What would happen if a honda was towed by the back wheels, while still in first gear? My friend got this happened to him and for some reason i cant think too clearly right now.

 

emgine seizure can occure

 

I would hope there's not a tow truck operator on the planet that would tow a car in gear.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2point6 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">emgine seizure can occure</TD></TR></TABLE>

please go into more detail about engine seizure. I witnessed it, I know what it looks and sounds like... but what happens to the tranny/motor?

 

Wouldn't the engine spin backwards if the front wheels were dragged backwards while in gear? If so then the timing belt would probably break or come off or something, at which point the backwards-spinning crank and pistons would smash some valves.

 

Well the car still runs but the clutch is described to be 'mushy'

 

possible internal damages to the tranny and engine. there's a reason honda tells you to not tow their cars from the back wheel. in fact honda recommends a flat bed truck is the best way to tow their cars. that's what I always due. just my .02

 

Yeh I know why you should tow it and how...


looks like its not just me about confused to what would happen

 

In effect, your motor is running at a very low speed with no oil pressure, intake, gas, etc. Same for the tranny, more or less. Does this sound like something you would want to do to your motor? Would you remove the sparkplug wires and crank the car for 30 minutes? Doesn't sound good, and it is a contest between your friend who allowed it and the tow truck driver who did it to see who is more brain dead.

 

He didnt let the tow truck driver do it... When I witnessed it, i did so at a party and the apartment complex allowed no visitors.

He claimed to only have his car backed up by the rear wheels for 20 feet, to allow clearnace for the tow to raise the front.

other than lack of lubes, what mechanical damage did it cause?

 

My opinion, although i would not want it done to my car, i do not think 20 feet would hurt it at all. You say the clutch feels "mushy"? I would think it is all in his head. Should not be anything wrong. Now on the other hand, if it were towed 10 miles that way then it would possibly kill the whole engine, and tranny assembly. If the truck driver were smart, he would have jacked the rear of the car up, and crawled under it and put it in neutral via the shift linkage...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Type R Bob &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">In effect, your motor is running at a very low speed with no oil pressure, intake, gas, etc. Same for the tranny, more or less. </TD></TR></TABLE>

there's going to be oil presure. when you crank the engine over there's oil pressure. most street driven cars run on a wet sump not a dry sump where electricity is needed to run an oil pump.

 

It WILL cause the tranny to go WAY sooner than normal... the synchros usually first... probobly the dif too. My tranny whirs almost louder than the engine roars

This happened to my car when it was stolen... they yanked it out of a corner on it's front wheels in first gear...

That was at about 60k and no I have 150 and it's starting to GO bad....

as far as the engine I don't think it really screws things up that bad... as said the engine's oil pump is driven by the cranks so... it was oiled... and as long as it was only for a couple of feet and it didn't go over the speed limit of that gear it should be OK. and no a.f mix in the chambers and spinning it does nothing.

 

My guess based on what you describe is that the motor did not spin but rather the clutch took most of the force. The wheels - and transmission- were spinning backwards but the motor would not, causing the clutch to be forcibly slipped.

The clutch (if it were actually damaged) may get better with time after it wears down some, so I'd leave it if it feels fine otherwise.

Just a thought.

 

yeh thats what i told the kid...


thanks