He towed my car backwards.

volvosurfin · Post by **volvosurfin** » 15 Mar 2012, 19:16

Hi all,

As the Volvo is continually a work in progress, I found myself broken down at work at one AM after a brutal shift. Turned the key a few times without luck on startup and was scratchin' my head. Then I heard a funny sound, looked under the car and gasoline was pouring out! No good. Conveniently enough I had signed up for triple A the day before. Fixed it, no big deal, but this necessitated a tow home and this is when the current situation started.

I was tired and not thinking much when the tow guy asked me to put the car in park, pull the e-brake and lock the steering wheel. OK...sure. When I wasn't payin attention he began towing backwards, I looked up and he was pulling it backwards. He pulled it about 15-20 ft before he stopped. Did not sound good. I was tired, he said no worries it should be fine and I didn't question. Immediately after fixing the fuel leak and driving her again, I noticed a slightly rougher transition from park to drive/reverse, and a new whine that occurred, seemingly random at first but now clearly when in Park and even worse when putting in reverse or drive while cold, and sometimes when at a stop after slowing down from higher speeds. With only about 75 miles put on since the big trouble started. It became much the last day and then this morning suddenly shaking and acting like it was going to stall out, but not stalling at all. This was pretty much, again, in low gears and park. Neutral seems to make it go away. Once up to 3rd or 4th gear trying to get it home, the problem pretty much resolved, certainly much better. Now a definite clunk when putting in reverse.

I thought maybe fuel pump. Doesn't seem like it as fuel sprays from valve at end of fuel rail. I pulled the plugs, checked the wires and connections to both plugs and distributor... Normal. Then it hit me. Tranny... transmission fluid at proper level, I changed about 10,000 miles ago.

I am becoming convinced that the dragging has caused damage to the tranny. I do remember vividly the front wheels rotating when I looked up and hearing the worst of the noise while they turned.

Are these symptoms consistent with damaged transmission? Seems like a reasonable diagnosis if the problem goes away while in neutral and disengaged? The only other thing I can think of is a bad motor mount, but this wouldn't cause actual stuttering as well as a decrease in responsiveness/acceleration in low gears right? And the lack of noise even when pushing the car a bit in higher gears wouldn't be consistent either right?

My big question is how do I approach this with the tow company if I am right? Should I expect them to pay for repairs if this is in fact the issue? What should I do if they say no?

As always... thank you!

volvosurfin

Post by **jblackburn** » 15 Mar 2012, 19:35

I'm thinking he damaged the differential inside the transmission.

What kind of tow operator DOESN'T look under the car to see if it's FWD or RWD? Every one I've had to come after me has definitely done that..it's common sense.

YES, the tow company should absolutely pay for their mistake. It may mean threatening to file a lawsuit against them (and by all means threaten them with that and see if they budge), but the work of putting a transmission in is very expensive.

Post by **regent** » 15 Mar 2012, 19:37

Forcing the drive wheels to rotate while the transmission is in P is a BIG NO-NO. I am afraid that's exactly what your wrecker did.
(Ouch...)

Post by **fazool** » 15 Mar 2012, 20:04

In high school a friend's car was towed against the drive wheels.

Car brust into flames, burned to a crisp.

They had parked it away from all the other cars and claimed it spontaneously combusted overnight.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 15 Mar 2012, 20:13

I don't think that the tranny issue has any bearing on the engine's failure to run properly.
Sounds like you've got a primary engine problem and a secondary wrecker FUBAR condition.
Be sure you have them make the tranny right, and Take No Prisoners! That's just not cool...
But the engine sounds like a pre-existing condition. Any codes or other clues?

volvosurfin · Post by **volvosurfin** » 15 Mar 2012, 20:22

So would it be safe to say that any guy towing should have known he may have/did cause damage?

If so, I think I'm just gonna call AAA and tell them. And... he never gave me a receipt. And... I tipped him well.

volvosurfin · Post by **volvosurfin** » 15 Mar 2012, 21:47

Prior to this the car had fantastic performance. Transmission was smooth as baby's butt.

Clues about since the tow.... Gas mileage kinda cruddy now that I think about it. Car did slow down even at higher speeds going down hill a little bit yesterday -- rather than coasting as well as it used to since the incident. And actually I seem to recall the tachometer at 2-3. Shouldn't have been with an automatic in drive ya? I considered damage to brakes, etc sticking, but that shouldn't cause issues in Park.

I've pretty much changed/cleaned repaired everything under the hood, with exception of major engine gaskets which I think are all good, and and suspension/brakes/rotors. It was finally running beautifully after 2 yr of work. Only got a week with the ole girl.

Post by **rspi** » 15 Mar 2012, 22:17

The big thing is that you ACT FAST. Don't wait another day. Contact the tow company tomorrow and ask them if they want the dealer to contact them direct or if they would like to get the estimate from you?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 15 Mar 2012, 23:42

volvosurfin wrote:So would it be safe to say that any guy towing should have known he may have/did cause damage?

Not just Yes - HE double hockey sticks YES.

Post by **regent** » 16 Mar 2012, 06:08

On another note, you may want to get prepared to prove the chain of events that you described:

1.The wrecker specialist did instruct you to place the transmission in PARK, apply the P-Brake, and lock the steering wheel.
2.You did exactly as he told you.
3.He then started moving your vehicle in that condition.

Even without a sales receipt, the Company's records may help a lot.