Neutral Tow / Transmission Problem

[Fillups]

I believe that there is a way to accomplish that. If nothing else, a battery disconnect would likely be fast enough to prevent it from happening. That might be a worthwhile option to investigate.

I could be wrong, but dont think cutting power would help. My understanding of what others have laid out here is that a healthy 12V supply is needed to remain in neutral-tow mode once it is turned on. If voltage drops too low (including no power I assume) then the default mode is to reengage the T-case. It’s probably considered a safety feature, otherwise you could have situation where your car rolls away in Park, right? Although this certainly should be in the owner’s manual, if battery levels are so critical to this feature.

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[NC_Pinz]

I was googling something somewhat related to this and found an article specifically stating that manual transmission are just as problematic because the gear oil circulation is based off of the engine shaft side of rotation and not the driveline side. (Now this is on the internet so I'll take it with a grain of salt)

Not able to add anything for the modern manual transmissions, but this is a real issue for some. The Early Broncos had this issue that required removal of the rear driveshaft to be flat towed any significant distance. Apples and oranges but some manuals have this issue.

 

[aknavy]

One would think that if flat towing is a feature of this thing, there would be a fail safe lockout. Once in neutral tow, there should be now way to take it back out without operator intervention. Unfortunately, I don't know how to accomplish this, as the whole procedure is computerized.

Once in neutral tow, there should be no circumstance that takes it out without a human being doing something- not a low battery/sensor/electrical/whatever issue, nothing. Otherwise it's a ticking time bomb.

 

[Bmadda]

I could be wrong, but dont think cutting power would help. My understanding of what others have laid out here is that a healthy 12V supply is needed to remain in neutral-tow mode once it is turned on. If voltage drops too low (including no power I assume) then the default mode is to reengage the T-case. It’s probably considered a safety feature, otherwise you could have situation where your car rolls away in Park, right? Although this certainly should be in the owner’s manual, if battery levels are so critical to this feature.

Low voltage, but not NO voltage. Couldn't you simply unplug the xfer case motor once in neutral tow? It is an electric motor and can't move if unplugged. Or does it for some insane reason require power to maintain the neutral position? I could do some tests on mine (but again mine is a MT, and AT are the ones having the problem, so IDK how much knowledge can be gained from that). If you put in in neutral tow mode and disconnect the battery, can you still push it in P?

 

[da_jokker]

Low voltage, but not NO voltage. Couldn't you simply unplug the xfer case motor once in neutral tow? It is an electric motor and can't move if unplugged. Or does it for some insane reason require power to maintain the neutral position? I could do some tests on mine (but again mine is a MT, and AT are the ones having the problem, so IDK how much knowledge can be gained from that). If you put in in neutral tow mode and disconnect the battery, can you still push it in P?

Sort of like I was saying. Unless they are like air brakes where they require something (aka power) to remained disengaged. One would hope that is not the case and power would only be required to engage.

I was thinking disconnect the cable, but sounds like there may not be one.

I wonder if disconnecting the battery would prevent the brakes (parking brake) from re engaging as well as solve that issue.

You'd have to run auxiliary brake lights but that wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Put the bronco in flat tow, pull the battery cable (or better yet some fuse) and tow worry free... wouldn't that be nice.

 

[Bmadda]

Sort of like I was saying. Unless they are like air brakes where they require something (aka power) to remained disengaged. One would hope that is not the case and power would only be required to engage.

I was thinking disconnect the cable, but sounds like there may not be one.

I wonder if disconnecting the battery would prevent the brakes (parking brake) from re engaging as well as solve that issue.

You'd have to run auxiliary brake lights but that wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Put the bronco in flat tow, pull the battery cable (or better yet some fuse) and tow worry free... wouldn't that be nice.

Except don't people need the battery connected for the brakes to work?. I did test mine by putting it in neutral tow, and disconnecting the battery w/trans in 1st gear, I could still push it. But mine is a 2.3/7mt and doesn't have the electric brakes like 2.7. Does appear however, that w/power disconnected, the xfer case remains in neutral, so there's gotta be a way to cut power to the shift motor after it's in neutral. That would be failsafe!

 

[GDWSuperman]

Hello everyone. I am on here due to me losing my transmission. I have the AF1 system, and it appears the place that installed my AF1 did not include a 12-volt supply from the motorhome to the Bronco. I only see 4 wires coming out of the 6 prongs plug on the Bronco. From the motorhome, there is a 12-volt supply. The Ford mechanic informed me that if the battery when down in voltage that it would engage the transmission but would leave the system saying in tow mode enabled. It did not shit to park since it was left in neutral. But my transmission is shredded. According to AF1, it does not supply any charging to the battery since it uses air for actuation and states it does not draw on the battery. So, I am asking, who is at fault. Should the company that installs these units know that we are drawing on the battery from a braking light, to somewhat a draw from the Bronco system telling it to be in towing enabled? I am going to contact the installation company and see if they will cover this. I would like some more insight if possible.

 

[mpeugeot]

Hello everyone. I am on here due to me losing my transmission. I have the AF1 system, and it appears the place that installed my AF1 did not include a 12-volt supply from the motorhome to the Bronco. I only see 4 wires coming out of the 6 prongs plug on the Bronco. From the motorhome, there is a 12-volt supply. The Ford mechanic informed me that if the battery when down in voltage that it would engage the transmission but would leave the system saying in tow mode enabled. It did not shit to park since it was left in neutral. But my transmission is shredded. According to AF1, it does not supply any charging to the battery since it uses air for actuation and states it does not draw on the battery. So, I am asking, who is at fault. Should the company that installs these units know that we are drawing on the battery from a braking light, to somewhat a draw from the Bronco system telling it to be in towing enabled? I am going to contact the installation company and see if they will cover this. I would like some more insight if possible.

That is clearly Ford's fault, it should never engage the transmission due to low battery voltage when in flat tow mode. If voltage is a requirement to sustain flat tow, then this should be clearly stated in the owners manual (it's not).

 

[Bmadda]

That is clearly Ford's fault, it should never engage the transmission due to low battery voltage when in flat tow mode. If voltage is a requirement to sustain flat tow, then this should be clearly stated in the owners manual (it's not).

It clearly doesn't require any voltage to remain in neutral tow, but low voltage makes computers do stupid $hit (why am I telling you this?). Kinda like Chrysler products forget how to idle if battery voltage gets low...I think the 6g forgets what neutral tow is at some low battery level, and just decides to shift. Next test I wana try is leave one in neutral tow overnight w/a small draw on the battery, and see if it locks in the xfer case overnight. I already tried battery disconnect in neutral tow, and it stayed in neutral, and remained in neutral when I reconnected the battery, so 0v isn't the problem, but something between 0v-12.5 is

 

[GDWSuperman]

It clearly doesn't require any voltage to remain in neutral tow, but low voltage makes computers do stupid $hit (why am I telling you this?). Kinda like Chrysler products forget how to idle if battery voltage gets low...I think the 6g forgets what neutral tow is at some low battery level, and just decides to shift. Next test I wana try is leave one in neutral tow overnight w/a small draw on the battery, and see if it locks in the xfer case overnight. I already tried battery disconnect in neutral tow, and it stayed in neutral, and remained in neutral when I reconnected the battery, so 0v isn't the problem, but something between 0v-12.5 is

Thank you for this. I started thinking another way to prove this is a Ford issue, is to have a voltage recorder on the Bronco and if you have one to try, cause a low voltage, record it, and see what the transmission does. This takes a lot of liability on the Bronco surviving, but this would be a test that Ford should have done and verify this is an issue. So, it seems to me, that if I include a 12-volt constant supply during towing, should resolve the mystery of transmission shifting. So I want to clarify, you put your Bronco in tow hauling and then you disconnected your battery. If we did this, then would the AF1 still work for locking up the brakes? I guess you would wire that direct so then it still has supply, but the Bronco Computer can't work.

 

[Bmadda]

Thank you for this. I started thinking another way to prove this is a Ford issue, is to have a voltage recorder on the Bronco and if you have one to try, cause a low voltage, record it, and see what the transmission does. This takes a lot of liability on the Bronco surviving, but this would be a test that Ford should have done and verify this is an issue. So, it seems to me, that if I include a 12-volt constant supply during towing, should resolve the mystery of transmission shifting. So I want to clarify, you put your Bronco in tow hauling and then you disconnected your battery. If we did this, then would the AF1 still work for locking up the brakes? I guess you would wire that direct so then it still has supply, but the Bronco Computer can't work.

I'm not 100% sure because 2.7 uses an electric brake pump. No battery voltage on a 2.7=no rear brakes. Mine is a 2.3, and I have never flat towed it. I'm also not familiar w/the AF1 flat tow setup. Either way it isn't the transmission shifting randomly during battery drain...that cant happen, it's the transfer case, which IS shifted by an electric motor that IS computer controlled. I would like to find a way to #1 PROVE that battery drain when flat towing is the cause of this problem, and #2 find a failsafe solution (it's doubtful Ford ever will if it's software related...nobody knows how to solve it then). If you do run a 12v source from the motorhome to the Bronco DO NOT FORGET that ground must be common between them! I would not rely on the physical hookup between the 2 vehicles, I would run a separate ground wire!

 

[aknavy]

Wow, another transmission down. I just got the call from the dealer that my Bronco is back up and running. We're out of town, so it will sit there for a couple weeks till we get home. To recap, the Bronco got a new transmission, neutral tow actuator, and transfer case. It was put in neutral tow at the beginning of the travel day, was still in neutral tow at the end of the day, and would not come out.

The dealer stated they were doing the plethora of paperwork to ensure that Ford will pay the bill, so I'm happy about that.

With that being said, we full time RV and travel alot. I can't have this ticking time bomb being dragged behind the RV, so it's gonna have to go. I put a whole 2200 miles on it. Sucks to lose money on the thing, but at least on the Wranglers, they don't shift/engage the transfer case on their own.

 

[aknavy]

The Ford mechanic informed me that if the battery when down in voltage that it would engage the transmission but would leave the system saying in tow mode enabled.

If this is true, as it seems to be, it is Fords problem. It should be clearly stated in the owners manual that it requires a 12V supply, if true. I'm not sure I buy it. But something is clearly wrong, or we're all morons that can't follow simple directions. I would be fighting this - I have not seen any requirement published by Ford that states a 12V supply is required.

 

[aknavy]

Except don't people need the battery connected for the brakes to work?. I did test mine by putting it in neutral tow, and disconnecting the battery w/trans in 1st gear, I could still push it. But mine is a 2.3/7mt and doesn't have the electric brakes like 2.7. Does appear however, that w/power disconnected, the xfer case remains in neutral, so there's gotta be a way to cut power to the shift motor after it's in neutral. That would be failsafe!

Mine rolled freely at every stop the day it failed, and we pushed it into our RV site after arriving. So, the fact that it rolls doesn't prove that it's not destroying the transmission.

 

[Bmadda]

Mine rolled freely at every stop the day it failed, and we pushed it into our RV site after arriving. So, the fact that it rolls doesn't prove that it's not destroying the transmission.

You didn't read my post fully. MT in gear pushed by hand, not AT in N. Test w/AT in P (if it will allow that IDK, I don't have one to test). Proves EXACTLY that

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