towing an automatic

Can you tow a automatic on the road. I need to move my Discovery 300 Tdi Auto about 10 miles. Or will hiring a trailer be better.Engine will not start so I guess the steering will be hard too?
Regards
Steve

I don't think you can, not deffo though. Think if you have to, you should raise the front wheels and disconnect rear drive/prop.

discowoods said:

Can you tow a automatic on the road. I need to move my Discovery 300 Tdi Auto about 10 miles. Or will hiring a trailer be better.Engine will not start so I guess the steering will be hard too?
Regards
Steve

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Towing 10 miles will be OK, and in fact towing a Disco Auto 1,000 miles will be OK, but only if you put the TRANSFER BOX into NEUTRAL.
Doing that means that the output shaft of the gearbox will not be turned by the prop shafts, and so the gearbox is not being used while there is no oil pressure in it.

BRAKES AND STEERING will take a LOT of effort.

Like REALLY REALLY LOTS. Before you go 10 miles, try towing it a few yards and then decide to tow or to trailer.

Towing using a A-Frame would be an alternative to rope and trailer. This way it steers itelf (remember to unlock the steering!) and the tow-car provide the brakes.

CharlesY

do the latter or drop the props and have arms like popeye after a 10 mile tow.

oh incase you dont know i belive its law abough useing a tow pole just to warn you

good luck

pull it onto the public highway, then call the RAC / AA or other breakdown cover provider, and ask them to recover you!

MW

Towing will be ok if BOTH boxes are in neutral but as has been said, steering and brake function will be seriously reduced.

steadyaway said:

Towing will be ok if BOTH boxes are in neutral but as has been said, steering and brake function will be seriously reduced.

Click to expand...

Only the TRANSFER BOX needs to be in neutral.

There will be NO drive to the gearbox in this condition while the car is being towed.

If the engine isn't running it doesn't matter what position the gear selector is in - nothing will happen as there is no oil pressure in the gearbox.

In practical terms, both the BRAKES and the STEERING will be so heavy, you might want to not tow very far, and if you do tow, go very carefully.

CharlesY

Yep as is said in last post, I was towed 15 miles this way when my water pump packed in.

I lost all my transmission fluid last night while out laning.

I got towed home, while the transfer box and gearbox were in Neutral.

I kept the engine on for power steering and brakes, but someone mentioned it may damage the torque converter as the engine would still be spinning it.

Can anybody tell me if there is any chance of torque converter damage while running the engine with no transmission fluid.

I believe that out of the 9 ltrs half stays in the torque converter, and I only lost what was in the sump before finding a bolt to plug it up before we set off.

oil pump wont have liked it running dry(let alone all other bits) its driven by t/c ,why did you leave engine running with considerable oil loss ,you may be lucky but theres a good chance youve buggered it

Not engine oil. Automatic transmission fluid loss.

thats what i meant

But if the gearbox isn't being used by the diff lock being in neutral then the gearbox shouldn't have any issues surely.

My question related to the torque converter which is attached to the flywheel.

so is the oil pump ,ive seen them run like that to the point its run dry and put bits every where and others refill took care of

Hopefully a refill will be ok.
It made no noises, just the engine idling on way home.
Went about 10 miles at a maximin of 30 mph. Mostly a lot slower though through country lanes.