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J2Jake · 05-17-2023, 04:40 PM

Just purchased a 2023 Santa Fe, want to dolly tow, rented a dolly and made a test tow. The Manual states the ignition must be left in the accessory mode. Anyone tow this vehicle? If so how long does your battery last in the accessory mode. Thanks for replies, Jake

Gary RVRoamer · 05-17-2023, 05:16 PM

What manual? The dolly or the Santa Fe? And hopefully that Santa Fe isn't the All-Wheel-drive option.

If the dolly has fixed wheel platforms, then the steering wheel must be unlocked to allow the steering to work. If the car has a locking steering wheel, that would mean leaving the key in ACC to unlock, but many recent models no longer have locking steer columns. If it has push button start, it for sure does not.

theroc · 05-17-2023, 07:01 PM

Well, we know yours is not AWD as you've already tried it and will assume that you didn't damage anything.

I just looked at your 2023 Santa Fe owner's manual and it really doesn't address leaving it in ACC as it pertains to not having the steering column locked or unlocked. It addresses the procedure of using ACC position as it pertains to having or not having an electronic parking brake when emergency towing.

Does your steering column lock? If it doesn't have a lock, why use ACC? If it's the tow dolly manual that is telling you to do that, maybe they mean or assume, as Gary has suggested, that using the ACC in any vehicle will leave the steering column unlocked? If your Santa Fe does not have locking steering, then your question might become moot in that you can leave the ignition button completely in the OFF position ...maybe??

eta: If it turns you that you need to leave it in ACC for the steering to be unlocked and nobody with the same make and/or model posts to tell you how much the battery becomes discharged while in the ACC mode, maybe try it when not towing ...leave it in ACC for a few hours and see how much it drains the battery? First check voltage when a fully charged battery and then check again a few hours later and see if it's approaching a discharged level. A few hours in ACC I wouldn't think would take it down below 12 volts but monitor it while it sits in ACC and if you see it becoming discharged fast, abort the experiment, charge the battery back and figure out if you want to rig a charging cable when you tow.

rosborneutah · 04-16-2024, 09:34 AM

Just get a quick disconnect for your battery, you can then leave in ACC position for a long as needed, and no need for a charging system. Simple and cheap.