Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
BTW when the weather warms up and you wash/polish it I highly recommend this stuff as the final step sealant wax. It is exquisite. This is "old school" serious car care last-step stuff in a bottle. Flammable. Smells incredible, works even better.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
Well I changed the PTU fluid this morning. What came out actually looked pretty good. Not brand new but had life left. Makes me feel more comfortable about how this car was taken care of!
You might take a close look at that boot/spline toward the front of the driveshaft, but otherwise that undercarriage looks great at least to my eyes. New Mexico.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
Well, another fun development. I mentioned earlier I was concerned about it occasionally refusing to turn off the ICE after a long drive. Plugged in my laptop and ran the BCM test in FORScan. Sure enough, getting codes P0A81 and P0A96. Also checked all fuses related to the BCM and cooling fans. Guess it's time for a new cooling fan set. Debating cheaping out and going to a junkyard and pulling a set of fans (there's a yard near me in MD with two hybrids [05 Escape and 07 Mariner]) vs. forking out the $300 for a ford set.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
Originally Posted by 10Terp
Debating cheaping out and going to a junkyard and pulling a set of fans (there's a yard near me in MD with two hybrids [05 Escape and 07 Mariner]) vs. forking out the $300 for a ford set.
A few points to help your decision:
1) The yard pulls should be much cheaper
2) As long as they work a while you're OK
3) You sound skilled enough that you might be able to *repair* the existing motors (brushes go bad?) while the cheap yard replacements are in there.
Then you will have two sets of motors cheap.
Alternatively you can spend the $300, have NEW motors and maybe 3) above so you've spent more money but still wind up with two sets of motors.
The answer depends to some extent on how good you are at diagnosing/disassembling and repairing things like electronic blower motors. My father the EE would pull the motors from the yard so the car runs, and then attempt to disassemble and repair the existing motors so he's got two sets. I would do the second option, spend the extra money and then take my best shot (no guarantees) at trying to repair the existing motors.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
Originally Posted by AlexK
A few points to help your decision:
1) The yard pulls should be much cheaper
2) As long as they work a while you're OK
3) You sound skilled enough that you might be able to *repair* the existing motors (brushes go bad?) while the cheap yard replacements are in there.
Then you will have two sets of motors cheap.
Alternatively you can spend the $300, have NEW motors and maybe 3) above so you've spent more money but still wind up with two sets of motors.
The answer depends to some extent on how good you are at diagnosing/disassembling and repairing things like electronic blower motors. My father the EE would pull the motors from the yard so the car runs, and then attempt to disassemble and repair the existing motors so he's got two sets. I would do the second option, spend the extra money and then take my best shot (no guarantees) at trying to repair the existing motors.
HTH and good luck
Thanks for your feedback. The yard would definitely be cheap; $21/fan. At that price, should I decide to to that way, I may just pull all 4 of them there. While I am an engineer by profession and consider myself a decent back yard mechanic, electricity and electronics is by far one of my weakest subjects. I would probably at least attempt to diagnose them at least. I may go pull the fans tomorrow. Still debating, but will report back.
Side note, changed the trans fluid too. Very easy job. Old fluid was definitely darker.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
Originally Posted by 10Terp
Side note, changed the trans fluid too. Very easy job. Old fluid was definitely darker.
Glad to hear it. Mine was too, when I had it done right in front of me by my trusty mechanic who has been in business since the 1960s and let me watch. That was at just 58,000 miles but a full 10+ years of service. There is no temperature gauge that we have to (easily) monitor the transaxle fluid temperature (kind of ticks me off in a nerd way), but we do know that their highway (and ICE engine on/off for pure EV mode on the later models like mine) speeds are computer limited partially by the very high RPMs the electric motors (and thus their bearings, etc. in the transaxle) can reach. Even without clutches, solenoids, valve bodies, etc., there is still a lot of electromechanical hardware in there and it all relies on the fluid for lubrication, cleaning and cooling. Believe it or not there is a FILTER in there but you have to remove the engine + transaxle and crack the whole unit open to get to it.
I tend to think that the best way to stop that from ever being necessary is to preempt it by making sure the fluid is clean.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
Originally Posted by AlexK
Glad to hear it. Mine was too, when I had it done right in front of me by my trusty mechanic who has been in business since the '60s and let me watch. That was at just 58,000 miles but a full 10+ years of service. There is no temperature gauge that we have to (easily) monitor the transaxle fluid temperatures, but we do know that their highway (and ICE engine on/off for pure EV mode on the later models like mine) speeds are computer limited partially by the very high RPMs the electric motors (and thus their bearings, etc. in the transaxle) can reach. Even without clutches, solenoids, valve bodies, etc., there is still a lot of electromechanical hardware in there and it all relies on the fluid for lubrication, cleaning and cooling. Believe it or not there is a FILTER in there but you have to remove the engine + transaxle and crack the whole unit open to get to it.
I tend to think that the best way to stop that from ever being necessary is to preempt it by making sure the fluid is clean.
Good luck! You've got a really nice car there.
Thanks! I am looking forward to it being back on the road. I ordered new battery cooling fans from Ford and they’re taking their time getting here. I would rather have new fans in it and not have to worry how much life is left in them.
I actually ran the BCM test in FORScan on my FIL’s 09 as well just so I could hear how loud the fans get. You can definitely hear them, and you can definitely tell the ones in our 06 are completely dead, haha. But he was getting the blend door code…so project for him.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
Figured I'd post an update. Ordered two new fans from Ford and got them installed yesterday. Re-ran the BCM self test and both are working properly now. Pretty easy job, too. Took me maybe 40 minutes. Next on the list is seeing if I can get Ford to replace the MECS pump under recall.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
Originally Posted by 10Terp
Figured I'd post an update. Ordered two new fans from Ford and got them installed yesterday. Re-ran the BCM self test and both are working properly now. Pretty easy job, too. Took me maybe 40 minutes. Next on the list is seeing if I can get Ford to replace the MECS pump under recall.
That's great and tracks with what I've read; the battery fans aren't particularly difficult, you just have to spend time and some care. And as the weather warms up they're 100% crucial to the operation of the vehicle and thermal regulation / survival of the HV battery pack.
Speaking of thermal regulation: I've found that Heatshield's (made in USA) window reflectors fit perfectly and honestly do reduce the interior and dashboard temps. of this car by about 15-20 degrees F when direct sun parking is unavoidable. All of that helps manage the thermals and the amount of cooling the A/C must supply on really sweltering days. Recommended if prolonging the life of this car a priority.
Their line drawing shows a minivan but the photos show a Mazda Tribute of this vintage (same car basically) and they fit so well you don't need to use the sun visors to keep them inside the windshield frame. I bought direct from the factory, no affiliation or financial interest, they just work and are comparatively well made at a good price.
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Re: 2006 Escape Hybrid with a mystery Aux In Port; can’t figure out how to use it.
