Towing autos...

[Lankytim]

Whats the deal with towing automatic cars?

 

I will need to get the auto Maestro I've plonked on my parents drive up to Stoke sooner or later, a distance of 60 miles or so. I'll be using an A frame so all four wheels will be on the ground. I've read that automatics can't be towed at all, but have been told they can be towed a short distance no probs. Does anyone know what the story is with them? What's the worst that could happen?

 

If the general opinion is that the box will seize punting the tow car out of control and into a ditch then I wont bother and Shiply it up.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I dollied an MR2 auto from Glasgow to Gloucester and it seemed to be OK.

 

I think it fooks the box if you go too far/fast, but it wont result in a spectacular blow up.

 

I reckon I would chance it at 60 steady miles. You could even stop every 20 miles and start the maestro for a few mins to pump the oil round the box a bit, I reckon it'll be fine.

[Mike D]

I had to tow my 928 home, 4.6 miles, the box was admittedly a bit low on oil, but it made a right arse clenchingly bad racket, if there hadn't been seemingly the whole of Grimsby Police force attending a major accident along my tow route, i'd have stopped!

 

I'd get it transported. The only reason i did the above tow is because the Porsches ass is too fat for a trailer! Sir Mixalot-tastic.

[warren t claim]

I was told to put an extra couple of litres of ATF in the autobox before towing.

[chaseracer]

If the front wheels are off the deck, Tim, I think you'll be OK; it's only a problem if the driven wheels - and so the gears - are rotating.

 

However, you should be aware that I am a mechanical idiot from whom power tools have been taken on many occasions...

[dieselnutjob]

why not tow it with the engine idling?

[Lankytim]

why not tow it with the engine idling?

 

I'd thought of that, but the engine is borked and won't idle.

 

I can take the route off the motorway onto A roads and do it at a steady 40 MPH.

[red5]

If the driving wheels are suspended tow away to your hearts content.. If not, then 30@30 is the general rule, 30miles at no more than 30mph. Without the cooling/lubricating effect of ATF being pumped the box will die, or have its life shortened hugely.

 

Not sure what overfilling with ATF would do, although pretty sure what would happen if you forgot to drain it after...

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

When an automatic box is in neutral, is it not truly in neutral?

[red5]

Not in the same way a manual transmission is - ie freewheeling with splash lubrication.

[Mike D]

I towed mine at 20mph, and it still sounded like hell.... However, I towed my mates Granada auto for 30 odd miles at 70, and that was fine, however it was idling......

[red5]

I towed mine at 20mph, and it still sounded like hell.... However, I towed my mates Granada auto for 30 odd miles at 70, and that was fine, however it was idling......

 

If the engine is turning the transmission is getting oil pumped around it. Generally older units are a bit more forgiving. A bit mind...

[autofive]

maestros front wheel drive?

 

if so - it doesnt matter

 

if they rwd (showing my BL ignorance now, i dont know if they F or Rwd)

 

than take the prop shaft off

 

 

i was told by a knowledgable old boy; when towing an auto (with a rope or pole) dont go over 30mph and not more than 4 miles

[Angrydicky]

Yes, FWD.

[dieselnutjob]

what would happen if you took the plugs out so there's no compression, stop fuel getting into the engine somehow, and put the transmission in "2"?

 

I'm guessing that being towed would cause the engine to turn over and the transmission to get lubed

 

edit: hmm, maybe the hydraulic stuff wouldn't actually get pumped up so it wouldn't actually engage a gear

maybe it'd be better to put it in 2 with the engine running. it would idle well if it's being dragged down the road

[Lankytim]

I don't think autoboxes allow the line of power to go the other way, but I could be wrong! Its an interesting idea anyway.

 

Anyway, I found this..

 

Vehicles with automatic transmission should be towed facing forwards only and must not be towed faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) or further than 60 miles (100 km). If the transmission is defective, or if the above speed or distance is to be exceeded, the front axle must be raised off the ground.

 

I don't know if the guy who posted this over on "honest Johns" knows what he's talking about or not but it looks good. I may stop looking for the the answer to this question now i've got one that suits me!

[dieselnutjob]

yes you can engine brake with an auto, work great down hills n stuff with my auto

 

however I suspect that it needs the engine running to pressurise the internals so that the clutch packs or whatever will engage which might be why you can't bump start them

 

however being dragged down the road at 40mph with no compression is not the same as attempting a bump start so who knows....

 

certainly if you can get it to run long enough to get moving I think that "engine braking" will then keep it running with the selctor in 2. If you had to stop and it stalled though you would be back to square one if you know what I mean if the clutch packs lost pressure and disengaged

[warren t claim]

I was told that an easy way to break an autobox was to shift into neutral at 70mph and then rev the engine hard.

[dieselnutjob]

I've got it

 

remove plugs so no compression

 

transmission in "2"

 

run a wire into the tow car so that you can operate the starter motor

 

get moving upto say 10 or 15mph

 

operate the starter motor using the long wire

 

this will cause the transmission to pressurise so that the clutches engage 2

 

once the clutches have engaged the movement will keep it all turning ( the "engine braking" clause)

 

In my opinion.....

[red5]

I've got it

 

remove plugs so no compression

 

transmission in "2"

 

run a wire into the tow car so that you can operate the starter motor

 

get moving upto say 10 or 15mph

 

operate the starter motor using the long wire

 

this will cause the transmission to pressurise so that the clutches engage 2

 

once the clutches have engaged the movement will keep it all turning ( the "engine braking" clause)

 

In my opinion.....

 

For 60 miles?

 

For that distance just raise the wheels that would be driven. Or risk short/long term box damage. Simples.

 

 

On a small (complete geek/useless knowledge) aside, there was one car with a Auto transmission you could tow start...

[chaseracer]

On a small (complete geek/useless knowledge) aside, there was one car with a Auto transmission you could tow start...

DAF Variomatic...??

[simmo]

As a bit of an aside when I worked at a Peugeot place it was always advised not to tow any of the FWD cars (104, 204 & 304) for anthing over a couple of miles, as the gearbox bearings are pressure fed, they were like the engine main bearings rather than bearing races. Never heard of one failing though.

 

Cars fitted with a Borg Warner 65 auto box (early Jags) will tow/push start if you get them up to 30mph this is because the oil pump works off of the back of the box.

[M'coli]

How easy is it to pop the driveshafts out of the outer CV joints and tie them to the suspension out of the way?

[red5]

As a bit of an aside when I worked at a Peugeot place it was always advised not to tow any of the FWD cars (104, 204 & 304) for anthing over a couple of miles, as the gearbox bearings are pressure fed, they were like the engine main bearings rather than bearing races. Never heard of one failing though.

 

Cars fitted with a Borg Warner 65 auto box (early Jags) will tow/push start if you get them up to 30mph this is because the oil pump works off of the back of the box.

 

That makes 2 then. The early mk1 Cortina had 2 pumps, one mounted on the tailshaft so it could be driven by the prop. I guess the Jag had the same, as opposed to 1 ?

[cms206]

As an aside in a random nugget of useless information, Leyland Pneumocyclic semi-automatic tranmissions are also possible to bump-start, but only if the tanks still have air in them... not at all good for the drivetrain though!

[Inspector Morose]

Already tried out successfully on one of your fleet!

[cms206]

Already tried out successfully on one of your fleet!

 

 

I shall pretend I didn't hear that... if it was 389, it's needing a 'box anyway

[nigel bickle]

30 at 30- it'll be fine.I've hauled loads.

 

Dont travel fast or hard,give it an occasional breather; if youre going much further. Cold will help

[garethj]

30 at 30- it'll be fine.I've hauled loads.

 

Dont travel fast or hard,give it an occasional breather; if youre going much further.

What he said.

How easy is it to pop the driveshafts out of the outer CV joints and tie them to the suspension out of the way?

This, if you need to go further. Driveshafts out should be easy with an allen key?

[Albert Ross]

Don't remove driveshafts, the outer CV joint is what keeps the wheel bearing at the correct "tighntess". You will need two hubs and knuckles and bearings if you do. You have been warned.