Can a Tow Truck Mess Up Your Transmission?

Tow truck services are essential for helping drivers with broken-down vehicles or vehicles that have been in accidents to get their cars, trucks, and other vehicles to the repair shop. But tow trucks can also cause problems for the transmission of your vehicle if not used correctly.

What is a Tow Truck?

A tow truck is a large, heavy-duty vehicle and trailer combination designed to move disabled, wrecked, or otherwise immobile vehicles from one place to another. They are sometimes called “wreckers” because they can be used to remove wreckage from an accident scene.

The most common type of tow truck is a flatbed, which has a flat platform that can be raised up to transport the vehicle. Other types of tow trucks include wheel-lift and hook-and-chain tow trucks.

How Can a Tow Truck Mess Up Your Transmission?

The most common way that a tow truck can damage your transmission is by using the wrong type of hitch when attaching the vehicle to the tow truck. If the hitch is too low or too high on your car, it can cause excessive strain on your transmission as it’s being towed. This strain can lead to permanent damage or even complete failure of your transmission system.

Additionally, if you have an automatic transmission and the driver uses manual mode while hooking up your car, it could cause serious problems with your transmission. Manual mode should only be used when absolutely necessary and should never be used while hooking up a car with an automatic transmission.

Conclusion

While tow trucks are invaluable for getting broken-down cars to repair shops quickly and safely, they must be used correctly in order to prevent damage to transmissions. Always make sure that the right type of hitch is used when connecting your car to the tow truck and avoid using manual mode on automatic transmissions at all costs. By taking these precautions, you can make sure that your transmission remains safe while you’re being towed.

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Stephen Dunn