Towing an auto

[Zayyan]

Am I right in thinking that if towing an auto in neutral the gearbox becomes useless?

If towing an auto which is in Drive with someone steering and braking when I do will this be OK?

Cheers

[burnout]

your right mate you can only tow an auto if it's been put in neutral

[Zayyan]

I thought even if it's in neutral the gearbox oil heats up or something and makes the gearbox useless?

When I mentioned towing it in Drive I meant with the engine on as well!

[burnout]

I thought even if it's in neutral the gearbox oil heats up or something and makes the gearbox useless?

When I mentioned towing it in Drive I meant with the engine on as well!

but then why do you need to tow if your going to have the engine on and in drive

[OllieB]

Cant tow an auto for more than a couple of miles without causing serious damage. If you have to, put it in neutral for gods sake....

[Zayyan]

I thought even if it's in neutral the gearbox oil heats up or something and makes the gearbox useless?

When I mentioned towing it in Drive I meant with the engine on as well!

but then why do you need to tow if your going to have the engine on and in drive

It's got no tax or MOT and I can't be bothered to insure it for the day and then book an MOT to drive it to.

I was thinking the engine was on and the car was in Drive it'd be like rolling down a hill during normal driving? Which can't cause damage, can it?

[burnout]

fair enough-tbh i think your better off seeing if you know someone who can trailer it-by law not sure so don't hold me to it but you can't tow if it doesn't have a valid mot/tax.

[Zayyan]

Well that's not a problem as I know that all you need on a car being towed is road legal tyres, working rear lights and the numberplate of the car towing it.

I'm just asking what I thought was a reasonably simple question!

[burnout]

i've replied reasonably

no tax/mot=not road legal-not road legal=not allowed on road

cheers jim

[SwirlyE30]

Be easier to get someone in the Yellow pages with a cheap service to stick it on a low lowder and trailer it. I wouldnt pull it mate as you can mess it up big style

[Zayyan]

i've replied reasonably

no tax/mot=not road legal-not road legal=not allowed on road

cheers jim

Trailers don't need an MOT or tax....and the towed car is regarded as a trailer when being towed.

Thanks for your replies but whether I can tow it legally or not isn't the issue, the question is whether I can tow it in neutral without frying the gearbox or whether it's better to leave the engine running and tow it in Drive.

[Zayyan]

Be easier to get someone in the Yellow pages with a cheap service to stick it on a low lowder and trailer it. I wouldnt pull it mate as you can mess it up big style

I don't think it'd be worth it for a 100 quid car dude consdering it's 30 miles or so away.

I suppose the worst case is I can pretend it's broken down and get the AA to send me a truck and hope they'll put it straight on the back like last time without even looking under the bonnet

[burnout]

[Zayyan]

?

[nwmlarge]

you kids do wander off topic

for the sake of the hassle of getting ya mate to tow you and it being illegal anyway why not drive the fricking thing lol

[Zayyan]

for the sake of the hassle of getting ya mate to tow you and it being illegal anyway why not drive the fricking thing lol

As I've already said it's not illegal to tow it.

It'd be illegal to drive it without tax or MOT and a hassle to insure it for the day and book an MOT to take it to (which might be a waste as I'm not sure if it's MOT-able until I get there), which is why I'd rather tow the damn thing.

[OllieB]

If the car has cost Ԛ£100, and you presumably do not need the autobox then why are you bothered?

[Zayyan]

Because if it's worth saving I'll MOT it and use it, and I can't use a car without a gearbox.

[nwmlarge]

is this the one on ebay with the box lying next to the car?

if so i shouldn't imagine its driveable lol

get a trailor save yourself any trouble.

[Zayyan]

is this the one on ebay with the box lying next to the car?

No

[nwmlarge]

seems a lot of hassle for a maybe car tbh

[Jem]

Would it be possible to remove the propshaft? Then the autobox wont know it's on the move

[Zayyan]

seems a lot of hassle for a maybe car tbh

Yeah, I'll give up on the whole idea

[Zayyan]

Would it be possible to remove the propshaft? Then the autobox wont know it's on the move

That's an idea if it's easy enough - somehow it doesn't sound it though

[e30alpina]

you can tow it, it is legal . and you can tow a auto and it wont affect the auto box as long as the engine is running , so it is alble to pump the oil though the oil cooler, the auto box will only get damaged if the engine is not running

[Zayyan]

you can tow it, it is legal . and you can tow a auto and it wont affect the auto box as long as the engine is running , so it is alble to pump the oil though the oil cooler, the auto box will only get damaged if the engine is not running

Thanks a lot

[e30alpina]

no problem fella

[OllieB]

One more thing, think it is now a legal requirement to tow with a solid bar - eg no ropes IIRC

[nwmlarge]

One more thing, think it is now a legal requirement to tow with a solid bar - eg no ropes IIRC

only worthwhile statement on this post lol

[Zayyan]

One more thing, think it is now a legal requirement to tow with a solid bar - eg no ropes IIRC

Ah right I didn't know that. I have a solid bar anyway as the law used to be that ropes were OK except on motorways so I thought I'd get a pole to be safe.

Cheers for that

[Zayyan]

One more thing, think it is now a legal requirement to tow with a solid bar - eg no ropes IIRC

only worthwhile statement on this post lol

e30alpina's was useful too

[OllieB]

True.


Off topic but anyway, nwmlarge, what is the deal with your sig? Seems like a pointless match up, did this ever take place?

[Cotty]

you can tow it, it is legal . and you can tow a auto and it wont affect the auto box as long as the engine is running , so it is alble to pump the oil though the oil cooler, the auto box will only get damaged if the engine is not running

Handy to know as my touring is auto.

So if the engine is shot for whatever reason it should not be towed? I have got AA cover so shouldnt be a problem, just nice to know

[e30alpina]

One more thing, think it is now a legal requirement to tow with a solid bar - eg no ropes IIRC

only worthwhile statement on this post lol

e30alpina's was useful too

thankyou zayyan , but you are right about the bar and the rope

[12345kevin]

I'm sure i've read somewhere it's ok to tow an e30 auto for up to 30 miles at speeds below 30mph with it in neutral ! I may be wrong though