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Comments
Re-entering the vehicle and static shocks causing explosions? Both the petroleum industry and the insurance industry wish you were right---it is VERY hazardous. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen:
http://www.pei.org/static/fire_reports.htm
78 Fires Reported to PEI Where the Vehicle Was Reentered and the Nozzle was Touched During Refueling
And no, I don't live in a bubble. This is part of what I do in life, let's leave it at that...
Here in Chicago when it gets very cold I get back in the car while refuling also. If you must do so, just be sure to touch the metal exterior of the car AWAY from the gas nozzle after getting back out of the car. This will discharge any static that built up while getting in/out of your car.
I would suggest, though, that if one insists on sitting in the car while refueling (for whatever reasons, valid or not), that they should make sure to statically DISCHARGE themselves (by touching the door, for example) before removing the pump handle from the inlet to the gas tank.
That should minimize (if not completely remove) the risk.
PS: This reply was made BEFORE reading on and finding out that somebody else has said basically the same thing. Much like my first reply. I wasn't intending to "pile on".
Also, the towing capacity of only 2000 lb. scares me. We have a 15' aluminum fishing boat with 25 horsepower motor. I'm quite sure the rig weighs around 1500 lb., but am still concerned that the Freestyle's relatively light towing capacity means that towing a 1500 lb. boat around will really strain the engine. So...is my fear rational or not?
And one more question: the convenience package includes auto headlamps. I assume those are the same as daytime running lights. If that's true, do you know if that means they run at half power or full power? And do people like this feature?
Thanks for any repsonses!
We use our auxiliary controls all of the time. There's a lot of volume back there that can be cooled/heated much faster than if you didn't have it. I usually turn the auxiliary on for a short time to get it down to a comfortable temp and then shut it off. It definately helps on the really hot days and we have the little guy with us.
Also, the towing capacity of only 2000 lb. scares me. We have a 15' aluminum fishing boat with 25 horsepower motor. I'm quite sure the rig weighs around 1500 lb., but am still concerned that the Freestyle's relatively light towing capacity means that towing a 1500 lb. boat around will really strain the engine. So...is my fear rational or not?
You'll also need to know the weight of your trailer. Combined weight of trailer and boat should not exceed 2000 lbs. I'm sure there's a safety factor caulated in when the 2000 lb figure was given for the Freestyle so I wouldn't be concerned about towing a weight below that figure.
I have a 2005 SEL. here are some items I have been working with.
1. I have issues with gas mileage. Highway has been wonderful. city mileage is around 15.4 which is terribly disappointing. Is there any adjustment the dealer might be able to make. I have 2500 on the car.
2. Can mud flaps be bought as an add on. My car has been getting incredibly dirty, and I am thinking mudflaps would help.
3. I need a trailer hitch for 2" reciever. I went to Uhaul and they just told me they dont have a 2" hitch for Freestyle. I also need to get a roof rack. and then a ski attachment. any suggestions.
4. My cd player also skips at times. Many discs are read as not playable(yet, they play everywhere else). another annoyance is the space between tracks on live shows. When i play on all other players, there is no audilbe space between tracks. I spoke with the dealer today, and they said they would take it out, send it to the outside manufacturer of the player, and then in around 10 days an assesment would be made. I found this odd, as it seems it would be cheaper for them to just remove and replace.
thanks very much for reading and any suggestions. I kind of posted this once before, but i don't think i posted it in the proper place. thanks.
ron
Search the forum for information on the CD player. There have been a ton of posts on it.
Here is a link:
Freestyle hitches
I bought a 1.25 hitch from them and it was delivered in only a couple of days and went on in a snap!
Karl
Welcome to the Freestyle club!
re hitch: I posted this a couple months ago (message 3371)
Draw-tite has released their 2 inch receiver model 75299. This is in addition to their 1 1/4 inch model 36360.
I just ordered the 2 inch version from HitchFinder for $119 usd (vs $131 from Etrailer.com).
http://drawtite-hitches.com/
http://www.etrailer.com/products.asp?model=Freestyle&category=hitch&year=2005&make=Ford&t1- - =&h=e
I'm not towing anything heavy, just using the 2 inch mount for my bike rack.
Took about an hour to install
re CD player:
Your dealer is feeding you a line. The skipping of your CD is a known problem with the Visteon unit they put in. There is a Service Bulletin out there directing the dealer to replace the unit on demand.
Good luck
Webbcam
miles. I would never get a vehicle without it. When I lived in the cold it kept me warm and now in the heat it keeps me cool.
http://www.blueovalnews.com/2005/advisory/cdplayer.18mar05.htm
thanks for all the advice. the blueovalnews link has a broken link in the article (ford directory section) . I couldn't find anything at Ford site in regards to cd player. I did print out blueoval, but as a novice, I am concerned whether my Ford dealer would recognize blueoval.
In regards to the 2" hitch, it is merely used for our existing bike rack.
anyone have advice on the city mileage, that is kind of freaking me out. As i mentioned in my original post, I am getting about 15.0 city (maybe a touch less). I do live in a hilly area, with lots of stops.
thanks
ron
I think you answered your own question. I doubt if the EPA fuel estimates shown on stickers take into account a lot of low-speed hill climbing. What you're experiencing would be true of any vehicle. However... If you take your Freebie on the road, it will easily meet or exceed it's EPA highway estimate.
In the past three tank fills we have averaged about 20 mpg around town and 27mpg on the highway and that's with an SEL AWD. If it stays like this, you won't see us complaining. (well, we'll complain about the price of gas but not about our Freebies fuel economy)
Just for informations sake, What is everyone paying for regular unleaded gas these days? We just filled up at $3.07 a gallon here in Massachusetts just north of Boston on 9/6/05 but it's as high as $3.59.
What are you folks in Canada paying?
the kids like it and it does wonders for one's marriage in that the passenger seat can separately regulate their own temp and AC for that side of the car
After panic mode subsided, I noticed a "check fuel filler cap" message. I pulled over and checked the cap, which looked fine -- I suspect what happened was that the hard swerve to the right caused the filler door to pop open momentarily.
I hit "reset" to clear the message and everything looked fine, until about 10 minutes later when the "check engine" light came on (much to my dismay as this was now 20 miles into a 200-mile trip). I pulled over again, opened and closed the gas cap, making sure the rubber cap tether was clear of the opening (it does sometimes get pinched under the cap).
After restarting the car, the message cleared but the engine warning light remained on. After about 10 more minutes of anxious driving, the engine warning light turned off. Later, I called the dealer service dept who told me that the "check fuel filler cap" message triggers the "check engine" warning, and that after clearing the problem and resetting the message, the warning will turn off by itself after a while.
Followed, moments later by it's evil twin "Check Engine"
Drove it to the dealer, explained the problem. I also noticed that the engine wasn't running as well as it should. It struggled to accelerate and was whining louder than usual.
Diagnosis: something-something-tronic has to be changed. There's only one of these elusive parts available in Canada and it's not a sure-thing if it'll be available when they place the order early tomorrow morning. The service manager then says, they'll replace the something-something-tronic and if that doesn't solve the problem they'll have to replace the transmission (!).
Needless to say, i'm bummed. My salesman says he'd loan me a car until the issue is cleared up, but my confidence in this car is shot.
Anyone have any similar experiences?
Do you think if I offer to trade the Freestyle for an Escape Hybrid, he'd go for it?
BRJ
Wow, that's too bad. Sure it's unfortunate that you had a problem with the CVT. Is that all it took to turn you off on the Freestyle? I've been reading and participating in this forum since March and yours is only the second serious CVT problem I recall reading about. Enjoy your Escape.
I didn't quite understand what the service manager told me on the phone. Also, she was speaking french and french is my second language. Though I speak it well, I'm not terribly familiar with car parts in french.
I have about 14,000 KM (8,700 miles) on the Freestyle over 9 months.
I'll keep it in mind to ask for an extended warranty, but it's a lease and I won't be driving anywhere near the allotted mileage. Anything else I can ask for?
My salesman promised me a replacement while the Freestyle goes under the knife so I won't be without a ride.
What irks me is that the service manage said they'll replace the something-something-tronic and if that doesn't solve the problem, they'll have to replace the tranny
Why not just replace the tranny?
You know how it is: car breaks down, take time off work, worry about a temporary replacement ride, make sure the kids get to school and daycare, shopping, this and that...as a family that have decided to go the "one-car" route, we don't need this kind of hassle.
We forgoed (?) two cars for the economy and simplicity of only one. But at times like this, I really wish I had another car sitting in the garage that I could dust off to make sure our routine would not be disturbed (even though we're saving about $600 bucks per month by having only one vehicule).
I really hope that the service department make this experience as painless as possible. I'd love to be able to buy from this dealership again with confidence.
Who am I kidding? Me and an Escape?! Pffft...I want my Freestyle back!
BRJ
That would be forwent.
tidester, host
For what it's worth, from reading various accounts of this problem in this forum, I believe it has the following characteristics.
- Intermittent. The transmission may rev, or slip, but letting the car sit (even if just for a minute) may clear the problem. This is very useful information because it means you may not be stranded.
- If the problem clears, the warning light will soon clear as well, leaving no trace of the problem except a diagnostic record of having shown a fault (specifically, stored codes P0701, P0871, P0961).
- A couple of people reported rain/puddles at the time of the problem, which may be correlated with the solenoid sticking. Was it raining?
- If the problem clears, it will leave no symptoms for the dealer to diagnose (except the stored codes), which means the dealer will have no incentive to expend efforts to fix it. A bad dealer will just clear the codes and tell you they fixed the car.
- One person here had the problem recur after the dealer claimed to have replaced the metatronics unit. Either they received a second bad metatronics unit (certainly possible), or the dealer lied about what they replaced (also possible).
- Once you have a "check transmission" light shining in your face, it becomes impossible to tell the difference between normal CVT behavior (which may involve RPMs anywhere between 1200 and 3500 at any given speed) and "running wrong" (revving or slipping). Every sound the engine makes, you think "is that broken?"
I had this problem (in the rain) and got the run-around from the dealer. I made a lot of stink and eventually got assigned a mechanic who was apparently the only honest guy in the whole place, who walked me step by step through the diagnosis and repair. 5000 miles later, no troubles.
Remember we have a Ford Freestyle Owners: Problems & Solutions discussion too that's probably better suited for problems threads.
Steve, Host
I'll give you $500 for it. Canadian....of course.
What freaked me out was that they told me there was only one metatronic available in all of Canada. When I called this morning, the service manager told me they were able to get a hold of it and it was being installed as we spoke.
You're right, maybe i should have posted this to Problems and Solutions, but I felt this was a more globally encompassing topic (problem > service department > salesman > dealer > delay).
So far, so good. Passing grades all-round. But the final exam is when I drive the Freestyle off the lot and over the next few days. It's make or break.
More to follow...
PS: Since the dealership is close to home, I've been working from home and I must say working from home rules!
I picked up the Freestyle this afternoon, went downtown to pick up the better half, came back to the suburbs, stopped at daycare, put it in Park and boom...Check Engine Check Transmission.....again!
Noticed that the engine would rev higher (2400 to 3000 instead of 1500 to 2000) and shifting between Park, Reverse and Drive was difficult. The car would lurch.
Called the dealer, brought it right in (15 min. before closing), and they handed me the keys to a smokey 2004 Taurus.
They're going to change the tranny completely.
Quick poll: Post your mileages and if you've had any transmission problems (and if so, what was your mileage).
Other enouraging words (not): Service manager said their repair guys changed the tranny on a Freestyle a few months ago. She said she never heard so much swearing from a 25 year veteran mechanic....Great.
Metatronics failed and replaced at 500 miles. No further problems.
Sorry to hear about your troubles.
Heres an idea....maybe Ford should have their technicians trained on the new vehicles. We already know that the salesmen are oblivious to the car, I can only imagine how naive the technicians must be.
example: I had an Explorer with AC problems. Brought it in and they checked and re-charged the system....two days later it was dead again. Brought it in in and they said it was an o-ring. They replaced and re-charged....two days later it was dead. Brought it in again and the said this time that it was teh compressor. Replaced it and it finally worked.
Moral to my story: Don't necessarily blame the car/manufacturer because of the ignorance of the technician.
Good luck
(not with the car...with the technicians)
:-)
I still haven't heard back from the dealership, so I don't know how long I'll be stuck driving a Taurus (it ain't a Freestyle, that's for sure).
A couple of weeks ago, my wife took a taxi and the topic of the Freestyle came up (it was sitting in our driveway). The taxi driver mentioned that a taxi-driving friend of his also drove a Freestyle (as a taxi) and after 50,000 km he, too, had to have the transmission changed (I'm only at 13,500 km). Anyways, I've seen this Freestyle taxi around and if it's convenient, I'll flag him down to ask him about it.
Hopefully, he's put a few more clicks on the odometer and will be able to tell me if the problem has been solved.
I'm still in a state of shock. 13,500 km and the transmission has to be replaced. Does anyone know of any other cars which have had the same major problems so early in their young lives?
I have noticed recently that the brakes "chatter" quite a bit when stopping from highway speeds - will have it looked at the next time I have it serviced.
Our Freestyle has been a very reliable vehicle for us.
But the CD player (CD6) is driving me nuts. I've had three radios in this thing now, and none resolve the issues.
I read in an earlier post about this being an issue. I even have some coworkers who had their radios replaced. But for me, problems are as bad as ever.
The skipping is horrible, and it cuts off the ends of tracks. As I listen to a lot of audiobooks, I sometimes miss entire sentences. Not to mention the other dozen issues I've found with this CD player.
Anyhow, the dealer tried to say, after the first time they replaced the radio, that the skipping is "normal" for an MP3 player. Whatever. I insisted they replace it. They ordered the latest radio with the latest radio software (supposedly), and within 10 minutes of driving with it, the skipping is back, etc.
So, what's the next step? Back to the dealer AGAIN? FOr what? TO receive another bad radio? I originally contacted Ford directly on this, and they told me I had to go through a dealer. But, as that has accomplished nothing...now what?
On a side note..I'm horribly disappointed with gas mileage on this vehicle. I've managed 20.4 maximum, after taking it on the highway. It hovers around 19-20 most of the time. But, I've found Ford horribly over-estimates gas mileage on ever other vehicle I've had from them. My Focus ZX3, for example, never went above 27 MPG, even though it was rated at 28-31. Oh well.
I would contact Ford directly again and by pass the dealer. Time to get someone higher up involved!
Postings indicate a wide difference in MPG averages for different users.
FYI... Ford does not set MPG estimates.
They are determined through government EPA tests under ideal situations as they are for all makes of cars.
EPA ratings are worthless. :-/
I own both (with CVT and AWD). 5000 miles on the Freestyle and 2000 miles on the Five Hundred. So far, no issues with either regarding the CVT.
One reason that there may be fewer reports of the CVT on the Five Hundred is simply that there may have been a lot fewer of those sold. Not all Five Hundreds have CVTs, as I'm sure you're aware. But all Freestyles do.
So the question is: how many Freestyles have been sold compared to Five Hundreds with CVTs.
Here.
NOTE: I am NOT saying that all 8x disks will play poorly, and all 48x disks will burn OK for the Freestyle radio, but I found by experimenting that some disks do better than others after being burned on my computer. I have also gone from using fine tip Sharpie markers for labeling. A little too much fine-tip marker pressure on my part can leave an impression on the track side of the disk that caused skips and static. I can see "daylight" through those marks with a flashlight.
I have been on the verge of having my radio/CD unit replaced a number of times, but it plays almost all of my commercial CDs without skip. Just the MP3s are thorns. I also bought a CD player cleaning disk in case the lens on the Visteon unit in the Freebie has "scuz" on it. May not solve your problems, but there are some things to try. :shades: