Timeline for Can I tow an automatic car if the engine is on
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
9 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2020 at 12:41 | comment | added | user30609 | RAC in the UK insisted on towing it. It was towed! | |
| May 1, 2020 at 0:23 | comment | added | Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦ | @SirSwears-a-lot - If the transmission is low on fluid (as the OP states) and you leave the engine on, it will either run the transmission further out of fluid and destroy the front pump (doesn't take long), or it will destroy the front pump for lack of fluid. This really isn't a good idea considering the OP's situation, even for a short distance. | |
| Apr 30, 2020 at 21:48 | comment | added | Sir Swears-a-lot | @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 What about with the engine on? as OP has asked? Short distance? | |
| Apr 30, 2020 at 13:48 | comment | added | Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦ | @SirSwears-a-lot - If the transmission is low on fluid, you run the risk of it not pushing fluid with it running. With that, you are going to burn it up even faster. As jwh20 said without the engine running it gets ugly. Tranny pumps are usually attached to the torque converter and the TC is attached to the engine ... no running engine, no fluid distribution: fried components; more cost to repair. | |
| Apr 30, 2020 at 12:39 | vote | accept | user30609 | ||
| Apr 30, 2020 at 12:20 | comment | added | jwh20 | You cannot tow a automatic transmission vehicle on its drive wheels because input from the output shaft will NOT drive the oil pump and lubricate the transmission. | |
| Apr 30, 2020 at 11:54 | comment | added | Sir Swears-a-lot | @Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 why cant you tow it in neutral? It should free wheel? With engine idling it would have power steering and brakes. | |
| Apr 30, 2020 at 1:36 | comment | added | Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦ | Yah, no flat towing. The OP should be able to use a tow dolly, though ... put the drive wheels up on the dolly and have it. | |
| Apr 29, 2020 at 22:39 | history | answered | jwh20 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |