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Ford Escape Hybrid Transmission Questions

28 messages,  Last post on Nov 30, 2010 at 3:02 PM

You are in the Ford Escape Hybrid Maintenance & Repair Forum.

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

Messages Page 1 of 3

#1 of 28 Ford Escape Hybrid Transmission Questions by pf_flyer HOST

Nov 06, 2006 (6:17 am)

Discuss your Escape hybrid transmission questions here.

#2 of 28 ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION by escape1

Jun 10, 2005 (9:45 am)

I purchased a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid in Oct 2004. Currently our escape hybrid has 13000 miles. It has now been in the shop for two weeks. It started overheating and breaking down on the freeway. We took it into the local dealer and was told that the Eletric Motor Failed. After a week in the shop and Electric Motor being serviced, we were then contacted that it is the transmission. Ford has requested the failed transmission to be sent to their engineers for inspection. Has anyone else had this problem? I found an intersting article on http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2004/mft04121307.htm. If anyone has additional information they would like to share, please do so. Thanks

#3 of 28 Re: ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION [escape1] by ear

Jun 10, 2005 (11:19 am)

Replying to: escape1 (Jun 10, 2005 9:45 am)
I have anecdotal info only: I spoke with a Hybrid owner in No. California who stated her transmission failed at 1200 mi., and she claimed Ford had a crew from Japan come out to look at it. I don't know this person or how to track this down, just wanted to let you know that apparently someone else has had a problem with the CVT... take it for what it's worth.
 
Regarding the article you mentioned, it refers to a recall of 400k+ non-hybrid Escapes for an accelerator problem that causes the engine to race. I doubt that will apply to your Hybrid.

#4 of 28 Re: ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION [escape1] by stevewa

Jun 21, 2005 (11:34 pm)

Replying to: escape1 (Jun 10, 2005 9:45 am)
This is a new one to me. We have 10k miles with no problems so far.
 
The electric motors (there are two of them, btw) and the transmission are all a single unit, which is sourced from a Japanese company (Aisin) that also makes the same components for Toyota, though there are likely design differences between the two.
 
There were a few problems reported where the coolant pump for the motor/electronic system had problems, if that failed and didn't give you a warning that could cause the motors to overheat.

#5 of 28 Re: ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION [stevewa] by oldjoe

Sep 08, 2005 (8:45 am)

Replying to: stevewa (Jun 21, 2005 11:34 pm)
Toyota is already in the next generation of hybrids and consider the Ford Technology sort of out-of-date. It will take a while for domestic manufacturers to catch upm on hybrid techmology, but it is coming.

#6 of 28 Re: ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION [oldjoe] by explorerx4

Sep 14, 2005 (3:17 pm)

Replying to: oldjoe (Sep 08, 2005 8:45 am)
i can see why toyota wants to move into the next generation, considering the stalling issues, and the patent infringement lawsuit.

#7 of 28 Re: ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION [oldjoe] by sarahfromsc

Oct 18, 2005 (9:52 am)

Replying to: oldjoe (Sep 08, 2005 8:45 am)
I thought Ford used Japanese technology for their hybrid. And that for either 2006, 0r 2007 they had "improved" on it.
 
I bought my hybrid Labor Day weekend and it has been back to the dealership three times. The first time was for a grinding whinny sound from underneath the vehicle, which I was told was "normal" but I find that highly suspect. The second time was for when the "wrench" light and the "master vehicle electrical hazard" warning light came on 5 times during a drive from PA to SC. The local dealership called in reinforcements and Ford flew two engineers from somewhere to check the vehicle over. They did find error codes that they could not decipher (maybe the Japanese threw them) and they flew back to try to decode the error codes. The vehicle is now back in the shop receiving a new transmission that a design engineer said it needed. We shall see.
 
Basically I have a few questions: does anyone else hear the grinding whinny noise coming from underneath the vehicle when moving?; has anyone else had warning signals come on after a long highway drive? ; does anyone else feel a slight hesitation when pulling away from a stop sing/light....feels as if the back wheels hesitate? I'm only getting about 27mph in city traffic (that stinks); have y'alls RPMs revved out of control?

#8 of 28 Re: ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION [sarahfromsc] by stevedebi

Oct 18, 2005 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: sarahfromsc (Oct 18, 2005 9:52 am)
"I thought Ford used Japanese technology for their hybrid."
 
This is a common misconception. According to Ford, the independently developed a system so similar in concept to the Toyota HSD system, that they had to license the technology. But they claim that Ford did not get the system from Toyota. Too bad, it would have saved them a lot of learning curve.

#9 of 28 Re: ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION [sarahfromsc] by stevewa

Oct 19, 2005 (1:03 am)

Replying to: sarahfromsc (Oct 18, 2005 9:52 am)
Sorry to hear about your problems, it sounds like the engineering team has come to the conclusion you need a new transaxle. You are correct in that the hybrid transaxle (which contains the power split device, and the two electric motor/generators) is manufactured in Japan by Aisin, a large maker of transmissions used by many carmakers, but the design (along with the design of the Escape's complete hybrid system) is Ford's.
 
The 2006 is basically unchanged from the 2005 except for option packages and availability of new ones like the moonroof and heated seats/mirrors.
 
As far as noises go, I have occasionally heard a grinding/scraping sound from the rear wheels. I believe it is caused by the parking brake, as I've stated previously. I have not had this noise in a long time, however (several months) so I don't know if it's been dealt with. The dealer claimed they could not isolate anything. A sharp pull on the parking brake handle last time it happened is what convinced me as to the nature of the issue.
 
As far as 27MPG in city traffic "stinking", it really depends on a number of factors, including:
1. Trip duration...you won't see the benefit of the hybrid system until the engine and most importantly the catalytic converter are fully warmed up. 20 minutes is usually the break-even point here.
2. Acceleration/Braking. The harder you do both, the lower your efficiency. Try to anticipate stopping and coast as much as traffic will allow. A light brake application will be more biased towards regenerative braking, a heavy one will engage the friction brakes, wasting energy as heat instead of capturing it in your battery.
 
When you say revving out of control...under what circumstances does this occur? When accelerating hard or climbing a hill it's perfectly normal for the engine to rev up in the 4-5k range. The computer is choosing the RPM which allows the system to run most efficiently while meeting your demand for torque This is why letting up on the pedal will drop the RPM immediately. The other condition that causes high RPM is when you use the "L" shifter position going downhill. Once the battery has stored all the energy the computer will let it, the energy will be redirected to spinning the engine at up to 4k RPM...it's not actually consuming any (significant amount of) fuel, it's just using the engine as a place to dump the excess energy.
 
Hope this helps.

#10 of 28 Re: ELECTRIC MOTOR / TRANSMISSION [stevewa] by sarahfromsc

Oct 19, 2005 (8:44 am)

Replying to: stevewa (Oct 19, 2005 1:03 am)
I do appreciate your reply and your words have helped a lot. However (isn't there always a "however" or "but"?), the hybrid tech at the dealership said they were dropping in a new transmission (due to the design engineers recommendation). Is a transaxle the same thing? I am very ignorant on this subject and am trying to educate myself so I can be a better car owner when I'm really old, I'm only partial old now.
 
As for the gas mileage, I can say that it has improved since I bought the car a month ago, so I feel better about the 27 mph then I did the 24.5! I have been very, very self conscious about being lead footed. I had a huge V-8 Lincoln Continental prior to this car, and it was FUN to have a lead foot in that car. So I kinda creep from stop lights and signs, etc., trying to keep the gas engine from kicking on.....kinda a dumb mind game I'm playing on myself.
 
The RPMs went crazy while traveling in WVA, VA, and NC. I would be cruising along at 70mph and the RPMs would zoom up to 6 then down to 4 and then race back to 6.5 then drop to 5. I finally pulled and stopped the car. I tried the cruise control thinking I must have been pressing the gas pedal inadvertently, the racing was worse then. It was particularly bad in the mountainous areas of VA and WVA (traveling down I 77).
 
Do you have any ideas on the "slipping" feeling in the back end that I am experiencing? Or is that all part of the transmission/transaxle thing?
 
Again, thank you SO much for your input. It was appreciated, and I learned much!

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