Had my car towed
08-23-2007, 06:56 AM
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In an infrequent "dah" moment, I left my car on a Boston street that did not allow parking every 1st and 4th Wednesday morning of the month due to street cleaning (who would have thought that the 22nd could have been the 4th Wednesday of the month? - look at a calendar!).
Anyway, the car was towed. It is a manual shift. I left it in first gear. The emergency brake was set. The city of Boston uses old fashioned tow trucks meaning the front end was lifted and the rear wheels would have rolled as it was towed.
So my obvious question. Could this have done damage to the transmission or some other aspect of the car?
Anyway, the car was towed. It is a manual shift. I left it in first gear. The emergency brake was set. The city of Boston uses old fashioned tow trucks meaning the front end was lifted and the rear wheels would have rolled as it was towed.
So my obvious question. Could this have done damage to the transmission or some other aspect of the car?
08-23-2007, 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by hinckley' post='461713' date='Aug 23 2007, 10:56 AM
In an infrequent "dah" moment, I left my car on a Boston street that did not allow parking every 1st and 4th Wednesday morning of the month due to street cleaning (who would have thought that the 22nd could have been the 4th Wednesday of the month? - look at a calendar!).
Anyway, the car was towed. It is a manual shift. I left it in first gear. The emergency brake was set. The city of Boston uses old fashioned tow trucks meaning the front end was lifted and the rear wheels would have rolled as it was towed.
So my obvious question. Could this have done damage to the transmission or some other aspect of the car?
Anyway, the car was towed. It is a manual shift. I left it in first gear. The emergency brake was set. The city of Boston uses old fashioned tow trucks meaning the front end was lifted and the rear wheels would have rolled as it was towed.
So my obvious question. Could this have done damage to the transmission or some other aspect of the car?
I'd doubt they damaged it. If you are concerned, I'd put it on a rack and check out the underside.
08-23-2007, 07:05 AM
#3
They would have either lifted from the rear or they would have placed the rear wheels on dollies. They would not likely have drug it on the drive wheels while it's in gear with the break on.
08-23-2007, 07:05 AM
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Originally Posted by hinckley' post='461713' date='Aug 23 2007, 06:56 AM
In an infrequent "dah" moment, I left my car on a Boston street that did not allow parking every 1st and 4th Wednesday morning of the month due to street cleaning (who would have thought that the 22nd could have been the 4th Wednesday of the month? - look at a calendar!).
Anyway, the car was towed. It is a manual shift. I left it in first gear. The emergency brake was set. The city of Boston uses old fashioned tow trucks meaning the front end was lifted and the rear wheels would have rolled as it was towed.
So my obvious question. Could this have done damage to the transmission or some other aspect of the car?
Anyway, the car was towed. It is a manual shift. I left it in first gear. The emergency brake was set. The city of Boston uses old fashioned tow trucks meaning the front end was lifted and the rear wheels would have rolled as it was towed.
So my obvious question. Could this have done damage to the transmission or some other aspect of the car?
08-23-2007, 07:09 AM
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Originally Posted by hinckley' post='461713' date='Aug 23 2007, 05:56 PM
Anyway, the car was towed. It is a manual shift. I left it in first gear. The emergency brake was set. The city of Boston uses old fashioned tow trucks meaning the front end was lifted and the rear wheels would have rolled as it was towed.
No way they could have gone into the car, with the security alarm and safe locks.
Are you sure they didn't lift it from the rear?
08-23-2007, 07:22 AM
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What a shame!! Anyway, you might want to retrieve your vehicle from impound using your dealer's flat bed. I would be afraid that the front end suspension was damaged. At least find out from impound what they did and report to your dealer for their advice in the matter. This is a sticky situation.
08-23-2007, 07:54 AM
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I agree that there's no way they picked it up from the front unless they got under it and disconnected the driveshaft and the parking brake cables.
It's more likely they either dragged it onto a flatbed (which wouldn't be the greatest thing) or they lifted it from the rear.
Iceman is the towing expert here -- maybe he can add an opinion...
It's more likely they either dragged it onto a flatbed (which wouldn't be the greatest thing) or they lifted it from the rear.
Iceman is the towing expert here -- maybe he can add an opinion...
08-23-2007, 09:57 AM
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08-23-2007, 11:10 AM
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Call them and ask how they towed it. I bet if you check the front or rear fascias, you'll figure it out quuickly which end they picked up.
08-23-2007, 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by iversonm' post='461717' date='Aug 23 2007, 08:02 AM
I'd think they'd have either popped open the lock and took it out of gear, or used a dolly.
I'd doubt they damaged it. If you are concerned, I'd put it on a rack and check out the underside.
I'd doubt they damaged it. If you are concerned, I'd put it on a rack and check out the underside.
Thats only true for professionals... some of these people will just tow just for the heck of towing and not care about the car. But hopefully there was no damage done.