2014 Ford Focus auto transmission
Anyone towing a 2014 auto transmission focus,book says its towable,but want to make sure before I make the investment, if you have one what's the tow procedures?
Forum Discussion
We literally picked up our 2014 Focus from the RV dealer yesterday after being converted for flat tow. Our experience so far has been a 50 mile trip to bring it back home. We went with Road Master all the way except for the marine battery disconnect switch we had our Ford dealer install for us. Turning a knob is far easier than using a wrench, any a loose cable does not exist that might accidentally make another ground connection.
Disconnecting the battery also resets the clock, but the radio stations and phone are still there. The Ford dealer also mentioned that the transmission, computer, takes about 5,000 miles to completely learn how you drive so it can shift smoothly. No problem, but it might double clutch or be a little choppy for the first few miles, it does improve quickly.
The "problem" with the focus transmission is relatively simple. The focus is available with a 6 speed manual transmission and a 6 speed automatic transmission. Most front wheel cars with auto transmission can never be towed because you can't really put them in neutral, and even in neutral the gears still turn which burns them up.
The Focus auto tranny is actually their manual tranny with a computer system that senses things like road speed and engine speed to determine what gear you should be in and then under computer control engages a two level clutching system to remain in the proper gear. If there is battery power to that computer system it will try to change gears while being towed, sensing road speed.
If you decide on the Focus, and we just picked our up after having a Road Master towing system installed, double check the battery connection when you pick up the converted car. All you have to do is try to blow the horn!
We had a minor problem with ours because the RV dealer had never done a Focus with that battery situation. The Road Master Even Brake system requires that it be plugged into the battery power outlet. We had a parallel power outlet installed which was powered by the motor home. The technician made a mistake and attached the parallel power outlet to a metal part under the dash which of course made a connection for the car battery. All he had to do was unscrew it from the metal part of the frame and move it the "plastic" of the dash covering near the hood release. Again, we tested it during orientation by trying to blow the horn once hooked up. Works fine now.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I also Subscribed to get Email notices on this thread.
Disconnecting the battery also resets the clock, but the radio stations and phone are still there. The Ford dealer also mentioned that the transmission, computer, takes about 5,000 miles to completely learn how you drive so it can shift smoothly. No problem, but it might double clutch or be a little choppy for the first few miles, it does improve quickly.
The "problem" with the focus transmission is relatively simple. The focus is available with a 6 speed manual transmission and a 6 speed automatic transmission. Most front wheel cars with auto transmission can never be towed because you can't really put them in neutral, and even in neutral the gears still turn which burns them up.
The Focus auto tranny is actually their manual tranny with a computer system that senses things like road speed and engine speed to determine what gear you should be in and then under computer control engages a two level clutching system to remain in the proper gear. If there is battery power to that computer system it will try to change gears while being towed, sensing road speed.
If you decide on the Focus, and we just picked our up after having a Road Master towing system installed, double check the battery connection when you pick up the converted car. All you have to do is try to blow the horn!
We had a minor problem with ours because the RV dealer had never done a Focus with that battery situation. The Road Master Even Brake system requires that it be plugged into the battery power outlet. We had a parallel power outlet installed which was powered by the motor home. The technician made a mistake and attached the parallel power outlet to a metal part under the dash which of course made a connection for the car battery. All he had to do was unscrew it from the metal part of the frame and move it the "plastic" of the dash covering near the hood release. Again, we tested it during orientation by trying to blow the horn once hooked up. Works fine now.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I also Subscribed to get Email notices on this thread.
