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Vehicle was towed with transmission in park

Tiny
STEPNE73G
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET TAHOE
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180 MILES
My car was towed steering wheel locked was in park no key entry. After I got it out of tow yard now the car has no park. I put it in park and it rolls no matter what gear. Why? Thanks frustrated in Sacramento, California.
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 AT 7:35 AM

13 Replies

Tiny
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Hello,

If a vehicle gets towed in 'park', it will likely damage the drive linkage and the tires. It can also damage the transmission.
You will have to do a visual inspection to the drive shaft first to see if you can notice something obvious like a broken axle. But likely it will damage the gears inside the axle.

Unfortunately we have seen destroyed transmission from towing a vehicle in park, and to know exactly what broke the drivetrain might have to be taken apart.

https://www.youtube.com/c/2carpros/featured

Let me know of any questions.
Thank you.
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Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 AT 8:33 AM
Tiny
STEPNE73G
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Would that break parking Dowel keeping it from going into park or break the transfer case? Thank you very much !
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Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 AT 2:22 PM
Tiny
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Well, it will depend on when they hooked it up, which of the component was at the end of its travel. That component will have to most stress at the initial pull by tow truck. Its likely the transfer case.
When you put it in drive can you hear or feel the transmission being engaged? Or it does not make a difference what you do with the gear lever?

Since you said it will roll regardless of what gear, it's a good chance the damage is in the internal part of the transmission.
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Thursday, September 2nd, 2021 AT 2:36 PM
Tiny
STEPNE73G
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Well, I do feel the car wanting to engage could it be just the" motor" on the transfer case. Thank you you're really helping me out. Waylon
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Friday, September 3rd, 2021 AT 2:13 PM
Tiny
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No problem Waylon. Did you get a chance to inspect the driveshaft and other drivetrain components under the vehicle? If lets say you put it in drive, with the brake pressed are you able to free rev the engine? Have someone look at the out put shaft from the transmission while the vehicle is on drive (with the brake applied), give a little throttle to see if you see the shaft spinning.
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Friday, September 3rd, 2021 AT 2:20 PM
Tiny
STEPNE73G
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It's not spinning at all. Thanks, Waylon
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Friday, September 3rd, 2021 AT 3:14 PM
Tiny
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Then it's probably internal damage to the transmission.
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Friday, September 3rd, 2021 AT 9:21 PM
Tiny
STEPNE73G
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Hi, was wondering if you could tell me why my cars tires locked up? When I was driving but the cars engine was still on there was like a puff of smoke and they just locked up when I was driving. Thanks. My ABS light was the only light that kept coming on right before. Thanks
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Saturday, September 4th, 2021 AT 2:00 PM
Tiny
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Is this on the same truck or on a different vehicle?
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Saturday, September 4th, 2021 AT 8:38 PM
Tiny
STEPNE73G
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It's what actually happened first thanks.
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Sunday, September 5th, 2021 AT 12:02 AM
Tiny
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Sounds like it could be locked up calipers possibly due to ABS system malfunction. Faulty ABS can do opposite of what its designed to do. The smoke is likely form the locked up brakes. Did the brake get very hot? I have see overheating brake catch fire or melt the tire.
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Sunday, September 5th, 2021 AT 9:55 AM
Tiny
STEPNE73G
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So would that make the car just stop?
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Saturday, September 11th, 2021 AT 5:18 PM
Tiny
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If the ABS system gets locked up then it will stop the car. You might be able to move it using a lot of power from the engine (depends on which wheels are locked up). Was the some you saw cam from the wheels?
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Saturday, September 11th, 2021 AT 7:18 PM

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