Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Ford Escape Hybrid Ford Escape Hybrid
1583 messages, Last post on Sep 26, 2009 at 4:59 PM
You are in the Ford Escape Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
|
|
|---|---|
|
Replying to: celtviper (Nov 21, 2007 3:22 pm) |
|
|
Replying to: mperski (Nov 19, 2007 7:01 am) |
|
I have the 08 FEH 4WD and don't know when or if it's working. I assume that it is full time All Wheel Drive? The HEV screen on my dash shows power going to the front axle but never to the back. We had or first snow fall the other day and went to "test" it and almost hit a curb trying to turn in the snow. My Durango was full time AWD and that would turn on a dime in the snow with out having to put in 4WD hi. Does the rear axle get power when needed? and does it show up on the nav screen?
|
|
|
FIRST there is NO STABILITY CONTROL. I suspect that your Durango had stability or "skid control" which is why it turned so well in the snow. What you experienced in the Durango is exactly what stability control is suppose to produce. SECOND the stock tires are LOW FRICTION tires that may have an all season tread but are likly really really crappy in the snow. THIRD AWD has absolutely NOTHING to do with turning. AWD does not do anything that could help you turn. IN FACT it may make it harder for you to turn. Using all 4 wheels to get you going will get you going faster than the the available traction for turning justifies. Think of it this way. All 4 wheels are trying to move you forward but only the front wheels are trying to turn you. The wheels spin and you go sideways. You need to understand how the intelligent 4 wheel drive works in the FEH vs the gas only Escape. Intelligent 4WD is a proactive system and will send power to the rear wheels hopefully before the front wheels are actually "spinning" loose. HOWEVER, what is that power doing at the back wheels? On snow, with the crappy stock tires, you could easily get all four wheels spinning, and that is liable to get you going sideways into a curb. In the 08 Gas only Escape, the AdvanceTrac system acts as a four wheel traction control. If you are in snow and 4WD decides to send power to the rear axle, the Advancetrac will make sure that the power is controled at each individual wheel so that you don't just get all four wheels spinning. AdvanceTrac also has yaw control to make sure you don't go plowing out of a corner and the Gas only Escape has better stock tires. I was recently at a Nissan sales training event for the Rogue and they demonstrated to us the difference that stability control makes on an AWD vehicle. On a slipper surface, the Rogue with stability control turned off spun all four wheels and although the car got going it was in a much less controlled manner and the engine was revving away to spin the wheels. With stability control back on, the car got going in a much more controlled fashion with out any of the individual wheels spinning. One last thought. the light on the dash in the center gauge cluster will light in 4wd mode but this does not show on the screen in the nav system. Mark.
|
|
|
Has anyone installed and/or have a recommendation for winter (snow) tires for a 2008 FEH? Both tirerack.ca and costco,ca seem to indicate that the Michelin Latitude X-Ice 235/70R16 are ideal for my FEH. Lots of snow up here in Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Stephen |
|
|
Replying to: mschmal (Dec 03, 2007 5:03 am) Thanks for the input, I haven't seen the 4wd light come on yet on the dash cluster, makes me wonder if I should have gone for the 2wd model instead. I'll have to do some research and see what makes a good tire for all terrain and maintains good mileage for the hybrid.
|
|
|
Replying to: jasoncarp (Dec 04, 2007 6:06 am)
|
|
Every now and then my rpm's are higher than normal. For example usually I can keep the rpm's around 1600 to maintain 45mph on a flat road. But sometimes I can't get the rpm's to drop down to maintain that speed they go up to 2500 or higher. It feels the the CVT won't stay "locked up" into the higher ratio. I'm wonder if its a problem with CVT or if the engine is just reving higher to keep the engine warmed up. Its cold here now in Michigan, 20 degrees.
|
|
|
The Hybrid does have a mind of its own when it comes to certain things. There are three reasons why the engine might rev higher. 1. The engine is trying to heat the cat converter up to its most effecient temp. 2. The engine is trying to heat the high voltage battery up to its most effecient temp. 3. The battery is under going regeneration. There really isn't a set time or distance for regeneration. Depending on driving history, it could happen more or less frequently. Mark
|
|
|
Well I know its not reving higher to regenerate the battery because it happened after driving in low after many slow downs and braking. I dont know how the engine could heat up the high voltage battery since there are no coolant lines going to it, only AC lines. And I'm not sure about the Cat answere either since its happened after driving on the express way as well. |
|
You are here:
Forums
Hybrid Vehicles Ford Escape Hybrid Ford Escape Hybrid
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2010 Ford Escape Hybrid
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
