2013 MKZ Hybrid electrical failure

[Jimflutes]

tcsdoc, I feel as though a member of our family came home from the hospital. Best of luck from here on out,check in now and then. Jim

 

[tcsdoc]

Serraph: what is a lifetime reset? Google wasn't my friend on this.
Is there a cost for this? What are the advantages?

 

[Serraph]

Serraph: what is a lifetime reset? Google wasn't my friend on this.
Is there a cost for this? What are the advantages?

There is no cost to it, basically the car is still in the break in period and will not be at it's peak performance as far as mpg. From what I've read it's about 2-3k miles before you want to reset everything. Once you do, it will give you a better understanding and proper indicator of your true mpg.

Go to Display->Lifetime Summary-> and from there hold ok to reset.

 

[MKZLover]

BTW, all of the error codes will stop once a new stack is installed, happened on mine the same way, however, my stack console got to my dealership within a few days Not weeks.

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[mcsey2k1]

tscdoc, Happy you finally got your MKZ back; I know you must be happy. I hope the bad and unfortunate month you had, that the next couple of years in your MKZ will make it up. I can envision you and your MKZ doing the slow motion embrace after not seeing each other for ahile. Well, I'll let you go now, I know the both of you want to be alone

Happy MPGs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jimflutes]

tscdoc, So now is the problem fixed? Jim

 

[tcsdoc]

So far, the car is doing great. Driving to Orlando this weekend so that will be the big test.

 

[mcsey2k1]

tcsdoc - Glad to hear that your MKZ is still going with out any issues. Yes, driving to Orlando will be a good test, though if you already live in Orlando it wouldn't be much of a test Have a safe and enjoyable drive.

Happy MPGs!!!!!!!!!!

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[LapofLincoln]

tcsdoc, I just e-mailed a friend of my family that works for a big Lincoln dealership in New Jersey, asking if he knew of any reports of this problem,so I am waiting for his answer. I will be getting up to my dealer,that has my car on order,to see if they know anything. You know,I would REALLY feel great if Lincoln took the car back and gave you another,wouldn't this be a confidence builder for all prospective customers,let alone all of us who have one,or like I,am waiting for the order? OK,maybe I am dreaming,but ,to me ,after all you have been through,it would be the right thing to do. We are with you,keep positive, Jim

I totally agree with your statement, Jimflutes. Lincoln's reputation is on the line. How they handle a situation like this will speak very loudly to their credibility.
Lincoln Motor Co. needs to do the right thing, indeed!

 

[tcsdoc]

Trip to Disneyland went well. Car is very comfortable and made the trip quite enjoyable. I'm very disappointed with the gas mileage. The trip is interstate all the way and I averaged 75mph. Unfortunately, my MKZ hybrid only averaged 34.8 mpg. While not bad for a luxury car, it falls well short of Lincoln's claim of 45mpg. There is no way this car is going to get 45mpg on the highway unless you drive less than 64mph. The battery will never engage at speeds over 63, turning the hybrid into a regular car. Most highways are rated at 65 so I guess this could make sense but interstate travel is never going to get you 45mpg.
On another front, my dealership called and asked me to bring in my car for a possible fuel tank leak (a recall?). I haven't done any research on this so I'll see how it turns out.

 

[MKZ_GA]

Trip to Disneyland went well. Car is very comfortable and made the trip quite enjoyable. I'm very disappointed with the gas mileage. The trip is interstate all the way and I averaged 75mph. Unfortunately, my MKZ hybrid only averaged 34.8 mpg. While not bad for a luxury car, it falls well short of Lincoln's claim of 45mpg. There is no way this car is going to get 45mpg on the highway unless you drive less than 64mph. The battery will never engage at speeds over 63, turning the hybrid into a regular car. Most highways are rated at 65 so I guess this could make sense but interstate travel is never going to get you 45mpg.
On another front, my dealership called and asked me to bring in my car for a possible fuel tank leak (a recall?). I haven't done any research on this so I'll see how it turns out.

When looking at the MKZ Hybrid, my salesman at the Lincoln Dealership mentioned the EPA claim for MPG was based on city/highway tests that may not reflect real world driving, but that all cars are tested exactly the same way. The MPG that the EPA assigned to the Lincoln Hybrid (45/45) reflected the parameters of the test. I decided to check the testing website on what the parameters of the test were.

City: Represents urban driving, in which a vehicle is started with the engine cold and driven in stop-and-go rush hour traffic. In looking at the test, the average speed in this test was listed as 21.2 MPH. The top speed in the test was 56 MPH.

The interesting part came in the highway portion...

Highway: Represents a mixture of rural and Interstate highway driving with a warmed-up engine, typical of longer trips in free-flowing traffic. In looking at the test, the average speed in this test was listed as 48.3 MPH. The top speed in the test was 60 MPH.

There are additional tests that they do to determine the affect of high speed driving, AC use and colder outside temperature driving - which seem to also be considered, but to a lesser degree.

High Speed: Represents city and highway driving at higher speeds with more aggressive acceleration and braking. In looking at what they call high speed driving, the average speed in this test was listed as 48.4 MPH. The top speed in this test was 80 MPH.

In all the tests, the conditions are simulated in a controlled environment. City and highway are listed with a max acceleration of 3.3 MPH per second, High speed was 8.46 MPH per second. I have no idea how to relate to those numbers.

Given the parameters of the EPA test, I can see how the 45/45 came about. I can also see how sustained 75+ MPH would result in a much lower MPG since that is not really considered in the test. It looks like you are getting a little better than the Eco-boost MKZ which is rated at 22/33 - which probably makes sense.

The EPA has set our expectations for the MKZ Hybrid a little high. My salesman did a good job in managing (lowering) my expectations up front which I appreciate. I don't have much of the sustained 75+ MPH driving, so I am seeing decent MPG. At 1,200 miles, the dash lifetime average is 41.5 MPG and the purchased gas calculation is just a hair over 41 MPG. Like you said, not bad for a luxury car!

 

[MKZLover]

I average about 41 mpg with a combo of highway and city driving. No, you can't drive at 75 MPH and expect to get 45 MPG especially with the air and other creature comforts going at the same time.

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[Charles]

Just finished a 200 mile run yesterday on I-75 from Ocala Fl to Macon Ga. Eco Cruise set on 75 mph the whole way. One stop for rest. Total mpg at 38.8 with 2500 miles on the car. Did a similar run last week for 150 miles on two lane roads with Eco Cruise switched between 60 and 70 mph. Several small towns required slowing down and stoping. Total mpg at 40.5 mpg. Currently 3000 miles on the car and lifetime at 40 mpg. It gets better as it breaks in.....

 

[Tennessee]

Purchased my MKZ Hybrid Halloween night, Stopped responding tonight!...

I totally agree with your statement, Jimflutes. Lincoln's reputation is on the line. How they handle a situation like this will speak very loudly to their credibility.
Lincoln Motor Co. needs to do the right thing, indeed!

I got on this site because our MKZ Hybrid is failing to respond to remote or manual start. My husband remote started it just find, but when he placed his foot on the brake to change the gear to back up, it went dead. We tried putting the key in the middle console, looking for a hidden key hole - Everything! I thought I might have activated a fail-safe after coming home from the grocery store. We called the dealership and they suggested we jump it off (My husband refuses to do anything that may void the warranty). After reading about your dilemma, I am now a bit scared. We were scheduled to take the car back to the dealership due to a broken window button on the front passenger side, but knowing my former Army-officer husband, he is going to demand a whole new vehicle. I am reluctant to tell him about your posts. I guess I better start looking into Tennessee's lemon law.

 

[tcsdoc]

I hate hearing about your electrical problem and hope my constant phone calls to the Lincoln rep will pay off in better response to Lincoln MKZ issues. The nightmare I endured over the electrical system should not be an issue as mine was one of the first cars to exhibit the problem and the stocking of consoles is much better now. The average ship time is measured in days, not weeks.
I went the route of demanding a new car and got nowhere. As I understand the lemon law, a single occurrence will not trigger a replacement vehicle, no matter how severe. Of course, it never hurts to try. Ask for a new vehicle and settle for a quickly repaired one. I kept my cool at the dealership and got to be friends with the service tech. I get first class treatment every time I go there. I don't get rental cars, they give me Lincolns off the lot. Very nice.
As my thread mentioned the gas mileage, I do want to take this opportunity to say how impressed I am with the software update put on the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The first time it was applied, the tech missed something and my mileage got worse. Their lead tech came in over the weekend and reprogrammed the car. (more benefits from being a calm, patient customer). Since the corrected software upgrade, I've made two trips to Orlando, FL from Mississippi and both trips yielded 42 mpg traveling at 75 mph (can't go faster as the FHP is everywhere on I10 and I75). As another reference point, I filled up in Orlando and made it to Milton, Fl with the computer showing 53 more miles left before E. Very nice results from a luxury car!

Overall, I'm very happy with Lincoln Hybrid and believe I will get another one in 2015.

 

[Tennessee]

Thank You for reminding me how wonderful this vehicle is.

I hate hearing about your electrical problem and hope my constant phone calls to the Lincoln rep will pay off in better response to Lincoln MKZ issues. The nightmare I endured over the electrical system should not be an issue as mine was one of the first cars to exhibit the problem and the stocking of consoles is much better now. The average ship time is measured in days, not weeks.
I went the route of demanding a new car and got nowhere. As I understand the lemon law, a single occurrence will not trigger a replacement vehicle, no matter how severe. Of course, it never hurts to try. Ask for a new vehicle and settle for a quickly repaired one. I kept my cool at the dealership and got to be friends with the service tech. I get first class treatment every time I go there. I don't get rental cars, they give me Lincolns off the lot. Very nice.
As my thread mentioned the gas mileage, I do want to take this opportunity to say how impressed I am with the software update put on the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The first time it was applied, the tech missed something and my mileage got worse. Their lead tech came in over the weekend and reprogrammed the car. (more benefits from being a calm, patient customer). Since the corrected software upgrade, I've made two trips to Orlando, FL from Mississippi and both trips yielded 42 mpg traveling at 75 mph (can't go faster as the FHP is everywhere on I10 and I75). As another reference point, I filled up in Orlando and made it to Milton, Fl with the computer showing 53 more miles left before E. Very nice results from a luxury car!

Overall, I'm very happy with Lincoln Hybrid and believe I will get another one in 2015.

My husband and I am accustomed to driving a vehicle until it has little life left and then we just give it away to charity for auction. I say that to explain that we haven't gone through the new car purchase process since we ordered our Truck in 2003. It was difficult for us to accept that we had gone into the process so well prepared and ended up with a problematic vehicle. I admit, although I had to calm my husband concerning the situation, I did not have the most positive attitude.

The bottom line is, we believe it to be a good car. We know this from all of the research we did before making the purchase. We received a call from the service manager and it seems our vehicle had a bad battery. Of course, I will be requesting a copy of the diagnostic. The owner of the dealership and the service manager have both contacted us and have pledged to address all of our issues. And you are correct, it is much better to develop a positive relationship with the dealership, especially since they will provide our service (lifetime power train warranty).

Thanks again

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