Someone just towed my Legacy GT AWD on a dolly...

[dirtDDLGT]

Cliffnote - Someone towed my LGT about a mile on a dolly, now the ABS is kicking in bad to the front wheels (maybe rears) and the tranny shifts hard into 2nd) Will towing it like that cause those problems?

Short Story:


Im a new member, 27 years old and like to play with cars (DSMs, 350z, etc). My name is Eric.

So I used Uship to have a 97 auto Legacy GT AWD shipped about 5 hours to me. I plan on using it for winter duty. Luckily for me (and just for kicks) I asked him to send me a picture of it when he was leaving. This is where I was shocked. The shipper put the car on a dolly and was towing it away. I called him immediately and he pulled over. I explained the whole AWD thing and they ended up just dropping it and driving it here (it was a husband/wife).

Ok fast forward - he says he only towed it about half a mile but Im not sure. Is that enough to kill the transfer case? Well, sorry Im new to subies too, so if that enough to kill the center diff in the transmission? Its an auto and Im assuming it was in park (but he cant be that dumb as a grown man so lets say it was in neutral.)



Heres the situation. I drive it and it seems ok, but the ABS is freaking out about 5mph and below, seems like the front brakes arent grabbing maybe? The tranny shifts hard to 2nd for some reason. They are both not normal. The brakes are a big issue but maybe its just a brake issue and the towing didnt cause it.



I contacted the seller and he says the brakes were good and the tranny shifted normal because he daily drove it. Im beginning to think the transmission was damaged when they towed it. If so, I plan on contacting the shipper with a bill for a transmission. I can swap it myself.

Im going to lift it and check it tomorrow. Can I lift the car like a normal AWD and spin the front wheels in neutral and expect the rears to spin too? What kind of test do you guys do for the center diff?

Ultimate question - What do you guys think? Will a mile worth of towing on a dolly cause problems like this and ultimately damage the tranny beyond repair?

[httrdd]

Quick answer yes it will cause problems. There are a few threads of this happening let me dig them up.

[dirtDDLGT]

Quick answer yes it will cause problems. There are a few threads of this happening let me dig them up.


Thanks TJ. I know towing AWD like this cause things to go boom. Im debating on whether to make the shipper pay me for a new tranny or whether these issues are irrelavant to the towing for a mile. Let me know what you find.

[r3v_v3ng3]

Make them pay for it for their mistake. That should be the first thing they do is to figure out if its FWD, RWD, 4WD or AWD. It doesnt matter if it was a mile cause in the end you will be the one paying for their shit. It will probably be enough for an STI drivetrain

[Reason]

half mile or 30 miles if the damage is already done then it doesn't matter, have them pay. They should know little details like that.

[prodriver1]

half mile or 30 miles if the damage is already done then it doesn't matter, have them pay. They should know little details like that.
YEEESSS!! dont drop it have them pay for it! :smt027

[dirtDDLGT]

half mile or 30 miles if the damage is already done then it doesn't matter, have them pay. They should know little details like that.

I agree. They should know something that simple. Since I had never driven the car before I'm wondering if towing it like that with cause those abs and transmission issues. Then I can call him and let him know.

[Hocrest]

I'm not sure how it would cause ABS issues? Also not sure if 1/2 mile would cause problems with an auto if it was in neutral? If so I would expect binding problems or lack of AWD not shifting issues.

And to answer your other question, on an AT there is no direct connection between front and rear, so lifting it and manually spinning a front wheel will not spin the back. However if you lift it and run the car, shift into "1" and use the brake pedal lightly, and you should have at least one front and one back spinning.

[dirtDDLGT]

I'm not sure how it would cause ABS issues? Also not sure if 1/2 mile would cause problems with an auto if it was in neutral? If so I would expect binding problems or lack of AWD not shifting issues.

And to answer your other question, on an AT there is no direct connection between front and rear, so lifting it and manually spinning a front wheel will not spin the back. However if you lift it and run the car, shift into "1" and use the brake pedal lightly, and you should have at least one front and one back spinning.

Good info on testing the AWD. I needed that. Im not sure how it would cause problems either, but the ABS is kicking on when braking below 5mph now and the tranny shifts hard into 2nd. The previous owner says there was absolutely none of that before this. Its almost undrivable and he used it as a DD so Im pretty sure hes not lying.

[Hocrest]

On the ABS, I wonder if they pulled on one of the lines when they put the wheel straps on the front wheels??

[dirtDDLGT]

On the ABS, I wonder if they pulled on one of the lines when they put the wheel straps on the front wheels??

Today is the day I get to find out. I'll check on that too. If the awd is shot ill be calling him.

[Okin DaVanh]

I'm going to call B.S. Sorry, but if your car was dollied (IE. Wheel lifted from the front and dollies under rear tires) then you will have a hard time winning that case. If your car was wheel lifted and the car put in neutral with the rear tires in contact with the ground, THEN I will say you have a SOLID case for as long as you have those pics.

When you say your car was dollied, then there is almost no way that there would be damage to the tranny/center dif/etc... It would be just like putting your car on a flatbed.

Cliff Notes
Wheel lifting and dolly-ing a car are 2 different things. Make sure you represent the right 1 if you bring this to court etc...

[dirtDDLGT]

I'm going to call B.S. Sorry, but if your car was dollied (IE. Wheel lifted from the front and dollies under rear tires) then you will have a hard time winning that case. If your car was wheel lifted and the car put in neutral with the rear tires in contact with the ground, THEN I will say you have a SOLID case for as long as you have those pics.

When you say your car was dollied, then there is almost no way that there would be damage to the tranny/center dif/etc... It would be just like putting your car on a flatbed.

Cliff Notes
Wheel lifting and dolly-ing a car are 2 different things. Make sure you represent the right 1 if you bring this to court etc... BTW, I am certified and never had a damage claim in 12 years of service.

Thats a good point. Sorry for the confusion. I didnt realize people actually used the dollies with wheels under the rear wheels.

I definately have a pic and he has verified thats how it was towed. 2 wheels on the dolly and 2 wheels on the ground. The brakes act really funny and the tranny shifts hard most of the time. I didnt get a chance to lift it today, but its still a headache. Ill attach a pic. When I got the pic I immediately called him and told him thats a big no go. He was about to hit the interstate with it like that.

So if he did cause some issues, whats a fair repair cost to ask for? $1000? $5000? Hes a nice guy, but I want the car as I bought it, not this way. Its not reliable at all like this and the brakes are scary. Transmissions should not shift like this either unless youre drag racing it.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/IMG958254-1.jpg

[Okin DaVanh]

NOW, I will agree you have a STRONG case, and YES that WILL damage your drivetrain. Take it to a repair shop and hand him the bill.

And this is what I thought you meant when he was "towing it with dollies".

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/vehicletowedWheel-1.jpg








Good luck.

[mshriver]

Yeah thats no good. If the guy tows cars he should know better than that. Send him the bill

[dirtDDLGT]

NOW, I will agree you have a STRONG case, and YES that WILL damage your drivetrain. Take it to a repair shop and hand him the bill.

And this is what I thought you meant when he was "towing it with dollies".

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/vehicletowedWheel-1.jpg


Good luck.


Sorry for the confusion. Think a mile of towing like he did will do damage? I dont want to screw him over if it didnt. Ill try to find a subie shop in town to take it to and get an estimate.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[Okin DaVanh]

Sorry for the confusion. Think a mile of towing like he did will do damage? I dont want to screw him over if it didnt. Ill try to find a subie shop in town to take it to and get an estimate.

Thanks for the advice guys.
Very possible. Definitely get a shop estimate to back you up.

[Huffer]

Stop driving it. You're causing more damage and the tow operator will get out of it by saying that you caused the damage.

[Okin DaVanh]

Stop driving it. You're causing more damage and the tow operator will get out of it by saying that you caused the damage.
Oh yeah, and this too! If you are driving it, it will also show in an inspection.

[dirtDDLGT]

I am definitely not driving it. Theres no snow or ice here and we have fair temps so Im still driving my 350z to work.

Oh I forgot to mention this part... after having the front wheels on the dolly for about a mile, his wife drove it to me (about 350 miles). Thats going to cause some issues. Ill have to find a time to get this on a flatbed to a shop.