mangles

Flat Towing my CMAX - Fact or fiction Prior to our CMAX Energi purchase in Oct 2014, I searched the web and spoke to other CMAX owners about flat-towing behind RVs. I learned much about the pre-towing procedure and dead batteries. Perhaps the best conclusion I could come to was there was no consistently in the preparation procedure. Was this due to model year differences, and/or Hybrid vs Energi difference? I still don’t know. In my best Don Quixote charge, I wanted to know the “impossible answers” by climbing large mountains of internet forum postings and talking to our dealer service department, and to boldly scale the Ford Customer Service phone-tree walls. A funny thing happened on the way. My donkey (ass) died. There is much information, much of it very similar, but… As an example, elsewhere I have read of the need to run the engine for 5 minutes, shift into R, L, D & N. Five minutes. OK? Here are the instructions in my manual that came with the car: “Recreational Towing Note: Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. See Climate Control (page 105). Follow these guidelines if you have a need for recreational (RV) towing. An example of recreational towing would be towing your vehicle behind a motorhome. We designed these guidelines to prevent damage to your transmission. You can tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground or with the front wheels off the ground by using a tow dolly. If you are using a tow dolly follow the instructions specified by the equipment provider. If you tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground: • Tow only in the forward direction. • Release the parking brake. • Place the transmission in position N. • Place the ignition in the off position. See Starting and Stopping the Engine (page 124). • Do not exceed 70 mph (113 km/h). • Place the transmission in position P, start the vehicle and allow it to run for one minute at the beginning of each day (you may need to press the accelerator pedal in order to start the vehicle). After allowing the vehicle to run, place the transmission back into position N and ignition in the accessory position.” Ok, first off, starting the car is easy, keeping the engine running is a different matter. Do I run the engine for one minute or five?. So, my first questions to Ford Customer Service when I called was how to keep the engine running and for how long?. At first, there seem to be confusion. “Like this is a really stupid question. Or do you know a car engine just runs on its own after you start it.” And yes, I told them it was an Energi and even provided the VIN. Elsewhere I had read to turn on your AC and/or rear defroster. Which the customer rep repeated to me. She further told me to turn on all electrical loads so as to force the engine to run. I don’t remember how long I was told to operate the engine, but I know it was for more than a few minutes as I could not keep it running for more than about a minute and a half prior to calling support. I asked, “do I shift into all gears or just N?” She answered by reading the page 183 instructions from the top again. In my mind, the owners manual instructions are written poorly, as the first sentences are just supporting information before the all encompassing preparation step at the end. “Hello! Why do I release the parking brake before placing the transmission in N? Won’t the car roll away??” After a bit of verbal volleyball with the Ford Customer Service (electric car group), I requested a written reference. I was told they can not originate an email...Say what?? After a brief, “that is stupid silence”, I learned that I could use the Ford, contact us by email link on the owner.ford.com web site to start a new conversation in which they would write back via email, thus providing a written set of instructions. So, I sent Ford Support an email referencing the case number of my phone call, and I received a very prompt email with the following instructions (names and courtesies have been removed): Our records indicate that you contacted the Ford Customer Relationship Center on 2/24/2015, and our Customer Care Representative advised you to prep the transmission for recreational towing. The vehicle has to be "out" of EV-mode, and they should create a large electrical load, generally the rear defroster and climate control (a/c on & blower on "high") should work. Set press brake pedal and start vehicle with foot on brake, shift vehicle into neutral, then press the stop button and this puts vehicle into accessory mode. This applies to any vehicle with push button start that needs to be placed in Accessory Mode. If you follow this procedure then vehicle won’t accrue miles on it nor will it go dead after towing. The vehicle cannot go into accessory mode if it is not in neutral. For the most part, these instructions are the same as the last step in the owners’ manual. I did find the statement that the vehicle won’t accrue miles on it nor will it go dead after towing” enlightening. Hello Ford, are you talking to your customers and replacing batteries for a different reason? I for one, did do not realize you can only enter accessory mode when in neutral. What if I want to listen to my radio when parked? As I finish here, I want to add I that I asked Ford about the transmission ATF pump and the brake vacuum assist pump running while flat towing. I was told neither operates. Furthermore, I tested my brakes on a small hill while in accessory mode and found I could barely stop the car after the third attempt. Hence, confirmation the brake vacuum pump does not operate in accessory mode. Makes me wonder if my newly installed SMI Air Force One can stop the CMax when towing. Regarding accessory mode. I combed the internet, my CMAX owners’ manual, and Ford's CMAX FAQ video help. Nowhere did I locate instructions for putting a keyless start CMAX Energi in accessory mode. While I have learned it is as simple pushing the Start/Stop button without your foot on the brake. It appears to be a closely held procedure at Ford, only available through their customer support. Makes you wonder why? re, mike

Finished setting up our new 2014 CMX Energi for flat towing behind our Tiffin with air brakes. Cheers, mike angles MyCMaxToadBrakes.pdf

Thanks for all your posting. I just finished setting up my 2014 CMAX Energi for towing behind my RV. Yes I ran a change line to a BrakeBuddy. Why not, the 12 vdc from the RV is already at the 7-pin connector. I also installed a roadmaster baseplate, an all terrain Falcon tow bar and an SMI Air Force One braking system. And everything works, including the LED brake display in the RV cockpit. The only problem I had was pre-running the CMAX. You know start it, idle the engine for a few minutes, put it in drive and reverse, then N; turn it off. For the life of me I could not figure out how to get the gas engine to fire up. Called FORD hotline. They said, push the start button then push the gas peddle to the floor. OK, that worked. However as soon as I took my foot off the gas the engine stopped. OK, I will work on this. I know you can disable the automatic engine shut-down was applying a Sync update. I just need to locate the info I had. Anyway, my thanks to those posting good info... re, mike in san jose, ca.