[NorthSouth]

Hi. 2005 FEH, bought used in Canada 1 yr ago, now with about 70,000 kM on the clock. I already had and fixed the MECS pump problem last spring the first time I saw "stop safely now." I am writing from the southern coast of Mexico, in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca where I might have the only Ford Hybrid for 1000 miles. Today, Christmas, I was driving the highway (bad Mexican highway) about 80kph (50 mph) as I came to a poorly marked, very deep washout, and couldn't swerve left around it as I was being passed by two small trucks. I hit the far side of the washout very hard, such that the right front rim was bent about 3 inches back, the tire was immediately flat, and the frame or other components were bent enough that the fender now conflicts with the passenger door opening. Besides all that the mechanism that lowers the spare is rusted to inoperability (thanks, Canadian salt). And most germane to this forum, and most seriously, I get "stop safely now" and nothing else from the dashboard. I know of the hydraulic regenerative brake issues discussed elsewhere and the prohibitive expense of replacing the the brake system's hydraulic control unit ("HCU"). I need to find out if I have such a big problem that it isn't worth fixing this car here, where mechanics are cheap, but know nothing about hybrids, and don't speak English while I speak only a little Spanish. Or somehow hauling it to Texas, where mechanics won't be cheap. I tried briefly disconnecting the 12V battery to see if it would clear it. Nope, though the hydraulics dd make some of the usual noises as it powered back up.

Has anyone had this sort of problem? I am hoping it might just be a wheel velocity sensor or some such easily replaceable part. I have an old code reader that cannot read the hybrid codes but maybe I can find a scan tool around town. Any help appreciated.

NorthSouth

 

[NorthSouth]

Thanks for that, a relief. I will try to get the codes tomorrow one way or another (maybe buy a scan tool) and post them here.

 

[NorthSouth]

Where are the inertia switches located? Thanks!

 

[NorthSouth]

Never mind...actually in the manual. One by the passenger's right knee under a panel, the other behind the jack door.

 

[NorthSouth]

I never found the battery cutoff inertial switch but reset the front one by the passenger's right knee and the motor started, so that seems very good indeed. Now the car is being towed to a Ford dealer 5 hours from here for repairs by the insurance co. We will see how this works out, probably in a couple weeks.