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[BridgeyBoy]

Hi all

After a crank sensor failure, my Omega (Year 2000, 2.5 V6 Auto estate) was towed half a mile back to my house. Towed in neutral with handbrake obviously off (!).

Three days later and I have come to push the car into my garden to take a look at it and the car will not budge an inch. Feels like the handbrake is on or its in gear. The hand and foot brakes seem to be working normally with plenty of feel in the pedal and lever and its in neutral.

The batter is completely drained as when it was left, it had the parking light on. Ive put it on jump leads from my other car and all electrics seem to be working ok. The auto gearstick moves up and down the range and as I say the handbrake and footbrake seem to be moving as normal. Still, it wont move an inch.

Any ideas folks....?

Cheers

Dave

[TheBoy]

Bit of brake bind, as its been stood a few days.

Its 1.7t to start with, so not an easy push...

[freecall666]

jack up, see first.

[tunnie]

Had it a couple of times, can just "stick" a bit, pop it in R and D a few times with a little gas, just free it off 

[Lazydocker]

Had it a couple of times, can just "stick" a bit, pop it in R and D a few times with a little gas, just free it off 

It doesn't run 

[tunnie]

Had it a couple of times, can just "stick" a bit, pop it in R and D a few times with a little gas, just free it off 

It doesn't run 

May have a point there 

[Elite Pete]

Get a metal bar and a hammer, put the bar through the wheel onto the rear brake drum (bit between rear wheel and disc) and give it a tap

[tealeaf10]

hi had simular fault on astra after towing a mile    brakes got hot left it for a week brake pads stuck to discs    jack car up and try to spin each wheel if brakes are at fault there will be no movement at wheel if gear box fault you should get wheel to turn slightly

[BridgeyBoy]

Thanks for the responses.

Ive just discovered that towing some automatic cars (even when left in neutral) can cause damage to gearboxes. Anyone shed any light on this? Im hoping it is just a brake bind issue rather than a ruined gearbox....??!!

[omega3000]

Could solve an old legacy , ive been told you can tow an auto but only at a said slow speed and only then for a few miles 

[Elite Pete]

Thanks for the responses.

Ive just discovered that towing some automatic cars (even when left in neutral) can cause damage to gearboxes. Anyone shed any light on this? Im hoping it is just a brake bind issue rather than a ruined gearbox....??!!

IIRC  you can tow an auto for 30 miles at 30 mph so the half a mile shouldn't be a problem

[TheBoy]

Thanks for the responses.

Ive just discovered that towing some automatic cars (even when left in neutral) can cause damage to gearboxes. Anyone shed any light on this? Im hoping it is just a brake bind issue rather than a ruined gearbox....??!!

You can overheat the ATF, even if sticking with the slow speed, short distance rules set out in your handbook. I'd always change ATF after being towed more than 5 miles.

But doubt you've done damage there...

[BridgeyBoy]

Problem solved. Looks like it was just a bit of brake bind. Hitched it up to my Vectra and pulled it a couple of feet to get it moving. All fine now. Thanks all. 

[adey2]

this may come as a surprise, i flat towed a auto from blackpool to nuneaton on a a frame and didnt damage box, reason was i left car running in drive so car must of been under illusion it was coasting, anyone else ever tried or done it

[Kevin Wood]

this may come as a surprise, i flat towed a auto from blackpool to nuneaton on a a frame and didnt damage box, reason was i left car running in drive so car must of been under illusion it was coasting, anyone else ever tried or done it

Yep, that's fine.

The reason for the problem is that fluid is distributed around the gearbox by a pump driven by the engine. If the engine is stopped, the output half of the gearbox won't be getting a feed of fluid from the pump, so must rely on residual fluid on the gears and bearing faces. That eventually drains back to the sump leaving the parts dry, hence the restriction in speed and distance. With the engine running, the fluid is circulating so no problem.