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3K views 14 replies 6 participants last post by  Squirrel 
#1 ·
Thank you for your help!
 
#2 ·
:hi: :welcome: :hi:

So if I understand correcy your FEH is in perfect condition but you are worried about replacing the hybrid battery? Theoretically you should not have to replace that as they are designed to last a long time. You are right with the taxi stories. If you care for it we'll the FEH will last you many many miles. Hopefully some of the hybrid owners will chime in soon.
 
#4 ·
The oldest FEHs have been on the road 13 years now. Yours probably was sold in 2007. I remember the 2008s first went on sale in Jan of 2007. You can check online if any FEH battery rebuilders in your area or if reman batteries are sold. Brand new 330v batteries probably are pretty scarce since they aren't needed for warranty repairs. Newer FEHs and other hybrid Fords have a different battery pack.
You're also right that nobody can accurately predict the total lifespan of an FEH battery or how much charge it could still give/take after 10 or more years. Battery life could depend on a lot of environmental as well as total usage factors.
 
#5 ·
So these fears are just because its 9 years old, and not because there's any problems? Ford designed the battery to outlast the vehicle. The only manufacturer that has hybrid battery longevity issues is Honda. Ford has an exceptional track record with their battery longevity. I've only ever heard of 2, maybe 3 battery failures, and I'm an admin and/or moderator on several automotive websites. Even at that, one of the batteries that was replaced, I wasn't convinced was really bad. I thought there was another issue with the vehicle that the mechanic was blaming on the pack.

Hybrid drivetrains are still relatively new technologies, and many mechanics just don't know that much about them. Fortunately, most of the hybrid specific known issues can be fixed in your own driveway relatively cheaply if you're moderately handy. I can say this for a fact, as I own and drive a 2008 Escape Hybrid 4wd.

That all being said, Welcome to the FEH owners club! As the proud owner of a new FEH, there's a few things that you should pay particular attention to...

1. While the hybrid battery pack will likely outlast the car, the 12v battery under the hood will not. Mysterious problems will crop up when this starts to fail, and battery testers at most mechanics shops and auto parts stores cannot properly test it. It is possible for a battery that tests as "good" to cause problems in an FEH, as this 12v battery's sole job is to power the computer system and vehicle controls. My recommendation is if the date code on the 12v battery is 5 years old or older, replace it... even if you aren't having any problems. If the battery is less than 5 years old, load test it. If it does not test as 95% or better, replace. If the tester comes up as "Charge before testing"... REPLACE. The battery should always be at 100% charge, as all it does is power the computer and relays.

2. 2005-2008 FEH's have a separate air filter for the cooling system for the battery pack. In the rear cargo area, on the left wall is a small removable panel. Under it is another black panel. Remove it and check the filter. This filter should be changed every 10K-15K miles, If you're going by the oil life monitor, you will replace this filter every other oil change. This filter is about $5 if you order it on RockAuto.com. Personally, I replace it at every oil change.

3. The engine thermostat. Since you can't get into electric mode until the engine warms up to operating temperature, a properly working thermostat is imperative. The thermostat is designed to fail in the open position, so as it ages, it starts to open earlier and earlier. Take a glance down there. If it looks like it still has the original hose clamps on the hoses going to the thermostat housing, I'd replace it.

Well, that's enough to get you started on the right foot... If you have any questions, just ask.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for all the information. I called and talked to a Service Guy at Ford and he said that in 17 years he has never seen a battery fail.

I will also check all the areas you mention once we get a dry day.

Today was the first day I drove it to work and I found the "INFO" button! Wow! It says I am averaging 26.3 mpg. Does that sound low? It's pouring cats and dogs here in SoCal and I drive about half city streets and freeway to get to work. Let me know.

Thanks again for taking the time.
 
#8 ·
Jay2TheRescue said:
You don't know when that was last reset, and it likely spent a while idling while the dealer's mechanics were playing with it. . I reset the economy display at each fill up.
Guess I have to read my manual because I'm not sure about the reset thing. I will fill up on my way home so will check it out. You do your name justice. Thanks again.
 
#10 ·
:yahoo: So exciting to watch the mileage! I reset at fill-up and by the time I got off the fwy it was up to 36 mpg! After the street portion of my drive home I finished in the driveway at 33 mpg. Thank you very much again for everything. I have decided to keep ole blue...although my kids will totally love your "Toaster" moniker! The rain is still falling so will have to investigate the other areas this weekend. And I probably will reach out in the future. I AM fairly handy, but will have to learn about things of the engine!
 
#13 ·
I am also looking at a 2007 Escape hybrid (157K on the clock) as 2nd car. My nephew (an ASE mechanic) says not to do it because of potential battery failure. Another guy says his brother has one and if the battery goes out it will still run.

I am confused. Any guidance?

Thanks
 
#14 ·
Very few hybrid battery failures on these cars... Plus, in taxi use, they have racked up over 300,000 miles on the original packs, with over 80% of the original pack capacity remaining. I know of one that has over 500,000 miles on the original pack. Ask your nephew how many ACTUAL hybrid battery failures he knows of on Escape Hybrids. I bet the answer is zero. I've been on many Escape and Hybrid forums for many years, and only know of 2 confirmed pack failures. One, the battery manufacturer did not believe the pack had actually failed, so they sent an engineer from their factory in Japan, plus an interpreter to the US to test the pack.

Ford did not want their first hybrid model to be a bad one, and sour the public on Ford hybrids, so they over engineered it.

As far as the car being able to run with a failed pack... That would be no. The energy to start the engine comes from the hybrid pack, and the energy to run the 12v system also comes from the pack.

The good news is that so many of these go to the junkyard with good packs, that a decent, low mileage pack can generally be had for under $1,000.
 
#15 ·
Unless your nephew is a Hybrid ASE mechanic, that moniker is basically meaningless when it comes to hybrids, no offense intended.

What Jay stated is quite true. The likelihood of the battery pack going out is very small. These are fantastic hybrids in my opinion, VERY reliable. I recommend them highly. :thumb:
 
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