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Ford Escape Hybrid Engine Problems

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Comments

  • nurseninernurseniner Member Posts: 1
    I drive a FEH 2008 and have noticed that over the last 6 months my gas mileage has dropped about 5mpg. My driving style has not changed and my husband also has noticed the huge difference. I've noticed that the engine seems to be running more often than before, even when we are not using the AC/defrost. We live in Southern California so the weather is consistently warm so it is not like the car needs to warm up. I called the ford dealership and they swear it's not the batteries. As far as I understand the hybrid when started, will turn off the gas engine automatically as long as the batteries are charged and the temperature is controlled. Please let me know if anyone else has experienced this phenomenon and should I get rid of it ASAP?
  • corralitoscorralitos Member Posts: 1
    Help - I believe the exact same happened to me yesterday while pulling onto the freeway. It sounded like the engin fell out of the car and came to an abrupt stop. There was oil everywhere but our mechanic said it looked like we ran out of oil which was impossible since it was recently changed. Have you had any luck with Ford? Of course ours is no longer under warranty (106,000). I'd appreciate any help.
  • zackozacko Member Posts: 1
    I am experiencing the same issue with our FEH 2007. Has about 60K miles. Always has gotten less mileage in winter from summer due to engine having to heat up before turning off. However, it is summer, 80 plus temps and the engine is not turning off when the battery is fully charged. It continues to idle at 1000 rpms. Plus I am noticing the on/off being inconsistent, where on one trip it turns off and other times it does not. I'm guessing it is a sensor of some type that is malfunctioning, but this is a guess. I have not brought it into the dealer yet, but will be checking.
  • stevedebistevedebi Member Posts: 4,098
    These issues sound like the electronics cooling pump (MCES) not working right. Also, the blend door actuator (for models prior to 2010) may not be working correctly.

    If the battery gets too hot it won't operate.
  • rthubarthuba Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2012
    I got the MECS and blend door actuator yesterday at the dealership for 1157. parts 496 and labler 680$ for what had to be 2hour of having it and 1 hour of work based on dropping it off and when they called back.

    TSB 08-24-5 states that some 2005-2008 Escape Hybrid and 2006-2008 Mariner Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a red triangle light and codes indicating a transaxle overtemp. This condition may result in reduced power as the system activates fail safe operation. Codes P1A0E, P1A0F, P0A3C, P0A3E, P0A7A, P0A7C and P1A0D may also be set.
  • lehuakealehuakea Member Posts: 2
    I'm the original owner of my vehicle and I have had no problems whatsoever--I'm a happy customer. Now, I'm a bit frustrated as my car is not starting consistently. When I turn the key and it doesn't start, I sometimes hear clicks coming from the rear of car passenger side. But sometimes there is no clicking sound and no starting either. I've taken it to 2 mechanics, including a Ford dealership/service center. The first mechanic replaced the battery (not the hybrid battery) and that seemed to solve the problem--the mechanic turned off the ignition and was able to start it 30 + times. Then I drove the car home and was unable to start it. I had to try several times. Sometimes I sit for 5 or 10 minutes and then it will start. Ford has been unable to diagnose the problem because every time I take the vehicle in, they are able to start it on the first try. It does not seem to matter if the engine or air temp is warm or cold. Any ideas?
  • stevedebistevedebi Member Posts: 4,098
    edited March 2013
    Check the voltage on the battery. It is possible that the 12v battery is not getting charged correctly.

    However, on the FEH the 12v battery does not start the engine; the main traction battery does that. All the 12v battery does is power up the electronics to control the vehicle so that the big battery in the back can crank the engine. So you could have a bad traction battery. On a 2008, you would still be under the hybrid warranty for the main battery (unless you have more than 100K (150K in CARB states) on the vehicle. So that main battery would be under warranty.

    Take the car to a Ford dealer who has Hybrid specialists. This car is very different than a normal vehicle.

    I did a search on the Internet, but I did not find out how the 12v is charged (via the main engine or via mechanical charging). I suspect that the electrical system charges it, so lack of charging could be the main battery. If it is charged by the electrical system, there could be a problem with the pieces that step the 330v down to 12v. But this last part is conjecture.
  • djules23djules23 Member Posts: 1
    Did the reply by Stevedebi help out? Did you discover the problem? I am having the same issue with my 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid.
  • forddriver2005forddriver2005 Member Posts: 3
    HI no actually it didn't b/c when I took it in they said it was the water pump which sadly isn't covered by warranty. When they fixed it I had no more problems. I wish it had been a less expensive option but oh well at least it works. Good luck!
  • stevedebistevedebi Member Posts: 4,098
    "HI no actually it didn't b/c when I took it in they said it was the water pump which sadly isn't covered by warranty. When they fixed it I had no more problems. I wish it had been a less expensive option but oh well at least it works. Good luck! "

    Was it the water pump (for the engine), or the MECS pump (for the electronics)? The MECS is notorious for failing in this vehicle, particularly before the 2010 model redesigned the pump. I just had mine done after my car shut down twice on the freeway. I had 64K on my 2008 at the time.
  • forddriver2005forddriver2005 Member Posts: 3
    I'm not sure sorry. I paid and never looked back.
  • stotta87stotta87 Member Posts: 1
    my escape hybrid had all the doors locked (did not lock it), i had to manually unlock the door and when i put the key into the ignition no lights came on. It would not crank over or start, no anti-theft light was on and was not blinking, no lights came on at all, no sounds of any kind either. decided to disconnect the battery under the hood for about 10 minutes and when i checked the escape after that there was no change. i let it sit over night and in the morning it started right up. what could cause this? i would hate to have this happen again. Went to a ford dealer to hook it up to diagnostic machine but they said if there are no indicator lights on then no code would show up at all. please help.
  • lehuakealehuakea Member Posts: 2
    I finally found the problem! I friend told me that the lock mechanism in the steering column can get loose, resulting in poor connection with the key/tumbler/whatever. I tried jiggling the key inside the ignition as I turned it--and voila--that did the trick. I took it to Ford to have the lock assembly replaced (~$500) and that solved the problem once and for all. Now I'm a happy Escape owner once again.

    What's nice is that you can jiggle the key as you're turning it--the same way you would a cranky house key or something--and it is a way to diagnose if this is indeed the problem.
  • dnickasondnickason Member Posts: 1

    I Have a 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. You put the key in turn it to start and it may or may not start. You turn it off turn it to 1/2 way then count to 10 may start may not. Repeat this process 5-10 times and eventually it will start. Any one have similar issue or a solution.

  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372

    @dnickason said:
    I Have a 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. You put the key in turn it to start and it may or may not start. You turn it off turn it to 1/2 way then count to 10 may start may not. Repeat this process 5-10 times and eventually it will start. Any one have similar issue or a solution.

    Sounds like it could possibly be a fuel line/pump issue because the process you're describing should be trying to pump fuel to the engine each time you do it. Sort of like if you had a hose attached to a faucet that had a blockage in it and you turned it on and off until the blockage shifted and water eventually flowed. Could be a problem with the fuel pump as well, and the multiple attempts finally gets it to get going. Another possibility would be a fuel line leak where the pressure that normally keeps fuel in the line ready for the next time you start the car bleeds off. I had that happen with a vehicle once and had sporadic starting issues like you describe.Turning the key to that halfway position for a few seconds before trying to start would run the fuel pump and repressurize the line. Are you smelling any gas? when it doesn't start?

  • dglazedglaze Member Posts: 1
    stevedebi said:

    "Have been getting occasional service light warnings and then the Escape begins to chug, when I stop and turn off and then back on, it runs like normal again, I have taken it to the dealer once, but they didn't find anything. So far, this has happened about 4 times."

    This could be a serious error with the hybrid powertrain system. Every time it happens take it in to the dealer. If they can't fix it on the third try, go for a lemon law replacement.

    Unless you want to live with the "chug,chug" for the entire length of your ownership...

    Check engine light came on as my daughter was driving back from Ashville, NC. Stopped at an AutoZone/Advance Auto where they plugged in and checked the code which apparently was showing that an O2 sensor needed replacing. She dropped it off to Shelor Motor Mile yesterday, they finally got to it today. They are stating that they were unable to run the diagnostics/update the PCM software as the standard engine battery was 'weak'. Had them try another battery and now they are saying that the PCM is 'burnt out' and needs replaced. I'm suspicious at this point that they just don't have a clue how to work on a hybrid Escape. Comments?
  • thecardoc3thecardoc3 Member Posts: 5,742
    A trouble code does not tell you what part needs replaced, it tells you what test that the computer ran has failed. In order to actually diagnose an issue the technician needs to test the system or circuit the same way that the computer (PCM) does.

    Beyond that a lot more very specific information would be required to even begin to have a starting point for a discussion about what is going on. That would include the trouble code(s), associated serial data, bidirectional command test results KOEO test and KOER test as applicable. (Key On Engine Off and Key On Engine Running) and from there specific pinpoint test results.
  • 08_escapehybrd08_escapehybrd Member Posts: 1
    lehuakea said:

    I finally found the problem! I friend told me that the lock mechanism in the steering column can get loose, resulting in poor connection with the key/tumbler/whatever. I tried jiggling the key inside the ignition as I turned it--and voila--that did the trick. I took it to Ford to have the lock assembly replaced (~$500) and that solved the problem once and for all. Now I'm a happy Escape owner once again.

    What's nice is that you can jiggle the key as you're turning it--the same way you would a cranky house key or something--and it is a way to diagnose if this is indeed the problem.

    Mine has been doing the same thing. Everything seems fine when you turn the key, the dash lights and everything is normal. The only thing not normal is, when you turn the key all the way to "START", nothing happens. There is no attempt made to start the engine at all.
    I'll giggle the key like crazy next time. I never made that attempt. I have thought that there is something wrong with the ignition switch though. It just feels wrong, like it needs lubrication or something...
  • jones014jones014 Member Posts: 1

    good friends have a ford escape hybrid and haca time for me is leaving uncharged battery 12v would appreciate your answers thanks
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    What's your question @jones014?
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