How do I force switch a 2023 lightning into neutral?

[lipnorth]

I just had my truck throw an error, it has something to do with 1-pedal drive. It went into limp mode. Second time it did this in three days. Letting it rest 20 minutes, cleared the error and it drove normally.

However the second time it did this I tried a quick power cycle. Bad idea. The truck went into park, and would not shutdown. I was stuck in a bad intersection. I turned off the key, and tried waiting. I also tried to disconnect 12V but I did not have the right tool. Police came and they didn’t either. They called a tow truck.

But I was stuck in park. I hear there is an emergency release to neutral but I cannot figure it out. Does anyone know on a 2023 Lightning?

End of the story was after about 15 minutes, the truck let me power off and power on (reboot) and I was able to drive away, normally. I have a wrench icon I know will go away after a proper shutdown.

But I really want to know how to force put it in neutral if I do need a tow.

TIA

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[RLXXI]

I just had my truck throw an error, it has something to do with 1-pedal drive. It went into limp mode. Second time it did this in three days. Letting it rest 20 minutes, cleared the error and it drove normally.

However the second time it did this I tried a quick power cycle. Bad idea. The truck went into park, and would not shutdown. I was stuck in a bad intersection. I turned off the key, and tried waiting. I also tried to disconnect 12V but I did not have the right tool. Police came and they didn’t either. They called a tow truck.

But I was stuck in park. I hear there is an emergency release to neutral but I cannot figure it out. Does anyone know on a 2023 Lightning?

End of the story was after about 15 minutes, the truck let me power off and power on (reboot) and I was able to drive away, normally. I have a wrench icon I know will go away after a proper shutdown.

But I really want to know how to force put it in neutral if I do need a tow.

TIA

Keep a 10mm wrench handy to disconnect the negative battery cable. It's the only way I found to get the shifter to work again after a fault like that, mine would get stuck in D.

Had the shifter replaced under warranty and no more issue.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Lightning roadside service info

 

[Heliian]

Check page 429 of the owners manual.

 

[MountainAlive]

Lightning roadside service info

Had AI grab the relevant talking points from the video:
Putting the Vehicle in Neutral

• Warning: Always secure the vehicle with lines before selecting neutral to prevent roll-aways [06:41]. There is no mechanical release for the shifter [07:20].

• Method 1 (Screen): Go to Settings > Vehicle > Emergency Tow. Press and hold to initialize, then tap the "N" button on the shifter twice [07:48].

• Method 2 (No Ready Light): Press the brake and gas pedals all the way down simultaneously to unlock the shifter, move it to Neutral, and tap "N" twice [08:31].

• Method 3 (Standard): With a "Green Ready" light, shift to Neutral and tap the "N" button twice to enable "30-minute Neutral Mode" [08:57].

• Note: If the 12V battery is dead, you cannot shift into neutral without jumping it first [09:31].

 

[chl]

I just had my truck throw an error, it has something to do with 1-pedal drive. It went into limp mode. Second time it did this in three days. Letting it rest 20 minutes, cleared the error and it drove normally.

However the second time it did this I tried a quick power cycle. Bad idea. The truck went into park, and would not shutdown. I was stuck in a bad intersection. I turned off the key, and tried waiting. I also tried to disconnect 12V but I did not have the right tool. Police came and they didn’t either. They called a tow truck.

But I was stuck in park. I hear there is an emergency release to neutral but I cannot figure it out. Does anyone know on a 2023 Lightning?

End of the story was after about 15 minutes, the truck let me power off and power on (reboot) and I was able to drive away, normally. I have a wrench icon I know will go away after a proper shutdown.

But I really want to know how to force put it in neutral if I do need a tow.

TIA

Weird errors like that can often be a failing 12v battery or something in the 12v battery system.

If you get a new battery, also getting a maintainer with an AGM mode would be a good idea - keep the truck on it when not in use/overnight.

Some Ford advisers now even recommend it when 'storing' the truck, but I say do it any time the truck is parked - for many reasons the Lightning doesn't do a good job of maintaining battery longevity.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/another-powertrain-reduced-power-fault.36097/page-3

 

[lipnorth]

Keep a 10mm wrench handy to disconnect the negative battery cable. It's the only way I found to get the shifter to work again after a fault like that, mine would get stuck in D.

Had the shifter replaced under warranty and no more issue.

Thanks, yes I do need a proper wrench, even with pliers the bolt was too tight to turn.

But the error was a 1-petal fault.

I want to know how to force a non responsive shifter out of park to neutral to allow it to be loaded on a flatbed. Just in case.

Lightning roadside service info

thank you!

Weird errors like that can often be a failing 12v battery or something in the 12v battery system.

If you get a new battery, also getting a maintainer with an AGM mode would be a good idea - keep the truck on it when not in use/overnight.

Some Ford advisers now even recommend it when 'storing' the truck, but I say do it any time the truck is parked - for many reasons the Lightning doesn't do a good job of maintaining battery longevity.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/another-powertrain-reduced-power-fault.36097/page-3

They already replaced the battery under warranty (a while back). I have a service appointment next week.

 

[Rich FBGTX]

Note the note from MountainAlive:
If the 12V battery is LOW, you may not be able to access the shift menus and/or use them to get the thing to neutral.
Fortunately, my tow truck driver had a booster. With adequate voltage, I found the right menu, got it in neutral and we loaded it up. Off for more rodent wiring damage repair... Guess I was lucky the shifter wiring was still intact.

 

[chl]

Thanks, yes I do need a proper wrench, even with pliers the bolt was too tight to turn.

But the error was a 1-petal fault.

I want to know how to force a non responsive shifter out of park to neutral to allow it to be loaded on a flatbed. Just in case.

thank you!


They already replaced the battery under warranty (a while back). I have a service appointment next week.

I have kept mine on a maintainer since 6 months of ownership when an OTA would not intsall and I started reading about all the 12v battery problems.

Last time I used my battery tester it was still showing 100% SOH (uses load test).

My non-AGM lead-acid battery for my Nissan Leaf is now 14 years old, on a maintainer since about 2 months old, and it shows an 80% SOH in the test...that's about the threshold for a 'good' battery.

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