Towing an automatic

NEH

After two weeks away my car has failed like the last time. Thought it was the same problem i had last year but after trying to jump start it last night it couldnt keep going and kept dying. Anyway after seeking advice its going to a specialist electrical garage as the battery has been checked twice now and is said to be fine. Anyhow my problem is that i had breakdown cover as part of my extended warranty and it ran out just before holiday, didnt have time to sort out anymore, (silly i know) so i dont have that. I have tried tow companies but they want £50 +VAT so my point i am trying to get to is this, can my fiance tow my car even though its an automatic. One of the many neighbours that came out last night and tried to help said you couldnt but my fiance thinks you can. Anyone had experience of this?

vikingaero

It should say in the handbook. Some autos can be towed short distances in neutral - others are a no no unless the driven axle is lifted clear.

iolanthe07

Depends on the make, but it isn't a good idea to tow an automatic even in neutral as it puts a lot of strain on the transmission. Assuming it is front wheel drive, the front wheels should be lifted clear of the ground on a dolly. If it is rear wheel drive, then you tow it backwards with the rear wheels on a dolly.

NEH

Thanks i'll check the manual now... Can't really afford to get it professionally towed at the moment so not sure what else we can do. I know someone said that if you ring the AA they will come and get you as long as you beomce a member but i dont know if this is true. I would have thought that as the breakdown happened before you took out the policy that it wouldnt be covered..... Ho hum....

NEH

Just checked and it says as long as it is no more than 30 miles at less than 30mph. Its only a mile and a half up the road so may be worth a go....

BillScarab

We used to have an Audi 80 auto and we once had to tow it about 6 or 7 miles. We just towed it slowly in neutral as per the handbook. It didn't cause any problems.

Wig

If I were you, I'd tow it at less than 10mph.

Smi1er

Wig wrote: »

If I were you, I'd tow it at less than 10mph.

That's downright dangerous on a public road.

just pay the towing fee

Wig

It's not dangerous, he only has to go about 1.5 mile

vikingaero

1.5 miles is OK to tow if the manual says 30 miles max at 30 mph max. Just do it outside of peak times.

I think the reason autos can't generally be towed long distances is that some of the mechanism still rotates in neutral . In the absence of power the atf fluid does not circulate and cool which leads to overheating .

derrick

Wig wrote: »

It's not dangerous, he only has to go about 1.5 mile

It might not be dangerous, but you could be booked for obstruction, 10 m p h on a 30 m p h road as example(unless heavy traffic), can be construed as obstruction as you would be holding up following traffic.

As vikingaero said, do it outside peak times.