Pretty sure it's screwed... Need advice.

"MouseFitzgerald" (MouseFitzgerald) 11/22/2014 at 00:35 • Filed to: None

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My sisters Outback had an issue with the EFI while I was up at school and she got it towed by a AAA affiliate. This is how they towed it. As far as I understand, AWD + leaving back wheels coast = horrible death. Talked to my sister and she called the company and they basically told her everything was fine and that's how you tow cars. She knows nothing about it and they know that. Cars still at the shop and I want to know if anyone has any insight on whether the Outback has some form of disconnect for the rear axle before I go raise hell. My understanding is no and either the tires locked and slid the whole god damn way or the diff was spinning and killing the tranny the way there...

Any input?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:41

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Yeah, all 4WD/AWD should be put on a flatbed unless the driveshaft has been disconnected from the end that is on the ground.

All Motor Is Best Motor > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:42

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I too thought you weren't supposed to tow an AWD vehicle...

MouseFitzgerald > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 11/22/2014 at 00:43

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Pretty sure it was a no on the driveshaft.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:44

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I would say shits fucked. Maybe not though.

DrJohannVegas > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:45

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Center diff is probably damaged. Overheated and under-lubricated from the towing. They are fucking mouthbreathers, and scum to boot for trying to bully your sister on this. Problem is that these companies have lots of cute ways to claim they aren't liable. Better call Steve!

MouseFitzgerald > All Motor Is Best Motor 11/22/2014 at 00:47

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Yeah, the only thing I could see would be if you left it in neutral the center diff (if it has one, Outbacks aren't my thing) would transfer the rotation into the tranny, just wearing things in appropriately. Not the end of the world I suppose but still. Dafuq.

As a note it is an auto.

BoulderZ > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:50

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Of course the towing company is going to say it's fine. That's like when the news crews interview the perpetrator's mom "He's such a nice young man." From Sub's site. Doesn't look good. Get it checked out at a Subaru dealer or really good AWD specialist shop before anything else happens. Then find a good attorney.

http://www.subaru.com/owners/resourc…

DrJohannVegas > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:54

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Nope. If the front wheels are not spinning, all of the difference in speeds is handled across the differential. Putting the trans in neutral doesn't eliminate the problem that the front wheels are stationary and the rears are going full road speed. Big RPM difference.

Round headlight enthusiast > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:55

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Outbacks actually have a transaxle. Well, at least my 2nd gen does, not sure why this one wouldn't either

Big Bubba Ray > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:56

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Holy shit. Yep, those diffs are trashed. That should have been put on a flatbed. Raise hell with that tow company.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 00:58

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Damn. Should be a flatbed for AWD towing...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 01:17

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There's a chance you/your sister might get lucky and it's okay if the vehicle wasn't towed too far or at too high of a speed.

Tohru > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 01:45

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shit's fucked yo

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 01:49

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Yeaaah uh in my experience, at least where I live, AAA always asks when you call if its AWD. If so you have to wait a little longer for a flatbed, as in, it's necessary.

On the bright side, looks like the towing company is paying for a new car!

DrJohannVegas > Round headlight enthusiast 11/22/2014 at 02:02

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Where the transmission is located in the car is inconsequential.

The fact remains that the all-wheel drive system has a center differential to resolve differences in front and rear axle speeds. (Or, more precisely, front and read driveshaft speeds.) So, while the Subaru has the front differential ind the transmission casing (which I assume is why you call it a transaxle), there is also a center differential in that case (towards the back), which is where the damage is going to be.

Steve in Manhattan > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 02:09

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Have a dealer evaluate the car - if the tow company is associated with the dealer, find another dealer. Tow truck drivers need to understand that you have to tow a FWD car a certain way, and an AWD car a certain way. If they do it wrong, they PAY. Through the ass. It might make them finally realize what they're doing wrong.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 02:38

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There's a center differential with a clutch pack in the back of the transmission. I would washer it's that clutch pack that took the most damage.

bob and john > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 03:10

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go raise hell.

Eazy-O > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 04:52

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I am failing to comprehend how one can be in the towing business and not know this shit about drivetrains. Alternatively, how can they be this reckless/negligent, if they do know it, but just want the cash.

I mean, seriously, this is like not asking about your allergies or blood type when being admitted to a hospital.

Does most of the USA still tow cars with these silly trucklettes? The design is so ass-backwards it's making me cringe. Just make it cab forward and a flatbed. The towing vehicle would be a tad longer, but much shorter when carrying a vehicle as opposed to towing. Please, explain to me the benefits of this, there must be some.

Anyone?

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Eazy-O 11/22/2014 at 05:27

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That scene was hilarious.

deekster_caddy > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 08:44

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How far did they tow it like that? They should never send a wrecker for an AWD vehicle. AAA should know better.

Laws differ from state to state. That's outright negligence on behalf of the tow company, the vehicle is obviously AWD. Contact a lawyer with that picture and ask what options you have. Time to do some googling.

deekster_caddy > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/22/2014 at 08:52

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always always always. I drove a wrecker in the early 90's and we were like "AWD? oh, we'll be back later with a flatbed. Most of our fleet is wreckers..." This isn't the 90's. A good percentage of vehicles have AWD. They shouldn't even sell wreckers anymore!

Autofixation > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 09:25

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There is a slot for a fuse on automatic Subarus near the passenger side strut tower. It is labeled "FWD" and disengages the transfer clutches from the rear driveshaft. It is designed for this situation and for times when something happens to the rear part of the drivetrain. There is a good chance they didn't use it or they didn't know it was there. If it is a manual it is screwed no matter what. Then again, if you're feeling frisky you could remove the extension housing from the transmission and replace the transfer clutches.

105 HP of fury > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 10:57

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Glad you have evidence.

bhardoin > Eazy-O 11/22/2014 at 11:31

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A) Ttuckletts are way cheaper initially, get better gas mileage, and most cars are FWD so it doesn't matter much.

B) A lot of tows (here where I live, anyway) are on narrow back roads or where the car has slid off the road into a ditch or something. in these cases, the much shorter trucklett is much easier to position and maneuver into place to hook up the car being towed.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 12:42

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Any verdict yet on how bad it is?

Stang70Fastback > MouseFitzgerald 11/22/2014 at 17:38

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I owned the same car for 8 years. Personally, I would never have had it towed on anything other than a flatbed. Here is what the Owner's Manual states:

Eazy-O > bhardoin 11/22/2014 at 17:47

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I don't know about gas mileage, those trucklettes look quite chunky. Would have to check some numbers, alas I have no access to either the spider ones (it's what we call these cranes) or the US version.

I didn't think of small towns, I admit. Where I'm from, small towns just call a flatbed from the national association if somebody is being a massive pain. Or a wrecker's/junk- yard, if it's really in the sticks.

bhardoin > Eazy-O 11/22/2014 at 20:49

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I'm not certain about gas mileage. My assumption was that the two would have comparable commercial diesel motors, but the trucklett would weight a whole lot less, as well as having a smaller frontal surface area.

MouseFitzgerald > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 11/22/2014 at 20:53

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Nope, I'll post something when it's figured out.