Can you push an AWD car in neutral?

How to Tow a Car Stuck in Park Without Damaging It

Can you tow a car that’s stuck in park without damaging it? If you’ve got a car that needs to be towed, you don’t want to ruin the mechanical parts—but if you can’t put the car in neutral, you might not have an option.

Some cars, like recent Ford Fusions, have issues with the rotary gear shift dial. The problem happens when the shift dial gets stuck in park—it locks the car’s brakes and can cause damage to the vehicle. There are recalls for certain vehicles that are experiencing this “shift SYS fault” error, which puts the car back in park from any other gear and locks all motion. The problem is, how do you prevent damage to a vehicle that won’t allow you to tow in neutral?

Towing cars with the emergency brake engaged

If your car’s emergency brake is engaged, the tow truck company cannot tow the car the normal way, which is with two wheels on the ground. Unless you’re parked on a hill, it’s advisable to leave your emergency brake off when you park, or risk damage if your car is towed when you’re not around.

If your car is in neutral and is hoisted onto a flatbed truck for towing, it’s unlikely that it will incur any damage. The same goes for any car in neutral that does not have the parking brake engaged—the two non-driving wheels will remain on the ground while it’s towed. Manual transmissions should be fine across the board, but automatic transmissions require the tow to be at a slower speed and over a shorter distance.

Towing a car stuck in park

It’s possible to tow a car stuck in park without causing any damage, but it requires taking certain precautions. If your car has an automatic transmission, the mechanical lock might break if the wheels are on the street. Your best precaution is to put the car in neutral, and of course, towing on a flatbed truck can help prevent any problems.

Four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles present another problem. The best thing you can do to prevent damage is to remove the rear drive shaft and tow the car with the back wheels on the ground. You can also shift into two-wheel drive, which will allow you to safely tow the car at highway speeds.

It’s important to hire a towing company with a wide variety of vehicle towing experience so you can prevent further harm to your car or truck.

Towing services in Salt Lake City, UT

Since our founding in 2001, AMR Auto Repair & Towing has had one simple goal: to be the very best towing company in Salt Lake City and the surrounding region. When you need to tow a car stuck in park in Salt Lake City, UT, call us—we have the expertise and customer service that will help your car get from Point A to Point B without incurring damage. Contact us today to find out more about our towing and repair services.

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preparing for winter roadside emergencies

Are you prepared for driving through winter hazards? Do you have everything you need in your car in case you slide off of the road and find yourself stuck waiting for a tow truck to come to your rescue? My blog is all about winter driving safety. You will find out what you should have in your roadside emergency kit, how to go about getting a tow quickly during bad weather and what you need to do to keep yourself safe while waiting for help. Hopefully, my learning the hard way can help you avoid going through the same horrible situation as I have gone through.

What’s The Big Deal About Towing An AWD Vehicle?

Posted on: 14 July 2016

The promise of extra traction in wet and snowy weather has made all-wheel drive (AWD) a popular option for many car buyers. However, the addition of all-wheel drive can make towing a vehicle so equipped a bit complicated. The following explains why it’s important to err on the side of caution when towing an AWD vehicle. You’ll also learn a few safe ways to get the job done, whether you’re towing your own vehicle or having a towing service do the work for you.

Understanding AWD and 4WD

Before getting down to the nuts and bolts of AWD, it’s important to clear up a bit of confusion concerning the term «all-wheel drive.» That’s because it’s commonly used interchangeably with «four-wheel drive» (4WD), which works similarly to AWD in some respects. However, there are a few important differences between AWD and 4WD:

• 4WD systems are generally optimized for off-road use. Part-time 4WD systems allow the driver to manually engage all four wheels at low speeds. Full-time 4WD systems work similarly to AWD, allowing drivers to keep all four wheels engaged. Most 4WD systems use front and rear differentials, plus a transfer case for engaging the front and/or rear axles.
• AWD systems are optimized for on-road use. AWD systems typically use front and rear differentials just like their 4WD counterparts, but with the addition of a viscous or electronic coupling to split power between each set of axles or even individual wheels. Most AWD systems are also permanently engaged to varying extents, making it impossible to disengage without removing a driveshaft.

The Problem With Towing AWD Vehicles

When it comes to towing a vehicle on two wheels, common wisdom dictates that the vehicle being towed shouldn’t be towed by its drive wheels. Even if the vehicle is left in neutral, towing a car by its drive wheels can cause significant damage to the transmission. With a front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicle, that means towing the car with its rear wheels on the ground. For a rear-wheel drive (RWD) car, the opposite applies — the car must be towed with its front wheels on the ground (with the steering locked for safety) or with the driveshaft removed while its rear wheels are on the ground.

For an AWD car, however, that common wisdom flies out of the window. Towing a vehicle equipped with a permanent AWD system on two wheels could result in damage to the coupling, as well as the transmission and various other drive components.

How to Tow an AWD Vehicle without Damage

When dealing with AWD vehicles that need a tow, keeping it off the ground is usually the best strategy. For this, you’ll need a flatbed tow truck or a flatbed trailer. Trailering or towing an AWD vehicle on a flatbed is the easiest and often safest choice of moving such a vehicle without causing thousands of dollars in damage to its drivetrain. When flatbed tow trucks or trailers aren’t available, many tow truck and crane services resort to tow dollies to transport AWD vehicles while keeping their wheels above ground.

Keep in mind these aren’t the tow dollies normally offered by moving truck rental companies. These tow dollies consist of an inline pair of small wheels attached to a metal frame. The frame is placed against the vehicle’s wheel and the two pairs of wheels are linked together with a set of aluminum axles. Using a long bar and plenty of leverage, the axles are lifted into position, which in turn cradles the wheels between the axles and lifts them off the ground.

Both methods are preferred for towing AWD vehicles, since it minimizes the likelihood of damage to the vehicle’s drivetrain components.

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4×4 Smarts: Safe Driving Tips for How to Use 4-Wheel-Drive

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We’ll walk you through the basics of using 4WD for city and highway driving.

Not sure which system you have?

Four-wheel-drive systems are offered in many configurations such as part time, full time, manual shift, on-the-fly shifting, and fully automatic. Each 4 wheel drive system has its own requirements for how you engage and disengage it and when you can operate the vehicle in 4WD mode. If you’re unsure which 4 wheel drive system you have, ask a dealer, who can figure it out from your VIN.

4WD can be dangerous

• 4WD doesn’t improve handling on slick ice- and snow-covered roads. If you drive faster than conditions allow, you’re far more likely to flip and roll because of your higher center of gravity.
• 4WD doesn’t help you brake better or give you more stability in turns while braking. So slow down when you’re turning and brake sooner.
• 4WD contributes to overconfidence. Guess which vehicles end up in the ditch more often?

Don’t waste gas

When you’re in 4WD, you’re spinning a lot more heavy metal. Getting those extra gears and drive shafts up to speed and keeping them spinning take extra energy, which lowers your gas mileage. If you don’t need 4WD, turn it off and save some dough at the gas pump.

If you get stuck

Resist the temptation to shift between forward and reverse to rock yourself out of a rut. Instead, shift into 4HI and slowly feather the gas pedal to inch your way out. Don’t spin your wheels. If that doesn’t work, rock the vehicle back and forth by applying and releasing the gas.

Don’t destroy your drivetrain

Driving a part-time 4WD system on dry pavement can break the front axles, shear the differential gears and even break apart the differential case. As soon as you hit dry pavement, shift back into 2WD.

4WD vs. AWD: What’s the Difference?

Traditional 4WD

In two-wheel-drive mode, the system delivers all the engine torque to the rear differential, so each rear wheel receives 50 percent of the available engine torque. In 4WD mode, each wheel receives 25 percent of the available engine torque. Older 4WD systems must be manually shifted between 2WD and 4WD and from 4HI to 4LO while the vehicle is stopped. Newer s 4 wheel drive systems have electronic push button ‘on the fly’ features that let you shift while driving.

Traditional AWD

An AWD car can deliver all engine torque to all four wheels all the time. But some AWD systems deliver all engine torque to the front differential until the system detects wheel slip. Then it transfers a varying degree of engine torque (0 to 100 percent) to the rear wheels. So it’s a 2WD system most of the time. Other AWD systems work differently; they split the engine torque 50/50 between the front and the rear differentials at all times unless they detect wheel slip. Then they ‘reapportion’ the torque between the front and the back differentials based on need.

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Know how to engage and disengage your 4WD

Some older and more basic 4WD systems must by engaged manually with the vehicle at a complete stop and the transmission in either Park or Neutral. Don’t try to engage these 4 wheel drive systems when the vehicle is moving or you can damage expensive components. However, most 4WD systems can now be shifted into or out of 4WD on the fly at the push of a button. The most sophisticated 4WD systems are fully automatic. They shift into and out of 4WD automatically as the system detects the need for more traction.

Knowing when to use 4HI or 4LO is what causes the most confusion for 4WD vehicle owners, so here are some rules.

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How to use traction/stability

Most new cars and trucks have a traction/stability control feature. The system automatically turns on every time you start your vehicle. When the traction/stability control system detects wheel slip or vehicle instability, it immediately tries to compensate by cutting engine power, braking the slipping wheel or braking other wheels to force the vehicle back into its intended path. It works great when you’re traveling along the road and hit a slick spot. But when you’re stuck, traction/stability control can work against you, making it harder to get out of a rut in snow, mud or ice.

So when you get stuck, turn off your vehicle’s traction/stability control. The procedure is different for each vehicle, so refer to your owner’s manual. Depending on the vehicle, the traction/stability control may turn itself on again after a set period or after an engine restart. You may have to turn it off repeatedly if you’re stuck for an extended period.

4 WD – Use it or lose it

4 WD systems work best and last longest when they’re used regularly and maintained according to factory recommendations. When a 4WD system sits unused for months at a time, the linkage and hub components seize, the seals dry out and the lube drains off gears. The best way to keep all 4WD components lubricated and in good operating condition is to engage your 4WD at least once every few months on wet pavement (preferably in a secluded parking lot) while performing a few figure eights.

Next, follow your owner’s manual for differential and transfer case fluid changes even if you don’t use your 4WD very often. And grease drive-shaft slip joints and U-joints (where possible).

When to Use…

When to Use 4LO:

• When you need more torque (power) for heavy pulling at slow speeds.
• When you’re climbing steep grades at slow speeds and need extra power.
• When you’re descending steep hills with a heavy load-the low gearing provides engine braking assistance.
• Don’t use 4LO to get unstuck in mud and snow. The extra torque will cause the tires to spin.

When to Use 4HI:

• When you’re on slippery surfaces and driving at street or highway speeds.
• When you’re stuck in snow, mud or ice.

Tire size & tire rotation are critical

The front, center and rear differentials in 4WD vehicles are designed to compensate for short-term differences in wheel speeds encountered when turning a corner or changing lanes. But mismatched tires, whether they’re a different size or a different tread depth, force the differentials to operate full time even if you’re going straight down the road. That constant operation creates excessive heat and causes premature wear that can cost thousands in unnecessary repair bills. A difference in tread depth of just 1/16 in. among tires is enough to cause early failure.

Front tires wear faster than rear tires because they carry more weight, perform more braking and turn the vehicle. So rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles is critical to spreading the wear evenly and minimizing differential operation. If a tire is wearing unevenly, exceeding the 1/16-in. threshold, you’ll have to buy four new tires, or shave down the new tire to match the tread depth of the others.

Finally, different tread brands, tread patterns and even different rubber compounds can result in different traction rates between the tires, and that stresses 4WD components. So avoid mixing different brands or tread patterns on your 4WD vehicle.