Most motorists "heard something" that towing on a manual gearbox is different from towing on an "automatic". However, not everyone knows the details of these differences. Even owners of cars with automatic transmission emergency they often get lost and do not know whether it is possible to tow a car or take someone in tow.
So, is it possible to tow a car equipped with automatic transmission or, conversely, use such a car as a tugboat? If so, are there any special requirements for these types of towing?
The difference between towing a car with an "automatic"
In the case of towing a vehicle equipped with mechanical box, in the neutral position of the box, only one gear is spinning. Moreover, when towing, in the neutral position of the box, the entire mechanism will rotate. Since the device is not designed for such work, it overheats rather quickly and, as a result, may fail. Besides, oil pump, which services the gearbox, functions only when the engine is running. If you tow a car with the engine turned off, then the transmission parts will work without lubrication. It can also lead to failure of the automatic transmission.
In the event that a car with automatic transmission acts as a tug, the transmission is also subjected to additional loads. And if a car with “mechanics” can be both towed and towed without any restrictions, then automatic transmission requires some “indulgences”.
How to tow
Due to automatic transmissions on different models cars can have significant differences, it is recommended to check the possibility of towing such cars in the operating instructions. There you can also find information about the maximum distance you can tow a car and at what speed. At different manufacturers these options may vary. In rare cases, towing may be prohibited altogether.
Naturally, such advice is only suitable if the need to tow the car is known in advance and there is time and opportunity to check the manual. When this is not possible, specialists and experienced car enthusiasts recommend focusing on golden mean". So, according to these data, most cars with automatic transmission can be towed or used as a tug, driving them no more than 30 kilometers at a speed not exceeding 30 km / h. After that, to continue towing, the car must be allowed to “rest”.
In addition to the manufacturer's recommendations for each specific vehicle, there is and general rules towing, which apply to all cars equipped with automatic transmission. In particular, if a car with an “automatic” is in tow, the box should be in position N. If the car with automatic transmission itself acts as a tow, towing is carried out in second or third gear.
Forced lubrication and increased heat dissipation are one of the basic principles of automatic transmission operation. Before towing, make sure that the oil level in the gearbox is correct.
When a car with automatic transmission acts as a tug
In principle, manufacturers advise to avoid as much as possible similar situations. If there are no other options, certain rules must be followed.
When towing, it is better to give preference to a rigid hitch. In this case, the towed vehicle in its mass should not exceed the weight of its towing vehicle.
As with towing, the speed should not exceed 30-40 km/h.
In no case should the box be in position D, only 2 or 3. It is not recommended to switch to downshifts so as not to create additional loads.
Particular attention should be paid to towing cars with an "automatic",. Most often, the manufacturer insists that such cars move exclusively on tow trucks. If this option is not available, the machine must be towed with the front or rear axle. Towing with a hitch is highly undesirable.
And deserves no less attention when towing. Here it is worth referring to the manufacturer's manual, because for some cars it is recommended to tow in neutral, others definitely need a running engine, and for others, towing is completely prohibited.
Thus, towing a car with automatic transmission is troublesome and not always safe for the car. If possible, such towing should be avoided by using the services of a tow truck. However, if the situation is hopeless, the process of towing a car with automatic transmission should be approached with all seriousness and responsibility.
Towing a car with an automatic is possible only when the neutral (N) mode of the automatic is on. planetary gear gear shifting will not work. But the torque converter will still function, and transmit rotational movements to many parts and components of the box. All this leads to increased loads and overheating of the transmission.
When the vehicle is towed with the engine off, the automatic transmission oil pump does not work, as it is driven by power unit. This means that the gearbox is almost lubricated and wears out at a fantastic rate.
The hardest part is towing four-wheel drive vehicles equipped with automatic and non-switchable all-wheel drive. In most cases, they cannot be towed. Therefore, you have to move a faulty car on a tow truck or car transporter.
Proper towing of a car with a gun
Each automatic transmission model has its own design features. Therefore, each manufacturer has its own towing restrictions. But they all limit top speed towing and maximum distance. All this is stated in the instruction manual.
If the instruction is missing or unavailable, you must follow the general rules:
- To tow the car at a speed of no more than 50 km/h for a distance of no more than 50 km. If the car is old and equipped with a 3-speed automatic transmission, the towing speed will be 30 km / h, and the distance will not exceed 25 km.
- A vehicle with a suspended drive axle can be towed without restrictions.
- If it is necessary to tow a car with automatic transmission for a long distance (more than 50 km), this must be done intermittently. Every 30 km it is necessary to stop and wait until the box cools down. But even in this case, 100 km will be a towing range.
- The selector of the machine when towing must be in N (neutral). The engine should be kept running if possible.
- For towing, it is desirable to use a rigid hitch.
- Top up if possible transmission oil into the box up to the top mark.
These rules apply to all types and types of automatic transmissions: torque converter, CVT, robotic, preselective.
Also, experts advise owners of cars with automatic transmissions, whenever possible, not to tow the car, but use the services of a tow truck. The cost of their services will be tens and hundreds of times lower than the cost of possible repair boxes that failed when not correct towing.
Sometimes even cars that have proven their effectiveness over more than one year can fail in the most, and even a minor malfunction can lead to the failure of everything vehicle, in which case you will need to tow the car.
Most motorists who, by a lucky chance, managed to avoid such a nuisance as towing own car, may not even be aware of the problems that fate may encounter. Almost everyone theoretically imagines towing as a simple process, for which it is enough just to stop some driver on the road who agrees to attach to his vehicle and drag the unfortunate person to the nearest parking lot or service center. In practice, everything is much more serious and more complicated, which is why we will consider the possibility and rules according to which the car should be towed.
So, if, nevertheless, there was a nuisance on the road with a car that simply “refuses” to move at least a little, it would be better if the driver first familiarizes himself with the towing rules. In this case, it is important to have a certain driving experience.
The only thing worth focusing on even before you start talking about the principles of performing such a procedure is fundamental difference towing a vehicle equipped with automatic transmission, from towing a vehicle with manual transmission. However, despite a number of differences, both transmissions have some common rules that contribute to the correct towing of the car.
Fundamental Rules for Proper Towing
General towing rules provided for by traffic rules
This article will not cover all possible ways that a driver in trouble can use, but only about the most accessible and fastest, about those that can be resorted to without involving additional transport, for example, a specialized tow truck. Naturally, if a person has the opportunity to contact an organization for the evacuation of a car, he has cash, and the rest of the towing methods turned out to be simply powerless - you should not refuse this kind of help. True, it most often happens that people try to avoid contacting a road service, because they do not have enough money, communications, or are repelled by the fact that only 200-300 meters are left to the garage.
If a stuck driver, at a loss, does not know what needs to be done, one should first of all turn to fellow drivers who, by a lucky chance, pass nearby. Before you start towing, you should remember the rules traffic, which states that:
- the towing vehicle must be technically sound, while driving it must have dipped beam on;
- towed vehicle must be equipped alarm if such a procedure takes place in dark time days, the parking lights should be turned on in the car;
- if transport is by means of flexible hitch, in a faulty car, not only steering gear but also the brakes. In the case of a rigid hitch, only a working steering gear is required.
In addition to these requirements, they warn of necessary availability quality hitch (tie). Towing any passenger car cannot do, of course, without the help of a standard towing tool - a cable, which will allow you to quickly "pull" a stuck car. A tow rope should be purchased in advance and taken "just in case" to luggage compartment. And it is better to refuse to buy cheap options offered by unknown manufacturers. It is no secret that when towing a vehicle, unforeseen jerks often occur that contribute to the breakage of the cable, which can burst from an excessive load. A broken cable will “help” an already dejected driver, causing a lot of trouble, the worst possible outcome could be an accident provoked by the driver of the towed vehicle. According to the prescribed standards, the length of the towing cable must be 6 meters.
The fact is that in recent years, fewer people are trying to follow the rules and act according to driving etiquette. Such actions are not only where understanding and mutual assistance should reign, but can also bring a lot of trouble to a hasty driver. What does a person do when he sees a car with a burning emergency light in front of him? The practical majority of car owners try to quickly overtake a slow-moving car, it is during the implementation of the decision to bypass such a car that one can suddenly come across an invisible, or rather, hidden in the darkness (if the movement takes place in the dark), cable. The driver of the towed vehicle must drive with the utmost attention, if he sees the intention of a neighboring car owner to wedge between his car and the tug, such a car enthusiast must be immediately warned loud noises klaxon. If those do not help, then you can resort to not quite decent gestures that will more intelligibly warn of the danger.
The rules of the road state that it is necessary to conclude a preliminary verbal agreement between the drivers of the tow and the towed car. Even before the start of the movement, all the nuances should be discussed, the most optimal and safe route should be drawn up, in which there will be no sections of roads with a large congestion of vehicles, sharp descents or steep climbs. Ideally, it is better to refrain from reversals. Since towing is not a process that can be discussed in detail in advance and comply with it, it will be necessary to stipulate possible signals, which drivers will send to each other in case of unforeseen circumstances. It is worth noting that when towing, you should not neglect not only the light signaling, but also active gestures.
Towing a vehicle with automatic transmission
Modern rules are such that towing a car with automatic transmission requires certain knowledge and skills from the car owner. Some are sure that a car equipped with an automatic transmission simply cannot be towed, but this is not so. It is enough to know just to tow as quickly and correctly as possible.
To be prepared in advance for this kind of situation, you can read the manufacturer's manual in your free time, which describes in detail all the features of towing a vehicle with an automatic transmission.
It is worth noting that in the world there are several models of cars with automatic transmission, the towing of which is simply prohibited by the automaker. If a person, by unfortunate coincidence, is the owner of just such a car, then a tow truck can become his only assistant. The fact is that most automatic transmissions have a number of specific restrictions, which indicate the maximum allowable range, as well as the speed at which such a car can be towed.
Automotive experts call optimal parameters, calculated empirically and by analysis, which are of the order of 30/30 or 30/80. The first indicator is the speed of movement, the second is the range. However, no matter what the generally accepted rules say, the owner of the car must first of all be guided by the operating instructions for his “machine”.
If a car equipped with automatic transmission has to be towed to the nearest service center, then the box should be in position N. Otherwise, if the car with an “automatic” is a tug, then the position of the box should be in 2-3 gears.
The peculiarity of an automatic transmission lies in its specific lubrication and high heat dissipation, due to which, even before towing, it will be correct to check the oil level, which must meet the requirement.
Auto with manual transmission - the most reliable tug
Naturally, the owners of cars equipped with a manual transmission were a little more fortunate, but this does not mean that you need to full force use the power of his "steel assistant". A car enthusiast who takes care of his vehicle should know that the clutch of any car is designed solely for its mass, there is only a small tolerance in the plus.
Too much high speed, improper distribution of efforts - and a car with a manual transmission will need additional repair clutch.
So, if you do not forget about the rules, then towing a car with a manual transmission requires the driver to position the ignition key in ACC, steering column needs to be unlocked.
If a car with a manual transmission acts as a tug, then in this case it is important to smoothly start moving until tow rope will not reach full tension. Then you can carefully go to the normal speed mode.
Conclusion
Naturally, no one wants to get into such situations when they have to resort to towing a car. However, do not despair if such a fact takes place in life, it is important not to get confused and do everything according to the rules and the instructions described above. Even from such a difficult situation, you can get out relatively quickly and easily, you just need to correctly fulfill all the criteria for towing a car equipped with both automatic and manual transmissions.
In this article, we will consider the surprises that towing a car with automatic transmission can bring, how to avoid mistakes and not cause irreparable harm to the car.
Almost any driver sooner or later has situations when the car for some reason cannot drive.
There can be a lot of reasons for this: from a banal lack of fuel to serious breakdowns.
Leaving the car in the middle of the road is not an option, of course, and it must somehow be delivered to a service or parking lot.
One of the simplest is towing, and it would seem that it can be difficult here - we picked it up and drove off, but in fact, difficulties can arise, especially if the car is equipped with automatic transmission gears.
So, towing a car with automatic transmission, and how to do it right.
The vagaries of the automatic box
What about in the case of an automatic? Why can something as simple as towing be problematic?
The fact is that the automatic transmission is quite complex mechanism, which always has a connection with the wheels. If the latter begin to rotate, then movement begins in the box.
And everything would be fine, but when the engine is turned off, then all the oil pumps also do not work, and the automatic transmission does not receive lubricant, which means increased friction, which can very quickly break this entire expensive mechanism.
As a rule, experts recommend completely abandoning the towing of a car with idle engine and in case of problems call a tow truck. Nevertheless, situations are different, and a tow truck cannot always physically come to the rescue. What to do?
An automatic transmission is a rather fastidious mechanism, which, unlike mechanics, does not like violence against itself.
First of all, she reacts very badly to towing a vehicle, but if the situation on the road is difficult, you will have to take extreme measures.
Such towing a car has a number of strict rules, the violation of which can lead to very expensive repairs. Let's break down this process step by step:
- if the car has a manual for its operation, then try to find in it an item dedicated to the features of emergency transportation. The fact is that there are many types of machines and for some of them towing is completely prohibited;
- if you didn’t find the instructions, don’t be discouraged, the first thing to do is to move the gear selector to position N. It can be difficult to do this without the engine on. For such cases, there is a special magic button hidden under a decorative trim near the gear selector, which must be pressed with a screwdriver and at the same time put the gearbox in neutral;
- then you need to remove the car from the "handbrake", unlock the steering wheel and turn the key in the ignition lock by one division;
- towing a car with an automatic transmission is carried out at a speed of no more than 40 km / h, and the distance that can be driven without stopping at a time is no more than 50 km;
- after driving 50 km, you need to stop for about 40 minutes, this is necessary so that the gearbox components cool down.
- repeat the previous two points until your car is delivered to the end point of the route.
I would like to especially note one point - towing a car with an automatic transmission with an idle engine is an extremely undesirable measure, and even if you follow all of the above rules, the risk of a box breakdown does not disappear completely, but is only minimized.
Therefore, our dear readers, if you are a happy owner of a car equipped with a machine gun, try to use the services of a tow truck if necessary and tow the car only in the most extreme cases.
At the end of the article, I would like to wish that the rules for towing a car with an automatic gearbox listed above will never come in handy in your life and you will always get where you need only on your own. See you soon on the pages of our blog, friends!
What to do if an unforeseen situation arises due to a breakdown of a car equipped with an automatic transmission? Is the towing procedure allowed for cars with automatic transmission?
Many motorists have heard that this is a huge problem, although they cannot really explain why. In fact, it is possible to tow a car with automatic transmission, but in this case, indeed, you will have to take into account some restrictions and difficulties that may arise in the process.
The main problem for car enthusiasts is that they do not know anything about their car and do not carry an instruction manual with them, so if they are in trouble on the road, they do not know what can and cannot be done if towing is necessary.
The whole problem with automatic transmissions is that the automatic transmission oil pump is powered by the engine, and if it is turned off, the gearbox is not lubricated, so any towing is a risk, of course. It is logical to assume that with a running engine, you can tow a car for an arbitrarily long time, only such situations happen much less frequently.
This is only if you need to deliver a serviceable car without documents to the traffic police for registration, for example. Then, without any hesitation, we start the car, turn on the neutral and drive the trailer for as long as necessary.
It is much more common to have to tow a vehicle with the engine off, in which case the manufacturer's transport regulations must be followed.
Basic conditions for towing a car with automatic transmission
- The vehicle is towed at a speed that is strictly regulated by the instructions for this vehicle model. If you don’t know what is written in the instructions and there is no way to find out (even there is no one to call and you can’t find the Internet nearby), then you can adhere to the following most common restrictions: a car with a gearbox that has 3 gears can be towed at a speed of 30 km / h for a distance of up to 35 km. For vehicles equipped with gearboxes with 4 or more gears, the towing speed will be 50 km/h for a distance of up to 50 km.
- Before towing the vehicle, check the level lubricating fluid in automatic box. During the entire towing time, it is worth monitoring operating temperature Checkpoint and take timely measures to cool it, if necessary.
- Switch selector speed modes must be set to neutral (N). When the engine is not running, this can be problematic to do, since the design of the automatic transmission may have a blockage. To release the lock, it is usually necessary to open a special plug behind which the lock switch is hidden and press on it with a conventional screwdriver, while shifting the lever to neutral.
- When towing a vehicle with automatic transmission, it is preferable to use only the hitch rigid type, which eliminates the appearance of jerks and sudden stops in the process of movement.
If the car needs long-term transportation, then you should immediately use the services of a tow truck (which can be ordered, for example, here) with the possibility of full or partial loading vehicle.
In any case, before carrying out any towing of a car, for a start it is worth (I will not tire of repeating this) to look into the instructions for your car in order to avoid unpleasant situations. IN this document all the main parameters are prescribed, under which it is possible to tow your car model.
Here its mass is indicated, allowable speed and travel distance on the hitch, more information. At different brands vehicles, such information may differ significantly. In some cases, towing a vehicle may be completely prohibited.
It is clear that not all drivers have such instructions with them. So what to do in the event of an unforeseen towing of the car? Adhere to the average indicators that are indicated earlier.
Particular attention should be paid to vehicles with all-wheel drive when towing. In most cases, only a tow truck is suitable for the evacuation of such vehicles. But if this is not possible, towing such vehicles is carried out only in a position where the rear or front axle posted.
Car with automatic transmission as a towing vehicle
A car with automatic transmission in rare cases can be used as a towing vehicle. As a rule, such situations should be avoided, but what if there is no other way out.
Towing by a car with automatic transmission is allowed only on a rigid hitch, the speed of movement is not more than 30 km / h, and the mass of the towing vehicle must be equal to the mass of the towed vehicle or exceed it.
When deciding whether to tow a car with automatic transmission, you should always evaluate possible risks, because this process is technically complex and not safe for cars with this type of transmission. But in cases where towing is inevitable, it must be carried out strictly according to the rules described in the instructions.
