Ford Focus towing question

[georgelesley]

Going over the protocol for setting our 2014 Ford Focus SE up for towing. The owners manual gives clear, good instructions except it is not mentioned whether the ignition key should be removed or not at the end of the preparation.

What is the right answer from those that already tow a Focus?

[derh20]

We have a 2012 Focus automatic and have towed it over 30,000 miles. Everything you read about the transmission has been true for us. We have had it in the shop twice to repair the clutches. On our year, you do need to disconnect the battery. Roadmaster installed a solenoid connect/disconnect button. Flip it one way to tow, the other way to drive. On our model the key will not come out when placed in the proper position. I lock the doors before disconnecting the battery, shut the door and then use the extra key to lock/unlock the driver's door. Of course all other doors will be locked, so store the stuff you need in the front seats.

[georgelesley]

Snowman9000 wrote:
Go to the irv2.com forum's dinghy section and find the long thread on the 2014 Focus battery disconnect. There are wrong and right, and easy and hard, ways to do it. It's worth buying a little bit of hardware to do it right and easy IMO.

Be sure to use diodes to prevent any back feeding of current.

[Dr_Jay]

I agree with the auto transmission problem the Focus has, and depreciation is bad. However, I bought a 2012 manual, 5-speed tranny Focus S hold over in 2013 for a good price. I have had no problems whatsoever with this car in the over 3 & 3/4 years I have owned it and drove it 40000 miles and towed it an additional 15000 miles without a problem other than one tire blow out while it was towed ( no damage to the car at all). All I have done to date is normal every 5k maintenance and replaced a tire. Guess what I am saying is the manual transmission version of the Focus seems to be trouble free.

[Snowman9000]

Go to the irv2.com forum's dinghy section and find the long thread on the 2014 Focus battery disconnect. There are wrong and right, and easy and hard, ways to do it. It's worth buying a little bit of hardware to do it right and easy IMO.

[georgelesley]

RURBAN1185 wrote:
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?

We installed a battery disconnect switch. Simple. You will lose any presets and have to reset the clock.

[Snowman9000]

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

[moisheh]

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

[RURBAN1185]

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?

[georgelesley]

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.

[moisheh]

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

Moisheh

[georgelesley]

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.

[RURBAN1185]

Is your 2014 Ford Focus and automatic?

[georgelesley]

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.

[Stoney]

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