I have a B-Max 1 litre 120 purchased in December 2012. The stop/start system stopped working this month and I took it to the dealer who said the battery was only 75% charged hence the stop/start not working. This system doesn't work unless the battery is fully charged. What they do not tell you however, is also that if you do low mileage the system will switch itself off completely. If you have your aircon on the system will also not work. Could this be due to a low capacity battery or some other fault. I cannot be the only one having this problem - is there anyone else out there? I have been in contact with Ford who sent me to another dealer for a second opinion - they are now trying to contact my dealer without any success at present.
STOP/START
Dunston
181 - 197 of 197 Posts
Thanks Makem,
I was hoping for that response and it would appear then that my Stop/Start is now working as yours is unless you use theheated frontscreen, however, and another conundrum for us to think about.
Your thoughtswere like mine that the heated front screen uses so much power andthat is the reason the Stop/Start does not kick in but with the Stop/Start operational and engine stopped I put on the
A/C Fan 0n 2 at 22.5 degrees &Face and foot blowers on
Headlights / Wipers / Both Heated front seats & Heated Rear Window and the engine did not start.
My point is that surely all the things I had turned on would use more power together than the heated front screen on its own,so why does the Stop/Start not work with just the front screen on.
Your thoughts or solutions please !!
![Image]()
I was hoping for that response and it would appear then that my Stop/Start is now working as yours is unless you use theheated frontscreen, however, and another conundrum for us to think about.
Your thoughtswere like mine that the heated front screen uses so much power andthat is the reason the Stop/Start does not kick in but with the Stop/Start operational and engine stopped I put on the
A/C Fan 0n 2 at 22.5 degrees &Face and foot blowers on
Headlights / Wipers / Both Heated front seats & Heated Rear Window and the engine did not start.
My point is that surely all the things I had turned on would use more power together than the heated front screen on its own,so why does the Stop/Start not work with just the front screen on.
Your thoughts or solutions please !!
Take some paracetamol lol.Gracow said:
I can't agree because the screen may only just have started to mist whilst you were stopped.
The system could not decide that your view is so restricted that the engine needs to start before you depress the clutch and before you begin to move. (engine re-starts as soon as you depress the clutch).
However, that being said, your thought may answer the above post which seems to place a very heavy load on the battery without starting the engine.
So, final answer..........................I don't know!
I am happy with the way my car is running and like you my brow is fast becoming fevered so, no more thoughts on the matter.
I may ask my son-in-law (when my brow cools), who makes up prototype pcb's for dashboard control designed by one of Ford's subsidiary teams. He may have some ideas.
I had a heated screen on my Freelander 2, and recall having to switch it on during a French auto route journey,when confronted with freezing rain. I was able to continue whereas it was evident from the number of stationery vehicles on the hard shoulder that this could have been a problem.
Perhaps the heated screen accessory is primarily meant to be a preventive measure for when driving, rather than an early morning lazy way of de-icing. I would want to be absolutely sure the screen had been completed de-iced before moving off, and the only way to do that is to manually check; it is no good giving a swipe of the wipers for obvious reasons. If I leave my car out during winter months, prior to moving off I always lift my wiper arms clear of the screen, front and rear, to make sure there is no icing.
Perhaps the heated screen accessory is primarily meant to be a preventive measure for when driving, rather than an early morning lazy way of de-icing. I would want to be absolutely sure the screen had been completed de-iced before moving off, and the only way to do that is to manually check; it is no good giving a swipe of the wipers for obvious reasons. If I leave my car out during winter months, prior to moving off I always lift my wiper arms clear of the screen, front and rear, to make sure there is no icing.
I had a word with my son-in-law today about the workings of stop/start. (SS)
Apparently whether the SS works or does not work is controlled by the ECU which is programmed to keep watch on the battery voltage. There will be a preset trigger level, below which the SS will not work. This setting will be in increments as small as 0.1V.
So, if the trigger is set at say 11.7, If the voltage falls to 11.6, the SS will not work, 11.7 or above, then it will work.
The question of why the SS will not work when the screen heating is on and that it will work when the heated seats etc. are on is related to the voltage drop caused by what is turned on. He says, the screen heater causes a larger voltage drop than the total of the heated seats and other things which are on at the same time.
This seemed strange to me as I would have thought seat heating needed a lot of juice. However, he says not. The heater is very small (consumption not physical size), compared the the screen heating. He said, even with all the lights on and the fans going it still may cause less of a voltage drop.
One other interesting fact came up in respect of SS not working. It your SS does not work when you think it should be working normally, consider that you may have a bad cell in your battery.
That's one way of knowing your battery is on the way out and needs replacing. He was unable to give any figure for how long batteries tend to last in comparison to those which do not have SS.
Apparently whether the SS works or does not work is controlled by the ECU which is programmed to keep watch on the battery voltage. There will be a preset trigger level, below which the SS will not work. This setting will be in increments as small as 0.1V.
So, if the trigger is set at say 11.7, If the voltage falls to 11.6, the SS will not work, 11.7 or above, then it will work.
The question of why the SS will not work when the screen heating is on and that it will work when the heated seats etc. are on is related to the voltage drop caused by what is turned on. He says, the screen heater causes a larger voltage drop than the total of the heated seats and other things which are on at the same time.
This seemed strange to me as I would have thought seat heating needed a lot of juice. However, he says not. The heater is very small (consumption not physical size), compared the the screen heating. He said, even with all the lights on and the fans going it still may cause less of a voltage drop.
One other interesting fact came up in respect of SS not working. It your SS does not work when you think it should be working normally, consider that you may have a bad cell in your battery.
That's one way of knowing your battery is on the way out and needs replacing. He was unable to give any figure for how long batteries tend to last in comparison to those which do not have SS.
I have Titanium Auto and also had a problem. Having made long motorway journeys the day before so should have been well charged, I was parked outside a shop waiting for it to open, with the radio on for 15 minutes and it wouldn't start without jump leads.
Have waited for a while to report progress on my last post in
this subject which was 23 Dec when I reported on my recent car accident.
The B-Max was off the road for nearly 6 weeks as Ford in Peterborough undertook the body and wheel repairs. The courtesy Fiesta performed well and its only because it is too small and does not sit high enough for me that I opted for the B-Max in the first place.
Picked up the B-Max last Saturday and I have to say, having seen it when it was in the body shop awaiting repairs, the transformation is amazing, looked like a new car. Had to have new wheels and tyres
some new panelling and steering box, damage was worse than I had imagined.
Back on the road now and had forgotten how much I missed it. Stop/Start works every time
![Image]()
and the performance remains good. I have been running it for a week or so now and to date it is performing well. Personally I
am not one to get 'hung up' on MPG although
I do understand it is important to many.
Thanks Ford for a great emergency service system in the B-Max, for very good customer service from TC Harrison Ford in Peterborough and for the several courtesy calls from Ford customer care over the weeks.
Great to be back in the B-Max
![Image]()
this subject which was 23 Dec when I reported on my recent car accident.
The B-Max was off the road for nearly 6 weeks as Ford in Peterborough undertook the body and wheel repairs. The courtesy Fiesta performed well and its only because it is too small and does not sit high enough for me that I opted for the B-Max in the first place.
Picked up the B-Max last Saturday and I have to say, having seen it when it was in the body shop awaiting repairs, the transformation is amazing, looked like a new car. Had to have new wheels and tyres
some new panelling and steering box, damage was worse than I had imagined.
Back on the road now and had forgotten how much I missed it. Stop/Start works every time
am not one to get 'hung up' on MPG although
I do understand it is important to many.
Thanks Ford for a great emergency service system in the B-Max, for very good customer service from TC Harrison Ford in Peterborough and for the several courtesy calls from Ford customer care over the weeks.
Great to be back in the B-Max
When we have an issue we are always posting the bad things so, I have to give thanks where needed.
I had 3 issues; Stop/Start / Auto Headlights / And an annoying vibration under the centre of the car. The car had to go in 4 times before resolving everything, Stop/Start by the up-date that Dunston &keytapper received, the auto lights are not 100% but are acting more like they should, they replaced the back box of the exhaust thinking that it would resolve the vibration problem, but it didn't, then it went in again and a different mechanic ( Tom )found the problem that had cause the vibration underneath ( A brake pipe had come away from it's retaining clip and was rubbing on the exhaust heat shield ). Everything now done !
Thanks to Polar Ford, Barnsley,especially Mark forhis persistence and Tomand toSharon from Ford Customer Services who checked with me every time the car went in for the work sorting. She phoned on Friday 1 week after I had received the car back to check if everything was OK a week on and if I was happy that all issues were resolved, which I was.
Then, unexpectedly, she said because the car had been in 5 times in all andformy inconvenience and as a gesture of goodwill, they are going to cover the cost of my first service due at the end of this month. Well done all involved and thanks !
![Image]()
Edited by: Specialk
I had 3 issues; Stop/Start / Auto Headlights / And an annoying vibration under the centre of the car. The car had to go in 4 times before resolving everything, Stop/Start by the up-date that Dunston &keytapper received, the auto lights are not 100% but are acting more like they should, they replaced the back box of the exhaust thinking that it would resolve the vibration problem, but it didn't, then it went in again and a different mechanic ( Tom )found the problem that had cause the vibration underneath ( A brake pipe had come away from it's retaining clip and was rubbing on the exhaust heat shield ). Everything now done !
Thanks to Polar Ford, Barnsley,especially Mark forhis persistence and Tomand toSharon from Ford Customer Services who checked with me every time the car went in for the work sorting. She phoned on Friday 1 week after I had received the car back to check if everything was OK a week on and if I was happy that all issues were resolved, which I was.
Then, unexpectedly, she said because the car had been in 5 times in all andformy inconvenience and as a gesture of goodwill, they are going to cover the cost of my first service due at the end of this month. Well done all involved and thanks !
Edited by: Specialk
I can confirm that I am in receipt of a letter from Mel at the Ford Customer Relationship Centre offering me a 25000/24 months service free of charge as a gesture of good will.
This backs up my previous comments about the excellent service I have received from Ford. I agree that the B-Max has its 'foibles' and undoubtedly Ford will take heed with future versions of this model. In the meantime I
remain very satisfied with my B-Max Titanium eco
model, despite the accident the car remains an excellent vehicle, stop/start works
every time now
![Image]()
and all systems are functioning well. Yes there
are a few niggly
issues like no arm rest for the front passenger, and not enough storage space for the drivers side but
, I chose to downsize from the C-Max so knew what I was getting.
I read the forum comments with interest, and it does appear that some owners are having issues, all I
can
say it get
in touch with Ford Customer Care and see if they can help.
Just coming up to 12500 miles now, still happy with the car, and would get another tomorrow if I had to
Edited by: keytapper
This backs up my previous comments about the excellent service I have received from Ford. I agree that the B-Max has its 'foibles' and undoubtedly Ford will take heed with future versions of this model. In the meantime I
remain very satisfied with my B-Max Titanium eco
model, despite the accident the car remains an excellent vehicle, stop/start works
every time now
are a few niggly
issues like no arm rest for the front passenger, and not enough storage space for the drivers side but
, I chose to downsize from the C-Max so knew what I was getting.
I read the forum comments with interest, and it does appear that some owners are having issues, all I
can
say it get
in touch with Ford Customer Care and see if they can help.
Just coming up to 12500 miles now, still happy with the car, and would get another tomorrow if I had to
Edited by: keytapper
181 - 197 of 197 Posts
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