First time PHEV owner needs advice

[Donps]

I recently purchased a 2013 fusion Energi from a local dealer. The titanium package had almost everything my 2016 f150 platinum has, except for the thirst, I chose the vehicle primarily based on fuel mileage.

 

I have had the car 3 weeks and brought it back to the dealer for a number of issues.

1: needed an updated modem and software/firmware update. Dealer said they ordered the part and will notify when available. Part is on back order.

2: 5th quadrant of charge ring did not illuminate. Dealer replaced.

4: had issues with charge display not portraying accurately. Car would give a range of 18 miles, I usually got between 5&6, with no excessive electrical load and driving conservatively.

5: car intermittently would stop charging at 25%

 

Well after a week with the dealer I picked the car up last night with the service advisor telling me that even though they were able to replicate the charging issue. That there is nothing showing so I should continue to drive it and monitor. He then told me that they had tried some of their chargers as well as having me bring in mine. With my 120v charger, they did manage to get it to charge......after 26 hours on the charge. With theirs it stopped after 25%.

 

I do not use the included charger ever. I have had a dedicated 240v installed in my garage and use a number of public units close to work and still have intermittent issues with charge cutting out after 25%.

 

So anyway, I do pick up the car and agree to check it out. Battery shows 18 miles range. I take off, drive normally and 5.5 miles down the freeway, middle lane (why would it be anywhere else) middle of rush hour (naturally) the car goes dead! Out like someone flipped a light switch. I did mention the freeway and rush hour right?

AnywY, I managed through the grace of god to coast to the side of the road. I called the dealer but all service had been done and I was told to contact AAA or have it towed in. At this point, light start lighting up and the engine kicks back on. Like nothing ever happened. As I couldn't get a tow truck in a timely manner I elected to chance driving it. It drove home (on the break down lane though) without a fuss. I plugged it in and when I came out this morning it was dead again. Doornail dead, had to use the emergency key inside the fob to get into the car. It's getting towed to the dealer this evening.

 

Anyone got any ideas, I knew the car was a buyback when I bought it and came with 12 months bumper to bumper. Still I'm not exactly enthralled with something that has spent half of the time I have owned it in the shop

[murphy]

1.  All 2013 Energis had to be updated.  It was built with a 2G modem and AT&T shut down 2G service 12/31/16.

2. The charge ring only has 4 segments.  The second segment on mine burned out late last year.

4. Do not drive at freeway speeds on battery only.  That will use up the battery in a hurry.  Air drag increases with the square of the speed.  Use EV later when on the freeway and save EV Only for local driving.  Also the heater puts a 5 kW load on the battery.  A warm coat, gloves and the seat heater will give you better mileage.  The range number is an estimate.  There is no way to actually measure the charge level in a battery.  Sitting in your driveway with the car in EV Only mode note the range number.  Turn on the heater and watch what happens to the range number.

 

It sounds like the 12 volt battery needs to be replaced and the DC to DC converter checked to verify that it is charging the battery.

The car does not have a starter motor or an alternator.  The high voltage battery starts the engine and the DC to DC converter takes the place of an alternator.

[openair]

Is the vehicle set to charge now or value charge? Possibly value charge profiles are having it charge to 25% and than wait for the value window for the rest. Try setting it to charge now under the leaf icon on the touch screen