Tow Truck Driver Loaded Car Up In Gear

c2ypt1c · Jan 28, 2015

Hey guys, I just bought another dsm, but when the tow truck driver was loading it up on the flat bed, he mistakenly thought it was in neutral. The car was loaded up backwards and it looked like it was in second or fourth gear. He only pulled it about two or three feet before realizing what was going on. Then he went inside and popped it out of gear. Before all of this happened, I told him to make sure it was in neutral with him responding - "I'll take care of it"...pretty ironic.

Now, I didn't hear any obvious noises or anything alarming, but my question is, did something break?

TSicktalon · Jan 28, 2015

Should be fine

J'sDSM2 · Jan 28, 2015

You won't know till you try it.

Chumpaumpalumpa · Jan 28, 2015

its like jump starting the car as long as the hand brake wasnt locked. only difference is it didnt start so I say you're fine.

c2ypt1c · Jan 28, 2015

Chumpaumpalumpa said:
its like jump starting the car as long as the hand brake wasnt locked. only difference is it didnt start so I say you're fine.

Well, like I said, it was loaded up facing backward, so it's not the same as jump starting (popping clutch) because the gears are moving backwards.

J'sDSM2 · Jan 28, 2015

It's surely not worth pulling the transmission apart. The worst that would happen is bent valves in the head but the car hardly moved so that did not happen.

Chumpaumpalumpa · Jan 28, 2015

c2ypt1c said:
Well, like I said, it was loaded up facing backward, so it's not the same as jump starting (popping clutch) because the gears are moving backwards.

Ah, your right, but just a couple feet wouldn't do anything. You'll know as soon as you start it and if its not ok.......... sue

91-GS · Jan 29, 2015

It is a good idea to turn the engine over by hand before trying to start it to make sure it still spins freely. Transmission is ok. LSDs (if car does have them) are probably ok, although you are not supposed to tow a car that has them because it might cause internal damage.
Still, if the motor spins freely you can start the car and go from there.

c2ypt1c · Jan 29, 2015

Yeah I fired it up, drove it around and it seems ok.I'm just being super paranoid because this is actually my donar car for my awd swap and I mainly wanted it for the trans/drivetrain, which shifts like butter. Melted, gooey, delicious, butter. Thanks for the reassurance guys. :thumb:

NHerron · Jan 29, 2015

I usually go with if an outside force is going to act upon a manual transmission equipped vehicle, put in the correct directional gear. If you park on a hill, nose downhill, set in forward gear. So if car somehow moves, the engine is going to be moving in the correct direction. Otherwise, such as in your case, it's possible to skip timing, because the timing belt/chain tensioner is now useless being on the driven side. I'm primarily an ebrake guy.

Anyway its possible to skip timing doing what the OP mentioned. Car moving back with trans in a forward gear.

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Tow Truck Driver Loaded Car Up In Gear

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J'sDSM2

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