Towing A/T vehicles

**nicolodeon** · July 4th, 2005 10:21 AM

Last weekend, we got stuck on the boonies here in Cambodia because our vehicle (a Toyota 4WD A/T) went bonkers on us. Since we were in a hurry and we all know that there's no service station within miles, we wanted to tow the vehicle (we were 4 vehicles in all). But since my companions and I know, as a rule of thumb, that towing an A/T vehicle would be a no-no, we had this little discussion.

I would be the first to admit that I don't know much about the mechanisms inside an A/T tranny, but I recommended that we remove the propeller shaft (heck, we had the tools anyway and the muscle - there were 7 males in our group). One agreed but the others did not. So, since we all come from democratic countries, we had a vote. Needless to say, we lost. So, we got stuck there until late in the afternoon until help finally came along.

Gentlemen and ladies, I hope you can help me provide answers to my curiosities and ignorance. So here goes:

1. Was I correct in my recommendation to remove the propeller shaft so we might be able to tow the vehicle?

2. If we had indeed removed the propeller shaft, would we have been able to tow the vehicle? If yes, would there be any damage to the vehicle?

3. Let's assume that I got stuck in the city (here or there in the Philippines) with my A/T ride and I need to move it from Point A (where I stalled) to Point B (where I want it to be moved), how would I do it safely?

Pardon the questions but I've been the owner of an A/T vehicle for only a few months so I'm still reading up on this type of tranny.

Thanks in advance.

**luckytruck** · July 4th, 2005 10:38 AM

is it at full time 4wd or the one with a manual gear shift for the 4wd tranny?

i thought you could just put the small gear shift in neutral and then you could tow it already? i am by no means a mechanic, so please correct me if i am wrong

andy

**nicolodeon** · July 4th, 2005 10:51 AM

No, it's not a full-time 4WD. It has a manual gear-shift to engage the A/T.

**bogart** · July 4th, 2005 11:18 AM

According to the manual of my wife's 94 Corona AT, put the gear in "N" and you're ready to be towed. Just be sure to put in also the key so the steering wheel will not lock.

**voltscastillo** · July 4th, 2005 11:40 AM

honda a/ts don't like to be towed anywhere more than a couple kilometers away. i don't know why. maybe the gears inside the tranny are still engaged to the engine (?). pacencia na can't be of more help...dunno much about a/t cars din eh.

although i have pushed my civic a/t a few hundred meters to nearest gas station once...tapos i found out it was just a dud battery, kaya pala ayaw mag start hehe

**baiskee** · July 4th, 2005 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by bogart

According to the manual of my wife's 94 Corona AT, put the gear in "N" and you're ready to be towed. Just be sure to put in also the key so the steering wheel will not lock.

what will happaen if the gear is on "Park (P)"?

hhmm... pwede kayang kasuhan yung towing company dito pag nasira?

**Jayo** · July 4th, 2005 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by nicolodeon

No, it's not a full-time 4WD. It has a manual gear-shift to engage the A/T.

The lever that engages 4WD usually has H2-N-H4-Lo4. If you have this type just set it to N-neutral and safely tow...

**empy** · July 4th, 2005 12:17 PM

"N" should be just fine. if you are able to lift the drive wheels off the ground, that's even better. if you leave the tranny in Park when towing...well, it's time to buy a new drivetrain...

**mbt** · July 4th, 2005 12:35 PM

AFAIK, for a part-time 4WD, it's best to put the transmission in P, then put the transfer case in N. this way, the transmission will not be prone to damage from non-circulating oil (because the tranny is disconnected from the drive wheels).

for a full-time 4WD or a two-wheel-drive vehicle... if you have no choice, put the tranny in N and tow (you shouldn't go too far though, for example, my owner's manual says that towing with the drive wheels down should not exceed a total of 80 km for the life of the vehicle). or better, put it in P and then remove the propeller shafts.

**JohnM** · July 4th, 2005 12:41 PM

If tranny is in "Park" (P) a "tooth" locks the moving tranny parts to the tranny casing. Pansin nyo i-P ang tranny while parked sa medyo slanted na area. When you release the brakes you will feel the car move konti before the tranny locks. Towing the car with the tranny locked would be disastrous.