charles
Ohio
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Joined: 08/11/2002
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Just a thought, did you place your transmission in neutral with the ignition in the ON position before you disconnected the negative cable or after you disconnected it?
Nick
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DouglasC
Summerdale, AL
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Joined: 04/03/2005
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The transmission lever was moved to the "Neutral" position with the key in the "on" position. The only way that the transmission lever can be moved out of "Park" is with the key in the "on" position and the brake pedal depressed. After the transmission lever was moved to "Neutral", I turned the key to the "off" position and then disconnected the battery - - the same process that I followed everytime I towed my Focus.
Doug
2006 Jayco Greyhawk Model 27DS
Towing 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid with Brake Buddy
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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Richert wrote:I just talked with Ford customer service at 1-800-392.ford there are no changes for the Focus yet. From my experience, I almost think that Ford outsources their customer service and those guys know nothing but what the manual says, and they don't even know that the supplement to the manual is about.
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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DouglasCraw wrote:I will look for a replacement vehicle that I know can be towed 4 wheels down without any problems - probably a Ford Fusion Hybid - as my vehicle previous to the Focus was a Mercury Mariner Hybird which I towed for over 20,000 miles without a problem.
The latest issue of Family Motor Coaching (FMCA) has a article about the 2012 Excape Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid with the eCVT transmission being okay to tow 4 down.
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DouglasC
Summerdale, AL
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wny_pat wrote:DouglasCraw wrote:I will look for a replacement vehicle that I know can be towed 4 wheels down without any problems - probably a Ford Fusion Hybid - as my vehicle previous to the Focus was a Mercury Mariner Hybird which I towed for over 20,000 miles without a problem.
The latest issue of Family Motor Coaching (FMCA) has a article about the 2012 Excape Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid with the eCVT transmission being okay to tow 4 down.
And the great thing about towing an Escape or Fusion Hybrid is that you don't have to disconnect a battery cable or even remove any fuses. All you do is hook up the vehicle to your motorhome, put the transmission in Neutral, turn the key to the "off" position and you're ready to go. Too bad these hybrids are so expensive!
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the_armadillo
SE Texas
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Joined: 08/29/2011
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We've been towing a 2012 4wd Ford Escape Limited Hybrid and it makes a great toad. As stated above, hook up and go. DW loves it as her daily driver and it has more toys on it than the Lincoln she just gave up for it. It was expensive and not as efficient as some of the other newer hybrids, but at close to 30 mpg overall average for a 4wd small SUV, it hard to complain other than being the last of this breed.
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DouglasC
Summerdale, AL
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Another UPDATE: Well I did it! Sold my Focus and purchased a Ford Fusion Hybrid. With the 2013 Fusions on their way to dealers, I got $3,250 in rebates on a 2012 model. It cost me about $9,500 out of pocket to purchase a Fusion hybrid which had a sticker price about $7,200 higher than my Focus. All in all it cost me about $5,000 for the use of my Focus for a year (cost minus trade-in value) - plus the cost of the base plate and electrical wiring on the Focus - which I'll need to spend all over again on my new Fusion hybrid to get it ready to tow.
Not too bad a deal and now I know that I have a vehicle that can be towed 4 down without experiencing any problems!
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car nut
B.C Canada
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Joined: 08/26/2009
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Congrats on the new toad !! Sounds like a great deal.We just finished buying our Focus,while I really wanted the 6 speed auto,I'm glad now that we went with the standard trans.Simple to get ready to tow,and no worries..Had a standard trans Fusion a few years ago and it was a great toad.You will love your Hybrid.
2007 Triple e Commander
2011 F350
Lance Legend 500
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charles
Ohio
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I've decided to follow the owners manual 100%. I went out and timed the procedure. I removed both battery covers, took off the battery holding bracket with a 10mm socket, lifted slightly and slid the battery forward, loosened the negative cable at the terminal with the same socket, easily removed the cable and wrapped it in a piece of rubber as an extra precaution, slid the battery back, put the bracket back on and tightened. Just under 3 minutes, it's not that big of a deal to make sure everything is done according to the book. If I have a problem with the transmission I'll know that I followed the instructions and it's a Ford problem, if no problems, I'll assume it's from following the instructions.
Nick
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Rainman6
Canada
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Joined: 06/19/2011
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I met up with a guy last night and he was towing a 2012 Titanium same as mine. He said he had just put a thousand miles on this trip down through the Boston area up the east coast etc and indicated he had no problems so far. He was undoing the neg connection at the firewall as well and said that was the only way he had ever done it. I spoke with an installer for Blue Ox who said the only reason for the disconnect he was aware of was the dead battery issue in running the aux braking system not the transmission. I am taking mine in to the dealership and having them install a battery cutoff at the neg post at the battery so I will know its off as well. I am taking mine on a 3,000 mile trip at the end of July so I will keep you all posted as well.
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