Resolved#24 - can’t shift it into neutral to get towed, Service AdvanceTrac, 1-Pedal Drive Fault

[broncoaz]

I’m about 15 months into ownership on my second Lighting. I love the truck. The past few days I’ve had a “Electrical System Drain Service Required” message on FordPass and on the cluster. A couple weeks ago I left my dashcam on and it drained the battery, I recharged with a Ctek, but the voltage is low around 12.2 volts. I figure I wounded the 12v battery but the truck has been operating fine. I went ahead and ordered a new H3 battery from Rock Auto that arrived today. I went out in the garage and wanted to back the truck out to swap the battery. When I hit the start button I was greeted with warnings for Service AdvanceTrac and 1-Pedal Drive Fault. I figure not a huge deal and swap the new battery (2/26 production, 12.89 volts) in the garage. I reset the BMS after battery install and still have the same messages. I tried leaving the 12v battery disconnected for an hour and tried again, no change. No codes show up with my cheap scanner. I called and made an appointment with Ford for tomorrow.

Here’s the problem: I figured I should put the truck in neutral and roll it out of the garage for the tow, but I can’t get the shifter out of park. I tried the started position and hitting the brake to shift into neutral, the neutral mode in the screen, pressed the brake and gas at the same time with the 12v battery connected and disconnected, nothing I do wants to unlock it out of park. I can’t have the tow truck drag it out of my garage without significant damage to my Racedeck floor tiles. Any ideas on how to get it to roll?

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[TaxmanHog]

When the tow truck arrives, have him put dollies under the rear wheels, the truck can be rolled out of the garage and then pulled up onto the ramp truck.

 

[Heliian]

Did you try emergency tow mode?

Keep trying, it will go eventually. I would also try charging for a while, might get the 12v up

 

[broncoaz]

When the tow truck arrives, have him put dollies under the rear wheels, the truck can be rolled out of the garage and then pulled up onto the ramp truck.

The front wheels will freespin when the rears are on dollies? That would be fine. I was thinking about putting down some hardboard on the floor and trash bags under the tires to slide it.

Did you try emergency tow mode?

Keep trying, it will go eventually. I would also try charging for a while, might get the 12v up

Is the Emergency Tow Mode accessed at the bottom of the vehicle screen in the center display, and you have to press and hold to initialize? Yep, the screen shows “Shift to Neutral” but the shifter is locked in park. At one point I got a message High-Voltage Battery Warning and several Pro Power Onboard Unavailable on FordPass.

HV battery is at 84%, 12V battery is brand new and freshly charged, showing 12.89 volts. I’ve tried it a couple dozen times at least. It’s annoying that the truck drove fine Sunday (other than 12v battery warning) and the last thing I did Sunday night was move it from the driveway into the garage.

 

[MountainAlive]

Two things I guess I would try: 1. Disconnecting the shifter for about 30 mins. You can find videos on this when searching for the rotary shifter mod that people do. Takes about 10 mins tops. 2. Maybe the parking pawl is stuck? Sounds weird but sometimes pushing the truck with your hands rocking the truck back and forth a smidge might release it. Assuming your eBrake isn’t on. I don’t know if this works on a Lightning though, but has worked for me on another vehicle.

 

[Sgt. Carter]

Had to have mine hauled away on a flat bed truck, recently. Squirrels had chewed through the HVB wiring harnesses. Driver attached the winch cable to the front tow hooks. Then he tilted the bed and got it under the front tires, which were free wheeling, and got them off the ground. Then he slightly raised the bed as he inched back to the rear axle. Was able to get the tilted bed under the rear tires enough that he could raise the bed. Once raised he secured the truck with four chain tie downs and the winch cable. Tow truck driver was `a real pro - said he had picked up another Lightning this way. Delivered it to the dealer w/o any complications.

 

[broncoaz]

I called roadside to tow the truck then went out to mess with it some more. I reconnected the 12v battery after it sat overnight, same warnings when I went to accessory mode. I turned off one pedal drive on the screen turned on emergency tow mode, this time I was able to move the shifter. I pushed the truck out of my garage. I then tried shifting into reverse and drive and the truck drove. I still have a warning stop safely showing up. I tried powering down and it wouldn’t work when I tried to restart, I had to use the emergency tow mode to release the shifter then it drove again.

 

[Nomoregas]

Had same problem and thought a new 12 volt would work to solve but it drained dead over night for some reason, I could not shift either but in the end I may have made a mistake and forgot with the hood open I think you cannot shift.

I finally drove mine after letting it sit for a month yesterday and the faults came back but I was able to drive still, if I turned it off and on the faults were gone for a while and I got home, This morning low 12 volt and charge stopped half way through due to low 12 volt

Taking the day off today to try and get this to the dealer, some poor design here with these 12 volts, maybe when my new 12 volt went dead it damaged it but again why would it die sitting overnight. Was very cold at the time. It has really had me on Tesla website looking at a way out of this truck due to ford bailing out.

 

[DoyouLightning]

I'm fairly certain you can still move the truck with the frunk open. However if the driver door is open it will be locked. I assume you had the driver's door closed? Maybe a sensor there could also be to blame? Not sure if there is any way to turn that safety feature off?

 

[TaxmanHog]

The front wheels will freespin when the rears are on dollies?

Yes, parking pawl and E-brakes are only on the rear transaxle

 

[El Duderino]

I'm fairly certain you can still move the truck with the frunk open. However if the driver door is open it will be locked. I assume you had the driver's door closed? Maybe a sensor there could also be to blame? Not sure if there is any way to turn that safety feature off?

I just remembered that the wiring harness schematic for the GSM (shifter) has 2 wires going to the drivers door module to provide feedback if it's open or not. So you're correct, drivers door must be closed to operate the shifter and move it from park I bet.

 

[broncoaz]

The tow driver asked me to show him how I’d gotten the truck unlocked to move, unfortunately before it was loaded. I couldn’t get it to release again no matter what I tried. I had the frunk and door closed.

 

[El Duderino]

Bummer, I hope your dealer gets the issue resolved quickly and you are back in business soon. I am curious what the outcome and fix is if you remember to post here afterwards.

 

[broncoaz]

Bummer, I hope your dealer gets the issue resolved quickly and you are back in business soon. I am curious what the outcome and fix is if you remember to post here afterwards.

I’m hoping for a quick resolution covered by warranty, and not something like rodent damage. I pulled my Solara out of winter storage so I have something to drive. We’ve gotten enough rain that the roads should be reasonably salt free.

 

[chl]

For posters with batteries draining overnight, you likely have a wiring short somewhere.
One common location is the trailer electrical harness, but there have been several others.
Any connectors under the truck would be suspect. And there is a wiring bundle behind the glove box that has been an issue as well.

For those with new batteries, be sure the BMS was reset when the new battery was put in.

For those charging the battery be sure connected the charger downstream of the BMS sensor:

The Lightning 12v battery and electrical system has been an ongoing issue, so you are not alone, sadly.

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