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06-06-2019, 05:32 PM
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#1
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas
State: Colorado
Posts: 54
THOR #9249
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Start Ford Focus toad daily?
Taking off soon on our first trip towing a 2018 Ford Focus with our 2016 Vegas. As per the owners manual the negative battery cable needs to be disconnected (I plan to use a disconnect switch) before it is towed, and further states to start the car within 15 minutes of reconnecting the battery.
My question is that if we stop just for the night with no plans to use the car would I need to start it and let it run awhile anyway?
Thanks,
Steve
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06-06-2019, 05:52 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 22FE
State: New York
Posts: 373
THOR #5330
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Yes you need to start it and I have a question for you, Is your Focus a manual transmission? If it's automatic are you sure you can tow it 4-down? We towed a Focus but it was standard and Ford told us an automatic could not be towed.
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06-06-2019, 06:04 PM
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#3
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas
State: Colorado
Posts: 54
THOR #9249
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According to the owners manual it is. We got conflicting reports from Ford techs, both yes and no, but are going with what the manual suggests.
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06-06-2019, 07:01 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,362
THOR #7035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roadcouple
Taking off soon on our first trip towing a 2018 Ford Focus with our 2016 Vegas. As per the owners manual the negative battery cable needs to be disconnected (I plan to use a disconnect switch) before it is towed, and further states to start the car within 15 minutes of reconnecting the battery.
My question is that if we stop just for the night with no plans to use the car would I need to start it and let it run awhile anyway?
Thanks,
Steve
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No, there is no limit to how far you can flat tow the car so there would be no reason to start the car after an overnight stop. I assume you have the 2.0 liter Focus? Cuz you can't flat tow the 1.0 liter with "EcoBoost".
Always follow the owner's manual instructions unless you have written documentation otherwise from For's engineering department.
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Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
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06-06-2019, 09:59 PM
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#5
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas
State: Colorado
Posts: 54
THOR #9249
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Yep, 2L Focus. We checked Motorhome Magazine Toad Guide and owners manuals before any test drives.
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06-06-2019, 10:09 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,778
THOR #1469
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My daughter has a Focus and I know there are issues with transmission shift points for a while (about 15 - 30 minutes) after the battery is disconnected and then reconnected.
Also, the 2018 FMCA Towing guide says the 2018 Focus ST cannot be flat towed.
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Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
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06-06-2019, 10:22 PM
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#7
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas
State: Colorado
Posts: 54
THOR #9249
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Dave,
I have read about the issues your daughter has seen, like most vehicles today the engine is heavily computerized and it takes awhile for things to get "synced" again after low voltage is interrupted.
Has she had any other issues towing her Focus?
Ours is not the ST model, we are geezers and got the Titanium.
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06-07-2019, 01:06 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,778
THOR #1469
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roadcouple
Dave,
I have read about the issues your daughter has seen, like most vehicles today the engine is heavily computerized and it takes awhile for things to get "synced" again after low voltage is interrupted.
Has she had any other issues towing her Focus?
Ours is not the ST model, we are geezers and got the Titanium.
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A couple of times her car wouldn't even shift into gear for a few minutes after the battery was reconnected and the engine run. The first time this happened the car was towed back to the dealer where she and hubby received a lesson on the focus transmission's un-published features ( ). If not for AAA it would have been an expensive lesson.
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Dave
US Army (Ret)
2020 Entegra Accolade 37TS
2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk (Toad)
FMCA - F432054
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06-07-2019, 02:57 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,884
THOR #6826
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No need to disconnect the battery if you have a manual transmission Focus. Don’t need to unlock the steering wheel either as it doesn’t lock in the first place. Just put in neutral and release the parking brake and you’re good to go. It took me a while to find a nice manual Focus but I finally did and I like it a lot. My 2014 owners manual says both transmissions can be flat towed.
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06-07-2019, 03:53 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Allegro Open Road
State: Florida
Posts: 417
THOR #8069
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We have a 2017 Focus Titanium and dolly tow with no issues. Last year we did the flat tow with a 2018 Fiesta and that didnt go very well for us.
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Good Sam Member 836274654
FMCA F491320
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06-07-2019, 10:48 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,884
THOR #6826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron1Z
We have a 2017 Focus Titanium and dolly tow with no issues. Last year we did the flat tow with a 2018 Fiesta and that didnt go very well for us.
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Just curious, what went wrong with the Fiesta?
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06-07-2019, 11:29 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
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year models can vary when it comes to towing, but our '14 Fiesta or '14 Focus neither require any type of 'cranking' just because they are being towed... but check the owner's manual - if it doesn't require it, then it's not an issue....
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the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
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06-08-2019, 01:39 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Allegro Open Road
State: Florida
Posts: 417
THOR #8069
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Not sure how or why but after 8 miles of towing 4 down the Fiesta went into gear at 60 MPH. blew the transmision and the engine, car only had 630 miles on it.
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Good Sam Member 836274654
FMCA F491320
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06-08-2019, 01:00 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,884
THOR #6826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron1Z
Not sure how or why but after 8 miles of towing 4 down the Fiesta went into gear at 60 MPH. blew the transmision and the engine, car only had 630 miles on it.
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Yikes! Now I’ll probably worry...
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06-08-2019, 01:10 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2016 Thor Outlaw 29H
State: Tennessee
Posts: 668
THOR #13869
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron1Z
We have a 2017 Focus Titanium and dolly tow with no issues. Last year we did the flat tow with a 2018 Fiesta and that didnt go very well for us.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron1Z
Not sure how or why but after 8 miles of towing 4 down the Fiesta went into gear at 60 MPH. blew the transmision and the engine, car only had 630 miles on it.
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The Fiesta, was that an automatic transmission?
How did Ford handle that warranty situation?
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.....
Rusty
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