Hi guys,

I got towed in San Francisco last weekend. Supposedly they towed it properly from the rear, but afterwards I *think* I noticed that the car wasn't driving with as much power as usual. For example, when I'm leaving my underground garage, it usually goes up the ramp without me pushing on the gas pedal. I feel like I have to push harder to get up. Similarly when I'm driving on the road I don't get the feeling I'm unleashing raw power onto the road. Just feels a little more sluggish...

I'm at about 1000 miles on the car. I've been driving it pretty softly so maybe it's not getting broken in properly? Or did the towing cause some damage? Is there any way for me to objectively figure out if something is wrong or should I take it to the dealer?

Thanks in advance.

 

If it were you requesting the tow, I think it would be flatbed only. But in a removal situation, I think it's very unlikely that they would lift the rear. It's safer to lift the front, the question becomes does the rear need dollies or not? On a FWD car, I think it's drag and play, especially for municipal tow trucks. On a RWD car or AWD, I'd think they'd want to place dollies under the rear axle. But I sort of doubt they would as that's more time.

Not sure if improper towing would cause the symptoms you're experiencing. In the old days the tranny would be burnt. We've all seen those giant RV's even towing AWD cars on the highway on all 4's--I think they have to observe no more than x miles at maximum of x mph....they call it dinghy towing

Here's a document which indicates it is NOT acceptable to tow an auto Infiniti on the drive wheels

http://www.towingworld.com/DinghyGuide06.pdf

 

Yikes. What happened? Illegally parked?

I drove around SF SoMa today. Man, I'm so sick of all the stupid drivers, stupid pedestrians, and the stupid rain. As I was stuck driving down 101 by SFO, I saw a tow truck with a Mercedes S glass, pretty new (the last generation body, not this year's beefier looking one). It was towing it from the rear, with the front wheels freely rolling in reverse. I don't see how that would affect the power. Maybe it messed the alignment up? Did you accidentally fill up the last lank with an 87-octane gasoline? Sorry I couldn't offer any sound advice. Just wanted to comment because I'm from SF, and I feel your pain.

 

I think it's a question of the bearing(s) being lubricated? on the automatics...I had a Volvo that was towed improperly on the drive wheels and the transmission was burnt. After vehement denial by AAA that the Sanford and Son who towed me did anything wrong, they had to pay for a new tranny. Some autos can be towed on the rear wheels, many cannot. If you look at the document it will say the motor must be idled in neutral after x miles of towing by the RV. That's for lubrication I believe. Hard to imagine but it's ok to tow a CR-V on all fours, many GM products with AWD, etc. But not an auto Infiniti.

 

Well, the computer is supposed to "learn" your style of driving and adjust the fuel/air mix accordingly. If you've been driving like an old lady, the car might be starting to think you are one

I'm pretty much stuck in traffic most of the week going back and forth to work and I've noticed that on the weekend that after if I accerate
from 0 to 60 a couple times in DS mode hard enough so it's shifting around 6K
the car wills more responsive or "froggy" after that for the rest of the weekend. Not sure why.

 

I was towed for being illegally parked. But it was in a garage so the only way to tow was from the rear. Plus, the car was backed into the towing company's garage front side in, indicating that the car was being towed from the rear...

I'll try to drive a little more aggressively to try and get that oomph back...