| Author | Message | ||
| JoeP (64.12.116.135) Rating: N/A |
We recently purchased a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser conv. and had a Remco transmission pump installed by one of Remco's dealers. Prior to purchasing the vehicle we verified with Remco that it could be safely towed with their pump. The pump failed within the first 500 miles of towing. With little assistance from Remco we had a new pump installed by a second dealer. The second dealer remarked to his service guy "another Remco failure". We then traveled 250 miles before it went out again this time it burned up the transmission on the PT Cruiser. Both times we were stuck on the interstate and had to have the car towed. We received next to no assistance from Remco during this adventure and major reluctance on their part to reimburse us for any of our expenses. Their customer service was next to none! Lesson learned: Purchase a tow vehicle designed for towing that requires no modifications. If you install any type of Remco product and you have a problem you are truly on your own. | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.208.163)
Rating: N/A |
My experience precisely with Remco. 2 pump failures, fortunately, I caught it both times when the pumps failed and ended up both times disconnecting the pump system and running the car in neutral as I towed it. 2nd time was last time. I would never even consider using their system again. Same goes for their disconnect; I have heard of more problems than praise. I would seriously consider a product liability action against them and the dealers that sold them to you. | ||
| Ear-8-Ky (207.162.163.20) Rating: N/A |
I had a lube pump on a 99 Dodge Grand Caravan and it preformed perfectly. I now have a 04 GMC Canyon and plan to use the drive shaft disconnect. Can you tell me the problems that have occured with them. I don't want to put a lube pump on it. Could it be that the pumps were not installed right. | ||
| TWO DOGS (63.185.72.3) Rating: N/A |
how to save thousands........................disconect the driveshaft...4 bolts | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.79.46)
Rating: N/A |
Or have a toad that is manual Trans, or 4X4. Gary | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.54.124)
Rating: N/A |
Earl: Drive shaft disconnect problem: balance, high speed vibrations when engaged. As for the pumps, JoeP says his were installed by DEALERS, so are u suggesting that BOTH of them didn't know how to hook up 2 wires to a pump motor? As for mine, 1 was pump seal; the other was motor burn-out. Why don't u want a lube pump on your new one? Does the fact that installing one voids the warranty on the trans have anything to do with it? That should tell u something. | ||
| CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.16) Rating: N/A |
I have been following the threads for the disconnect as well. The vibration problem seems to be with the disconnect. the disconnect can engage in two positions, at 0 degrees, and at 180 degrees to the disconnect receiver. The shaft and disconnect is balanced at 0 degrees and if you always reconnect at 0 degrees, the vibration problem (according to posts here) is a non issue. If you reconnect at 180 degrees, you may have vibration problems as the balance is 180 out. I have not yet bought mine but I need to make a decision since I now have no tow car. "Thinking Car rental are way too over priced for the average traveler" cd | ||
| mclough (65.137.130.203)
Rating: N/A |
i was recently donated a tow dolly for or bus, i love it. no problems at all and even trailer tires turn same radius as bus. morgan | ||
| CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.187) Rating: N/A |
I have a tow dolly as well but same problem, unless you have a manual shift car or front wheel drive, you still have to disconnect the rear end. Thats where the interest comes in for the disconnect. I have a 96 GMC automatic with the pushbutton on the dash 4wd. Some have said there is a neutral, there isn't on mine. Towing backward is not a good thought, though I have done it successfully as well. cd | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (67.136.241.239)
Rating: N/A |
Sorry to suggest this, but have you considered a single axle car trailer? Also, do you know how much exactly your PT Crusier weighs? If more than 2500 pounds, and if you are on the Federal Hiway System, then you also MAY be in violation of Federal Law. Yeah...you MAY be required to have brakes on your PT that work when it is being towed. When one considers the $expense$ of blown trannys... ...plus POSSIBLE citations, then it may just be easier all around to get your neat cool PT Crusier off the road--on a trailer. Thanks. | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.54.64)
Rating: N/A |
Henry: That's pretty good reasoning for a trailer. Yes, there are many of us towing just waiting our turn for a ticket on this aux. braking issue. | ||
| John that newguy (199.232.244.9) Rating: N/A |
I used the Remco pump on three different vehicles, a Buick Century wagon and two Caravans. I never experienced any problem with the Remco lube pump system. The Remco lube pump system monitors itself and warns you when/if the pump stops pumping. If it failed to do that, it most likely was not connected or installed properly. I found the Remco service department to be more than helpful when I had to wire our Georgie-Boy for a new Remco controller installation. If you've never missed a turn and had to disconnect the tow vehicle when you least wanted to; in traffic, rain, at night and on a hill.... Then you probably will love towing with a dolly. I make a lot of mistakes, but buying a Remco wasn't one of them. | ||
| DrivingMissLazy (66.168.175.51) Rating: N/A |
Towed a Toyota 4X4 over 100,000 miles with drive shaft disconnect. Never any problems and never any vibration. Might be a good idea to have the drive shaft shop balance the drive shaft in both connect positions. TD, I do not like your idea. Think of the hundreds (thousands) of times I would have had to craw under the toad to remove four bolts and then craw back under to replace them. Every time we stopped at a campground, or wanted to use the toad to explore an area. The disconnect works great if properly installed and balanced. The drive shaft must be cut and the disconnect welded in and then the assembly balanced by a qualified drive shaft shop. Richard | ||
| TWO DOGS (63.185.80.147) Rating: N/A |
DML guess it's how you use it....I go south for 6 months & go north for 6 months...(but)...I tow on a tow dolly...280zx ...back it on...driveshaft disconects are just out of my price range tho........ | ||
| Johnny (4.174.109.128) Rating: N/A |
"Earl: Drive shaft disconnect problem: balance, high speed vibrations when engaged." Put a narrow line on the shaft with spray paint (something distinctive, like caution orange, bright chartruese, or silver) along the "correct" position. Problem solved. Or, just tow something designed to be flat-towed. The 4 candidates for me are a 1986 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer (autop trans/manual 4WD, can be towed with the case in neutral) a 1986 K-5 Blazer (as above), a 1977 Dodge W-200 Power Wagon (also as above), & a 1980 VW Rabbit pickup (4-speed manual, can be flat-towed in neutral, engine has to be started & run 2-3 minutes something like every 200 miles--I'll just do it at every gas stop). Do not ever tow backwards on a dolly. I recall seeing somewhere that flat-towed cars are specifically exempt from some of the brake requirements. Even if they're not, the VW is only ~2300lbs.  Cory: Check the owner's manual, but I THINK that neutral is done by pressing the 2WD & 4-lo buttons at the same time. | ||
| DrivingMissLazy (66.168.175.51) Rating: N/A |
I towed my Tahoe 4WD automatic thousands and thousands of miles four wheel down. No disconnect or pumps required, no limit on towing speed and no requirement to start engine every few hundred miles. Fuel stop for the Eagle was once daily or 7-800 miles, whichever came first. "Cory: Check the owner's manual, but I THINK that neutral is done by pressing the 2WD & 4-lo buttons at the same time." For about ten seconds. Same for the Tahoe. If you do not have manual, I have a word document I can email you on the procedure. Richard | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.252.9.119)
Rating: N/A |
Richard-- Here's a dumb question--doesn't the Toyota have a neutral on the Transfer case, eliminating the need for a driveline disconnect? Johnny-- why not tow backwards with a dolly? Gary | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.214.103)
Rating: N/A |
Gary: Theoretically, when towing a vehicle backwards with the front wheels down, you are towing the vehicle against alignment settings, in essence, reversing the settings, mainly the caster and toe-in. Settings of slightly positive in the fwd. position are now negative, as the rubber meets the road. Steering and suspension components are also set and tuned to these alignment specs, and the reversal of the specs puts all of this out of sync. On vehicles with very little + or - alignment settings would probably show the least effect, while some vehicles such as 4WD vehicles with much more "off center" settings could be severly effected. I don't think you will find one auto manufacturer that would recommend this practice. Some have addressed for the purpose of emergency towing, including both my buses, and all place severe restrictions on the practice, including speed and distance. | ||
| madbrit (67.136.80.237) Rating: N/A |
Just because the transfer case has a neutral does not mean it can be flat towed. It has to do with how the rear bearings are lubed and many are lubed by splash feed from the gears turning. When the motor is not running and it is in neutral those gears don't turn, starving the rear bearings of oil and they burn up real quick. Leaving the engine running and the transmission in Park won't necessarily help the transfer case either. It's the same with 2 wheeldrive stick cars, some can be flat towed and some can't. Example, some of the S-10 5 speeds can't but the 4 speeds can. Mazda manual pick-ups can't be flat towed either. Most Jeeps can be but one of them can't, not sure hich one, but it is one of the Wrangler type bodied vehicles. My CJ never said it could, but lots do it without problems but then again, it depends upon which transfer case you have. I was told by one 4x4 shop to leave one front hub locked in and that would turn the geras sort of by friction, not at road speed, but enough to slash lube the bearings, others said not to bother. I didn't bother and dragged it around for miles and at freeway speeds without any trouble. Check the owner's manual or tech dept at the manufacturer, don't believe a salesman. Peter. | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.252.9.119)
Rating: N/A |
Johnny -- Funny, I know many that tow cross country in reverse, I just passed one on I696 about an hour or so ago. You see drive away trucking companies do this with their flag vehicles. I understand what you are saying though, you would definitely be towing against caster/Trail. Peter-- I've rebuilt just about every transfer case built until '87, mostly New Process units. Every one that I worked on would allow towing. I can't visualize how you would setup a Xfer case to NOT get oil to the rear bearing, not saying it ain't so, I just can't picture it. Gary | ||
| madbrit (67.136.80.237) Rating: N/A |
Gary, The transfer case, a New Process (205?), in my 1979 GMC, attached to a grannie 4 speed is not to be flat towed. That is according to every website, trans company and GM themselves. Reasons are....... The oil level is lower than the imput and output bearings. If no gears are moving that are submerged in the oil in the transfer case, then no oil will reach the output shaft bearing or the needle rollers that are around that same output shaft where it's connected with the imput shaft either. There is also at least ONE Jeep which cannot be flat towed, not including the ones equipped with the Quadra-Trac, which could not be towed without modification. The main problem with towing backwards is actually securing the steering without relying on the steering column lock. This lock assembly is not designed for this use and unless you have a secure method of keeping the wheels straight, one can have a wandering car on the back. Don't forget that lifting the rear wheels onto a dolly will also alter the caster angle too. Maybe even make it neutral, each application will be different. Peter. | ||
| CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.34) Rating: N/A |
DrivingMissLazy About the Neutral ..... ((" "Cory: Check the owner's manual, but I THINK that neutral is done by pressing the 2WD & 4-lo buttons at the same time." For about ten seconds. Same for the Tahoe. If you do not have manual, I have a word document I can email you on the procedure. Richard ")) I would like to see the PDF doc you have. You can email to me at... MOyssey@MW.Sisna.com I just talked to a tow company and they said no way. Something about the gear case (pumkin) not building the pressure it needs to move the gook for lubrication which happens when the drive shaft is moving the vehicle. I was more or less told to use a dolly and a front wheel drive car with a stright axle on the rear. If you have information that my 96 GMC jimmy can be put into neutral, the manual does not reference it, I AM INTERESTED!!!! Thanks for the support cd | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (66.168.168.57)
Rating: N/A |
Gary, the toyota did not have a neutral position so I had to install the drive shaft disconnect. Cory, I do not know if it is applicable to your 96 model GMC, but I aam emailing the procedure to you. Richard | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.250.174.11)
Rating: N/A |
Richard--That would certainly explain why you didn't do the Xfer case in N, Trans in Park trick. I've worked with 203/205/208/BW and a few others I can't remember, oh the gawd awful quadra-trac. Not being able to Tow with the QT is like a trick question, you can barely DRIVE the bloody things without them grenading. back when I worked on them, I really ddidn't know of a lot of folks that did long distance towing. but I now have a New Process 242 in my Durango, and I know a LOT of folks that tow four-down with that case. I'm not comfortable with depending on the steering lock either, but there are thousands of folks that have no problem with it. Gary | ||
| DrivingMissLazy (66.168.175.51) Rating: N/A |
Gary, when would you use a steering lock whilst towing? Richard | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.250.174.11)
Rating: N/A |
When towing backwards, to keep the wheels straight. Gary | ||
| John that newguy (199.232.240.75) Rating: N/A |
--- on the tow vehicle? | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (68.250.174.11)
Rating: N/A |
Yeah, sure, give it a try. | ||
| Derek (Derek_L) (24.83.196.239)
Rating: N/A |
For the low, low price of three easy payments of $29.95, I will sell to you, *BELOW COST*, The Towclub! Prevents vehicle thefts while being towed! Can be used on either the tow vehicle, or towed vehicle! Similer to The Club in design, The Towclub features a new and improved design, made with 100% pure alloys! Call now! | ||
| John that newguy (199.232.240.75) Rating: N/A |
I was a member of the Tow Club until 1996, when I finally sold the Ford. | ||
| Johnny (4.174.103.205) Rating: N/A |
"Most Jeeps can be but one of them can't, not sure which one, but it is one of the Wrangler type bodied vehicles. My CJ never said it could, but lots do it without problems but then again, it depends upon which transfer case you have." Actually, there are TWO Jeep T-cases that can't be flat-towed. The Quadra-Trac system (1976-79 CJ-7, Cherokee, Wagoneer, J-series trucks with automatic trannies) had no Neutral position in the T-case. They're easy to identify: they'll have a vacuum switch (a knob) in the glovebox, & the rear pumpkin is offset to the passenger side (in line with the front axle). SOME will have a lo-range lever on the left side of the tranny hump. They actually work well--my friend's 1979 Cherokee Chief has ~190,000 miles on a 258/TH400/Q-Trac/lo-range. The chains do stretch (he replaced his at ~160K, it had been replaced before he got it--80-100K is normal, with the 360's & 401's being on the lower end of that range), but the biggie is they MUST, REPEAT MUST USE THE CORRECT QUADRA-TRAC FLUID! Gear oil, engine oil, or ATF will kill them in a hurry. Any good 4x4 shop can get it for about $4-5 per quart. The other is the Dana 300, used from 1980-86 in CJ's (and 1980 in Scouts). It doesn't pump oil in Neutral, & will cook bearings in a hurry. The early NP/NV231 has a quirk: in neutral, the input is disengaged, but the front & rear outputs are LOCKED TOGETHER! I've seen it firsthand: I towed an early Wrangler (4.2/auto/NV231) with the tranny in Park & the case in neutral. With the front end on the sling, the front wheels turned. And yes, I thought I'd managed to leave it in 4WD. DO NOT TOW BACKWARDS ON A DOLLY! This put me the closest I've ever come to soiling my pants since about age 2. It was with a light car (Datsun 280Z with a cooked engine) and a big, powerful, long, & heavy (~7300lbs) tow vehicle (1976 Dodge W-300 Power Wagon extended-cab/longbed with a 440). We wound up pulling the driveshaft. This concludes this large dose of useless information. | ||
| Johnny (4.174.103.205) Rating: N/A |
Newguy: if you want to rejoin the Tow Club, my boss is selling a very nice wrecker. You're right, though: a good 85% of them are Fords (including this one). |