Ask the Car People.SM


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 3 of 3

#20 of 28 Need Help hacking 2006 FEH Transaxle/repair by escape6

Sep 06, 2009 (9:56 am)

Dear Listers,
 
We have a 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid with 37,000 miles which spends most of its time in the shop or riding around on the back of a tow truck. Our Escape was an insurance write off at 2300 miles and we bought it at 3,000 miles total time running and repaired without warranty. I need to talk to someone who is an expert on the Japanese transaxles used in both the Escape and Prius vehicles. My Escape transmission is gone south (supposedly) and we bought a replacement transmission (brand new surplus) which won't talk to our car properly. The issue relates around the computer security system (PATS). It seems our old transmission was PATS and the new one I bought is non PATS. PATS has to do with the encoded key systems. The FEH has been at two dealers for 5 weeks now and we are no closer to solving the problem(s). The dealer is advising against ordering a factory transmission at this time.
 
The issues with these Ford Toyoda aisin yes I mean aisin not Asian ECVT transaxles is that
1. they are not dealer serviceable, or transmission shop serviceable,
2. they are not depot serviceable
3. there don't seem to be any service manuals out there for them,
4. new ones cost $14,000 Canadian and have to be custom built in Japan,
5. neither the dealer nor I are sure the real problem was the transaxle in the first place.
 
Since I did not have to return my original ECVT transaxle, the question is if we remove the "New non communicating non PATS transaxle" can we rebuilt the old one that has PATS incorporated in it? in other words take two transaxles apart and build one working one. or is there any on this list who can hack the toyoda code on the ford transaxle? I assume these codes are some kind of machine language rather than Japanese commands?
 
From the fleeting glances I have made at some of the edmunds messages I suspect there are guys and gals and mechanics, engineers, and programmers on this list who know this stuff or know people who know how to do what I am talking about. Anyone who has taken apart a ford escape hybrid or toyota prius transaxle and found what caused it fail please respond as well. If this is a hopeless project these comments would also be welcome. We deliberately have not messed with any of the Ford transaxle guts. It is unbolted and sitting in the dealer shop on a bench and looks just fine. The output shaft looks new...
 
Please respond directly to Rocky at Tya24-fly.net
 
Rocky near Edmonton, Alberta

#21 of 28 Re: Need Help hacking 2006 FEH Transaxle/repair [escape6] by hevincali

May 23, 2011 (12:35 pm)

Replying to: escape6 (Sep 06, 2009 9:56 am)
Did you ever get your transaxle to talk to the vehicle?
My transmission seized up on me a month ago. I have an early 2006 model and bought a used 2005 transaxle since according to the parts store they are the same model. I installed it over the weekend and went to start the vehicle this morning and it starts but then immediately shuts off with the familiar stop safely now message. The theft light also comes on. I've got a computerized scan tool that I'm going to try tonight but am looking for any helpful information...

#22 of 28 2005 ford escape hybrid by mpethtel

Jul 23, 2011 (7:04 pm)

My hybrid is not shifting right. I was getting good gas mileage and now I am not. When I took to ford they said there was no codes and no light to indicate trouble. I said the transmission isn't shifting right I can get up to 5 or 6k and let off gas and may it drops a little. Its like its not shifting at all. when on the interstate to pass the rpms go way up and its like I am in a low gear, and 15 mpg is the highest I get. I am not sure what to do or what to replace since ford has no idea.

#23 of 28 Re: 2005 ford escape hybrid [mpethtel] by stevedebi

Aug 10, 2011 (5:55 pm)

Replying to: mpethtel (Jul 23, 2011 7:04 pm)
"My hybrid is not shifting right. I was getting good gas mileage and now I am not. When I took to ford they said there was no codes and no light to indicate trouble. I said the transmission isn't shifting right I can get up to 5 or 6k and let off gas and may it drops a little. Its like its not shifting at all. when on the interstate to pass the rpms go way up and its like I am in a low gear, and 15 mpg is the highest I get. I am not sure what to do or what to replace since ford has no idea. "
 
That sounds like the battery may not be functioning. The Atkinson cycle gets poor efficiency at low speeds; the battery drive compensates for this. Either the battery is failing or perhaps the cooling fans are not working. If you get a ScanGuage, it will tell you the state of charge of the battery.
 
I'm assuming you have an older FEH, not a 2009 or newer...

#25 of 28 Ford Escape 2005 2.3 Hybrid Low gearing problems by landvanooit

Nov 16, 2010 (9:14 am)

I was wandering why my escape 2.3 hybrid 2005 doesnt shift anylonger but 'low gearing'?
There is no way this lowgear is able to put otherwise..
Also the dealergarage doesnt have a solution for this problem with CVT gearing/shifting.
 
Could anyone tell me if you are familiar with this problem?
 
What else could be damaged by this problem of driving long period (3 months) in low gear...
 
thanks in advance!

#26 of 28 Re: Ford Escape 2005 2.3 Hybrid Low gearing problems [landvanooit] by stevedebi

Nov 16, 2010 (9:35 am)

Replying to: landvanooit (Nov 16, 2010 9:14 am)
"I was wandering why my escape 2.3 hybrid 2005 doesnt shift anylonger but 'low gearing'?
There is no way this lowgear is able to put otherwise..
Also the dealergarage doesnt have a solution for this problem with CVT gearing/shifting. "
 
I find your post unclear. The FEH does not shift gears at any time. On the "L" setting it simply puts more energy back into the battery when you let off the gas, instead of allowing the vehicle to glide.
 
Many people actually use "L" all the time, which won't hurt anything, but the fact is that if your "D" isn't working right, something is wrong with either the software or your CVT. Have it checked by a dealer.

#27 of 28 low gear is only working CVT choice.. by landvanooit

Nov 16, 2010 (11:43 pm)

Hello,
 
It's so that the other options of the CVT dont work anylonger, the poke does go in P or L, other options out of order...
 
I'm afraid that the whole CVT needs to be replaced, and also dealers around my town dont give prices on that because Escape is not a model that's regular in the Netherlands, so all parts etc. need to come from abroad.
 
Maybe someone knows prices of a new CVT ofr tricks to solve this L-gear problem?
 
Thanks in advance,
 
greetings..

#28 of 28 Re: low gear is only working CVT choice.. [landvanooit] by stevedebi

Nov 30, 2010 (3:02 pm)

Replying to: landvanooit (Nov 16, 2010 11:43 pm)
"It's so that the other options of the CVT dont work anylonger, the poke does go in P or L, other options out of order... "
 
Are you saying that the shifter won't go into "R" , "N", or "D"? That could be s simple mechanical problem with the shift lever.

Messages Page 3 of 3

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement