent holes behind rear seat (they cool the high voltage battery)
• Fuel door doesn't open? There is a manual override release in the trunk
• Vehicle has no transmission oil dipstick and no fuel filter
• Every additional 400 lbs of weight decreases gas mileage by 1 mpg (pg 223)
• Rear camera has a manual zoom (pg 191-192)
• Enable easy entry/exit (In driver info display p 135). This automatically moves the seat back and prevents large people from pushing hard against the seatback on exit.

 

manual zoom? way cool! Got to try spying on my neighbor now

[dalesky]

I just found this out and wanted to share. Some of you experienced 2013 Fusion owners probably already know this.

 

With all your windows up and doors locked, take your remote and unlock the door by pressing the remote unlock button once then release. Then immediately push the unlock button down again and hold it down for about 7 to 10 seconds and see what happens.

 

Mine started to levitate! Now what? I can't get in it.

[46stang]

Here, read this again and pay special attention to the part in bold.

 

Cars these days rarely need alignments unless parts are worn and replaced

 

 

Which means basically the same thing that you just said. :)

The rubber in the suspension components breaks down but isn't always worn enough to justify replacement, just enough to let the vehicle be out of alignment. I've performed many alignments that didn't require a part replacement but were not within spec and did cause excessive tire wear. Not trying to argue, just stating what I've experienced over the years.

[acdii]

Same here, had ASE cert in Alignments myself about 2 decades ago, performed many a rear wheel shim job for alignments. Always made good money on them.

 

 

Let me amend what I stated then, Worn And/OR replaced. Sound better?

Edited May 20, 2013 by acdii

[fusionTX]

Your premise on alignments is incorrect. If the vehicle stayed in alignment for most of it's life cycle the Auto manufacturers wouldn't make it possible to adjust any of it as it costs more money to make a part that is adjustable opposed to one that is not. Second, suspension components have rubber compounds built into them to isolate noises and vibrations. With time these rubbers wear down and this does affect wheel geometry. I have performed hundreds of alignments over the years and they are rarely perfect and don't need any adjustment. Having said that, it is true an alignment won't have a significant affect on MPG but it can on tire wear and tires aren't cheap these days.

Here are some easy steps to see if your car is out of alignment,

While driving on a mostly flat road, the steering wheel should be perfectly straight, if it is off center left or right, it needs an alignment.

While driving down a mostly flat road take your hands off the wheel and the car should continue to go straight for awhile before slightly veering to one side or the other. If it does an immediate left or right veer, you likely need an alignment.

Lastly, check your tire wear every so often. If you see it wearing on the inside edge, outside edge or feathered, you likely need an alignment. If it is wearing mostly in the center-your tires are over-inflated and if they are wearing on both the inner and outer portions your tire is under-inflated.

I do an alignment on my cars roughly every 3 years or on a new set of tires, whichever comes first, not for mpg but to maximize tire wear.

Thanks. A lot of useful information in your post.

[kuzzi]

Owners manual says you can remotely open trunk lid while vehicle is moving (<5mph), you know, for those bank robbery getaways.

[blinkstafoo182]

I just found this out and wanted to share. Some of you experienced 2013 Fusion owners probably already know this.

 

With all your windows up and doors locked, take your remote and unlock the door by pressing the remote unlock button once then release. Then immediately push the unlock button down again and hold it down for about 7 to 10 seconds and see what happens.

 

Works the other way too. Lock the door with the remote then immediately press the lock button again and hold it down.

 

Don't mean to bore the experienced owners, the new owners may not know this.

 

Maybe you experienced owners can share some of your tips?

Is this only a certain model? Or can all FFH's do this?

[hermans]

edit

Edited June 22, 2013 by hermans

[hermans]

Yeah, like hitting a curb while sliding on ice. :doh: Cars these days rarely need alignments unless parts are worn and replaced. They say to have the car aligned when getting new tires, which is true, it should be done since the car was aligned on original tires, and unless you replace them with the exact same tires, there could be a slight variation in the tread design, sidewall height, etc. that could throw off the alignment a bit. However, it would be so minuscule that all it would cause is a slight wear on the new tires.

I had a '99 Ford Taurus w/165,000 miles on it that never had an alignment . I got 72,000 miles on the factory tires (General Amerigas) and bought a second set of the same tires. I got 71,000 miles off that set and they still would pass state inspection. I even had the dealer check the alignment at 90,000 and no adjustments were ever needed. I was always surprised at the tire mileage as that car saw a lot of NYC driving. The streets in NYC are terrible.