Flat Tow failure

[Dirtrider]

I had a lot of difficulty getting our Outer Banks to display "Tow Mode" this morning. I called Ford and we walked through the procedure from the Manual together, and still no luck. Then I held the brake on as I selected it, and eureka, it engaged. The manual says hold the brake on and shift to Neutral, but it does not say continue holding the brake on as you select tow mode.

'22 black diamond 2.3L 7MT: I had an experience last fall that it wouldn't engage the flat tow mode using the procedure I've used since new. In the original procedure (I printed it out and follow it as a check) I didn't have to push the clutch and brake in while selecting flat tow mode. At some point they must have made a software change that required that. After some panic (we were 600 miles from home in a campground) I had to refer to the Bronco manual to see the updated procedure. Fortunately it worked. Up until last fall I've used the original procedure (successfully) dozens of times. I can't find any reference that there was any update to the method nor can I find an updated .pdf manual so that I can print the new procedure, I'm old school and like to reference a paper printout for something like this

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[Kini]

Historically, after the early 1960's, automatic transmissions did not have rear pumps so there is no oil flowing for drive or lubrication if the front pump is not turning. The front pump is only driven by the motor flywheel. That's why you can't push start a car with an automatic transmission and you can't tow a car with an automatic transmission very far in neutral without destroying it. The transmission must be in Park to prevent the internal parts from being driven by the TC. Unless Ford put a rear pump in the 10 speed, it's no different from any other automatic transmission.

 

[Fordified1]

Historically, after the early 1960's, automatic transmissions did not have rear pumps so there is no oil flowing for drive or lubrication if the front pump is not turning. The front pump is only driven by the motor flywheel. That's why you can't push start a car with an automatic transmission and you can't tow a car with an automatic transmission very far in neutral without destroying it. The transmission must be in Park to prevent the internal parts from being driven by the TC. Unless Ford put a rear pump in the 10 speed, it's no different from any other automatic transmission.

The procedure does in fact, tell you to put it in neutral. The Transfer Case shifts to neutral, so it should not turn the transmission. If however, the transfer case decides to shift itself back into Gear (yes this has happened multiple times with the Advanced transfer case and destroyed transmissions), the devastation will be far less if the transmission is in neutral versus Park, I believe they changed the procedure after there were some toad vehicles that burned to the ground because the transmission being in Park started a fire from the heat and sparks. I know at least two F150 Raptors that burnt and took the motorhome with them.

 

[dgorsett]

The procedure does in fact, tell you to put it in neutral. The Transfer Case shifts to neutral, so it should not turn the transmission. If however, the transfer case decides to shift itself back into Gear (yes this has happened multiple times with the Advanced transfer case and destroyed transmissions), the devastation will be far less if the transmission is in neutral versus Park, I believe they changed the procedure after there were some toad vehicles that burned to the ground because the transmission being in Park started a fire from the heat and sparks. I know at least two F150 Raptors that burnt and took the motorhome with them.

There was never any doubt with my Wrangler because 1: TC was manual so you could feel the shift 2. As a last step you tested it by putting in Drive while running 3. You put the transmission in Park so you'd soon know if the TC weren't in neutral.

I have actually tested the Bronco by starting and putting in Drive while in Neutral tow and that works and I have towed a few feet in Neutral Tow/Park and that worked. BUT I would not try this in an actual towing situation because God knows what the Bronco electronic controls would do down the road somewhere.

Side note: I have noticed (maybe just lately?) that you actually have to push the brake hard enough to engage brakes not just limp ankle it enough to make the brake light work. It must use actual brake pressure sensor rather than light switch to activate shift modes.

 

[dgorsett]

The procedure does in fact, tell you to put it in neutral. The Transfer Case shifts to neutral, so it should not turn the transmission. If however, the transfer case decides to shift itself back into Gear (yes this has happened multiple times with the Advanced transfer case and destroyed transmissions), the devastation will be far less if the transmission is in neutral versus Park, I believe they changed the procedure after there were some toad vehicles that burned to the ground because the transmission being in Park started a fire from the heat and sparks. I know at least two F150 Raptors that burnt and took the motorhome with them.

And my theory is still that the clutches in the advanced transfer case may not totally disengaged (opposed to the dog gear in std TC which is in or out) causing the input shaft of the TC to turn. With transmission in Neutral the Transmission output turns with no lube, heating up and frying things. If in Park as your F150 Raptor example, the transmission wouldn't turn but the TC clutches would heat up, maybe to the extreme. With the manual TC, then, you should be able to leave it in Park, but I still won't tow that way.

I think the reason that we haven't seen many lately is that Ford quietly increased the clearance specs on the TC clutches and any of he early ones that were too tight have, by now, burned up or never flat towed. I think it's why some folks with the Advanced TC complained about binding in 4A and others didn't. We might still see a few fry as older ones are brought into flat tow service.

 

[Dirtrider]

And my theory is still that the clutches in the advanced transfer case may not totally disengaged (opposed to the dog gear in std TC which is in or out) causing the input shaft of the TC to turn. With transmission in Neutral the Transmission output turns with no lube, heating up and frying things. If in Park as your F150 Raptor example, the transmission wouldn't turn but the TC clutches would heat up, maybe to the extreme. With the manual TC, then, you should be able to leave it in Park, but I still won't tow that way.

I think the reason that we haven't seen many lately is that Ford quietly increased the clearance specs on the TC clutches and any of he early ones that were too tight have, by now, burned up or never flat towed. I think it's why some folks with the Advanced TC complained about binding in 4A and others didn't. We might still see a few fry as older ones are brought into flat tow service.

Glad I have a manual transmission. Procedure says to leave it in neutral. ~15k flat towed so far with no issues. Fingers crossed

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