Lincoln Navigator: Four-Wheel Drive Systems / Neutral Flat Tow Activation and Deactivation. General Procedures

Activation

  WARNING: Shifting the transfer case to its neutral position for neutral flat towing may allow the vehicle to be able to roll even if the transmission is in park (P). Make sure the foot brake is depressed and the vehicle is in a secure and safe position while the transfer case is being shifted to its neutral position. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

  WARNING: Do not disconnect the battery during neutral flat towing. Doing so will prevent the transfer case from shifting properly and may allow the vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in park (P). Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

NOTICE: 2WD and 1-Speed Torque on Demand transfer case vehicles cannot be flat towed with any of the wheels on the ground. Vehicle or transmission damage will occur.

NOTICE: Failure to put the transfer case in its NEUTRAL position will damage vehicle components.

NOTE: You can only tow a 4WD vehicle with 2-Speed Torque on Demand transfer case with all wheels on the ground by placing the transfer case in its NEUTRAL position and engaging the four-wheel-down towing feature. Perform the following steps after positioning your vehicle behind the tow vehicle and properly securing them together.

NOTE: Neutral flat tow status can be checked at any time by opening the driver door or turning the ignition to the ACC or ON position and checking the display in the IPC .

NOTE: A video of the Neutral Tow Activation procedure is available for customers. Expedition - English Lincoln - English

1. Properly secure the your vehicle to the tow vehicle.
   

1. Start the engine.
   

1. Place the transfer case in 2H mode. Select NORMAL drive mode or press 2H on the mode select switch.
   

1. Vehicles with console gear selector, shift the transmission to Neutral and enable Stay in Neutral mode. Vehicles with column shift, place the gear selector in N.
   

1. Leave the transmission in N. For vehicles with intelligent access, press the engine START/STOP button once without pressing the brake pedal to turn off the ignition. If your vehicle has an ignition key, turn the ignition as far as it will go toward the off position (it will not turn fully off when the transmission is in position N). A Transmission Not in Park message appears in the information display.
   

1. Turn the ignition to the ON position. Do not start the engine. If your vehicle has intelligent access, press the engine START/STOP button once without pressing the brake pedal. If your vehicle has an ignition key, turn the key to on.
   

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
   

1. Enable Neutral Tow. Navigate the message center to Settings >> Advanced Settings >> Vehicle >> Neutral Tow
   
   • If completed successfully, the IPC displays "NEUTRAL TOW ENABLED LEAVE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL", indicating that the vehicle is safe to tow with all wheels on the ground.
     
   • If the message is not shown in the display, the entire procedure must be performed again.
     
   • An audible noise may be heard as the transfer case shifts into neutral position. This is normal operation.
     
   • On vehicles with intelligent access, the transmission will return to Park. The GSM will continue to display Neutral. This is normal operation.
     

1. Release the brake pedal.
   

1. NOTE: This vehicle is equipped with a "Smart Unlock" feature to reduce the chance of locking the keys in the vehicle. If the key or key fob is detected in the vehicle, the LOCK input from the exterior keyless entry key pad and the passive entry door handle sensor is disabled. The doors will automatically unlock if a lock requested is made using the interior trim or key fob lock buttons.

   Leave the GSM or gear selector leverin N. For vehicles with intelligent access, press the engine START/STOP button once without pressing the brake pedal to turn off the ignition. If your vehicle has an ignition key, turn the ignition as far as it will go toward the off position (it will not turn fully off when the transmission is in position N). If your vehicle has an ignition key, you must leave the key in the ignition while towing.
   
   • To lock a vehicle with intelligent access, exit the vehicle with the key fob. Use the key fob lock button to lock the doors.
     
   • To lock a vehicle with an ignition key, manually lock the passenger door(s), exit the vehicle, and use the second key to manually lock the driver's door from the outside.
     

Deactivation

  WARNING: Shifting the transfer case to its neutral position for neutral flat towing may allow the vehicle to be able to roll even if the transmission is in park (P). Make sure the foot brake is depressed and the vehicle is in a secure and safe position while the transfer case is being shifted to its neutral position. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

  WARNING: Do not disconnect the battery during neutral flat towing. Doing so will prevent the transfer case from shifting properly and may allow the vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in park (P). Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

NOTE: Neutral flat tow status can be checked at any time by opening the driver door or turning the ignition to the ACC or ON position and checking the display in the IPC .

1. With the vehicle still attached to the tow vehicle, start the engine. On vehicles with intelligent access, the transmission will return to Neutral.
   

1. Leave the transmission in N. For vehicles with intelligent access, press the engine START/STOP button once without pressing the brake pedal to turn off the ignition. If your vehicle has an ignition key, turn the ignition as far as it will go toward the off position (it will not turn fully off when the transmission is in position N).
   

1. Turn the ignition to the ON position. Do not start the engine. If your vehicle has intelligent access, press the engine START/STOP button once without pressing the brake pedal. If your vehicle has an ignition key, turn the key to on.
   

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
   

1. Shift the transmission out of NEUTRAL and into Park.
   

1. Release the brake pedal.
   
   • If completed successfully, the IPC displays "NEUTRAL TOW DISABLED".
     
   • If the message does not display, the entire procedure must be performed again.
     
   • An audible noise may be heard as the transfer case shifts out of NEUTRAL position, this is normal operation.