You are here: Forums Hybrid Vehicles Ford Escape Hybrid Ford Escape Hybrid Maintenance & Repair Ford Escape Hybrid Brake Problems

Ford Escape Hybrid Brake Problems

130 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 9:11 AM

You are in the Ford Escape Hybrid Maintenance & Repair Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Ford Escape Hybrid, Brakes, SUV

Messages Page 8 of 13 1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 13 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#71 of 130 Re: POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE [mecheng1] by autodr Dec 11, 2007 (6:23 pm)
Replying to: mecheng1 (Nov 21, 2007 6:56 am) In addition....   When you apply the brake pedal, you are not normally supplying the hydraulic pressure that engages the brakes at the wheels. You are making a hydraulic "request" for brakes. The PCM applies regen. braking at the front wheels and the ABS module applies the rear brakes. Under heavier braking demands, the front friction will also be engaged by the ABS module.   If the ABS module fails to power up, or the pump fails to run... then what some might loosely call a master cylinder then becomes a back up source of hydraulic pressure. What would normally, on most vehicles, be the master cylinder bore is called a "pedal feel emulator" on your hybrid because normally it just gives the feel of conventional brakes. But, in the event of an ABS failure, there is a check valve inside the ABS HCU (hydraulic control unit) that switches under mechanical pressure and allows the pedal feel emulator to now supply the hydraulic pressure to apply the friction at the wheels. This is a fail safe mode. It is for emergency stopping and not meant for anything more. The brake pedal efforts will be very high. You'll still have brakes, but you'll have to stand on the pedal hard to get them. It'll stop, but you might ruin a perfectly good pair of shorts.
#72 of 130 Update on FEH Taxi that caught fire by imacabbie Dec 12, 2007 (1:54 pm)
Drove my FEH taxi last night. The excellent news is the brakes worked smooth! No Ka-Chunk at all!! I guess that fire forced them to replace the brakes instead of their usual patch job or quick fix.   However, the dash lights are still lit. Well, actually, the wrench and emissions light were on at the beginning of the night along with a message to service emissions system. The wrench light went out after a few hours.   Anyone have any idea what may happen if they don't service the emissions system when it is supposed to be? Aside from the obvious potential for higher emission then should be. If they take their sweet time in servicing the emissions system what kind of potential risk am I facing (i.e., brakes on fire due to lack of attention to problem).   As far as what kind of training our mechanics have had related to FEH service.... Good question but I'm gonna bet little to none this isn't something I have any way to find out. Although the next time I have to go to the shop I'll try and ask one of them but these are not the friendliest or most talkative people you will meet.   I have noticed that we suddenly have a few more of these FEH taxi's with our colors but I was told they are 'color scheme' meaning they are privately owned and the owner takes care of the maintenance and service at the garage or shop of their choice.   Also, I didn't post this info originally because I thought there was a design flaw in the vehicle. I did think that the ka-chunck in the brakes was something that developed once the vehicle had high milleage. I just wanted to share what happens if you don't pay attention to issues and/or if they are not serviced properly or as required.    I checked the actual millage of my FEH taxi last night and it has 243,000 miles. The excellent news about that is the FEH is almost like a new car other then the inept mechanic related issue. The suspension is excellent, steering works wonderfully, nothing I can think to complain about now that the brakes are fixed. Compare that to the Grand Marquis or Crown Victoria's in our fleet and when they have 240,000 miles the suspension stinks and the steering is loose and difficult, the transmissions slip, as well as misc other issues - in comparison the FEH is hands down a much better vehicle. Replies to this message: mecheng1 (Dec 13, 2007 7:47 am) autodr (Dec 19, 2007 5:44 pm)
#73 of 130 Taxi by mperski Dec 13, 2007 (6:36 am)
The Cachunk you were hearing may have been the caliper bushings worn out. The emmissions light could be as simple as a bad gas cap but also could be something more serious. There is no way to tell for certain without the poper equipement and training to properly diagnose the problem.
#74 of 130 Re: Update on FEH Taxi that caught fire [imacabbie] by mecheng1 Dec 13, 2007 (7:47 am)
Replying to: imacabbie (Dec 12, 2007 1:54 pm) For less than $150, anyone can purchase an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD II) monitor that has a standard cable that plugs into a connector mounted just behind the dash below the steering wheel and above the left foot. "Fault codes" will be displayed. The codes can be looked up in the shop manual and will tell what has caused the wrench and emissions lights to come on and stay on. This is standard operationing procedure for any qualified repair shop. The computer (PCM) in the vehicle stores all the codes forever until they are manually cleared by a mechanic.
#75 of 130 There is a seperate light for bad gas cap. by mschmal Dec 13, 2007 (3:12 pm)
Also the"wrench" light is related to the electronic throttle.   Mark
#76 of 130 Re: Escape Hybrid on fire! [imacabbie] by teester Dec 17, 2007 (7:15 am)
Replying to: imacabbie (Dec 05, 2007 10:05 pm) Considering this is ONLY the back brakes and the one post said it was San Francisco with lots of hills.   Any chance it might be the parking brake being froze up? I've had many cars where the rear parking brake cable will freeze up and the parking brakes will be on all the time. That could head up the rotors pretty bad and might cause other failures. Replies to this message: autodr (Dec 19, 2007 5:36 pm)
#77 of 130 Re: Escape Hybrid on fire! [teester] by autodr Dec 19, 2007 (5:36 pm)
Replying to: teester (Dec 17, 2007 7:15 am) Well, the ABS module "prefers" to apply the rear brakes first on this vehicle because the front wheels are using regenerative braking. So I can see lots of stop and go heating up the rear and never even engaging the front. In fact, on an Escape Hybrid, it is normal to wear 2 sets of rear pads to one set of front. Then, factor in the issue of this thing having a check engine light on and wrench light on for an as-yet unknown reason, this vehicle might just smoke the rear again.
#78 of 130 Re: Update on FEH Taxi that caught fire [imacabbie] by autodr Dec 19, 2007 (5:44 pm)
Replying to: imacabbie (Dec 12, 2007 1:54 pm) Like I said before. The brake system on this vehicle is not like the brake system on a conventional vehicle. The amount of regenerative braking (to recharge the HV battery) and the amount of friction braking is determined first by the PCM and then the friction braking is carried out by the ABS module based on command from the PCM. The "check engine light" (you are calling an emissions light), and the wrench light are both warning indicators of the PCM to say "Hey dude, I'm having a problem properly running this engine... get me checked out". In your case, that CAN effect the brakes since it is the PCM that determines how much friction braking occurs versus regen braking. It also determines how much rear fiction occurs versus front friction. It just depends on why the lights are on as to whether or not it will effect the brakes.   You really seriously need to take this vehicle to a qualified shop to check it out. If your company's garage can't... which I'm getting the feeling they can't otherwise they'd have done it by now... you need to take it somewhere. It doesn't HAVE to be the dealer, but it needs to be someone who has had Hybrid Escape training and that by default might mean the dealer.
#80 of 130 Re: Braking problem need help and comments [bubkis] by atreehugger Dec 27, 2007 (6:23 am)
Replying to: bubkis (Nov 29, 2007 1:51 pm) Hi - just wanted to tell you you did the right thing. Ford refuses to acknowledge a problem with the braking system. Their dealers have no awareness of the problem. I had no warning when I lost my brakes except the annoying "grabbing" every time it rained or was dewy in the morning. They replaced the master cylinder and then when I took them to the Better Business Bureau Ford called it my "alleged brake problem". Every time I talked to someone at Ford they called it my "brake issue" as if it were a faulty window or a broken tail light. I lost at the Better Business Bureau because I did not lose my brakes 4 times! Ford offered me an extended warranty (with a $100 deductible!!!). Big Deal - I'm a high mileage driver and would be out of that in 3 years anyway. I told them the warranty would be cold comfort to my husband when I was in my casket or to some mother whose child I had run over. I loved the SUV, I loved the 4WD, I loved the mileage (27-30), I especially loved driving a hybrid. I traded it in on a non-hybrid SUV. If I every buy another Ford I hope someone takes a 2x4 to my head. What bothers me is someone else is out there driving it!   There is a design flaw. Check out NHTSA/ODI. All FEH model years have had complete brake failures - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. Replies to this message: css1008 (Feb 26, 2009 8:16 am)

Messages Page 8 of 13 1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 13 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Hybrid Vehicles Ford Escape Hybrid Ford Escape Hybrid Maintenance & Repair Ford Escape Hybrid Brake Problems