Brake recall improved MPG by 6-7 mpg

[drgallo]

I had my 2010 Fusion to the dealer on Friday to perform a 7500 mile service and to do the "brake campaign/recall". Since the visit I am getting about 6-7 mpg more than before. I can easily get 39 mpg now, before I could usually squeeze out 32 mpg, now I am up to 39-40. Nice change in fuel economy, though the car doesn't feel any different since the service.

 

I thought they had made some adjustments in the LED display too, but found that y default display settings (usually set at "Empower") had been changed to a lower setting.

[Zack]

Interesting, our FFH is due for first service, I wonder what will they do with it.

[DaveM]

We saw no improvement and we had ours done a few weeks ago. I have to wonder out loud if maybe improving weather could be why. We are now starting to see a pretty big improvement in mpg but had the recall done and a good couple weeks of cold weather saw NO improvement. Also on ours the display was reset do to I'm guessing the battery unhooked during the reprograming of the computer. If you had a low mpg due to cold weather maybe now that it is warming up could be the reason you see a big improvement in mpg.

Edited March 21, 2010 by DaveM

[VonoreTn]

We were struggling to hold 36 mpg before the adjustment, now we are getting 42 with no problem. Might have been the weather warm up too. I don't know.

[skluck]

Might have been the weather warm up too. I don't know.

No, you are correct. That is exactly the reason. Batteries do not like cold weather.

[mxmastro]

I recently got my car serviced for the brake issue and for the week afterward when the temperature was still in the 30-40 range I saw an improvement of about 1.5-2MPG not too shabby. But now 6 weeks later the temps have been in the 50-70 range my mileage has jumped from 40 for my daily commute up to 45.6....I am quite happy.

[seminole90]

Have not gotten my brake update done yet so I cannot say if it will have any affect on my mpg. I have seen great improvement in my mpg since the weather has warmed up. Have been averaging between 45-50 mpg.

[spacenomyous]

Have not gotten my brake update done yet so I cannot say if it will have any affect on my mpg. I have seen great improvement in my mpg since the weather has warmed up. Have been averaging between 45-50 mpg.

 

Are you sure you're not getting better gas mileage simply because the heat isn't on? One of the things I noticed is I can get much better gas mileage in the colder weather when I drive without the heat on; especially since your cabin heat comes from your engine.

 

"Smarter climate control system monitors cabin temperature and only runs the gas engine as needed to heat the cabin;" - direct quote from FFH brochure.

 

This has taken me to calling the Climate On / Off button my "Economy mode". When I'm in a parking lot or circling the block I'll turn off the climate and stay in EV mode much longer.

[acdii]

Wow looks like some of you are getting near Prius numbers for MPG.

[jerrieric]

I've been average 42+ for the past 1,500 miles. :happy feet:

[Grayson]

I took my 2010 Fusion Hybrid to Elmhurst Ford in Elmhurst IL for the "brake campaign recall" and they say they were unable to apply the update. They may have the car for up to 2 weeks tearing it apart and replacing transmission parts. The car has between 3000-4000 miles on it. I put off taking it in for the recall because I wanted the mechanics to have some experience on it first. Anyone else have a similar problem? I am worried about the car sitting there while they are waiting for parts. We have had thunder storms with hail in the area for the last few weeks.

[lolder]

The brake software update is a 30 minute job. I don't think they do a TSB on an earlier harness reroute anymore. That was fixed by the software. Something's fishy.

Edited June 26, 2010 by lolder

[Grayson]

The brake software update is a 30 minute job. I don't think they do a TSB on an earlier harness reroute anymore. That was fixed by the software. Something's fishy.

I know. They said the software update failed and they talked to the factory. The factory is sending parts to replace in the transmission. I just hope I still have a new car when they are finished. I should have never taken the car in.

[lolder]

I know. They said the software update failed and they talked to the factory. The factory is sending parts to replace in the transmission. I just hope I still have a new car when they are finished. I should have never taken the car in.

No, the software update was a good thing. Let us know the outcome.

[Grayson]

No, the software update was a good thing. Let us know the outcome.

Thanks for the encouragement. I will keep you posted.

[Grayson]

Thanks for the encouragement. I will keep you posted.

Got my car back and everything seems to be OK. I went to the dealer early yesterday morning (6/28/2010) to get some things out of the Fusion that we didn't want sitting there for a couple of weeks. I asked if I could have access to the car and was told it was out for testing. I asked how long has it been gone and was told that they don't keep track of when a car is taken out. They said just wait in the waiting room and we will call you when it comes in. I wanted to see who was driving it, so I went outside and watched for it. Seems like I walked around checking all the entrances for about 30 minutes before it showed up. I went up to the mechanic that got out and told him that is my car and asked him how is it running. He said he applied the software update first thing when he got to work and everything is fine. He didn't tell me much more then that. I think the guys that worked on it last week didn't know what they were doing. We are taking it on a 400 mile trip this weekend. You let you know it we have to call for a tow.

PS: I will stop by the dealer in the next few days and see if I can get some more detailed information about the initial problem.

Edited June 30, 2010 by Grayson

[lolder]

It has been said by some sage posters here that the Achilles heel of this vehicle might turn out to be Ford's inability to service it. I think some of the dealers are definitely behind on the learning curve.