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Towing an auto
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:56 pm
by 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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:02 pm
by burnout
your right mate you can only tow an auto if it's been put in neutral
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:04 pm
by 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!
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:07 pm
by burnout
Zayyan wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:11 pm
by 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....
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:21 pm
by Zayyan
burnout wrote:Zayyan wrote: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?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:30 pm
by 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.
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:34 pm
by 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!
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:40 pm
by burnout
i've replied reasonably
no tax/mot=not road legal-not road legal=not allowed on road
cheers jim
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:43 pm
by 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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:47 pm
by Zayyan
burnout wrote: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.
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:50 pm
by Zayyan
SwirlyE30 wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:50 pm
by burnout
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:51 pm
by Zayyan
burnout wrote:
?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:52 pm
by 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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:55 pm
by Zayyan
nwmlarge wrote: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.
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:56 pm
by OllieB
If the car has cost Ԛ£100, and you presumably do not need the autobox then why are you bothered?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:57 pm
by Zayyan
Because if it's worth saving I'll MOT it and use it, and I can't use a car without a gearbox.
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 6:59 pm
by 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.
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:01 pm
by Zayyan
nwmlarge wrote:is this the one on ebay with the box lying next to the car?
No
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:02 pm
by nwmlarge
seems a lot of hassle for a maybe car tbh
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:05 pm
by Jem
Would it be possible to remove the propshaft? Then the autobox wont know it's on the move
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:06 pm
by Zayyan
nwmlarge wrote:seems a lot of hassle for a maybe car tbh
Yeah, I'll give up on the whole idea
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:07 pm
by Zayyan
Jem wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:09 pm
by 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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:12 pm
by Zayyan
e30alpina wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:18 pm
by e30alpina
no problem fella
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:30 pm
by OllieB
One more thing, think it is now a legal requirement to tow with a solid bar - eg no ropes IIRC
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:34 pm
by nwmlarge
OllieB wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:34 pm
by Zayyan
OllieB wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:36 pm
by Zayyan
nwmlarge wrote:OllieB wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:41 pm
by 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?
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:49 pm
by Cotty
e30alpina wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 7:51 pm
by e30alpina
Zayyan wrote:nwmlarge wrote:OllieB wrote: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
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:30 pm
by 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