Quote:
Originally Posted by Dukat
Good question. If your battery is dead or other electrical issue, how would you have the car towed, even brought onto a flat bed if the brakes are engaged?
|
If the battery is dead, the transmission will go into Park but the transfer case clutch will disengage. If the Parking brake (the motor operated E-brake) was on when the battery died, the brakes will remain engaged on the rear wheels ONLY. The front wheels will roll freely. The only way to move the vehicle other than dragging the rear tires is to lift the rear wheels with a "capture-type" tow rig and then to tow onto the flatbed with the car resting on the fronts. Most tow operators will just slowly slide the tires or will place dollies under the rear wheels.
I once saw an illegally parked (RWD) Lexus in downtown Chicago being dragged away by a tow truck with it's front end raised and the rear wheels on the ground. The transmission was undoubtedly in Park. The tow truck started moving, the rear tires skidded for about 50 feet and then there was a very loud "bang". Then the rear wheels began to turn. The transmission park mechanicals were certainly broken, and the owner was going to be paying lot more than just the parking and towing fine. Ouch!