How to unlock steering on towable?

[smorgan]

I just purchased a 2007 Fusion SE Manual transmission to tow behind my RV. It is going to be flat towed which is supposedly alright per the towable vehicle list on motorhome.com. Is there any way to unlock the steering wheel while it is being towed or will I have to leave the keys in the ignition? If you leave them in the ignition do you have to turn it on? If so, how do you keep the battery from going dead? I am new to this and will welcome any experiences for a newbie tower.

Thanks!
Scott

[Loren]

Scott,
My Ford Explorer has an off position that unlocks the steering wheel. With the engine running turn the key one position back, everything is off and steering wheel is unlocked, leave the key in the ignition switch. If your switch isn't like that you may have to pull a fuse, like the Saturn people do, to keep your battery from discharging.
If you have a braking system like US Gear it has a charge line to keep your battery up, then you won't have to pull a fuse.
All depends on the ignitin switch Ford installed in the Fusion.
Hope this help,
Loren

[smorgan]

Loren,
Thanks for you speedy reply. I will have to go out and check it out. I know it has the acc position. If I turn the radio off, I wouldn't think in that position it would be much of a draw. I guess I just need to go sit down and crank on the steering wheel and see if it locks or not.

Thanks again for all your help. I really appreciate it!
Scott

[KIX]

If you do have to leave the key in the ignition then lock the door with a spare key so the toad stays locked

[wa8yxm]

Most cars you do indeed have to tow with key in.. You can still lock the door though

One thing.. Most car theives will be unable to drive that car today

If you wished.. You could likely pull the wheel and modify the locking pin so it does not lock.. I can not tell you exactly how to do this as.. Well.. it varies and I'm not sure it is possible on your car.

[BBBEEBOP]

Yes you must leave the key in! The ignition should be off and no electronics should work but the wheel will be unlocked if you don't pull the key out. If you go out to your car and try it you will see what I mean!

[Gary RVRoamer]

Specific procedures for towing vary with individual car models. Those that have a locking steering column require the key to be in the ignition and most of those require it to be at least in the ACC position (unlocked, ignition off).

Your Fusion owner manual has a section on Recreational Towing. Find it and follow those instructions to the letter. The Front Drive model is slightly different than the All Wheel Drive model.

[donie]

Also, if your iginition key is chipped, have a spare non chipped key made just to unlock the steering.
Just a thought.

[David K]

I did what the above poster recommended --- a lock smith can make an "unchipped" key which will allow you to unlock the steering wheel but, will not start the car. I think the key cost me $4.00 to have made. That way I do have to worry about someone stealing the car.

[bsinmich]

ACC is probably not the position you want. On my Chrysler cars the ACC position is for listening to the radio while my wife is in shopping. That position leaves the steering wheel locked. There is a position on ours that is in the direction of the run position that has no electrical power turned on but frees the steering wheel so it can turn. We made a key for 99 cents that fits in our PT. We also found that if we locked the doors from the remote we also turned on the alarm. That would set the horn to blowing when we would drive down the road. We have to locki it from the passenger side to not set the alarm.

[bldrbob]

I had a non chipped key made for my honda.Then when I read the towing procedure I found that I have to go from drive to neutral while running so I can't remove the chipped key.It will lock and unlock the doors.
BOB

[David K]

I have a Ford Focus --- I hope this explanation helps. On mine, you turn the key towards the on position and you will feel a slight click, turn it a little further and it is on. Both of these positions are before the starter is engaged at the next position. When you turn the key to the first position, it unlocks the steering wheel but does not turn on any of the electronics. I have had made the key that does not start the car but will turn the ignition to the first postition to unlock the wheel. That is what I use when towing my Focus. If I am not mistaken, a lot of the Ford vehicles that can be towed 4 down have this feature as part of their ignition key switch.