Ford Hybrid Ford Energi Ford CMax Hybrid toads

[mjeffrey]

Instructions for the new Ford Escape Hybrid say

"Start the engine and allow it to run

for a few minutes at the beginning of each

day, and every six hours or fewer. With the

engine running and your foot on the brake,

shift into drive (D) and then into reverse (R)

before shifting back into neutral (N). Before

continuing to tow, re-enable Neutral Tow

mode."

The problem is that the engine doesn't actually start when you "start" the car. It just electronically starts and says 'Ready' to go.

How do you get the engine to run when you are sitting still?

[Sarz272000]

Good question. Here is clip from owners manual page 174. See last sentence. Should verify with dealer best way to start vehicle.

Starting
When you start your vehicle, a green READY indicator light appears in the instrument cluster
and a ready to drive message appears, letting you know that your vehicle is ready for driving.
The engine may not start because your vehicle has a silent key start feature. This fuel saving feature allows your vehicle to be ready to drive without requiring the gas engine to be running. The indicator remains on when your vehicle is on, whether the engine is running or not, to indicate your vehicle is capable of movement using the electric motor, gas engine or both. Typically, the engine does not start unless the vehicle is cold, a climate control change is requested or you press the accelerator pedal.

Ron

[avfordguy]

Place heater a/c controls in the max heat position, or press gas pedal 1/2 way to the floor.

Originally Posted by mjeffrey

Instructions for the new Ford Escape Hybrid say

"Start the engine and allow it to run

for a few minutes at the beginning of each

day, and every six hours or fewer. With the

engine running and your foot on the brake,

shift into drive (D) and then into reverse (R)

before shifting back into neutral (N). Before

continuing to tow, re-enable Neutral Tow

mode."

The problem is that the engine doesn't actually start when you "start" the car. It just electronically starts and says 'Ready' to go.

How do you get the engine to run when you are sitting still?

[mjeffrey]

Turning the heater to max seems to do the trick. The engine didn't start right away, but after thinking about it, it started. Then turning the temp back down turned it off.

Thanks.

[mjeffrey]

Pressing the accelerator also started the engine. Will experiment if that will keep it on or if it will shutdown because the hybrid doesn't need it.

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by mjeffrey

Pressing the accelerator also started the engine. Will experiment if that will keep it on or if it will shutdown because the hybrid doesn't need it.

Pretty sure you need to keep the accelerator pressed down partway (about half or so) to keep the engine running

[mjeffrey]

The engine did cut off after a minute after the accelerator was pushed to force start the engine.

Turned on the heater and the engine ran again, but then shut off after a minute.

So neither keep the engine running.

[mjeffrey]

Got this message from the car while we were towing it. I guess the battery level was going down with "Neutral Tow" enabled.

Moby is the car's name.

The last step to prepare the car to tow is shutting it off. I guess it leaves some systems energized.

This was our first towing day, and we don't tow again for 5 weeks, so it will be a while before we see if this repeats next time.

[Sarz272000]

Mjeffrey
Thanks for feedback on your Escape. Very helpful info. Seems like you have to sit in vehicle when you run engine at stops. That doesn’t sound convenient or fun. Hopefully you can find a work around to that procedure.

Ron

[avfordguy]

If high voltage battery is full as indicated on the dash, then hold gas pedal to the floor will override the "full" feature. Don't worry you cant hurt it.

Originally Posted by mjeffrey

The engine did cut off after a minute after the accelerator was pushed to force start the engine.

Turned on the heater and the engine ran again, but then shut off after a minute.

So neither keep the engine running.

[avfordguy]

Here is the only work around that I know works,
1. Hit start button, turn on "max defrost" and open door, once high voltage battery runs down due to a/c and heat being called for, engine will start and run until hv battery reaches 80% soc. ( generally 3 to 5 minutes)

2. Same goes for hit start button turn a/c to "LOW" and open both doors, once hv battery runs down the engine will start and charge to 80% soc.

Originally Posted by Sarz272000

Mjeffrey
Thanks for feedback on your Escape. Very helpful info. Seems like you have to sit in vehicle when you run engine at stops. That doesn’t sound convenient or fun. Hopefully you can find a work around to that procedure.

Ron