Tow sensor?

[A 01 Badger]

As I sit in the Bronx impound office waiting to get my car which was towed I’m wondering if the SHO has a sensor that tells the car is being towed.
I saw them pull in with my car hooked from just the front wheels. My rear wheels appeared to be spinning freely which I hopes mean a sensor was triggered and not that the trans was snapped. I watched another Taurus get pulled in behind mine and the back wheels were being dragged. I’m hoping that person had their E brake engaged and it wasn’t the trans. He will need new rear tires but I’m hoping mine won’t be worse.

 

[5ohSHO]

The owners manual says in a couple of places to NOT tow an AWD vehicle with just the front wheels off of the ground or damage can occur. Try not to strangle the wrecker driver.

 

[ZSHO]

Agreed with 5ohSHO ^^^ FLATBED IS REQUIRED!!! 
I truly hope NO Perpetual Damage was caused to the Trans.......
Best of luck and keep us updated.  Z

 

[A 01 Badger]

It appears to be fine. Most upsetting they looked at me like I was speaking Greek.  No sir, a Taurus is front wheel drive you won’t have issues.  They they wanted to tell me they typically don’t have awd.  I’m not sure why I would care about what’s typical.

As I mentioned, the wheels were spinning freely when they had it hoisted from the front so I have to assume that there must be a sensor of some type that tells the car it’s being towed and throws the trans into neutral. I can’t figure any other way. I’m still in the city so I haven’t had a chance to jump on the accelerator but it’s quiet and seems to be fine for now.

 

[ZSHO]

It appears to be fine. Most upsetting they looked at me like I was speaking Greek.  No sir, a Taurus is front wheel drive you won’t have issues.  They they wanted to tell me they typically don’t have awd.  I’m not sure why I would care about what’s typical.

As I mentioned, the wheels were spinning freely when they had it hoisted from the front so I have to assume that there must be a sensor of some type that tells the car it’s being towed and throws the trans into neutral. I can’t figure any other way. I’m still in the city so I haven’t had a chance to jump on the accelerator but it’s quiet and seems to be fine for now.

Check for any such Codes!  Z

 

[A 01 Badger]

Both My LMS tuner and my Actron pocket scan show no codes.

 

[lamrith]

As I sit in the Bronx impound office waiting to get my car which was towed I’m wondering if the SHO has a sensor that tells the car is being towed.
I saw them pull in with my car hooked from just the front wheels. My rear wheels appeared to be spinning freely which I hopes mean a sensor was triggered and not that the trans was snapped. I watched another Taurus get pulled in behind mine and the back wheels were being dragged. I’m hoping that person had their E brake engaged and it wasn’t the trans. He will need new rear tires but I’m hoping mine won’t be worse.

WTF is wrong with these guys?  Honestly that is blatant and neglectful disregard for property.  I do not care if it is being impounded or what the reasoning for being towed.  Tow trucks come with dollies to put under axles that are inoperative for a reason, to not damage the vehicle further, not damage the roads and also saves wear and tear on the tow truck.  You should have video'd that other taurus being dragged in as proof of abuse of peoples vehicles.

Crossing my fingers that your car is ok man, hearing that just really infuriates me.

 

[jman]

According to the maintenance manual, the rear wheels are always connected to the PTU... there is an Active Torque Coupling that I am not sure what it does but it doesn't disengage as on other AWD vehicles.

The fact that those %$&*@ towed a vehicle with the parking brake ON tells you they don't give a #$%@ about other people's vehicles. You should have taken a video and made it viral, they do not belong in the towing business.   

 

[SHOdded]

The ATC is basically the clutch pack for the RDU.  The driveshaft does not spin during P or N, probably due to the idler bearing in the PTU, but otherwise is always engaged with the PTU.

 

[A 01 Badger]

The ATC is basically the clutch pack for the RDU.  The driveshaft does not spin during P or N, probably due to the idler bearing in the PTU, but otherwise is always engaged with the PTU.

I guess that was the case SHOdded. As I mentioned my rear wheels appeared to be spinning freely when I saw it.

I’ve driven about 50 miles home at speeds up to 95 and it appeRs to be fine. Wish I would have grabbed video of the car being dragged, guess I was in shock and praying that wasn’t what happened to my car.

 

[ajpturbo]

Things like this just make me lose faith in humanity....Driver deserves to be insulted at a minimum...And why can't people just own up to what they do instead of making themselves look worse and dumber when they say things like" ah they typically aren't awd"...That is actually so funny because it shows the level of stupidity...And it shows that they are wrong and stupid.

But I want to say that if the car was powered off then the clutches in the RDU were not being called to engage and that you were free wheeling and things should be ok but I don't know really.

 

[sm105k]

Holy crap I would be livid.