Hybrid towing
Has anybody towed a Fusion hybrid either 4 down or on a dolly? I have a 2011 and can't decide which way to go. Thanks
Forum Discussion
DouglasC wrote:
I have towed a 2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid for almost 20,000 miles and now a 2012 Ford Fusion hybrid for over 5,000 miles. I always turn the key back as far as it will go after putting the transmission in Neutral. That key position is not ACC and will not cause the battery to drain. I have traveled for as long as 3 days (staying overnight in campgrounds with pull-thrus) with the key in the ignition and have never run the battery down - - nor have I ever had any problems with these vehicles by doing this.
No charge line is necessary when you turn the key all the way back towards off since you don't drain the battery. Also, when the key is not in the ACC or On/Start positions, the electric brake assist is not on and so when I used my Brake Buddy, there is minmal drain on the battery (only when the air resevoir needs to be refilled if the Brake Buddy actuates often - - which it almost never does the way I drive)......
Doug, the problem with this approach is, you are leaving everything turned off by putting the ignition in that 'in-between' position you refer to here. While that solves the battery charge issue and avoids the need for a charge line, it creates some potentially much bigger issues:
Ford specifically states in the owner's manual for fusion hybrids, to leave key in ACC position when flat towing it. We don't really know ALL the reasons why they say to do that. There could very well be some good reasons they want it in the ACC position, besides just to allow tranny to stay in neutral.
Just what electrical systems might Ford intend to stay powered up when towing these hybrids, that you are turning off with your approach?
These hybrid drivetrains are pretty complicated. There are several pieces to it that are powered electrically, that in a conventional drivetrain are powered mechanically, by the crankshaft. Sure hope you aren't turning one or two electrically powered components off thats going to cause some issues later on. Specifically, I really hope there's not an electrically powered transmission lube/cooling pump somewhere, that you are turning off and Ford intends to be on when towing.
I know you have a pretty long track record of using this method without any issues, which may well mean there's no harm being done. However, in the absence of any factual evidence from Ford on specifically why they say to put key in ACC position....I think I'm going to stick with (and recommend to other folks) doing it the way Ford recommends! :)
