Flat Towing Hybrid - The Right Instructions

[mdegive]

Ford's Instructions for Flat Towing are not correct, follow these instead:

• Insert key and turn to 2nd position.
• Set Display Menu to Settings (car displayed)
  using up/down arrow on steering wheel
• Push Menu button on steering wheel
• Select Vehicle Settings
• Select Neutral Tow
• Hold OK to Enable
• Press Brake Pedal
• Shift into Neutral
• Parking brake should be Off
• Switch ignition off but keep key in

To turn off Neutral Tow

• Insert key and turn to 2nd position.
• Press Brake Pedal
• Shift into Park

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[Dad]

Do you have a source?
Do you have any information if the directions for the Lariat with the Push start ignition are incorrect?

 

[Donald]

Ford's Instructions for Flat Towing are not correct, follow these instead:

• Insert key and turn to 2nd position.
• Set Display Menu to Settings (car displayed)
  using up/down arrow on steering wheel
• Push Menu button on steering wheel
• Select Vehicle Settings
• Select Neutral Tow
• Hold OK to Enable
• Press Brake Pedal
• Shift into Neutral
• Parking brake should be Off
• Switch ignition off but keep key in

To turn off Neutral Tow

• Insert key and turn to 2nd position.
• Press Brake Pedal
• Shift into Park

How is this different?

 

[mdegive]

nope, but it should be very similar.

 

[MAVRICK]

Ford's Instructions for Flat Towing are not correct, follow these instead:

• Insert key and turn to 2nd position.
• Set Display Menu to Settings (car displayed)
  using up/down arrow on steering wheel
• Push Menu button on steering wheel
• Select Vehicle Settings
• Select Neutral Tow
• Hold OK to Enable
• Press Brake Pedal
• Shift into Neutral
• Parking brake should be Off
• Switch ignition off but keep key in

To turn off Neutral Tow

• Insert key and turn to 2nd position.
• Press Brake Pedal
• Shift into Park

For a Hybrid ... assume vehicle is in the "P" [Parked] position on the rotary shift dial and the vehicle is completely dead [no power anywhere and you don't have a portable jump starter to power boost the 12V battery] ... how do you shift the vehicle into "N" [Neutral] so that it can be rolled out of a compromised situation? - say it is dead on a busy road and it needs to be pushed/ moved to a safer location.

 

[GPSMan]

For a Hybrid ... assume vehicle is in the "P" [Parked] position on the rotary shift dial and the vehicle is completely dead [no power anywhere and you don't have a portable jump starter to power boost the 12V battery] ... how do you shift the vehicle into "N" [Neutral] so that it can be rolled out of a compromised situation? - say it is dead on a busy road and it needs to be pushed/ moved to a safer location.

As far as I can tell you can't.

Power is needed to change gear select position.

Power is needed to apply and perhaps also remove the parking brake.

You'll need a donor vehicle or donor battery box. Remember this.

 

[Palms]

This just happened to me yesterday when unhooked from MH after 88 mile trip on tow mode. Shift knob blinking in P and parking brake set. Today tried 2 jump boxes, jump start from my other car, 2 different chargers. Had to be towed with front wheels up and rears on a dolly device to selling dealer. They called me to authorize a $229 charge to diagnose in case not under warranty. Purchased April 13, 2023 and has less than 1,000 miles. Scared with what dealer will say and that it could happen again when we’ve towed it on a future trip to a less favorable location. Maybe time to think of alternative after paying $40,748.62 and over $3,000 more in tow plate and other accessories (see full listing in my signature). Not at all a happy camper.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

For a Hybrid ... assume vehicle is in the "P" [Parked] position on the rotary shift dial and the vehicle is completely dead [no power anywhere and you don't have a portable jump starter to power boost the 12V battery] ... how do you shift the vehicle into "N" [Neutral] so that it can be rolled out of a compromised situation? - say it is dead on a busy road and it needs to be pushed/ moved to a safer location.

Have you checked the manual?

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/need-help-with-shifting-with-a-dead-battery.16130/

 

[GPSMan]

Yes.

No battery = no freewheel.
Looks like hybrids and some Eco need to be towed on a flatbed only.

For Eco it says "Pull the manual release cable to get out of Park IF SO EQUIPPED".

So maybe only some variants can do this. Maybe only FX4 for example.

 

[TheWizziard]

Have you checked the manual?

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/need-help-with-shifting-with-a-dead-battery.16130/

The above link is for the 2.0 EcoBoost with an automatic transmission.
I am assuming that since the OP wants to flat tow, he has a hybrid.
The Maverick Hybrid does not have a manual park release tether in the center console.

 

[MAVRICK]

Have you checked the manual?

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/need-help-with-shifting-with-a-dead-battery.16130/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...ing-a-dead-hybrid-maverick.32037/#post-582832

 

[GPSMan]

The above link is for the 2.0 EcoBoost with an automatic transmission.
I am assuming that since the OP wants to flat tow, he has a hybrid.
The Maverick Hybrid does not have a manual park release tether in the center console.

EcoBoost owners say they are the same.

Note the "manual" says pull tether if so equipped.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

The above link is for the 2.0 EcoBoost with an automatic transmission.
I am assuming that since the OP wants to flat tow, he has a hybrid.
The Maverick Hybrid does not have a manual park release tether in the center console.

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...ing-a-dead-hybrid-maverick.32037/#post-582832

DOH! My bad!

Thanks for the correction, I was wrong. Good to know!

 

[AutobahnSHO]

Yes.

No battery = no freewheel.
Looks like hybrids and some Eco need to be towed on a flatbed only.

For Eco it says "Pull the manual release cable to get out of Park IF SO EQUIPPED".

So maybe only some variants can do this. Maybe only FX4 for example.

Wait, the hybrid could be towed with front wheels up (brake off), right? There isn't any drivetrain hooked to the back wheels.

 

[GPSMan]

Wait, the hybrid could be towed with front wheels up (brake off), right? There isn't any drivetrain hooked to the back wheels.

Yes, and no. Maybe.

There is also an electric parking brake.
No power, maybe no brake release, which I assume would lock up all 4 tires but have never been in a position to try it.

Like I said elsewhere, worst case scenario, tow on a flatbed or lift the front, put a dolly on rear end.

Tow trucks know what to do.
The individual is going to be stuck tho.

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