Neutral tow mode - HELP!

[bobhardy3]

I look forward to a permanent resolution! Thank you to everyone offering recommendations!

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[Johnkn]

I look forward to a permanent resolution! Thank you to everyone offering recommendations!

This might make your life a little easier for the remainder of your trip.

good luck....

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[DogsLoveTrucks]

I disconnected the positive connection for 10-15 minutes. Reattached and viola - fixed! It really is nuts! I had tried this earlier with the nrgative terminal for a minute and it didn't work. The positive removal for 10-15 minutes worked!

As I am half through our 2 month trip, I wasn't looking forward to finding a dealer at every other stop. I get one full tow day and the second tow - it fails coming out of tow mode. Best of luck

is the battery under the driver’s seat? The manual isn’t clear on how to disconnect it.

I tried the positive connection under the hood but that didn’t do anything

 

[KathyG]

is the battery under the driver’s seat? The manual isn’t clear on how to disconnect it.

I tried the positive connection under the hood but that didn’t do anything

Battery is under rear seat. Easy access.
Post in Engine compartment for jump start.
You should ground to chassis when jump starting.

 

[swtiming8]

I look forward to a permanent resolution! Thank you to everyone offering recommendations!

is the battery under the driver’s seat? The manual isn’t clear on how to disconnect it.

I tried the positive connection under the hood but that didn’t do anything

is the battery under the driver’s seat? The manual isn’t clear on how to disconnect it.

I tried the positive connection under the hood but that didn’t do anything

This might make your life a little easier for the remainder of your trip.

good luck....

.

john can I ask where you purchased this disconnect

 

[Johnkn]

I didn't purchase it, it's a representative example available on Amazon and probably most auto parts stores..... I thought it might help the OP on his trip so he doesn't have to continually physically disconnect his battery cable while traveling...




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[bobhardy3]

Sorry for the late reply. The battery is under the rear seat under a plastic cover. Easy to disconnect. Will possibly install a selector switch I use on boats!

 

[DogsLoveTrucks]

Sorry for the late reply. The battery is under the rear seat under a plastic cover. Easy to disconnect. Will possibly install a selector switch I use on boats!

It worked! I disconnected the negative and positive terminals just to be safe. Waited 15 minutes and tow mode disabled. THANK YOU to this forum. Please update with what Ford suggests for a long term fix.

 

[Twinboat]

It just happened to me, can drive but dash says Tow Mode. Called Ford dealer and he read me the instructions from the manual.

I'm going out to disconnect the battery for 15 minutes and hope for a fix.

 

[bobhardy3]

I hear you. The book procedure does squat. The 2 dealers on my trip reset the ICP. I read a comment regarding disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes and it worked. With the ICP resets, I could tow once and it worked correctly. The second tow - it wouldn't come out of Neutral tow mode correctly. Hope the battery trick works for ya!

 

[Twinboat]

Battery cable removal for 15 minutes worked. Tried Neutrel Tow once and it worked. I'll know more when I start towing it for 6 months.
Amazon has a remote controlled disconnect for $30.
I also open a case with Ford to see if they have a fix.

 

[bobhardy3]

Battery cable removal for 15 minutes worked. Tried Neutrel Tow once and it worked. I'll know more when I start towing it for 6 months.
Amazon has a remote controlled disconnect for $30.
I also open a case with Ford to see if they have a fix.

I like the idea of a remote control disconnect. I believe I have a case # as well. On my 2nd stop and working properly so far.

 

[captdchu]

just happened to me... finally got my setup all dialed in... two days of testing and trial tows, no issues in and out of tow mode then this morning bam! stuck in tow mode. Gonna try the battery disconnect and see if that resets it... hope ford is listening and have a solution soon.

2023 Hybrid XLT, lux and copilot360. One month old.

Side note, on the XLT, accessory mode (first click of key) doesnt do anything, have to go to system on (second click of key) in order to access menus.

 

[GPSMan]

I like the idea of a remote control disconnect. I believe I have a case # as well. On my 2nd stop and working properly so far.

You should only disconnect the battery in an emergency. And it sounds like this is. I've read a lot of posts, and there's not a lot of options here.

But disconnecting the battery comes with some undesirable side effects. You can lose certain types of stored memory and settings. I don't have the full list.

Things like:
12v battery state of health
Engine fuel trim (maybe ethanol % setting stored)
Altitude (from barometric pressure) so the engine knows correct A/F ratio at startup.

Sure, it will re-learn these things. But if you "reset" your battery in the mountains, it probably "resets" to sea-level, and you'll run rich for the first few minutes.

Do what you have to do.
But do it only as needed.

 

[Twinboat]

You should only disconnect the battery in an emergency. And it sounds like this is. I've read a lot of posts, and there's not a lot of options here.

But disconnecting the battery comes with some undesirable side effects. You can lose certain types of stored memory and settings. I don't have the full list.

Things like:
12v battery state of health
Engine fuel trim (maybe ethanol % setting stored)
Altitude (from barometric pressure) so the engine knows correct A/F ratio at startup.

Sure, it will re-learn these things. But if you "reset" your battery in the mountains, it probably "resets" to sea-level, and you'll run rich for the first few minutes.

Do what you have to do.
But do it only as needed.

Agree that its not to be used all of the time. The truck can be driven while displaying Neutral Tow but it disables it and you can't tow it again until you reset it with battery disconnect.

Funny thing is my radio didn't loose its presets, even after 20 minutes.

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