Ford Focus towing question

After I hitch the car and make all the safety cable, electrical and break away cable connections to my 2012 Focus manual transmission car. I drop it in neutral, release brakes and leave the ignition switch in the OFF position and put the keys in my pocket. That is all I need to do. Hope this helps.

On my 2014 Ford Focus the key may be removed after the battery is disconnected.

Stoney wrote:
On my 2014 Ford Focus the key may be removed after the battery is disconnected.

Thanks. That seemed logical to me as well since it is not a mechanical steering lock but electrical.

Is your 2014 Ford Focus and automatic?

RURBAN1185 wrote:
Is your 2014 Ford Focus and automatic?

Yes it is considered an automatic, but really is a dual clutch manual with automatic computer shifting. Sounds complicated, but shifts just like an automatic.

The transmission in a Focus is problematic. Do a Google and be prepared for a lot of reading.

Moisheh

moisheh wrote:
The transmission in a Focus is problematic. Do a Google and be prepared for a lot of reading.

Moisheh

Ours was until Ford replaced the clutch pack. Now no worries. Our experience has been to drive it normally and allow the clutches to wear in for the first 1000 miles as the book calls for. Ours was a rental car and as such most likely did not have a proper breakin procedure. We followed the proper procedure and it now runs fine.

I am planning on getting a used 2015 Ford Focus automatic, has anybody had problems towing an automatic? Do you have to disconnect the battery when you tow it and if so is there another way of dealing with that instead of always disconnecting it?

The Focus should be the # 1 selling toad. It is comfortable, lightweight, inexpensive and gets good MPG. But if you look at the depreciated prices of late model units you will quickly see that people are dumping them en mass. Too many problems. It MAY be that the newer units are better. Ford does make a lot of excuses for the shortfalls. A Ford dealer showed me a plasticized cheat sheet that lists the excuses. Mostly it involves delaying the inevitable: a new tranny. You will be told they are awaiting a software update, you need a yet to be designed new clutch pack, this is not a hydraulic auto transmission and have to learn how to drive it. There is more. The reality is you will be stuck with a vehicle that is depreciating quickly. No thanks. But it is tempting. A used CRV is a much better choice.

Moisheh

You can remove the key. The steering wheel does not lock on your Focus.