My wife’s c-max got Polar Vortexed

"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535) 01/30/2019 at 17:37 • Filed to: None

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Anyone have any solutions for me?

My wife’s 2013 Ford C-Max’s battery died in the past day and the hood release lever on the inside isn’t working so I can’t  jump it or change the battery.

The hood release lever has a quite a bit of tension so I don’t think it’s snapped. Anyone have any recommendations for getting the hood on a 2013 C-Max open? I see a little bolt in the middle of the lever I’m wondering if I remove it if I could pull it further.

Also if my wife’s battery died in the -25 weather is this a sign that it was on its way out and should be replaced or once we are past this stretch of hell will it work again like normal?

MM54 > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 17:47

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Can you push/pull/roll it inside to thaw out? The release cable may just be frozen.

HammerheadFistpunch > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 17:54

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I had to deal with this recently on a neighbors corolla. I think I ended up breaking the cable getting it to release but we got the battery charged up!

Whats interesting about lead acid batteries is that if they are depleted and subject to very cold temps they can actually crack, so check for that!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > MM54 01/30/2019 at 17:57

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I don’t think I could easily get it inside and our garage is not attached so it’s not appreciably warmer than outside. I could try

I was think the latch under the hood  might be frozen. I have seen people online recommending to have a friend pull/ jiggle the hood as the cable is pulled but unfortunately I’m solo right now.

MM54 > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 17:58

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Maybe sort of bang on the hood a bit (don’t like... dent it) to break up the ice? Going to be tough to do it solo in the very-cold.

facw > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 17:59

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Might be worth trying with two people? One person pulls the release and the other tries to lift the hood (it may be releasing, but not popping, so as soon as you release the release, it re latches).

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 18:00

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Put a heater under the engine or direct hot air flow under the front of the car for a few hours, just hang a bunch of moving blankets over the car to keep the heat in. I should eventually reach temps to start, then leave it running until shit thaws out.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > facw 01/30/2019 at 18:02

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Yeah; I think that’s the next step but I’m solo right now and my wife gets home at 9. So I was hoping for some ideas until then. Thanks!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > MM54 01/30/2019 at 18:03

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I did try banging on it and jiggling and then lifting but no luck. Thanks!

facw > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 18:04

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I mention it because my old car use to do that (though not just in the cold). I eventually just started jamming my key fob in the trunk release to hold it open while I went around to the hood. Worked well except the one time it slipped inside the dash .

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 18:04

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Be extremely careful as plastic bits tend to shatter when it’s really cold. It might be better to just let it sit if use of the car is not critical.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/30/2019 at 18:05

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That’s not a bad idea and the heat actually might help the hood release. As I’m guessing the latch is just frozen.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 18:06

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Any way you cut it, -25 is unrealisticly cold for a car to start without an engine block heater; let alone if it’s a hybrid. I don’t know anything about the C-Max, but since it’s a conventional hybrid (right?) i’d t hink it would have a 12v battery for starting and car things in conjunction with the batteries used for driving. I’d think, at least.

Anyway, heat gun the latch, then see what’s up.   

Tekamul > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 18:08

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If you have the time, instead of jumping it, you could trickle charge it (assuming you have one) through the 12V socket. You would need to sacrifice something with a 12V plunger, but there is no diode protection there, it goes straight to the battery through a fuse, so a trickle charger will still charge the battery. You just can’t provide enough power for anything like jumping.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > HammerheadFistpunch 01/30/2019 at 18:32

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Both a broken cable and a cracked battery sound no fun. 

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 01/30/2019 at 18:33

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Yeah, it has a standard 12v for starting and some of the other electronics. Heat gun will be the next step if getting a partner to pull up on it while I pull the latch doesn't work.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 01/30/2019 at 18:34

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True on the plastics, I Pulled  fairly carefully and smoothly to avoid any issues.

RutRut > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 01/30/2019 at 18:48

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-25 is not unrealistically cold. Almost every new car is validated to -40(C or F, your choice) during development and should start. That being said, sub-optimal battery condition will make a big hit in that performance.

Khalbali > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 18:58

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Dunno about the C-max but my mom's Kia Niro hybrid can jump the 12v battery from the hybrid batteries and still start, maybe check the manual?

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 19:50

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If it’s 6 years old, probably close to a new one.

Dumb question are you sure is the battery in the front?

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 01/30/2019 at 20:40

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Not dumb; apparently very smart. I’m the dumb one. Yup it is in the back.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/30/2019 at 21:59

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Lots of GMs had this too, as did my old Audi.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/30/2019 at 22:39

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I had a bmw once that had it under the rear seat bottom. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/31/2019 at 06:21

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flame thrower

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/31/2019 at 07:27

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Yeah, had similar issues with an older caddy we used to have, when it would dip a bit below freezing, the latch would freeze up, as it warmed up, no issues.  I sprayed a bunch of silicone spray in it once it was opened and that seemed to help after the initial freeze up.  But a heater and blankets is a great idea if you can set it up.