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
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Dunston
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Dunston
I have been contacted by a Marissa on the Ford Twitter site, eventually she called me by phone to say that at the moment there is no software update for my car (which is the 120 PS Eco Titanium) so what the hell is going on???
Today being somewhat cooler I turned off fan and aircon
switch stop/start worked everytime
!!!!
![Image]()
I have been contacted by a Marissa on the Ford Twitter site, eventually she called me by phone to say that at the moment there is no software update for my car (which is the 120 PS Eco Titanium) so what the hell is going on???
Today being somewhat cooler I turned off fan and aircon
switch stop/start worked everytime
!!!!
Hi Dunston,You have confirmed what my local service manager told me (Also another reason not to dis-believe him ) that Ford have probably done a specific/unique up grade for your vehicle, and dependant on it's success wether Ford issues it for all B Max models.
Hi, I don't think I am lucky at all - my system has not worked from day 1 when I bought the car in December 2012 and I have complained and complained and rejected the car until finally Ford have had to admit that they do have a problem with it. I think I must be one of the few people not giving up and hopefully when the software is put in next Wednesday this will solve my problem and everyone else's but if no-one complains they will not do it unless they have a general recall which I can't see them doing. I have been fobbed off for months by Ford but have persisted and told them I was not going away - what really got me was that they hadn't even told their dealers they had a problem which they knew about.
Well car went in this morning and guess what - the software delivered to the dealer for was for a Fiesta so it was a complete waste of time for them and me. Back to square one! If there is nothing forthcoming by the end of the month that's it for me with Ford - car going back.
Hi Dunston,Sorry to hear that.
I as well as a lot of other people were hoping that this would be a good fix that would be rolled out for everyone. Looks like my service manager was right about the up-grade.
Have they given you an explanation ? Is there one for your car that they are going to re send ?
I as well as a lot of other people were hoping that this would be a good fix that would be rolled out for everyone. Looks like my service manager was right about the up-grade.
Have they given you an explanation ? Is there one for your car that they are going to re send ?
Sorry to disappoint everyone. Ford dealer was in a hurry to give me my keys back so am presuming there is no update, no-one bothered to come out and have a word with me and the keys were dumped on the desk by the receptionist. Had a call from Ford Customer Services yesterday afternoon telling me they had a software update and to get in touch with dealer. Told her I had had the car in that day and the software was not for B-Max at all. Obviously they can't tell their left hand from their right. No communication whatsoever between departments and the dealers. Will keep you posted if anything further transpires.
Hmmm I was feeling good
today as my Ford dealer called and said he had an update for the Fiesta and that he thought it would also work with the B-Max so I booked it in for tomorrow.
After reading Dunstons posts now I am not so sure, will take along this forum page and show him the comments don'
![Image]()
t want to be wasting my time if it aint
gonna work!!
today as my Ford dealer called and said he had an update for the Fiesta and that he thought it would also work with the B-Max so I booked it in for tomorrow.
After reading Dunstons posts now I am not so sure, will take along this forum page and show him the comments don'
gonna work!!
I would resign yourselves guys to the fact your stop / start is never going to work correctly. I have had it on several cars and on every one it had a mind of its own. Just switch it off altogether, and stop and start your engine manually as and where it is necessary. The number of times I pulled up in a traffic queue and could see it was get moving in one or two seconds, made the whole operation annoying.
Hi Dunston
As with your car there was a Fiesta update but...it doesn't work for the B-Max. Mechanic full of apologies said that when they plugged it in for aircon
/stop/start update it would not let them access the data as a B-Max was connected. So there you have it.....
STILL waiting for Ford to sort this issue out, and whilst I fully appreciate the comments made about switching stop/start off altogether, to me that is not the point. It was bought with this feature as a selling point and it doesn'twork!
On the good side, the mechanic was able to install some other updates that were available.
On the downside and no fault of Ford, following my puncture in France which resulted in 2 new Michelin tyres
being fitted, unbelievably this weekend I got another flat in the offside rear, this time a large screw had become embedded! been driving for over 50 years and never had a puncture, must have saved them all up for now
![Image]()
As with your car there was a Fiesta update but...it doesn't work for the B-Max. Mechanic full of apologies said that when they plugged it in for aircon
/stop/start update it would not let them access the data as a B-Max was connected. So there you have it.....
STILL waiting for Ford to sort this issue out, and whilst I fully appreciate the comments made about switching stop/start off altogether, to me that is not the point. It was bought with this feature as a selling point and it doesn'twork!
On the good side, the mechanic was able to install some other updates that were available.
On the downside and no fault of Ford, following my puncture in France which resulted in 2 new Michelin tyres
being fitted, unbelievably this weekend I got another flat in the offside rear, this time a large screw had become embedded! been driving for over 50 years and never had a puncture, must have saved them all up for now
Hi Keytapper, have just been looking at your original post re your punctures in France. What bad luck !!!I travel a lot in Europe as well, and am wondering whether the Ford warranty is as good as the AA European cover. Your experience is something that could often happen to motorists that do not have full size spares, in the U.K. as well as abroad.
I went for nearly 30years without a puncture, and then two years ago, like yourself had three in a shrot period. I am now paranoid about precautions, have bought a space saver, still carry the Ford repair kit, plus two Halfords aerosol kits !!!
I went for nearly 30years without a puncture, and then two years ago, like yourself had three in a shrot period. I am now paranoid about precautions, have bought a space saver, still carry the Ford repair kit, plus two Halfords aerosol kits !!!
Hi Johnwales
I used the space saver in France but you are speed restricted and did not feel comfortable using it for long on French roads.
With the latest puncture I got another!! New tyre and when the puncture is fixed in the other tyre I am going to get a rim for it and keep it as my spare. Somehow I will fit the bl##dy thing in my boot. That way next time ( hope there isn't one) I will have a "proper" spare wheel and not have to mess about with limited use space saver.
My own opinion is that this is one area where manufacturers have let us down, let's go back to when all cars had a "proper" spare wheel supplied
Anyone wanna buy an almost new space saver
I used the space saver in France but you are speed restricted and did not feel comfortable using it for long on French roads.
With the latest puncture I got another!! New tyre and when the puncture is fixed in the other tyre I am going to get a rim for it and keep it as my spare. Somehow I will fit the bl##dy thing in my boot. That way next time ( hope there isn't one) I will have a "proper" spare wheel and not have to mess about with limited use space saver.
My own opinion is that this is one area where manufacturers have let us down, let's go back to when all cars had a "proper" spare wheel supplied
Anyone wanna buy an almost new space saver
I used the stop start today on my 1.6CRDI Titanium whilst at roadworks. Pressed the button when I came to a stop, pressed it again when the lights changed to amber. Worked perfectly !!!!
I personally feel this feature is one of the less inventive addition to the modern eco car. I know you can programme it to turn off altogether,and also over ride it by keeping the clutch partly depressed, but all in all to my mind it is a feature that is a damned nuisance. It must cause excessive wear to several components, the clutch if you over ride the system, the starter motor, the battery and the alternator.
Having said all that, and before I get feed back, I quite agree if this feature is on your new car, the damned thing should work, and you have every right to expect it to.
I personally feel this feature is one of the less inventive addition to the modern eco car. I know you can programme it to turn off altogether,and also over ride it by keeping the clutch partly depressed, but all in all to my mind it is a feature that is a damned nuisance. It must cause excessive wear to several components, the clutch if you over ride the system, the starter motor, the battery and the alternator.
Having said all that, and before I get feed back, I quite agree if this feature is on your new car, the damned thing should work, and you have every right to expect it to.
Hi JOHNWALESWhat button are you pressing when you say you are using your stop/start at roadworks ?
You do not have to press anything. When you stop, the engine stops automatically with stop/start engaged and when you depress the clutch it starts again.
You do not have to overide it by slightly depressing the clutch and risk clutch damage just use the button ( The one I suspect you are using when you say it is working perfectly ) and turn it off.
you do not have to press the button on and off for it to work.
You do not have to press anything. When you stop, the engine stops automatically with stop/start engaged and when you depress the clutch it starts again.
You do not have to overide it by slightly depressing the clutch and risk clutch damage just use the button ( The one I suspect you are using when you say it is working perfectly ) and turn it off.
you do not have to press the button on and off for it to work.
Hi Specialk. Sorry Pal I was only joking, mine is a standard model, the button I press is the starter which you also press to stop the engine. Just trying to get over to the forum that you do not need these sophisticated extras in order to achieve a minute extra bit of economy or emission reduction.
Johnwales
As you have agreed, if the car is fitted with stop/start then the manufacturer should be expected to ensure it works.
I also agree that switching it off is probably the right thing to do if it is not working anyway! What grips
me is I get Tweets from Ford telling me a software fix is due any time now, and nothing happens, they have been saying that to me on Twitter and via phone calls for over 2 months now.
If you are following the thread on this site FORD get your fingers out, it surely cannot be beyond the reach of the technocrats who design and build cars to find a permanent solution to what is a very annoying and frustrating problem. I re-read the hype for the B-Max in my brochure and stop/start figures high in the additional specs that come with my Titanium model
![Image]()
!!
As you have agreed, if the car is fitted with stop/start then the manufacturer should be expected to ensure it works.
I also agree that switching it off is probably the right thing to do if it is not working anyway! What grips
me is I get Tweets from Ford telling me a software fix is due any time now, and nothing happens, they have been saying that to me on Twitter and via phone calls for over 2 months now.
If you are following the thread on this site FORD get your fingers out, it surely cannot be beyond the reach of the technocrats who design and build cars to find a permanent solution to what is a very annoying and frustrating problem. I re-read the hype for the B-Max in my brochure and stop/start figures high in the additional specs that come with my Titanium model
Got a call from my Ford dealer this morning to say that I would be happy to hear the update was there and that I could take the car down which I did. After waiting about 20 mins. the keys were handed back to me and I was told that the stop/start was now working perfectly but nothing else. Been out this afternoon and had climate control and heating on and sometimes the stop/start worked and sometimes it didn't. Will keep trying for a few more days as the weather not too cold so it should still work. Not very confident that this is the final fix! Ford should have just left this off the car altogether.
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