mclean41 Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Does anyone have any experience towing 4 wheels down with push button start? Is it doable? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMB231 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Does anyone have any experience towing 4 wheels down with push button start? Is it doable? I recently purchased a 2011 Lincoln MKX with the idea of towing it behind our motorhome. The owners manual describes what must be done for RV towing but the description is obviously for a vehicle with a key. There is a description in the owners manual of how to remove a panel in the usb compartment to put the vehicle in neutral without starting it however it again does not apply to a vehicle with the push button start. If you remove the access panel described you can take a small mirror and look back toward the shift assembly under the center console. Put your foot on the brake and push the button to start the vehicle while watching in the mirror. You will see a little plastic plunger pop out that unlocks the shift lever. After you find where this is at you can pull the plastic plunger out with your finger with the car off and shift the lever into neutral without turning anything on. The steering wheel does not lock on the push button start MKX so no need to worry about that. This may apply to other Ford vehicles like the Edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 I recently purchased a 2011 Lincoln MKX with the idea of towing it behind our motorhome. The owners manual describes what must be done for RV towing but the description is obviously for a vehicle with a key. There is a description in the owners manual of how to remove a panel in the usb compartment to put the vehicle in neutral without starting it however it again does not apply to a vehicle with the push button start. If you remove the access panel described you can take a small mirror and look back toward the shift assembly under the center console. Put your foot on the brake and push the button to start the vehicle while watching in the mirror. You will see a little plastic plunger pop out that unlocks the shift lever. After you find where this is at you can pull the plastic plunger out with your finger with the car off and shift the lever into neutral without turning anything on. The steering wheel does not lock on the push button start MKX so no need to worry about that. This may apply to other Ford vehicles like the Edge. Why doesn't it apply to push button start vehicles? The BSI (brake shift interlock) is the same. There is an access panel on the side of the shifter - just remove it and depress the BSI then shift to Neutral. Press and release the start button without the brake pedal engaged to put it in accessory mode. Or start it, put it in Neutral, turn it off, then back to accessory mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMB231 Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Why doesn't it apply to push button start vehicles? The BSI (brake shift interlock) is the same. There is an access panel on the side of the shifter - just remove it and depress the BSI then shift to Neutral. Press and release the start button without the brake pedal engaged to put it in accessory mode. Or start it, put it in Neutral, turn it off, then back to accessory mode. On the MKX there is no access panel on the side of the shifter. There is an access panel in the compartment under the center stack of controls where the usb, sd card, a/v connections are and it's location is described in the MKX ownwers manual, however when you remove the access panel there is no "lever" as described in the MKX's owners manual or button to push. The only mechanism to unlock the shifter in my 2011 MKX is just as I described. You are correct a momentary push of the start button does put the car in accessory mode however you cannot move the shifter with the car only in accessory mode. The only way to get the car in neutral is to start it (or use the process that I described). If you shut it off while in neutral the left display shows a message telling you to put the car in park. If you get out, shut the door, the message eventually goes out but part of the center display stays illuminated and continues to draw electrical load which would eventually kill the battery and does as described in some of the RV forums. I can assure you that on a 2011 MKX there is no button to push or "lever" to move as described in the owners manual. I've read and re-read the following instructions directly from the MKX owners manual and there is a possibility that the plunger that I described in my post is the "lever" they are talking about but in my car it can't be seen without a mirror and the only way to pull it out is hook it with your fingernail as the space is much to small to get your fingers on it. This may be just a case of a poorly written manual but the average person wouldn't figure it out with out some serious detective work. BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK This vehicle is equipped with a brake-shift interlock (BSI) feature that prevents the gearshift lever from being moved from P (Park) when the ignition is in the on position unless the brake pedal is pressed. If you cannot move the gearshift lever out of P (Park) with ignition in the on position and the brake pedal pressed, it is possible that a fuse has blown or the vehicle’s brake lamps are not operating properly. Refer to Fuses and relays in the Roadside Emergencies chapter. If the fuse is not blown and the brake lamps are working properly, the following procedure will allow you to move the gearshift lever from P (Park): 1. Apply the parking brake, turn the ignition key to the off position, and remove the key. 2. Using a screwdriver (or similar tool), carefully pry off and remove the BSI access panel. 3. Locate the brake shift interlock lever in front of the shifter assembly. 4. Apply the brake pedal. Gently pull and hold the brake shift interlock lever while pulling the gearshift lever out of the P (Park) position and into the N (Neutral) position. 5. Install the trim panel. 6. Apply the brake pedal, start the vehicle, and release the parking brake. See your authorized dealer as soon as possible if this procedure is used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMB231 Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 (edited) Why doesn't it apply to push button start vehicles? The BSI (brake shift interlock) is the same. There is an access panel on the side of the shifter - just remove it and depress the BSI then shift to Neutral. Press and release the start button without the brake pedal engaged to put it in accessory mode. Or start it, put it in Neutral, turn it off, then back to accessory mode. Edited August 5, 2011 by BMB231 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 The BSI override has to be there and it's the same whether you have push button start or not. It's required for certain situations. Ask the dealer how to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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