thanks for the address bobw3, I'm also going to be contacting the service manager for the dealership and the Better Business Bureau. The BBB was one of the companies I used to weed out the undesirable dealers in my area. Obviously, it's never perfect.
My wife and I bought a '05 FWD SEL in March. I was driving a '99 Eclipse, so it was a huge difference. It drives well, looks good, doesn't suck on gas mileage and is just comfortable to drive. We bought it in our plan to have kids, we have one on the way. How does it hold up with car seats, strollers, pack-n-plays? Enough space or does it lack in the kid carrying department? We just got the recall repairs to the gas tank, a lot of dealers are back ordered on the straps, just a warning. The only problems I have had are:
The 6 disc changer does not play homemade CD's very well. The gas cap leash is a pain. The replacement of the fog light lens is very expensive and not covered under warranty. In the winter when you select a desired temp (when the climate control is off) the A/C is automatically turned on, even though the temp is set for high heat. No light in the glove box. The promo book says a laptop computer can fit in the armrest bin, but really it is not that big. Oakley sunglasses get stuck in the eyeglass holder. Handle on 3rd row seats gets stuck and will not lift sometimes.
I agree on the gas cap leash. I gave up on that and don't even bother putting it on the leash anymore.
The A/C does NOT come on in the automatic mode if the ouside temp is below 32F...just found that out.
We have plenty of space for the kid stuff. We keep the baby seat in the middle of the second row bench, so my wife can sit beside the baby, then we just fold down flat the front passenger seat...great setup.
My gas cap continually popped out of the leash. I eventually fixed it by reattaching the cap to the leash *upside-down*. The leash is a bit untidy when the cap is on, but no problems since!
I am looking for the same info. I purchased a SEL AWD and would like to add a subwoofer. I talked with a service tech and he gave me the impression the amp is near the headunit not the sub.
I would also like the specs on the front and rear speakers.
k9uw: Just curious, but I have had my AWD SE out in the snow here in PA several times and have experienced a floating sensation that made me feel as if I was losing control. This typically occurred while I was maintaining a straight line, and I as wondering if you had any similar experiences in the snow?
I get really poor radio reception: am, fm, and sirius. I have the stock radio, and have sirius with a hard-wired fm modulator. I live in a city, and don't have any of the same problems with my Honda + stock radio + xm receiver + hard-wired fm modulator.
I'm thinking about sucking it up, replacing the head unit, and buying a unit that I can directly connect to my sirius unit, without bothering with a fm modulator.
Any thoughts about freestyle radio reception and options to improve it?
Also, Crutchfield does not yet have an installation guide for this vehicle. Does anybody have guidance on this that they can share?
I replaced the head unit in my 2005 SE, and it is about the easiest thing to do that you could ever imagine. Crutchfield will probably never need to put out an installation guide for the 2005 Freestyle. All you need to do to get at the radio is open the top compartment in the center of the dash and pull forward firmly on the trim piece surrounding the radio. It's held on by about six or eight clips. You'll have to disconnect the passenger airbag indicator light, which is simple, and the radio can then be removed by unscrewing the four hex bolts (two on each side) holding it in.
I found that to make working on the radio easier, put the car's parking brake on, turn the key, and move the gearshift lever all the way back. Otherwise, it interferes with the dash cover you just removed, which still has several electrical connectors attached (for the A/C, emergency flashers, and so forth), and there's no need to remove all of these if you simply move the gearshift back.
I put in a JVC headunit that was Sirius-ready, and I bought a Sirius receiver that attaches right to the headunit. I mounted the Sirius unit behind the radio with a few screws, so it is not visible. I ran the antenna lead out the right side of the center console down near the passenger side foot rest area, under the dash, and around along the passenger side door sill, up the pillar, and out onto the roof just above the passenger's head. It works fine, and it's nice to have the satellite radio's controls integrated into the head unit and to not have to use an FM modulator to get the satellite signal to the car's radio.
Here's a photo of the installation. Because the new headunit is only "single-DIN" in size, I gained a small storage compartment under the radio after the installation.
Has anyone been using the Ford Mobile-Ease / Bluetooth adapter in a Freestyle with the new Ford navigation system? My local Ford dealer told me the adapter harness for the Mobile-Ease won't work with the radios equipped with the Ford navigation system. When I look at the Ford Accessories Web site there is no mention of this.
My son has CP and has a little trouble stepping up into the second row. I didn't think it would be so difficult to locate side steps! Has anyone found any type of bars/steps for the FS?
Also, does anyone have a suggestion for a cargo mat that will fold when the 3rd row seats are up? I carry my son's wheelchair a good bit and the carpet is getting abused!
I went w/ Indybell's advice and had the 500 moldings painted and installed, minus the chrome inserts. They look fine, but you could just as well get generic moldings cut to size, painted and installed. I just feel there is a bit too much gap before the rear wheel flare.
I am using three Kraco Premium Rubber Runner Floor Mats for the cargo area. They run fore-aft and overlap each other about an inch when the third row is down. When the third row is up, I stack them and lay them cross-car behind the third row seats. In this position they protect the floor and sides up to the plastic trim. The runners come with two sections on each end that can be trimmed off to adjust the length. With both sections trimmed off on both ends the runners are the perfect length for the cargo area. These mats come in black, grey, or tan and are about $18 each. Kraco also makes a similarly styled front and rear seat floor mat. I am using the front mats for both the front (fit isn't perfect, but they work)and second row seats and two rear mats under the second row seats with another runner for the third row foot well (this needed extensive trimming, but at least the floor is protected).
Sorry, no running boards available for the Freestyle. The Freestyle is too low to the ground to even consider adding after-market running boards, and I would not even consider drilling holes in the unibody to mount them. You might look at a folding step stool. They have ones at Home Depot. They also make a single step plastic step stool, carried at Target or Walmart. My brother in law uses one so my father in law can get in and out of his pickup truck.
For the mats. I use this unit inside the "well" area: link title and I purchased a cargo blanket ($15) from Costco for when the seats are folded down. I keep it folded up in the well when the 3rd seats are up. You can find other options here: link title Best regards.
I believe the DVD player in the Freestyle is supposed to come with two wireless headphones. Is this correct? I am picking up a used '05 Freestyle SEL with DVD player this afternoon and there are no headphones with the vehicle. Does anyone know if I can just buy new ones? Do I have to go to Ford or can I buy from a company like Crutchfield? Any info would be much appreciated, thanks.
yes, they come with two wireless units and a remote control. From Ford you can get extra sets of these. We have four sets and two remotes as we have three kids and when I leased the vehicle I got them to throw in the extra two sets (which had to come with the extra remote too). I don't know what they are worth or how well they work (other than I don't have to listen to spongebob when driving .
I think may people will have this problem as these cars change hands and accessories are lost or kept by previous owners.
Just picked up my 05 Freestyle SEL with the bucket seats in the second row. This one doesn't have the console, and I would like to get one. Does anyone know if I can get one through Ford and have it installed. I don't really want one that wasn't designed specifically for this vehicle, I want the one that would have come with this if that option had of been chosen. Any thoughts? Loving my Freestyle! (haven't let hubby drive it yet...... )
Yes, you can order the center console from Ford - it attaches where that oval plastic piece is between the center seats. They come in either gray or tan, and cost about $100 - $115. I have the center buckets also, but specifically did not select the console b/c I like the center aisle to access the third row. I also do not like that the console does not sit perfectly level with the load floor when both rows are folded down.
My console has a 2 piece lid that splits in the middle to create a level load floor when flipped open there. I believe all Ford units do this in the Freestyle.
link title Here is a link to a Ford Dealer that sells factory parts at a discount. The consoles come in pebble, slate (light grey) and charcoal (dark grey/almost black). The factory list price is $239.16 and this site has them for $193.16 plus shipping. The lid splits when open to allow for a flat load floor with the seat folded down. It is very easy to install using the fasteners provided. Just remove the plastic piece on the floor between the seats and it bolts right into place. If you want your dealer to install, the estimated install time is 1 hour and will run you about $60 depending upon your dealer's rates.
Thanks everyone! I will probably have the dealer order it and install it. On the Ford website, when I search for accessories and narrow it down to these consoles, they only have the shale and black listed, so hopefully they will have some pebble available sometime soon so my dealer can order it. I've got my sales guy looking into it. Thanks again for letting me know.
Pebble is available now. If your dealer cannot find it, they have not looked very well. The link in my previous post is for a pebble unit. Also, there is one on e-bay currently in pebble for bid - here is the link:link title
I just bought a black-on-black Freestyle (and love it!), but with 2 small kids (and another on the way) I'm quickly realizing that dust and pebbles show up really well on the black carpet. I'm trying to decide on floor mats, and I'm having a hard time deciding between the Catch-All floor liners and the Husky floor liners. I've looked at all the floor mats posts on this board. Do you Husky owners use your floor liners year-round, or just in winter with the mud and snow? I'm looking for a year-round floor mat to replace the standard (small) Freestyle ones. The Catch-All ones look great, but do they show dust and dirt just as much as the stock Freestyle mats? And does mud and snow grime rinse out of them easily, or does it take a scrubbing? I prefer the less utilitarian look of the Catch-Alls, but I'm not sure they'll hide and resist the dirt like I need them too. Both mats look like they provide great coverage and a snug fit. Any general opinions on rubberized vs. carpeted-with-waterproof-backing floor liners? Basically, why do you love your floor mats? Thanks!
I like my Catch-all Mats. They look like carpet, do not show the dirt like the factory ones and they can be washed/hosed off at the car wash and look like new when dry. They dry quickly because of the short nap and the rubber backing. For you, however, any black mat will show the dirt. Mine are the beige color, and hide the dirt pretty well. For winter, you might want to get a set of the Husky mats for the front and save the Catch-all mats for the nice months. Also, I do not believe the Husky mats come for all 3 rows, the Catch-all's do. You might consider the dark grey color instead of the black, to hide the dirt better. They would look OK with the black carpet. Good luck with your decision.
I just had the Ford dealership install the console. I am really happy with it, although if I had of trusted my hubby to install it and I had picked it up at the sites mentioned, like cheapfordparts.com I would have saved almost $150. I am still happy with it and the functionality that it adds is worth eating the extra costs. They charged almost $100 to install and it was $240 from them. On some of the sites it was just under $200 and a free install would have been good. Oh well.........
Alternatively, could I remove the console from a Limited to improve access to the third row? Is the plastic piece that is used when the console wasn't ordered (i.e. SEL) available after the fact? Is the carpeting under the console still in one piece?
Mark, Not sure if the small plastic piece is available aftermarket or not. I do know they had to cut holes in the carpetting up toward the front of the middle area in order to install the console, so I'm not sure if they removed any chunks, or if you could have a professional sew the carpet back together so it looked untouched. I'm sure you could get it done, it would just involve finding cooperative people who knew what they were doing.
...in CA. Every Freestyle had the 2nd row bench seat option. The dealer had a couple dozen FS on the lot. They could have ordered the 2nd row chairs, but I didn't particularly want to wait.
I have no problem accessing the third seat; the right side 2nd bench split seat folds flat and then tumbles forwards so easily that my 6 year old can do it.
I found the same thing here. VERY few with second row 2 seats. Most have the bench option. Very frustrating, in my opinion, since I was looking for something that seated 4 in real comfort, and had the option for the rare extra seating. For taking kids friends places and when family is all together during holidays wanting to all travel together. I found the 6 seating arrangement to be one of the biggest selling features for me and was really disappointed to have such a slim pickings since most were decked out with the second row bench. Just my 2cents, but I'm sure that more people feel the same way and it would be nice to see the dealers stocking a variety, rather than loading up on one variation.
1. Locking gas cap. I can't believe Ford doesn't have a remote relase locking door on the gas tank. But then they got me to buy their locking gas cap, right?
2. Wheel locks for the 17" alloys. I had to order these from Ford, the auto shops don't carry them.
3. Cargo net. I got the one that stretches across when the 3rd seat is folded flat. It is actually pretty small and I'm not sure I would buy it again.
When I picked up my Limited with a bench last year it was reversed in our area. Lots more 6 seaters - but I wanted a bench and had to get one brought in.
I think what Ford should have done is made it dealer configurable so they could switch the seats out at the dealer.
I just read your posting and I double checked my owner's manual. It does mention that the "armrest" can be folded to create a flat floor space but I'll be darned if I can figure out how to do it. I don't want to start tugging and shoving until I break something. Can you offer some advice or direct me to a place where its explained?
Thanks,
Jim 05 SEL (11,257 mi and Lovin' every foot of them) Norsea Blue/Shale w/ Family Entertainment System
If you take a close look at the center console, you will notice that there are 2 hinges. There is the first one where the console opens as "normal". When it is open, you can see the additional hinge at the front of the console opening. Close the console and look at the very back of it. There you will see an additional release that allows the top of the console to flip forward. The kids found this out when looking at the console that we had installed after we took delivery of our new SEL.
I'm not in the Freestyle now, but if memory serves me, on the back of the arm rest is an indented place shaped like a hand pull. Pull this up and towards the front of the vehicle. It lays flat at the level of the floor when the 2nd row seats are laid flat. It also has 2 cup holders there in case you only fold one side of the seats flat.
does anyone know if the older Yakima Doublecross towers or any other older Yakima towers fit the Freestyle side rails? I know that the current Lowrider Max with C1 claws would work but am looking for a cheaper alternative as i will only rarely use the rack.
Yes, the Doublecross towers will work. I have been using them for the past nine months to haul a Packasport cargo box and a 22' long triple sea kayak (not at the same time). The Freestyle rack is right at the maximum size limit for the Doublecross towers. As such, it isn't real easy to install and is a bit time consuming. you have to loosen the towers completely to get them over the side rails, then you have to tighten them down a long way to get them secure. BTW, my wife gave the whole rack system a good test Friday. Apparently the manual release cord on our garage door caught on the back of our cargo box when she raised the garage door. As a result the door didn't open completely and she backed into it with the cargo box. She thought the only damage was to the garage door, however on closer inspection I found one of the Doublecross towers was partially broken (although still holding)and the forward Yakima cross bar was bent. The only damage to the car is a couple of small dents in the under side of the roof rails where the front towers were installed and a few scratches in the paint on the top of the lift gate. Could have been much worse, but now I know the rails are well secured to the roof! I am now trying to decide if I should try to locate another Doublecross tower or buy the Lowrider Max with C1 claws. Can anyone tell me how fast and easy the Lowrider Max with C1 claws is to install and remove?
I recently bought the Yakima crossbars from the Autowebaccessory site for Ford products ($150). They fit great, but I do noticed a bit of wind noise. I know you can buy a fairing kit (wind deflector) that should cut down on this. I was however, unsure of what width and how much this would help. Has anyone else on here tried that? Thanks.
They are very easy to install. Takes about 10 mins, maybe a bit more the first time. The ones I bought from autowebaccessories (150) included the locks, but I did noticed a bit of wind noise and may have to install a wind deflector or move the rack back.
I got tired of the noise too and bought a Yakima wind deflector several months ago. It has really cut the noise down a lot. I have the 44" wide one. The ends just touch the trim on the front of the side rails which does not seem to be a problem. I have it mounted so the front edge is about an inch and a half or so above the roof surface.
I thought it might be interesting to know that I had the opposite experience when looking for my 2005 Freestyle. During the Ford year end clearance last year (August-September), just about every car I came across had the 6 seat version with the center console. Of course, I wanted the 7 set version. Also, as a Limited with just FWD. That is a fairly rare bird around here, but my dealer came through and found one about 250 miles away that they drove in for me. One potenital issue withe the six seat, it seemed that most Limited and highly optioned SEL's came as 6 seaters, and SE's and low option SEL's were more frequently the 7 seat version.
The best thing you can do about the dash glare on the winshield is to get polarized sunglasses. I have a pair of Maui Jim's and the glare os GONE! The glasses are $200 and I can use them in any car I own Best glare investment I own. Living in Florida and sun shinning all the time. I couldn't understand why all the complaining untill I took off my sunglasses. Happy driving!
Comments
The 6 disc changer does not play homemade CD's very well.
The gas cap leash is a pain.
The replacement of the fog light lens is very expensive and not covered under warranty.
In the winter when you select a desired temp (when the climate control is off) the A/C is automatically turned on, even though the temp is set for high heat.
No light in the glove box.
The promo book says a laptop computer can fit in the armrest bin, but really it is not that big.
Oakley sunglasses get stuck in the eyeglass holder.
Handle on 3rd row seats gets stuck and will not lift sometimes.
Thanks for your input! :shades:
The A/C does NOT come on in the automatic mode if the ouside temp is below 32F...just found that out.
We have plenty of space for the kid stuff. We keep the baby seat in the middle of the second row bench, so my wife can sit beside the baby, then we just fold down flat the front passenger seat...great setup.
I would also like the specs on the front and rear speakers.
I'm thinking about sucking it up, replacing the head unit, and buying a unit that I can directly connect to my sirius unit, without bothering with a fm modulator.
Any thoughts about freestyle radio reception and options to improve it?
Also, Crutchfield does not yet have an installation guide for this vehicle. Does anybody have guidance on this that they can share?
Thanks.
I found that to make working on the radio easier, put the car's parking brake on, turn the key, and move the gearshift lever all the way back. Otherwise, it interferes with the dash cover you just removed, which still has several electrical connectors attached (for the A/C, emergency flashers, and so forth), and there's no need to remove all of these if you simply move the gearshift back.
I put in a JVC headunit that was Sirius-ready, and I bought a Sirius receiver that attaches right to the headunit. I mounted the Sirius unit behind the radio with a few screws, so it is not visible. I ran the antenna lead out the right side of the center console down near the passenger side foot rest area, under the dash, and around along the passenger side door sill, up the pillar, and out onto the roof just above the passenger's head. It works fine, and it's nice to have the satellite radio's controls integrated into the head unit and to not have to use an FM modulator to get the satellite signal to the car's radio.
Here's a photo of the installation. Because the new headunit is only "single-DIN" in size, I gained a small storage compartment under the radio after the installation.
Just go to Crutchfield.com and make sure to get speakers that fit the car. They'll tell you which ones will fit without any required modifications.
Thanks
Joe
Also, does anyone have a suggestion for a cargo mat that will fold when the 3rd row seats are up? I carry my son's wheelchair a good bit and the carpet is getting abused!
I'm loving my FS!
Thanks!
Hope this helps.
For the mats. I use this unit inside the "well" area:
link title and I purchased a cargo blanket ($15) from Costco for when the seats are folded down. I keep it folded up in the well when the 3rd seats are up. You can find other options here: link title
Best regards.
- Chad
I think may people will have this problem as these cars change hands and accessories are lost or kept by previous owners.
Loving my Freestyle! (haven't let hubby drive it yet......
Here is a link to a Ford Dealer that sells factory parts at a discount. The consoles come in pebble, slate (light grey) and charcoal (dark grey/almost black). The factory list price is $239.16 and this site has them for $193.16 plus shipping. The lid splits when open to allow for a flat load floor with the seat folded down. It is very easy to install using the fasteners provided. Just remove the plastic piece on the floor between the seats and it bolts right into place. If you want your dealer to install, the estimated install time is 1 hour and will run you about $60 depending upon your dealer's rates.
Thanks again for letting me know.
Thanks,
Mark
Not sure if the small plastic piece is available aftermarket or not. I do know they had to cut holes in the carpetting up toward the front of the middle area in order to install the console, so I'm not sure if they removed any chunks, or if you could have a professional sew the carpet back together so it looked untouched. I'm sure you could get it done, it would just involve finding cooperative people who knew what they were doing.
I have no problem accessing the third seat; the right side 2nd bench split seat folds flat and then tumbles forwards so easily that my 6 year old can do it.
Just my 2cents, but I'm sure that more people feel the same way and it would be nice to see the dealers stocking a variety, rather than loading up on one variation.
1. Locking gas cap. I can't believe Ford doesn't have a remote relase locking door on the gas tank. But then they got me to buy their locking gas cap, right?
2. Wheel locks for the 17" alloys. I had to order these from Ford, the auto shops don't carry them.
3. Cargo net. I got the one that stretches across when the 3rd seat is folded flat. It is actually pretty small and I'm not sure I would buy it again.
I think what Ford should have done is made it dealer configurable so they could switch the seats out at the dealer.
I just read your posting and I double checked my owner's manual. It does mention that the "armrest" can be folded to create a flat floor space but I'll be darned if I can figure out how to do it. I don't want to start tugging and shoving until I break something. Can you offer some advice or direct me to a place where its explained?
Thanks,
Jim
05 SEL (11,257 mi and Lovin' every foot of them)
Norsea Blue/Shale
w/ Family Entertainment System
does anyone know if the older Yakima Doublecross towers or any other older Yakima towers fit the Freestyle side rails? I know that the current Lowrider Max with C1 claws would work but am looking for a cheaper alternative as i will only rarely use the rack.
Thanks, Carsten
I couldn't understand why all the complaining untill I took off my sunglasses. Happy driving!