Community Forums

MBiancardi · 02-28-2008, 09:18 PM

I have been towing my toad off and on for 3 years and have had to deal with a dead battery now on several occasions. I had the Ford neutural kit installed and depending on the duration of the tow, I have had to jump start my 2005 Explorer. Did the dealer that installed the neutral kit forget to tell me I need to remove a fuse or, am I missing a step here? I have go through the routine of turning on the ignition and pressng the 4X4 auto in order to ingage it to tow mode. Short trips, no problem. anything over a couple of hours the battery is drained and the toad needs a jump... what's going on?

MBiancardi · 02-28-2008, 09:18 PM

I have been towing my toad off and on for 3 years and have had to deal with a dead battery now on several occasions. I had the Ford neutural kit installed and depending on the duration of the tow, I have had to jump start my 2005 Explorer. Did the dealer that installed the neutral kit forget to tell me I need to remove a fuse or, am I missing a step here? I have go through the routine of turning on the ignition and pressng the 4X4 auto in order to ingage it to tow mode. Short trips, no problem. anything over a couple of hours the battery is drained and the toad needs a jump... what's going on?

RV Wizard · 02-28-2008, 11:52 PM

MBiancardi, welcome to iRV2.com. We are glad o have you join us here and we look forward to reading of your adventures and experiences. Sorry to hear of the dead battery issue. While I do not have a Ford toad, I do have to pull fuses in both my 99' Silverado 4x4 and the 06' Vue. Does your dash light up while towing? If so you mught want to look for the fuse to diconnect power to the dash. THat is what I do on mine. It is called "Ign." fuse. If a Ford owner member does not reply with the answer, you should be able to call Ford Customer Assistance and they will have the answer; guaranteed.

BillArf · 02-29-2008, 03:04 AM

Hopefully, someone will post here telling you to pull fuse(s) when you flat tow. Another alternative is to install (easy) or have a friend/shop install a simple knife switch on your battery. Flip the switch bar and you disconnect the battery. Of course you also have the option of manually disconnecting the battery each time. disconnecting the battery would be an issue if you are using auxiliary braking that gets its power from the toad. You'd have to run a 12v line to the toad from the RV in this particular case.

Route 66 · 02-29-2008, 03:14 AM

No one has reported battery drain issues on Explorers, nor the need to pull fuses.

Your post doesn't mention it, but do you turn the ignition off after the neutral procedure?

BillArf · 02-29-2008, 03:26 AM

Consider going to this Explorer related forum and asking forum members there to address your problem. They will have plenty to tell you....

BillArf · 02-29-2008, 03:59 AM

Forgot to mention.. Your Explorer should draw somewhere between 10-25 milliamps (clocks, computers, radio memory) even when the ignition is in the off position. Parasitic draw can be an issue with ANY vehicle. As your vehicles battery gets older and lets say less efficient, parasitic draw becomes an even a greater issue. If you are just recently having more problems with "dead battery" it may mean it is just time to buy a new battery. Is the battery in your 2005 Explorer the original battery? Also the operating history / conditions your battery has dealt with also comes into play here. Anyway, may just be time to buy a new battery. In closing, even a vehicle with the ignition in the off position draws somewhere between 10-25 milliamps (clocks, computers, radio memory). When on toad duty, when you have the ignition key turned, maybe have auxiliary braking drawing on the toad battery and more. This really makes a poorly performing battery/old battery have depletion issues. Consider a new battery and an inexpensive knife switch on the batteries neutral cable if you cannot use the "pull fuse(s)" alternative.

Important: I'm not familiar with the Ford neutral kit that you have installed. IF, it needs constant 12v power (doubt it would) (another words after you have engaged neutral) then you will not be able to use a knife switch or disconnect the negative the battery cable.

jhanan · 03-23-2008, 05:51 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MBiancardi:
dead battery </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Find the issue?

I'm interested since I will be towing my 05 Exp this summer for about 5000 miles.

**Petro** · 03-24-2008, 03:57 AM

MBiancardi;

Welcome to IRV2. I towed a Buick La Sabre for several years. There was not a single fuse I could pull to stop all the draw. I ended up installing a toad charge circuit which ended all my problems. I now tow a Saturn Vue and use the charge feature to keep the battery charged for my Brake Pro. I would recommend that for you. I believe RV Upgrades sells a kit.

Don

Nonno · 03-24-2008, 03:59 PM

MBiancardi,
You said you have to turn on the ignition to engage. Is it possible that when you turn off the ignition you are leaving it in the "start" position?

Here are the instructions I got for my 07 Explorer Sport Trac 4wd V-6 with kit #1L2Z-7H332-AB. I know your kit # is different but I'm not sure about your instructions.
1. Vehicle in 4x4 Auto
2. AT in neutral
3. Ignition in "ACC" (steering wheel unlocked)
[MY NOTE: label shows "off" position but this has to be an error because on sport trac "off" is same as "lock" thus it will lock the steering wheel}
4. Neutral Tow light goes thru bulb check and turns off
5. Depress brake pedal and press 4x4 auto pushbutton; hold both for 5 seconds
6. Neutral Tow Light will flash; then stay on to indicate transfer case is in neutral
7. Leave switch in ACC position and transmission in neutral while towing

Wizard · 03-25-2008, 03:18 AM

When I set mine up, I turn the key completely off while the trans is in neutral. Key can't be removed but everything else is off. Never had a problen with low battery. Also I use an Even Brake and if the toad battery gets low it will tell me on my MH monitor.
Sorry about your problem. We love our Explorer on trips.

jhanan · 03-26-2008, 03:54 AM

If the ignition is in "off" possition, won't the Xpl lock the steering wheel?

Wizard · 03-26-2008, 06:17 AM

No, there is a difference. With the trans in Neutral, turn the key as far towards off as it will go, this is an off position and the key can't be removed but everything is off, even the radio. At least on my 06 Explorer

smlranger · 03-26-2008, 07:14 AM

I do as Wizard does with my 04 Explorer and have never had a problem with a dead battery. On longer trips, we do try to start and drive the Explorer at least every other day. If your battery dies while towing, I believe you can loose the neutral tow function...not sure exactly what will happen but perhaps the transfer case will engage spontaneously.