I have a Ford Focus 2013. Last week I drove to Bangkok from Pattaya and the hotel parking attendant asked me to leave the car in neutral so he could push it if necessary. I know this is common in Bangkok, so I complied, but the Ford was not happy about it!

A warning message appeared telling me I should put the car in Park and there was no way to dismiss the message. I was also unable to lock the vehicle (it is a key-less entry with a key-less start). I was concerned for two reasons: would I drain the battery with this message displayed overnight? And I really wanted to lock the car.

Luckily he moved the car against a wall in the afternoon, so I didn't have to test the battery overnight.

Any ideas about how to leave this vehicle in neutral, dismiss the message, and lock the car? Thanks!

In my Civic there is a slot just above the gear lever to put the key in and press to allow placing in neutral without the alarms. Perhaps the Focus has something similar?

here is an answer:

1. Step on the brake.

2. Turn the key to the on (II) position.

3. Shift the transmission to the neutral position.

4. Turn the ignition to the off position.

From: http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdirs/quickref/2013_WreckerTowing_Manual.pdf

This reminded me of the practise when I was in UK of leaving a car in neutral whereas in North America they are left in gear. Talking manual/standard transmission. The number of Brits I know who got into parked cars and turned the key only to have the vehicle lurch forward.

This reminded me of the practise when I was in UK of leaving a car in neutral whereas in North America they are left in gear. Talking manual/standard transmission. The number of Brits I know who got into parked cars and turned the key only to have the vehicle lurch forward.

Normally, for starting the car, you should depress the clutch for further safety, right?

This reminded me of the practise when I was in UK of leaving a car in neutral  whereas in North America they are left in gear. Talking manual/standard transmission. The number of Brits I know who got into parked cars and turned the key only to have the vehicle lurch forward.  

 

Normally, for starting the car, you should depress the clutch for further safety, right?

You wouldn't need to unless some dumb arse American has parked the car :D

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Geared car... I 'used to' always depress the clutch when starting it... It was habit.

Now after driving automatic cars in Thailand For over 10 years I now forget to change gear when driving a geared car in the Uk!

On Topic: my previous car and current car won't park in neutral. I never want to park the car in neutral, I don't trust others not to bump it when pushing, it also increases the risk of theft...

Geared car... I 'used to' always depress the clutch when starting it... It was habit.

Now after driving automatic cars in Thailand For over 10 years I now forget to change gear when driving a geared car in the Uk!

On Topic: my previous car and current car won't park in neutral. I never want to park the car in neutral, I don't trust others not to bump it when pushing, it also increases the risk of theft...

I try never to park in neutral too. I have seen people pushing the cars and bumping them against the car behind.

Not to talk of seeing people putting their hands on the metal and hence deforming it.

here is an answer:

1. Step on the brake.

2. Turn the key to the on (II) position.

3. Shift the transmission to the neutral position.

4. Turn the ignition to the off position.

From: http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdirs/quickref/2013_WreckerTowing_Manual.pdf

It sounds like the solution, but unfortunately it did not work. The warning message still appears and the vehicle will not lock.

Thanks for trying

here is an answer:

1. Step on the brake.

2. Turn the key to the on (II) position.

3. Shift the transmission to the neutral position.

4. Turn the ignition to the off position.

From: http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdirs/quickref/2013_WreckerTowing_Manual.pdf

It sounds like the solution, but unfortunately it did not work. The warning message still appears and the vehicle will not lock.

Thanks for trying

The clue was: Read the manual!

In my Civic there is a slot just above the gear lever to put the key in and press to allow placing in neutral without the alarms. Perhaps the Focus has something similar?

My wife Mazda 3 has the same thing. I never knew about it until an attendant at Don Mueang Airport Parking lot showed me how it worked. Had the car 4 years and never realized it.

Edited June 20, 201313 yr by Nowhereman60

RTFM

here is an answer:

1. Step on the brake.

2. Turn the key to the on (II) position.

3. Shift the transmission to the neutral position.

4. Turn the ignition to the off position.

The answer is not in the manual; take the car to the dealer and they can answer this question.

From: http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdirs/quickref/2013_WreckerTowing_Manual.pdf

It sounds like the solution, but unfortunately it did not work. The warning message still appears and the vehicle will not lock.

Thanks for trying

The clue was: Read the manual!

Take the car to the dealer and they will answer your question.

Edited June 21, 201313 yr by ThaiBob

Geared car... I 'used to' always depress the clutch when starting it... It was habit.

Now after driving automatic cars in Thailand For over 10 years I now forget to change gear when driving a geared car in the Uk!

On Topic: my previous car and current car won't park in neutral. I never want to park the car in neutral, I don't trust others not to bump it when pushing, it also increases the risk of theft...

I try never to park in neutral too. I have seen people pushing the cars and bumping them against the car behind.

Not to talk of seeing people putting their hands on the metal and hence deforming it.

I key the paint work on doors of cars left in 'Park' that block me in.

That's what bumpers are for.

Metal deformation by hand should only be a problem on brand new 'cocoa tin' Fords btw.

Not sure about the shifter disengaging button on the new Focus but in the new Ranger, it is covered in the owners manual. However, Ford designers have covered the disengaging button (just ahead of the shifter stick) with a hard-to-remove plastic plug. I managed to remove mine and leave it in the glovebox. Now the procedure is park, MAKE SURE FRONT WHEELS ARE STRAIGHT, place shifter in Park, turn off ignition, remove key, stick key in hole ahead of shifter and press the disengaging button while moving shifter to Neutral, remove key, get out of car, ignore all chimes and warnings, lock door and bugger off.

Edited June 21, 201313 yr by NanLaew

Geared car... I 'used to' always depress the clutch when starting it... It was habit.

Now after driving automatic cars in Thailand For over 10 years I now forget to change gear when driving a geared car in the Uk!

On Topic: my previous car and current car won't park in neutral. I never want to park the car in neutral, I don't trust others not to bump it when pushing, it also increases the risk of theft...

I try never to park in neutral too. I have seen people pushing the cars and bumping them against the car behind.

Not to talk of seeing people putting their hands on the metal and hence deforming it.

I key the paint work on doors of cars left in 'Park' that block me in.

That's what bumpers are for.

Metal deformation by hand should only be a problem on brand new 'cocoa tin' Fords btw.

Not sure about the shifter disengaging button on the new Focus but in the new Ranger, it is covered in the owners manual. However, Ford designers have covered the disengaging button (just ahead of the shifter stick) with a hard-to-remove plastic plug. I managed to remove mine and leave it in the glovebox. Now the procedure is park, MAKE SURE FRONT WHEELS ARE STRAIGHT, place shifter in Park, turn off ignition, remove key, stick key in hole ahead of shifter and press the disengaging button while moving shifter to Neutral, remove key, get out of car, ignore all chimes and warnings, lock door and bugger off.

Because of such vandals as you, I always try to find a decent parking spot.

I guess you take care of your car the "Thai" way... total disregard for others or your property.

Geared car... I 'used to' always depress the clutch when starting it... It was habit.

Now after driving automatic cars in Thailand For over 10 years I now forget to change gear when driving a geared car in the Uk!

On Topic: my previous car and current car won't park in neutral. I never want to park the car in neutral, I don't trust others not to bump it when pushing, it also increases the risk of theft...

I try never to park in neutral too. I have seen people pushing the cars and bumping them against the car behind.

Not to talk of seeing people putting their hands on the metal and hence deforming it.

I key the paint work on doors of cars left in 'Park' that block me in.

That's what bumpers are for.

Metal deformation by hand should only be a problem on brand new 'cocoa tin' Fords btw.

Not sure about the shifter disengaging button on the new Focus but in the new Ranger, it is covered in the owners manual. However, Ford designers have covered the disengaging button (just ahead of the shifter stick) with a hard-to-remove plastic plug. I managed to remove mine and leave it in the glovebox. Now the procedure is park, MAKE SURE FRONT WHEELS ARE STRAIGHT, place shifter in Park, turn off ignition, remove key, stick key in hole ahead of shifter and press the disengaging button while moving shifter to Neutral, remove key, get out of car, ignore all chimes and warnings, lock door and bugger off.

Because of such vandals as you, I always try to find a decent parking spot.

I guess you take care of your car the "Thai" way... total disregard for others or your property.

There's a good chap, always finding a decent parking spot and parking responsibly. Same as I do.

There's a certain thrill on relentlessly keying a Lao-registered Merc, a Bangkok-plated Lambo or any other high-end import that some shiftless(?) idiot has left blocking other lower order mortals from doing their daily business. I doubt that farangs fall into that category.... unless you are that Swedish bloke with the red-plated top-of-the-line white Evoque that blocked me in last weekend. Keying may take the owner some time to notice on white cars btw.

I found the solution!

A Thai friend did some inquiries on a Thai motor forum and they pointed him to the Driver assist menu in the vehicle. There is an item called Park lock ctrl which was not checked by default.

We tried checking it and that did the trick! I can now leave the car in neutral without a warning and I can lock the car.

Why neither the Thai nor the English Ford Focus manual didn't make any mention of this option is a mystery to me!

Well done mate. Many of the plonkers here failed to understand that there literally is no key as is the situation with my wife's Focus 2.0 S+