IRC
1. Modern cars with auto gearboxes should only be towed / recovered with the driven wheels suspended else the gearbox is damaged.
2. I also believed that autos could be moved by being pushed or conventionally slowly towed very short distances.
Can someone advise me if the above is correct and if so what speed / distance applies to 2.
I have recently switched to an auto after many years of manual gearboxes so am still on the learning curve.
This question was triggered by seeing reports on TV of many cars on the US freeway being pushed a mile or more to a filling station. Will they have a damaged gearbox to add to their sad plight?
I recently visited NMSI Wroughton where they had a large towing type vehicle in the collection. It was stated that they had to get it fully working in order to move it under its own propulsion else the gearbox would be damaged.
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I'm not that up on auto gearboxes, but what our saying sounds right.
Looking through 2 different car user manuals, they both suggest that an automatic should only be towed a maximum distance of 30 miles at no more than 30mph. incidentally, this was for a 1982 Passat and a 1994 440/460.
The reasons for why were only stated in the VW handbook. Apparently its because without the engine running, the gearbox oil pump does not provide satisfactory lubrication for fast or sustained towing. I would imagine that an automatic being pushed (by humans) would give little or no long term damage as the speeds are so low and distances not being all that great.
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Not sure if the same applies to other manufacturers, but all the handbooks I've had for my Auto Vauxhall's have pretty much stated the following.
"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."
And in my Vectra-C manual:-
"Vehicles with CVTronic: always tow forward, no faster than 15 mph (25 km/h) and no further than 50 miles (80 km). If transmission is damaged or driving at faster speeds or longer distances, lift vehicle at front axle."
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I always thought that the gearbox would overheat since the engine oil is not being circulated.
To tow a Range Rover auto, you have to remove one of the fuses to force the differential into neutral, but that's not really the same thing.
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Depends on the transmission design. Most auto's have the pump running off the input shaft, so without engine running there is no lubricant circulation in the 'box and lubriation will break down, damaging the box. Pushing it a few miles won't be a problem.
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I've always wondered how those people who drive Winnebago's across the US, with a car being towed behind (which I assume is auto, as practically everything is auto in the US) get on?
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Ah - here's the answer (to the towing with an RV) www.remcotowing.com
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just need to take the last dot' out :)
www.remcotowing.com {Done. DD}
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