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11-09-2012, 06:14 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Posts: 1,002
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I just drove a C max today...a very nice solid smooth car....it was very roomy in front and was very sporty and quick...my only complaint was the angle I had to keep my foot at for the pedals.....I'm 6'4"
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2006 Mountain Aire 43 and 05 Honda Pilot
Air Force One..Real Whirlpool Fridge !
3 sugar gliders, long hair daschund and short hair wife for security
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01-18-2013, 11:11 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Southern Ohio
Posts: 793
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C-Max Base Plate installation complete!
Finished the Roadmaster base plate installation on my C-Max today.
Not too bad, just tricky removing the whole big front end piece of plastic. Huge cost if I had of screwed up and broke it.
I did not use the supplied Grade 5 fasteners with old-school lockwashers, I upgraded everything to fine thread Grade 8 with hardened flat washers and Loctite. I wanted it to be right because very single bolt is covered up so I am not likely to pull the front end off and re-torque everything at 3,000 mile intervals per Roadmaster recommendation. The critical spot is where the bracket bolts to the frame (with two bolts on each side) which is fairly thin sheet-metal. This spot definitely needed the big hardened flat washers because otherwise I'd be concerned with the bolts pulling through the sheet-metal frame ends. All the towing force goes thru these two points.
Took it out for a spin, towing with the Chrysler Minivan, so I would be able to see and hear anything bad happening. Everything was fine, and it tows very well. Good news is odometer mileage does not accumulate while towing. Preparing to tow is easy, just stick it in neutral, push the Start/Stop button to shut it down and off you go.
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John McKinley
2007 Damon 3060-Ford 16k, Ford C-Max Toad, Ford Ranger Toad, Kawasaki VX300 Versys Motorcycle
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02-12-2013, 10:10 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Southern Ohio
Posts: 793
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C-Max towing update
I've now been on the road a week or so and have towed the C-Max about 1500 miles.
It tows great, the Roadmaster baseplate is easy to hook up to and all is well, almost.
My car has the push button start/stop and the procedure is stick it in neutral, push the button and tow away. Sounds good, except that after about 3 hours of towing the battery is dead. I know everything is turned off that can be turned off but it still happens every time.
There are a lot of electronics on this car so I'm reluctant to add a charge line from the coach. When I get home, I'll probably install a shutoff switch on the battery for lack of a better idea. Luckily, the battery in question only powers the electronics so it only takes a small nudge from a battery booster to power up the system and then the big drive motor and battery actually start the car.
There is probably a fuse that needs pulling, but no one seems to know which one at this point. Talking to dealer is roughly equivalent to talking to Adjusta-Post in my basement.
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John McKinley
2007 Damon 3060-Ford 16k, Ford C-Max Toad, Ford Ranger Toad, Kawasaki VX300 Versys Motorcycle
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02-21-2013, 06:33 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 111
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We just bought a C-Max this afternoon. We had been looking at CRV's, but after seeing the mpg on the hybrid Ford, decided that it was worth a look. The comfort of the vehicle is awesome. We traded an almost new MINI Countryman. Loved the MINI, but couldn't tow it four down since it was auto/awd.
Now...next step is to set up for towing. We have not towed a car before, so I need to know exactly what kind of equipment to get. Also, would it be best to take it to some place to get the installation done?
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02-21-2013, 08:35 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Southern Ohio
Posts: 793
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Your new C-Max
Congratulations on your new purchase. It is a great car with amazing acceleration and good handling.
But, here's the bad news. Don't get too excited about the 47 mpg combined rating, not many people are getting over 40, city or highway. Check fuelly.com
Ford C-Max MPG Reports | Fuelly
for owner's reports on their mileage, you'll see the average is about 38. Maybe this will get better as the all the cars get more miles on them. Mine has about 3500 miles and lifetime average is 35.8, about 50% highway miles. Ford didn't lie about the mileage on the sticker - the car achieves 47 on the EPA test, just not on the road for most people. Most Dealers, by the way, know this but seem to forget to tell prospective buyers. They even have a form letter to give owners when they complain about their mileage.
Here's the link for the best C-Max owner's group I've seen. Lots of good stuff on it, just like IRV2.
Ford C-MAX Hybrid Forum
As far as towing it, you'll need a towbar, a baseplate and a brake system. I like the Roadmaster Stowaway for its ease of use and lower price. I am also using the Roadmaster Baseplate which is the structure that bolts to your car and provides something to hook the towbar to. Braking systems choices are numerous. I'm using the ReadyBrake. Lots of threads on braking systems on IRV2. Don't let anyone tell you you don't need a braking system. Laws of the land and laws of physics will bite you if you don't have one. Possibly both at the same time.
Installing the baseplate took me at least 6 hours. Roadmaster provides very detailed instructions (for a preview,you can download the instructions from Roadmaster's website). However, it involves removing the whole front piece of plastic and that is a scary proposition. Not hard, just scary due to the possibility of breaking something. If I had to do it again, I would look into letting my friendly Ford Dealer remove the plastic, install the baseplate myself, then let Dealer re-install the plastic.
PM me if you need more free advice and counsel.
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John McKinley
2007 Damon 3060-Ford 16k, Ford C-Max Toad, Ford Ranger Toad, Kawasaki VX300 Versys Motorcycle
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03-01-2013, 06:28 PM
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#20
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 3
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Ford C Mas
I have a c max that we bought purposely to tow behind the motorhome. I purchased the first part of november 2012 and blue ox already had the base plates. I've towed one time and did as ford manual stated, I put transm in neutral with the start button in the accessory position and found later that the odometer registered mileage. I read just a moment ago where someone said turn the ignition off. I questioned Ford today and haven't got an answer yet. Appreciate any help as I don't want to tow and run up mileage. I only towed round trip of 100 miles and the car towed very easy.
Bill
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03-01-2013, 07:26 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Southern Ohio
Posts: 793
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I've towed almost 2000 miles now - no mileage accumulation.
Just follow owner's manual instructions - start it up, move shifter to D, then R, then to N. Push button to shut it off and that's it. Panel will go mostly blank except for admonition to "shift to park" in left screen. Miles shouldn't accumulate if you have the ignition off
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John McKinley
2007 Damon 3060-Ford 16k, Ford C-Max Toad, Ford Ranger Toad, Kawasaki VX300 Versys Motorcycle
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03-03-2013, 11:49 AM
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#22
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 3
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c max
after turning ignition off you're still having problem with battery going dead? seems like should be fine if ignition is off.
Bill
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03-20-2013, 11:14 AM
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#23
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Newkirk, OK
Posts: 19
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C-Max Hybrid
Driving one this afternoon.
Wish the battery issue was resovled.
Bill
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03-21-2013, 06:09 AM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 111
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We have towed ours for several hundred miles this week and had no battery issues. The model we bought does not have the push-button starter. It has the old fashioned key and there is a clearly marked accessory setting.
Towing this car is very easy...basically, hook it up, put in neutral, set key to accessory, turn off radio and climate control, and away you go. We use Blue Ox equipment and the Patriot brake.
The only thing I found a little annoying was that I paired my iPhone to the car and when I am in the camper it is close enough that the phone is still ringing in the car. I have to shut off bluetooth on the phone. :-)
No battery issues on ours, though. So far, it's a great car. The mpg on the sticker is not what you will get unless you live in FL or CA and only drive on flat roads at 55mph when it is not raining. Nonetheless, the comfort and handling are great.
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03-21-2013, 09:16 AM
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#25
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 362
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stonekeepers, If everything is off in the C-Max why would your paired iPhone be ringing in the car?
__________________
2008 National RV
Dolphin DL34B
2012 Jeep Wrangler
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03-21-2013, 03:42 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Middle Tennessee
Posts: 111
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I had to disconnect the iPhone. Easiest way was to turn off Bluetooth. Once the phone is paired to the car it connects automatically when it is close enough.
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