Hello all...

Just a quick question regarding a car being towed. Not that I need it and hopefully I will never do.

In the past when my M/T cars broke down (twice only...touch wood), I believed I was told to pop the gears to Neutral and make sure parking brake is not applied and the guy does the rest. Obviously, AWD, they have to put it on flatbed.

Now question with my G35x is it's automatic. If let's say one day the distributor dies or whatever and you can't crank start the engine, how do you get it into "N" so the tow guy can do the rest? I am just curious how it works.

I don't trust the tow guys much, one guy had the nerve to tow my brother's AWD car on regular trucks and not FLAT BEDS. This was a while back.

Thanks...

 

Look on the console near your gearshift. There is probably a small black "hole" that says shift lock in tiny letters near it (there is on mine but mine is not AWD). That is, according to the dealer, for you to pop the cover off of it and put the key inside. That "unlocks" the shifter so that you can move it into neutral for purposes of towing or any other reason you would want neutral while the car isn't running. Double check your car to see since it is AWD but hope that helps.

 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that little button that saids shift lock or something. Now I recall reading this somewhere (maybe the owner's manual).

Thanks. I think that's it.

 

Methinks the park lock will disengage if you turn your key to the ON position and step on the brake pedal even without turning the engine on.

 

yea thats what i used to do

 

You must use a flatbed to tow an automatic..... read the manual!

 

That is impossible. Probably 70 to 80 percent of cars in US are automatic. You telling me most cars you see being towed on the road are on flatbeds? We must have different manuals then.

The only reason you need flatbed is when it's AWD. Rwd can be towed with front wheels on the ground and Fwd can be towed with the rear wheels on the ground regardless if it's M/T or Auto.

 

If it's on a flatbed, it doesn't matter what gear it's in, does it?

 

It only matter for getting it onto the flatbed. It is possible to get a car that isn't in neutral onto a flatbed but it isn't to nice to the tires. Our Caravan we had a few years ago had the transmission go out and it was locked up completely. Had to pull it up onto the flatbed trailer.

 

Mikeeee2, Trey's Wife and Eldy are both right. If you still have power, and the key, just turn the ignition to on, step on the brake and release the gearshift.
Without power or key, use the tool in your toolkit in the trunk to release the gearshift. That tool has a regualar wrench on one end, and a long thin stem on the other.
C.

 

Ok. I'm confused....what is this toolkit you are referring to? Is this the one you recommend everyone have or what?