Will Flat Towing A 2018 Ford Focus Damage The Transmission.

Published 12/30/2021

Question:

We had a blue ox installed with a battery disconnect button. What is the normal procedure for installing the battery disconnect. We lost our transmission and we want to know if towing had anything to do with it. Or the battery disconnect did?

asked by: SUSAN D

Expert Reply:

To install a battery disconnect, like the Deka Lead Quick-Disconnect Battery Terminal - Universal Polarity # DW05312. it is pretty straight forward, you are just putting a break or disconnect along the negative battery cable in the vehicle. These are used to prevent the battery from being drained whilst flat towing. That said there must be battery power to move the transmission's internal components to neutral (N) properly.

All Ford Focus models except ST are flat towable. This is a small car with a base curb weight of about 2,928 pounds. It has a speed limit of about 70 miles per hour with no distance limitations. You can tow the models with automatic and manual transmission.

For the automatic transmission model,
1. Release the parking brake.
2. Switch the ignition to the on position.
3. Press the brake pedal, and then move the gearshift to the neutral (N) position.
4. Wait for a message in the information and entertainment display indicating that the transmission is ready, and then switch off the ignition and release the brake pedal.
5. Disconnect the negative (black) cable from the battery. (Or engage the battery disconnect.)

If your Focus has a manual transmission, release the parking brake and set the car on Neutral Mode.

If these steps are not followed properly you CAN cause damage to your transmission. Moving the gearshift to Neutral without switching the ignition to the ON position FIRST will limit the towing capability to 35 mph and 50 miles.