need some advice here from Mk4 Auto Focus owners, I’ve only had the car 2 1/2 years figured it’s about time I figure out what to do if it breaks down! .  First automatic  I’ve owned/leased. And first I’ve driven with a dial gear selector. Had a quick look in the handbook…..not really any wiser. How do I get it into neutral? And if the battery is dead what happens? And if it’s in neutral will the steering lock unlock? If the battery is dead will the hand brake still be able to be released ? Any advice much appreciated…

First car with a button ignition too

with a key ignition and a manual gearbox it was all very easy! 

21 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

If the battery is dead will the hand brake still be able to be released ?

You would need to either connect another battery/car with jump leads or jack the car up and unbolt the motors that work the Electric Parking Brake.

I don't know about the Automatic Transmission aspects though.

Yes, as mentioned, if battery dead, open door with key, open bonnet (good luck on a MK4) and connect booster or change battery.

On virtually all cars with rotary gear selectors there is no means to mechanically move the gearbox in to neutral without having the ignition powered up. So in the case of a flat battery you will need to connect another car, via jumper leads or a booster pack.

The steering lock is the same, it will only be released when the ignition is on.

The electric parking brake can be overcome by removing the motors from the rear brakes but it's not something that would be recommended, then again with an automatic it would be very rare that the parking brake would be used.

 

See if the car won’t start , how do you get it into neutral ? Even with foot on the brake the dial is locked….. 🤷‍♂️ 

42 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

See if the car won’t start , how do you get it into neutral ? Even with foot on the brake the dial is locked….. 🤷‍♂️ 

Once you have power you can ignition on and put the transmission in neutral. Handbook should explain.

If car is completely dead then vehicle has to be lifted and transported as you won't get steering lock off, transmission out of park or handbrake off without ignition

BTW, I know on our JLR products, with electronic shifters, there is a manual transmission release cable in the engine bay to pull transmission out of Park, there may be the same on Focus, I don't know.

Thanks for the replies. 
 

Had a look at the handbook thru the app. It’s more specific than the actual book. It’s feet on both pedals then shift into neutral I think is the answer 🧐. 

It says press M , I have a M button as I’ve got paddles, some later mk4s didn’t have them. Can’t remember what they got instead in the middle button on the dial. 

38 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

It says press M , I have a M button as I’ve got paddles, some later mk4s didn’t have them. Can’t remember what they got instead in the middle button on the dial. 

"L" to hold low gears

1 hour ago, Alex.S said:

Had a look at the handbook thru the app. It’s more specific than the actual book. It’s feet on both pedals then shift into neutral I think is the answer

This method will of course not work if the battery is flat.

I'm not very sure why there would even need to be such a procedure since it only works with a healthy battery, and you can not tow an automatic even if it is in neutral.

The only thing that it  might be useful for would be dragging it on to the back of a transporter if the engine won't start.

I was thinking more if it broke down and needed pushed out the way of traffic. Am I right in saying the power steering is electric? I guess that would continue to work as long as there’s life in the battery ? 
Putting it in neutral surely unlocks the steering lock 🧐 

It’s complicated compared to old motors 

The steering lock only remains unlocked when the ignition is on (engine does not need to be running).

The power steering is electric (EPS) but as fas as I remember it does not operate unless the engine is running (probably because it uses a lot of power). You can test that theory by just turning the ignition on (don't start the engine) and see how easy or hard it is to turn the steering.

I have driven all kinds of automatics since around 1992 and only twice broken down with the need to move the vehicle. In both cases the selector was the traditional mechanical type and I was able to select neutral. On modern cars like the MK4 Focus you just have to accept that the need to select neutral on a 'dead' car is generally impractical.

Electric power steering won't work without the engine running.

If it breaks down in a high risk area, just call MB/RAC and tell them it's stuck in a dangerous position.  If it's really high risk, (blind 60mph bend in dark) call the police.

 

On the subject of EPAS...  After my Golf battery went flat, the EPAS wouldn't work without a speed input to reset it...which meant it had to be driven a short distance.  I couldn't believe how heavy the steering was without the PAS with a big 2.0 lump and 6sp gearbox up front!